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Like the shining beams of a lighthouse, God’s commandments offer direction and protection to all who follow them. Obedience brings safety, happiness, and peace. Life’s greatest blessings come from learning what God wants us to do and then obeying. As one great leader expressed it, “I made this my rule: When God commands, do it.”1 […]
A small child’s visit to the doctor can be a frightening experience. To put the child’s mind at ease, the doctor will often show him a stethoscope, explain its purpose, and then say, “Would you like to listen to your heart?” The child’s fear is then changed to curiosity as he listens to the beat […]
It’s an irony of modern life that, while some of us have almost no time to ourselves, others have almost more than they’d like. When being alone feels uncomfortable, it’s helpful to ask, “Who’s really here with me?” The writer Hugh Prather has said: “To me, being alone means togetherness—the re-coming together of myself and […]
Our birth is the beginning as we slip brand new into this world of fresh possibilities. How wonderful it would be to keep that first sparkle and bloom of life with us—to always see with a child’s eye. But familiarity can blind us to everyday beauty. Precious things can drift into the commonplace. How does […]
We’re extraordinarily fortunate people. We live on this beautiful earth, eating food we didn’t grow, sleeping in homes we didn’t build, breathing fresh, clean air and drinking sparkling water. All of these are freely given gifts from our Heavenly Father. Why, then, is it often difficult for us to act with mercy toward others? Because […]
We live in an age when many deny the existence of God. However, even those who claim to be atheists often recognize in those who believe, a strength, comfort, and peace. Recently, a group of medical students listened to a famous guest physician lecture on the factors that contribute to recovery from major illness. The […]
Happiness is a skill that comes (at least in part) from finding contentment with what we have. Henry David Thoreau believed that his “greatest skill [was] to want but little.”1 He learned to tame his desires so well that he came to want only that which was essential to joyful living. In this age of […]
Sometimes a feeling of peace can wash over us like an unexpected wave, and catch us by surprise. Without even expecting it, we suddenly feel filled with joy and warmth. These peak moments of contentment come when we’ve taken steps to remove the barriers between us and the Lord, and we sense His presence near […]
In the winter of 1777, Isaac Potts was passing through the woods near the American army headquarters at Valley Forge. On his way he heard a voice just ahead. As he drew closer, he was quite surprised to see the commander in chief himself on his knees in the act of prayer. Concealed by thick […]
Many of life’s sweetest joys result from being part of something greater than ourselves. Happy families, lasting friendships, successful careers—all require us to love and respect others enough to work beside them, to stand behind them, and to protect their interests as our own. Harmonizing our lives with the lives of people around us is […]
To have loving associations with family and friends is the height of joy in this life. Likewise, to have these relationships severed can bring the greatest sorrow. When the wedge between you and someone you once felt close to widens, it may feel as if the relationship’s beyond repair. There’s a way to restore the […]
We have nothing to give that we didn’t first receive from someone else. If we were to rummage down into ourselves like we were searching through an old chest, we would find—people, so many people who have helped make us who we are: mother, father, sisters, brothers, friends. God has made us who we are […]
Christmas is a season when our minds make a pilgrimage in time. We think about Bethlehem, which means “house of bread,” and wonder what it would have been like to watch Mary place Jesus, the Bread of Life, in a lowly manger. We imagine Mary gently arranging the straw to cradle His head, and find […]
Sometimes the most extraordinary events come unannounced, without fanfare. We go about our daily routines, thinking each day is very much like the previous. But perhaps in some other home in our neighborhood lives are changing in the most remarkable ways. One chilly morning was very much like the day before it. Across the world, […]
People everywhere search for the “just right” gift to give to those they love. It may help to consider what gift you would give to your children or grandchildren if this were the last gift you could give them. A grandmother, pondering this thought, came up with a unique idea. She and her husband had […]
One of the most beloved Christmas songs celebrates that sacred, silent night when Christ was born. Other carols and hymns likewise call our attention to the stillness and the hush attending that holy birth. The gifts that come wrapped in silence are among the most cherished we know. Through the Psalmist, the Almighty gives us […]
In the Christian world most of December is celebrated as Advent, commemorating the long-awaited coming of Jesus Christ two thousand years ago. As the celebration of His birth approaches, it’s worthwhile to ask: What do we look forward to? People of all faiths and nationalities mark dates important to their history, such as military victories […]
Along each path we walk in life are unique, “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunities to make the world a better place. It’s been wisely said: “I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing . . . that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do […]
Of all the qualities one can possess, perhaps the trait which most brings contentment, and most quickly reduces stress, is the virtue of gratitude. Look around at those you know who seem to possess this inner peace, this enjoyment of life—even with its obstacles and challenges. These are people who have gratitude within their hearts. […]
This day and always, we need mercy: the blessing of divine benevolence and human goodwill. Perhaps no story is better known and more vital than the parable of the good Samaritan. In response to the question “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus, in a few words, teaches two powerful principles that echo down the centuries: We’re […]
Most of us at one time or another have experienced feelings of loneliness. Few emotions are more painful; and, compounded by months or even years, the desperation of suffering in silence can be almost unbearable. Easing the pain is never a simple matter of being surrounded by a crowd. What is really needed is a […]
How many people push forward each day, preoccupied with business and thinking only of their schedules? They invest time in what’s essential to them, but have no time saved for others. It’s easy for some to ignore or set aside family problems that demand too much of that precious time. That was the situation of […]
Martin Luther said, “Logic is the greatest enemy faith has.” Logic is largely a function of the mind. Faith, however, is a function of mind, spirit, and heart. Faith combines experience and feeling as well as logic. As we seek to know more about heavenly things, we trust more intuitive feelings and spiritual experiences that […]
Our lives here on earth are not always joyful, and our days not always filled with beauty. The tragedies, disappointments, and difficulties with which we so often contend may seem almost more than we can bear at times, and our anguish can turn to despair. At these times of difficulty and pain, we are prompted […]
Peace is a gift from God bestowed upon those who humbly follow Him. Like all gifts of the Spirit, peace cannot be forced, packaged, or purchased. Only as we keep God’s laws and lovingly serve Him do we receive the “peace . . . which passeth all understanding.”1 Perhaps nothing is more sought after. Yet, […]
We know we can share our hopes, our fears, our deepest needs with a loving Father in Heaven through prayer. Still, there are times we may wonder if He’s actually heard us. We want Him to answer those heartfelt prayers. We want to hear His voice and feel His presence reaching out and touching us. […]
Most of us fondly recall and treasure certain days in our lives. Such memories include days when goals were achieved, events enjoyed with family and friends, and times when life’s circumstances were better than they are right now. It’s easy to be happy on life’s perfect days, and to wish every day was like them. […]
All of us are travelers through the experience of life. For some, the journey is short; for others, it requires special skills to navigate difficult passes. None of us knows when our journey will end, and a new one begin. Most of us hope to learn as we go, to enjoy the trip, to be […]
The notable American plant breeder Luther Burbank believed that desirable traits could be cultivated in children, just as they are in plants. Over the years, he demonstrated that if the right environment is created for breeding certain qualities into plants, the plants will naturally respond. In much the same way, he assured parents that, if […]
Because life is full of many challenges, we may occasionally feel overwhelmed. It can seem as if we’re lost in a dark cave, searching for a ray of hope. Whenever adversity erodes the will to go on, we need to draw on the light of faith to get us through moments of darkness. We can […]