The Christmas story, as told in the book of Luke, tells of Joseph and Mary traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem and, while they were there, Mary bringing forth her firstborn son and laying him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn (see Luke 2:4-7; emphasis added).
Each of us, some two thousand years later, plays the role of innkeeper. Each of us decides whether there is room for Him in our hearts and in our lives.
What? you may say. No room for Jesus?
Yet, we may unwittingly, unconsciously leave no room for Him because of the cares of daily living, the very busy-ness of our lives, especially at this hectic season of the year.
If we ignore the needy and less fortunate, the lonely and suffering, the aged and the children, or those whom Jesus referred to as the least among us (see Matthew 25:40), then we are saying we have no room for Him.
If we fail to keep His commandments (see John 14:15), which center in loving and serving God and in loving and serving our neighbor (see Matthew 22:36-40), then we are saying we have no room for Him.
If we forget to take time to ponder and pray and to thank Him for His abundant blessings and tender mercies (see D&C 59:21), then we are saying we have no room for Him.
As the final verse of one of our beloved carols, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," reminds us,
How silently, how silently
The wondrous give is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heav'n.
No ear may hear his coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
Our Christmas wish is that our inns will not be too full and that we will allow the dear Christ to enter in.
Showing posts with label Number 390. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Number 390. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
2 Quote of the week
"The Atonement has been written about for centuries by prophets both ancient and modern, but is it written in our hearts? The Atonement is not an academic abstract that is learned like the multiplication tables. If we are prepared, . . . the Atonement can sink deep in our hearts and fill us with wonder."
— Rollin H. Hotchkiss
(BYU Magazine, Fall 2010, 55;
from a devotional address on Dec. 8, 2009)
3 This week in our family
Our family's calendar for the next two weeks
Thurs, Dec 2: Talmage & Louise married 2006 [Dean]
Fri, Dec 3: Hannah Grace Kersker's birthday [Lyle]
Sat, Dec 4: Curtis's birthday [Ray]
Tues, Dec 7: Brian's birthday [Gail]
Wed, Dec 8: Aric's birthday [Lyle]
Wed, Dec 8: Dustin & Michelle Duay married 2002 [Gail]
Wed, Dec 8: Aaron Challis's birthday [Dean]
Thurs, Dec 9: Chuck McAllister's birthday [Kay]
Sun, Dec 12: Ronnie's birthday [Gene]
Sun, Dec 12: Tanner Hoff born and died 1995 [Dean]
Sun, Dec 12: McCall's birthday [Kay]
Tues, Dec 14: James died 1999 [Dean]
Wed, Dec 15: Chad & Melissa married 1994 [Kay]
Wed, Dec 15: Next issue of newsletter published
If ever we are missing anyone's birthday or anniversary, please let us know.
4 Bits and tidbits
Lynda's family
Angie "believes cousins are the first friends of our lives." She continued in her Facebook post: "When you grow up, they are still your friends. Repost this if you have some of the best cousins in the world!! They may not be part of your daily life, but they are never far from your thoughts and memories!! Love You ALL."
On Thanksgiving evening she posted: "What a great day! We didn't get to go to Laramie for turkey; however, Dick and I cooked and took a plate to Grandma Lynda and Aunt Debbie." She went on to explain that Lynda has a broken ankle and Debbie had had two molars pulled the day before.
Dean's family
Claudia and I flew home Sunday morning from a week visiting Paul and Eliza and their two little boys in Atlanta, where Paul is in his third year of pharmacy school at Mercer University. A week ago Sunday, the one just before Thanksgiving, our four-year-old grandson Peter was in his first Primary sacrament meeting program and, of course, was absolutely darling. And on Thanksgiving morning Paul ran the Atlanta half marathon with his best time ever (01:49). He certainly earned his Thanksgiving dinner.
Pete, Anna, and Miles returned Tuesday afternoon from their visit with Rachael, Robert, and their four girls in Illinois.
Angie "believes cousins are the first friends of our lives." She continued in her Facebook post: "When you grow up, they are still your friends. Repost this if you have some of the best cousins in the world!! They may not be part of your daily life, but they are never far from your thoughts and memories!! Love You ALL."
