Gratitude for yet another Sabbath Day!

Today I was blessed to give a lesson in church on Charity.
It was simply amazing and as always, I think often that I get more out of the lessons than those I teach. I loved this story about what a touchstone is and how it works!

“The touchstone of compassion is a measure of our discipleship; it is a measure of our love for God and for one another.”

The two great commandments are the Lord’s touchstone for our discipleship.

In ancient times, one test of the purity of gold was performed with a smooth, black, siliceous stone called a touchstone. When rubbed across the touchstone, the gold produced a streak or mark on its surface. The goldsmith matched this mark to a color on his chart of graded colors. The mark was redder as the amount of copper or alloy increased or yellower as the percentage of gold increased. This process showed quite accurately the purity of the gold.

The touchstone method of testing the purity of gold was quick and was satisfactory for most practical purposes. But the goldsmith who still questioned the purity completed a more accurate test by using a process that involved fire.

I suggest to you that the Lord has prepared a touchstone for you and me, an outward measurement of inward discipleship that marks our faithfulness and will survive the fires yet to come.
It made me ... with my efforts, that I will be strong enough to survive the hard times yet ahead of me. Being made equal to anything that the Lord needs me to do!

On one occasion while Jesus was teaching the people, a certain lawyer approached him and posed this question: “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus, the master teacher, replied to the man, who obviously was well-versed in the law, with a counter-question, “What is written in the law? how readest thou?”

The man replied with resolute summary the two great commandments: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”

With approval Christ responded, “This do, and thou shalt live” (Luke 10:25–28).

The Savior taught us to love everyone, including those who may be difficult to love.

As if excusing himself for asking such a simple question of the Master, the lawyer sought to justify himself by further inquiring, “And who is my neighbour?” (Luke 10:29).Of course one of the greatest parables was this one...Parable of the Good Samaritan...(Luke 10:30–35).

I love the words to one of my favorite hymns!

Savior, may I learn to love thee,

Walk the path that thou hast shown,

Pause to help and lift another,

Finding strength beyond my own. …

Who am I to judge another

When I walk imperfectly?

In the quiet heart is hidden

Sorrow that the eye can’t see. …

I would be my brother’s keeper;

I would learn the healer’s art.

To the wounded and the weary

I would show a gentle heart.

I would be my brother’s keeper—

Lord, I would follow thee.

(Hymns, 1985, no. 220.)

Charity is the pure love of Christ and will not fail.  Loving others is “a more excellent way.”

This was a sweet story of someone that truly understands what Charity really means!

As a young man, Brother Vern Crowley said he learned something of the crucial lesson the Prophet Joseph had taught the early Saints in Nauvoo when he told them to “love others, even our enemies as well as friends.” This is a good lesson for each of us.

After his father became ill, Vern Crowley took responsibility for running the family wrecking yard although he was only fifteen years of age. Some customers occasionally took unfair advantage of the young man, and parts were disappearing from the lot overnight. Vern was angry and vowed to catch someone and make an example of him. Vengeance would be his.

Just after his father had started to recover from his illness, Vern was making his rounds of the yard one night at closing time. It was nearly dark. In a distant corner of the property, he caught sight of someone carrying a large piece of machinery toward the back fence. He ran like a champion athlete and caught the young thief. His first thought was to take out his frustrations with his fists and then drag the boy to the front office and call the police. His heart was full of anger and vengeance. He had caught his thief, and he intended to get his just dues.

Out of nowhere, Vern’s father came along, put his weak and infirm hand on his son’s shoulder, and said, “I see you’re a bit upset, Vern. Can I handle this?” He then walked over to the young would-be thief and put his arm around his shoulder, looked him in the eye for a moment, and said, “Son, tell me, why are you doing this? Why were you trying to steal that transmission?” Then Mr. Crowley started walking toward the office with his arm around the boy, asking questions about the young man’s car problems as they walked. By the time they had arrived at the office, the father said, “Well, I think your clutch is gone and that’s causing your problem.”

In the meantime, Vern was fuming. “Who cares about his clutch?” he thought. “Let’s call the police and get this over with.” But his father just kept talking. “Vern, get him a clutch. Get him a throwout bearing, too. And get him a pressure plate. That should take care of it.” The father handed all of the parts to the young man who had attempted robbery and said, “Take these. And here’s the transmission, too. You don’t have to steal, young man. Just ask for it. There’s a way out of every problem. People are willing to help.”

