A very good friend of mine sent me a poem today. She said it reminds her of me. First of all, it’s pretty cool these days to get a poem from a friend. [ I have very cool friends] Second, it is a great poem! I love it. And so naturally, I’m sharing it with you. Continue reading
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When my heart
Cries out,
“I am alone!”
I look at the cross to my left
And Jesus is there.
Since Friday
He has been
Quietly sharing
my pain
And when I listen
I hear Him Say,
“Lo, I am with you…
Alway.” Continue reading
2008 Re-dedication
On January 4, 2008, after four years of extensive renovation, the Utah State Capitol building held a formal Re-dedication ceremony. The ceremony’s 2008 program was based on the program used during the original dedication in 1916.
Included among the many performances was a new musical commission entitled “Anthem for a New Year: Into Light”. The lyrics were a new poem written by Utah’s Poet Laureate Katharine Coles, PhD, and set to music by Utah composer Kurt Bestor. The premeire was conducted by Craig Jessop, and the extensive cast of local performers included The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Utah Symphony Orchestra, The Bells on Temple Square, the 23rd Army Band, the International Children’s Choir, and the Cathedral of the Madeleine Choir School.
“Into Light” compares the cold dark winter dawning slowly into spring as an allegory for our personal opportunities to change with the season, reach for new possibilities, and become beings of light.
“Lift us again, moon for the season.
From its warm nest the bird breaks into flight.
Set loose we spin with earth into blue,
Heaven’s dome turning us back into light.”
Video Courtesy Kurt Bestor
Historic Trivia: The dedicatory prayer for this ceremony was given by the current President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Gordon B. Hinckley. This would be his final public appearance. He passed away 3 weeks later, on Jan. 27, 2008 at the age of 97.
“On the 20th Day of Christmas countdown, we make a little noise…
in poetic praise of cookies, bells, and other seasonal joys!”
Click to listen: “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” by The Philadelphia Brass
HALLELUJAH!
Merry Christmas – spicy smells
Sounds of joy, jingling bells;
Candy canes, mistletoe,
Popcorn strings, candleglow;
~~~~~
Merry Christmas – snow-flocked trees,
Pinecone balls, cranberries;
Satin bows, stockings hung,
Cookie treats, carols sung;
~~~~~
Merry Christmas – starlit skies,
Gingerbread, fragrant pies.
On the go, sharing fun -
Christ is born, the Holy One.~~~~~
by Berta Mason Kusik
“On The 9th Day of Christmas, MoSop shared a poem…. to lighten up your holiday home!”
Christmas Time
With the hustle and bustle of Christmas time,
Our family starts to complain and whine
There is snow to shovel, and food to prepare
The in-laws are coming, with no time to spare
There are too many goodies affecting our waist
But we can’t resist having “just one little taste”!
~~~~~~
Dad is in bed, he’s come down with the flu
Poor little Sarah can’t find her lost shoe
Mom and the kids have to string up the lights
But wires are tangled and all start to fight
There’s shopping and baking and wrapping to do
And poor little Sarah still can’t find her shoe!
~~~~~~
But wait! Stop! What is Christmas about?
The Christ-child of course, there isn’t a doubt!
So let’s pray for Daddy, and find Sarah’s shoe
Untangle the lights, and try something new
We’ll all work together, and have a fun time
Remember the Christ child, and His birth divine.
~~~~~~
[special thanks to the MP2 Relief Society Sisters]
Today’s a great day to celebrate the season – and wax a bit poetic.
SPRING THINGS
A brand new Robin graced my land
He hopped and he sang
Eyes glowing bright
Welcoming Spring with his boundless delight
A brand new ring graced Marianne’s hand
She hopped and she sang
Eyes glowing bright
Welcoming Spring with her bridal light.
~MoSop 4/13/09
Through all eternity
to thee
A joyful song I’ll raise,
For oh!
Eternity is too short
To utter all thy praise.
~ Joseph Addison
Click To Listen:
“Our God Is A God Of Love”
“Our God Is A God of Love
Love Is His Greatest Gift To Us
Love Is Our Greatest Gift To Him
To Love is Eternal
To Love is Infinite
Love is indeed Heaven On Earth
For there is no Heaven without it
Blessed is a family where love abides
Blessed are the children who’s fondest memories
Are of such Love
Our God Is A God of Love
Love Is His Greatest Gift To Us
Love Is Our Greatest Gift To Him
To Love is Eternal
To Love is Infinite
Infinite…
I wish all you a very happy St. Valentine’s Day weekend. Although this holiday has sadly morphed into a commercial venture, it offers us an opportunity to express our love for others, and to contemplate God’s Love for us. For all intents and purposes, Our Savior Jesus Christ could be considered the greatest Valentine Gift the world has ever received.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16
When we do something a little extra for those around us, we are also expressing our love for our Father in Heaven, and His daily gifts to us.
Sweetheart Cookies
My mother-in-law loves traditions, and she always makes sure holidays are extra special. Every Valentine’s Day she sets to work making delicious heart-shaped sugar cookies which she lovingly decorates, and then carefully inscribes the name of each of her children and grandchildren on a personalized cookie. Her “sweetheart cookies” have become quite famous. It seems each year she has doubled and tripled the batch from the previous years. Her gift has not remained exclusive to her family, but extended to friends and neighbors, and even strangers. This has become a treasured tradition that we all look forward to. It’s not just the anticipation of eating such a mouthwatering treat, but the joy of receiving something so personal and which represents our mother’s effort, kindness and love for us individually. As she bestows her selfless service upon each small confectionery creation, she is performing an act which warms the soul, and cheers the heart. Perhaps in this case, even a cookie can represent something eternal and infinite.
