Reflections

What a spiritually filled week it has been for me, and a busy one as well. I would like to share the things that have crossed my path and made me think this week.

The first thought began with last Sunday, but it still has me thinking .... I went Visiting Teaching, and the lesson was on "The Light, Life, and Hope of Jesus Christ" Hannah talked about the light and life, and I talked about the hope, and tried tying it in with the season. When first thinking about it, nothing was coming, but once I got there, I don't know the words just flowed, and I believe them, I felt like I was speaking by the power of the Holy Ghost, and it impacted me, probably more than it did my girl, but it was good. The lesson talked about the three things we hope for: the Atonement of Christ, the Resurrection, and the hope of eternal life. I was then drawn to Moroni 7:41 which talks about those three hopes, but then kept reading Moroni 7: 41-48 and realized how we have those three hopes, how we know of them, and what we do because of that hope which is why it is important to remember especially throughout this season. Those verses talk about faith, charity, the pure love of Christ, and meaningful prayers. More than before I realized how those four things are apart of obtaining, sustaining, and the result of hope. And how we need all of those things in our lives to make the Christmas season as it was intended.

Well, next my Home Teachers came over, and we talked about administering angels, from Elder Holland's talk, "The Ministry of Angels." They challenged Katie and me (I love that every time they come over they offer a challenge to us that they check up on, to help move us along spiritually, anyways) to think about how to, and to look for opportunities where we can be angels in the hands of Christ, that we may do good. They too brought us to Moroni 7, and in going back and reviewing this chapter in relation to angels and how to recognize them I am drawn to a few poignant scriptures: Moroni 7:29-31, "Neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men...... and the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance and to fulfill and to do the work of .... the Father, .... that they may bear testimony of Him." Well, I guess I would like to bear testimony that I know that angels work in my life, both those that are seen and unseen. They are the comforter when I feel down and alone, they are my family members: my mother, my brother, my sister who offer words of comfort, they are individuals around me that influence me to be better and stronger in the face of adversity, many examples of which come to mind. So, this week I am trying to think how I can be an angel to someone else, to be in-tune enough with the Spirit to know what it is that I can do to answer someone else's prayers.

Next thought came from today, and there are two of them that I would like to share. The first is from church and the idea of SHEPHERDS, and the second is from my reading of the Book of Mormon (yes, I am going to finish reading it again by the end of the year). Steve Shaha talked in church and asked the question "why shepherds?" Why did the angel appear to shepherds, why not to carpenters, or to fishermen, or to any number of types of people, why to shepherds? It isn't like we really know, but it was certainly interesting to think about. Perhaps it was because Christ himself was to be a shepherd, that those shepherds were also born in a stable and rested in a manger, that they could relate to this circumstance. Perhaps that is why Mary "pondered in her heart" after the shepherds came and talked to her (Luke 2:19). Steve mentioned all this, and it really got me thinking, he then went on to talk about how the sheep of shepherds know their master because he loves them and cares so much for them. The rest of the meeting for me, Sunday school, and Relief Society all focused on being a part of the flock, on knowing my Shepard, and it was beautiful. Which is why I guess I wanted to mention it.
The last thing was in 3 Nephi 13:33 and 34 I've read it before and found comfort from it, but reading it today, it really stood out to me, and I would like to leave you with that: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness..... and take .... no thought for the morrow." As we find hope through the atonement, recognize the tender mercies extended to us through angels the Lord puts on our path, and come to know our Shepard, the Lord will watch out for us and we will have no need to worry about the things of the future. May we come to recognize His hand and gain a greater knowledge of Him this season, Merry Christmas.