Sermon of One

Today it was my weekend to work. My first procedure was not until 11am so I was able to sleep in. I did miss church still. After work I went to visit my parents and had a great discussion about world events. When I came home Baby Bird (my niece who's 5) is sick so I sat on the couch and held her. She's not normally very cuddly so it was kinda special to hold her and talk to her. 

After she relaxed more I spent the rest of my evening reading the scriptures (giving myself my own personal sermon). I started out in D&C 88, I've been taking several days to finish the section I want to really understand it. I came to verse 118  And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of  wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith. Afterwards, I went to John and was reading more when a particular scripture again stuck out  Jesus had washed his disciples feet he said to them in John 13:17 "If ye know these things, happy  are ye if ye do them". 

What I learned from those scriptures although my faith is weak keep studying, look for opportunities to learn, and apply what I learn to my life and in return "happy are ye if ye do them". 



This is from my trip to Paris last year, it has nothing to do with this post. 

Can't Sleep

This evening I got so nervous and worried about my NCLEX exam (which is coming up soon) that I finally decided I need to stop thinking about it for a few, so I went to bed at 8pm. Now it's 2am and I'm wide awake. So I'm just going to get up and start studying again.

But before I do that I'm going to share my two cents! I love to go visit my Grandparents. They live a few states over and I go several times a year to visit. There home has a great feeling, I feel so loved when I go to visit. The community they live in neighbors actually talk to each other and not only that they also come over to visit! What neighbors could be friends?!? The thought never occurred, until I'm visiting. I only know one of my neighbors and that's because we went to school together. The people I share the wall of my apartment wall (in case that didn't make since, the people next door) are so grumpy! It's not like we have to be friends, but hey we do live right next to each other, if I said "Hi" the nice thing to say is "hello" or something similar back; instead I get snarled at.

But I digress, the reason I brought up my Grandparents is, my grandma has a picture frame in her house it has a picture of a Shepard and sheep. And says something like "when you can sleep don't count sheep, when you could talk to the Shepard". It's an interesting thought which I have used. In school one time we were discussing how therapeutic prayer is. To just talk to someone about your concerns, worries, and thoughts is soothing. Prayer takes a load off. I can say, "I did this which was good, I did this that was bad, and I'm worried/scared about this" and for some reason it makes me feel better! I don't think I've ever gotten any amazing answers, just thoughts/ideas on what may work.

Another thing about prayer, not only the therapeutic affect, but for me as a Christian, it is a time to talk with my God. To thank Him for saving my soul and ask for His continued mercy.

Logan, the Sky Angel

(A Frank Lozano Production) We have had a lot of requests to replay the phone call that Pastor Mike shared during our church service on Sunday, Nov. 11th, 2007.

"Here you'll find the video clip that was created just for you. We've placed the video on YouTube so that you can watch it and share with family and friends."

"Logan is a 13 year-old boy who lives on a ranch in a very small town in Nebraska. Logan listens to Christian Radio station 89.3FM KSBJ which broadcasts from Houston, TX. Logan called the radio station distraught because he had to take down a calf . His words have wisdom beyond his years."

We Are The Reason

I love this song. Every time I really think about it I am just amazed at how much God loves me.

Christmas is the best!

I love Christmas! It is one of my favorite holidays. I love setting up a Christmas tree, spending time with family, attempting to cook goodies. I love to sit by the fireplace at my parents home and just hang out/sing Christmas songs/ talk about things that happened when we were kids that my parents never found out about! I love to window shop-- I like for two reasons 1) I have no money so I couldn't buy anything even if I wanted to and 2) I don't have to stand in line to buy something! Another thing I love to go look at Christmas lights, right now there are still more that need to be put up in my neighborhood but the few that are finished are really cool. I love that my heart is softened I and have more compassion for those who have less then I. I love getting Christmas cards. I love to say "Merry Christmas". I love listing to Christmas music. I love reading about the birth of Jesus.

Christmas time is such a wonderful time mainly because it's the time that I seem to remember what Jesus did for me. How He alone loved me so much that he suffered and died for me. And I get this time of year to celebrate His birth and remember Him. Many times in my life I have questioned His existence and I'm sure again I'll question whether or not He's really there. I've come to believe that is the purpose of life. In other words to keep convincing OURSELVES that God is really there, cares about us, and knows what's best for us and that is why we should follow Him. Go see Even Almighty, it's a great movie that really tells how God will give us things that we don't understand to help us and our families.

