Lifted and Humbled to Grow

Choose the direction you want to go

And apply what motivates you to get there

Search oft in prayer and the Word of God

Journey with others share the same goal and care

Never forget the power of music

To transcend you to belief

You know what to do and you can "do it"

Let it lift your spirits unto relief

God has the ability to reach us

Honor Him in song, for love and comfort

Life can change for the better.  Trust

Knowing experience is what we have come for

Like a cello that resonates within

Play the songs that speak of your struggle

Add a piano with lifting notes, begin

To brim with hope, to pray as one humble

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Choose the direction you want to go And apply what motivates you to get there Search oft in prayer and the Word of God Journey with others with the same goal and care Keep going Searching to know Keep loving Reaching to grow Never forget the power of music To transcend you to belief You know what to do and you can "do it" Let it lift your spirits unto relief Keep going Searching to know Keep loving Reaching to grow God has the ability to reach us Honor Him in song, for love and comfort Life can change for the better. Trust Knowing experience is what we have come for Keep going Searching to know Keep loving Reaching to grow Like a cello that resonates within Play the songs that speak of your struggle Add a piano with lifting notes, begin To brim with hope, to pray as one humble Keep going Searching to know Keep loving Reaching to grow And line upon line, You will come to know It's through others That God does show Keep going Searching to know Keep loving Reaching to grow

Line Upon Line - for Yasaman

 I was taught to feel

God's presence in my life

To know He is real

And learn, line upon line

In the season of my birth

A dried tree blossomed anew

My mom said it was a sign

"God sent us blessings with you"

He sends the right people in my path

To show that He hears my prayers

Their goodness helps me see past the pain

Like the sun's rays, I feel He cares

I have journeyed far from my people

Many have suffered and given their lives

In the hopes this will end the evil

And that we'll keep their memories alive

I understand that Christ carried our grief

His holy words are my rays of light

That my heart feels and my eyes see

And He reveals wisdom to my mind

He guides me every day

Though ministers who reach out

I know they act in faith

I a seed in dry ground they help me sprout

That one day I grow to blossom about

Yes, the dried up tree really did bloom in the Spring, when Yasaman was born.

When the talk is based on someone's journey, maybe the music should feel a little bit like home. Persian....Please pray for the people of Iran.

Verse 1] I was taught to feel God's presence in my life To know He is real, and learn line upon line In quiet lessons, truth took root inside A steady hand was leading me with time [Verse 2] In the season of my birth, a dried tree blossomed new My mother called it mercy, a sign for me and you She said, "God sent us blessings with you" And I carried those words in everything I do [Chorus] He sends the right people in my path To show that He has heard my prayers Their goodness helps me see beyond the pain In gentle rays, I feel His care [Verse 3] I've journeyed far from the people I once knew Many suffered, many gave their lives Hoping we could see the ending of the evil And keep the memory of their courage alive [Chorus] He sends the right people in my path To show that He has heard my prayers Their goodness helps me see beyond the pain In gentle rays, I feel His care [Bridge] I understand that Christ carried our grief His holy words become my light My heart can feel, my eyes can see He brings His wisdom to my mind [Verse 4] He guides me every day through ministers who reach out I know they act in faith when they speak Like a seed in dry ground, they help me sprout Until I rise in blossom, strong and free [Final Chorus] He sends the right people in my path To show that He has heard my prayers Their goodness helps me see beyond the pain In gentle rays, I feel His care [Outro] Line upon line, my faith takes root Line upon line, He leads me through

 

Open My Eyes That I May See

A little girl in her new Easter dress
Covered her eyes as though a princess
Not to ignore, but in fun to play
Hide and seek in a peek a boo way

And for her I sang a special song
As a single tear trickled along
Memories spilled of a yester year
To flow upon me all so clear

My mothers voice and her piano
As she rejoiced, her face all aglow
Now my eyes have opened and I can see!
T'was love she had been sharing with me!