Brother Vern Crowley said he learned an everlasting lesson in love that day. The young man came back to the lot often. Voluntarily, month by month, he paid for all of the parts Vic Crowley had given him, including the transmission. During those visits, he asked Vern why his dad was the way he was and why he did what he did. Vern told him something of their Latter-day Saint beliefs and how much his father loved the Lord and loved people. Eventually the would-be thief was baptized. Vern later said, “It’s hard now to describe the feelings I had and what I went through in that experience. I, too, was young. I had caught my crook. I was going to extract the utmost penalty. But my father taught me a different way.”

A different way? A better way? A higher way? A more excellent way? 

… Charity encompasses all other godly virtues. It distinguishes both the beginning and the end of the plan of salvation. When all else fails, charity—Christ’s love—will not fail. It is the greatest of all divine attributes.

Out of the abundance of his heart, Jesus spoke to the poor, the downtrodden, the widows, the little children; to farmers and fishermen, and those who tended goats and sheep; to strangers and foreigners, the rich, the politically powerful, as well as the unfriendly Pharisees and scribes. He ministered to the poor, the hungry, the deprived, the sick. He blessed the lame, the blind, the deaf, and other people with physical disabilities. He drove out the demons and evil spirits that had caused mental or emotional illness. He purified those who were burdened with sin. He taught lessons of love and repeatedly demonstrated unselfish service to others. All were recipients of his love.

what a great reminder today...the perfect one I needed!
Hope you guys had a great Sabbath too!

Good Night dear friends!

Hard to say goodbye!

Today was my dear friend and neighbor's funeral!
Wow, what a beautiful service it was... and how honored
we were to be there with her family! Wished all of my
kids could have been there with us!
 I only hope I could
have touched as many lives as she did!

The weather turned out sunny and beautiful, which seemed
to be ordered from above.
Tomorrow is Easter, because of what the Savior did for all of
us, this dear family knows that they will get to see their dear
Wife, Mother and Grandmother again!
What a touching, tough, and wonderful day... today was!

Good Night dear friends, and I hope you have a wonderful Easter tomorrow!

Have you made Tear Soup lately?

Today I got the opportunity to teach on the topic of Adversity! Not real shocking, since I have been teaching on this very subject for over 35 years...still I believe that I have so much to learn from this topic! It really is one of my favorite subjects because I know that it effects us all!

I wanted to use the theme of this lesson after a book that I recieved when I got Cancer for the first time. I can't even remember who gave it to me, but it is one of my favorites! And I have bought it and given it away to someone in need...more times than I can remember. 

So here is my lesson from today!
You can read the whole lesson HERE:

This book Tear Soup was written by a Mother and son, then illustrated by her nephew. What a talented family. The Mother's name is Pat Schwiebert, she is a registered nurse and she has worked in the area of Bereavement for over 30 years. She said that her teachers...have been the ordinary people that she has worked with. She and her husband have a Hospice Ministry.

She says about her book Tear Soup that " Some cooking requires that you measure ingredients exactly. But making soup is different. Soup making is an art, and you are the artist. Improvising as you go, your only goal is that the blended creation with both safisfy your hunger and soothe what hurts you!"

You probably noticed that I set up my room today as a kitchen, I even brought my dinner Chicken Soup and put it in a crockpot so that it even smelled like a kitchen. 

When you first smelled the soup, what feelings did you have? Home, healing, soothing, comforting, warm, good!

Well, I believe that what I hope you feel when we talk about the ingredients that are important for us to put in our own Tear Soup, that everyone will make some time in their lives.

You probably noticed that on my pots of Tear Soup, I have labels...just  as the story goes in this book about Grandy, she realized when she had a loss or struggle in her life, she needed to make her own Tear Soup. The pot size would depend on how big her adversity is. She also realizes that she might have to make more than on pot of Tear Soup at a time. Some might just need to simmer for awhile, in smaller pots...but she still has to watch and attend them. Plus like me, she knows to always wear an apron...because Adversity just like cooking...could get messy!

How grateful I am for this lesson which is full of great ingredients for all of us when we have to make our own Tear Soup. 

Let's discuss these 5 ingredients in the lesson today.

