Bev Psalm 29: Life Isn't a Bowl of Cherries

Ode to a song sung sad

Written in the 1930 depression years

“Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries”

“Don’t take it serious, it’s too mysterious.

We’re not here to stay; we’re on a short holiday”

I say, Holy days!  Those lyrics even ask:

“Why are we here? Where are we going?”

That bowl of cherries is full of fallen berries.

We live in a fallen world.

But how sweet it is to know, that Christ came

Long ago, and taught His Plan:

The Plan of Happiness.

Come to earth and gain a body

Complete with spirit, making a soul.

That answers the question of: Why?

And thanks to his atoning sacrifice and

The restored truths about that Stem of Jesse

We can know where we are going.

Firmly attached fruit, we labor in his orchard,

A world asking these same questions.

There are answers.

He lives! Our Redeemer Lives!

By faith, repentance, baptism we walk

In obedience the covenant path

To return to live with our Heavenly Father

In His Celestial Kingdom

God’s mysteries are revealed, our purpose here

Made clear. He loves us, His children dear,

and wants us near, to enjoy perpetual Holy Days. 

 

Bev Psalm 28: Hands Raised Up

 It began with Moses at a battle long ago

when the Lord said the Israelites would win

if he kept his arms held high.

As he tired, Aaron and Hur came to sustain

him, holding up his arms.

What many did not notice was that

Moses held a rod in his hands.

This rod is the symbol for the word of God.

In our day, Presidents Eyring and Christofferson

Sustain our prophet Dallin H. Oaks

with their words and actions, speaking for

Christ, "for by the mouths of my servants,

it is the same."

My artistic spirit wished to enter a churchwide contest

to illustrate D & C 81:5,  "lift up the hands which

hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees."

My hands hung down with age and my knees were feeble.

I envisioned little babies arms weak and helpless.

I saw children with deformed arms, feeling hopeless.

I beheld the family whose teenager, killed by accident,

their hands hidden by broken spirits,

arms clasped around each other,

fallen on bended knees, tears falling on a grave.

Finally were the widows, tears past, years gone,

loneliness settled in and solitude descending

upon their world of reduced circumstances.

The Saviour walked the same earthly paths,

one by one He ministered, clasping firmly 

by His hand, pulling them upright from feeble knees;

encircling the one in His arms, 

warmly at His breast, assured them of His love.

The Savior was there in His solitude, bearing the pain

and anguish, grief and sin for all of those

whose hands and arms hung down. 

An angel ministered to Him in that garden,

sustaining Him until it was done, 

when His arms raised up, were nailed upon the cross.

Earthly angels follow His example,

Ministering today, one by one, by phone call,

or visit, bringing the sacrament to the invalid,

texting questions, "How are you doing today?"

Letting the one know they are not alone,

they are loved and cherished children of

a Heavenly Father who loves them and

knows their every need, desiring to bless them.

Solace is found in the words of the prophets, old and new,

and in the loving ministering angels from heaven and earth,

Lifting the arms that hung down

with sacred hands that lift up.

Bev Psalm 27: Continuing in My Place

Lorenzo Snow’s words, “We are engaged in the work of God. 

The prospects before us are glorious, but, let us be impressed

in every work of our hands, that we are the servants of God

and doing His will. Let not our integrity be impaired,

but our faith be continually increased as we proceed through life.”

Lift my Spirit, continuing, he and I, too, “...would (will) be satisfied

to act where Providence has placed me, and ask God, the Lord,

what I can do to aid in building up the kingdom of God in that place.”

Uplifted, encouraged and inspired by Snow's urging,

I will continue to Pour Forth Love,

As I explore my human experience with God,

Writing Psalms that praise,

Psalms of Sorrow, Grief, Sadness and Lament,

Psalms of Gratitude, and Friendship, and

my personal Devotion to God and His Son.

I write Psalms of Wisdom to share.

Because I feel that pure love of Christ,

in the core of my heart,

and I shout Hallelujah,

My Psalms will Pour Forth Love.

