Eclipse

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Last October our family traveled to central Utah (Palisades State Park) to view a solar eclipse….a ring of fire.

Today, April 8, 2024, I’ve been watching a total eclipse on TV, and am reminded of the awe we felt last October. I especially remember how remarkably colder it got, and we scrambled for our coats. My camera equipment is not phenomenal, and so the images I took are not the best, but, nonetheless are good reminders of our experience 6 months ago.

News casters on TV have referred to the event as being “bigger than us” and “spiritual”. It is a testimony to me of the incomprehensible majesty of the creation of our earth, and how nurtured we are by God. Think of how cold it got when we were without the sun for just a few minutes, and imagine what it would be like it the sun stopped shining for us, or the earth stopped moving in it’s orbit around the sun, or just stopped spinning?!

…and I am grateful that there is a power far beyond what I can imagine, that can create in such beauty and harmony. And so, I am committed to look for it everyday: every time I take breath, every morning when I open my eyes and they can see, and my brain can interpret what they see, and I can taste, and feel a warm breeze, and the tulips bloom…..billions of miracles right in front of me.

And I am glad the sun is shining in it’s fullness today, warming the planet to just the right temperature, and night time will come, but so will a sunrise tomorrow, and tomorrow. Plants will grow and rain will fall; all in perfect harmony.

Share Glad Tidings

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Share glad tidings  of great joy  unto every soul.
When we find  something of great worth, share that truth  so we all can grow.
The Church of Jesus Christ  of Latter-Day Saints  teaches what is true.
Let us invite  souls everywhere.  Repentance  makes us new.

When we share  the Gospel's light  with others  that we see,
We must ask for  the Holy Ghost  to help set their  spirits free.
For only God  can enter in  and touch the  hearts of man.
With holy fire  the Holy Ghost testifies of  God's great plan.

There are countless souls  upon this earth  who know not  where to look.
Duty calls  us who know  to give each soul  God's Holy Books,
And share our testimony  with every willing soul.
With guidance from  the Holy Ghost, each child is helped  to grow.

Great shall be  each soul's reward, with every soul  we help save.
We share the truth  of Christ our LORD  & we build  beyond the grave.
Christ is the way, the truth & light.  There is no other way.
Share glad tidings  of great joy  and share it  every day.

In April 2023, President (and prophet) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Russell M Nelson, extended this invitation, “….study .. the account of the Savior’s appearance to the Nephites in the Americas, as recorded in 3 Nephi. Not long before that appearance, His voice was heard among the people, including these words of supplication: ‘Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?….behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive.’

Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ extends that same invitation to you today. I plead with you to come unto Him so that He can heal you! He will heal you from sin as you repent. He will heal you from sadness and fear. He will heal you from the wounds of this world.

Whatever questions or problems you have, the answer is always found in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Learn more about HIs Atonement, His love, His mercy, His doctrine, and His restored gospel of healing and progression. Turn to Him! Follow Him! …I testify that following Him is the only way to enduring happiness.”

What Good Can Come?

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What good can come by looking for the faults in others that we see?
We each have faults enough to keep us busy, you and me.
When we put someone down, to lift us up, we ourselves fall  from our place.
Let us lift the weak & poor, sick & sore, and receive the Lord's sweet Grace.

The words of Christ burn in each heart, who tries to understand.
"First take the beam from our eye, then a sliver from our fellow man."
"Judge not that we be not judged", helps keep us from pride's way.
"For as we judge, we shall be judged," are words to live, not just to say.

Sometimes when others hate us and strive to do us harm,
We strive to protect ourselves from false judgement that can harm.
The sin comes when we don't forgive the trespass of their deeds.
What good is there to hold a grudge?  Forgiveness, we each need.

When someone judges others on what they understand,
We each are like an ice burg; the tip is small to comprehend.
Yet each of us have depths below that others do not see.
We each can try to see the good another may not see.

A New Year

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Well, 2023 is almost gone. Somehow, when unpleasant and stressful events seem relentless, we blame the ‘Year’ for it. That’s been my year: broken bones, surgery, family divorce, heartache, car wreck, hard drive crash, data breach….one on the tail of the other. I’ve been a complainer. Many days I have not been able to see anything to be grateful for. I should be ashamed.

Last week our family spent time together to celebrate Christmas. On one occasion when we were all crowded into the living room, we passed around the question: What do you hope for in the new year? All thoughts were meaningful. I was impressed. I was going to say that I hoped the new year would be more free of those stressful, unpleasant events….

