Monday, December 25, 2006

   Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
"We honor His birth. But without His death that birth would have been but one more birth. It was the redemption which He worked out in the Garden of Gethsemane and upon the cross of Calvary which made His gift immortal, universal, and everlasting. His was a great Atonement for the sins of all mankind. He was the resurrection and the life, 'the firstfruits of them that slept' (1 Cor. 15:20). Because of Him all men will be raised from the grave.
"But beyond this He taught us the way, the truth, and the life. He gave the keys through which we may go on to immortality and eternal life.
"We love Him. We honor Him. We thank Him. We worship Him. He has done for each of us and for all mankind that which none other could have done. God be thanked for the gift of His Beloved Son, our Savior, the Redeemer of the world, the Lamb without blemish who was offered as a sacrifice for all mankind."
(Gordon B. Hinckley, "A Season for Gratitude," Ensign, Dec. 1997, 4 )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Xihuitl: Just a short note, to say Merry Christmas without pulling you away from your family and friends for long. We love you. More importantly, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love yoU!

Equus: We hope you're doing what we are, or something similar--enjoying the Nativity, a Christmas tree, movies, love-filled gifts, warm fires, treats and good food, and love from the people in your lives and God and Christ.

Kurama #3: Here are your pocket hugs and glomps, and some Christmas cookies.

Kyo-clone: Merry Christmas.

Kakashi #8: Happy New Year.

Haru #8: Take care.

Emeraulde: Love to you all!

Sano: Remember all the blessings in your life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luke 3
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

John 3: 16-17
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.

Isaiah 9: 6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

John 14: 15
If ye love me, keep my ccommandments.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fact of the day: “Collie” actually used to just mean “working dog.”

"Great gift-giving involves three things: you feel what the other feels, you give freely, and you count sacrifice a bargain. . . .
"It will take some practice, more than one holiday, to learn how to be touched by what's inside others. And giving freely and counting sacrifice as joy will take a while. But we could at least start this Christmas being a good receiver. We have the power to make others great gift-givers by what we notice. We can make any gift better by what we choose to see--and we can, by failing to notice, make any gift a failure. Gift giving takes a giver and a receiver. I hope we use this theory not to criticize the gifts and giving that come our way this year, but to see how often our hearts are understood and how often gifts are given joyfully, even with sacrifice."
(Henry B. Eyring, "Giving with Joy," Liahona, Dec. 1996, 12)

And lo, a star appeared, shining in the east.

A gift of love it led to. Remember God the Father and Jesus Christ, and hearken to the Holy Ghost. Love one another.

God be with you.

"I declare that God has through His Only Begotten Son lifted the famine of which Amos spoke. I testify that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life and a Well of Living Water springing up unto eternal life."
—Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, Nov. 1997, 65
Comments (1) | Permalink

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

   Love!
2 Nephi 32: 9
But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

"True faith in the Lord Jesus Christ has always been linked to the offering of sacrifice, our small gift to be a symbolic echo of His majestic offering."
—Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, Nov. 2002, 37

2 Nephi 25:26
And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Equus: Well, Refi-chan, we'll be here for you!

Xihuitl: That is, we'll try to call.

Equus: U-huh! Love and hugs, all. Take care. Merry Christmas. God and Christ love you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fact of the day: Border collies with a certain amount of white are "white-factored", a genetic condition that can be dangerous is compounded by breeding two white-factored Border collies, I think. ^^; We're fostering a white BC right now. He's beautiful and sweet, aren't you, Zorro?

"Our Heavenly Father never gives up on us. . . . But we must have the desire to open the door, even if it shakes the very foundation of our past beliefs and way of life. . . . Our Father in Heaven will never take away our agency. We must seek after or desire to know our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ."
Topics: agency, repentance, prayer
(Elder Ronald T. Halverson, "I Stand at the Door, and Knock," Ensign, November 2004, 32.)

