Inspiration for our times ~ Opportunity~

This week I have been a bit slack in my commitment to my goals so when the Lord led me to the talk This Is My Day of Opportunity it spoke to my heart. Perhaps you too are missing opportunities to become who the Lord wants you to become. Despair not we have each new day as a gift to improve. Let us recommit to avoiding distractions and keeping our focus on developing who we want to be. And thank you for participating in the blog. It helps me each week to know that perhaps I may help inspire someone to come unto Christ. 

Watch talk: “This Is My Day of Opportunity” - Michelle D. Craig

Read the talk: here

Ponder this:

"When it comes down to it, there aren’t very many things you can take out of this world. A funeral is quick to remind us of that. . . . As near as I can tell, you can take three things:

You can take your character, including what you have learned, what you have done—who you have become. To build character is one of the purposes for which we are here.

You can take the ordinances of the gospel.

Because of the ordinances, the third thing that we pray we can take—and plan to take and want to take—is our family." ~Jeffery R. Holland~

Music:

Opportunity Lyrics Annie 2014

Close as a Quiet Prayer - Allyse Smith Taylor

Because You Loved Me - GENTRI

Heaven's Embrace - James Loynes

A Million Dreams by One Voice Children's Choir

They that are wise! 

I am a Child of God - LDS Church Messages

Press Forward, Saints - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Inspiration for our times ~ Consistency ~

Consistency is the ability to replicate a process or activity with the same level of quality over and over again.

As I ponder this I realize there is only one way to be prepared for future events. It is to build on what I have always been doing. Don't work harder just work a little better each day. Be consistent in prayer, fasting, serving, loving, learning, improving, and following. 

Talk: The Cadence of Consistency by Steven D. King (Director of Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors’ Center)

Music:

Because - written by Shawna Edwards

True to the Faith - Tabernacle choir

How Gentle God's Commands - Luanne Asta

Come Unto Christ - Voices Elevated

I Know My Father Loves Me -  Reese Oliveira

Let the Holy Spirit Guide 

I Need Thee Every Hour - Tabernacle Choir

Inspiration for our times - Relationships

I don't know about you but I seem to understand more gospel principles than I actually live perfectly each day. As I reflect on my life this New Year I believe that my motivation in life has mainly been obedience. However good that is, I would like to have Love be my motivation. At the times it has been forefront in my mind I felt more joy and peace and been more kind and accepting. In the year 2021 may we each "See more clearly, love more dearly and, follow our Savior more nearly day by day" ...Richard of Chichester

Talk: "The Gospel of Relationships" by Marleen Williams

Quote from talk:

"When we learn to love each other and have respect for our different abilities, we prepare ourselves to live in a celestial order. Each person edifies the other, and then the whole can become a Zion society."

Quote: from: Liahoni Magazine August 2018 quote: 

Jesus Christ built meaningful relationships with His disciples (see John 11:5). He knew them (see John 1:47–48). He spent time with them (see Luke 24:13–31). His communication went beyond the superficial (see John 15:15). He appreciated their differences (see Matthew 9:10) and saw their potential (see John 17:23). He served everyone, though He was Lord of all, saying He came not to be ministered to but to minister (see Mark 10:42–45).

Music:

Tabernacle Choir - Love One Another

City of Enoch - God So Loved the World

Fountainview Academy - Why Me?

Doxology - It is Well                                   

Maranatha! Music - In Moment Like This

Tabernacle Choir - Consider the Lilies

Inspiration for our times - water

I have loved the feelings of JOY  I felt this Christmas season and hope you have too. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has chosen to partner with WaterAid to support clean water projects around the world. If you would like to continue feeling the JOY of Christmas consider going here to learn more or to donate.

Talk: A Reservoir of Living Water -  David A. Bednar

Music:

Women at the Well - Kenneth Cope

When It Rains - James Loynes

The Master's Voice - Allyse Smith Taylor

Bridge Over Troubled Waters - Westminster Chorus (singing begins at the 1.16 time stamp)

I Have Not Seen Yet I Believe - Brady Lorene

As the Deer Pants for the Water English Christian worship song

Additional thoughts:

*Christ Is the Living Water

    Do you wish to partake of this living water [spoken of in John 4:14] and experience that  divine well springing up within you to everlasting life?