…until my grand daughter said a very impressive thing. She said that she hoped that all would work out for the good, just like it had done so far this year. Those profound thoughts sunk deep in my heart. I could see her faith and her grateful humble heart. I contemplated 2023 events, and as I did so, was impressed at the ‘PATTERN’ they demonstrated; the pattern of disturbing events followed by a period of time ending in a good resolution. Time after time. And I felt grateful. I saw the lessons I learned, or perhaps should have learned. I saw the hand of God that was always there, and I saw 2023 a bit differently, and realized that perhaps I have just a bit more faith for 2024.

May we all look for the peace and light and joy waiting for the taking in 2024.

I like the hope illustrated in a poem written by my daughter, Valoree:

Mother Earth moves us into the shadow
The icy cold could penetrate to bone
In the darkness and the heart of Winter
We shelter in the warm hearth of home
Let us celebrate the coming of a New Year
The creeping approach of the return of light
With songs, thoughtful  gifts and pleasantries
We may bring out the unwilted mistletoe
A reminder to forgive and let go of grudges
And holly, with berries of bright red
For the strength of the deep roots of family
Our Evergreens stand beautiful and tall
Bedecked in ornament, Cheery and twinkling
And in the great, wild forests of the world
The sparkling, snow-covered, majestic pine
Stay green and resilient despite storm and frost
Each day the Sun will stay a minute longer
Reflect on the year!  Visualize your wishes!
Now is the time to cherish and look forward.






                  Patience is knowing the snow will melt and glorious spring will indeed come.





Alma 7:27 (from the Book of Mormon)  “and now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you possess….from this time forth and forever.”




































































































































































































							

					

	






	

				
							
		

			


				
Reflections on Aging


								

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Well, hello there.  It’s been months since the last post, and I’m truly sorry about that.  It’s been a really difficult year, and I’ve put off posting because I had nothing positive to offer.  Actually, I still don’t, other than I suspect all of us have suffered about something this year.





But there are bright spots.  I had a bright spot a couple of days ago.  It was a poem written as part of a birthday present to me, by my daughter, who always knows what to say and how to say it.  She should be doing this blog…I’ve got a lot to learn, and that can be exciting.  The adventure.





Here’s the poem:





Passage of time
marked with flame
seamlessly passes
leaves nothing unchanged
begs the questions
rarely answered
our own reflection
slowly morphing
so slowly
that we really can't see
the onset of wrinkles and graying
the new face of 'me'
step back with fresh eyes
return to awe
maybe bewilderment
witness the sacred passage of time
the marks left behind
it's your journey pilgrim
all the pain
luck,
and glory
a tale sweet
sometimes sad
our own too short story
what a gift to grow old
to ripen and wise
what an honor to change
blessed with more time
to learn from our mistakes
perhaps even privileged enough
to live long enough to learn from others
why not embrace this temporary state
we call life
unfurl completely
stay ferocious
be kind
remain ever curious
an open and child-like mind
keep forgiving
keep loving
keep being surprised
at that aging reflection
it's a fleshy disguise
we're all young at heart
when you look at the eyes

-Eve-











“Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good…” 





                                                             D&C 90:25







							

					

	






	

				
							
		

			


				
Parable of the Bubble Lights


								

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Each Christmas season I eagerly anticipate the tradition of displaying the strings of bubble lights onto the Christmas tree.  I meticulously attach each bulb in a space appropriately large and dark enough for them to be gloriously illuminated by the yellow, red or green bulb beneath the tube of liquid.  Each one seems to shout from the darkened branches, but the real glory is the tube of colored liquid above the bulb that spritely bubbles as it is heated from below.  The silent movement of the bubbles gives the whole tree a magical lively aura.





Over time, some light do not spontaneously bubble. This is troubling.  I have discovered that, using a plastic spoon, a gentle (very gentle) tap on the top of the glass tube usually provides the sufficient disturbance to incite bubbling again.





On one occasion, with spoon in hand, I hunted for the un-bubbling lights and in my mind, I coaxed them, encouraged them to respond, reminding them that they were beloved and glorious, and, those who did not bubble WERE MEANT FOR GREATER THINGS!  At that very thought, I was forcefully impressed with the thought of God gently tapping me in my occasional apathetic state, reminding me that I AM MEANT FOR GREATER THINGS. 










Perhaps Jesus Christ thought something like that when he called fishermen to follow Him.  He saw their light and knew that it could be more glorious.





As I was watching a Youtube scripture study (Don’t Miss This, Matthew 14), the presenters spoke of the parables of Jesus and challenged us to write a parable of our own, and, hence, I post the Parable of the Bubble Lights, as it was impressed upon me Christmas of 2021.  Now, whenever I see a bubble light, I wonder if I don’t need a tap on the head to make me sparkle too!  (By the way, don’t take my advise about tapping the top of the tubes because the liquid inside is not environmentally friendly if the tube might break and spread the liquid all over the room.  Seriously, that does happen.)










