Repent...That I may heal you

The invitation to repent is rarely a voice of chastisement but rather a loving appeal to turn around and to"re-turn" toward God. He goes on to say it is an invitation to come unto him and be spiritually wrapped in his arms. Jesus said "Behold (my arms) of mercy (are)extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me" I love how he says us be invited to re-turn to him Is the beckoning call from our loving Father and His Only Begotten Son to be more than we are,to reach up to a higher way of life, to change, and to feel the happiness of keeping the commandments. Everything He offers us and urges us to be is for us, so we can feel His love, so we can feel His peace, so we can feel His happiness, so we can return to live with Him and have a fullness of His Kingdom. A loving Father that is so selfless and teaches us to be and do the same. By helping us completely turn to Him we are promised all that the Father has. There is no selfishness in this. It makes me think of the parable of the prodical son. His Father was heartbroken when he left and chose that way of life, but when he returned to his father, he ran to him with open arms and celebrated the return of his son and gave him the very best that he had. I feel so incredibly blessed for the Holy Ghost who when we listen and feel his spirit, guides us to turn around and make things right so that we might not be estranged from our Savior and His love. The fact that the Saviors encircling arms of mercy and love for the repentant are for all repentant no matter how selfish the forsaken sin is amazing.
Divine forgiveness is one of the sweetest fruits of the gospel, removing guilt and pain from our hearts and replacing them with joy and peace of conscience. Jesus declares "Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?" As I continue to pray for help to overcome my many weaknesses, I find that that is an open invitation to be tried in that very thing I have asked to stop repeating and to overcome. He allows me to keep repenting, (changing) until with Him I get it right. I find that I do some of the same sins over and over again and each day and night I pray to be able to be forgiven and to try, try again. I love the opportunity we have to partake of the Sacrament weekly and to come humbly before the Lord and acknowledge our dependence upon HIm and asking Him to forgive and to renew us and us promising to always remember Him and in return He is always there for us, every single moment we remember Him, we are blessed to have His spirit constantly with us. What more love and affirmation of His love by His Atoning Sacrifice could He give us. It gives me hope. Everyday I need to turn to Him more often and He invites me to do this through change, a desire to trust Him and His ways no matter what each day holds that we are tryng to overcome. How thankful I am for the Redeeming power of the Saviors Atonement that has turned my many mistakes through repentance, a change of heart from crimson red to snowy white. That He offers me this gift if I will turn toward Him and He promises He will remember it no more but remember the new heart He has given me, the one that is constantly under reconstruction. How I need His mercy. He has made my mistakes after repentance work for my good, my learning, my profit and my life that much closer to His. This is the work and the love of an Eternal Father and His Son that ransoms me.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

Wow trying to combined three girls' Christmas traditions can be pretty tricky but we managed to make it work and keep everyone happy :) I love the shape of our tree and how it has brought the reality of Christmas into our home. It fits so perfectly in our little awkward living room and has filled our home with the scent and spirit of Christmas. The ornaments we chose are red bulbs with gold designs on them; they add a splash of color to the classy white lights and shimmery gold ribbon. It's so beautiful it makes me want to cry ;) I love it!