Indeed, Mom exemplifies the Apostle Paul’s council:
“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour”. - Ephesians 5:2
Let us seek to give the best Valentine gift’s all year long. We do this as we choose gifts which mirror the love of God. Pure, Selfless, Sincere. With “no strings attached”.
Perhaps there is no greater treasure, and no more perfect valentine than the profound simplicity of these three little words:
“I Love You“. – MoSop
The dog had diarrhea.
Thus begins the tale of my “sad song day”. But first, my dog Joey had gas. It started the night before. Those of you with dogs know that canine flatulence is just about one of the most unpleasant things we put up with for love of our furry friends. But this was a particularly bad case. So I was actually eager to log in a full day of work at the office. I assumed like all the other times before, this particular embarrassing condition would resolve itself before my return.
I assumed wrong.
Dr. Mack Wilberg has written a new arrangement of the American Folk Hymn entitled “My Song in the Night” which is hauntingly beautiful. I have tried to do some research online regarding its origin and history, and came up a bit empty-handed. However, the text to this hymn is particularly haunting. The words invoke an attitude of deep personal pleading:
My Song In The Night
O Jesus, my Savior, my song in the night
Come to us with Thy tender love, my souls’ delight,
Unto Thee O Lord in affliction I call,
My comfort by day and my song In the night.
O why should I wander an alien from Thee,
Or cry in the desert Thy face to see,
My comfort and joy, my souls’ delight,
O Jesus my Savior, my song in the night
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The text of this hymn most certainly takes inspiration from the following scriptures:
“I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with my own heart, and my spirit made diligent search.”- Psalm 77:6
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“Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night?” – Job 35:10
For Latter-day Saints, one of the beloved scriptures regarding the divine purpose of music is found in the Doctrine and Covenants Section 25.This is a written record of the priesthood blessing that Emma Smith, wife of the prophet Joseph received in Harmony, Pennsylvania during July of 1830. Emma is praised for her character and devotion, and she is given words of personal encouragement and comfort.Emma is also instructed to compile the first hymnal of the Church, with an added explanation of the importance:
“For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.” – vs.12
It is particularly touching to think of song as a prayer. It stands to reason that raising our voices in prayer is a heavenly form of communication – and becomes a silent song to our God. Likewise, raising our voices in song becomes a musical form of communion. As the lyrics above state, song is a human “delight”. I submit that music is also an intrinsic need of our souls. We were born to sing. And in turn, the Lord will commune with us by sending His own song in response.
How do we spiritually sing to our God? There are many ways. The scriptures give several good points of departure.
1. To give thanks for all things:
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children…For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light…speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord: giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” - Ephesians 5:1, 8, 19-20
2. To express joy even in affliction:
“Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.”
3. To acknowledge the Lord’s hand in our lives daily:
“O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.” – Psalm 96:1-2
These are such beautiful verses. Each poetic and tuneful in their own right. Indeed, by internalizing these words and pondering them are we not already experiencing a “song of the heart”?
Singing is such a personal form of expression. No two voices are alike. Alone, one voice can penetrate a dark night, and make it bearable. And when music and voices are combined they can become a powerful force to be reckoned with. Joshua’s army of trumpets and voices brought down the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6). The prayer and songs of Paul & Silas brought down their prison walls (Acts 16)!
What symbolic “walls” could a song and prayer of our hearts bring down for each of us? Indeed, I believe the song-full prayers of our hearts have unimaginable healing power.
The imagery of Night is important in this particular American Hymn. Night is a time when souls often feel the most forlorn and forgotten. Having spent many sleepless nights in a hospital near my daughter’s bedside, I can attest that pain, sorrow and loneliness are prolonged at an agonizing pace. Depression also runs deepest in the dark hours. We know that suicide claims multitudes before the hope of dawn. It is not by mere chance that Satan himself is called the “Prince of Darkness”. Surely, his power and work runs most rampant through the midnight hours. Indeed, the dark embodies Fear itself.
Yet, we are told that the Savior will be our song in the night. What a beautiful promise! He sings to our soul during times of the greatest distress. He lifts us through the fog and mist. The divine power of music can bring a peace that “surpasses all understanding”. Music brings comfort. Music is hope. Music penetrates directly into our hearts and deepest corners of our souls. I have personally experienced this more times than I could possibly count. A song can truly bring the Spirit of Christ into a room with immediacy, and unlike any other force. Once the Spirit of Christ has entered, He is the Light. And where there is Light, no Darkness can dwell.
“I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with my own heart, and my spirit made diligent search.” Ps. 77:6
Perhaps we should therefore rejoice in the nighttime’s of our lives! For it is when we are submersed into the darkest places of our heart that we are then prepared to ‘diligently search’ for, recognize, and embrace the Light.
An anonymous American hymn testifies this truth to us;
“My comfort and joy, my souls’ delight,
O Jesus my Savior, my Song in the Night!”
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This post was updated 10/3/2011 – MoSop
It has been quite a long while since I have posted. Over my life as a regular “journaler” I have found it is often the case that when I have been particularly busy, I find it difficult to find time to “write it all down”. Sadly this usually coincides with the most profound or important events of my life. It is easy to miss the opportunity to record our most precious earthly moments. Continue reading
Today is Easter Sunday. A little trivia: It is the earliest calendar date that Easter will be celebrated for nearly two centuries. The Christian world is commemorating Continue reading
