A Christmas in Chile
For me Christmas has always been what’s inside the box.
It has to be something well thought out, not just a pair of socks.
Christmas just wasn’t complete It there weren’t 30 gifts for me
They all had to be wrapped and neatly placed under our real Christmas tree.
The stockings that hung by the chimney with care weren’t just the normal size…
They had to be extra big, so various gifts could fit inside.
You can’t forget the lights and tree, the cooking there is to do.
Even with decorations put up there is still more left for you.
There are always more parties then there are days that you & the family can attend.
And when you get feeling the Christmas spirit, a helping hand you really should lend.
And don’t forget the Christmas cards you still have to write,
By this time half the month is over, December is almost out of sight.
The shopping, the gifting, all there is to do really can distract
And take away from the spirit and your Christmas like tact.
So to all you crazy Christmasers I once was one of you,
And then something happened to me that could happen to you too.
I spent Christmas without the gifts, the parities, lights, and even the tree
But what I quickly realized is those things don’t matter to me.
You can do Christmas without the decorations, you can do it without the snow.
You can even feel the Christmas spirit with not one party to throw.
You see I’ll spend this Christmas with something else in mind.
This Christmas I’m His servant, all the rest I’ll leave behind.
I imagine for one second I was the one who saw the star,
Or one of the three wisemen who brought gifts and traveled far.
Or would I be the Innkeeper that turned them both away?
Only to send the Savior to be laid in a manger full of hay.
So this Christmas that I’ll have without the normal things
He will help me remember truly the wonders this holiday brings.
I am so blessed to be the one to tell all that I see
I know I have a Savior and tell them what He’s done for me.
This Christmas is a special one because I will wear His name
And share with all the message that years ago this day our Savior came.
By Hermana Tiffany Pasker,
Dec 2008, Chile Santiago North Mission
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Sunday, December 14, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
In My Pretty Gardens.....
I had the opportunity last week to visit with mission home gardener, Raul, for few minutes. As all of you know, he does a fantastic job keeping the mission home grounds beautiful. He has created a masterpiece of beautiful trees, flowers and plants. I asked him what part of his work brings him the most joy.
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He responded that it was caring for each individual plant so that it can flourish. I asked him how he goes about doing that. He says that it is important to know the strengths and weaknesses of each plant. I pointed to the rose and asked him to identify one of its strengths and one of its weaknesses. He said the roses can do well in the cold but do not do well in competition with weeds. He said the roots will not grow and develop if there are roots of weeds close to them. Their roots will not extend out and grow normally like they would if there were no weeds. Therefore they do not receive the water and nutrients that they need to flourish. Their flowers will not grow as large and as beautifully. (Alma 32:37,38)
As I thought of my responsibilities and the gardner here in the Chile Santiago North mission, I also find great joy in knowing each of you individually so that I can help you flourish and become the greatest missionaries the Lord created you to be. This also applies to each of you as caretakers of your own gardens. The wards in which you work are your gardens. As you work with your investigators, church leaders and members, it requires diligence, faith, and patience. (Alma 32:42-43) It is my prayer that we can be inspired missionaries and that we live our lives in a way that they we can draw upon the powers of heaven to cultivate and care for our gardens so that one day the Lord will say to us, ¨Well done my good and faithful servant!
I love you,
Presidente May
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He responded that it was caring for each individual plant so that it can flourish. I asked him how he goes about doing that. He says that it is important to know the strengths and weaknesses of each plant. I pointed to the rose and asked him to identify one of its strengths and one of its weaknesses. He said the roses can do well in the cold but do not do well in competition with weeds. He said the roots will not grow and develop if there are roots of weeds close to them. Their roots will not extend out and grow normally like they would if there were no weeds. Therefore they do not receive the water and nutrients that they need to flourish. Their flowers will not grow as large and as beautifully. (Alma 32:37,38)
As I thought of my responsibilities and the gardner here in the Chile Santiago North mission, I also find great joy in knowing each of you individually so that I can help you flourish and become the greatest missionaries the Lord created you to be. This also applies to each of you as caretakers of your own gardens. The wards in which you work are your gardens. As you work with your investigators, church leaders and members, it requires diligence, faith, and patience. (Alma 32:42-43) It is my prayer that we can be inspired missionaries and that we live our lives in a way that they we can draw upon the powers of heaven to cultivate and care for our gardens so that one day the Lord will say to us, ¨Well done my good and faithful servant!
