Plan ahead to arrive
Early to prepare
To partake anew
Reverently, with care
I'm working on my masters in early childhood and there is a lot of talk about intentional teaching by lesson planning. I am always on time to hear announcements and sing the opening, but most often I haven't said my morning prayers. Sigh. I think that is where it all starts.
We Are One
"The Lord made it clear at the very start of this last dispensation that we were to take the gospel to all the world. What He said to the few priesthood holders in 1831 He says to the many now. Whatever our age, capacity, Church calling, or location, we are as one called to the work to help Him in His harvest of souls until He comes again."
Light seemed to shine
From inside the lid
Treasure to find
The scriptures, it hid
I love my scriptures. I live to read them by flashlight with my old achy feet in the pool, before I go to bed. Tonight I wrapped myself in a blanket to go out. I loved it. I wonder if I can endure through winter?
I was resigned to the fact
That I was a junky
I couldn't put on an act
So, I pushed by kids from me
I lived inside my car
And did anything and everything I could
To drift high away far
Then the police..yes, this was good
For heroine is a demon
That you cannot sedate
The detox was mean then
But I had been saved from fate
Thoughts of my childhood
And songs came flooding back
Prayer, I'd not thought that I could!
In hope, I started to bask
Revelation came about
I wanted to do the Lord's will
Now I seek power to carry this out
As I share with Him how I feel
Prayer is now my lifeline
This is why I exist
I pray all of the time
This is how I persist
[Verse 1]
I was resigned to the fact
That I was a junky
I couldn't put on an act
So I pushed my kids from me
I lived inside my car
And did anything and everything I could
To drift high away far
Then the police, yes, this was good
[Pre-Chorus]
For heroine is a demon
That you cannot sedate
The detox was mean then
But I had been saved from fate
Thoughts of my childhood
And songs came flooding back
Prayer, I'd not thought that I could
In hope, I started to bask
[Chorus]
Prayer is my lifeline
Prayer is my lifeline
This is why I exist
This is how I persist
[Verse 2]
Revelation came about
I wanted to do the Lord's will
Now I seek power to carry this out
As I share with Him how I feel
The road was bent and cruel
But mercy found me still
You took my broken rule
And turned it into will
[Pre-Chorus]
For heroine is a demon
That you cannot sedate
The detox was mean then
But I had been saved from fate
Thoughts of my childhood
And songs came flooding back
Prayer, I'd not thought that I could
In hope, I started to bask
[Chorus]
Prayer is my lifeline
Prayer is my lifeline
This is why I exist
This is how I persist
[Bridge]
I was lost, now I know
You held me through the night
I was weak, but You stayed close
And taught my heart to fight
Now I bring You all I am
The scars, the shame, the tears
And I hear Your steady voice
Cutting through my fears
[Final Chorus]
Prayer is my lifeline
Prayer is my lifeline
This is why I exist
This is how I persist
Prayer is my lifeline
Prayer is my lifeline
I give You all of me
I live by grace and peace
I had led a double life Now exposed, could I explain?
I lost my job and my wife
I "used" more to numb the pain
I did anything to get high
A prostitute worked with me
I kissed my future goodbye
Inside I was empty
Out of control, it was a relief
When I was placed in jail
I sought those whom I'd caused grief
To make amends where I'd failed
Oh, the damage I had done!
Trust was just not there
For years I was shunned
I petitioned Father's care
A new life was given to me
And my prayers were answered one day
When for the first time I could see
My grandchildren at play
I threw my life away
And hid so none could see
I tried to end it one day
But suicide failed me
After detox, I sought
A safe place in which to cleanse
All my character flaws
That founded my addictive sins
I prayed to Heavenly Father
And I felt wrapped in His arms
From this, I was able to gather
Grace to stay safe from harm
I knew I'd shortcomings
And I would struggle each day
But, I knew that everything
Too, was going to be o.k.
[Verse 1] I threw my life away
And hid so none could see
I tried to end it one day
But suicide failed me
[Pre-Chorus]
After detox, I sought
A safe place to cleanse
All my character flaws
That founded my addictive sins
[Chorus] Heavenly Father, hold me
Wrapped in Your arms
Heavenly Father, hold me
Keep me safe from harm
I’m learning, I’m learning
To stay when it hurts
Heavenly Father, hold me
Till my heart knows worth
[Verse 2] I knew I'd shortcomings
And I would struggle each day
But I kept showing up
Even when I slipped away
[Pre-Chorus]
After detox, I sought
A safe place to cleanse
All my character flaws
That founded my addictive sins
[Chorus]
Heavenly Father, hold me
Wrapped in Your arms
Heavenly Father, hold me
Keep me safe from harm
I’m learning, I’m learning
To stay when it hurts
Heavenly Father, hold me
Till my heart knows worth
[Bridge]
I prayed and felt it near
Grace moving through the dark
Not fixed in a day
But healed in the parts
[Final Chorus]
Heavenly Father, hold me
Wrapped in Your arms
Heavenly Father, hold me
Keep me safe from harm
I’m learning, I’m learning
To stay when it hurts
Heavenly Father, hold me
And I will know my worth
The LDS Addiction Recovery Program frames Step 7 around the key principle of humility, where participants humbly ask Heavenly Father to remove their shortcomings through reliance on Jesus Christ.