Bev Psalm 26: Stand Still and See

Thou hast guided me in Thy mercy and strength

To the Celestial Kingdom where thou dwellest.

Thou hast stretched forth thy right hand,

Clasped me, embraced me with love,

Offered me health in my core,

Strengthened my bones and joints

that age has weakened.

Thou hast parted the fogs in my mind

And led me along dry land

A pillar of light behind me

Protection from the adversary, wishing to destroy.

Thy breath didst blow with Thy wind.

Thou art glorious in holiness.

I upholdest thee in awe and reverence.

Thou performest great wonders in my life

And I know thine eye is upon me,

Thy daughter, a dust mote, in Thy universe.

Thou hast loved me from the beginning

And leadest me along my days.

Thou hast purchased me

with the blood of Thy Son.

Thou hast made for me a sanctuary

in Thy mountain.

I will there go up to worship Thee

and see Thy hand in mine every need.

I shall stand still and see thy salvation.

 

Bev Psalm 25: Splash Down

Three parachutes open, slow down descent,

April tenth 2026, into San Diego’s sea,

At 5 PM and 7 minutes, ending a 256,756 mile

journey past the moon;

man going further into space than ever before.

Now deep dive into my memory to

One July day of 1969, in a hotel lobby,

Just near the main plaza, Mexico City.

I watched the grainy black and white

image of man’s first small step off the ladder,

and one giant leap for mankind.

Space has always fascinated me.

Planets, Stars, Comets, and the Milky Way.

God created them for signs and seasons.

In 1975 I was in Downey, California

Where the Apollo Command Module was built.

Art and Technology collaborated there.

Science and creation to the glory of our

Great Creator and I initiated it.

Going further back in my memory to childhood,

Another splash down: It’s getting dark,

I’m having such fun playing, then I hear Mom call,

“Come in. It’s time for bed.” “No!!!”

Kicking and screaming then undressed for my bath.

Splash down: warmth surrounded me.

I didn’t want to get out!

That’s what life is all about.

We come into a cold world, kicking and screaming,

But, at the end, we don’t want to get out.

And like Artemis II, it’s a perfectly planned mission,

We have untold questions that only God can answer.

He’ll tell us His secrets and reveal the mysteries

Of His Godliness, and eternity.

He wants to share with us, we are His children,

Bathed and clean, every wit,

A giant leap for mankind; yes, everyone who desires

To ascend to the highest degree of His

Celestial Kingdom, there to inherit worlds without end,

Spirit children to create, and heirs to family forever,

His perfectly executed Plan for Happiness!

Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls 

Bev Psalm 24: The Cherry Harvest

I love trees, especially the ones I plant

in the wilderness of cyberspace on FamilySearch,

there to be harvested by descendants who will

gather the fruit of my labors,

Fruit of Jacob’s olive tree, the anointing oils that 

fill our lamps, bless our children and our lives.

The harvest of souls is the great work

of the Master Gardener.

He has planted us on this earth to see

Whether we choose Him and eternity,

will remain unshaken in our faith,

firmly attached as we grow or

ripen in iniquity and fall far below.

The stem of Jesse is Jesus the Christ.

Just as the ethylene weakens the connection

between a ripe cherry and it’s stem,

disobedience, doubt and fear weakens 

our connection to Jesus allowing us to be

easily shaken and separated from Him.

Therefore, take heed, pray always lest you

fall into temptation.

Regular prompt, daily repentance liberates

and ennobles us.

Seek revelation and recognize God’s hand

in your life; give thanks, expressing your gratitude

and the witness of the Spirit will bring

hope and joy, as well as strength to overcome

with confidence in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.

Yes, we avoid becoming ripe for destruction,

truly unshakable, and reconciled to God through

Christ’s infinite atonement in that garden long ago.

Our unshakable faith like the ripe cherry, held firmly

To the Tree of Righteousness.

Bev Psalm 23: The Beginning and the End

 

The Redeemer of the world,

Whose course is one eternal round,

Created worlds without end.

