Teach with Love

I cannot save you; you cannot save me; we cannot save each other, only so far as we can persuade each other to receive the truth, by teaching it. When a man receives the truth he will be saved by it.  He will be saved not merely because someone taught it to him, but because he received and acted upon it.
- J. F. Smith

When persons manifest the least kindness and love to me, O what power it has over my mind, while the opposite course has a tendency to harrow up all the harsh feelings and depress the human mind.
- J. Smith

In these last days it is essential-even critical-that parents and children listen to and learn from one another.
-M. R. Ballard

And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.
-D&C 88:118

Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?
-Romans 2:21

What teaching can compare in priceless value and in far-reaching effect with that which deals with man as he was in the eternity of yesterday, as he is in the mortality of today, and as he will be in the forever of tomorrow.
-J. R. Clark Jr

By Design

How could this have happened?  It was by design

Didn’t see it coming?  Didn’t see the signs?

How could this have come about?  It was all a plan

Full participation in the downfall of man

Deceiving tongues, both Left and Right, deliver lies, dressed in white

Turning daylight into night, right is wrong, wrong is right

Intent was not to implement, but simply to invade

Thought they dealt in hearts, let’s call a spade, a spade

Will we exchange our souls for a vile loaf of bread?

Will we use our hearts, or only use our heads?

Will we follow darkness, labeled as if it’s light?

Or will we take the hard road now and choose to follow right?

God created man in his own image, this is true

And what we do with all of this, is up to me and you

Will we plunder, waste, and ruin all that we’ve been given,

Or take this life and make it like a little bit of heaven?

Do we think there is no plan? Truly think that through

There is no way to follow none, choices will choose who

Will we let ourselves be led, by standing in that line?

How could this have happened?  It was by design

-Liz

10/21/13

Sunflower Gold

Sunflower gold,

Blinding beauty to behold

Red, white and blue,

Patriotic hues

Breath-catching presence,

Delicious essence

Surface identified,

Regret ever rectified

Adrenaline junkie,

Forever young,

Possessing me?

Naught, but one

Vindicated innocence,

Why so bold?

Suffocating cynicism,

Growing old

Completely completed,

Having succeeded

Blue sky masterpiece,

Blanketed with peace

- Liz

10/18/13

Good Timber

The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.

The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.

Good timber does not grow with ease:
The stronger wind, the stronger trees;
The further sky, the greater length;
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.

Where thickest lies the forest growth,
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.

- Douglas Malloch

Breathe (2am)

2 am and she calls me 'cause I'm still awake
"Can you help me unravel my latest mistake?
I don't love him, winter just wasn't my season"

Yeah we walk through the doors, so accusing their eyes
Like they have any right at all to criticize
Hypocrites, you're all here for the very same reason

And cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button, girl

So cradle your head in your hands

And breathe, just breathe
Oh breathe, just breathe

In May he turned 21 on the base at Fort Bliss
"Just a Day," he said down to the flask in his fist
"Ain't been sober, since maybe October of last year"

Here in town you can tell he's been down for awhile
But, my God, it's so beautiful when the boy smiles
Wanna hold him, maybe I'll just sing about it

'Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button, boys

So cradle your head in your hands

And breathe, just breathe
Oh breathe, just breathe

There's a light at each end of this tunnel
You shout 'cause you're just as far in as you'll ever be out
And these mistakes you've made, you'll just make them again
If you only try turning around

2 AM and I'm still awake, writing a song
If I get it all down on paper, it's no longer
Inside of me threatening the life it belongs to

And I feel like I'm naked in front of the crowd
'Cause these words are my diary, screaming out loud
And I know that you'll use them however you want to

But you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button now
Sing it if you understand

And breathe, just breathe
Whoa breathe, just breathe
Oh breathe, just breathe
Oh breathe, just breathe

-Anna Nalick

Forever Reign

You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see

You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin

You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering

You are joy, You are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life, You are life,
In You death has lost its sting

Oh, I'm running to Your arms,
I'm running to Your arms
The riches of Your love

Will always be enough

Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim

You are here, You are here
In Your presence I'm made whole
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go

Oh, I'm running to Your arms
I'm running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough

Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

My heart will sing

no other Name
Jesus, Jesus

Oh, I'm running to Your arms
I'm running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough

Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign

-One Sonic Society