"Don't become weary in doing good. If we are patient, we can experience the change of heart we seek. For most of us this will require only a slight change of course, sending us toward true north. The adjustments we must make are in those 'small things,' but that does not mean they are easy. Too many forces are confusing our compass. But the pull to the polar star is one we recognize. It is the direction toward home."
Topics: obedience, commitment, guidance
(Sister Kathleen H. Hughes, "Out of Small Things," Ensign, November 2004, 111)
Comments (0) | Permalink

Friday, December 15, 2006

   Hi! ....zzzzz........
"At the focal point of all human history, a point illuminated by a new star in the heavens revealed for just such a purpose, probably no other mortal watched--none but a poor young carpenter, a beautiful virgin mother, and silent stabled animals who had not the power to utter the sacredness they had seen. Shepherds would soon arrive and later, wise men from the East. Later yet the memory of that night would bring Santa Claus and Frosty and Rudolph--and all would be welcome. But first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby--that's how Christmas began.
"It is for this baby that we shout in chorus: 'Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King! . . . Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth' (Hymns, no. 209)."
~ Jeffrey R. Holland, "Without Ribbons and Bows," New Era, Dec. 1994, 6

Daniel 3: 15-18, 23-26, 28
Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
[because they would always trust in the Lord, even through death, which is just a step to everlasting salvation...]
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
[...]
Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

True and strongest faith. God loves you, and Jesus Christ be with you. May you recognize Their love and blessings.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Xihuitl: Equus has a few things she must do. Then I'm going to try to shoo her off to bed.

Equus: Movie...

Xihuitl: Or at least convince her to go to sleep while watching her movie. -.- Here are your pocket hugs for the day. Love you all!

Equus: Take care, and God bless and be with you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fact of the day: The candy cane and the pretzel were both originally made as sort of spiritual treats for children. The pretzel was to resemble arms folded for prayer, while the candy cane symbolized Christ the Shepherd, with His purity and the blood of His Atoning sacrifice.

( from a couple different places ^^' )

"Children are the past, the present, and the future all blended into one. They are consummately precious. Every time a child is born, the world is renewed in innocence."
~ President Boyd K. Packer, "Children", Ensign, May 2002, 8

"He would quote frequently the message of the Lord, “I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.” (D&C 38:27.)
"Unity in the priesthood should reflect unity in our homes.[...]
"Parents must have a knowledge of the standard works to teach them to their children. A child who has been taught from the scriptures has a priceless legacy."
~ President James E. Faust, "Encriching Family Life", Ensign, May 1983, 41
Comments (0) | Permalink

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

   Some cool thoughts. ^_^ And there's more after that.
Daniel 2: 16-20
Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

"God knows you and what you can become because He has known you from the beginning when you were His spirit sons and daughters."
~ President James E. Faust, "", Ensign, Mar. 2001, 2
Comments (0) | Permalink

It's been another mild day, with a looooooong walk.
Daniel 2: 44-45
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

Mosiah 27: 24-25, 28-29
For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit.
And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;
[...]
Nevertheless, after wading through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning, and I am born of God.
My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was cracked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Xihuitl: Yes, Refi-chan, Sano is much better now. Due to Equus's tender, loving care. *cough*cough* No, she takes good care of him.

Equus: Yep yep yep. He's all better now. ^_^

Xihuitl: And DarkLynx9701 is feeling a little twitchy. Equus kind of...did something dangerous.

Equus: But I'm okay! What did she keep twitching about?

Xihuitl: >.>

Merry Christmas. God loves you, and Jesus Christ loves you. May you feel that and Their Holy Spirit. Glomps and pocket hugs!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fact of the day: Puffballs are a type of fungus, or rather its spore containers. They are little, dark brown globes that contain a soft material holding spores. When you step on them or squeeze them, a little cloud of spores "puffs" out. Isn't that neat? ^_^ This is from acquired knowledge.

"The message of this season that is applicable throughout the year lies not in the receiving of earthly presents and treasures but in the forsaking of selfishness and greed and in going forward, seeking and enjoying the gifts of the Spirit, which Paul said are 'love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law' (Gal. 5:22-23)."
(James E. Faust, "A Christmas with No Presents," Ensign, Dec. 2001, 6)

"This entire people have become as a city upon a hill which cannot be hid. Sometimes we take offense when one who is a member of the Church is involved in a crime and the public press is quick to say that he is a Mormon. We comment among ourselves that if he had been a member of any other church, no mention would have been made of it.
"Yet, is not this very practice an indirect compliment to our people? The world expects something better of us, and when one of our number falters, the press is quick to note it. We have, indeed, become as a city upon a hill for the world to see. If we are to be that which the Lord would have us be, we must indeed become 'a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that [we] should shew forth the praises of him who hath called [us] out of darkness into his marvelous light.' (1 Pet. 2:9.)"
(Gordon B. Hinckley, "A City upon a Hill," Ensign, July 1990, 4)
Comments (0) | Permalink

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Oh, what a beautiful morning.
Moroni 10: 3-7
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.