Our universe is filled with galaxies

In that immense space. Look up!

He is the light that shineth in darkness,

And the darkness comprehendeth not.

Believe in the name of the Lord Jesus

Who came to live upon the earth,

Even He who was crucified

For the sins of the world.

Hearken unto Him, who is to come again.

Whose voice has all power and is

 From everlasting to everlasting.

Call your solemn assembly, that your

Yearnings might come up unto

The ears of the Lord, the creator of the

First day: the beginning and the end.

He who says, “My words shall not pass away,

But shall all be fulfilled, whether by my own

Voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same”

My prophets, seers and revelators speak

On that sacred weekend of General Conference

For all people, families and friends to hear Him

Worldwide, to be uplifted up and participate in

Sitting at the feet of their Savior. They testify and

Share His words, become one with Him,

His purposes to do, and acclaim:

He lives! He is Risen! Our ever-living Head.

Bev Psalm 22: The Broken Bread

Once whole, that slice of bread

Is then broken and torn for us.

Each piece is unique like you or me.

My husband loved garlic!

“We must never be without it!”

So, I bought it, usually fresh and whole.

Now I buy whole garlic sourdough

Filled with bits of memory,

Unique to me and Bob.

Daily as I focus on Christ,

It’s a feast without the fishes.

Weekly, I take a small piece of bread

And drink a tiny cup of water.

I remember Him, He speaks to me.

Years ago, hands laid upon my head,

A blessing was pronounced,

It’s guided me for years,

Bringing focus to my life.

It’s God’s voice to me,

Uniquely my own scripture.

I never want to be without it.

Now, bits come to mind

As I daily read and study.

It’s the Lord’s Way.

This piece of wisdom I now share,

Your Patriarchal Blessing is uniquely yours.

Read it often, study it line by line,

Focus on the Savior who gave it,

Through the blessed hands of your patriarch,

And your life will not be torn as was

His body and the bread.

 

 

Bev Psalm 21: Gulf or Stream

When is water a gulf of misery and woe?

The proud pointing fingers, wicked and mocking

Those are the waters filthy and disgusting.

Sweet is the living stream that washes clean,

Attends those who are looking to Christ,

Living water in memory of Gethsemane

Washes us from every darkened stain;

our hands and hearts are clean again

And peace will long remain.

Bev Psalm 20: Palms in My Palm

Everywhere I’ve lived there were palm trees;

California, Arizona, Mexico and Kwajalein.

My symbolic BEE is Deborah who sat under a palm tree.

In Jerusalem, long ago, the first day of Passover,

Christ rode a virgin colt through the gates of the city.

Do you ever wish, as I, to have been there at the beginning?

To shout, “Hosanna: blessed is the King of Israel that

cometh in the name of the Lord” and wave palm branches.

He came humbly, that time, Isaiah’s prophecy to fulfill.

Palms have become a metaphor in my life.

My birth on a Palm Sunday began this disciple’s life journey.

This Psalm is written to symbolize a unique historic event.

From sundown on the first, to sundown on the second, this year

Passover begins, marking Christ’s triumphal entry.

At noon during that first day was when I was born,

my entry into this mortal world; right in the middle.

Jesus Christ is my middle, my center, my focus.

That day He was celebrated, began a fateful road to the cross.

The sacramental bread and wine were initiated,

in an upper room, in remembrance of His body and blood.

The garden of olives where He was pressed for our sins,

our pains and afflictions, our grief, sorrow and temptations

showed His willingness to obey His Father’s will.

Gethsemane’s sacrifice showed His love for us, true charity.

“Do even as I,” He said. We too must emulate this love.

To serve with understanding that we are all God’s children.

He want’s all of them to return and Come Unto Him.

We minister with love, hope and joy, and gratitude for life.

Because His palms, most sacred, were pierced for us,

they are the tokens of covenants and promises.

My palms are raised to accept, and live a life of sharing

talents, gifts, and insight, all in obedience to God’s will.

The next day of His journey, He is Risen! A body to regain.