I love this very first quote...
“When [the difficulties of mortality] humble us and refine us and teach us and bless us, they can be powerful instruments in the hands of God to make us better people.”

First ingredient is...Knowledge
We need to remember that Knowledge is Power
Adversity is part of God's plan for our eternal progress.

President Spencer W. Kimball, who knew a good deal about suffering, dissappointment, and circumstances beyond his control once wrote:
“Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we were to close the doors upon sorrow and distress, we might be excluding our greatest friends and benefactors. Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience, long-suffering, and self-mastery” [Faith Precedes the Miracle (1972), 98]

“This does not mean that we crave suffering. We avoid all we can. However, we now know, and we all knew when we elected to come into mortality, that we would here be proved in the crucible of adversity and affliction. …

“[Furthermore,] the Father’s plan for proving [and refining] his children did not exempt the Savior himself. The suffering he undertook to endure, and which he did endure, equaled the combined suffering of all men [and women everywhere.

We came to mortal life to encounter resistance. It was part of the plan for our eternal progress. Without temptation, sickness, pain, and sorrow, there could be no goodness, virtue, appreciation for well-being, or joy. … We must remember that the same forces of resistance which prevent our progress afford us also opportunities to overcome.

2nd Ingredient is ...Experience

Our mortal tribulations are for our growth and experience.

When [the difficulties of mortality] humble us and refine us and teach us and bless us, they can be powerful instruments in the hands of God to make us better people, to make us more grateful, more loving, and more considerate of other people in their own times of difficulty.

The great Book of Mormon patriarch, Lehi, spoke encouragingly to his son Jacob, a son born in the wilderness in a time of travail and opposition. Jacob’s life was not as he might have expected it to be and not as the ideal course of experience might have outlined. He had suffered afflictions and setbacks, but Lehi promised that such afflictions would be consecrated for his son’s gain (see 2 Nephi 2:2).

Then Lehi added these words that have become classic:

“For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, … righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad” (2 Nephi 2:11).

When you first came into the room today, you were given a piece of paper where I asked you to write down on one side, Your Greatest Challenge and on the other side, to write down the most Valuable Lesson you learned from that Challenge. 

No one was to put their name on them and so I shared those challenges and lessons as part of my lesson. Hoping that the Sisters would realize that they are not the only one with that exact challenge, and hopefully that they would have more compassion on others who too shared the same challenges as they had.

3rd Ingredient is... OPTIMISMIn the dictionary the word Optimism is... a feeling or belief that good things will happen in the future.
There have always been some difficulties in mortal life, and there always will be. But knowing what we know, and living as we are supposed to live, there really is no place, no excuse, for pessimism and despair.

So I hope you won’t believe all the world’s difficulties have been wedged into your decade, or that things have never been worse than they are for you personally, or that they will never get better. I reassure you that things have been worse and they will always get better. They always do—especially when we live and love the gospel of Jesus Christ and give it a chance to flourish in our lives. …

Contrary to what some might say, you have every reason in this world to be happy and to be optimistic and to be confident. Every generation since time began has had some things to overcome and some problems to work out.

Fourth Ingredient is... Sharing

When we come to the Savior, He will ease our burdens and lighten our loads.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28–30.)

In our own great times of need we must not leave unrecognized this unfailing answer to the cares and worries of our world. Here is the promise of personal peace and protection. Here is the power to remit sin in all periods of time. We, too, must believe that Jesus Christ possesses the power to ease our burdens and lighten our loads. We, too, must come unto him and there receive rest from our labors.

Of course, obligations go with such promises. “Take my yoke upon you,” he pleads. In biblical times the yoke was a device of great assistance to those who tilled the field. It allowed the strength of a second animal to be linked and coupled with the effort of a single animal, sharing and reducing the heavy labor of the plow or wagon. A burden that was overwhelming or perhaps impossible for one to bear could be equitably and comfortably borne by two bound together with a common yoke. His yoke requires a great and earnest effort, but for those who truly are converted, the yoke is easy and the burden becomes light.

Why face life’s burdens alone, Christ asks, or why face them with temporal support that will quickly falter? To the heavy laden it is Christ’s yoke, it is the power and peace of standing side by side with a God that will provide the support, balance, and the strength to meet our challenges and endure our tasks here in the hardpan field of mortality.

