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Christina Judd

"come and see...come and belong"
  • letters to my girls, a blog
  • ALL WE CAN DO podcast
  • ALL WE CAN DO book
  • about
  • message me
  • families
  • weddings
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gozo aumentado - increased joy

Christina Judd November 4, 2020

I spent hours glued to the TV the other night. But as I sat curious about outcomes, the overwhelming thought pressing on me was, “Do I spend this much time and energy focused on the Savior of the world, who I so anxiously await?”

When I woke the next morning I left my phone on airplane mode so I could hold onto the feeling of peace that permeated my space. I felt at peace with everything - our lives, world outcomes - and thought, “no unhallowed [woman, man, pandemic, or election] can stop the work from progressing.”

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There is only One who saves individuals and families, nations and worlds.

No one gives peace like Jesus gives peace, and nothing matters more than my relationship with Him, my focus on Him, my strength in Him, my testimony of Him, my love for Him, and continuing in faith in Him and repentance.

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What an incredible time to be alive - in the latter end of the latter days. Because of Jesus Christ I increasingly find myself basking in knowledge, light, hope, priesthood power, and confidence even when my circumstance remains unchanged.

I hope we find President Nelson’s promise and testimony growing in us - that our joy (Jesus!) will increase regardless of what happens outside of us.

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This is why Eve could say, “and the joy of our redemption” as she walked into storms and thorns after leaving a pristine, placid place - where not much went wrong, but not much went right either.

What a truly amazing time to be on earth, to be alive, to know the Savior, to testify of Him - the only one with any power to rescue any of us.

I love each of you; thank you for being here. I wish you a magnificent holiday season!

Love, Christina

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Pasé horas pegada al tele la otra noche. Sentía curiosidad por los resultados de la elección, y también apoyaba a un candidato, pero los pensamientos abrumadores que me apremiaban eran: "¿Dedico tanto tiempo y energía a concentrarme en el Salvador del mundo, a quien estoy esperando?"

La mañana siguiente cuando me desperté, dejé mi teléfono apagado, queriendo aferrarme a la sensación de paz que sentí adentro y al rededor de mi. Me sentí en paz con todo - mi familia, los resultados mundiales - y pensé, "ningún profano [mujer, hombre, pandemia o elección] puede detener el progreso del trabajo".

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Solo hay Uno que salva a individuos y familias, naciones y mundos.

Nadie da paz como Jesucristo, y no hay nada más importante que mi relación con Él, mi enfoque en Él, mi fuerza en Él, mi testimonio de Él, mi amor por Él, y continuar en la fe en Él y en el arrepentimiento.

Qué tiempo tan increíble es estar aquí vivos, a los finales de los últimos días. Gracias a Jesucristo, me encuentro cada vez más disfrutando del conocimiento, la luz, la esperanza, el poder del sacerdocio y la confianza, aunque mi circunstancia no haya cambiado.

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Espero que disfrutamos de la promesa y del presidente Nelson: que nuestro gozo (¡Jesús!) seguirá aumentándose independientemente de lo que suceda fuera de nosotros.

Por los mismos razones Eva pudo decir “y el gozo de nuestra redención” mientras ella y Adán caminaron hacia tormentas y espinas después de dejar un lugar prístino y plácido - donde no mucho salió mal pero tampoco salió bien.

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Qué momento verdaderamente asombroso estar aquí en la tierra, vivos, conociendo al Salvador, testificando de Él, esperando que venga en toda su gloria - El Único que posea el poder para rescatar a qualquier de nosotros.

Los amo a cada uno de ustedes! Gracias por estar aquí. Espero que pasen el día de gracias, la navidad, y el ano nuevo con todos los que amen, y que tengan paz y el amor de Cristo siempre.

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Con todo mi amor, Christina

Tags peace, love, hope, jesus christ, church of jesus christ
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the tree is jesus. the fruit is jesus. the iron rod is jesus.

Christina Judd January 19, 2020

Annie and Kate!

