Wednesday, January 17, 2007

   Matthew 9: 10-13, 18, 20-25, 35-38
And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
[...]
While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
[...]
And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
[...]
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Proverbs 10: 19-22, 25, 27-28
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
[...]
[B]ut the righteous is an everlasting foundation.
[...]
The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

A nice story:
Malachi 3:3 says:
"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says, "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, How do you know when the silver is fully refined? "He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it "
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
Someone needs to know that God is watching over them. And, whatever they're going through, they'll be a better person in the end. "Life is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once."
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply, Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

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Equus: Yes, Refi-chan, you can vote for both Redwall and Jake Long. However, that ties the two of them, since there are no other votes as of yet. ^^; Does anyone else want to hear a story? Any story?

Xihuitl: Also, thank you, Night Shade2, for your friendship. Love to you all.

Equus: Yes, we're going to sneak off to work on stories...and a MyO e-card...hehehe...

Xihuitl: Love, hugs, and we'll see you soon.

Equus: Pocket glomps! Heavenly Father blesses you with everything good in your life, and Jesus Christ loves you. They want you to return. Hugs. Ta-ta.

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"There are few things in life that bring as much joy as the joy that comes from assisting another improve his or her life. That joy is increased when those efforts help someone understand the teachings of the Savior and that person decides to obey them, is converted, and joins His Church. "
— Elder Richard G. Scott, Ensign, Nov. 1997, 35

"Those who stand firm, steadfast, and immovable are given great inner hidden powers and unseen strengths."
—President James E. Faust, Ensign, Feb. 1982, 71

John 3: 13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

As Christ did for us. God loves you. Remember that. Pocket hugs.
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Tuesday, January 16, 2007

   Love and hugs! Be careful out there!
Doctrine & Covenants 76: 5-11, 20, 22-24, 41-42
For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.
Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.
And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.
Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations.
And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven; and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught.
For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will—yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.
We, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Sidney Rigdon, being ain the Spirit on the sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two—
[...]
And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fulness;
[...]
And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—
That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.
[...]
That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;
That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him;

Matthew 9: 2-6, 8
And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
[...]
But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

(I'll share more from this wonderful chapter next time. ^_^)

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Equus: We have snow! And yesterday, before the snow, which came today, a couple friends and I took a nice little adventurous walk along a stream with a few of our dogs. ^_^

Xihuitl: Have a good evening, and God bless you. Equus will visit and will respond to your comments and all from the last post in the next post. She is going to bed soon, because she's very tired. Right, Eq-chan?

Equus: Right! Love and hugs to all of you, my friends. :-D

Xihuitl: Here are you pocket hugs. Good day! God blesses you, and Jesus Christ loves you.

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Fact of the day: English is actually a Germanic language. However, it has borrowed many words from other languages. Also, when they established the "rules" of the language, they tried to use Latin rules for English. So it's kinda confuddling. *Is that even a word, Equus?* Not technically, but it's fun! *And thus it goes. ^_^*

"The most important, life-changing information that I know of is the knowledge that we are truly children of God our Eternal Father."
—Elder M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, May 1999, 86

"As we pursue our journeys, let us ever bear in mind that in train travel and in life, there are stations, there are departures, calls, schedules, and opportunities for being side-tracked and diverted. Wise is the individual who follows in his, the Savior's, paths. Safety and joy belong to those who will come and follow him. I bear witness to you today that God is eternal. We are eternal, and God never intended for us to travel alone."
Marvin J. Ashton

"Many today feel troubled and distressed; many feel that, at any moment, the ships of their lives could capsize or sink. It is to you who are looking for a safe harbor that I wish to speak today, you whose hearts are breaking, you who are worried or afraid, you who bear grief or the burdens of sin, you who feel no one is listening to your cries, you whose hearts are pleading, 'Master, carest thou not that I perish?' To you I offer a few words of comfort and of counsel.
"Be assured that there is a safe harbor. You can find peace amidst the storms that threaten you. Your Heavenly Father--who knows when even a sparrow falls--knows of your heartache and suffering. He loves you and wants the best for you. Never doubt this. While He allows all of us to make choices that may not always be for our own or even others' well-being, and while He does not always intervene in the course of events, He has promised the faithful peace even in their trials and tribulations."
~ Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Finding a Safe Harbor," Ensign, May 2000, 59