We need not go through the adversities in our lives alone, unless we choose too! Our Savior has always been willing to help us, but we must let him. This principle is taught well in this cute story...
The Parable of the Milk

Once  there was a women who was deep in a tremendous trial; she had a small family to support and this burden was just to difficult to bear. She constantly called upon the Lord, begging him to remove this trial from her life, and couldn't understand why her prayers seemed to go unanswered. One day after she returned from the grocery store, she was carrying in the groceries when she spied her little three year old trying desperately trying to lift the gallon jug of milk. The little girl pulled and tugged but to no avail, she couldn't move the jug. The mother watched her struggle as the little girl tried so hard to help her mother with the load. Finally the woman picked up the jug, as she had the Lord to do for her so many times, taking the milk from the child. The little girl began to cry, "I want to do it...." she mumbled. The she lifted her head as her eyes lit up, "Mom, I know! I'll carry the milk and you carry me."

Sisters, the Savior has always been willing to carry us, as we strive to handle and learn from our own adversities.

5th Ingredients is... Faith and Hope
We need not fear the tribulations of the last days!

The scriptures … indicate that there will be seasons of time when the whole world will have some difficulty. We know that in our dispensation unrighteousness will, unfortunately, be quite evident, and it will bring its inevitable difficulties and pain and punishment. God will cut short that unrighteousness in his own due time, but our task is to live fully and faithfully and not worry ourselves sick about the woes of the world or when it will end. Our task is to have the gospel in our lives and to be a bright light, a city set on the hill, which reflects the beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the joy and happiness that will always come to every people in every age who keep the commandments.

Inevitably the natural result of some of these kinds of prophecies is fear, and that is not fear limited to a younger generation. It is fear shared by those of any age who don’t understand what we understand.

But I want to stress that these feelings are not necessary for faithful Latter-day Saints, and they do not come from God. To ancient Israel, the great Jehovah said:

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. …

“And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” (Deut. 31:6, 8.)

In light of such wonderful counsel, I think it is incumbent upon us to rejoice a little more and despair a little less, to give thanks for what we have and for the magnitude of God’s blessings to us, and to talk a little less about what we may not have or what anxiety may accompany difficult times in this or any generation.

A time of great hope and excitement

We need to have faith and hope, two of the great fundamental virtues of any discipleship of Christ. We must continue to exercise confidence in God, inasmuch as that is the first principle in our code of belief. We must believe that God has all power, that he loves us, and that his work will not be stopped or frustrated in our individual lives or in the world generally. …

I promise you in the name of the Lord whose servant I am that God will always protect and care for his people. We will have our difficulties the way every generation and people have had difficulties. But with the gospel of Jesus Christ, you have every hope and promise and reassurance.

… If our faith and hope are anchored in Christ, in his teachings, commandments, and promises, then we are able to count on something truly remarkable, genuinely miraculous, which can part the Red Sea and lead modern Israel to a place “where none shall come to hurt or make afraid.” (Hymns, 1985, no. 30.) Fear, which can come upon people in difficult days, is a principal weapon in the arsenal which Satan uses to make mankind unhappy. He who fears loses strength for the combat of life in the fight against evil. Therefore the power of the evil one always tries to generate fear in human hearts. In every age and in every era, mankind has faced fear.

As children of God and descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we must seek to dispel fear from among people. A timid, fearing people cannot do their work well, and they cannot do God’s work at all. The Latter-day Saints have a divinely assigned mission to fulfill which simply must not be dissipated in fear and anxiety.

It is vital that we have all these 5 ingredients when adversity comes our way, and we have to make our own Tear Soup!
I also loved another book that a dear friend gave me called The Uses of Adversity.

  It had great advice from those who had lived through unbelievable adversities and pain and how they found a way to profit it and not let it destroy them. One of the true stories that touched me the most, was of a mother who lost one of her children in a terrible accident. After really struggling and trying to make sense out of what happen and asking a million times the same question  "WHY" over and over again in her prayers. She finally bore a sweet and powerful testimony of her knowledge of God, here is what she said at her son's funeral.