Ashamed, I chose to drink
Always, I was on the run
And I just didn't think
That it would hurt anyone
I tried to quit on my own
Then I sought the Bishop's hand
I found I wasn't alone
Now my life's something grand
I'd rather be dead than fat
I thought some meth would help
But the trouble was that
I was lost in living hell
I tried to overdose
So sick of the "chase"
There was so much to lose
I tried church, just in case
I learned to trust in God
And surrender my will
I found happiness again
From my past, I did heal
Go For It! "As we journey through mortality, let us remember from whence we came; let us be true to the trust vested in us. Let us remember who we are and what God expects us to become."
Prayer is not a crutch
To get you through "that" day
Nor is it a crush
Till you find another way
What prayer is is a bridge
That warms your heart just so
It reaches heaven's edge
And lights your mind and soul
Let your heart glow in love's expression
A testimony is not just for today
But for your eternal progression
“We are not perfect. The people around us are not perfect. People do things that annoy, disappoint, and anger. In this mortal life it will always be that way. “Nevertheless, we must let go of our grievances. Part of the purpose of mortality is to learn how to let go of such things. That is the Lord’s way. “Remember, heaven is filled with those who have this in common: They are forgiven. And they forgive. “Lay your burden at the Savior’s feet. Let go of judgement. Allow Christ’s Atonement to change and heal your heart. Love one another. Forgive one another. The merciful will obtain mercy.”
Abraham 3:22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones; Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
He's Been There Before by Elder Troy Whittle The alarm bell rings at 6:30, I stumble to my feet I grab my companions bedding and pull off his sheets A groan fills the room, is it already time to arise? It seems like just a second ago I was able to shut my eyes
The morning activities follow- study, prayer and such When it's time to leave the apartment, you feel you haven't accomplished much "We have a super day planned," My comp. says with a grin I lowly utter a faithless breath, "Yeah, if anyone lets us in."
With the word of God and my faithful Schwinn, we ride off in the street prepared to Face another day of humidity and heat It's 9:30 in the evening, the day is almost through My champion and I are riding home not accomplishing what we thought to do
We ride up to the mailbox, hoping to receive a lot Only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate "air Box" We go up to our apartment, the day is now complete The only thing to show for our work is a case of blistery feet
It's past 10:30 p.m. My companion is fast asleep, Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weep In the midst of sadness, I kneel down to pray I need to talk to father, but I'm not sure what to say
"Oh, Father" I begin, "What happened to us today? I thought we'd teach somebody, but everyone was away My hands, my aching hands- worn, hurt and beat; If our area was any smaller, we'd have knocked every street"
"Why on missions are the days so much alike? The only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike Will you send some cooler weather? The heat is killing me I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes, it's very hard to see"
"Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn't your protection enough? People always laugh at me, and call me stupid stuff Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack I want to give them Books of Mormon, the weight of them hurts my back"
"And what about my family: They don't have much to say I'm sick of not hearing from home day after day after day Oh Father, Why am I here am I just wasting time? Sometimes I just want to go home, I'm sorry but that's on my mind"
"My companion, Heavenly Father, what are you giving me? "The way he rides his bicycle, I don't think he can see Now you have it, I can't go on, I don't know what to do That, my Father in Heaven, is the prayer I have for you"
My prayer now finished, I stand up, then jump right into bed I need my rest for tomorrow, we have another long day ahead Sleep start to overtake me, I seem to drift away Then it seems a vision takes me to another time in another day
I'm standing alone on the hill. The view is very nice A man walks to wards me and says, "My name is Jesus Christ" Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to His feet "Arise," He states, "Follow me to the shade. You and I need to speak"
My attention's towards my Savior, total and complete He says, "Your mission is similar of what happened to me I understand how you feel, I know what you're going through In fact, it would be fair to say I've felt the same as you"
"I even know how you felt when no one listened to you At times I felt not quite sure what else I could do I know you don't like to ride a bicycle, for you a car would be sweet Just remember the donkey I rode wasn't equipped with 21 speeds"
"I understand you don't like sweating, in fact it's something you hate I remember when I sweat blood from ev’ry pore, oh the agony was great! I see you don't like your companion- you'd rather have someone else- I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth"
"It's hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you I remember when they put thorns on my head and called me King of the Jews So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back"
"Your hands hurt from tracting and knocking on doors all day I guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ached in a similar way It's hard not to hear from home when your family's not there to see I lost communication on the cross and cried, "Father, why hast Thou forsaken me?"
"We have a lot in common, but there's a difference between us you see I endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me" He embraced me with His arms and His light filled me with His love With tears in my eyes I watched as He went back to the Father above
I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my head I listened and heard the alarm, then realized I was in my bed My companion let out a groan, "6:30 already, no way!" I sat up and said, "Come on, I'll even carry your scriptures today!"
No matter what we go through, when we feel we can't take more Just stop and think about Jesus Christ, He's been there before By Elder Troy Whittle Texas Houston listen to this as a song Mission https://ldspoetrybykellymiller.blogspot.com/2008/06/hes-been-there-before.html
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
These poems are my own thoughts and impressions as I study the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints
I encourage you to read from the Book of Mormon and the standard works, and listen to modern day prophets, also, that your mind and heart might be touched.