Last night in my prayer I asked for the Holy Ghost to open my eyes and my heart, to help me see something new in Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life. This is a little of what I saw:

  1. An angel appeared to Lehi and asked Lehi to follow him.

  2. Lehi followed.

  3. And kept following...and following...

  4. Lehi wandered in darkness for “many hours” and nothing changed for Lehi until

  5. He asked for something

  6. “I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me” (I love this prayer and feel its significance. I believe these words opened the floodgates for the rest of his vision. I also believe that if we learn to say this prayer we will have similar experiences…)

  7. “After I had prayed…” he sees more!

  8. And he did not stop, Lehi kept moving: Walked to the tree. Ate the fruit. Felt immense joy. Had to share it.

  9. Looked for his family who “stood as if they knew not whither they should go.”

  10. Lehi then did not wait to see if they would find their own way.

  11. He did not wait to see if someone else would help them.

  12. He did not watch to see if they would figure it out on their own.

  13. He “beckoned to them” a) with a loud voice and b) told them exactly what to do

  14. “Come unto me”

  15. “Partake of the fruit”

  16. AND THEN HE TOLD THEM WHY:

  17. “It was desirable above all other fruit.”

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Fruit isn’t such a big deal to you and me; we eat it all day long. Fruit also maybe has lost its sweetness because we are familiar with other sugary treats: brownies, peanut M&Ms, sour patch kids — stuff we eat all the time that tastes delicious!

So, I wondered, why did Lehi use fruit to describe the tree?!

And I remembered verse 1 of this same chapter, “And it came to pass that we had gathered together all manner of seeds of every kind, both of grain of every kind, and also the seeds of fruit of every kind.”

Fruit was familiar to them! If you live in a tent in the wilderness, and mostly eat grain and fruit, fruit is your treat! They did not have isles of valentines candy or ice cream sandwiches to peruse! When Lehi said, “It’s the most desirable fruit” Nephi wasn’t comparing fruit to a Snickers bar. He probably wondered something like, “Ripe blackberries are delicious! What could taste sweeter than a handful of perfect blackberries?!” 

18. The first group of people cling to the rod, arrive at the tree, eat, look around, become embarrassed, and leave for other paths. But the next group comes “continually holding” the rod, arrives at the tree, and falls down to partake of the fruit.

What does it mean they “fell down?”

This is what I believe: 

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We know the tree is “the love of God which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore it is the most desirable...and the most joyous to the soul.”

But,

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten son…”

So!

The love of God was manifest in His son:

The tree is Jesus Christ.

When the people in Lehi’s vision come and fall down to partake of the fruit I believe they are falling at the Savior’s feet, pleading like Lehi, “have mercy on me” and partaking of every fruit that Jesus Christ offers: redemption, forgiveness, grace, mercy, love, covenants, endowments of power, the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, perfect love. 

These feelings from Christ are the most desirable, the most joyous to the soul (They are also the same feelings Satan attempts to replicate, fakes, in his flashy temptations and invitations to sin…)

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This group that continually held the rod (which is the word of God, anoother reference to Jesus Christ from John 1:1). But also the physical words - the scriptures - teach Christ and His mission, and every good thing that comes from Him; they lead us to Him.

This group did not have time to look around because they continually held the rod — they never took their eyes off Christ. They basked in his “many tender mercies” (as Lehi said) — in repentance, which unlocks all of the healing, power and blessings Christ has for us daily!

The tree is Jesus. The fruit is Jesus. The iron rod is Jesus.

Goosie, Annie-girl! Lehi’s vision is one more manifestation that The Book of Mormon has been given to you and me to show us that “JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD”

“...manifesting himself unto [Annie and Kate and mommy and daddy and everyone who wants to know Him]—”

I love Him.

I love you,

mama

Photos of my beautiful friends in Huntington Beach and their sweet Clinty who they will see again one day.

Scripture references from the Introduction to the Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 8-11 and John 3:16

Annie y Kate!

Anoche en mi oración pedí que el Espíritu Santo abriera mis ojos y mi corazón, que me ayudada a ver algo nuevo en la visión que tuvo Lehi del Árbol de la Vida. Esto es un poco de lo que vi:

Un ángel se le apareció a Lehi y le pidió que lo siguiera.

