Tag Archives: Jesus Christ

Charity seeketh not her own

This series of posts is about the pure love of Christ is called Charity. We read about this love in the Bible, 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13. In the next few days, watch for posts about this vital attribute of Christ. When we seek to emulate Him by loving as he loved, our heart changes, we are happier, and each of us can be a more positive INfluence on others. This is one way we can create positive generational change.

Charity, the pure love of Christ, seeketh not her own. —1 Corinthians 13:5

“It can be a great challenge to love others, especially if they have hurt us. But the commandment is clear: As the scriptures teach, charity, the pure love of Christ, ‘seeketh not her own.’ (Moro. 7:45.) If we are to come unto Christ and become like him, we must learn to truly love others.

“In the parable of the sheep and the goats, in Matthew 25:31–46 [Matt. 25:31–46], the Savior taught the importance of loving all those around us.

“One of the distinctions between the two groups will be their treatment of those whom we may think of as different from us or difficult to love—the unkind, the unrighteous, the different, and the antagonistic. To those who love and serve these people, the Lord has said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt. 25:40.) (Ensign, June 1988)

TODAY’s Affirmation: I am TODAY’s ChangeMaker*. I learn to love others, even when I disagree with them.

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*NOTE: TODAY’s ChangeMakers are sincere, determined men and women who do not give up on creating positive change in spite of obstacles. Join the Quest at FamilyTreeQuest.com

Remember what Charity is NOT. Click here.

About Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

Carolyn Calton is an online educator and ReNEW YOU Life Strategist. As founder of FamilyTreeQuest.com, CarolynCalton.com and as CEO of Ron Newsom's LiahonaLightAcademy.com, Carolyn helps sincere, determined men and women embrace with certainty a safe, secure framework for creating their own brighter and happier future TODAY—no matter their past. Turning heartache to happiness, those who Join her ReNEW YOU Classes and Joyful Breakthrough Membership Circles at FamilyTreeQuest.com, learn how to turn stress, anxiety, anger and dysfunction to hope, direction, happiness and peace in order to renew and regenerate themselves, their families and family lines.

Charity doth not behave itself unseemly

“Etiquette and good manners are based on respect for people’s feelings, opinions, property, and time.”¹

“It is often easier to show respect and tolerance to acquaintances—or even strangers—than to those who are closest to us. When we are tired, ill, or under stress, do we still speak kindly to a disobedient child, a thoughtless spouse, or an angry roommate? The Apostle Peter counseled, ‘Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another … be courteous.’” (1 Pet. 3:8.) (Ensign, April 1988)

TODAY’s Affirmation: I am TODAY’s ChangeMaker*. I choose self-control and make courteous and wise decisions concerning my behavior.

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Remember what Charity is NOT. Click here.

¹(Ye Are the Light of the World, Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1984, pp. 77–78.)

About Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up

This series of posts is about the pure love of Christ is called Charity. We read about this love in the Bible, 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13. For a few days, watch for posts about this vital attribute of Christ. When we seek to emulate Him by loving as he loved, our heart changes, we are happier, and each of us can be a more positive INfluence on others. This is one way we can create positive generational change.

Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. –1 Corinthians 13:4

”To vaunt is to proudly call attention to our possessions, our accomplishments, our associations, or our righteousness. To illustrate this fault, the Savior told the parable of the Pharisee and the publican:

“The Pharisee stood [in the temple] and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

“I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:10–13.)

“Jesus pointed out that it was not the Pharisee who was justified, but the publican, adding that “Every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:14.)

“The Pharisee made two serious mistakes: he boasted about himself, and he put himself in God’s place as the judge of his righteousness. Only God can pronounce us righteous.

“One of the most serious forms of “vaunting” is the sin of pride. “Pride is a ‘my will’ rather than ‘thy will’ approach to life,” says President Ezra Taft Benson. “The opposite of pride is humbleness, meekness, submissiveness (see Alma 13:28), or teachableness. … With pride, there are many curses. With humility, there come many blessings.” (Ensign, May 1986, pp. 6–7.)