It may not be an outright acknowledgement, but just in being good and true, it acknowledges God and Christ, be it The Chronicles of Narnia or the beauty of a horse running.

And God's truth can be learned partly through doing it, obeying His word and being kind to our fellow man and having faith in Christ and His Atonement. Then the Holy Spirit also can testify to us of the truth. Love, hugs, and God bless you. Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father love you! May you feel the Holy Spirit's guidance and follow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Equus: Dear Night Shade2, no, I don't think it's a list of the advent candles. But that's a cool thought. ^_^

God bless you all, and Merry Christmas. Remember, Christ loves you. Glomps and pocket hugs, and take care. Love!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fact of the day: Hannukah has the menorah with seven candles. Why? Because the Jews had been chased out of Jerusalem, and when they fought their way back, they found only enough oil to keep the perpetual light going for one day. But making more oil took six or seven days. But the little bit of oil lasted until more oil had been made. ^_^ So it's a celebration of God's miracle. Did it really happen? I don't know, but I believe it could have. With God, for His children, anything is possible.

(I may not have the details exactly correct. ^/^ If you know, please tell me.)

"Christmas means giving. The Father gave his Son, and the Son gave his life. Without giving there is no true Christmas, and without sacrifice there is no true worship."
~ Gordon B. Hinckley, "What Shall I Do Then with Jesus Which Is Called Christ?" Ensign, Dec. 1983, 3

"Marriage provides shelter for the child who enters mortality innocent and helpless. Marriage ensures security and happiness for parents as well."
~ President Boyd K. Packer, "Little Children", Ensign, Nov. 1986, 18
Comments (0) | Permalink

Wednesday, December 6, 2006

   Ah, post-date. ^_^
Psalm 76: 1-2, 8-9
In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.
In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.
[...]
Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,
When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.

Psalm 75: 1
Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.

Psalm 77: 1
I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.

Psalm 78: 1, 3-7
Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
[...]
Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Please read Refi's post before reading this. ^_^)

Xihuitl: (enters the kitchen, where Equus is helping Kurama #3 make dinner) Equus, did you know that your boyfriend is back from his date? He's in the barn eating a chicken.

Equus: One of our chickens? Wait, we don't have chickens. Where did he get a chicken? It is cooked, I hope.

Xihuitl: Yes, it is. I'm not sure. (sniffing at Kurama #3's salad) He's kinda banged up, though.

Equus: O.O Sano! (rushes out to the barn)

Kurama #3: The salad isn't ready yet, Miss Xihuitl. Did you say Sanosuke was hurt?

Xihuitl: Yeah. He doesn't know I saw him. ^^ This should be interesting.

(in the barn)

Sano: (in a corner eating his second chicken) Huh? (pauses to look up and sees a blue and purple streak)

Equus: Sano!

Sano: o.o

Equus: (stops just in front of him, kneeling, and starts finding and checking every little "scratch") Are you hurt? What happened? Where's the first aid kit?

Sano: (saving the chickens) I'm fine. Really. It's just a scratch.

Equus: What happened?

Sano: ^^; We...well, we went to Tethe’alla, and there was a tournament. And I entered. And it's just a scratch. (tries to hide from Equus's fussing)

Equus: Where is that first aid kit? (grabs Sano's wrist, since he's still holding a chicken, and drags him back to the house)

(Haru #8 and Emeraulde pause to let them through the door)

Haru #8: What just happened?

Kyo-clone: (lounging on a haybale in the loft) That idiot Sano got himself hurt in a tournament. >.> He's so weak.

Kakashi #8: I've heard he's one of the strongest fighters, for not being a ninja.

K-c: He lost and got hurt.

