ODE TO JOSEPH AND MARY

 

To heaven's gate you came so willing

To claim God's Son as your own;

The seeds of love you offered there

In noble soil forever sown.

- Cathryne Allen

(Art: Joseph and Mary by Greg Collins)

A CHOSEN VESSEL

 

“And so we find Mary, about fifteen years of age and inexperienced in meeting the trials of life, under contract to marry one she loved, but with child by the power of the Holy Ghost. We find her in a city of Galilee – rough, rugged, untampered Galilee – where a self-righteous people were quick to condemn, ever ready to punish; where the tongue of gossip would cut her tender feelings to the bone; where she would become a hiss and a byword among her friends and relatives, for she had (as they would view it) committed the sin next only in wickedness to murder.

“Those among whom she dwelt would no more believe her strange tale that an angel had come to her – angels no longer came to mortals, everyone knew that! – or that the Almighty himself was the Father of that which was in her womb; they would no more believe these claims than they would believe the testimony of the fruit of her womb when He testified in their own city that he was the Messiah of whom Isaiah had spoken.

“Thus we find Mary facing the trials of life – there would be others, as her Son ministered among men; as He hung on the cross; as He lay in a borrowed tomb; yes, there would be others, and her present troubles were but the beginning of sorrows…..”

-        Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah Book 1, p 322

 

ODE TO MARY

You consented at all cost

To fulfil your duty

Or else, all would be lost.

You carried your precious boy

So close to your beating heart,

Hoping it would protect Him

From the fate that would tear you apart.

You stood weeping at the foot of the cross

In the valley of humiliation and death,

Your pain and sorrow unable to suppress.

You are a mother, like no other……

 

 - CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Mary Kept All These Things by Howard Lyon)

 

MY PURPOSE

 

I will step into deeper waters

And abandon the ground under my feet;

I will wade and look for You,

I will see Your footprints

Even in murky seas.

I will reach and find Your hand

To guide me where I am meant to go

I will trust, I will surrender,

Your purpose for me to know.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

IN GOD'S CARE

 

The turbulent waves of the sea

Have no power to swallow me;

The depths of the earth

Have no power to bury me;

The evil has no power

To overcome me;

The clutches of death

Have no power to extinguish me.

 

In Thy constant care

Thy shadow shelters me;

In Thine arms of mercy

Thy refuge carries me.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art:  In God's Care by Greg Collins)

SELF-WILL

 

 

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, God’s work in your life is bigger than the story you’d like that life to tell.

“His life is bigger than your plans, goals, or fears. To save your life, you’ll have to lay down your stories, and minute by minute, day by day, give your life back to Him.”

-       Adam S. Miller, “Letters to a Young Mormon” (2014) p 17-18

 

I pleaded with you on bended knee

My fears to dissolve.

You sat in silence

Hoping I would give You

what You yearned

the most to own;

My self-will,

My hesitance to relinquish control.

In the end I gave it up

 And found solace in Thy soul.

 

Yes ,You said,

Now you understand.

I paved the way,

In Gethsemane long ago.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Christ in Gethsemane by Dan Burr)

RELEASE

 

Lift up your aching heart
And seek your release in Me.
I am the sacrifice that was paid
For your years of pain to cease.

My mercy shall spill from Me
And erase every tear
You have wept seeking peace.
Come unto me,
In me you will find release.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Woman Healed designed by TheWorldInColour)

SANCTIFYING GRACE

 

I sorrowed today

Wondering what You would say

 About my mortal flaws,

Then I remembered

The power of You

And Your sanctifying grace

When it becomes my privilege

To see Your face.

From the depths of my soul,

I give You my all.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Infinity In His Eyes by Greg Collins)

FULNESS OF JOY

 

 

“He wept – He who had descended below all things, the Man of Sorrows, He who bore all our griefs. The height of His infinite capacity for joy is the inverse, mirror image of the depth of His capacity to bear our burdens. So it is with the enlarged caverns of feeling within our own hearts; as the sorrows of our lives carve and stretch those caverns, they expand our soul’s capacity for joy. Then, when the Man of Sorrows turns our bitter tastes to sweet, our joy – and His – will fill the widened chambers of our hearts with what the scriptures call ‘fulness’. That is when we have accepted His Atonement and love with such completeness that His purpose for us is fully satisfied. Then will we know that we were made for this. Then will we know where, and why, and to whom, we belong.”

