When in Doubt...

 ...go to the source of all truth.

I can't believe how many people - myself included - will read a blog like this one and call it good. If I can do anything, be anything, it is to motivate someone I love or someone I don't even know yet, to seek Christ.

Photo by Pisit Heng on Unsplash

There are a lot of books on Christ on the internet - mine included. But the best books out there about Christ have been written by Him through prophets of God. It isn't enough to know about him through the eyes of other truth seekers it's more important to know Him directly through scripture reading and prayer. 

If any of my inspirational books can do that - motivate the person reading them to go to the source of all truth in the scriptures and through prayer and personal revelation, then I have been successful.

When you see me promoting an inspirational book about Christ or about getting closer to Him know that my greatest desire is for you to find Him, and if you've already found Him to draw closer to Him.

May you have a blessed day.

Kathryn

TUESDAY TRAILERS: The Real Story of Ben Hur

The Real Story of Ben Hur - A Tale of the Christ

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

To all my author friends and fabulous book readers, Merry Christmas!!

FRIDAY FLICKS: Who Do You Think You Are? by Pastor Mark Driscoll

Ready for Christmas?

I am almost there...

Whew!

What a journey!

How about you?



Getting ready for Christmas is a grand feat, one not to be taken lightly, but as I said in a previous post, one to make some special one-on-one time for.

Imagine a few hours with the Lord without any distraction. Imagine to yourself the journey, the feelings in your heart, the memories.

If you haven't, as yet, sat down with the Lord this year reading his word, listening to his voice, here's one last nudge from me that you do so.

You won't regret it.

Here's wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

Kathryn

Thirsty? Keeping Christmas

I don't know about you, but about this time I start feeling a bit thirsty for some well needed Christmas. I'm not talking about more shopping, or decorating, or even caroling, I'm speaking of the stuff that comes when you take a breather and just let the Christmas season sink in.

The true Christmas season.

Spend some time...

Because in-between all of the sparkling lights and new hose for the upcoming Christmas party, there yet remains those moments to savor; those when we are with Christ--alone, for a time, quenching that thirst.

Last night, I finally made the time to drink and I was filled.

And I thought this morning, as I got up to exercise and begin another day; boy, I'm glad I took the time to drink in all of the goodness of the Lord.

I'm never discouraged about that. Never. I never wake up and wish I'd spent the time doing something else like watching a show on television. Never.

I wake up, grateful that I've spent whose time with person whose month this is.

And I wish you the same experience.

Merry Christmas!

Stewardships

DECEMBER 30
Stewardships

Yesterday as I was visiting with my friend, she testified about her journey with the Lord and how remembering her stewardships actually helped her in this relationship. She offered an assignment. “Look up stewardships in the topical guide and you will have an idea of what I mean.”

We ended our conversation with her testimony of asking the Lord to help her specifically with her stewardships. “What would you have me do today in my personal stewardship?” she would ask in her prayers. “What about my stewardship with my children? My husband? My church job?”

My grand-daughter

“One day,” she said, “I consulted the Lord on my personal stewardship and was told that I needed to work on my spiritual journey that day rather than exercise because I had ‘done enough of that the day before.’”

“In that moment I realized how important my relationship with my Savior had become to me—enough that he would share with me and I would hear Him.”

What stewardships do you have in your life? Make a list. Take these stewardships to the Lord in the form of questions. Ask the Lord what he would have you focus on today. Be prepared to receive of His answers and to follow through on His words.

The Sabbath Day

DECEMBER 29
The Sabbath Day

The Sabbath Day “is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High,” says the Lord in a revelation to Joseph Smith (See D&C 59:10).

Photo by Zoovroo, Courtesy of Flickr

In this simple yet profound scripture, we learn two things: First that the Sabbath Day is a day of rest from our usual labors. And second, that the Sabbath is a day of devotion to the Most High God.

I don’t know about you, but this command is a difficult one for me. It is hard enough to get to church without yelling, screaming kids. Of course, mine are older now, but we still have a problem of getting out the door without the hair being fixed just right and the makeup being put on.

Rest? On the Sabbath?

I have make jokes about Sunday being a day of rest for many years. This day is often busier than the other days of the week for me because there isn’t just church to attend, but lessons to prepare and give, other meetings to attend, a dinner to fix, activities to provide so that my children have something to do. The list could go on and on…and does.

But wait! Am I missing something? The heart of the Sabbath day? The reason why we have it in the first place?

Photo by Dee Q8, Courtesy of Flickr

I really believe excuses limit us from moving forward, even though I am expert at making them. With each excuse comes an opportunity for standing still. Of course, some would say that no one stays completely still all of the time.

“If you’re not moving forward, you’re moving backward,” and I tend to believe that too. Why else would we still be talking about shutting the television off on Sunday while we’re yet transfixed to its glowing face?

These days however, I’m finding it easier to live the Sabbath even though I know I don’t as yet live it as completely as I’d like to.

Journaling in the morning helps, especially when there is so much to do and so many directions to travel. Studying the lessons for church, if I haven’t done so during the week, helps me to focus on what will be taught at church; playing church music or a Sunday movie in the morning before the children even get up, reminds them and me of the importance of the Sabbath Day, and makes it that much easier to leave the rest of the world outside.

What does the Sabbath Day mean to you? Make a journal entry.

Fasting and Prayer

DECEMBER 28
Fasting and Prayer

Fasting is an interesting word, for unlike running fast, fasting ‘the Lords way,’ insures a surer step as well as a

Photo by: Lel4nd, Courtesy of Flickr

reflective heart.

This morning I took the opportunity to look up the word, Fast/Fasting in the topical guide. In a nutshell this is what I learned:

Fasting is:

A process of humility (See Psalms 35:13).

A key to repentance (See Psalms 69:10).

Pleasurable (See Isaiah 58:3).

Sanctifying (See Joel 1:14).

Life changing (See Joel 2:12).

A way to serve God (See Luke 2:37).

A way to gain a testimony of particular truths (Alma 5:46).

A way to help others (See Alma 6:6).

A way to have the Holy Ghost with you throughout your life (See Alma 17:9).

Spiritually strengthening (See Helaman 3:35).

Unifying (See 3 Nephi 27:1).

Couldn’t we give the same answers for prayer? Look up at the list again. You may even want to look up the word Fast/Fasting in the topical guide and list the scriptures that include fasting and prayer together. (See D&C 59:14 for my favorite). Pray about what you have learned. What new insights would the Father have you live? Have the courage to go forward in faith.