Emily Freeman - 21 Days Closer to Christ

Visit us at deseretbook.com

For more information about Simon Deweys artwork, visit www.altusfineart.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Freeman, Emily, 1969

21 days closer to Christ / Emily Freeman ; illustrated by Simon Dewey.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-59038-802-0 (hardback : alk. paper)

1. Christian lifeMormon authors. 2. Jesus ChristExample. 3. Devotional literature. I. Dewey, Simon. II. Title. III. Title: Twenty-one days closer to Christ.

BX8656.F77 2007

248.4'89332dc22 2007021170

Printed in the United States of America

Publishers Printing, Salt Lake City, UT

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For McKinley Oswald and Ralph Freeman, who tread in His footsteps

Lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.

D&C 81:5

Acknowledgments

With gratitude...

To my parents, Mac and Leslie Oswald, who provided our family with so many opportunities to have personal spiritual experiences and then followed through by teaching us to recognize them. Of all the treasures from my childhood, none are more precious than those moments.

To my brothers and sisters who never tire of hearing the stories that fill up my life. Some of my fondest memories are of the long evenings we have spent laughing around the table after Sunday dinner.

To my husband and children, for their constant encouragement and support. And especially for being so forgiving each time I have said, Im almost ready to go... I just have to write one more line. In my life you are the parade that I love to sit on the sideline and watch.

To my dear friends and family, for your contribution to this bookbut mostly for your contribution to my life. I have been so blessed.

A debt of gratitude to the team at Deseret Book. To Jana Erickson, for reading the words I write and having the ability to bring the ideas to life with creativity that touches the hearts of so many. To Richard Peterson, who was a mentoring friend in my younger years. I am so grateful our paths have crossed again now. To Sheryl Smith, who carefully crafts each page, setting the tone to complement the message. And, to Chris Schoebinger, who dared me to dream.

And finally, I am forever grateful for the countless opportunities each of us has been given to come to know the Lord. Words cannot express...

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift (2 Cor. 9:15).

The Invitation

If with all your hearts ye truly seek me,
Ye shall ever surely find me.

Childrens Songbook, 15

The best invitation I have ever seen came by mail in a large box addressed to my sister. The return address was that of a dear friend. We opened the box and began to lay the contents out on the table. Nestled in beautiful tissue paper, with gold ribbon winding throughout, there was an intricately designed nutcracker, two round-trip airline tickets to San Francisco, and a gift certificate for a three-night stay at a hotel. At the very bottom of the box, on a sheet of fine linen paper, there was an engraved invitation to attend a Christmas party that would last all weekend. It was almost as if she were being invited to Cinderellas ball. Even I was excited for the party, and I wasnt even going. What set this invitation apart from any other was that it came with the promise of a treasure, a journey, and a celebration.

I wish I could have sent this book to you wrapped up in beautiful paper and tied with a gold ribbon, but that would have been a publishing nightmare. Instead, carefully nestled between the covers of this book, you will find an invitation that includes a treasure, a journey, and a celebration.

This is an invitation for you to take a journey to come to know and recognize more clearly the hand of the Lord in your life. Scattered throughout this book you will find treasures that can make the journey more meaningful to you. The celebration will come from the moments and experiences that bring you closer to Christ.

Behold, and lo, I am with you even unto the end.

D&C 100:12

Lets begin the journey by quickly unwrapping the book. Most of the chapters include recommended daily scripture study and a reminder to have daily personal prayer. These are two important practices in developing a testimony of Jesus Christ. We can learn much about the Savior as we read of His life and teachings in the scriptures. We can draw closer to Him through prayer. To make these daily moments more meaningful, there are questions at the end of each chapter, which will allow you to assess your own personal journey to know the Lord. Pondering these questions will make the treasure you discover from each day your own. Perhaps these simple moments will become the celebration of your day.

This is your journey, your treasure, and your celebration. Because it is an invitation, you can do with it whatever you like. Maybe you will focus on one chapter every day, or perhaps you would like to read one chapter a week. Choose the way that works the best for you. I hope that what you will receive at the end of your journey is just what you yearn for.

If you begin this process with a humble heart, seeking for a stronger testimony, and come with a desire to truly find the Lord, I believe the Spirit will guide you in the direction you need to travel to find yourself closer to Christ. Remember, these twenty-one days are only the beginning of a journey that will last forever.

May you find joy in the journey, may you have the courage and the commitment to know the Lord, and may His choicest blessings attend you along the way.

You are embarking on something which is going to take the whole of you.

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 78

Day One: Come and See

Thou shalt see greater things than these.

John 1:50

Years ago, following a particularly long and furious storm, I walked out the front door to assess the damage. My young son Josh who had been terrified of the flashing lightning and the constant pounding of thunder, clung to the bottom of my shirt and followed me outside. As we stepped onto the front porch we were stunned by the most brilliant rainbow I have ever seen. The colors were so amazingly vivid that you could differentiate the breaks between the purples and blues, the greens and yellows, the oranges and the reds. And above this breathtaking sight was a second bow, almost as brilliant and beautiful as the one mirrored below. We stood still, taking it in, and then we began to call out to the rest of the family who were still sheltered inside, Come and see! Come and see! This announcement was not good enough for Josh, who took off running across the street and began to knock on the doors of our neighbors. We all gathered to witness the beautiful event that lasted only moments, as rainbows do, and then we returned to our homes feeling blessed to have beheld such a wondrous sight.