Lord, Make Me an Instrument

This song epitomizes the definition of faith.  Faith isn't just believing, it is acting upon our beliefs.  This song is the prayer of St Francis of Assissi and it shows his desire to be and instrument of action in God's hands to actually make a difference in the world.  This is my prayer this Sabbath day for this coming week. 

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me bring love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Lord make me an instrument of Thy peace

Gethsemane

I had to pick this version because of the Portuguese subtitles :)

Jesus Christ is more than a mere idea.  He really is our brother-- my brother-- and each of us can have a personal relationship with Him.  This song presents that idea so perfectly.  I really know that He understands me in each of my personal trials.  He knows the temptations that I pass through every day, and He knows about my struggles and pains.  He knows how completely imperfect I am, and yet He still reaches out to me in love and kindness.  How wonderful it is to know that I am not alone.

Kenneth Cope - Gethsemane - Legendas em Português

From The Heart Choir- I Need Thee Lord

This summer I participated in a choir called From The Heart.  It is comprised mostly of students from BYU-Idaho but is not affiliated with the school.  We put on firesides for local wards and sang songs that testified of Jesus Christ.  Entering rehearsal for the first time was like a dream.  Every member brings the Spirit of Christ to each rehearsal and fireside, and there is not one speck of personal agenda or ego.  I enjoyed stepping out of the world and into Zion each time we got together, and so I am really excited that next semester, I will get to be the director of From The Heart.  I get to give back to the great organization that has given such precious spiritual experiences to me.
"I Need Thee Lord" is a special song because it was written for From The Heart by some previous members of the choir.  It has a special meaning because it is not only talking about Jesus healing a blind man, but it personally stands for the healing power of Christ's atonement.  I am not blind, but I also need Christ to give me sight-- spiritual sight-- so that I can repent and become like Him.

I Need Thee Lord

Gratitude

If I could embody my patriotic sentiments into one word, it would be "gratitude."  Some people wallow in modern politics and they worry about health care, the economy, presidential elections, etc.  I proudly participate in the political workings of our country, and I concern myself with its future.  However, I just said that the embodiment of my feelings about my country is gratitude.  If I were truly grateful for the liberties that I possess and the great abundance that I enjoy day by day, then instead of complaining and fretting about political leaders, I would probably wake up each morning, say a prayer of thanks, and then I would go work as hard as I could to actually live the American dream.  I would participate in elections, I would write letters to congress, and I would do everything I could to carry a patriotic sentiment to other people around me.  However, I would not say hateful things (whether public or private) about our leaders based on differing political views or political parties, I wouldn't worry myself too much about negative media coverage, and instead of yelling and whining so much, I would try and listen to other people and try to learn from their life experiences.  I am not a shining example of this image that I have painted, and so I have a lot of work to do, but in this humble state, I would like to share one other thing that a true patriot should do.  Besides demonstrating gratitude for our country, a true patriot would practice a bit of faith . . . some faith in God.  Because if this really is "one nation, under God," then why wouldn't He help us to succeed?

Battle Hymn of the Republic - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Sissel - Pie Jesu

Bring Him Home

My favorite musical, based on my favorite book, and sung by my favorite tenor . . . what more can you ask for???  This song really is the prayer of a righteous man, and I just love it.