746. The 25 day calendar, suggesting service for each day to remember our Savior Jesus Christ. Link to print it out for yourself!


Dear friends,  The 25 day calendar the Church has put out for this year is truly inspired!  I'll try to post something each day about the calendar, and encourage each of you to follow it's suggestions.  I had a very touching experience yesterday, the first day --

I play the piano for a Relief Society in a local care center on Thursday mornings.  Yesterday, in addition to the Relief Society officers, there were 11 dear people there, ranging from a man with both legs amputated below the knees, (who loves to come to Relief Society!) to dear little old ladies in various stages of dementia or physical inabilities.  After I played the opening hymn, I went down to sit by one of those dear ladies.  She took my hand, and said, "Your hands are cold!"  And she immediately took my hand and put it under the lap blanket she had that covered her to her ankles.  She kept it there, trying to warm my hands, when I didn't think they were cold!  Finally, due to the awkward position my arm was in, I gently removed my hand.  She continued to comment to me often, and seemed to love just having someone by her.

 The Relief Society President had made a 25 day calendar for those dear people which included things they could do each day, such as smile at someone, forgive someone, pray for peace, share your testimony, make a new friend, listen to somebody, etc.  I'm not sure how many could even hold the paper in their hands, or read it when they got back to their rooms.   Today it is about honoring your parents, calling them, etc.  If your parents are gone, you can learn about an ancestor and share it with someone.  I plan to e mail my posterity with some family history story.  I love stories about our ancestors, and their faith and fortitude!  

This first link is the link to the 2 page calendar you can print out, 1st page is below.

https://www.mormon.org/bc/content/assets/media/campaigns/christmas-2016/english-25-days-calendar.pdf



To download and copy a 25 day calendar for children go to this link:

http://www.ayearoffhe.net/2016/11/free-download-lds-light-world-service.html

This below is what I posted 3 years ago today, December 2nd, only a couple of weeks after I started writing this blog, on November 14, 2013.


Latter Day Light
DAILY DEVOTION

__________________________

Son of God
Facebook Loge - name Nauvoo, Illinois
December 2, 2013

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:
Mosiah 3:7-8
"And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.  And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary."


QUOTE OF THE DAY:  

Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley
"And so at this Christmas season, we sing His praises and speak our words of faith and gratitude and love. It is His influence in our lives that stirs within us more kindness, more respect, more love, more concern. It is because of Him and His teachings that we reach out to those in trouble, distress, and need wherever they may be.


"It is proper during this season when we commemorate His birth that we remember the Lord Jesus Christ in reverence and with love. He has done for us what we could not do for ourselves. He has brought meaning to our mortal existence. He has given us the gift of eternal life. He was and is the Son of God, who was "made flesh, and dwelt among us . . .

"God be thanked for the gift of His Son, the Redeemer of the world, the Savior of mankind, the Prince of Life and Peace, the Holy One" ("A Testimony of the Son of God," Ensign, December 2002).



I love the quote by Pres. Thomas S. Monson:   
"The holy scriptures inform us that "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." He was baptized by John. He "went about doing good." At Nain He raised from death to life the widow’s son and presented him to her. At Bethesda He took compassion on the crippled man who had no hope to get to the pool of promise. He extended His hand; He lifted him up. He healed him from his infirmity.

Then came the Garden of Gethsemane with its exceeding anguish. He wrought the great Atonement as He took upon Himself the sins of all. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves.

Then came the cruel cross of Golgotha. In His final hours of mortality, He brought comfort to the malefactor, saying, "To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." He remembered His mother in that eloquent sermon of love personified: "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." He died—the Great Redeemer died!"

Another quote by Pres. Monson:  (which is on Facebook today)


There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus the Christ. Let it be a time that lights the eyes of children and puts laughter on their lips. Let it be a time for lifting the lives of those who live in loneliness. Let it be a time for calling our families together, for feeling a closeness to those who are near to us and a closeness also to those who are absent.

In the coming December days, let us try to do something each day that shows our devotion to Jesus and His teachings, and be a little more kind to everyone we are privileged to live with, and meet.  I truly want to say MERRY CHRISTMAS to all you dear people who read this.  I love to hear from you who follow what I write.  I hope my thoughts help lift your spirits, and help you know that we all are in this wonderful life together, and we can help each other! 

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