[Verse 1] A little girl in her new Easter dress Covered her eyes like a princess Not to ignore me, just playing along Hide-and-seek in a peekaboo song [Verse 2] And for her I sang a special song As one small tear came trickling along Memories spilled from a yesteryear And gathered around me, bright and clear [Chorus] My mother's voice, her piano Her laughing face all aglow Now my eyes have opened, and I can see It was love she had been sharing with me [Bridge] The room grew still, the years fell away I heard her hands from another day Every note held what words couldn't say She was giving her heart in her own quiet way [Chorus] My mother's voice, her piano Her laughing face all aglow Now my eyes have opened, and I can see It was love she had been sharing with me [Outro] So I held that child close and sang softly While spring light rested on her sleeve My mother's love was there all along In every tender, remembered song

An oldy to remember
Open My Eyes, That I May See
Clara H. Scott, 1841-1897

Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!

Open my ears, that I may hear
voices of truth thou sendest clear;
and while the wave notes fall on my ear,
everything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!

Open my mouth, and let me bear
gladly the warm truth everywhere;
open my heart and let me prepare
love with thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!

Thinking of All I Have Been Given

Thinking of much I've been given
I prayed, gratefully, to share-
And it was as though a door opened from heaven
With rich treasures of blessings waiting there

For, I sensed, in all I'm regarding
There are messages from Him to be found
What, in life, could be more rewarding
Than feeling His love and presence surround

There is always an abundance Of reasons to give thanks The good in the bad circumstance See His hand in all things

[Verse 1]

Thinking of much I've been given

I prayed, gratefully, to share

And it was as though a door opened from heaven

With rich treasures of blessings waiting there

[Pre-Chorus]

For, I sensed, in all I'm regarding

There are messages from Thee to be found

What, in life, could be more rewarding

Than feeling Thy love and presence surround

[Chorus]

There is always an abundance

Of reasons to give thanks

There is always an abundance

For Thy mercy holds my days

The good in the bad circumstance

I see Thy hand in all things

There is always an abundance

Of reasons to give thanks

[Verse 2]

On the road where the questions linger

Light came, kinder than I knew

In the break of the bread, in the work of my hands

Love replaced doubts to faith anew

[Pre-Chorus]

And I keep my eyes on the small things

Every gift that meets my need

Every mercy that wakes up my morning

Every blessing that I did not see

[Chorus]

There is always an abundance

Of reasons to give thanks

There is always an abundance

When Thy mercy holds my days

The good in the bad circumstance

I see Thy  hand in all things

There is always an abundance

Of reasons to give thanks

[Bridge]

When the table looks bare

Thou art still there

When the night runs long

Thou make me strong

I will count what remains

And sing through the rain

I see Thy hand in all things

I see Thy hand in all things

[Final Chorus]

There is always an abundance

Of reasons to give thanks

There is always an abundance

For Thy mercy holds my days

The good in the bad circumstance

I see Thy hand in all things

There is always an abundance

Of reasons to give thanks

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2011-02-0036-president-monson-on-gratitude?lang=eng

pondering President Monson's talk on gratitude

I randomly remembered this from the Holocaust:

 The story of Corrie and Betsie ten Boom highlights the power of gratitude even in dire circumstances. During their time in the Ravensbrück concentration camp, the sisters faced horrific conditions, including infestations of fleas and lice. Despite their suffering, they chose to give thanks for these very pests. Betsie believed that the fleas allowed them to hold worship services without interruption from the guards, as the soldiers avoided their barracks due to the infestation

. This act of gratitude became a profound lesson in finding hope and purpose amidst despair, illustrating the strength of faith and resilience

Be Still and Listen

 In the middle of a great day

We got devastating news

But, we'd not let the skies grow gray

How to react we always get to choose

For comfort, for light within

Seek the words, God has written

And pour your heart out to Him

For answers... be still and listen

Still, this time your soul is weary

As your needs have reached their greatest

In the temple, you'll see more clearly

To seek God's will, there is more access

True joy comes, not in the absence of sorrow

Nor in the greatest day of your life

It comes in the eternal hope of tomorrow

And feeling the presence of Christ's Light

[Verse 1] In the middle of a great day We got devastating news But we'd not let the skies grow gray How to react we always get to choose For comfort, for light within Seeks the words God has written And pour your heart out to Him For answers... be still and listen [Pre-Chorus] Still, this time your soul is weary As your needs have reached their greatest In the temple, you'll see more clearly To seek God's will, there is more access [Chorus] Be still and listen Be still and listen God has written Be still and listen True joy comes Not in sorrow's end True joy comes Christ is with us then [Verse 2] Nor in the greatest day of your life It comes in the eternal hope of tomorrow And feeling the presence of Christ's Light When the hurt is deep and hard to swallow So when the tears begin to fall When the room feels much too small Lift your hands and call on Him He will meet you in the dim [Pre-Chorus] Still, this time your soul is weary As your needs have reached their greatest In the temple, you'll see more clearly To seek God's will, there is more access [Chorus] Be still and listen Be still and listen God has written Be still and listen True joy comes Not in sorrow's end True joy comes Christ is with us then [Bridge] When the night is leaning close And your heart can barely hold There is hope beyond the ache There is mercy you can taste [Final Chorus] Be still and listen Be still and listen God has written Be still and listen True joy comes Not in sorrow's end True joy comes Christ is with us then