Doctrine & Covenants 50: 24
That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light , and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light growth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
(Thanks, Refi-chan, aka Tiggerola!)
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Wednesday, January 10, 2007

   Believe!
"Sustaining faith can be the ultimate comfort in life.
[...]
"Coming to know God is the principal spiritual gift that can come to any man or woman."
~ President James E. Faust, "Lord, I Believe; Help Thou Mine Unbelief", Ensign, Nov. 2003, 19

"The gift of the Holy Ghost, given to us when we are confirmed, gives us the ability to discern the difference between the giving ways of the kingdom of God and the taking practices of the world."
~ Elder Robert D. Hales, Ensign, Nov. 2000, 8

Moroni 18: 7-11
[...]there were a goodly number gathered together at the place of Mormon, to hear the words of Alma. Yea, all were gathered together that believed on his word, to hear him. And he did ateach them, and did preach unto them repentance, and redemption, and faith on the Lord.
And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?
And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.

Psalm 10: 12, 16-18
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
[...]
The LORD is King for ever and ever[...]
Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

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Equus: Okay! Who would be interested in hearing a story? You have your choice between a Gundam Wing fic, a Sailor Moon fic, a Redwall fic, a Jake Long: American Dragon fic, an original story, and no story at all. ^_^

K-c: And hopefully no one will pick the last choice.

Kakashi #8: But they should be truthful.

Equus: Yep. I'd rather not tell a story than to scare them all away. ^_^

Xihuitl: You'd be miserable if they said they didn't want a story.

Kurama #3: But Miss Equus is polite and would respect their feelings. Besides, I'm sure she can find some other happiness and entertainment for herself and her friends.

Xihuitl: True. She's done it for some time now. So please, be honest.

Equus: ^__^ Love and hugs. Jesus Christ loves you, and Heavenly Father blesses you! Glomp! Pocket hugs! (throws to everyone)

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Fact of the day: There is a comet right now! It's really close to the sun, so if you're looking for it at sunset, be quick. Otherwise, it'll set before you see it. I'm not sure if I saw it today or not.

"As children of the Lord we should strive every day to rise to a higher level of personal righteousness in all of our actions."
~ President James E. Faust, Ensign, May 2005, 68
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Tuesday, January 9, 2007

   1 Nephi 11: 20-28, 30-31, 33
And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.
And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?
And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.
And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.
And after he had said these words, he said unto me: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God going forth among the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him.
And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.
And the angel said unto me again: Look and behold the condescension of God!
And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the prophet who should prepare the way before him. And the Lamb of God went forth and was baptized of him; and after he was baptized, I beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon him in the form of a dove.
And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the people, in power and great glory; and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him; and I beheld that they cast him out from among them.
[...]
And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the heavens open again, and I saw angels descending upon the children of men; and they did minister unto them.
And he spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men. And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, [...] and the angel spake and showed all these things unto me. And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God; and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out.
[...]
And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.

Psalm 143: 5-6, 8-11
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
[...]
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the away wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

Psalm 145: 1, 3, 8-10, 18-21
I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
[...]
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
[...]
The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.
[...]
The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
He will fulfil the adesire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

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Equus: Okay, hope you like the scriptures and quotes. ^_^ Please visit Refi-chan's site for her inspirational thoughts and the end of her Christmas story...and an announcement! I'm working on stories right now (or will be shortly). Maybe I'll share one sometime. Love and hugs. (glomp!) Take care, and God be with you. And please tell me if you'd be interested in reading a story. God bless, and Jesus Christ loves you. Have faith in Them and follow Them to eternal life.

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Fact of the day: Dandelion leaves and clover leaves and flowers are edible.

