Eleventh Day of Christmas: Twas the Night

I've thought long and hard about what to write today. It's Christmas Eve, and it's my last post for this 12 Days series. I want to write something powerful and share all of my knowledge and love of Christ.

But, I've watched some amazing videos recently that have really helped me find the Spirit of Christmas. I want to share them with you, and I'll let the videos do the talking. Please watch them! I'm not just posting them on here for fun (okay, I am, but the "fun" is to share my testimony of Christ!)!

I love you all. Thanks for reading our blog and for all of the love and support you have given us. Ben will get to close out this series tomorrow, on Christmas day.

Merry Christmas!

Tenth Day of Christmas: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I was in the MTC, I volunteered to be a part of the missionary choir that sang at weekly devotional. One week we started practicing a hymn called When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. It's not in the LDS hymnbook and I had never heard of it before. But when we started going over the words, I knew that I had to memorize them.

At that time, I was still immature in a lot of ways and my testimony was pretty superficial, but this song gave words to some of my deepest feelings I have about Christ. It helped me feel a closeness to Him in ways I had never felt before. Just like I do with this song, I still get teary eyed every time I listen to it. I especially love the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's performance of it because it's just so powerful.

I hope you enjoy it!

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

1. When I survey the wondrous cross
   On which the Prince of glory died,
   My richest gain I count but loss,
   And pour contempt on all my pride.
2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
   Save in the death of Christ my God!
   All the vain things that charm me most,
   I sacrifice them to His blood.
3. See from His head, His hands, His feet,
   Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
   Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
   Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
   That were a present much too small;
   Love so amazing, so divine,
   Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Ninth Day of Christmas: Sharing Good News!

Luke 2:9-14

9 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.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

These verses are among my favorites in the scriptures. 

Can you imagine what the shepherds experienced that night? Can you imagine just doing your thang, then to have an angel come tell you a Savior has been born? Can you imagine the concourses of angels praising God and telling of peace on earth? 

What I can imagine about that night makes my heart swell and fills me with peace and light. I can only imagine what that night was like, but what my imagination comes up with is beautiful. I read these verses, and part of me is there. 

I love these verses in the nativity story for a few reasons. First, they just fill me with light. When I read them with full purpose of heart, I know what they testify of is real. I know that Christ is my Savior, and I know that He brings peace. His birth and everything that resulted has so much significance for my life, so much that I can only feel gratitude, peace, hope, and joy when reading these verses. 

I also love these verses because they teach me about humility and simplicity. 

Christ was born in the humblest of circumstances. For someone with such a grand purpose, the world would say everything should be done in magnificence. In this case, however, it was just humble and simple. He was born in a stable. 

On that same note, upon this beautiful birth, God sent heavenly messengers to testify. To whom did He send these messengers? Shepherds. 

God is no respecter of persons or status. Those shepherds could be anyone. In fact, pretend for a second that they are you. God had given us each an opportunity to receive witness of Christ. Our job now is to find Him and share the good news. 

I said that these verses teach me about humility and simplicity. The setting of this birth is humble and simple. There was nothing extravagant about it, just pure and real. 

This year I've really been working on humility and simplicity. Humility is a (kind of) obvious characteristic needed to draw closer to God, but I think we tend to overlook simplicity. 

This is my testimony to you that as we focus on the reality of life, and the most important things, our lives will become more full. As you simplify some things (for me, it's been getting rid of some time-wasting activities, turning my will over to God, and focusing more on being receptive to the Spirit), you will find the true meaning of life. You will be able to draw closer to Christ, and you will feel joy. 

Like the shepherds, see the witnesses God has given you (they are probably more subtle than angels coming to visit :D), and take the opportunity during this celebratory season to share the good news of the birth of Christ! If it's changed your life, it will be life-changing for others as well.

Eighth Day of Christmas: My Favorite Attribute of Christ

photo cred

As I have been thinking about my relationship with Christ since we've been doing this, I've been trying to think about what I love most about Him. There are so many things that He's done for me. I really feel like I would be nothing without Him, and I don't mean that in a superficial way. I've spent a lot of time thinking about this. And as I've been thinking about our relationship and its ups and downs, I decided that the thing I love most about Him is His patience.