President Freeman

Best and Worst Days 

April 2026 GC

Lion Wind

A lionesque wind
Came to circle, to yowl
To prey upon us in the end
Into a small space, to prowl

With the strength of its pride
It tore wood, made an opening
And its mouth opened wide
For a sickening happening...

Forecasts warned, a storm
We were not prepared
As evil performed
Subtlety aired

This poem would look great in a lion's mouth!

[Verse 1] A lionesque wind came to circle, to yowl To prey upon us in the end Into a small space, to prowl With the strength of its pride [Verse 2] It tore wood, made an opening And its mouth opened wide For a sickening happening Forecasts warned, a storm [Bridge] We were not prepared As evil performed Subtlety aired The room forgot the shape of air [Final Verse] A lionesque wind came to circle, to yowl The boards gave way beneath its hand It found the narrow place somehow And pulled the dark across the land [Outro] Forecasts warned, a storm We were not prepared No shelter held its form No quiet answered there

Verse 1] A lionesque wind Came to circle, to yowl To prey upon us in the end Into a small space, to prowl [Pre-Chorus] With the strength of its pride It tore wood, made an opening And its mouth opened wide For a sickening happening... [Chorus] A lionesque wind A lionesque wind It came for the door It came for the skin A lionesque wind A lionesque wind We heard it coming And we let it in [Verse 2] Forecasts warned, a storm We were not prepared As evil performed Subtlety aired [Pre-Chorus] With the strength of its pride It tore wood, made an opening And its mouth opened wide For a sickening happening... [Chorus] A lionesque wind A lionesque wind It came for the door It came for the skin A lionesque wind A lionesque wind We heard it coming And we let it in [Bridge] Now the chairs lie split Now the glass is cold What we called a fit Was a hunger in control [Final Chorus] A lionesque wind A lionesque wind It came for the door It came for the skin A lionesque wind A lionesque wind We heard it coming And we let it in

Selfless Grace

A man born of a "sinful curse"
Was well rejected from the start
Blind...his parents were thought much worse
But the Lord knew of their good hearts

One day He walked near the sightless man
And put clay to what was useless there
He showed the blind man his value and
The cleansing water reflected his pure care

For... the first thing that he gazed upon
Was his own happy shimmering face
The miracle attracted quite a throng
This because of Christ's selfless grace

[Verse 1] A man was born beneath a curse Or so the voices said They cast their blame on where he came A sentence worse than death But Jesus saw the hidden hearts His parents' faith and love No sin had made this darkness fall No judgment from above [Chorus] Lord, Thou saw him, for, Thou knew him Before his eyes could see And made his broken story bloom A miracle forthcoming! What the world had cast aside Thou gathered close to teach The dust became a living sign That every soul is within reach [Verse 2] This day along the crowded road The Savior stopped nearby He knelt and made a little clay Then touched the empty eyes "Go wash," He said, and down he went To water clear and cold In the reflection, his face And more than eyes could hold [Chorus] Lord, Thou saw him, for, Thou knew him Before his eyes could see And made his broken story bloom Even gloriously! What the world had cast aside Thou gathered close to teach The dust became a living sign That every soul is within reach [Bridge] The first face in the world he saw Was smiling back at him A face that wore astonishment And joy along the rim The crowd came running, questions rose But grace had made its claim The man who once was pushed away Stood proudly in Thy name [Final Chorus] Lord, Thou saw him, for, Thou knew him Before his eyes could see And made his broken story bloom Even gloriously! What the world had cast aside Thou gathered close to teach The dust became a living sign That every soul is within reach [Outro] Every soul has worth for feeling Held within Christ's grace Every soul has worth for seeing

The Lord before your face

John 9:1-25 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.