Last night I got sooooo excited about Christmas and I was all alone in my apartment-- so I surprised my parents by going to their house and spending the night and to today with them. My mother can play the piano so amazingly (if thats the right way to spell it!) I love to hear her play. Well I asked her to play some Christmas songs, just for the fun of it. As she was playing one of the songs I think it's called, Mary's boy child, me and little D started singing along. My other sisters who were around must of heard us singing so off key and were attempting to save my poor mother from the off tuned voices joined in singing with us. It was amazing to say the least... all six of us girls were singing songs as my mother played. Man, I think everyone it that room felt the Spirit of Christmas. I loved it. I'm looking forward to singing Christmas songs with my brothers and sisters and their children.

The Candy Cane

I've heard this before... I like the story A LOT, but I'm not sure it's true. I think many times people make things up so they will sound "cool". But none the less, I love to story and it can remind all Christians the real reason for the season.

Candy Cane

The True Meaning of Christmas

The development of the candy cane took a few hundred years. Before the invention of the modern pacifier, parents used to give their babies unflavored white sugar sticks to suck on. During the 1670's a German choirmaster had the sugar sticks bent into a shepherd's staff and passed out to children attending the Christmas services. This holiday custom spread throughout Europe and fancy canes, decorated with roses, were used as Christmas decorations in many homes. About 1900 the white candy cane received its traditional red stripes and peppermint flavoring. At the same time the legend of the candy cane came into being. According to this legend, a candy maker in Indiana designed the candy cane to tell the true story of Christmas - a story about a virgin giving birth to a shepherd who would give up His life for the sheep.

The most obvious symbolism used in the candy cane is its shape. Turned one way, it looks like a "J" for Jesus. The newborn Lamb of God was named Jesus, meaning Savior, because He was destined to "save His people from their sins" (Mt 1:21). Turned the other way, candy canes remind us of the shepherd's staff. The first people to hear of Christ's birth were shepherds guarding their flocks at night (Lk 2:8-20). Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd and the Bible frequently compares the actions of the Messiah to those of a shepherd searching for his lost sheep, feeding them, gently leading them, and carrying them in his bosom (Ps 23; Jn 10:1-18; Is 40:11; Jer 31:10; Micah 5:4; Heb 13:20). The sweetness of the candy reminds us that we are fed on the sweet milk of the Gospel of our salvation and peace (Eph 1:13; 6:15).

The hardness of the candy reminds us that Jesus is our rock of refuge (Deu 32:4, 15, 18; 1 Sam 2:2; 2 Sam 22:32, 47; 23:3; Psa 18:2, 31; 28:1; 92:15; 94:22; 95:1; Is 44:8). In rocky lands like Israel, people often sought shelter from their enemies in the caves or rocky crags of cliffs. Rocks also remind us of the solidness of the promises of Christ who is a precious cornerstone and sure foundation to those who follow Him, but a "stone of stumbling and a rock of offense" to those who reject His gift of peace (1 Pet 2:6-8).

The whiteness of the candy brings to mind the Virgin Birth and the sinless life of Christ (Mt 1:23; Lk 1:34-35). We also are made as pure as the snow through the cleansing action of His blood (Rev 7:9, 14; Is 1:18).

The traditional candy cane has 3 small red stripes to remind us of the soldiers' stripes by which we are healed and a larger stripe which represents the blood shed by Christ on Calvary's tree (Is 53:5; Mt 27:32-50). Some people say that the 3 small stripes honor the Holy Trinity while the larger stripe reminds us of the one true God. Others claim that the small stripes represent our mini-passions or sufferings and the great stripe symbolizes Christ's Passion. A green stripe is sometimes placed on candy canes to remind us that Jesus is God's gift to us. (Green is the color of giving.)

The peppermint flavor of modern candy canes is said to be similar to hyssop. In Old Testament times, hyssop was associated with purification and sacrifice. During the first Passover celebrations, a bundle of hyssop was used to smear the blood of Passover lambs upon the doorposts of houses so that the Angel of Death would pass over their occupants (Ex 12:22). Bundles of hyssop were also used to sprinkle blood on worshipers and objects during Mosaic purification rituals (Ex 24:6-8; Lev 14:4, 49-52). After his affair with Bathsheba, King David appealed to God's mercy crying, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow" (Ps 51:7). Peppermint reminds us that Jesus is our Passover Lamb (1 Cor 5:7). His blood cleanses us from sin and destroys the power of death (Hosea 13:14; 1 Cor 15:54-57; Heb 2:14-15; Rev 20:6).

Except where otherwise indicated all scripture quotes are from the NKJV.