Jeffrey R. Holland once said:

Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it.

And He doesn't just deal with it. He still goes out of His way to be there for us, to help us, to love us. I've done some terribly frustrating things in my life. I still do, and it drives me absolutely crazy to think that I still do some things that I should have stopped or grown out of a long time ago. But when I pray and humbly seek God's forgiveness, He gives it to me. Every time. He doesn't roll His eyes and say, "Really? Let's see how long you'll last this time." He doesn't scold me for being weak. He doesn't give me the silent treatment. He wants me back, and He shows me that.

I'm not a very patient person by nature. As I think about the patience Christ has with me, I can't picture me ever having that. But I know deep down that His Atonement can not only act toward the remission of my sins, but it can also enable me to change to become more like Him.

I sometimes don't understand why He still forgives me and why He still puts up with me. If it were me, I would've thrown in the towel long, long ago. So I am forever grateful for the patience He has with each of us as we struggle through this life. I'm grateful for His understanding that each of us has different weaknesses and selfish desires, and that we can change. I only hope I can learn that type of patience.

Seventh Day of Christmas: A Gift

Yesterday one of my students brought me a gift. It is a handmade cross-stitched type of gingerbread house ornament.

This particular student has a lot of medical issues. I'm not sure what all is going on with her, but she has a learning disability along with no use of her left arm. She is one of the sweetest people I know. When she smiles, it lights up the room and my heart. She goes out of her way to be nice to people. And she works really hard in class despite the things that make the education world difficult for her.

People, she made this ornament for me. She has no use of her left arm.

I am in awe, and I am humbled. I feel like I can't even put it to words adequately.

One of my friends challenged me to photograph a moment today where I could see God's love. I know this was not technically today, but I saw it on my desk when I got to school today, and it made me think.

This small act of kindness and love is a sign of God's love for me because it showed me that I am cared about. Whenever I am the recipient of any act of love, kindness, or service, I know it is God's hand through someone else. In this case, I was humbled by this simple act from a student with many challenges. She loves me enough to create something with her hands when she has no use of one arm (and hand). What did I do to deserve this?

I could also ask what I did to deserve the sacrifice Christ made for me. The answer is simple: nothing. I don't "deserve" His sacrifice, but He gives it freely because He loves me.

May we carry that love in our hearts and give freely. We can carry that love in our hearts and be God's hands to someone else.

Sixth Day of Christmas: Let Him Heal Your Heart

I know it's a little cheap, but Kilee sharing her favorite song about Christ made me want to share mine too! And we're doing it on the same day! Awwwwwwww...anyway, my favorite song about the Atonement is called Let Him Heal Your Heart by John Canaan. Back in high school I got a BYU Men's Chorus CD and this song is on there. I was going through a particularly hard time and this song carried me when I needed it. I still get a little teary-eyed when I listen to it. It's hard to pinpoint my favorite part of the song because every stanza is filled with truth and the love the Savior has for each of us. I hope you enjoy it :)

Who can know the heartache that we're feeling deep inside? 

Who can know the burden you've carried all your life? 

Darkness fills the daylight and the road is much too long. 

Where is heavens answers and the strength to carry on?

When the night is lonely and your pride and fear depart, 

When the tears are falling and the questions fill your heart, 

Think of how he loves you, how he longs to bring you home.

Reach out for his guidance, he has walked your path alone. 

Let him heal your heart, remember every promise he has made. 

Reach into your soul, forsake a life of sin and he will shine that light inside again. 

Let him help you start, to live again and feel his endless love. 

Let him hold and teach you, love and reach you, let him heal your heart.

There's no simple challenge, every road is not the same. 

Every wrong decision is forgotten if you change. 

Feel his warmth surround you, see his arms are opened wide.

And know that he stands ready, when you start to change your life. 

Never doubt his goodness, don't believe that its too late.

He sees your every struggle, and he know the trials you face. 

Follow and believe him, put your trust in him again. 

