New Year's: Look Not behind Thee

How to Make 2011 your BEST YEAR EVER

I have done a lot of thinking about the upcoming year and I want to make it the best one I have had so far. I feel like this past year has brought myself and many others a lot of growth , especially spiritually speaking. 2010 will be difficult to top, but I think I've figured out the way that it can be done for all of us. The way that 2011 can be the greatest year thus far in our lives is......

Are you ready to hear it? Alright, here's the secret! Drum roll please.........          

                                            GOAL SETTING!

Worthy goals that are made, recorded and followed through on make us stretch. They allow us to achieve new heights and new levels of happiness and contentment. They can make us better, stronger people. Spiritual goals make us feel closer to God and develop that eternal perspective that we should all be looking for.

"I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life."
-M. Russell Ballard

Have you tried setting big goals, but fallen short? Or do you feel overwhelmed with all that can be done and all the improvement that can be made? Don't feel this way. Everyone has room for improvement and has their own problems. Don't get down on yourself.

"If your goals are righteous, of God-given perspective, eternal in their nature, then go for them. Pray for the inner strength to have the discipline to do those things that will guarantee through your activity and your life that you will reach your goals. Then, I think, perhaps as important as anything, we have to have faith. We have to have faith in God. We have to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And oh, how desperately we have to have faith in ourselves."       -M. Russell Ballard

Use the S.M.A.R.T. goal setting system.

Make your goals:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Realistic
• Timely

Let's keep our goals right on target by focusing on what is the most important. Our relationship with our Father in Heaven is essential. We can't forget to make spiritual goals among our other goals.Some ideas for spiritual goals that would benefit you include: praying daily, reading scriptures daily (if you don't have any let me know), attending church services weekly, holding a weekly family home evening, living the commandments and there are many others.

Don't forget to write down your goals somewhere that you will see them and record your progress!

If you'll do this 2011 will be your greatest year so far.

  
Thanks for reading.

Wise Men Still Seek Him

The story of the three wise men seeking the Christ child is one that we can all liken to our lives. The following is different selections of scripture from the New Testament in the  gospel of Matthew, chapter 2.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet,

 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

The wise men followed the writings of the prophets and after diligently searching for Christ, they found him. They presented him with gifts and worshipped him. What would you do if you were presented with the opportunity to come to the Christ. What would you give Him? Would you give Him presents? Even today we can come unto the Christ as the wise men did. We can give him our faith, our thoughts, our actions, even our lives. If we will seek him and follow the words of the prophets we will find the Christ.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Thanks for reading!

The Good Shephard

I had the privilege of being born and raised in a very small town called Manila. There are only a couple hundred people there and it is located at the foot of the Uintah mountains right by the Flaming Gorge. It is a ranching community. Some of my great friends there raise sheep. I don't think I'd have the time and patience required to do it, but they did very well and were very diligent in watching their sheep and taking care of their needs. I am pretty sure they even had names for all of their sheep even though there were so many. I remember being with my friends who had the sheep and them recieving a phonecall saying something had gone wrong at their ranch. They dropped what they were doing and went straight out to the ranch to help them even though it was about a 30 minute drive. I know they did this many times. They loved their sheep and took great care of them. If one of them ran away then they would find it. If one of their sheep was cold then then they would give it warmth even if that meant it coming inside of their own home.

John 10: 11,14, 15 
 I am the good shephard: the good shephard giveth his life for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Psalms 23:1,2,3

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

I love these scriptures. They bring me comfort and peace. Just as my good friends from Manila, Utah, cared for their sheep, Jesus Christ cares for us. He always has time for us. He will never leave us. Sometimes we make bad choices that may lead us away from him for a time, but he is always searching and inviting us back. No sheep is too lost. None are too far gone. He will heal us. He will bring us warmth and comfort when there are no others around. Jesus Christ is the good shepherd. He knows us by name. He's given us so much. He's given us guidance, hope for the future, life after death and happiness. He's given us his life. His birth about 2000 years ago is the greatest gift our Father in Heaven has ever given us. May we follow our shepherd. 

Christmas Spirit

This is a very touching video clip that I know you would enjoy. It's about a young girl who knows the true meaning of Christmas. She quietly teaches her busy family it's true meaning. May we all remember the reason for the season! The birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. May we honor him by going out of our way to help someone this Christmas season.

Which Path to Follow?

There are so many places to go. So many things to see and do.
Who do we want to become? Where do we want to end up? What path will be of the most value to us? These are questions that we all should be asking ourselves.

We are constantly being pushed in different directions. When we think about what paths we want to follow, we first need to think about where we want to end up. I think almost everyone wants happiness.

Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it.

                        -Joseph Smith

We need to understand that the paths that we follow now will dictate where we end up, who we become, and how we will feel for eternities to come. We are supposed to be happy. That is why we are here. If we pursue the path that leads to it then that is what we will get.

This is a great poem about about being confronted with different paths to follow.

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

                                             Then took the other, as just as fair,
                                             And having perhaps the better claim,
                                             Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
                                             Though as for that the passing there
                                             Had worn them really about the same.

                                              And both that morning equally lay
                                              In leaves no step had trodden black.
                                              Oh, I kept the first for another day!
                                             Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
                                              I doubted if I should ever come back.

                                                I shall be telling this with a sigh
                                             Somewhere ages and ages hence:
                                              Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
                                             I took the one less traveled by,
                                             And that has made all the difference.

                                                                -Robert Frost

The one path that leads to true happiness and peace is the path that has already been walked by Jesus Christ. He's prepared the way for us. He's been right where we are. His teachings and his life makes it so we can be happy even when things aren't perfect all around us. He's overcome the world. He's always telling us to be of good cheer. In him we can have peace. During this season and for many to come it is my prayer that we can all choose to follow him in all that we do. May we serve others as he did. It is my prayer that we will all let his restored gospel touch our lives.

Kids and Christmas

The Christmas season is HERE! It is my favorite time of the year. This is a great video with some cute kids and their thoughts about Christmas. We can learn a lot from Children! During this Christmas season I hope we can all direct our thoughts and actions towards Jesus Christ. For He is after all, the reason for the season.