Christmas service

Not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one life's opportunities misused! Yet such was I! Oh! Such was I!"

"At this time of the rolling year," he said, "I suffer most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode? Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me!"

As the Christmas season envelops us with all its glory, may we remember that if we but look, we, too, may see a bright, particular star to guide us to our Christmas opportunity in service to our fellow man. — "May We See and Follow That Blessed Star," Employees Christmas Devotional, Dec. 9, 1964

Nothing wavering

May we choose to build up within ourselves a great power of faith which will be our most effective bulwark against the designs of the Adversary — a real faith, the kind of faith which will sustain us. Every person … has read or quoted or heard those famous words from the epistle of James: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5).

How many of us have read the next verse: "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed" (James 1:6). I would urge that we choose to build within ourselves a faith which can be characterized by nothing wavering. If we will do this, our Heavenly Father will sustain us and direct us and guide us. — "The Three R's of Choice," BYU Devotional, Nov. 5, 1963

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

'Become acquainted with the lessons the scriptures teach. Learn the background and setting of the Master's parables and the prophets' admonitions.'

Scriptures

Become acquainted with the lessons the scriptures teach. Learn the background and setting of the Master's parables and the prophets' admonitions. Study them as though each were speaking to you, for such is the truth. — "A Time to Choose," Ensign, May 1995, p. 97

Make room for the Lord

Before we can take Jesus as our companion, before we can follow Him as our guide, we must find Him. You ask, "How can we find Jesus?" I would like to suggest that, first of all, we need to make room for Him. …

As I drive through the many parts of this land, as I see the homes of America, I note that most homes have a room for Mary, a room for John — bedrooms, eating rooms, play rooms, sewing rooms — but I ask the fundamental question, "Is there room for the Son of Almighty God, our Savior, and our Redeemer?"

The invitation of the Lord is directed to each of us: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him" (Revelation 3:20).

… Make room for the Lord in your homes and in your hearts, and He will be a welcome companion. He will be by your side. He will teach you the way of truth. — "Great Expectations," BYU Devotional, May 11, 1965

Forgiveness

There are some who have difficulty forgiving themselves and who dwell on all of their perceived shortcomings. I quite like the account of a religious leader who went to the side of a woman who lay dying, attempting to comfort her — but to no avail. "I am lost," she said. "I've ruined my life and every life around me. There is no hope for me."

The man noticed a framed picture of a lovely girl on the dresser. "Who is this?" he asked.

The woman brightened. "She is my daughter, the one beautiful thing in my life."

"And would you help her if she were in trouble or had made a mistake? Would you forgive her? Would you still love her?"

"Of course I would!" cried the woman. "I would do anything for her. Why do you ask such a question?"

"Because I want you to know," said the man, "that figuratively speaking, Heavenly Father has a picture of you on His dresser. He loves you and will help you. Call upon Him." — "Hidden Wedges," Ensign, May 2002, p. 19