On Thanksgiving evening she posted: "What a great day! We didn't get to go to Laramie for turkey; however, Dick and I cooked and took a plate to Grandma Lynda and Aunt Debbie." She went on to explain that Lynda has a broken ankle and Debbie had had two molars pulled the day before.
Dean's family
Claudia and I flew home Sunday morning from a week visiting Paul and Eliza and their two little boys in Atlanta, where Paul is in his third year of pharmacy school at Mercer University. A week ago Sunday, the one just before Thanksgiving, our four-year-old grandson Peter was in his first Primary sacrament meeting program and, of course, was absolutely darling. And on Thanksgiving morning Paul ran the Atlanta half marathon with his best time ever (01:49). He certainly earned his Thanksgiving dinner.
Pete, Anna, and Miles returned Tuesday afternoon from their visit with Rachael, Robert, and their four girls in Illinois.
5 Our family 50 years ago
Excerpts from the December 1960 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982). The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on a 40-acre farm in the Deer Flat area south of Nampa, Idaho.
Thurs, Dec 1. Got home from Salt Lake. I got in to Nampa on 6:30 A.M train & had call boy call boy Ivard at Boise & tell him to pick me up, he was just leaving for home.
Fri, Dec 2. Gene went to work with Ivard & sold candy bars. Jackie got me up at 1:30 & we went after Kids, got nearly there before I found out it was only 1:30 so we came back & I got diary up. I went after Kids at 3:30.
Sat, Dec 3. I came home from work & went to bed & Jerry woke me up at noon when him & Ray got home from selling Xmas decorations & cards & we went to Adrian & Nyssa selling cards. Jerry Ray, Dean & I. we went to Gails awhile & they sold him 2 boxws cards & a Xmas decoration.
Sun, Dec 4. Jerry - Gene & Ray went to Priesthood at 9:15. Ivard got up & took little Kids to sunday school & I never heard any thing. Jerry got dinner & woke me up at 2:30 to make gravy. Ray delivered fast offerings
Mon, Dec 5. Bishop called to say Kay was going to Andes Mission.
Tues, Dec 6. I had to get pushed clear to Caldwell to start car & it was so cold & wind shield was froze up. Ivard took car in to Dobbs & waited until they tore it down, needs a complete overhall. I went to Wards & bought bought a Sterio-hy-fy for Xmas. Went to Dobbs & looked at new cars, they let us borrow an old one while they are fixing ours.
Wed, Dec 7. The car Dobbs lent us froze up on me & I had to stop at Service station & have it thawed out. I was froze to death. I made some pop corn & got warm. Ray went in & had physical for basketball then they went roller skateing with Owyhee ward sunday school class.
Thurs, Dec 8. Called Kay to tell him he had his mission call to Andes Mission.
Fri, Dec 9. at 5:30 Ivard & I went in to garage & got car then bought a couple of 29 cent presents for gift exchange at Mutual officers Party at church. We went at 7:30 & had barbacue Turkey supper & danced & had gift exchange. My nite off.
Sat, Dec 10. Ivard got home at 6: & put his cold feet on me. Gene did chores & made hot cakes for breakfast. Jerry - Gene, Ray & I went to town Xmas shopping. We came home & I mixed up a freezer of icecream & Ivard froze it while Jerry fixed hambergers & trimmings & punch for supper.
Sun, Dec 11. Jerry - Gene - Ray - Dean & Dale went to Priesthood and sunday school. made no bake cookies & a freezer of icecream & Gene & Jerry froze it & we ate when Ivard came at 4: then they watched "Wizzard of OZ" & I wrote Mother
Mon, Dec 12. I got up at 2:30 & went to town & mailed Kays mission call & went Xmas shopping.
Tues, Dec 13. Jackie & I went to relief society work day & Xmas party & Jerry went up to see the air force recruiter. We had a Turkey dinner & all the trimmings furnished by the Presidency, sure good. Had a programe & made Xmas center pieces. I learned how to make a towel pillow.
Wed, Dec 14. Jerry went to see the air force guy. He was only one out of 7 to pass test yesterday. He failed misserably, the guy said, ont he electronic & mechanic part. the office part he was highest in area.
