Today's 12 Days is a lesson on hope for you! I love the quote from the famous Christmas song, "A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices." Sometimes I feel weary, do you? With all the hate, anger, depression, jealousy and everything that can fill this world it can get you downright weary. But there is GREAT HOPE because of the Savior, Jesus Christ.
Today I taught Sunday school and the whole message was on hope! It is one of my favorite words. It's not weak orwishy-washy, hope is strong, courageous and faith filled. Putting trust in God and striving to keep His commandments as best you can is hope. Hope for the things which aren't seen. Letting your faith be stronger than your fear. Hope is amazing! Each lesson has a purpose you strive to fulfill as a teacher, for this lesson it was;
"Encourage others to face the future with hope because they know that the forces of evil will be overcome and the Savior will reign in triumph."
There is a great war between good and evil, it's real and it was begun before the beginning of this world. A latter day prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, stated:
“That war, so bitter, so intense, has gone on, and it has never ceased. It is the war between truth and error, between agency and compulsion, between the followers of Christ and those who have denied Him. His enemies have used every stratagem in that conflict. They’ve indulged in lying and deceit. They’ve employed money and wealth. They’ve tricked the minds of men. They’ve murdered and destroyed and engaged in every other unholy and impure practice to thwart the work of Christ. …
“[Opposition] has been felt in the undying efforts of many, both within and without the Church, to destroy faith, to belittle, to demean, to bear false witness, to tempt and allure and induce our people to practices inconsistent with the teachings and standards of this work of God. …
“The war goes on. It is waged across the world over the issues of agency and compulsion. It is waged by an army of missionaries over the issues of truth and error. It is waged in our own lives, day in and day out, in our homes, in our work, in our school associations; it is waged over questions of love and respect, of loyalty and fidelity, of obedience and integrity. We are all involved in it. We are winning [the war against Satan], and the future never looked brighter.”
How beautiful is that ending! The future is bright! No matter how dark the world may seem the Light of Christ is always stronger! Always brighter! So during this season of celebrating the birth of the Light of the World choose to follow His call, "Feed my sheep." Let that be your gift to Him this year. Show love to others, lead them to Christ and let His light shine from you! Looking at a candy cane this year think of that call and be a Shepard on the Lords side!! In closing I loved this amazing quote from another latter day prophet;
President Ezra Taft Benson said: “Each day the forces of evil and the forces of good enlist new recruits. Each day we personally make many decisions showing the cause we support. The final outcome is certain--the forces of righteousness will win. But what remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this battle--and how tall we will stand. Will we be true to our last days and fulfill our foreordained missions?”
Stand tall. Choose the Lords side. And be filled with hope daily!!!!
Great videos;
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-11-020-mens-hearts-shall-fail-them?lang=eng
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2009-09-36-the-power-of-hope?lang=eng