"I AM CONTENT TO LET  GOD BE GOD. I WILL NOT TRY TO INSTRUCT HIM ON HIS DUTIES OR ON HIS OBLIGATIONS TOWARD ME OR TOWARD ANY OF HIS CHILDREN. I KNOW HE LIVES AND LOVES US, AND THAT HE IS GOD. HE'S NOT UNMINDFUL OF US. WE DO NOT SUFFER OUT OF HIS VIEW. HE DOES NOT INFLICT PAIN UPON US, BUT HE SUSTAINS US IN OUR PAIN. I AM HIS DAUGHTER; MY SON IS ALSO HIS SON; WE BELONG TO HIM, AND WE ARE SAFE WITH HIM. I USED TO THINK WE WERE SAFE FROM GRIEF AND PAIN HERE BECAUSE OF OUR FAITH. I KNOW NOW THAT IS NOT TRUE, BUT WE ARE SAFE IN HIS LOVE. THAT IS MY WITNESS."

I pray that I will have this type of knowledge and testimony that my Heavenly Father loves me and knows me. And that I will never have to go through my adversities alone, unless I choose too.
I am grateful for the many valuable lessons that the adversities in my life have given me.
Yes, I learn so very much when I teach, so I feel very grateful tonight.
So...good night dear friends!

Bittersweet!

Today was another tough day, my emotions are all over the board... and I am trying desperately to stay steady and consistent. I am trying to remember all the women who have been through Menopause and lived to tell about it! :) That gives me hope, but still I definitely don't feel like myself!

16 years ago today my Mother passed away. She had been real sick for months and we thought for sure that in September that would be our last few days with her. She held on for as long as she could, but on December 3rd around 8:30 am she took her last breath. I still am grateful that I was able to fly home in time, to be with her as she left for the other side. It was scary, it was inspiring, it was spiritual, it was a blessing and a loss like I have never felt before. It was truly Bittersweet!

I won't write more tonight other than to say...I am grateful for my Mother. She and I had been through many of the same experiences in our lives, and so that made our relationship complicated to say the least. But oh how I loved her!
 I can't wait to see her again and start another new and better life with her. So grateful for the knowledge that God lives, that Jesus Christ truly did come to this earth to be our example. And for the gift that He gave us to live again!
 Many people thought it was so sad that my Mom died when it was Christmas time. But I think that this is a blessing, because it is the most Wonderful Time of the Year! Knowing about the Christ child and His life and Mission, make Eternity not so far away! Which means, I will be with my sweet Mother again some day!
Good night dear friends!

A new best friend!

 I had to sew a few accessories for my trip, felt like I needed to sew something before dropping off my machines for maintance while I am gone. Gee I have as hard of time giving up my machines as I did dropping off my kids at school...not really I didn't cry with the kids! Ha Ha! Just kidding, but I am attached to my machines.
 So I made a change purse, card holder and tissue holder! It was a new pattern and I liked how it came out! Then I made these pink luggage tags, because the last time I tried to find my luggage at the airport, I pulled off quite a few BLACK pieces of luggage ...only to find out ( after breaking my back ) that it wasn't mine! Not any more!

Between flights I found a place to get Sushi! Here is what my fortune cookie said! That's right, I am really taking a chance at doing this new business. LynnMade is becoming a reality and I am soooo excited, mostly because my family will be a big part of it! We are ready to take the chance!

On the flight I gave my seat to a family so that they could sit together, I remember well traveling with all four kids from Seattle to West Virginia ... many times others gave up their seats to let us sit together. Seriously, wouldn't anyone rather have their kids with their Mothers?

I made a New Friend ( I got a photo with her but wasn't sure she wanted me to share it ), she was too cute and we hit if off right away. By the way we were laughing and carrying on, you would have thought we were Sisters! Her sweet son sat with us and was kind enough to endure both flights with us, show me how to use my new iphone and even help me get my luggage off the carrousel ( at least we knew which ones mine were)! We said goodbye after swapping cards and numbers, can't wait to meet up with her again when we get home. Did I mention she too was a Cancer Survivor? We had a lot in common! What a treat to make a new Best Friend, it made the trip go so much faster!

 I walked in the door late last night and guess who was still up waiting for her Nana? Well, she was actually waiting for her Mommy to feed her again but I was thrilled to have some Snuggle time with this SuperGirl as soon as I got there! She has grown so much since we last Face Timed with her! 