And change your heart forever, let the miracles begin. 

Let him heal your heart, remember every promise he has made.

Reach into your soul, forsake a life of sin and he will shine that light inside again. 

Let him help you start, to live again and feel his endless love. 

Let him hold and teach you, love and reach you, let him heal your heart. 

Let him hold and teach you, love and reach you, let him heal your heart.

Fifth Day of Christmas: One Who Understands

Yesterday was really busy, and today is too as I'm wrapping up semester testing and trying to get all the last-minute grading turned in (from late work turned in last minute...). So, I'm posting this now (late!), and Day 6 will come later today via Ben.

One of my favorite scriptures is John 15:13.

"Greater love hath no man that this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

I love it because it tells me I am one of Christ's friends. He laid down His life for me, and for that I will be forever grateful. At this time, we celebrate His birth. What's so significant about His birth, though? His life. The life He lived, and the life He gives us is the reason to celebrate! His gospel is reason to celebrate! Because of His birth, we have been able to receive the rewards of His atoning sacrifice. Because of His life here on earth, we are able to turn to Him in times of need, whatever that need may be. 

He is always there. He loves us more than we can even imagine.

I want to share my favorite song about the Atonement. Watch this video:

I feel like I can just say, "'Nuff said" and be done. Because that song and video are amazing! 

But I'll just say that I know He lives, and He loves us. This year has been full of hard trials for me, and I've grown closer to Christ than I ever have before. I have much to learn, but I'm getting there. I wish every day that I could just shout from the rooftops and have everyone become baptized into His church! I know that He knows and loves me personally. And He knows and loves you too. He knows what you are experiencing, and He is just waiting to wrap you up in His love. He understands everything about your life. Turn to Him in times of need, and turn to give Him thanks during times of joy. Never forget Him because He will surely never forget you. Even when you feel lost and alone, He is there. You just have to look beyond the pain and see that He has never left you. Sometimes it's hard, but when I have found Him, I have found that He has been there all along. 

The Fourth Day of Christmas: His Love Fills Us

photo cred

I listened to a story on the way to work this morning. It was a story I’ve heard many times before, but it was good to hear again at this time of year.

Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch woman who was interned in a concentration camp in Nazi Germany after it was found that she and her family were helping an underground effort to conceal Jews from being arrested and sent to their deaths. Throughout her experience, she struggled to be as kind and forgiving as her sister Betsie, whose testimony of Jesus Christ and His saving power was inspiring, but her sister’s influence helped her to find forgiveness for herself.

Betsie ten Boom ended up dying before the end of the war and, in an effort to carry on her sister’s faith in the liberating power of forgiveness, Corrie began speaking publicly around the world about the peace and forgiveness she had found in Christ. The rest of the story I’ll quote from the general conference talk I heard the story from:

After the war she often spoke publicly of her experiences and of healing and forgiveness. On one occasion a former Nazi guard who had been part of Corrie’s own grievous confinement in Ravensbrück, Germany, approached her, rejoicing at her message of Christ’s forgiveness and love.
 “‘How grateful I am for your message, Fraulein,’ he said. ‘To think that, as you say, He has washed my sins away!’
 “His hand was thrust out to shake mine,” Corrie recalled. “And I, who had preached so often … the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side.
 “Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. … Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him.
 “I tried to smile, [and] I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me Your forgiveness.
 “As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.
 “And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.”

So if you ever find it difficult to feel love for another person, or even for yourself, remember that Christ can give you that love. When you struggle to forgive another person, or even yourself, remember that Christ can give you His forgiveness. It is His light that fills this world and penetrates the darkness, and it is through His light and life that we can all be healed. 

Third Day of Christmas: Caroling and Love

I went caroling at a retirement center with a few families from our ward tonight. Ben didn't come with me because he got off work late. He really missed out!

I've always loved caroling at retirement centers. I've done it a few times, and each time has felt magical. The people we sing to appreciate it so much, and I've always felt a strong spirit of love while there.