Lehi lo siguió.

Y seguí siguiendo ... y siguiendo ...

Lehi vagó en la oscuridad por "muchas horas" y nada cambió hasta que Lehi

pidió algo

"Comencé a orarle al Señor para que tuviera misericordia de mí" (Amo esta oración y siento que tiene un significado enorme para nosotros ...)

"Después de haber rezado ..." ¡ve más!

Y no se detuvo, Lehi siguió moviéndose: caminó hacia el árbol. Comió de la fruta. Se sintió inmensa alegría. Tuvo que compartirlo.

Buscó a su familia que "se puso de pie como si no supieran a dónde deben ir"

Lehi entonces no esperó para ver si encontrarían su propio camino.

No esperó para ver si alguien más los ayudaría.

Tampoco miró para ver si lo resolverían por su cuenta.

Él "les hizo señas" a) con una voz fuerte y b) les dijo exactamente qué hacer

"Ven a mí"

“Coman de la fruta"

Y les dijo porqué:

"Era mas deseable de todas las frutas”

La fruta no es tan importante para ti y para mí; Lo comemos todo el día. La fruta también puede haber perdido su dulzura porque estamos familiarizados con otros dulces: brownies, M&Ms, twix: dulces que comemos todo el tiempo…

Entonces, me preguntaba, ¿por qué Lehi usó fruta para describir el árbol?

Y recordé el versículo 1 de este mismo capítulo: "Y sucedió que habíamos reunido todo tipo de semillas de todo tipo, tanto de grano de todo tipo, como también las semillas de fruta de todo tipo".

¡La fruta les era familiar! Si vives en una tienda de campaña en el desierto, y en su mayoría comes granos y frutas, ¡la fruta es tu postre! ¡No tenían islas de dulces de San Valentín o sándwiches de helado para examinar! Cuando Lehi dijo: "Es la fruta más deseable", Nefi no estaba comparando esa fruta con una barra Snickers. Probablemente se preguntó algo como: “¡Las moras maduras son deliciosas! ¿Qué podría saber más dulce que un puñado de moras perfectas?

Sariah, Sam y Nefi siguen con ambas invitaciones para venir a comer

 El primer grupo de personas se aferra a la vara, llega al árbol, participa, mira a su alrededor, se avergüenza y se va a otros caminos. Pero el siguiente grupo viene "sujetando continuamente" la vara, llega al árbol y cae para tomar la fruta.

¿Qué significa que "se cayeron"?

Esto es lo que creo:

Sabemos que el árbol es "el amor de Dios que se derrama en los corazones de los hijos de los hombres; por lo que es lo más deseable ... y lo más alegre para el alma ".

"Porque Dios amó tanto al mundo que dio a su Hijo unigénito ..."

El amor de Dios se manifestó en su hijo. Entonces el árbol es Jesucristo.

Cuando las personas en la visión de Lehi vienen y caen para participar del fruto, creo que están cayendo a los pies del Salvador, suplicando como Lehi, "ten misericordia de mí" y participan de cada fruto que Jesucristo ofrece: redención, perdón, gracia , misericordia, amor, convenios, investiduras de poder, la compañía constante del Espíritu Santo, inmenso amor, y paz.

Estos sentimientos que provienen de Cristo son los más deseables y más alegres para el alma (también son los mismos sentimientos que Satanás replica, falsifica, en sus llamativas tentaciones e invitaciones para pecar...)

Este grupo que sostenía continuamente la vara, que es la palabra de Dios (¡otra referencia más a Jesucristo! Juan 1:1). Pero también las Escrituras, nos enseñan Cristo: su misión, y todo lo bueno que proviene de él.

Este grupo de personas no tuvo tiempo de mirar a su alrededor lo que otros bromaron porque continuamente sostenían la vara: nunca quitaban los ojos de Cristo. Disfrutaron de sus "muchas tiernas misericordias" (como dijo Lehi), ¡en arrepentimiento, que desbloquea toda curación, poder y bendiciones que Cristo tiene para nosotros diariamente!

