Bev Psalm 37: A

 Alpha and Omega, Christ is the beginning and

   the ending; Psalm 119 begins it’s 8 verse stanza,

   each line or phrase begins with that letter.

   Hebrew to English, that’s not recognizable, but a

   pattern is established! Let’s see how I do.

Alone, I find myself as David and others must have,

   in the solitude of study, searching scriptures both

   ancient and modern, gleaning gems of wisdom to share.

Although the circle of my influence is very small,

   Noah must have thought that same lonely idea,

   but had faith in the Lord’s promise of a flourishing

   future. I feel hope.

Ark or arc of influence, nevertheless, it’s God’s

   commandment obeyed that brings perspective.

   I explore here my own human experience with

   God, He who loves me, guides me and inspires

   me with His eye single to my eternal life and joy.

Advancing one step at a time, He leads, I follow.

   Little by little I learn of the doctrine of Christ.

   It’s easy! Faith, repentance, baptism by immersion,

   receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost from authorized

   hands, and enduring to the end.

Actions required to progress or endure are easy, too:

   obey His commandments, pray always, give service,

   testify often, again and again.

Actionable faith is what this is called. The five wise

   virgins, had sufficient oil. Today we live in tumultuous

   even terrible times, let us pour oil on troubled waters.

   May we hold up our lights to shine forth, leading

   others as examples of kindness and Christ-like

   lives of charity.

Angelic protection is promised and I’ve called upon

   this blessing often when I’ve walked in uncertain

   steps, pain and sorrow. Quiet moments of assurance

   and healing, able me to feel His peace, the peace

   that surpasses all our understanding.

  

      

Bev Psalm 37: B

 Becoming is the lifelong process of writing

   Upon our souls with the Christ as our stylus.

   To be like He is. Christians say: born again;

   to be like that babe laid in a manger 2000

   years ago. Or must we become a new

   creature, I say, Creation in Christ?

Breathless at the prospect. It is an overwhelming

   idea to be one in heart, mind and purpose,

   with the Creator of the Universe.

Begin with the first step on the covenant path.

   You are a child of God. He loves you and

   sees you in a way you can’t even imagine.

Because He’s known you for more than a

   Billion years, growing up at His side. You

   trusted Him when He said, “Now would be

   the perfect time to be born,” and yes, in

   those circumstances, you’ll learn the skills

   needed to be your very best self.

Bound to heavenly Father with silken cords

   of prayer, He listens, watches your growth

   and tests you along the way. Will you obey?

   Alas, not always. But eager to return to Him

   unblemished, you repent.

Bathed in the light of His love, you learn to

   follow the example of your elder brother,

   Jesus Christ. At first blind, but now you see,

   eye to eye into eternity.

Beautiful is the vision you see. Look: the

   Bread of Life, He beckons “Come follow

   Me.” He’s promised to bridge the gap,

   sacrificed all for thee; both justice and

   mercy served, just for you.

Bee in the desert gathering nectar of blossoms

   while pollen dust collects on your body

   and legs, brushing off on the next flower

   you visit. The hive is your home; the honey

   drops of a thousand blooms is your

   contribution, measuring about a tablespoon.

   Busy bee, pollinating for others to reap rewards.

 

Bev Psalm 37: C

 Calendar years come and go, but this year was a

   culminating convergence of 65 years of high school,

   friends, memories, photos and finding lost or

   deceased classmates for an April reunion.

Cardinal was the name of our yearbook. Seventeen

   Pages of Senior photos; 357 people. Some I knew

   And others I did not. Serving on the committee for

   3 years, my goal was to find them all. A skill as a

   Family history researcher helped.

California was the starting point. Ancestry.com

   provided the 1961 yearbook photos from ClassMates.

   A 1959 city directory for Pomona placed parents

   in the right location, Then the 1950 census put a

   child with parents. There I was with my family! Cool!

Curiosity helped me solve mysteries. It didn’t kill this

   cat! Yes, I love cats. Whether short or long hair,

   Siamese, Norwegian Forest or Maine Coon cats

   I could spend hours watching their antics.

Control is required if I’m to center my life in Christ.

   I didn’t study to become a veterinarian; so, with a

   cheerful heart, the focus turned to caring, and

   serving others with the gifts God gave me.

Confident that God would guide me, I noticed that

   children and youth were consistently connected

   to my church callings: Primary, Young Women, even

   in my profession as a director in the field and at camp.

Creativity became the gift used to serve others: games,

   Arts and craft ideas, etc. When I was an art museum

   Curator, I created exhibits, designed flyers, catalogues

   and compiled press kits, and news articles. This is my

   Christlike connection to the Chosen One, Creator of

   the World.

Bev Psalm 37: D

 David wrote many of the Psalms in the

   Old Testament. He wrote for his day;

   some of praise or thanksgiving, some of

   sorrow, all are rich in imagery and emotion.

Do I write daily or decide my hours should be

   spent doing descendancy research or

   learning how to use AI in FamilySearch?