Xihuitl: (shows up) That's enough. It's dinnertime, so unless you want to miss out on spaghetti, meat sauce, and salad, you'll be nice to everyone when you come in. Besides, K-c, Equus does love Sano, and he's not an idiot. He just sometimes acts like it. Even the best of us do. Including you, much as we love you.

K-C: >.> Fine.

Xihuitl: Here are your pocket hugs for the day. Take care, God be with you, and we love you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fact of the day: Horses have a much broader range of vision, though they can't see something under their nose or behind their head.

"For a few moments, may we set aside the catalogs of Christmas, with their gifts of exotic description. Let's even turn from the flowers for Mother, the special tie for Father, the cute doll, the train that whistles, the long-awaited bicycle—even the books and videos—and direct our thoughts to God-given gifts that endure. From a long list I will cite just four:
1. The gift of birth
2. The gift of peace
3. The gift of love
4. The gift of life eternal"
~ President Thomas S. Monson, "Treasured Gifts", Liahona and Ensign, Dec. 2006, 2–7

"Jesus is the great Mediator. Through omnipotent and omniscient, all-powerful and all-knowing, He is our friend.
[...]
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
Comments (2) | Permalink

Thursday, November 30, 2006

   Good morning, starshine. The Earth says,
"Of all the things for which I feel grateful, one stands [above all the others]. That is a living testimony of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Almighty God, the Prince of Peace, the Holy One. . . .
"Jesus is my friend. He is my exemplar. He is my teacher. He is my healer. He is my leader. He is my Savior and my Redeemer. He is my God and my King.
"Gratefully, and with love, I bear witness of these things."
~ Gordon B. Hinckley, "Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice: Gratitude," Friend, Nov. 2002, 3

Psalm 7: 17
I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

"May we dedicate our lives to serving the Lord and not worry about offending the devil."
~ President James E. Faust, Ensign, Sept. 1995, 7

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Equus: Please visit Refi's site. She bore a beautiful testimony on Monday. And I also bear witness that the Book of Mormon is true, God's Gospel is true, He and Jesus Christ are perfect, love us, and will help us to achieve perfection. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. In my Lord Jesus Christ's holy name. Amen.

Xihuitl: If you have any questions, just ask or check it out. Thanks, Refi-chan.

Equus: Heh. Well, we had some issues with the internet that, combined with my laziness, has resulted in only one post (my Thanskgiving Day post from my brother's house) in over a week. But I am alive and well, in case you wondered! ^_^

Xihuitl: But tonight she's not going to stay on the computer long. She has to get ready for bed and work on a paper.

Equus: Yeah. At one point today during work, I started losing my sense of balance.

Xihuitl: That's not something you should relish telling them about.

Equus: At least it didn't cause any real trouble, thankfully.

Xihuitl: Yes. God bless you, and may you feel your Savior Jesus's love. Merry Christmas! Take care.

Equus: And here are pocket hugs and glomps for you all. ^_^ Thanks to everyone for visiting me. ^_^

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fact of the day: Shires are the largest breed of horse in the world.

(from accumulated knowledge)

"The world expects something better of us, and when one of our number falters, the press is quick to note it. We have, indeed, become as a city upon a hill for the world to see. If we are to be that which the Lord would have us be, we must indeed become 'a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that [we] should shew forth the praises of him who hath called [us] out of darkness into his marvelous light.' (1 Pet. 2:9.)"
~ Gordon B. Hinckley, "A City upon a Hill," Ensign, July 1990, 4

Psalm 33: 4-6, 8-9
For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
[...]
Let all the earth fear [reverence] the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
Comments (0) | Permalink

Thursday, November 23, 2006

   Happy Gobbler's Day!
"Of all the things for which I feel grateful, one stands [above all the others]. That is a living testimony of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Almighty God, the Prince of Peace, the Holy One. . . .
"Jesus is my friend. He is my exemplar. He is my teacher. He is my healer. He is my leader. He is my Savior and my Redeemer. He is my God and my King.
"Gratefully, and with love, I bear witness of these things."
~ Gordon B. Hinckley, "Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice: Gratitude," Friend, Nov. 2002, 3

Psalm 8
O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Psalm 27: 6-8
And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

Psalm 33: 1-6, 9
Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
[...]
For he aspake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Xihuitl: Well, we haven't seen how the date went. As for Equus's reaction to being told...