He’s led the way for all humanity to rise again, body with spirit.

Now we shout for joy, echoing the first Hosanna,

because if we live righteously, and endure to the end,

we can live with The Father and Jesus Christ in heaven,

embraced in His healing hands.

So wave those palms and

Raise your palms in joyous celebration.

 

World Water Day 2026 and Women and an answer

Why do we mark International Days?

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool.

The global water crisis affects everyone – but not equally.

Where people lack safe drinking water and sanitation close to home, inequalities flourish, with women and girls bearing the brunt.

They collect water.

They manage water.

They care for people made sick by unsafe water.

They lose time, health, safety, and opportunities.

And too often, the systems that govern water leave women and girls out of decision-making, leadership, funding and representation.

This makes the water crisis a women’s crisis.

We need a transformative, rights-based approach to solving these challenges, where women’s voices are heard and their agency recognized.

All women must be equitably represented at all levels of water leadership – helping design every pipe and policy.

And women must drive change in water as engineers, farmers, scientists, sanitation workers and community leaders.

This includes engaging men and boys as allies in promoting safe water, sanitation and hygiene for all, and in challenging the norms and behaviours that hold women and girls back.

Only then can safe water services meet everyone’s needs – empowering women and girls to lead healthier, more fulfilled lives – and making water a force for sustainable development and gender equality that benefits us all.

• Globally, more than 1 billion women – more than a quarter of all women (27.1%) – lack access to safely managed drinking water services. (UN Women/UNDESA, 2023)

• 1.8 billion people still do not have drinking water on-premises, and in two out of three households, women are primarily responsible for water collection. (WHO/UNICEF, 2023)

• In 53 countries with available data, women and girls spend 250 million hours per day on water collection – over three times more than men and boys. (UN Women/UNDESA, 2024)

• Globally, unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene are responsible for the deaths of around 1,000 children under five every day. (WHO, 2023)

• About 14% of countries still have no mechanisms to ensure women can participate equally in water-related decision-making and water management. (UNEP-DHI, GWP, UN Women, 2025)

THERE IS AN ANSWER: JESUS CHRIST LOVES WOMEN AND MEN EQUALLY!!!

HE TAUGHT ABOUT WATER, AND IT IS FREE! COME AND SEE.

Bev Psalm 19: Ode to Dust and Water

 

O generations of Jacob, Hear ye the voice that

Whispers from the dust.

It is familiar.

You are not alone.

It is not a dream.

He lives, who once was dead.

God created mankind from the dust,

elements of the earth.

These are the fine particles of solid matter

Brought together from all parts of the universe.

The Creator organized it into a world

for us to dwell upon.

Omniscient, He uses protons, neutrons and

electrons to build the foundations of life;

even our DNA’s double helix.

Then there’s the spark, the breath of God,

which animates our human form.

When He came to earth to gain His body and

to understand mortality, He taught about

Dust and Water.

The Lord and Master washed His disciples’ feet,

who walked ancient paths, so caked with

dust and sweat, the dust of daily battle.

Today, as mortal men and women, we are

washed by the sweat of His sacrifice and the

tears He shed for us.

And when we die, we return to dust, but because

Christ rose again and claimed His body,

we, too, will rise again.

Now we can be Saviors on Mount Zion,

to wash the dead by vicarious baptism.

Sing, Hosannah on Easter morn,

Celebrate new life, a resurrection from the dust,

Dust He washed with living water, from His disciples’ feet.

 

 

 

Bev Psalm 18: A Righteous Pattern

 

The Lord says, I will give unto you, a pattern.

To the humble who are feeding His lambs

To the holy who work in the temple

To the wise who seek Him in the scriptures

and the words of living prophets

They are the five virgins who brought the

drops of oil from their conversion and

daily acts of worship with

lamps trimmed and full, He invited them in.

Today’s parable shared of

Mimi-van, Cookies, Lemonade, Walk

Illuminates the journey of our discipleship:

Setting our desires on Him who is mighty to save,

Shared with his youthful warriors, a battalion.