Then there is this sweet Grandson of mine. Mr Kai! He was so fun to hang out with today, we played, went shopping, set the table for dinner and read some books. He said the bed time prayers. What a sweet heart. How grateful I am to see that his Mommy and Daddy are teaching him about his Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ at such a young age. It will bless his life forever. 

So he asked Aunt Amy and Aunt Lauren to be protected on their flights in tomorrow, asked for all of us to be safe and sleep well and then he told what he was grateful for...his Mommy, Daddy, Baby Oakley and his puppy Kevia.

 I love to hear kids say their prayers, they are straight from the heart! Then he went to bed with Super Man watching over him too! Can never have too many Super Heroes watching over you right? :)

I sure have missed these guys. I love being here. Love their new house and the celebrating the new chapter in their lives. I feel truly blessed. 

Good Night dear friends!

Christmas talk

I was asked to prepare a talk for today during our Christmas program.
What an honor it is to speak at Christmas time.
Thought I would share it with you tonight!
Good Night dear friends!

One of my favorite Christmas memories was when I was a little girl and Christmas Eve fell on a Sunday.
 Back then, we went to church in the morning and then again in the evening
. I just remembering how neat it felt, to be a church on Christmas Eve and celebrating the Savior's birth. I remember crying as we sang the Christmas hymns, I felt the spirit so strong that night, I knew then that it was true, Jesus Christ did come to earth in very humble circumstances, and the whole world would never be the same because of it. I was happy, truly happy to be able to honor Him at church that night. As a little girl, that stands out in my mind and each time when the Christmas season rolls around again, and we sing the Christmas songs in church, that same feeling of gratitude comes back.

Another favorite Christmas memory was singing in our Stake and Ward Choir. Our Choir Director Sister Slack, seemed to make the music come alive and I strengthened my testimony through many of the songs we sang. She would always tell us about the song and who wrote it and what the history was behind it, and that truly did make the songs much more real to me. One of the most powerful songs we sang was THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, but it wasn’t until I read a talk by Elder John R. Lasater  from the 1988 Ensign that I truly understood just how much I loved that song and why. This is what he said…

Some years ago, it was my privilege to visit the country of Morocco as part of an official United States government delegation. As part of that visit, we were invited to travel some distance into the desert to visit some ruins. Five large black limousines moved across the beautiful Moroccan countryside at considerable speed. I was riding in the third limousine, which had lagged some distance behind the second. As we topped the brow of a hill, we noticed that the limousine in front of us had pulled off to the side of the road. As we drew nearer, I sensed that an accident had occurred and suggested to my driver that we stop. The scene before us has remained with me for these many years.

An old shepherd, in the long, flowing robes of the Savior’s day, was standing near the limousine in conversation with the driver. Nearby, I noted a small flock of sheep numbering not more than fifteen or twenty. An accident had occurred. The king’s vehicle had struck and injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd. The driver of the vehicle was explaining to him the law of the land. Because the king’s vehicle had injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd, he was now entitled to one hundred times its value at maturity. However, under the same law, the injured sheep must be slain and the meat divided among the people. My interpreter hastily added, “But the old shepherd will not accept the money. They never do.”

Startled, I asked him why. And he added, “Because of the love he has for each of his sheep.” It was then that I noticed the old shepherd reach down, lift the injured lamb in his arms, and place it in a large pouch on the front of his robe. He kept stroking its head, repeating the same word over and over again. When I asked the meaning of the word, I was informed, “Oh, he is calling it by name. All of his sheep have a name, for he is their shepherd, and the good shepherds know each one of their sheep by name.”

It was as my driver predicted. The money was refused, and the old shepherd with his small flock of sheep, with the injured one tucked safely in the pouch on his robe, disappeared into the beautiful deserts of Morocco.

As we continued our journey toward the ruins, my interpreter shared with me more of the traditions and practices of the shepherds of that land.

It has made the 23^rd Psalms come alive…

Sheep instinctively know that before they have been folded for the night, the shepherd has mapped out their grazing for the morrow. It may be that he will take them back over the same range; it may be that he will go to a new grazing ground. They do not worry. His guidance has been good in the past and they have faith in the future because they know he has their well-being in view.

VS 1: The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

Sheep graze from around sunrise until late morning. They then lie down for 3-4 hours and rest. Consequently, the good shepherd starts his flocks out in the early hours on rougher herbs, moving on through the morning to the richer, sweeter grasses, finally coming with the band to a shady place for its forenoon rest in fine green pastures for the best grazing of the day.

