Today's musical selection begins with The Statler Brothers singing Precious Memories. This is a song that shows us how something beautiful can come out of something tragic. This song was written in 1925 by John Braselton Fillmore and came out of the death of his son three years earlier at the age of five. John would later state, "’Precious Memories’ was born in the midnight hours as I bathed by pillow with tears, likewise all my songs came through life’s severest tests.” Even though this song was and is one of the most popular hymns, Fillmore lived his life as a poor janitor struggling to get by. He would only get $36 for writing this song, not even much for the 1920's. Next comes Bradley Kincaid singing Life's Railroad to Heaven. Next comes The Louvin Brothers with their 1953 recording of Preach the Gospel, a self-penned song that appeared on their 1958 album, The Family That Prays. While this is a fast and fun song, it is also a bit of a challenging one. Preaching the gospel is something that is difficult and scary to many Christians, yet it is also something God commanded us to do. This song tells us to preach despite our fears and many are still not fully willing to do that. Yet if God commands us to do something it is what we should do. This is followed by The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of Hear Dem Bells. During this period, The Sons of the Pioneers had my favorite line up. This was Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer, Leonard Slye (better known as Roy Rogers), Lloyd Perryman, Karl Farr and Hugh Farr. I could listen to these many all day. After this is Southern Raised with their 2020 version of the gospel classic Wayfaring Stranger. Next is Johnny Cash with his self-penned My Children Walk in Truth. This song comes from a place that John worked very hard to get to. John had done most every sin their is and thought he could find pleasure in them. Yet no matter how hard he tried there was still no pleasure to be found. He had prayed many selfish prayers that God in his wisdom did not answer. Yet over time he learned that true joy is only to be found in Jesus Christ himself and sharing the gospel with others, and that it is hard to share the word of God when you aren't living it yourself. Next is some old school Hank Williams Jr. from back when he was still doing music in a more countrypolitan style instead of his mixture of pure honky tonk and southern rock he would later be known for. Still his voice is fantastic here and he delivers a great version of this song. The song is Jesus Don't Give Up on Me from his excellent 1969 album, Sunday Morning. Next comes the Queen of Rockabilly Wanda Jackson singing Jesus Put a Yodel in My Soul, proving that she could yodel just as well as she could rock out. Today's musical selection continues with Charlie Rich singing Just a Closer Walk With Thee off his 1976 gospel album, Silver Linings. Today's musical selection ends with The Charlie Daniels Band with a lovely version of What a Friend We Have in Jesus.
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Romans 16:20
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6-7
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8
Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted. Isaiah 49:15
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:34
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:6-7
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Proverbs 30:5
This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. Revelations 14:12
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. 2 John 1:6
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 1 Peter 1:14
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8
And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
“You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”
Exodus 20:1-17
For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Romans 10:13
That you for joining me come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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