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TWO WOLVES

Friday February 3, 2012 By

 

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said:

“My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.  One is Evil.  It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

“The other is Good.  It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:  “Which wolf wins?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Let us remember to feed the “Good”…to keep our negative behaviors, thoughts, communications, and attitudes “in check”.  Let us remember to feed our appropriate-mindedness in our interpersonal relationships, treating others as we would like to be treated.  Let us feed our spiritual/social IQ.  Let us enjoy large portions of prayer, study, fellowship, and worship as we nourish the “good wolf”! 

Jesus loves you…Glenn

 

 

Filed Under: Articles, Thoughts

The Book of Mormon Speaks the Words of Jesus Christ

Thursday January 12, 2012 By

“I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for He hath redeemed my soul from hell….all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words, and believe in Christ…

And if ye shall believe in Christ, ye will believe in these words; for they are the words of Christ…And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye:  for Christ will shew unto you, with power and great glory, for they are His words, at the last day.

And you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have ben commanded of Him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness:  And I pray the Father in the name of Christ, that many of us, if not all, may be saved in His Kingdom, at that great and last day.”

2 Nephi 12:7, 111-15)

READ THE BOOK OF MORMON:  A SECOND WITNESS OF JESUS CHRIST!!

Filed Under: Scripture: Book of Mormon

Christmas Letter…from Jesus

Tuesday December 20, 2011 By

 
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn.  If all My followers did that there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree.

Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 – 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know because they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up… It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they don’t need, spend more time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas” that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn’t make so much money on that day they’d close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary– especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My
name.

9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas” tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don’t know them,
buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about
your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I’ll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :

I LOVE YOU, 

JESUS

(source:  anonymous)

Filed Under: Thoughts

BEING UNDER SATAN’S YOKE

Monday November 7, 2011 By

Satan called a worldwide convention.  In his opening address to his evil angels, he said, “We can’t keep the Christians from going to church.  We can’t keep them from reading their bibles and knowing the truth. We can’t even keep them from forming an intimate, abiding relationship experience in Christ. If they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So, let them go to their churches; let them have their conservative lifestyles, but steal their time so they can’t gain that relationship with Jesus Christ.”

“ This is what I want you to do, angels. Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!”  “How shall we do this?” shouted the angels.  “Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds.” he answered.  “Tempt them to spend, spend, spend and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6– 7 days a week, 10–12 hours days, so they can afford their empty lifestyles.  Keep them from spending time with their children. As their family fragments, soon their home will offer no escape from the pressures of work! Over stimulate their minds so they cannot hear that still, small voice. Entice them to play the radio whenever they drive. To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their homes and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ. Fill their coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Stuff their mailboxes with junk mail,mail ordercatalogs, sweepstakes and every kind of newsletter and promotion offering free products, services and false hopes. Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines so the husbands will believe that external beauty is what’s important and they’ll become dissatisfied with their wives. Ha! That will fragment those families quickly!”

 “Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted, disquieted and unprepared for the coming week. Don’t let them go out in nature to reflect on God’s wonders. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, concerts and movies instead.  Keep them Busy, Busy, Busy!  And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences and unsettled emotions. Go ahead, let them be involved in soul winning, but crowd their lives with so may good causes they have no time to seek powerfrom Jesus. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and families for the good of the cause. It will work!”

 It was quite a convention. The evil angels went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busy here and there. I guess the question is: Has the devil been successful at his scheme?

 You be the judge.

 Have you been BUSY?

— Author Unknown

Filed Under: Articles

Memories from Youth Camp

Saturday October 8, 2011 By

                                                             

 

 

 Great fun, friends, faith, and fellowship…looking forward to more!!

Filed Under: Events

Northwest Conference 2011

Friday October 7, 2011 By

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The Northwest saints enjoyed the good Spirit and fellowship at the recent regional Fall conference held at the Vancouver Branch from 9/30/11 thru 10/2/11. The conference kicked off with Elder Glenn Vaughn bringing the message on Friday evening as the saints gathered in, followed by Elder Wray Moreland on Saturday and High Priest Bill Curtis on Sunday.   Saturday was a wonderful day of prayer, testimonies, food, fellowship and the business meeting. Once again, Elder Gary Jones, Puyallup Branch Pastor, was elected as the Regional Coordinator. The saints enjoy these uplifting gatherings and the next regional event is the Priesthood Retreat from 10/14/11 thru 10/16/11.  Please contact pastor@churchofchristrestored.com if you want more information and/or desire to attend.

(Submitted by Elder Mike Terry)

Filed Under: Events

Basis for All Living

Monday October 3, 2011 By

 

“Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32,

One of our contemporary scientists was asked what, in addition to acknowledging God, we could do to make the world better. He promptly replied, “Perhaps we could be kinder to one another.”

It is a fact that most of us are absorbed in our own interests. This is true not only during the hours when we are working but during the growing hours of leisure. It makes little difference whether sharp words are spoken at work or in the home. Too many of them are hasty, thoughtless, and wholly unnecessary.

So often unkind words arise because people disagree, whether in industry or social relations. Yet all of us should be able to disagree without being disagreeable. It is open expression of differences of opinion which make for progress in industry and for a better understanding in the home. It is only important that such differences be tempered with understanding, love, and good will. It is in that spirit that we can be kinder to one another.

Where can we find this thought caught up more profoundly than in the second commandment of Jesus: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” This, with the first commandment, is the basis for all righteous living and brings all peace and understanding.

Prayer Thought: Teach us to value more highly the basis for living which Thou has given unto Thy people – those who believe on Thy name.

(By E. Roy Glomstad, “Our Daily Bread”, 1962)

 

Filed Under: Articles

Girlfriends

Friday September 23, 2011 By

Tuesday, September 12, 2011

I had a difficult morning.  It was great sadness that I “rounded” up my girls, loaded them into cages, and drove them to a poultry processor east of Gresham. 

ChickenMy girls, 34 beautiful hens of all colors and sizes, have been a source of enjoyment…and peace…for the past three years.  They have provided many hours of comical entertainment and pure wonder at their simplicity.  They have cheerfully presented me with eggs, clucking at their daily offerings of white or brown, blue or green, speckled or plain.  They have run to greet me, encircled me, sat with me on the porch, napped upon my shoulder – and I knew each of them by name.

Today, I am thankful for chickens…for their offerings in life, and now, after life.  Their meat will provide nourishment for many, their feathers warmth, their remains will become new and rich soil…and the memory of them will always be with me. 

I am also thankful for the loving care our Heavenly Father has for us.  I am reminded that He watches over us, encircles us, and knows each of us by name…and that He will always be with us. 

 Jesus loves you!   Glenn

Filed Under: Thoughts