“…We also vaunt ourselves if we take credit for what we haven’t earned. Some people blame God when things go badly in their lives and take the credit when things go well, overlooking the fact that their talents, skills, and possessions are gifts from the Lord.

“The scriptures say that “in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things.” (D&C 59:21.) True humility comes when we acknowledge our dependence on him in every act—indeed, in every breath.

“Such humility encourages us to follow the Savior’s example of love and service to others. (Ensign, March 1988)

TODAY’s Affirmations: I am TODAY’s ChangeMaker*.
I do not consider myself too important to serve others.
I seek righteousness without being self-righteous.
I do not boast but recognize, instead, that the air I breathe and the elements of creation as well as my gifts, blessings and strength originates from God, in whom I put my trust.

Join me on my Family Tree Gal Facebook page. Leave your comments under this post on that page.

Join the Quest to create positive change in yourself, your family and family line.
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*****
*NOTE: TODAY’s ChangeMakers are sincere, determined men and women who do not give up on creating positive change in spite of obstacles. Join the Quest at www.FamilyTreeQuest.com

Remember what Charity is NOT. Click here.

About Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

Envy Not

This series of posts is about the pure love of Christ is called Charity. We read about this love in the Bible, 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13. In the next few days, watch for posts about this vital attribute of Christ. When we seek to emulate Him by loving as he loved, our own heart changes, we are happier, and each of us can be a more positive INfluence on others. This is one way we can create positive generational change.

Charity, the pure love of Christ, envieth not. –1 Corinthians 13:4

“…the Lord God hath commanded … that [we] should not envy.” (2 Ne. 26:32.) Every day we face situations in which we may feel envy or covet something another person possesses. We may envy another person’s home and comfortable financial situation, someone elses talents and abilities, … or the happy family life of another. Such envy can canker our souls. …

“If we find ourselves envying someone elses talents, possessions, life-style, or accomplishments, we should first turn for help to our Father in Heaven. In his mercy, he will bless us with the ability to rise above the destructive pettiness of envy and to rejoice in his goodness to our brothers and sisters.

“Gordon B. Hinckley points out another way we can learn to overcome feelings of envy. ‘The happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others,’ he says. (Ensign, Aug. 1982, p. 5.)

“By serving others, we can learn to focus not on what we feel is lacking in our lives, but on the many blessings the Lord has given us.

“By seeking the Spirit of the Lord, serving others, and recognizing the blessings the Lord has given us, we can overcome feelings of envy and rejoice in the Lord’s goodness to all of his children.” (Ensign, February 1988)

TODAY’s Affirmation: I am TODAY’s ChangeMaker*. I do not envy, but seek, instead, to feel happy for others. I work to meet my own needs.

Join me on my Family Tree Gal Facebook page. Leave your comments under this post on that page.

Join the Quest to create positive change in your family and family line.
Leave your name and email at FamilyTreeQuest.com

Remember what Charity is NOT. Click here.

About Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

Dreading the Holidays?

Are you DREADING the holidays?

There are lots of reasons that we sometimes don’t experience the joy that the lights and sounds and gatherings with friends and/or family that the holiday season can bring. Especially for those who have experienced childhood or adult relationship trauma and distress (including divorce), memories of Christmas past can be painful.

So to all of you who are TODAY’s ChangeMakers, who are facing obstacles head-on and creating positive change anyway, please know you are not alone.

If you need a little encouragement, I like this reminder that there is present-moment help and support. No one has gone too far or done to much that a TURN-around is not possible. Christ’s mercy can be extended to all who will turn to Him with full purpose of heart and a sincere desire to let go of misery and embrace the LIGHT.

“[Christ’s] mercy is the mighty healer, even to the wounded innocent.” ~Boyd K Packer, 2014

HE is the mighty healer.

Join me on my Family Tree Gal Facebook page. Let’s uplift our lives and hearts together!

About Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

You are loved

When times get tough, remember this reminder from the Apostle Paul.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
—Romans 28: 35, 38-39

Dallin Oaks reminds us, “The love of God does not supersede His laws and His commandments, and the effect of God’s laws and commandments does not diminish the purpose and effect of His love….