2 Nephi 31: 20
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

"The famed statesman, William Gladstone, described the formula for peace when he declared: “We look forward to the time when the power of love will replace the love of power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace.”
"World peace, though a lofty goal, is but an outgrowth of the personal peace each individual seeks to attain. I speak not of the peace promoted by man, but peace as promised of God. I speak of peace in our homes, peace in our hearts, even peace in our lives. Peace after the way of man is perishable. Peace after the manner of God will prevail.
[...]
"Service, to be acceptable to the Savior, must come from willing minds, ready hands, and pledged hearts."
~ President Thomas S. Monson, "The Path to Peace", Ensign, May 1994, 62

"I encourage you to discover who you really are. I invite you to look beyond the daily routine of life. I urge you to discern through the Spirit your divinely given capacities."
~ Elder Richard G. Scott, "Realize Your Full Potential", Ensign, Nov. 2003, 41
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Monday, January 8, 2007

   Chronicles of Narnia--a witness of Christ's love
"We need both the Church and the family. They work hand in hand to strengthen each other."
~ Elder Russell M. Nelson, "Set in Order Thy House", Ensign, Nov. 2001, 70

Matthew 7: 7-12, 17, 20-21
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
If ye then[...] know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
[...]
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
[...]
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Psalm 144: 9-10, 15
I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.
[...]
Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

Alma 7: 11-13
And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

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Thank you, NightShade2! You're a sweet friend.

Fact of the day: Some songs share tunes. For example, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", "Baa Baa, Black Sheep", and the "Alphabet Song" all are the same tune. And the shared tune I realized today was that of "I Love You" and "Knick-Knack". You know, "This old man, he had one..." Anyway, yeah, fun times. ^_^ My mom and I sang nursery rhymes while we were paddling a two-person kayak. It was fun.

In a world of unrest and fear, political turmoil and moral drift, I testify that Jesus is the Christ—that He is the living Bread and living Water—still, yet, and always the great Shield of safety in our lives."
~ Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, Nov. 2004, 9

"Happiness and spiritual progress lie in following the leaders of the Church." After all, they are God's servants chosen to lead us by His word.
~ Elder Dallin H. Oaks, "The Witness: Martin Harris", Ensign, May 1999, 37
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Thursday, January 4, 2007

   The
"Be assured that, if you will explain what you know and testify of what you feel, you may plant a seed that will grow and blossom into a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
"Behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.” 27
"[...]I bear witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. He lives. He is our Redeemer and is our Savior. He presides over this Church. He is no stranger to His servants here."
~ President Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, Apr. 1998, 67

Moroni 8: 2, 10-12
My beloved son, Moroni, I rejoice exceedingly that your Lord Jesus Christ hath been mindful of you, and hath called you to his ministry, and to his holy work.
[...]
Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach—repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children.
And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.
But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism!

Psalm 142: 1-2, 5-7
I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.
I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.
[...]
I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

Psalm 146: 5-8, 10
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:
The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:
[...]
The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.

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Xihuitl: Refi-chan, you are not helping the situation!

Equus: Hi, Refi-chan! Maybe sometime when I don't have work the next day, I can stay up late so we can talk!

Xihuitl: Gah...

Kurama #3: Miss Equus, you really should be getting more sleep.

Equus: I know. ^___^ (skips off)

Kurama #3: o.o

Xihuitl: Well, sooner or later she'll crash, and we'll just put her in her bed and let her sleep it off. And then, hopefully, she'll have learned her lesson.

CRASH!

(grumbling mumbles)

Kyo-clone: Xihuitl! Your human fell on me!

Kakashi #8: I think she's unconscious.

Xihuitl: See? I told you.

Haru #8: Here are your pocket hugs for the weekend. God be with you, and Jesus Christ loves you. Take care.

Xihuitl: Hugs!

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Fact of the day: Honesty, also called dollar plant or something similar, has seed pods that are flat, circular, and papery. They are also translucent, so when you hold them up to light, you can see the little seeds inside. "Isn't that neat?"

God loves you and blesses you. Hugs!

"The purpose of mortal life and the mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to prepare the sons and daughters of God for their destiny—to become like our heavenly parents."
~ Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, Oct. 1995, 7

"In Minerva Teichert's magnificent painting Christ in a Red Robe, the Savior of mankind, with nail prints in His hands, stands majestically with outstretched arms. In tenderness and compassion He looks down upon the women straining to reach Him.
"I love the symbolism of women reaching out to touch the Savior. We long to be close to the Lord, for we know that He loves each of us and desires to encircle us 'eternally in the arms of his love.' His touch can heal ailments spiritual, emotional, or physical. He is our Advocate, Exemplar, Good Shepherd, and Redeemer. Where else would we look, where else would we reach, where else would we come but to Jesus Christ, 'the author and finisher of our faith'?"
~ Anne C. Pingree, "To Look, Reach, and Come unto Christ," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 113
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Wednesday, January 3, 2007

   Tiiiiiirrreed......
Moroni 9: 25-26
My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.
And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the aright hand of his power, until all things shall become subject unto him, be, and abide with you forever. Amen.

