Joy In The Journey Radio
  • Home
  • Radio 4 LDS Singles
    • Recent Shows >
      • 9 Nov 22
      • 2 Nov 22
    • Archive 2022
    • Archive 2021
    • Archive 2020
    • Archive 2019
    • Archive 2018
  • LDS Singles Blog
  • Members
    • Members-only
  • World of TED
  • Firesides
  • Books
  • FAQ
  • Volunteer
  • Home-centered Church
  • Donate
  • Contact

continue the conversation

Start your own Christmas story

12/10/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
It’s that time of year again.  I’ve always enjoyed the First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional, and this year was no exception, especially the music.  MoTab is always great, but for some reason the orchestra really touched me this year.

I reflected on how President Hinckley had introduced the orchestra in selected MoTab performances and thought to myself, “Thank God for President Hinckley!”

The speakers were also wonderful, in part because they were surprising.  I expected each member of the First Presidency to speak, but that didn’t happen.  Then I expected that at the end the Prophet would want to address everyone, but that didn’t happen either.  I’m not disappointed, just surprised (and pleasantly so) with the departure from my expectations.

One expectation that was met, however, was the quality of the messages provided.  If you missed the program or want a refresher, you can watch the 2014 First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional here.  A theme I noticed among the various speakers was reference to stories of people who through their example shared the joy of the Christmas holiday with others.

That got me thinking.

We need to be “writing” our own Christmas stories that get passed down through the generations.  Our example should inspire others to retell that story of our example time and time again.

Clearly this is a high standard.  And the best way to meet that is to partner with the Lord and follow the Spirit.

Partner with the Lord

Picture
The most influential examples are often the ones that escape our awareness.  So you can’t really plan to meet the standard of being so influential that people tell stories about what you did for them.

But you can partner with the Lord and allow Him to guide you by the Spirit to those persons who you can influence for good.  And the stories they tell of your goodness will inspire countless others for generations to come.

Though you may never hear those stories, you will receive blessings from the Lord for your generous contribution.

Partnering with the Lord really is the only way you can meet the high standard of inspiring others to pass stories of your good example through the generations.  Sometimes we just don’t know people as well as we think.  But the Lord knows each of us individually.  He knows what will be most meaningful to each person.

When you partner with Him, He will guide you to act in the very ways that will be most meaningful to someone that you can touch more effectively than anyone else.

And when someone is really touched by your good example, they’ll want to tell that story with others.  When you really touch one, you really touch many.

Follow the Spirit

Picture
I remember from my full-time-missionary days that follow the Spirit seemed to be the answer for everything.

That’s because there’s some truth to that.  The Spirit will teach us what we need to do, when we need to do it, who we need to do it for, and who we need to invite to join with us.  The Christmas season is a season of giving.  And in the true spirit of giving, we shouldn’t hoard all the giving to ourselves.

Part of following the Spirit is letting go of our inhibitions.  It’s human nature to dismiss what seems insignificant or incomprehensible.  But we need to rise above the natural man and just do whatever the Spirit prompts us to do.  Leave the details of how everything works out to God.

Life is more fully lived and our discipleship more fruitful when we let go of our “need” to see how everything is connected.  We don’t need to understand the whole plan before we take the first step.  That’s what it means to walk by faith.

When we walk by faith, we simply take the steps without understanding how it all fits together but also trusting that He Who created all things does see how it all fits together and is guiding us according to that plan.

We best celebrate the Christmas season when we live it.  God gave us the gift of His Son, and because of Him we all can have newness of life. By sharing that hope with others, we increase the hope within ourselves.  And God blesses us with newness of life.

No matter how silly or small it may seem, when you get a prompting or even an idea in your mind to do something good for someone else, do it.  Develop the habit of doing whatever good enters your thoughts.  Trust in God that it will all work out.  You can then rejoice that the stories you write with your good example will bless the lives of many others, even if you yourself never get to hear them.

Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    Howdy! I'm Lance, host of Joy in the Journey Radio. I've been blogging about LDS singles life since 2012, and since 2018 I've been producing a weekly Internet radio show and podcast to help LDS singles have  more joy in their journey and bring all Latter-day Saints together. Let's engage a conversation that will increase the faith of LDS singles and bring singles and marrieds together in a true unity of the faith.

    Comment

    Joy in the Journey Radio encourages the free discussion of ideas but reserves the right to remove and/or block comments which do not conform to LDS standards.

    Donate

    Joy in the Journey Radio offers many free resources to help LDS singles everywhere, but it certainly isn't free!  Help Joy in the Journey Radio in its mission to improve the lives of LDS singles by donating today.

    Posts by Month

    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    Categories

    All
    Adrian Ochoa
    Agency
    Assumptions
    Atonement
    Attitude
    Attraction
    Autopilot
    Balance
    Becky Craven
    Believe
    Best Life
    Bradley R Wilcox
    Camille N Johnson
    Change The Culture
    Changing LDS Singles Culture
    Christ
    Christmas
    Clark G Gilbert
    Confidence
    Conscious Choices
    Covenant Mindset
    Dale G Renlund
    Dallin H Oaks
    Dating
    David A Bednar
    Depression
    Dieter F Uchtdorf
    Discipleship
    Donald L Hallstrom
    D Todd Christofferson
    Face To Face
    Faith
    Family
    Family History
    Fear
    Filters
    Finances
    Focus Determines Reality
    Full Life: Body
    Full Life: Heart
    Full Life: Mind
    Full Life: Spirit
    Future
    Gary E Stevenson
    General Conference
    Gerrit W Gong
    Goals
    Gordon B Hinckley
    Gratitude
    Habits
    Happiness
    Hope
    Jack Gerard
    Jean Bingham
    Jeffrey R Holland
    John A McCune
    John C Pingree Jr
    Journey
    Joy
    Leaders
    Legacy
    Life Of Meaning
    Live In The Moment
    Marriage
    Marrieds
    Michael A Dunn
    Michelle Craig
    Miracles
    M Russell Ballard
    Natural Mindset
    Neil Andersen
    Opportunity
    Own Your Life
    Partner With The Lord
    Peace
    Personal Ministry
    Perspective
    Philosophy
    Proclamation On The Family
    Quentin L Cook
    Real
    Reformat And Reboot
    Relationships
    Ronald Rasband
    Russell M Nelson
    Sacrament
    Self Talk
    Self-talk
    Service
    Sharon Eubank
    Stories
    Support
    Surrender To Love
    Susan H Porter
    Taylor G Godoy
    Temple
    Thinking
    Thomas S Monson
    Trials
    Unity
    Valentine's Day
    Vision
    Walk By Faith
    Yoon Hwan Choi
    Zion

    RSS Feed

Offerings

Home
Radio 4 LDS Singles
LDS Singles Blog
Books
Speaking
Recipes
Home-centered Church

Production

About
Staff

Support

FAQ
Volunteer
Donate
Contact
Joy in the Journey Radio is a production
of Aspire Mountain Media LLC.
© 2014-2022 Aspire Mountain Media LLC.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  • Home
  • Radio 4 LDS Singles
    • Recent Shows >
      • 9 Nov 22
      • 2 Nov 22
    • Archive 2022
    • Archive 2021
    • Archive 2020
    • Archive 2019
    • Archive 2018
  • LDS Singles Blog
  • Members
    • Members-only
  • World of TED
  • Firesides
  • Books
  • FAQ
  • Volunteer
  • Home-centered Church
  • Donate
  • Contact