If a person understands the teachings of Jesus, he or she cannot reasonably conclude that our loving Heavenly Father or His divine Son believes that Their love supersedes Their commandments. Consider these examples.

When Jesus began His ministry, His first message was repentance. (See Matthew 4:17.)

When He exercised loving mercy by not condemning the woman taken in adultery, He nevertheless told her, “Go, and sin no more” (John 8:11).

Jesus taught, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).”

All things are done according to the free choice of individuals. Dallin Oaks also reminds us, “[God] will bless us to endure the consequences of others’ choices, but He will not prevent those choices.”

Also, “If only we will listen, we can know of God’s love and feel it, even when we are disobedient.” He related one woman’s story, who said: “He has always been there for me, even when I rejected Him. He has always guided me and comforted me with His tender mercies all around me, but I [was] too angry to see and accept incidents and feelings as such.”

INspired Action INvitation: May we all obey God’s laws and feel His love rather than becoming “a law unto ourselves” by participating in iniquity, therby TURNing away from the source of our true strength and ultimate happiness.

About Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

Unsteadiness

My life’s experiences with emotional turmoil have led me to study, love and be INlightened by scripture references that have to do with the heart. When we regard our heart symbolically as the center of our emotions, feelings and devotions, we can see teachings about the heart all throughout the Bible and the Book of Mormon.

Although written over two thousand years ago, I think you’ll see that these words have application, even today. Here are the words of Helaman as he laments because he has seen the goodness of God in his life, and he knows and remembers the goodness of God in the life of his ancestors-through their written records and stories–yet his people have faced much war and pestilence because they continue to turn away from God after they prosper.

Helaman records:

1 And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him.

2 Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.

3 And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him.

4 O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world!

5 Yea, how quick to be lifted up in pride; yea, how quick to boast, and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to walk in wisdom’s paths!

6 Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide.

Why is it important that we remember God? Among many other reasons, one reason that motivates me is that someday, we can all return to live in His presence.

On earth, we find ourselves forever longing for peace and happiness. We may involve ourselves in temporary pleasures only to return to feelings of emptiness. Our thoughts may wander into paths of self-doubt or hopelessness. We may not realize that feeding our spirit and getting our “homing beacon” for heaven working again is part of the solution to our longing.

Building on the secure foundation of centering our hope in Jesus Christ and following, as best we can, His teachings will position us to return, after death, to our heavenly home. Yet, to live in the very presence of God again, where we can find the feelings of true, unpolluted, joy, love and happiness, we must claim the gift of repentance that Christ offered. It is only by that means that we can allow our heart’s to be purified and worthy to be in God’s presence. It is a TURNing of the heart toward God and an acceptance of Christ’s grace and mercy toward us that allows this to take place. We can receive joy instead of misery. It is a beautiful experience that allows us to feel astounding peace, and it’s not something to criticize.

So today, let us reflect upon any unsteadiness found within our own hearts. Let us be true to our our real selves and to God by TURNing our heart to Him. By doing so, we turn our heart toward our heavenly home, and toward the great hope we have in Jesus Christ, who made possible the WAY for us to repent and eventually find everlasting joy.

About Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

Spiritual Vitality: Where is the Solid Foundation Upon Which to Stand?

Helaman said to his sons:

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.
–Helaman 5:12

Enough said today.

About Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

Spritual Vitality: Love God Through Thick and Thin

This morning, I was pondering. This realization came to the forefront of my mind.

I have a deep and abiding desire to teach my children and grandchildren, through my example, to Love the Lord through thick and thin.

In Isaiah’s words:

“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:29–31.

God helps us when we call upon His name in faith, believing we shall receive. I bear witness to His constant goodness and divine intercession in our behalf.

Consider the deepest desires of your heart. What will you do today to take creative action in order for your desires to be fulfilled? Take decisive action. Celebrate your results.

About Carolyn Calton Carolyn Calton

Mental or Emotional Illness: Like a Broken Vessel. A Message of HOPE.