VS 2:  He maketh me lie down in green pastures.

Every shepherd knows that sheep do not like to drink gurgling water. Although the sheep need the water, they prefer not to drink from these fast – flowing streams. The shepherd must find a place where rocks or erosion have made a pool or else he fashions with his hands a pocket sufficient to hold at least a bucketful.

VS 2: He leadeth me beside the still waters.

Holy Land sheep exceed in herding instinct. Each takes his place in the grazing line in the morning and keeps the same position throughout the day. During the day, however, a sheep may leave its place and go to the shepherd. The shepherd stretches out his had as the sheep approaches with expectant eyes and mild little baas.

The Shepherd rubs its nose and ears, and scratches its chin, and whispers affectionately into its ears. The Sheep will rub against his leg or nibble at the shepherd’s ear and rub it’s cheek against his face.

After a few minutes of this communion with the Master, the sheep returns to its place in the feeding line.

VS 3; He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

There is a valley of the shadow of death in the Holy Land. Grazing conditions make it necessary for the sheep to be moved through this valley for seasonal feeding.

The valley is 4 ½ miles long. Its sidewalls are over 1500 feet high in places and it is only 10 or 12 feet wide at the bottom. Travel through the valley is Dangerous.

About halfway through the valley the walk crosses from one side to the other at a place where the path is cut in two by an eight-foot gully. One section is 18 inches higher than the other and the shepherd must stand at its break and coax or force his sheep to make the leap. If a sheep slips and lands in the gully, the shepherd’s staff is used to lift the sheep out.

Many wild dogs lurk in the shadows of the valley looking for prey. If they happen upon a wild dog, the shepherd—skilled in throwing his rod, hurls his rod at the dog and knocks it into the washed out gully.

Thus, the sheep have learned to fear no evil.

VS 4: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil….Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.

There are many poisonous plants in the grazing areas. Each spring the shepherd goes ahead of the flock and digs out the stocks of the poisonous plants and lays them upon a stone. By the next day they are dry enough to burn.

In the meantime, the sheep are lead into this newly prepared pasture which is now free from poisonous plants and graze. So, in the presence of their deadly plant enemies, they eat in peace.

VS 5: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.

At every sheepfold there is a big bowl of olive oil and a large jar of water.

As sheep come in for the night they are led to a gate. The shepherd lays his rod across the top of the gateway and inspects each sheep in line for briers in the ears, snags in their wool, or weeping of the eyes from the dust or scratches.

If such a condition exists, the shepherd drops his rod and the sheep steps out line.

Each sheep’s wounds are carefully cleaned. Then the shepherd dips his hand into the olive oil and anoints the injury. A large cup is dipped into the jar or water, kept cool by evaporation in and is brought out—never half full, but always overflowing for the sheep to drink.

VS 5: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Each evening at sundown shepherds bring in their small flocks of sheep to a common enclosure where they are secured against the wolves.  A single shepherd is employed to guard the gate until morning.

One by one, each shepherd enters the gate early in the morning and calls His sheep- by name. The sheep will not harken unto the voice of a stranger, but will leave the enclosure only in the care of their true shepherd, confident and secure because the shepherd knows their names and they know His voice.

So as we read this Christmas Eve… the words in the book of Luke 2:8… “And there were in the same country Shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night”, let us remember this Christmas season, we are suppose to be doing the same.

The 3^rd memory was 34 years ago when I was a young missionary and it was my first Christmas away from home. I had only been out a few months, just had my first transfer…which meant I was leaving my trainer and going into a neighborhood that was less than desirable. I was put with a companion with a ton of problems and my Christmas package had gotten lost, and I thought could it get any worse? Actually it did and circumstances had it that I was transferred again 2 days before Christmas, into a ward that wasn’t really excited about missionary work. I remember going saying my prayers that night and praying that this area and situation would be better. As I arose the next morning my companion told me that a family in the ward wanted us to come have Christmas Eve dinner with them and our land lady wanted to have us for Christmas with her. I was hopeful that maybe things would turn around and they did.

