In Honor of Dolly Parton

I was never actually a Dolly Parton fan,
But she showed up in various entertainment I watched.
I saw some of her interviews,
And it was very clear that she knew God.
 
There is so much information about her,

And so many interviews recorded.
The world knew her,
But Jesus knew her better.

In this world, Dolly lived like it was only God and her.

Every person she loved.

People from various religions/ views/ political leanings

Have shared memories and stories of her love.

I actually only recently learned of her love for animals,

And I deeply respect her talent.

However I am most amazed how she truly was like no other -

Because she lived in the presence of Jesus.

I'll Always Remember

 Lyrics

I always knew this day would come
We'd be standing one by one
With our future in our hands
So many dreams, so many plans

I always knew after all these years
There'd be laughter, there'd be tears
But never thought I'd walk away
With so much joy, but so much pain
And it's so hard to say "goodbye"

But yesterday's gone
We gotta keep moving on
I'm so thankful for the moments
So glad I got to know you

The times that we had
I'll keep like a photograph
And hold you in my heart forever
I'll always remember you

Another chapter in the book
Can't go back, but you can look
And there we are on every page
Memories I'll always save

Up ahead on the open doors
Who knows what we're heading towards?
I wish you love, I wish you luck
For you, the world just opens up
But it's so hard to say "goodbye"

Yesterday's gone
We gotta keep moving on
I'm so thankful for the moments
So glad I got to know you

The times that we had
I'll keep like a photograph
And hold you in my heart forever
I'll always remember you

Everyday that we had
All the good, all the bad
I'll keep 'em here inside

All the times that we shared
Every place, everywhere
You touched my life

Yeah, one day, we'll look back
We'll smile and we'll laugh
But right now we just cry
'Cause it's so hard to say "goodbye"

Yesterday's gone
We gotta keep moving on
I'm so thankful for the moments
So glad I got to know you

The times that we had
I'll keep like a photograph
And hold you in my heart forever
I'll always remember you

I'll always remember you
Yeah, hey, yeah, yeah
I'll always remember you

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Mitch Allan / Jessi Leigh Alexander

I'll Always Remember You lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company, Happy Tears Music, Lylas Music

In The Middle

In the middle of addiction,

I used to say, "Something has to change." 

That's how something little, one at a time, changed.

I've Been Deceived

No one likes to admit they have ever been deceived,
But I have been.

God only knows all the ways I have been deceived,

But thankfully He does not leave us alone here on this earth 

And reveals to us things in His time.

At least, this has been the case for me.

I think this is the case for others as well,

But alas, I can only tell my own story.

My first deception was thinking that I am the most important one.

Bred from childhood, but not caused by caregivers which were my parents.

This is innate,

But is the fall of mankind that distorted our value to being the most important person in the room. 

People are valuable.

This is truth - But not the full truth.

Lifeline

 Lyrics

Here I am
Drowning in a sea of my own choices
Holdin' to a hope by a thread
Yeah
I'm lookin' round
I'm callin' out, fear pulls me down
When the waters rush over my head

You are my lifeline
You are my rescue
Strength in my weakness
Light in my darkness
You are my safety
Lifter of my head
The air that I need when
I can't seem to breath in

You are my lifeline
You are my lifeline

How many times
How many turns will it take till I learn
You reach for me in my need, yeah
And when I cry I will faithfully find you
When life comes crashin' on me

'Cause You are my lifeline
You are my rescue
Strength in my weakness
Light in my darkness
You are my safety
Lifter of my head
The air that I need when
I can't seem to breath in

You are my lifeline
You are my lifeline

Your there in my brokenness
In my distress
My rock when I'm strong or when I'm powerless
You hold me in rushing tides when waters rise
And I always find

You are my lifeline
You are my rescue
Strength in my weakness
Light in my darkness
You are my safety
Lifter of my head
The air that I need when
I can't seem to breath in

You are my lifeline
You are my rescue
Strength in my weakness
Light in my darkness
You are my safety
Lifter of my head
The air that I need when
I can't seem to breath in

You are my lifeline
You are my lifeline
You are my lifeline
You are my lifeline

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Jason Barton / Rob Ghosh / Tony Wood

Lifeline lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing

 

What Does It Really Mean?

Matthew 6: 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 

This is the ESV version.

I used to think this verse meant everything, all at once.

Now I understand it to be every little thing, piece by piece. 

It's easy to think you are saved and that's it.

And many churches in the US teach that.

However, what if it is saving pieces of our soul one by one?

Every part we give to God, He uses.

It is easy to tear apart Bible verses one by one,

And without understanding of both the text and of God

Anyone would think it's ridiculous.

But it brings hope to one who knows both.

The One He Speaks Through

Car stalled, side of the road
Everybody looking out the windows
For some reason you feel the need to help
Or maybe, somewhere you're standing in line
An old friend comes to your mind
And you get the urge to call and see if all is well

Do you ignore it or go for it?
Is this human or divine?
All these promptings tell us something
They're all proof that He's alive

He might use your words to heal a heart that has been bruised
He might use your hands to rescue
He might use your whisper, maybe your smile
To tell somebody that they're worthwhile
You might be the one He speaks through
The one He speaks through

This God, great as He is
Still uses all of us to accomplish
His perfect plan to reach the world

So don't ignore it, just go for it
We are led by the divine
To be His heart, His love
And show this broken world that He's alive

He might use your words to heal a heart that has been bruised
He might use your hands to rescue
He might use your whisper, maybe your smile
To tell somebody that they're worthwhile
You might be the one He speaks through
The one He speaks through
The one He speaks through, yeah

I remember I was in a pit
And you prayed me out of it
I bet you didn't even know that you
Were the one that He spoke through
So listen, keep on listening, oh

He might use your words to heal a heart that has been bruised
He might use your hands to rescue
He might use your whisper, maybe your smile
To tell somebody that they're worthwhile
You might be the one He speaks through
The one He speaks through

You are, You are
The one He speaks through
You are, You are
The one He speaks through
You are, You are
The one He speaks through
You are, You are
The one He speaks through

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Ben Glover / Colby Wedgeworth / Mandisa Hundley

The One He Speaks Through lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Essential Music Publishing