Powers of heaven...

Prayer unlocks the powers of heaven in our behalf

How Mighty a Thing Is Prayer

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Gordon B. Hinckley

Summit in the Philippines...

Chris,

I’m really grateful our paths crossed. These past few days were an experience I’ll never forget, and you were a huge part of why.

You’re awesome. Of course we want to sell biologics and make money ~ but more importantly connect with clinics!

From the moment we met in your little podcast studio , your energy was impossible to ignore. You’re the kind of person who lifts the room, challenges people to think bigger, and somehow makes everyone around you feel like they’re capable of more☺️. I appreciated not only your insights and willingness to share, but the way you show up! You are real, authentic, humble :) , and full of purpose.

Thank you for all the laughs, the conversations, and the encouragement. You reminded me that when passionate people come together with a shared mission, incredible things happen.

I hope we will can work together again soon!

Best~ Jenn

A month or so ago Chris and his team hosted a successful Regenerative Summit in the Philippines. There were over 200 doctors and other medical professional in attendance. Chris did a great job as one of the presenters!

How do we measure up?

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

~1 Samuel 16:7 

Marvin J. Ashton

When the Lord measures an individual, He does not take a tape measure around the person’s head to determine his mental capacity, nor his chest to determine his manliness, but He measures the heart as an indicator of the person’s capacity and potential to bless others.

Why the heart? Because the heart is a synonym for one’s entire makeup. We often use phrases about the heart to describe the total person. Thus, we describe people as being “big-hearted” or “goodhearted” or having a “heart of gold.” Or we speak of people with faint hearts, wise hearts, pure hearts, willing hearts, deceitful hearts, conniving hearts, courageous hearts, cold hearts, hearts of stone, or selfish hearts.

The measure of our hearts is the measure of our total performance. As used by the Lord, the “heart” of a person describes his effort to better self, or others, or the conditions he confronts.

A question I suggest to you is this: How do you measure up? Ultimately you and I will be judged not only for our actions, but also for the desires of our hearts. This truth was revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith at a time when he was shown in vision the celestial kingdom. The revelation is recorded in section 137 of the Doctrine and Covenants. Joseph marveled when he saw his deceased brother Alvin in the celestial kingdom, for Alvin had died before the gospel was restored. Joseph then received this great truth:

All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God; …

For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts. (D&C 137:7, 9.)

If our works and the desires of our hearts are the ultimate criteria of our character, how do we measure up? What kind of heart should we seek? For what kind of heart should we pray? How should we measure the worth of other people? 

(“The Measure of Our Hearts,” Ensign, Nov. 1988, 15)

Blessing just for Cash...

Sunday was a sacred and unforgettable day for our family. I want to share how grateful I am that we had the privilege of being with our grandson Cash as he received his patriarchal blessing. It was such a beautiful experience. The blessing was an inspired prayer, filled with words of love and guidance specifically for Cash.

I’m also grateful for the worthy patriarch who gave Cash a blessing. I’m also incredibly grateful for where my son Mark and his family have landed. They are surrounded by wonderful members of the Church who teach, love, and invest their time in Cash, and the other young men in the ward—giving of themselves through campouts, activities, and so many little things that make a lasting difference.

As a grandma, there is nothing more comforting than knowing your grandchildren are surrounded by good people who love them and help them grow. 

My heart is just full. We love our firstborn grandson so much. T-minus 12 days until Cash turns 16, how did that happen?

But if not...

Daniel 3:18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods...

Neal A. Maxwell
We have been given three special words-but if not-by three submissive young men who entered their fiery furnace, knowing "our God ... is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, ... But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods." (Daniel 3:17-18; italics added.) ("Willing to Submit," Ensign, May 1985, 72)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not know if God would spare them from the fiery furnace. They simply said: "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." (Daniel 3:17-18.)

Note the words "but if not." These are words of unconditional commitment. The possibility of "if" was with these three until the very moment of their rescue, but they had determined their course regardless. Sometimes we must "take the heat," even if we are not certain the thermostat of trial will soon be turned down.

When we have that kind of courage, neither will we walk alone in our own "fiery furnace," for, as is recorded in Daniel, there was a fourth Form in that fiery furnace with the valiant threesome, and the Form was "like the Son of God"! (Daniel 3:25.) (All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1979], 48)

First Homecoming...

Hear we go again with another milestone. Cash asked a girl to the HOCO dance that's coming up in September. How did we get here already?

Cash is almost 16, and another first- his very first homecoming dance! He made a cute poster to ask Gabby to go with him, and she answered with an equally cute poster of her own...YES!

I saw cute Gabby's picture in Cash's yearbook the other day.

I've said this before but watching him grow from the little boy who made me a grandma into the wonderful young man he is today has been one of the greatest joys of my life. I'm so proud of his kind heart, his character, and the person he is becoming.

And now he's asking girls to dances, making posters, and getting dressed up for homecoming. I'm not sure my grandma heart is quite ready for all this. But I'm genuinely excited to watch him step into this new season of life and all the wonderful things that are ahead of him. I can't wait to see pictures of Cash and Gabby all ready for homecoming!

Exploring Tokyo, Japan...

Christopher added another country to his list of adventures. He had some business meetings in Tokyo and added a few days to explore the city.

Chris enjoyed the beauty, culture, and of course the cuisine while visiting Tokyo. I'm always grateful he's protected while traveling.

ThrowBack Thursday ~ Uncle Chris and Grey...

 

It's getting late...

I wish to speak of the Savior’s parable in which a householder “went out early in the morning to hire labourers.” After employing the first group at 6:00 in the morning, he returned at 9:00 a.m., at 12:00 noon, and at 3:00 in the afternoon, hiring more workers as the urgency of the harvest increased. The scripture says he came back a final time, “about the eleventh hour” (approximately 5:00 p.m.), and hired a concluding number. Then just an hour later, all the workers gathered to receive their day’s wage. Surprisingly, all received the same wage in spite of the different hours of labor. Immediately, those hired first were angry, saying, “These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.” (Matthew 20:1–15) When reading this parable, perhaps you, as well as those workers, have felt there was an injustice being done here.

This parable—like all parables—is not really about laborers or wages any more than the others are about sheep and goats. This is a story about God’s goodness, His patience and forgiveness, and the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a story about generosity and compassion. It is a story about grace. It underscores the thought I heard many years ago that surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don’t expect it and often feel they don’t deserve it.

So if you have made covenants, keep them. If you haven’t made them, make them. If you have made them and broken them, repent and repair them. It is never too late so long as the Master of the vineyard says there is time. Please listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit telling you right now, this very moment, that you should accept the atoning gift of the Lord Jesus Christ and enjoy the fellowship of His labor. Don’t delay. It’s getting late.

The Laborers in the Vineyard | Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

April 2012

ThrowBack Thursday ~ My Colby Colbs...

 Lucky Grandma!