Digital databases, Clouds and computing

   were never on David’s to do list. Yet my

   list is full of actual ‘Have to do’ and ‘Should

   do’s;’ the ‘want to do’ and ‘wish I could do’s’

   must be organized and evaluated every day.

Decisions, not terribly easy in a world crammed

   with new scientific developments, aides to

   help do in minutes what used to take hours.

   Could ChatGPT reduce typing time of this long

   psalm? Or is the learning curve too much for me?

Decide, I must. Dash with purpose of obeying

   God’s command. Duty, but more than that,

   I delight in the glow of Divine love as I write;

   drinking in the spiritual draft given by prophets

   of this dispensation.

Designing my day like an artist sketches, then

   adds color to create a work of art. Dreams

   emerge in concrete form after their spiritual birth.

Daughter of God. Doing His will, dancing around

   flowers, like Deseret; skipping lightly into pools

   of living water, flinging open windows of heaven

   for blessings of gratitude and generosity.

   Faith pours out!

Doubt’s flee! I can do this. It’s a delicate balance,

   But how can I fail when I center on Jesus

   Christ’s divine characteristics? Dawn once dim,

   breaks slowly and I’m delivered by His love.

Bev Psalm 37: E

 Every two and a half years there are two full moons

   In a month; the second one is called a Blue Moon.

   My mother’s favorite saying was that something

  was so rare, it occurred “Once in a blue moon.”

Entreating me not to be shy, like she was, made sure

   my childhood experiences included dance lessons,

   clarinet lessons and with her exceptional skill and

   creativity, sewed exquisite clothes that made me

   the center of attention.

Encouraging me and supporting my every endeavor,

   never doing it for me, but insisting that I do it

   myself, whether it was earning a bead in Camp Fire

   Girls or writing reports or making a project for school.

Everlasting is my gratitude for this Elect Lady, who in

   life, embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ, received

   baptism, served in ward and stake Relief Society

   callings, using her empathy and sewing skills to

   embroider her work with women.

Elijah’s spirit settled upon her and together we collected

   photos and memories, even creating a king-size quilt

   featuring five generations. Our earthly work established

   a foundation for our eternal family.

Endowed late in life because she was shy and fearful

  Of the unknown, I accompanied her the first time to

   the temple. Ever after, she entered into enlightened

   joy to serve Jesus Christ, even beyond the veil.

Enjoyment of this binding covenant, we’ve been sealed

   as an eternal family, empowering us to continue

   partnering in family history research. Her gentle

   enticing whispers in my ear, lead and direct my search

   for ancestors in far-flung lands.

Eagle wings give symbolic meaning to our progress

   here on earth and into worlds without end; as we

   wait upon the Lord, we run and are not weary, walk

  and not faint. Exaltation is our goal.

Bev Psalm 37: F

Firefly’s flash light in the evening meadow;

   redwood tree’s have roots connected in

   large groves; dolphins and whales click

   their songs, transmitted through water.

Father’s plan of happiness provides all of His

   creations ability to communicate with each other

   in the air, the land and the sea. Their joy can

   be felt, just listen with ears to hear, eyes to see.

Friendship is like that when communication about

   gospel principles, experiences shared to clarify,

   Conference talks studied and a word or phrase

   selected, give us an Inkling of how God guides

   us day by day, hour by hour.

Freedom expanded, once held by prophets of old,

   can now be ours. God speaks again to each of

   us, man or woman, young or old, with subtle

   whispers, visions, words forming in our minds,

   and enlightening insights burst forth.

Follow through, take action, write them down, in

   Journals or diaries, in the margins of our scriptures,

   a prayer journal, in social media blogs, Facebook.

Feelings and fears: ask God in the name of His Son

   Jesus Christ, telling Him your concerns. Yes, even

   the very longings of your heart. Then listen!

Faith, perhaps fasting, answers will come. God’s

   promise is sure. Don’t be discouraged. God’s

   timing is perfect whether today or at a future time.

   Be patient.

Foreknowledge is God’s specialty. He has what

   Astrophysicists call ‘entanglement.’ God says

   “All things are present with me, for I know them

   all.” That is how God can reveal the future, because

   it is present before Him.

Bev Psalm 37: G

God of the Old Testament, Jehovah, is

   the creator of the world.

Glory to Him in the highest, ruler of

   the universe; earth is His footstool.

Great are the miracles and His power

   over all people, planted here like flowers.

Garden of Eden, grass and herbs, it began.

   Trees of families bloom and abound for

   centuries, until He descends below.

Golgotha, He died upon a tree: the world,

   His people spit on Him, scorned, derided

   and crucified their Messiah.

Geography held no bounds. After rising

   from the grave, other grapes in His

   vineyard, He visited and taught.

Gospel of happiness, preached; Master

   Gardener guides and gathers His flowers

   and fruit. His words shall stand forever.

Glory of the Lord shall be revealed that day

  and all flesh shall see it together. His

   grace and mercy save generations of

   those who wait upon Him.