    Then be not afraid. Believe with all your hearts. Develop an unshakable faith in the Son of God. Let your hearts reach out in earnest prayer. Fill your minds with knowledge of Him.        Forsake your weaknesses. Walk in holiness and harmony with the commandments.

    Drink deeply of the living waters of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

*  How Does the Living Water Bless Us?

The living water heals us through the power of the Holy Ghost.

The living water nourishes and sustains us (see Matthew 11:28).

The living water brings peace and joy (see John 14:27; D&C 101:16).

Inspiration for our times ~Adore Him ~

Adore:

love and respect deeply

 be devoted to

affection

tenderness

gratitude

cherish

treasure

prize

admire

stand in awe of

reverence

worship

 venerate

The Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Russel M. Nelson, has asked the world to take the time to receive revelation and to hear our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, by listening to the Holy Ghost. 

I pray that the following words and music will buoy you up and remind you of the blessings and revealed messages you have receive from a loving Father. And as you realize ALL that you have been given may you in return give Them your adoration!

Talk:

"Have Yourself a Level 3 Christmas" - John Bytheway

Music:

American Festival Chorus and Orchestra: Christmas from Home

Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful -  BYU Vocal Point and BYU Noteworthy

A Christmas Song for 2020 - Peter Hollens

When a Child is Born - Susan Boyle &Johnny Mathis 

Adore -Chris Tomlin

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day - Doxology

O come, O come, Emmanuel - (Piano/Cello) - The Piano Guys

In the Bleak Midwinter - Keith & Kristyn Getty

Angels We Have Heard On High - Andrea Bocelli 

Ode To Joy To The World - With Choir & Bell Ringers

Mary Did You Know? - One Voice Children's Choir cover

Come, let us Adore Him!

Inspiration for Our Times - Harmony

Being a very independent person I often struggle with harmony. Perhaps you do as well.  Some synonyms for Harmony are: concord, accord, agreement, peace, peacefulness, amity, amicability, friendship, fellowship, comradeship, solidarity, cooperation, understanding, consensus, unity, sympathy, rapport, goodwill, like-mindedness. unison, union, concert, oneness, synthesis, concurrence. I plan to pick one synonym this week and work to improve what I can to be more in harmony with God, my family and my associates. Perhaps you would like to do the same. As we each do our part we will be happier ourselves and create more joy in the world.

Talk:  Gérald Caussé - Harmony of Body and Spirit:  A Key to Happiness        

Music:

Good Ol' Country Harmony - Home Free

800 musicians from 55 countries combine to create a stunning virtual video - Nearer, My God, to Thee

Christmas Song - Chris Norman

Praise & Harmony Singers - Oceans

Cantus -  "This Is My Song"

GENTRI - Do You Hear What I Hear 

Westminster Chorus - Tribute to World Peace Medley

Sussex Carol

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Short video clip: Family Harmony

Unrelated video:

The Astrology behind the Star of Bethlehem

Inspiration for our times ~ Power of Words ~

I love words and it was wonderful to find and listen to this talk from another lover of words. (I still do the Reader's Digest, Word Power.)

 I hope this week you will feast on the words of Christ and then go out, be an angel, and use your words to bring faith, love, and hope to all you interact with.

 Watch video:   Randall Hall - "The Influence, Possibility, and Power of Words"

Music:

Ancient Words - Fountainview Academy

Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words 

SPEAK (Words Bring Life)

Thy Holy Word-Tabernacle Choir

Search Ponder And Pray

He Is My All - James Loynes And Heather Prusse (click go to page when new window comes up)

Watch another talk:  Lauri Arensmeyer- "The Words We Speak"

Ponder this quote from Lauri's talk:

"In the coming week, I invite you to seek out opportunities to speak words of appreciation and kindness to others. I also invite you to stop any initial impulse to be contentious, but to give the benefit of the doubt instead and respond in kindness. Elder Renlund put it this way: “As His disciples, let us fully mirror [Christ’s] love and love one another so openly and completely that no one feels abandoned, alone, or hopeless.”