25 Reasons Why I'm Grateful for the Birth of the Savior: He is My Light

Reason 3: I'm grateful for the birth of the Savior because He is my light. He is the whole world's light. As I was studying it in the scriptures yesterday and today, this is what I learned:

John 8:12, 32-- He does not have this light to benefit Himself, it is there so that we can follow Him and find our way; He is the light of the whole world; Light=Truth=Christ..."The truth will make you free" = The Christ will make you free

Isaiah 60:19--This light is everlasting; it will never dim; we never have to doubt if it will go out or if it will be there for us; it is constant

John 1:9--His light is for every man (including me and YOU!); it is true

D&C 6:21--Light will always conquer darkness--and so will He

2 Nephi 10:14--He will be our light forever; He will never take a day off

3 Nephi 18:24--He is the light that we must hold up for others to see and follow

D&C 93:9--Christ gives Himself selflessly to be our light

Elder Dallin H. Oaks--"And so we see that Jesus Christ is the light of the world because He is the source of the light that quickens our understanding, because His teachings and His example illuminate our path, and because His power persuades us to do good." (The Light and Life of the World, October 1987 General Conference)

I'm so grateful for the Savior's selfless service in lighting the way for us. He could leave us in the dark to try and stumble our way back to Him, but He doesn't. Just as the star lit the Heavens on the night of His birth so that the people then could find their way to Him, He lights the way for us so that we can find our way back to our Father in Heaven. Let us follow Him--let us follow the light.

25 Reasons Why I'm Grateful for the Birth of the Savior: He Brings Peace

Reason 2: I'm grateful for the peace which Christ brought into the world. He is the Prince of Peace. Amid crazy circumstances, we can always feel an inner calm because we know that He is there for us and that He will not let us down. His peace gives us protection, because when we feel it our desire to sin decreases. It gives us confidence in ourselves because we know that we have the most powerful beings in the universe on our side, rooting for us. It enables us to do hard things. Above all, though, it testifies that He loves us enough to let us know that everything is going to be okay. I know that my Savior wants me to feel peace because He loves me and wants me to return to Him. Every time I feel peace, it is like He's sending a love note down. They're the best nice notes ever.

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  --John 14:27

25 Reasons Why I'm Grateful for the Birth of the Savior: He Brings Hope

Reason 1: When Christ was born, He brought hope into the world. Hope that we could be saved. Hope that there are better things ahead. Hope for new beginnings. I love the way the man in this video puts it: "What the birth of the Savior means to me is that the world has a chance to change. The world has a chance to become what He intended it to become from the beginning. The wold has a chance to accept His love and follow him." Because of the birth of the Savior, I never have to let bad circumstances get me down. I can know that there are better things ahead than what my past and present expose me to. There are second chances. Things will be okay because I have a Savior.

"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."   --Ether 12:4

Why My Week Has Been Awesome

1. I went running twice with Brady Anderson, and he's kinda' crazy, but really fun!
2. I had a rockin' presidency meeting.
3. I got to talk to my AWESOME second cousin, Louisa!!!

Jared and I waiting in line for Divine Comedy!

1. I went to Divine Comedy with Jared, Sarah, Brady, and McKell. It was hilarious and super fun!
2. I got to go shopping with Ryan and we got to be goofy and have people treat us like a married couple.

Emily and I mean business when we watch the arts

We walked up to Christmas around the world with Kara and Mary...I kinda got carried away with the picture taking...

 

1. I went to Christmas Around the World with Emily and it was AMAZING! Plus, I knew six people in it (Will, Jordan, Ethan, David, Joseph, and Jamie) and they all did SO GOOD!
2. My apartment has a sweet, peaceful spirit in it, thanks to all the wonderful people who came over (Jeremy, Ryan, Sarah, Quaelii, Scott, Gentry, Stephen, Drew, and others...)
3. I spent hours preparing for the lesson I gave today. Preparing for church lessons is one of my favoritest things in the world.
4. The testimonies--spoken and unspoken--today at church were inspiring. We have so many good people in our ward (and I love them ALL!!!)
5. Dinner tonight with the clan. It was really yummy.
6. Got to watch the Christmas Devotional with the clan. Amelia gave me a back rub. My back might be starting to recover from carrying around my laptop and Shakespeare bible, thanks to her!
7. Stephen, Scott, Gentry, and Drew came over to our apartment tonight and made me really laugh! I haven't really laughed in ages!
8. It's CHRISTMAS TIME and we have a REAL CHRISTMAS TREE in our apartment!!! Plus snowflakes and lights and nativities and wrapping-papered walls. Oh, and mistletoe. 
9. I have A. MAZE. ING. roomates. They are seriously some of the greatest blessings in my life!
10. I've gone from ups to downs and back again. Heavenly Father's really good and pulling me back up.
11. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me and all those I associate with. It's so easy to love those around me when I remember how much They love them. 
12. I feel that those around me sincerely care about and love me because they've shown it. Means the world to me.