The Balm of Christmas

Ephesians 6

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

The Balm of Christmas

"Christmas is more than trees and twinkling lights, more than toys and gifts and baubles of a hundred varieties. It is love. It is the love of the Son of God for all mankind. It reaches out beyond our power to comprehend. It is magnificent and beautiful." ~~Gordon B. Hinckley~~
("A Season for Gratitude", "Ensign," Dec. 1997, 4)

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous, healthy, and happy New Year.

~~ from the friendly folks at School of Abraham~~

We pray, along with you, that our homes and our families will be blessed and safe this Christmas and into the coming new year. May we all lean on the Lord and have peace in our hearts, no matter what the state of the world around us. At School of Abraham, we have a deep testimony of the power of prayer and of the need for hope. May we ever prove vigilant in our fight for the right. For truly, we do have a task before us that no one else can do. We each know in our hearts what that task is. May God bless us to seek and hold on to his marvelous protection and strength to the blessing of our children, and our children's children forever.

Angels of Christmas by Greg Olsen

"World peace, though a lofty goal, is but an outgrowth of the personal peace each individual seeks to attain. I speak not of the peace promoted by man, but peace as promised of God. I speak of peace in our homes, peace in our hearts, even peace in our lives. Peace after the way of man is perishable. Peace after the manner of God will prevail." ~~Thomas S. Monson~~

The Balm of Christmas
published by the Christian Science Monitor

A Christmas so overwhelmed by world events as this one appears to be, may lead some to forget why the day is so celebrated. A couple of millenniums ago an individual was born whose words and deeds continue to bless humanity.

Jesus' message of God's love for everyone has a special appeal this year, when suicide bombers and hijackers claim to act in God's name.

And it's especially timely to quietly remember a life that exemplified abundant mercy and benevolence - even in the face of hatred. Those same qualities, which express God's eternal magnificence, are revered in all great religions, including, pointedly, Islam.

Healing the world's ills begins with the awakening within each heart of the capacity to do good. That awakening is forever symbolized by the star over Bethlehem.

Witnessing the sad scenes of ground zero in New York, the devastation in Afghanistan, or more Mideast violence should move everyone to better understand, and more diligently realize, the bright promise of Christmas.
from the December 21, 2001 edition
http://www.csmonitor.com/2001/1221/p12s3-comv.html