Every Day Follower of Jesus Christ

I need you and your optimism to put one step in front of another when hard things and hard times hit. I need you to remember God and our fellow spiritual brothers and sisters who are struggling, living in war-torn regions, are homeless, hungry and hoping another answers their silent plea for help. Music:  Hymnal I Need you Accompaniment:  Sally Deford Performer:  Allyse Smith Taylor...

If you are in the business of selling, which most professions would be classified here.  You will find to be truly successful you need to develop the ability to anticipate the needs of others and to be able to walk where they trod.  When we find ourselves in the space of empathy, it inspires us to be giving and selfless.

Music:  Every Child a Priomise by Keiki O Ka 'Aina and Robi Kahakalau When we consider 1440, the number of minutes in each day, we know that there is not another human being on the planet that can bank time.  The question becomes, what is different in how people use their time allotment?

As kids of all ages join teams and strive to get a little playing time on the court or field, the thought comes to my mind. Are we exerting as much effort to be on the Lord's team? Serving on the Lord’s team does not happen by chance. Music by Sally DeFord sung by: James Loynes and Allyse Smith Taylor "Because He Lives"

"True love, selfless love, does not wither as life becomes more complex and difficult. If anything, the roots and branches of our love grow deeper and wider with each shared experience—even unexpected or challenging experiences." [Lloyd Newell, Music and the Spoken Word, March 20, 2022] Music by Sally DeFord, Sung by Allyse Smith Taylor "An Angel to Watch over Me"

I had a friend that shared the following, "Sharyl, I don't do weight loss anymore, because when you lose something you tend to find it again." Weight release has a nice ring to it.

Life isn't always good or bad. Sometimes life just is what it is. However, it is always what we say it is. What are you saying today? Our perspective transforms life experiences into what we want them to become.

around the bend of the road, was the light blue flag. I parked and approached the camp. It was the place. I had a map but needed some good guidance by one who knew the different family camps and I needed the faith to follow that guidance.

“What we think is less than what we know: What we know is less than what we love: What we love is so much less than what there is, and to this . . . extent, we are much less than what we are”

We all are underestimated at different points in our lives. We can add to the list, Sir Isaac Newton who was last in class; Thomas Edison who was labeled dumb. Og Mandino who was called a worthless drunk. We can go through the books of history and find many example of those who were underestimated. No matter the views of others, don't give up on your own positive approach with others. Look for the...

On average, children laugh 400 times a day, while adults laugh about 15 times. Do we need to cultivate a different attitude? Humor is in the way we see things, the way we think. It’s an attitude, not an event. Perhaps the key lies in becoming more childlike. [Palmer, The Power of Laughter]

In 1906 Rockefeller told a newspaper reporter for the  New York American:  “I believe the power to make money is a gift from God . . . to be developed and used to the best of our ability for the good of mankind”

We  have second chances over and over, as many as it takes because of our elder brother, who paid the price necessary to ensure we understood, that we have a God of innumberable chances.

When you think about the power of family, the bonds are near impossible to break, it we but make the effort for those ties to become stronger and stronger.

How often, when we are tested or must sacrifice, do we charge God foolishly and ask the question, “Why me?" There is simply sacrifices that are made to be on the path of discipleship and to choose better in our lives and society.

“Why do we  say  what we  say , when we know what we know?” Doing we contribute to the fragility of others?  C.J. Waisath’s counsel: “We need to use our words to bless, uplift, and edify each other. . . . As we strive to be architects with our words, we can build a better world together, one person at a time. It’s that simple.”

" Complete and constant integrity is a great law of human conduct. There need to be some absolutes in life. There are some things that should not ever be done, some lines that should never be crossed, vows that should never be broken, words that should never be spoken, and thoughts that should never be entertained. "

Let us go a step further to the New Testament where there's just 14 words that tell us what Jesus Christ did to develop himself from age 12 unto his formal ministry at age 30. “ And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” [Luke 2:52].

How much more spiritual wonder, can and should we feel towards Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice on our journey toward eternal life. This wonder is the sensation of emotion, awe, or amazement common to all who fully center their lives on the Savior and His teachings and humbly recognize His presence in their lives.

God knows that some of the greatest souls who have ever lived are those who will never appear in the chronicles of history. They are the blessed, humble souls who emulate the Savior’s example and spend the days of their lives doing good.

“O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh” [2 Nephi 4:34].

Russell M. Nelson stated, “It is important for you to know who you are and who you may become. It is more important than what you do, even as vital as your work is and will be. Some people on life’s journey forget who they really are and what is really important. Without sure identity and priority, blessings that matter most are at the mercy of things that matter least.”

I was fortunate to have a mother who lived every day preparing to meet her Savior.  She was gracious, kind, loving, and always hopeful that good would prevail.  She studied her scriptures daily, prayed often, and had unwavering hope in the promises of our Redeemer.  She taught her children to always hope for a better day despite the trials and adversities that plagued our lives. &nb...

We have reason to shout for joy, recognize that opposition will come, but also the rising of a new day as we cast not away our confidence into a pool of doubts and fears.  With Jesus Christ as captain of our team, there is no need to fear or let our confidence falter.

We cannot earn our way into heaven; the demands of justice stand as a barrier, which we are powerless to overcome on our own. But all is not lost. The grace of God is our great and everlasting hope. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the plan of mercy appeases the demands of justice “and [brings] about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.“