MTC Week #41 - Cheering Beams of Hope

We sang some very beautiful music this morning including a piece called "Thou Lovely Source of True Delight" which is one of those majestic pieces with grand orchestration to bring the text to life. There was a verse in particular that spoke to me:

Tis here, whenev’er my comforts droop 
And sin and sorrow rise 
Thy love with cheering beams of hope 
My fainting heart supplies, 
But ah! Too soon the pleasing scene 
Is clouded o’er with pain 
My gloomy fears rise dark between 

And I again complain

Don't we all go through such an up and down cycle? We have a hard time, we mess up, and then we feel God's love sustain us and help us and give us hope. Only to have something hard come again and we can't help but complain about the lot we've been given, or the weaknesses we have to overcome, or the trial that doesn't seem very fair. 

It reminds me of some verses from a prophet Nephi, in The Book of Mormon:

And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?  Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.  O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever.

Hopefully, you, and I, can trust that our trials are for a purpose and the Lord is in control and as such, we'll be OK if we just keep going forward. Hold on to those cheering beams of hope! 

Switching topics, Thursday night we received more details about the upcoming 2015 tour and were given some handouts going over the itinerary, costs for guests, physician signoff, etc.  There was an audible gasp over the price to bring a guest ($3500). But then again, it is to New York and staying there is not cheap. Especially when it's for two full weeks. At any rate, it should be a very fun and exciting opportunity. 

Until next time, God be with you.