Joy is Coming- Our Job - Like Job, is to Trust

 

In the Cambodia killing fields

There remains the bones of those killed

Set in glass, oh the shock, the horror

Sickening, a million lives,  here, stilled

Five thousand human skulls 

Stare at you with hollow eyes

Arranged by age and sex. then by the tools

That crushed and silenced their cries

Hauntingly the evil is palpable

Despairingly, I asked of Christ's atonement

Could it even cover this atrocity?

Overwhelmingly, I knew YES What JOY God sent

I heard in my mind

Jesus saying,

"Don't worry

I've got this!

I will make this right

Joy is coming

I offer it to all mankind!"

May we all say

In our suffering

At the end of the day

"Though God try me

I shall come forth as gold

And though he slay me

I trust joy will unfold!"

Come what may to this body

Though worms come and destroy

I know I shall see God and Jesus

Unto eternal joy

between 1974-1979....

The ultimate lesson of the Book of Job is that our job, like Job’s, is to trust God no matter what. Like Job, we need to trust in our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and remain faithful in all circumstances.

Elder Dale G Renlund shares this heartfelt experience

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKGWmTtHIgU

In Life and Death Events- Community Heroes

In life and death events

Our heroes are made

They lessen or prevent

Tragedies displayed

Then, communities gather

And seek for ways to help

They've willingness to labor

To soften what was dealt 

How this restores our faith

In humanity!

That, though there's blight to face,

Our blessings are many!

To help others survive

Firemen rush to those trapped in a fire

Risking their own lives

Because the situation's dire

The ocean surge... alarms sounding

The lifeguard splashes through the waves

To rescue someone drowning

A miracle he reaches and he saves

Within the line of fire

The officer rescued a hostage victim

In the right place and time

He radios where the bad guy is and they get him

We gather community heroes 

And award their selflessness

We gather, also, the victims

To celebrate that they were blessed

[Verse 1] In life and death events Our heroes are made They lessen or prevent Tragedies displayed Then, communities gather And seek for ways to help They've willingness to labor To soften what was dealt How this restores our faith In humanity! That, though there's blight to face, Our blessings are many! [Pre-Chorus] To help others survive Hands move fast, hearts stay wide When the worst comes alive We stand side by side [Chorus] Our blessings are many Our blessings are many We gather and we give We make it through to live Our blessings are many Our blessings are many When the hurt is heavy We lift what we can lift [Verse 2] Firemen rush to those trapped in a fire Risking their own lives Because the situation's dire The ocean surge... alarms sounding The lifeguard splashes through the waves To rescue someone drowning A miracle he reaches and he saves Within the line of fire The officer rescued a hostage victim In the right place and time He radios where the bad guy is and they get him [Pre-Chorus] To help others survive Hands move fast, hearts stay wide When the worst comes alive We stand side by side [Chorus] Our blessings are many Our blessings are many We gather and we give We make it through to live Our blessings are many Our blessings are many When the hurt is heavy We lift what we can lift [Bridge] We gather community heroes And award their selflessness We gather, also, the victims To celebrate that they were blessed No one stands alone here No one falls unseen From the broken moment We raise what still can heal [Final Chorus] Our blessings are many Our blessings are many We gather and we give We make it through to live Our blessings are many Our blessings are many We gather community heroes And celebrate the gift

Doug Wilks

Executive Director of the Deseret News

https://youtube.com/shorts/f3vhk5Wz-VU?si=67Rk0PyG1qH2wHeY

praising first responders like firemen, lifeguards, and police officers who risk their lives in emergencies.

emphasizing community support during tragedies, standing side by side in crises, and restoring faith in humanity through collective giving and celebration of survival and selflessness.

highlighting uplifting themes of resilience, blessings, and communal healing.

The Best in Humanity Awakes

The best in humanity awakes

To alleviate suffering seen

Storms, fires, and earthquakes

Who is still alive?  We work to free

Ronald Reagan

https://x.com/JoshuaBarzon/status/2073374323960693065?s=20

Emunah- Stand Firm

 

You can lean your whole weight

Upon the Lord, our God

Stand firm and steadfast, emunah

For God helps to bear all you've got

In truth, you need not buckle

Under your heavy load

He knows your times of trouble

Such is the strength of God

Faith is not just abstract

It is more than a thought

Or a feelings to enact

It's what keeps you standing, taught

A prayer of faith is said

And all around you hear "amen"

In support of what comes ahead

Just like Aaron and Hur back then

During the battle with Amalek

Moses held out the staff of God

And his arms were upheld

Steady until the enemy was gone

The righteous live by emunah

The righteous live by emunah

They find strength to live upon

The righteous live by emunah  

Verse 1] You can lean your whole weight Upon the Lord, our God Stand firm and steadfast, emunah For God helps to bear all you've got In truth, you need not buckle Under your heavy load He knows your times of trouble Such is the strength of God [Pre-Chorus] Faith is not just abstract It is more than a thought Or of feelings to enact It's what keeps you standing, taught A prayer of faith is said And all around you hear amen In support of what comes ahead Just like Aaron and Hur back then [Chorus] The righteous live by emunah The righteous live by emunah They find strength to live upon The righteous live by emunah The righteous live by emunah The righteous live by emunah Hold my arms when I grow weak The righteous live by emunah [Verse 2] During the battle with Amalek Moses held out the staff of God And his arms were upheld Steady until the enemy was gone When my hands are tired and shaking You lift what I can't hold When my heart is worn and breaking You steady my soul [Pre-Chorus] Faith is not just abstract It is more than a thought Or of feelings to enact It's what keeps you standing, taught A prayer of faith is said And all around you hear amen In support of what comes ahead Just like Aaron and Hur back then [Chorus] The righteous live by emunah The righteous live by emunah They find strength to live upon The righteous live by emunah The righteous live by emunah The righteous live by emunah Hold my arms when I grow weak The righteous live by emunah [Bridge] When the night feels long And my strength runs dry You remain my song You lift me high Hands still raised in trust Heart still set on You What You start in us You carry through [Final Chorus] The righteous live by emunah The righteous live by emunah They find strength to live upon The righteous live by emunah The righteous live by emunah The righteous live by emunah Hold my arms when I grow weak The righteous live by emunah