This experience was no different. From the moment I walked in the door and saw the excited faces anticipating our caroling, my heart melted. I actually almost cried, that is how strongly I felt. A lot ran through my mind in that instant: I felt a very strong love for every single person in that room as a son or daughter of God. I felt that I was in the right place, spreading the word of the gospel and bringing merriness into their lives. I felt peace, complete peace. I felt joy, and my heart felt ready to burst.

I also felt the spirit of my grandma. She was always up for a good time, especially if it involved music and/or dancing. I think she joined her daughter and granddaughters for a brief moment during the musical praises we sang. She always loved to hear us sing.

Upon the end of the night, all of what I felt boiled down to one word: love.

Tonight, I felt like I understood a piece of what Jesus Christ feels for each of us. He loves us. He ransomed Himself for us. I felt a piece of that love for each of the men and women with me tonight, both retirement center folks and the friends and family I went with.

Tonight, singing brought us together. We bonded over our love for Jesus Christ and the joy of what He has brought to life.

Tonight, I am writing because this is what His birth signifies: love. And joy.

And I can't think of any better way to share that with people than through music. Music is powerful. It has always spoken to me in ways that no others can. Music has healed and soothed my soul when I've needed it most and found no other balm. Good music is of God. We can use music to learn, to teach, to soothe, and rejoice. Tonight, we taught, possibly soothed, and definitely rejoiced through music.

Caroling is a Christmas tradition. I never fully understood why until tonight.

D&C 136:28
"If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving."

Merry Christmas!

Second Day of Christmas: Our Dependence on Christ

photo cred

Today in Elder's quorum, we talked about our dependence on Christ. It made me think of Ammon's boasting of the strength of the Lord in Alma 26:12:

Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

I've gotten a lot of chances to think about the experience we've had since moving to Arkansas. I wrote a little bit about my feelings on my other blog, but today there were some extra things I hadn't thought about.

For those of you who didn't know, I was unemployed for the first six months of this year. I applied for scores of jobs in the area and interviewed for a good number, but I always fell short. It seems that almost every time I asked for feedback, they told me they thought I was a great candidate and they wanted to hire me, but someone just barely beat me to it, and I never knew the reason.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that there is a very good reason--God wanted me to learn something. If it was right for me to have a job, I wouldn't have had a problem, but He wanted me to learn that we are wholly dependent on Him for everything. I have the skills necessary to have a successful career, but I know now that that's not what's important in this life. It's important to realize that our relationship with Christ, and our acknowledgment that without Him we are nothing, are the things that will help us be the most successful with that which is most important in this life.

In the story of the Brother of Jared, God says that the winds that sent them to the promised land came forth from His mouth. There were a lot of times when that wind caused huge storms that buried their vessels in the water and they had to pray to make it back to the surface so they could breathe. And I'm sure it wasn't the most comfortable ride for them, but they were always moving toward the promised land. For me, I'm actually on a pretty good path right now toward self-employment, but that wouldn't have happened without going through what we've had to. The winds have blown and we've felt buried at times, but I can see now that we're still being blown in the right direction.

When we realize our dependence on Christ, it's easier to see why certain things happen to us. It also helps us to humble ourselves so that we can start making progress in the right direction. The enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is what makes that possible.

On the First Day of Christmas

"On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me..."

...A message about Christ that makes me happ-ee!

Starting today, we will be bringing you a Christmas thought/message/scripture to gear us all up about the true meaning of Christmas. I realize it's been a while since we blogged...maybe we will start being more consistent. Maybe not. Only time will tell. But for the next 12 days, we will surely be consistent!

Day 1: The Word

Yesterday, as I was driving around town with mi mamasita, she asked, "Kilee, I just realized something yesterday. Have you ever thought about the word Christmas?" Yes, many times, but as soon as she said this, I realized I had never thought about it in the way she was about to describe, and it instantly clicked.

Christ. Mas.

More Christ.

We all need a little more Christ in our lives. Christ represents so many things, but the biggest things for me are salvation, hope, and peace. Let's come together this Christmas season and bring more Christ into the lives of those that need Him.

Except, let's not stop at the end of the Christmas season. We could always use more Christ.

Credit