El arbol es Jesús. El fruto es Jesús. La barra de hierro es Jesús.

Goosie, Annie-girl! La visión de Lehi es una manifestación más de que el Libro de Mormón nos ha sido dado a usted y a mí para mostrarnos que "JESÚS es el CRISTO, EL DIOS ETERNO"

"... manifestándose a [Annie y Kate y mami y papi y todos los que quieran conocerlo] -"

Lo Amo. 

Las Amo a ustedes,

mamá

Tags jesus christ, church of jesus christ, portra 800, Huntington Beach, reunited, love, redemption, savior, Book of Mormon
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Whom Seekest Thou?

Christina Judd December 20, 2018

Jesus Christ invites everyone, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28-29

I have been wondering about certain doctrine, specifically relating to the doctrine of our Heavenly Mother. As I have pondered over these topics I felt enlightening moments. 

We know much about Jesus Christ because prophets have been teaching and writing about him for centuries. Multiple people throughout history have seen the Father and the Son, but we know little of our Heavenly Mother.

This is what I have felt as I have studied, and pondered:

While our Heavenly Mother (and Father) have endured an earthly experience, she has not endured our individual earthly experience. She has not felt all of my pain; she has not experienced all of my sorrow.

As much as I want to, I cannot completely understand all of my own children's pain or sorrow. As attentive as I try to be, I can never completely know what they are thinking, or how they are feeling, and why.

There is only one who knows the deepest depths of my heart: He who went to the garden three times in prayer “suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind;…[taking] upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.”

Alma 7 is one of my favorite chapters, “…there is one thing that is of more importance than they all…”

Has he experienced heartburn and morning sickness and pregnancy pains for 9-10 months? Yes.

“And he will take upon him death,”

Has he experienced the suffocating grief a mother must feel upon losing a child? Yes.

“he will take upon Him [Christina’s] infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor [Christina] according to [her] infirmities.” (Insert your name there!)

Has He physically and emotionally felt everything I, and every woman, could ever possibly suffer and be asked to endure? Yes. 

Why did He go willingly for me? Why did He choose to feel weight so crushing He bled from every pore? 

So that he could “succor” me in my infirmity! So He would know what it physically feels like. So that He could exactly attend to, minister to, care for, bring relief to, comfort, strengthen, and support, me in my needs.

Has he felt loneliness, abuse, addiction, sickness and every other heartbreak that any parent, child, friend, or human would ever experience? Yes.

His atonement is infinite: limitless, endless. By a miracle, and to wholly and completely understand our exact circumstance - to understand you and to understand me - his spirit and His physical body felt all of it.

And He did it out of perfect love for every single human ever born.

He is a gift - our perfect healer, perfect counselor, perfect comforter, perfect consoler, perfect friend. He is the only one who has walked our exact steps, felt our exact feelings - the only one who can take our loneliness, pain, sorrow, and despair and reverse it.

And he earned that right in the garden and on the cross.

So I ask myself: Is there something about His sacrifice that is lacking, that causes me to look elsewhere for comfort, guidance, connection?

What would be my response if He asked me, as He asked Mary Magdelene at His empty tomb, “Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?”

I believe both Heavenly Mother and Father want us to seek the prince of peace. They point us to the master healer, He who pours out mercy and grace and perfect love. Is that why every time the Father speaks he directs us to His Son, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him”?

Everything typifies of and points to Him who pleads with me,

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28-29

”We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ…” 2 Nephi 25:26

I know He heals every ailment as we increase our faith in Him, turn our hearts to Him, and try to be like Him.

He is everything.

“O come, let us adore Him” this Christmas season and always. Always. Always.

Thank you for being here.

xoxo,

Christina

P.S. I hope my blog posts invite introspection, study, pondering, and prayer. I hope they lead you, and me, to brighter light - to the brightest Light.

Speaking of lights………can anyone shine brighter than these? They are everyone’s favorites.

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In Family Photoshoot, Family Tags heavenly father, heavenly mother, jesus christ, savior, comforter, LDS, family photography, Light, bible, book of mormon, new testament
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