Then in the final miles of the final ending,

A covenant partner shares homemade cookies

and lemonade to refresh the weary

Urging them by example to walk one mile more.

That is a righteous pattern.

Shepherds of old testify

Two temple workers added theirs

Wise men journeyed with gifts to the king.

We too, cannot be deceived

in our latter-day world.

The signs of His coming

abound around us if we have eyes to see

and ears to hear.

In the heavens and on the earth.

Authorized witnesses speak.

Be one of the wise

and great shall be your joy

when you meet Him, in the clouds of

glory at that great and dreadful day,

Meeting Righteousness as He ushers in that

Planned Millenium of Peace on earth

good will to all men.

And now I see His pattern for eternity.  

Bev Psalm 17: Mary, Mary, Mary

 The symbolic “We”

Through temple covenants, and blessings

We become queens to the Most High.

God delights in the “me” of “We.” WHY?

Because of my righteous acts and the

desires of my heart.

My hands are clean through weekly sacred water.

Learn of My ways, He asks of me,

three times in that blessing;

then I will answer your every need.

He answered today.

He fights my daily battles, giving

strength and power to overcome.

Like Mary His mother, chosen by God, to bring

Him into the world, only to give Him up, so young.

Like Mary that He found in sin,

rescued her, loved her.

Like Mary who anoints and

sits at His feet to learn and adore.

We are those Marys.

Now as queens, How do we serve and rule?

In God’s name, as His Son’s bride,

Hand in hand, worlds without end.

 

 

Bev Psalm 16: Hard Becomes Holy

Stand still, and know that I am.

In that stillness hear His Voice;

it beckons, Come Follow Me.

Do as I do.

Create beauty that bears witness

of His divinity.

Live lives waiting upon the Lord.

His timing, His will be done.

The light of God and His Son

is constant, unchanging, immovable.

His eye is on the sparrow.

Your voice does matter.

sing your unique song and

share your gifts and talents.

The Lord will guide you.

In times of loss, He compensates the faithful.

for every tear we shed today,

He adds upon us hundredfold

tears of joy, rejoicing and gratitude.

A prophet has seen it.

The Lord Almighty will make up those losses

to you in the resurrection.

Therefore, remain faithful.

The fire of refinement is hot.

Molten silver without dross

reflects like a mirror, the refiner’s image.

Is his image in your countenance?

Have you chosen Him in your refining fire?

Hard times can be a Holy Season.

Do you choose to do hard alone?

That is your choice.

Choose to do hard with Jesus

within temple walls, and you’ll find access to

His healing, strengthening power.

In the midst of the Refiner’s fire, with bodies

aging and diseased, trust in the Lord’s timing.

Draw close to God. Call upon the Father and

the Son, walk with them in Spirit, day by day.

They will show their fidelity to you.

Come to truly know them and you will

come to know yourself.

Be full of charity and empathy.

Proffer spiritual refreshment to others, serve well.

Let us be Holy women.

Live on the sunny side of the street as we

focus on Jesus Christ.

Fear not, doubt not, being faithful in all things.

We repair the spiritual health of our spirit

to meet God, and when we do this,

Hard becomes holy.

 

 

Bev Psalm 15 The Biggest Miracle: Peace of Mind

 

Columbia River Washington Temple

That’s where it all began.

It started years ago

 As a little family group,

Everyone helping one another.

It slowly grew from 12 to an

“I can’t imagine it” 78!

They focus on Christ

Creating eternal families.

Our world view expanded.

“Look what we can do!”

Before school, after school

Large groups of youth

Gather at the font of living waters.

Day and night, long lines

Diminish, as one by one

They accompany an ancestor.

Joining hands in a mighty

Chain that cannot be broken.

That bond with real people

To whom we owe our existence.

As we serve them, they are healed.

We learn their circumstances

Find their lives of labor and

From them we learn who we are

And where we came from.

Blessed now with a clear vision

Of where we are going.

That is the biggest miracle

Peace of Mind