(Bruce C. Hafen, The Belonging Heart, p 315)

 

I stand amazed

That You would reside

In the deepest caverns of my heart

And consider me worthy of such esteem.

I want to worship at Your feet

And let it end never;

I want to keep the flame of love burning

And joy in it forever.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Then Sings My Soul by LDS Art)

FEARS

 

I cupped my fears in my hands

Like a prized possession;

I reasoned they were my protection.

I examined each and found

Chains around my heart.

I spread my hands toward heaven;

Like butterflies they flew to Thee.

My heart knows no sorrow

That I have set them free.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Joyous Delight by Greg Collins)

SEEKING HIS FACE

 

Some days, Father, I cannot bear,

The absence of Your touch.

I cannot wait for Your embrace

That I have missed so very much.

 

In this abyss of worldly darkness

I stumble but I fall into the arms of Him

Who lifts me higher than I can go.

 

I fly to You, Father, on my wings of faith,

I sail through stormy skies,

Seeking for Thy face.

Look Father, no hands!

Only trust in these strong arms

Of my Saviour’s loving grace.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Arms of Faith by Yongsung Kim)

ODE TO THE STRIPLING WARRIORS

 

Son of my body,

Heart of my heart,

I give you to God,

Knowing not despair,

I know my son, you will be safe

In his merciful, tender care.

 

I know He will watch you

And honour your faith;

I trust He will guard you

Against the open jaws of hate.

 

Son of my body,

Heart of my heart,

I will wait with faith

Knowing not despair,

I know you will return

To my loving, tender care.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Divine Call By Sandy Freckleton Gagon)

MOMENTS OF DESPAIR

 

When I feel forsaken

In my greatest moments of despair,

I yearn to feel You near me,

I wonder if You are there.

 

I know You are watching,

And whispering for me to know:

To know your strength to conquer,

Some moments you have to face alone.

I understand, it has to be so,

I conquered mine at Calvary long ago.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Where Art Thou by Greg Sargent)

MOTHER IN ZION

 

I give you my patience

That you might follow your path;

I give you my understanding

That you might love you more;

I give you my forgiveness

That you might learn to love;

I give you my tolerance

That you might grow;

I give you my wisdom

That you might have courage.

I give you my witness

Of the fountain of it all

In whom if you believe,

You will never fall.

From my heart to yours;

Forever more

Because a heart can give no more.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Mother in Zion by Greg Sargent)

I FOLLOW

 

You stood in the vista of my heart

Granting me the wider view

My eyes were opened

And I understood the meaning of You.

You came to this plane of sorrow

Your footsteps to pave the trail

And make all things anew;

I follow, I follow

Gathering drops of You.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Compassionate Christ by Greg Sargent)

LOVE NOTES

 

I wish I could be grateful

For every fallen tear

And accept my trials

Without a trace of fear.

But what would life be

Without the love notes sent

From heaven’s gilded gates

And written by Your pen.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: You Are Loved by Alex Kovych)

ODE TO JOSEPH

 

On 27 June 1844, exactly 180 years ago, Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration, and his brother Hyrum Smith were assassinated at Carthage Jail in Illinois...."He lived great and died great in the sight of God and his people, and like most of the Lord's anointed in ancient times, he sealed his misison and works with his blood; and so did his brother Hyrum. In life they weren't divided, and in death they weren't separated!" - D&C 135:3)

ODE TO JOSEPH:

You stood so resolute and willing
In the councils of heaven,
Knowing the jaws of hell
Would open at the mention of your name.

Still, you knelt in the sacred grove
And uttered the words of faith.
You honoured your promise to restore the truth
And you opened the heaven's gate.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

( Art: Brother Joseph by David Lindsley)

AT GARDEN'S GATE

 

 

“And now, as pertaining to this perfect atonement, wrought by the shedding of the blood of God – I testify that it took place in Gethsemane and at Golgotha, and as pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that He is the Son of the Living God and was crucified for the sins of the world. He is our Lord, our God, and our King. This I know of myself independent of any other person.

I am one of His witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in His hands and in His feet and shall wet His feet with my tears.

But I shall not know any better then than I know now that He is God’s Almighty Son, that He is our Saviour and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through His atoning blood and in no other way.”