Habakkuk 2:4, "the righteous will live by his emunah" - quoted three times in the New Testament - and the honest, centuries-old ambiguity over whether it means "faith" or "faithfulness" - What it means when the Bible calls GOD Himself emunah - faithful, reliable, load-bearing, incapable of buckling

steadfast and immovable

Hebrews 11:1 — “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Faith is a relationship of confidence in God’s character, His promises, and His faithfulness.

Have a Challenge and Go for the Victory! This Our Time to Accept the Challenge

Have a challenge?
Go for the victory!
Aim to be known
And make history!

This is our time
For excellence
While tempering much
Through obedience

This is our time
To find our path
This is our time
To escape from wrath

Might we seek God
To develop in full
Might we in life
For this is our school

[Verse 1] Have a challenge? Go for the victory! Aim to be known And make history! [Pre-Chorus] This is our time For excellence While tempering much Through obedience [Chorus] This is our time This is our time To find our path To escape from wrath This is our time This is our time (to be made whole) (to walk in truth) [Verse 2] Might we seek God To develop in full Might we in life For this is our school [Pre-Chorus] This is our time For excellence While tempering much Through obedience [Chorus] This is our time This is our time To find our path To escape from wrath This is our time This is our time (to be made whole) (to walk in truth) [Bridge] Teach our hands to stay Our hearts to lean Shape us in the fire Till we are clean [Final Chorus] This is our time This is our time To find our path To escape from wrath This is our time This is our time (to be made whole) (to walk in truth)

Equals- Light of Christ- Expand Anew

With the Light of Christ we're made as equals
Endowed with the ability to think
And recognize Heavenly calls
There to spiritually explore and drink

As we meditate we're oft sensitive
To truths that teach and guide
With self-improvement as the motive
The Light will grow inside

Sometimes we think or say
A new thought and know it's true
As it too shows us the way
To expand in Light anew

Verse 1] With the Light of Christ we're made as equals Endowed with the ability to think To recognize Heavenly calls And spiritually explore and drink [Pre-Chorus] As we meditate we're oft sensitive To truths that teach and guide With self-improvement as the motive The Light will grow inside [Chorus] Light of Christ Light of Christ We grow in You Light of Christ Light of Christ Expand in Light anew (Expand in Light anew) [Verse 2] Exploring we think or say A new thought and know it's true As it too shows us the way To expand in Light anew [Pre-Chorus] As we meditate we're oft sensitive To truths that teach and guide With self-improvement as the motive The Light will grow inside [Chorus] Light of Christ Light of Christ We grow in You Light of Christ Light of Christ Expand in Light anew (Expand in Light anew) [Bridge] A new thought and know it's true To recognize Heavenly calls And spiritually explore and drink Till mercy fills us all [Chorus] Light of Christ Light of Christ We grow in You Light of Christ Light of Christ Expand in Light anew (Expand in Light anew

A Clap of Thunder- Desert Rains

A clap of thunder
Came unannounced
And we ran for cover
For it was pronounced

It was just enough
To soak the hard ground
This rain from above
What a blessing grand!

This hot desert storm
In the midst of a drought
Is what we prayed for

In faith, with little doubt

God heard our prayers

He knows our needs

He feels. He cares

He hears.  He sees.

Verse 1] A clap of thunder Came unannounced And we ran for cover For it was pronounced It was just enough To soak the hard ground This rain from above What a blessing grand! [Pre-Chorus] This hot desert storm In the midst of a drought Is what we prayed for In faith, with little doubt God heard our prayers He knows our needs He feels. He cares He hears. He sees. [Chorus] He hears, He sees He hears, He sees What we need, He gives (what we need, He gives) He hears, He sees He hears, He sees Rain on the dry ground (rain on the dry ground) [Verse 2] The dust gave way To a softer place What was cracked and empty Was touched by grace We bowed our heads With tears in our eyes For mercy came down From the open skies [Pre-Chorus] This hot desert storm In the midst of a drought Is what we prayed for In faith, with little doubt God heard our prayers He knows our needs He feels. He cares He hears. He sees. [Chorus] He hears, He sees He hears, He sees What we need, He gives (what we need, He gives) He hears, He sees He hears, He sees Rain on the dry ground (rain on the dry ground) [Bridge] And if the sky stays still We will trust Him still If the well runs low We will trust Him still But when the thunder came And the storm broke through We knew every drop Was a promise true [Final Chorus] He hears, He sees He hears, He sees What we need, He gives (what we need, He gives) He hears, He sees He hears, He sees Rain on the dry ground (rain on the dry ground) He hears, He sees He hears, He sees Faith in the hard ground (faith in the hard ground)