 I will never forget the sweet family that we had dinner and Christmas Eve with. The husband was a DR  ( only know that because they mentioned how blessed they were that he got to have Christmas Eve off this year ). They had 3 or 4 small children. I don’t remember what they served for dinner but I do remember the Mother telling a Christmas Flannel board story. I had never heard that story before, it was truly magical.

 I was so touched by their desire as a young family to teach their children the gospel at such a young age. We I came home from my mission, I looked up the story. It has always been one of our favorite Christmas stories to read each year.

I realized on my mission that we as Shepherds truly need to know our sheep. We need to know them and their needs. They need to know us. They need to know that we will always be there for them. I gained a greater understanding that the Lord is truly our Shepherd and that He will guide our efforts to feed our sheep.

 I think this work is best expressed in a poem by Howard Thurman called The Work of Christmas…

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.

I am grateful for my Savior, My Shepherd…the little babe in Bethlehem, which has truly changed my life forever.

Testimony

Today's wisdom!

Today was a very busy day but a good day.
 I learned something today that struck a cord to my heart. It wasn't from the pulpit or even in a lesson in class, it was from a friend. She brought up about me speaking at church last week and what a great job I did on my talk. I told her that I didn't really feel that I got across exactly what I was hoping to. Then these wise words came out..."You know what they say Lynn, thank goodness...Feelings aren't Facts".
 So true, even if we feel strongly about something, like we didn't do something well, or we should have done more; or even wished you could let some one know what you really meant or felt. The important thing I think is...we need to remember those words of wisdom..."Feelings aren't Facts".

How grateful I am that I have a Heavenly Father and a Savior Jesus Christ who do know my feelings and the facts. I get great comfort when I know that they truly know my heart and my intentions.

Another couple of friends shared with me a few weeks ago "Don't worry about what others think, your true friends, know who you are and that is all that matters. " 
So today I am also grateful for good friends and family, who know me and know the facts!
Good Night dear friends!

Firmly set anchor

I was reading an article the other day about the importance of Anchors in our lives. It made me stop and think of what Anchors I have in my life, and remember how grateful I am for them.


Here is just a few highlights of the article, you can read the whole article HERE:

Not long ago I had the opportunity to sail on a great ship along the marvelous coast of Alaska, USA. While the captain prepared for the ship’s overnight stay in a remote pristine bay, he carefully evaluated the location and circumstances, such as the sequence of the tides, depth of the waters, and distance from dangerous obstacles. When satisfied, he dropped anchor so that the ship would remain safe and firmly anchored, allowing the passengers an opportunity to marvel at the spectacular beauty of God’s creations.

As I was looking at the coastline, I began to realize that the ship was drifting almost imperceptibly with the slightest amount of wind and underlying current. Nevertheless, the ship stayed firmly and persistently within a fixed circle defined by the length of the anchor line and the strength of the anchor.

The captain had not kept the anchor stored on the ship, ready to be lowered only if a storm should approach. No, he had anchored the vessel as a preventive measure and protected the ship from moving into unsafe waters or slowly drifting aground while passengers and crew felt safe.

Why We Need Anchors

The purpose of an anchor is to keep a ship safe and secure at a desired location or to help control the ship during bad weather. However, to accomplish these vital purposes, just having an anchor is not enough. The anchor must be solid, dependable, and used properly at the right time and place.

Individuals and families need anchors as well.

Adversity can come as a great storm to blow us off course and threaten to cast us against the rocks. But sometimes we are also in danger when everything appears to be safe—the winds soft and the waters smooth. In fact, we can be in the greatest danger when we are drifting and movement is so slight that we scarcely notice it.

The Gospel Is Our Anchor

Anchors must be solid, strong, and well maintained to be ready when needed. In addition, they must be attached to a foundation capable of bearing the weight of opposing forces.

The Value of Firmly Set Anchors

Life has a way of testing our anchors and tempting us to drift. Nevertheless, if our anchors are correctly placed in the rock of our Redeemer, they will hold—no matter the force of the wind, the strength of the tide, or the height of the waves.

What are my anchors? First my testimony of Jesus Christ. Second is for the Gospel that He taught while He lived upon the earth and last but not least... my family. Each of these keep me anchored and help me in so many ways in my life. I have had some bad storms in my life time and I know without my testimony and the faith and help of family and friends, my life would have turned out totally different. I am very grateful for those Anchors!