I love you,
Presidente May
Read more!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Bible Dictionary describes WISE MEN of the East, MAGI
Wise Men of the East (Matthew 2:1-12)
The scriptures state that wise men (how many is not recorded), guided by a new star, came to Bethlehem to worship Jesus sometime after his birth. Who these men were we are not told, but it is certain they were not ordinary men. That they were privileged to search out the Son of God and give him gifts, and that they were spiritually sensitive and knowledgeable, suggests that they were actually prophets on a divine errand. The customary identification of them as astrologers is a gross misrepresentation. They evidently were holy men from a land east of Palestine.
See also MAGI.
Their identification is not made known in the scriptures, but it is certain that they were righteous men sent on an errand to witness the presence of the Son of God on the earth. Their spiritual capacity is evident; They were able to see the star when others could not; they knew its meaning and brought gifts to the young child; and they were warned of God in a dream to return to their home by a safe route. Their knowledge was precise and accurate. It seems likely that they were representatives of a branch of the Lord’s people somewhere from east of Palestine, who were led by the Spirit, to behold the Son of God, and who returned to their people to bear witness that the King Immanuel had indeed been born in the flesh. We are not told how many wise men there were, but tradition usually speaks of three, because of the three gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense. If they were serving in the capacity of witnesses, there would of necessity have been two or three.
(-- Bible Dictionary)
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The scriptures state that wise men (how many is not recorded), guided by a new star, came to Bethlehem to worship Jesus sometime after his birth. Who these men were we are not told, but it is certain they were not ordinary men. That they were privileged to search out the Son of God and give him gifts, and that they were spiritually sensitive and knowledgeable, suggests that they were actually prophets on a divine errand. The customary identification of them as astrologers is a gross misrepresentation. They evidently were holy men from a land east of Palestine.
See also MAGI.
Their identification is not made known in the scriptures, but it is certain that they were righteous men sent on an errand to witness the presence of the Son of God on the earth. Their spiritual capacity is evident; They were able to see the star when others could not; they knew its meaning and brought gifts to the young child; and they were warned of God in a dream to return to their home by a safe route. Their knowledge was precise and accurate. It seems likely that they were representatives of a branch of the Lord’s people somewhere from east of Palestine, who were led by the Spirit, to behold the Son of God, and who returned to their people to bear witness that the King Immanuel had indeed been born in the flesh. We are not told how many wise men there were, but tradition usually speaks of three, because of the three gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense. If they were serving in the capacity of witnesses, there would of necessity have been two or three.
(-- Bible Dictionary)
Read more!
Jesus Christ, The Light to the World
Elder Bruce R. McConkie has told about Jesus Christ being the Savior of the World:
“Christ is the light; the gospel is the light; the plan of salvation is the light; ‘that which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.’ As the light of the sun enters the body through our natural eyes, so the light of heaven—the light of the Spirit which illuminates our souls—enters through our spiritual eyes.”
We can be like a mirror and direct light even into dark places. We are NOT the sources of light; nevertheless, through us light can be reflected to others. We must return and report our stewardship and our words in the heavens when we leave this mortal life. Therefore let us teach and testify with no hesitancy that Jesus Christ lives and He is the Holy Son, the one through whom we gain salvation. He is our Eternal Light.”
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“Christ is the light; the gospel is the light; the plan of salvation is the light; ‘that which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.’ As the light of the sun enters the body through our natural eyes, so the light of heaven—the light of the Spirit which illuminates our souls—enters through our spiritual eyes.”
We can be like a mirror and direct light even into dark places. We are NOT the sources of light; nevertheless, through us light can be reflected to others. We must return and report our stewardship and our words in the heavens when we leave this mortal life. Therefore let us teach and testify with no hesitancy that Jesus Christ lives and He is the Holy Son, the one through whom we gain salvation. He is our Eternal Light.”