Mosiah 18: 8-11
And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?
11 And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.

John 13: 31-32, 34-35
Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
[...]
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 14: 11-17
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 3: 14-17, 35-36
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
[...]
The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

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Xihuitl: Thank you, NightShade2. I agree, it is nice that God is always watching over us.

Equus: Xihuitl. I have a headache.

Xihuitl: You wouldn't if you didn't stay up after 1 in the morning talking to DarkLynx9701 about stories.

Equus: But it was fun.

Xihuitl: At a better time, I wouldn't mind. Tonight, you are getting sleep. Correct?

Equus: (pouts) Yes, ma'am.

Xihuitl: I hope you like the scriptures. There are a lot, but if you don't make it through them all, you can save them and read them later. ^_^ Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you. God be with you and blesses us all. Love and hugs!

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"[T]he Man of Galilee, the Christ, who healed the sick and lifted men’s hearts and hopes, He who taught the gospel of peace. His enemies, motivated by that evil power, seized Him, tortured Him, nailed Him to the cross, and spoke in mockery against Him. But by the power of His godhood, He overcame the death His enemies had inflicted and through His sacrifice brought salvation from death to all men."
~ President Gordon B. Hinckley, "The War We Are Winning", Ensign, Nov. 1986, 44

"In this work there must be commitment. There must be devotion. We are engaged in a great eternal struggle that concerns the very souls of the sons and daughters of God."
~ President Gordon B. Hinckley, "The War We Are Winning", Ensign, Nov. 1986, 44

"May we muster courage at the crossroads, courage for the conflicts, courage to say no, courage to say yes, for courage counts."
~ President Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Nov. 1986, 42
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Tuesday, January 2, 2007

Whoot! It's another good day! ^_^ Heavenly Father loves us all!
What child is this who laid to rest on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guards and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary.

How came He here in such mean estate, where ox and lambs are feeding?
Good Christians cheer! For sinners here, the silent Word is pleading.
Nails, thorns shall pierce Him through, the cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the word made flesh, the Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him frankincense, gold, and myrrh. Come peasant, king to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings. Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise the song on high! The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born, the Babe, the Son of Mary.

Joy, joy for Christ is born, the Babe, the Son of God!

I know it's after Christmas, but enjoy. ^_^ Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you. God bless you all. Have faith, and let's help each other. Hugs!

1 Nephi 11: 20-28, 30-31, 33
And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.
And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?
And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.
And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.
And after he had said these words, he said unto me: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God going forth among the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him.
And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.
And the angel said unto me again: Look and behold the condescension of God!
And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the prophet who should prepare the way before him. And the Lamb of God went forth and was baptized of him; and after he was baptized, I beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon him in the form of a dove.
And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the people, in power and great glory; and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him; and I beheld that they cast him out from among them.
[...]
And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the heavens open again, and I saw angels descending upon the children of men; and they did minister unto them.
And he spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men. And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, [...] and the angel spake and showed all these things unto me. And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God; and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out.
[...]
And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.

Alma 7: 11-13
And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

Moroni 10: 3-6
Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.
And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us, and They will guide and help us. In our Lord Jesus Christ's holy name, amen.

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Xihuitl: Well, we wanted to share these thoughts with you. Love, hugs, and God be with you. Jesus Christ loves you.

K-c: Here are your pocket hugs for the day, guaranteed hypoallergenic. Or something.

