God

“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” — Oswald Chambers When I answered the phone last Saturday, I knew something was wrong. The call was from Brian, a friend who had gone on an early-morning bike ride with my husband, Jon. Brian calmly explained that Jon had been in a bike accident, that he was fully conscious but in serious pain, and that the ambulance was on its way. Our minds are so powerful, our fears so persuasive and our emotions so unpredictable, but fortunately, God is far stronger.

It is unfortunate that lessons of old have not been learned today ("Height of Mormon steeple contradicted," Wednesday). Is there a compromise that can be reached over the height of the proposed Mormon temple? Rather than residents, city staff and church officials warring over this question, wouldn't it best be answered by God, through Jesus Christ, from whence the name "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" comes from? About 7,000 years ago, man labored in vain to build a tower that would reach to the heavens so that one king could rest his throne closer to God, to be as God, and to better oversee and rule over his subjects.

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON "Someone said to me once that we can see the features of God in a single smile. Look for that smile in the people you meet." -- CHRISTOPHER DE VINCK "Cindy, I like what you wrote in a column about people who feel God's love through nature," a friend said. "We have sure had powerful displays of nature lately. But I really experience God through other people, mostly those I know, but sometimes through people I don't know.

It's simple things, like a glowing sunset, the sound of a running stream, or the fresh smell in a meadow that cause us to pause and marvel at the wonder of life, to contemplate its meaning and significance. Who can hold an autumn leaf in their hand, or sift the warm white sand on the beach, and not wonder at the Creator of it all. -- UNKNOWN "I love the fall; I love the crisp mornings and the excuse to have a fire in the fireplace on the cooler nights," a friend said to me recently.

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON "I said to the man at the gate of the year, 'Give me a light that I may go forth into the unknown.' And the man replied, 'Put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than a light, safer than a known way.'" -- KING GEORGE "You'd think it was New Year's Eve or something," I said to my husband, Jon, as I unloaded more groceries. He looked at me and smiled, and we both laughed, because it was, in fact, New Year's Eve. I made two trips to the market that day. I thought I'd bought all I needed, only to find that I'd forgotten eggs and an essential ingredient for the hors d'oeuvres that I'd planned to make for the evening.

"It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself." — CHARLES DICKENS   I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say, "Christmas is for children," but it seems like children often get lost in the hustle and bustle of the season. Instead of focusing on simple pleasures, there is intense pressure on people to buy gifts that are bigger, brighter and better than what they have or may even need.

We can pray any time, anywhere, about anything. It is not poetic words that turn the heart of heaven in our direction; rather it is a sincere and contrite heart. -- DR. DEBORAH NEWMAN "I don't feel totally comfortable praying, I get way too self-conscious," a friend said to me. "I don't always know what to say, and I'm sure not eloquent, and I feel like I stumble over my words or don't make any sense. I hope God doesn't mind. Does this sound silly to you, Cindy?" I looked at my friend and realized that she was embarrassed by what she said.

Christmas -- that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance -- a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved. -- AUGUSTA E. RUNDEL What is Christmas? It is the tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON "Come into the quiet and be gracious with time and with yourself. Take off your thoughts, anxieties, expectations and lay them aside. Ease into the silence and surrender to the stillness ... Lose yourself in being." -- NOEL DAVIS A few months ago, I had the privilege of easing into the silence and surrendering to the stillness with a friend of mine named Debbie. I have known Debbie for more than 20 years, and she and I have prayed for the many stages and changes we have both gone through over the years.

ready To be an imitator of God requires that we come to terms with the value of quietness, slowing down, coming apart from the noise and the speed of today's pace of life. -- CHARLES R. SWINDOLL I was on my way home after a busy morning of busy meetings with busy people, and the roads seemed busier than normal, and my mind was extra busy. The wind was howling and the streets were covered with flying leaves, dust and debris. I listened to the news, but it only added to my busy thoughts, so I turned it off. My mind continued to battle the noise of thoughts flying in many directions.