-        Bruce R. McConkie, The Purifying Power of Gethsemane, April 1985 General Conference

 

Oh the sweet, sweet agony

That tossed You onto the sea of

Merciless pain and suffering!

The nature shook but silently wept eternity

Cradling in its arms Your glorious destiny.

 

I dreamed that You were waiting

At sweet Garden’s gate;

Your sacrifice complete,

Your promises kept.

I could scarce contain my joy

As in Your arms I wept.

 

You rose to heights unknown

By someone lowly like me.

You are now so high

And I am so low,

Climbing the ladder of my tears

Into Your arms that I will forever know.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Upon the Cross by Greg Collins)

THE ROAD OF LIFE

 

 

At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there sort of like a president. I recognised His picture when I saw it but I really didn't know Him. But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal. I don't know just when it was that He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since.

When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring but predictable as it was the shortest distance between two points. But it all changed when He took the lead because He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds. It was all I could do to hang on!

Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!" but I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure, and when I'd say, "I'm scared" He'd lean back and touch my hand. I gained love, peace, acceptance and joy; gifts to take on my journey, my Lord's and mine. And we were off again!

After a while He said, "Give the gifts away. They're extra baggage, too much weight". So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck it; but he knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten, scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.

And when I'm sure I just can't do it anymore, He just smiles and says, "Pedal".

- Author Unknown, As cited in HOLY SWEAT by Tim Hansel

You flowed like a river through my heart

Showing me the wonder of You;

You lifted my eyes higher to see the majestic view.

You parted the heavens for me

And helped me see what I alone could never see;

You gave me the hope and the might

To be what I alone could never be.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: AI Generated)

HE CARRIES ME

 

How strong You have been to carry me so far;

Without retreat, through raging storms,

Up mountains and over treacherous seas.

You did not falter

As you carried me up Calvary’s hill;

Golgotha had no claim on Thee.

How strong Your shoulders must be

To carry me into eternity!

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Hold On Tight by Liz Lemon Swindle)

IN HIS EMBRACE

 

“He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom…..” – Isaiah 40:11

“I ran to meet Him….fell at his feet, clasped Him around the knees, and begged Him to take me with Him. I shall never forget the kind and gentle manner in which He stooped, raised me up, and embraced me. It was so vivid, so real. I felt the very warmth of His body, as He held me in His arms” (Manifestation of Christ by Elder Orson F. Whitney, Through Memory’s Halls, 83)

 

I will follow Thee my God and My All

When I can see no more;

I will trust in Thee

When all hope flees;

I will praise Thy name

When I am left without ease;

I will nurture the seeds of my faith

With tears of my affliction;

Yet will I look up to heaven

And believe in Thy throne;

I will trust in the strength of Thine arms

To lift me and carry me home.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Pastoral Solace by Ivan Guaderrama)

CONTRITION

 

I offered You my soul today

And laid it at Your holy feet;

I promised I would do much better

Until at last in joy we meet.

I sought forgiveness with contrition

And saw the tender heart in Thee;

How graciously You accepted

All that You found in me! 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art by Ivan Guaderrama)

HEAVEN'S GATE

 

I wept today to feel Your touch

As You lifted me on wings of faith

And brought my soul to heaven's gate.

My grateful heart burnt within

When I felt, that for me,

You rose above Gethsemane.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Dawn's Gentle Embrace by Ivan Guaderrama)

SUFFERING

 

"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls, the most massive characters are seared with scars." 

- Kahlil Gibran

"......If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

- Matthew 16:24

(Art: Shepherd's Embrace by Yongsung Kim)

RETURN UNTO ME

 

Return unto me you heavy laden

And I will give you rest.

Return unto me you who are oppressed

And I will give you peace.

Return unto me if scarred by sin

And I will make you free.

Return unto me you who are dejected

And I will gather you

Under the shadow of my wings.

Return unto me you who sorrow

And I will give you a brighter tomorrow.

Return unto me you who have forsaken me.....

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Return Unto Me by Annie Henrie Nader)

SACRED PROMISE

 

You took my soul and wiped it clean

Of the ruin of my life in agony.

You promised I'll be more than I could be

If I look toward eternity.

I look to You and feel Your joy

As one by one I surrender all my fears; 

Your sacred promise like a flame

Locked in my heart these many years.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: I Am The Way by Chris Brazelton)