6 What in the world
College football
Auburn, Oregon, and TCU are the top-ranked teams across all the polls. Utah (now ranked 20th in the BCS standings) beat BYU last Saturday by one point, 17-16.
Christmas devotional
The annual First Presidency Christmas devotional will be held this coming Sunday, December 5, at 6:00 p.m. MST. The devotional will include Christmas messages from the First Presidency and music by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square. Originating from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, the devotional will also be available on various broadcast, cable, satellite, and Internet television stations and broadcast, satellite, and Internet radio stations throughout the world.
Auburn, Oregon, and TCU are the top-ranked teams across all the polls. Utah (now ranked 20th in the BCS standings) beat BYU last Saturday by one point, 17-16.
Christmas devotional
The annual First Presidency Christmas devotional will be held this coming Sunday, December 5, at 6:00 p.m. MST. The devotional will include Christmas messages from the First Presidency and music by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square. Originating from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, the devotional will also be available on various broadcast, cable, satellite, and Internet television stations and broadcast, satellite, and Internet radio stations throughout the world.
7 A final word
Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving. And now our attention turns toward Christmas. We think about and hopefully are grateful for the many gifts in our lives, the tender mercies that come in unexpected moments from our Heavenly Father.
Of course the greatest gift of all is His sending His Son into mortality. What a remarkable gift! That is, after all, the reason we even celebrate Christmas. And it is by far the greatest evidence of His love for us.
But there are daily reminders, the spiritual gifts He sends along the way to lift and bless our own lives and to help us be more profitable servants in lifting and blessing the lives of those about us. Such gifts, the Lord has said, "are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do” (D&C 46:9).
There are many kinds of gifts. The scriptures mention some common ones found among true disciples of the Savior: faith, testimony, hope, charity, administration, teaching, wisdom, knowledge, the faith to heal, the faith to be healed, the working of miracles, prophecy, the administration of angels, discerning of spirits, tongues, the interpretation of tongues (see, for example, 1 Corinthians 12–14; Moroni 10:8–23; and D&C 46:8–26).
Five marvelous chapters in the scriptures (1 Corinthians 12-14, Moroni 10, and section 46 of the Doctrine and Covenants) contain the most comprehensive listing of spiritual gifts.
Elder Marvin J. Ashton, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (1915–1994), on one occasion pointed out some less conspicuous spiritual gifts that we may enjoy: “The gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost” (“There Are Many Gifts,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 20).
And a final gift that is worthy of particular mention this time of year: the loved ones in our lives. Family members. Friends. Associates. Let us during this holiday season and always treasure those relationships that enrich and bless and lift our lives. Let us be grateful for the people who make our journey through life worthwhile.
Of course the greatest gift of all is His sending His Son into mortality. What a remarkable gift! That is, after all, the reason we even celebrate Christmas. And it is by far the greatest evidence of His love for us.
But there are daily reminders, the spiritual gifts He sends along the way to lift and bless our own lives and to help us be more profitable servants in lifting and blessing the lives of those about us. Such gifts, the Lord has said, "are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do” (D&C 46:9).
There are many kinds of gifts. The scriptures mention some common ones found among true disciples of the Savior: faith, testimony, hope, charity, administration, teaching, wisdom, knowledge, the faith to heal, the faith to be healed, the working of miracles, prophecy, the administration of angels, discerning of spirits, tongues, the interpretation of tongues (see, for example, 1 Corinthians 12–14; Moroni 10:8–23; and D&C 46:8–26).
Five marvelous chapters in the scriptures (1 Corinthians 12-14, Moroni 10, and section 46 of the Doctrine and Covenants) contain the most comprehensive listing of spiritual gifts.
Elder Marvin J. Ashton, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (1915–1994), on one occasion pointed out some less conspicuous spiritual gifts that we may enjoy: “The gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost” (“There Are Many Gifts,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 20).
And a final gift that is worthy of particular mention this time of year: the loved ones in our lives. Family members. Friends. Associates. Let us during this holiday season and always treasure those relationships that enrich and bless and lift our lives. Let us be grateful for the people who make our journey through life worthwhile.
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