Check out the Youtube mentioned above for some great insights into the New Testament.  Also, as I always suggest, check out the website churchofjesuschrist.org for a plethora of videos, thoughts, articles and messages, all posted there to uplift, comfort and challenge us all.


							

					

	






	

				
							
		

			


				
Reaching….


								

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Many recent church speeches have been based on the thought, that, to God, we are enough. Obviously there are many of us who put ourselves down because we feel that we don’t measure up to our expectations.  We feel unworthy of God’s attention and love, and, in consequence, we stop looking for, or expecting it, and fail to see it in our lives, which only leads to more self-negative feelings.





It is certainly true that we all should see and feel the love of God, and ought to know that simply by the fact that we are his children, we are loved and cared for.  So, sometimes we need a stern reminder of those truths.





However; be careful.  If we really think that we’ve already passed the test,  we might fool ourselves into thinking that because we’re enough, we can slacken on reaching and trying.  I have found that the most profound joy will come from our intense stretching, and stepping out of our comfort zone, rather than sitting back and thinking that it’s enough already.





It is through our reaching out and stretching and pleading and trying again and again that we achieve,  Like the caterpillar who chooses the scary chrysalis and eventually emerges as that glorious winged creature who has ever-the-much more capability, opportunity, and joy.










So, if you need to clothe yourself with God’s love.  Do it.  Learn of him.  Pray.  Ask.  Listen.  Just don’t ever tell yourself that he is not interested in you.  Look for his love in your life.  The reaching will be well worth it, again and again.  Be patient on those dark chrysalis days.  It will pass.  Ask for strength.  It always comes in some form or another, usually in unexpected ways.







							

					

	






	

				
							
		

			


				
Fridays and Sundays


								

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This is a quote from Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, on of the previous Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.




Last week, using the New Testament as our text, we  journeyed through the last days of the life of Jesus Christ.  Friday was the day of Jesus’ trial, condemnation and death on the cross at Calvary; definitely a difficult day for him.  But then Sunday came with the glorious truth that he had risen from the grave and left the pain a sorrow of Friday behind forever.  





This is a message of hope for all of us who have our ‘Fridays’.  It is a reminder that Jesus Christ is truly the answer to everything, and can help us get to our ‘Sundays’.





www.churchofjesuschrist.org







							

					

	






	

				
							
		

			


				
Easter


								

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This video and many others are found on churchofjesuschrist.org





Springtime is a grand showcase of New Life.  Daffodils and tulips push their green stems up from newly thawed ground, a symbol of rebirth.  The cold grip of winter with it’s lifeless landscape gives way to a miraculous splendor of life and color.  It’s a parable!  The tulips shed their dried up petals as the summer heat seems to dry up their very lives.  The bulb lies hidden in the cold, dark earth until that glorious spring morning when it rises again.  Resurrection.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ has broken the grasp of death.  He lives today, and His power can enable us to become both new in spirit in our dark times in life, and new in body as a resurrected and eternally living person, a gift given to all of us, and celebrated again this Easter.  Easter is truly a message of deliverance for all of us.  







							

					

	






	

				
							
		

			


				
A Constant Prayer


								

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How does one keep a constant prayer in one's heart?
Here are some ideas where we can start:
Some answers are found in the habits that we form.
Our daily prayers and study keep us safe from life's storms.

Study of Holy Scriptures gives us the desire to pray.
True prayers of meditation help us more day by day.
As God's wisdom grows in us, we open up our heart.
As we honor God's Sabbath, this will help us start.

By asking Lord Jesus for forgiveness, repentance helps us see.
As we grow more constant in the Lord, we begin to truly see.
Then constant prayer, like a seed in us, starts to grow.
Through our gratitude and attitude, we begin to truly know.

The more we seek for constant prayer, the more we learn and grow.
We each must strive to hear the spirit more each night and day,
As we learn to hear the still small voice and walk in God's pure way,
We believe each weak child, in Christ, can, in their heart, hear and see.
If we strive with heart and soul, body and mind, our Lord will help us be
In constant touch with the Holy Ghost ,as we are meant to be.

Below is a simple1-minute video about prayer taken from churchofjesuschrist.org













Temples are obvious places of prayer, but we could never have a constant prayer if we only prayed in the temple!  Sometimes my best times to pray are driving in the car, or stopping to enjoy a view, or when a wave of anger comes on me, or, or, or anytime.  Anywhere.  Isn’t it marvelous that we have access to God and his peace, comfort and strength anytime we are willing? Where are your best places and times to pray?