(from another room) WHAT!

Xihuitl: ^^; I simply had to remind her that she already knew about it. And Sano reassured her that it was nothing, just because of a silly game show. (His words, Refi-chan, not mine. Though I don't think you'll be offended.) Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Suggestion for the day: Count your blessings, from a house and food to good people to the opportunities of education to the simple, good, and worthwhile fun times you can have.

Praise the Lord and give thanks from your heart! Love, hugs, pocket hugs, and take care. God be with you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(K-c is shoved into the room.)

Kyo-clone: (cough) And we would like to announce that the valley is improving. Paths have been cleared, and there is a guest registrar.

Emeraulde: We'd love it if you could come, meet the herd, and sign the registrar when you have time. Love.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I first read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover, I read the promise that if I “would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if [the things I had read were] true; and if [I would] ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he [would] manifest the truth of it unto [me], by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Moro. 10:4). I tried to follow those instructions, as I understood them.
If I expected a glorious manifestation to come at once as an overpowering experience, it did not happen. Nevertheless, it felt good, and I began to believe.
The next verse has an even greater promise: “By the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things” (Moro. 10:5; emphasis added). I did not know how the Holy Ghost worked, even though the Book of Mormon explains it a number of times in a number of ways.
[...]
I read, “Now these are the words, and ye may liken them unto you and unto all men” (2 Ne. 11:8; emphasis added; see also 1 Ne. 19:23–24; 2 Ne. 6:5; 2 Ne. 11:2). I took that to mean that the scriptures are likened to me personally, and that is true of everyone else.
When a verse I had passed over several times took on personal meaning, I thought whoever wrote that verse had a deep and mature understanding of my life and how I felt.
[...]
The prophet Nephi also said that he had written “the things of my soul … for the learning and the profit of my children” (2 Ne. 4:15).
[...]
When you feel weak, discouraged, depressed, or afraid, open the Book of Mormon and read. Do not let too much time pass before reading a verse, a thought, or a chapter.
~ President Boyd K. Packer, "The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ--Plain and Precious Things", Ensign, May 2005, 8
Comments (4) | Permalink

Monday, November 20, 2006

   Ah, peace and tranquility....
Psalm 23: 6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 25: 1-6
Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed[...]
Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

Psalm 27: 1, 4-5
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
[...]
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sano enters the farm house, going into the living room where Equus and Xihuitl usually host the post.

Sano: Hello? Equus? Xihuitl? (mutters) Oh, I don't want to tell Equus I have a date, but...well, she's gonna find out sooner or later anyway. Refi is a friend of hers, after all. (raises voice) Equus?

A piercing voice shatters the afternoon air.

Equus: Sano! (glomps him from the stairway)

THUMP!

Xihuitl comes in to find Sano stunned, Equus holding him and rocking back and forth.

Equus: Sano, Sano, Sano!

Xihuitl: Hon, you do realize that he's not responding?

Equus: (looks at Sano) Augh! Sano, are you all right?

Xihuitl: (sigh) Come on, let's see if Refi-chan's Hatori is available. And I'm sure he'll be fine. That boy has a head made out of rock, thankfully, given the way you tend to tackle him whenever he's been gone for more than a day....

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you. Hugs and pocket hugs! ^_^

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fact of the day: I don't know. Hm....Greenbriar's springtime shoots are edible, but a bit biting. Take care. God bless. Love and hugs.

I hope that prayer will take on a new luster in our lives. None of us knows what lies ahead. We may speculate, but we do not know. Sickness may strike us. Misfortune may overtake us. Fears may afflict us. Death may place his cold and solemn hand upon us or a loved one.
Regardless of what may come, may faith, immovable and constant, shine above us as the polar star.
Now, today, we are faced with particular problems, serious and consuming and difficult and of great concern to us. Surely we have need for the Lord.
[...]
This precious and marvelous gift of faith, this gift from God our Eternal Father, is still the strength of this work and the quiet vibrancy of its message. Faith underlies it all.
~ President Gordon B. Hinckley, "Till We Meet Again", Ensign, May 2001, 68
Comments (0) | Permalink