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As faith flows, we become sensitively attuned to the whisperings of the Spirit. Our minds are enlightened, our spiritual pulse quickens, our hearts are touched.
Faith fuels hope. Our perspective changes; our vision becomes clearer. We begin to look for the best, not the worst, in life and in others. We gain a deeper sense of life’s purpose and meaning. Despair gives way to joy.
Faith such as this is a heavenly gift, but it can be sought and cultivated. As our Bible Dictionary suggests, often “faith is kindled by hearing the testimony of those who have faith.” 1 Faith is then nurtured as we allow ourselves to believe. Like all other virtues, faith is strengthened as we practice it, as we live and act as if our faith were already deep. Faith is the product of righteous desire, belief, and obedience.
Thus the Book of Mormon example of the father of King Lamoni, who heard the testimony of Aaron and was willing to believe and to act so that he was led to say in humble prayer, “If there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee.”
[...]
At these moments of crisis and challenge, some choose to abandon faith just at the time when it most needs to be embraced. Prayer is ignored at the very hour when it needs to be intensified. Virtue is carelessly tossed aside when it needs to be cherished. God is forsaken in the all-too-human yet mistaken fear that He has forsaken us.
The truth is that our only safety, our only security, our only hope is to hold fast to that which is good. As the mists of darkness gather around us, we are only lost if we choose to let go of the iron rod, which is the word of God.
The Savior’s parable of the wise man who built his house upon a rock has power precisely because it illustrates that life’s challenges befell the wise man too. The rains fell, the winds blew, the floods rose up. Yet he survived it all because he had built upon a sure foundation and, crucially, he stayed there when the storm came.
[...]
The Apostle Paul urged the Colossians to “continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard.”
To the people of Corinth came this powerful testimony:
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; [...]
“Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”
What made such a perspective possible? Paul gave the reason: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
It is my witness that as we cultivate our faith, grow through service, and stay constant and true come what may, so we feel the Savior’s love. We place ourselves in the position where we can access the breadth and depth of the blessings of the Atonement. Our membership is transformed into discipleship. We are strengthened, cleansed, refreshed, spiritually and emotionally healed.
Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
~ David S. Baxter, “Faith, Service, Constancy,” Ensign, Nov. 2006, 13
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Monday, January 1, 2007

I'm baaack!
Moroni 10: 3-6
Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.

"There are forces that will save us from the ever-increasing lying, disorder, violence, chaos, destruction, misery, and deceit that are upon the earth. Those saving forces are the everlasting principles, covenants, and ordinances of the eternal gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. These same principles, covenants, and ordinances are coupled with the rights and powers of the priesthood of Almighty God. We of this Church are the possessors and custodians of these commanding powers that can and do roll back much of the power of Satan on the earth. We believe that we hold these mighty forces in trust for all who have died, for all who are now living, and for the yet unborn.
My prayer is that through the spreading of righteousness, the evil hands of the destroyer can be stayed so that he will not be permitted to curse the whole world. I pray that God will overlook our weaknesses, our frailties, and our many shortcomings and generously forgive us of our misdeeds. May He bring solace to the suffering, comfort to those who grieve, and peace to the brokenhearted."
~ President James E. Faust, "The Forces That Will Save Us", Liahona and Ensign, Jan. 2007, 4–9

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Equus: Thank you, NightShade2 and Refi-chan! God loves us all. Isn't that a nice feeling? Someone who will never leave us, since we can't always be here for each other. Well, we just got back from our trip to North Carolina! And I'm working on stories again. Yeah!

Xihuitl: Which means Takai will be showing up at DarkLynx9701's site, and DarkLynx9701's story of Mel-chan, Takai, and the Gundam pilots will be continuing.

Equus: Remember, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you. Follow Them and help and love each other. Take care. Happy New Year!

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"How we treat our family members, our neighbors, business associates, and all we meet will reveal if we have taken His name upon us and do always remember Him."
~ Elder Robert D. Hales, Ensign, Nov. 1997, 25
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Thursday, December 28, 2006

Ta-da!
Alma 7: 11-12
And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

We should seek at all times to purify ourselves and to lead such worthy lives that the Light of Christ emanates from us in all that we say and do."
~ Elder M. Russell Ballard, “How Is It with Us?”, Ensign, May 2000, 33

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Fact of the day: Well, more like a thought...Being the crazy English major I am, I started analyzing word roots the other day, and I got from pedometer to thermometer and thermostat. "Ped is "foot". "Thermo" is "temperature". "Meter" is "measure". "Stat" is "keep the same". It's rough, but you get the idea. ^_^

"Nothing penetrates the human heart as does a personal, fervent prayer and its heaven-sent response. "
~ President Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Nov. 1997, 17
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