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THE CANDY CANE/ Baston de Pastores
Does the Candy Cane have some signifigant meaning that we should remember at Christmas time?
The Meaning of the Candy Cane
Hard Candy-Reminds us that Jesus is like a “Rock,” dependable.
Peppermint Flavor- Is like the gift of spices that the Wise Men brought.
White Candy- Stands for Jesus as the holy, sinless, pure Son of God.
Letter “J”- Is for the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Cane-Is like a staff used by shepherds in caring for sheep. Jesus is our “Good
Shepherd.” He wants us to feed His sheep.
Red color-Is for God’s love that sent Jesus to give his life and spill his blood for us on the cross.
The stripes-Reminds us of Jesus’ suffering—his crown of thorns, the wounds in his
hands and feet; and the cross on which he died.
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The Meaning of the Candy Cane
Hard Candy-Reminds us that Jesus is like a “Rock,” dependable.
Peppermint Flavor- Is like the gift of spices that the Wise Men brought.
White Candy- Stands for Jesus as the holy, sinless, pure Son of God.
Letter “J”- Is for the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Cane-Is like a staff used by shepherds in caring for sheep. Jesus is our “Good
Shepherd.” He wants us to feed His sheep.
Red color-Is for God’s love that sent Jesus to give his life and spill his blood for us on the cross.
The stripes-Reminds us of Jesus’ suffering—his crown of thorns, the wounds in his
hands and feet; and the cross on which he died.
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TRUE CHRISTMAS JOY
Our Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson has told us of the real joy in Christmas:
True Christmas JOY:
“Seeing a prodigal return…is a marvelous thing. To see someone, in the words of scripture, who comes to himself and resolves that “I will go to my Father,” is a marvelous journey for someone to make. The joy comes in seeing someone who has been crusty and difficult to deal with become more meek, or to see a family really come to love and appreciate each other. Those are the real miracles. The multitudes were fed five thousand loaves and fishes, yet they were hungry again the next day. But Jesus is the Bread of Life, and if we partake thereof then we will never be hungry again. The most lasting miracles are the miracles of transformation in people’s lives. These give one much joy, and while we can’t cause these to happen, the Lord lets us, at times, be instruments in that process. This brings us great joy.”
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True Christmas JOY:
“Seeing a prodigal return…is a marvelous thing. To see someone, in the words of scripture, who comes to himself and resolves that “I will go to my Father,” is a marvelous journey for someone to make. The joy comes in seeing someone who has been crusty and difficult to deal with become more meek, or to see a family really come to love and appreciate each other. Those are the real miracles. The multitudes were fed five thousand loaves and fishes, yet they were hungry again the next day. But Jesus is the Bread of Life, and if we partake thereof then we will never be hungry again. The most lasting miracles are the miracles of transformation in people’s lives. These give one much joy, and while we can’t cause these to happen, the Lord lets us, at times, be instruments in that process. This brings us great joy.”
Read more!
Miracle of Christmas is MORE...
This Christmas Season, let us remember what truly brings us the greatest, eternal Joy...knowling and loving Jesus Christ.
“But even if Christ had wrought no miracle—even if He had not walked upon the water, healed the sick, cast out devils, given sight to the blind, caused the lame to walk, or done anything else that men deem supernatural, was there not that about Him which bore unimpeachable testimony to His divinity?
What could be more divine than the life of One who “went about doing good: teaching men to give their enemies, to pray for those who persecuted them, and to do good unto others as they would that others should do unto them? It took a God to die for all men—foes as well as friends—and that act alone stamps divinity upon the character and mission of Jesus Christ.” --Orson F. Whitney, (1855-1931)
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“But even if Christ had wrought no miracle—even if He had not walked upon the water, healed the sick, cast out devils, given sight to the blind, caused the lame to walk, or done anything else that men deem supernatural, was there not that about Him which bore unimpeachable testimony to His divinity?
What could be more divine than the life of One who “went about doing good: teaching men to give their enemies, to pray for those who persecuted them, and to do good unto others as they would that others should do unto them? It took a God to die for all men—foes as well as friends—and that act alone stamps divinity upon the character and mission of Jesus Christ.” --Orson F. Whitney, (1855-1931)
Read more!
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