sunday singing

It's been way too long since I tried to do this every Sunday. It's hard because I really don't get on the computer all that much on Sundays, especially after church. I wanted to do this again because I love it... I love music and the way it can change your mood. I've had a long week of being sick (among other things) and not being in the best of moods. Dan has been so wonderful and supportive and loving. I really am so grateful to have him as my husband.

In lieu of me feeling cruddy this past week, I need to feel some sunshine. Which is why I need this song, which always makes me happy.

Scatter Sunshine #230

In a world where sorrow
Ever will be known,
Where are found the needy,
And the sad and lone;
How much joy and comfort
You can all bestow,
If you scatter sunshine
Everywhere you go.

Refrain

Scatter sunshine all along your way;
Cheer and bless and brighten
Every passing day;
Scatter sunshine all along your way;
Cheer and bless and brighten
Every passing day.

Slightest actions often
Meet the sorest needs,
For the world wants daily
Little kindly deeds;
Oh, what care and sorrow
You may help remove,
With your songs and courage,
Sympathy and love.

Refrain

When the days are gloomy,
Sing some happy song;
Meet the world’s repining
With a courage strong;
Go with faith undaunted
Thro’ the ills of life;
Scatter smiles and sunshine
O’er its toil and strife.

Refrain

Words: Lanta W. Smith, 1892. Music: Ed­win O. Ex­cell

I think it's so true. Not only do the words inspire you to inspire... but the song itself is an upbeat song and I can't help but smile during the last measure before the repeat when I sing the word "day" from one octave to another... it's just fun.

The topics listed under this song are: cheerfulness, encouragement, love, and service. All things we can never have too much of in our lives. Scatter sunshine everywhere you go! Dan and I have been trying to focus more on service lately. It can be such a powerful thing to those you serve and to the ones who are doing the serving. I feel personally that I have been given so much, I feel so blessed, that I need to give it back in service. President Uchtdorf said: "When we seek to serve others, we are motivated not by selfishness but by charity. This is the way Jesus Christ lived His life... . The Savior did not care for the honors of men; Satan offered Him all the kingdoms and glory of the world, and Jesus rejected the offer immediately and completely. Throughout His life, the Savior must have often felt tired and pressed upon, with scarcely a moment to Himself; yet He always made time for the sick, the sorrowful, and the overlooked."

The Savior is such a wonderful example in countless ways. The Savior is the perfect example of scattering sunshine. I definitely spend more time on myself than I do serving others and I really want to try and turn that around. I know we can only do so much, but I think we can always do a little more. I can't change in one day and be a perfect shining example, but I can take one baby step at a time and grow little by little. I know the Savior loves me and knows my heart. I am so amazed by Him and how well He knows me.

i didn't take this picture, but i found it on a random blog. i love when the sun shines through the clouds like this. it sort of reminds me of this song. yesterday while on the bus driving to camp adair for weapons qualification, i wasn't feeling wonderful and not really wanting to shoot M-16's all day, i looked out the window and saw this. the rest of the drive was beautiful to me and i was in a better mood. when i was a kid... i was in awe whenever i saw the rays of sun coming out of the clouds, it made me think of angels coming down to earth... and i think it always will... however cheesy that may be.

sunday singing

I love Sundays and I love our ward. It's going to be so hard to pick a song for this week, I felt like sacrament meeting was just full of them, and so many that touched me. The spirit was so strong there today... I had a hard time keeping it together. I am such a crier. Hymns have such great power and teach us so much. They are a great way to teach us about the atonement. I think today I am going to pick "There is a Green Hill Far Away". We didn't sing it, but our home teacher's wife spoke about the atonement and she quoted this song and spoke of it's power. She gave such an amazing talk today, it really touched me.

Something we are taught, but don't always think about is that the atonement isn't just for our repentant needs, it isn't just for the sinner... it is also for those sinned against. It is there for us in times of despair and in time of trial.

All of us suffer some injuries from experiences that seem to have no rhyme or reason. We cannot understand or explain them. We may never know why some things happen in this life. The reason for some of our suffering is known only to the Lord. But because it happens, it must be endured. President Howard W. Hunter said that “God knows what we do not know and sees what we do not see.”

President Brigham Young offered this profound insight that at least some of our suffering has a purpose when he said: “Every calamity that can come upon mortal beings will be suffered to come upon the few, to prepare them to enjoy the presence of the Lord. … Every trial and experience you have passed through is necessary for your salvation.”

President James E. Faust

We can turn to the Lord for comfort and through His atonement we can endure what we have been given. I have felt this and am so eternally thankful for His love throughout my life.

There is a green hill far away,
Without a city wall,
Where the dear Lord was crucified,
Who died to save us all.

We may not know,
We cannot tell,
What pains He had to bear,
But we believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.

There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin.
He only could unlock the gate
Of heav'n and let us in.
Oh dearly, dearly He has loved!
And we must love Him too,
And trust in His redeeming blood,
And try His works to do.

text: Cecil Frances Alexander
music: John H. Gower

sunday singing

I am going to start a new tradition... hopefully I will keep it up. Music has a sort of power to it, as many of you can attest to, I am sure. I love hymns and I adore primary songs (except for the article of faith songs, but that is a story for another time). I feel so blessed that I get to teach in primary and am able to hear the children sing with their faithful voices, it is the sweetest thing. They know these things so matter-of-factly. Today was a great day at church, my lesson went well and the kids participated wonderfully and you could tell the spirit was there. Moving on to my original point in writing this. The opening song in primary today was I'm Trying to be Like Jesus. It's so simple, yet so profound. Christ is my Savior and friend. I can't find the words right now to describe how much I love Him. I love Him so much that I can't even begin to think about how much He loves me.

Several weeks ago, or even months ago, Dan and I were participating in his family's FHE and the lesson was on "Jesus Christ is my Example" and even though it was slighty chaotic with all the kids (much as it was in primary today), I still could feel the spirit as though I was meant to hear the things we were discussing that night, although more directed at the younger children. Christ is my example, I know I am nowhere near to being like Him, but I still try and know that I don't have to be perfect for Him to love me and for me to return to Him and my Heavenly Father.

“In the Greek from which it was translated, the term perfect in Matthew 5:48 … means ‘fully developed,’ to become ‘finished’ as to our individual potential and to have ‘completed’ the course God has set forth for us to follow.” (Men and Women of Christ [1991], 21–22).

I am so grateful and moved by His sacrifice for me and for the world.

I'm trying to be like Jesus;
I'm following in His ways.
I'm trying to love as He did,
In all that I do and say.

At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice,
But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers,

"Love one another as Jesus loves you.
Try to show kindness in all that you do.
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,
For these are the things Jesus taught."

I'm trying to love my neighbor,
I'm learning to serve my friends.
I watch for the day of gladness
When Jesus will come again.

I try to remember the lessons he taught.
Then the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts, saying


"Love one another as Jesus loves you.
Try to show kindness in all that you do.
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,
For these are the things I'm taught."
Janice Kapp Perry