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.

Darkness

Darkness

Nothing but darkness surrounds me.
The blackness envelops me like a closed coffin.
I don’t even know if my eyes are open or closed anymore.
I can no longer separate what is me and what is the darkness.
I am the darkness.

Time is of no consequence in my unyielding abyss.
Nothing changes in the unseeing chasm.
Nothing.
Darkness is nothing.
I am darkness.
I am nothing.

Then from my tomb I am struck with a bright light that blinds me with its luminosity.
I strive in vain to bring back the familiarity of the darkness but the light is overwhelming and soon nothing but me is left.
All the darkness cowers in the corners of an unlit world.
Even my shadow has been consumed in its glow.
In my heart I know the light is everything.
I can no longer distinguish myself apart from its glory.
I am the light.
I am everything.

Circle of Sisterhood

Circle of Sisterhood

What makes a sister, a listener, and a friend?
A person you can trust or on whom you can depend.

A person who gives you strength when your own is not enough,
A person who sticks with you when the going gets too tough.

Age, race, size or back ground have no place.
For there is no one our sisterhood won’t embrace.

We are a circle whose boundaries have no end,
We have the power to heal and the power to mend.

Our circle will just keep growing with no end in sight,
We will stand by God and serve through His might.

We will give love to the lonely and strength to the weak,
We will take pride in our service yet stay humble and meek.

We will strive to make our circle bigger until the whole world is consumed,
And still if one more sister wants to enter we will still have the room.

We’ll grieve for a death and rejoice in a birth,
We won’t let any woman forget her divine worth.

The shape represents service with no beginning and no end,
There is no limit to whom we can help or lend a hand.

The space in the middle shows there’s always room for more,
So let us show the world the love of the Lord.

We are a circle of sisterhood and it doesn’t matter where you’ve been,
If you want to join with us you’re welcome to enter in.

Accused

Accused

 

The stones hit hard and fast.

Some large. Few small.

Pain engulfs my welted soul.
Taunting and condemning are the cries I hear.
I am surrounded. No way to escape.

The Lord appears.
His strong hands lift me from the ground.

What is wrong? He asks.
I cry to Him with pointing fingers and then turn to face my accusers.
But the only accuser is me.

My Friend

My Friend

Lord I have a friend, who is feeling sad today,

He’s trying to make it on Your straight and narrow way.

He got lost awhile Lord but he’s trying to be found,

But others only mock and hate when they see him around.

They cannot see what we see Lord when we look at him,

They cannot see his eyes when the tears they start to brim.

They forget Lord that we all have mistakes and regrets,

Sometimes we can all get caught in Satan’s slippery nets.

So I want You to bless him Lord and know that I still care,

I want him to know that he is loved although hate is everywhere.

I ask You to undo the habits that he has sown,

And I want You to stay with him so that he is not alone.

I ask You to give him strength and help to overcome,

I see his goodness Lord that cannot be seen by some.

I ask You to comfort him like only You can do.

Help give him the courage, so that he can make it through.

I ask You to bless his family with the love that they need,
Can others be your angels and help fulfill this deed?

I also ask You, Lord to open all his persecutors’ eyes,
Because one day I know that You’ll be hearing their cries.

They will want You to forgive all the things that they have done,
But right now they’re only focused on the problems of the one.

So please bless all the haters, my friend, and me,

Bless us all Lord, so that we can make it back to Thee.

Zion

Zion

I saw a small child clinging to her mother’s side.
But when the first storm hit it ended her ride.
I saw the tears as she was laid in the ground.
But the plea of the mother was the only sound.
“Lord bring us to Zion where we can be one.
Where we can rest Lord when this work is done.”

I saw the families selfless and brave.
Giving of themselves trying others to save.
My heart ached with yearning to be so strong,
And I tried to find comfort in their sweet song.
“Lord bring us to Zion where we can be one.
Lead us into thy rest when this work is done.:

I saw the sweethearts cuddled to keep warm in the snow,
And their pain as they saw the river and cried I cannot go.
I saw four men giving the Lord and others their best.
Yet still in their strength I heard this request.
“Father bring us to Zion where we can be one.
We will not lose faith in thy Holy Son.”

So when I’m afraid and think I will fail,
I’ll remember the pioneers as they struggled along the trail.
I’ll strive to give my best as they gave their all.
And when the hard times hit this will be my call.
“Lord lead me to Zion where I can be one,
Give me the strength until my work is done.”

Remember

Remember

 

The fogginess has lifted and everything is so clear,
My loves are by my side, they’re holding me so dear.

All your smiles and faces are etched into my soul,
All the things I’d thought I lost are all things that I know.

I know it seemed misplaced at times but you always had a part,
For one thing that I never lost was the love for you in my heart.

Heavenly Father protected it for me and hid it safely for me to find,
And it’s been lovely for me to have it lovingly brought to mind.

I see all the laughter and all the happy times too,
Please don’t let them slip away because I’m not there with you.

Because really I’ve never left, I’m still with you in your heart,
What most people think is the end is really just a start.

So this really isn’t goodbye it’s more like I’ll see you at another time,
So keep making memories my loved ones because life is so sublime.

And I promise I’ll be watching and taking every step you dare to take,
I’ll be there supporting and guiding with every decision that you make.

I just want to say I love you one more time and that I left with no regret,
And no matter what memories faded our love is something that you can’t forget.

Take Me There

Take Me There

Sitting on her daddy’s knee, looking at spires that went so high,
She requests “ take me to the place where the angel reaches for the sky.”

Older she walks around a pond that gives quite a reflection,
And she says “take me there so I can feel God’s connection.”

Older still she goes in to do ordinances for the dead,
Because there’s no where she wanted to be instead.

Now old enough to make an important decision,
She goes to be endowed to prepare for her mission.

Returning she meets a man who could make them a pair,
Dad can only say to him, “please take her there.”

Deciding their love would never falter,
This young couple went to the altar.

Then out to the steps holding each other near,
She whispers, “I’m glad we came here.”

A few years later holding her son with much care,
She’s showing him pictures, saying “I’ll take you there.”

The Gift

The Gift

I’d been wondering, what does Christmas truly mean?

When I saw a package by the tree that I hadn’t seen.

A small gift in the corner wrapped with much care,

Yet it was so small I wondered what would fit in there.

I went over and picked up the gift and felt a most curious sensation,

A tingling all over is what I got from this Christmas representation.

Then all of a sudden my vision blurred, the edges started to fray,

And I saw something I have yet to see again to this very day.

A child so beautiful that He seemed to give off His own light,

So beautiful the manger He was in, didn’t seem to be right.

Then the image faded and a new one took its place,

The child was older but I still recognized His face.

He was kneeling I saw and saying a prayer,

I saw His tears as I was calmly standing there.

He was crying for me I realized with a start,

And suddenly warmth started spreading through my heart.

I wanted to stop Him when I saw what He had to bear,

But then I realized I couldn’t, I wasn’t really there.

Tears were now streaming down my face, and I didn’t know what to do,

When He with tears of His own, looked at me and said, I did this for you.

The image faded once more as His face started to grow dim,

That was my Christmas present but what would be my gift to Him?

They Went Together

They Went Together

They went together father and son,
They left when their work here was done.

Two great men hardworking and true,
Left this world with another mission to do.

The time seemed so short and the tears have not yet passed,
But father and son are with the Father and the Son at last.

The memories of good times will help heal the heart,
Though it will still hurt to be so far apart.

Their courage and strength will stay alive,
Those who loved them will help it survive.

It will take faith and endurance to get to the end,
But by the love of the Lord we will see them again.

So find hope and peace that they did not go alone,
They went together on their journey home.