Tis' Better to Look Up

Tis’ Better to Look Up

Tis’ better to look up I’d heard many times before,
But with heavy heart my eyes had barely reached the floor.
Look up the voice said and praise the Lord on high,
It’s easier to find peace when your gaze is upon the sky.

How much solace can truly be found,
When with heavy heart you only see the ground.
Look up and set your spirit free,
Look up; I’m sure your soul will agree.

Don’t look down or even look behind,
Or in a rut yourself you might find.
Look up and forward there are amazing things in store,
Things you will surely miss if you only search the floor.

Remember the Flag

Remember the Flag

What do you see when you see our flag fly?
Do the colors and meanings bring any tears to your eye?
Do you think of the price our freedom cost?
Do you think of the many souls that in wars were lost?
Can you spare the time to pledge with your hand over your heart?
Showing pride as Americans we should do our part.
Support the troops of yesterday and today,
Those have died, those who've survived and those who are still away.
Say thanks, give them strength and show you're thankful for what you've got.
Because its for our safety and our freedom they all have fought.
Celebrate Independence Day by really thinking about our flag when it waves.
Because its meaning has depth like Arlington's many graves.
Think of soldiers who were in Vietnam, Iwo Jima, and the Middle East.
Think of them all when you sit down for a big barbecue feast.
When you hear the fireworks crackle and boom in the night sky,
Listen for the sound of cannons and gunfire that caused many to die.
Think of those soldiers who were in Korea or on Normandy's shores.
They gave their finale so you could have yours!

The Call

The Call

A man was out preaching as I was in town today.
I wasn't going to listen but something made me stay.
He preached of Zion and a gospel restored.
And I couldn't help myself for I trusted his every word.

I rushed home to tell my family of this missionary.
... But before I even finished they were annoyed and wary.
You can't believe everything that you hear and see.
You can't give up all you have to follow a man across the sea.

It wasn't words only that gave me warmth inside.
So following him wasn't something hard to decide.
I would miss my family who couldn't believe at all.
But I knew where I had to go because I'd heard the call.

Riding on the ship for months along the rolling sea.
Made a miserable trip because I was almost always queasy.
The quarters were cramped and tight.
But I was with other saints and knew it would be alright.

Sailors laugh at our faith and they feel we are childishly trusting.
Who would want to ride the waves with the winds so powerfully gusting.
We told them we don't care what misery would befall.
For we knew in our hearts that we had heard the call.

Once to the states we met the other saints in the east.
The spirit there was like attending a spiritual feast.
Though I must say it wasn't exactly what'd I'd thought.
For in the states I felt mine adversity would be of not.

Yet here there are still many if not more.
Who say we believe in lies and for our lost souls implore.
We ignore them despite the strength of their gall.
For we know in who we trust and we have heard the call.

I joined a handcart company that was heading west.
We knew there we'd find Zion and a place to rest.
Many were worried because we started our trek so late.
However no one I think could've imagined our fate.

Wheels busting, food diminishing,
infants and children crying.
Then winter cold sets in and brings sickness and loved ones dying.
For some the spirit weakens as they see each loved one fall.
Then they forget that at one time they too had heard the call.

Many months of trials and our numbers are now few.
I try to fight it but I think my testimony is struggling too.
My toes are frozen and blue but I cannot feel them anyway.
And the Great Tempter on my emotions likes to play.

In the distance we see figures on horses but cannot believe our eyes.
Is this our rescue party? Had The Lord heard our cries?
There appearance our faith did reinstall.
For the Lord had heard our pleas and answered our call.

We pushed forward with our faith burning bright.
Again we knew in His care we'd be alright.
With our spirits renewed we knew the Lord we could rely on.
So we pushed forward west towards our hope of Zion.

My flesh was weak but my spirit was strong.
As along the trail we trudged along.
I saw the valley and knew I needn't any longer in the wilderness roam.
Then I saw my Lord and answered His call to come home.

Frozen

Frozen

There is a face in the window.
Eyes with gold fire shining in a frozen lake.
The burning started in the heart and spread like poison through the body.
I sift through the ash trying to find the instigator.
I find blackened dreams, empty pictures, and one odd stone.
The stone is hotter than the raging fire but I can touch it and not be burned.  I marvel at how through all the ash it is still as pure white as snow.
The stone calms the wildfire running through the veins.  The lake is no longer frozen.
It is overflowing and streams are running underneath the blazing fire.
But it wasn't a window, it was a mirror.

Freedom

Freedom

Set me free I plead with my captor.
Remove these chains.
Unbind these ropes.
“Set me free,” I demand.

Nothing changes.
Tears start to stream.
I strain against my shackles.
“Set me free,” I scream.

Hope when the cords feel looser.
Despair when they feel tighter than before.
“Set me free,” I implore.
But I wouldn’t deliver her.

Forgotten Soldier

Forgotten Soldier

My hero is gone, he shall not rise,

I see his pain as tears cloud up my eyes.

 

I feel like hope is gone,

I have no will to go on.

Then I see him standing there,

But he quickly turns to air.

 

I feel his presence strong,

And I start to move along.

 

I remember what he did for me,

When he died fighting for his country.

When I see the flag proudly wave,

I remember the life he freely gave

9-1-1

9-1-1 

It all started on 9-1-1,

I was staring at the bright yellow sun.

I was looking at the clouds high in the sky,

When I saw a plane flying too low and I didn’t know why.

I saw as the plane hit the tower with a smash,

And saw a fire start in a flash.

Then I heard the people start to scream,

And I felt it was only a bad dream.

I watched the news reports on T.V.,

And I thought to myself, this couldn’t be.

I watched as the second plane hit,

Then I thought who would want to do it?

I saw as it showed the thousands that had died,

Then heard of the brave saving others had tried.

Then I saw the quivering of a wall,

And watched as Tower Two started to fall.

Some were filled with fear,

And thought the end of the world was near.

Then we all felt pride for our homeland,

When we all said, “Divided we fall, United we stand.”

That’s not all the grief and pain,

But respect for our freedom is something we did gain.