He Keeps Me Singing
“O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.” Psalms 139:1-4
The Spirit of God has forever drawn me. This Psalm, my favorite, best expresses my innermost soul and the relationship I have with our Father… He goes before me, He holds my hand, He walks beside me, sometimes He carries me, and His strength steadies my course. This song is my testimony, and my love song to our Father. HE KEEPS ME SINGING!
His Eye Is On The Sparrow
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31
I thank our Father in Heaven for my gift of song. I thank Him for my Christian parents who have always had a profound influence on me. During a very traumatic time in my life, my Mom and Dad stood as a beacon of strength. One Sunday after church with my voice breaking I explained to my Dad, “I’ll never be able to sing again.” A few minutes passed. Then he told me he recently read an article about Rose Kennedy and her many losses. The commentator asked her how she continued on with so much courage. She replied, “If a little sparrow can sing after a storm, having lost everything, surely I can follow his example.” New hope arose within me. The Lord began to heal my broken heart and faith grew. HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW AND I KNOW HE WATCHES ME! Dedicated to: Parents- lra and Vera Nell Craft and Family.
Jesus Loves Me Medley
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
This is the first verse and song that I learned as a child. Years later I shared this verse and song with my children and grandchildren. The greatest influence of my life was learning how much our Father loves us, enough to give His one and only Son to die on a cruel cross for you and me. A great theologian once said, “The gospel can be summed up in only the words, ‘JESUS LOVES ME’.” Dedicated to: Grandchildren – Ross, Alexa, Teighlor, Jack, Walker, Henli, and Jameson. Grandchildren by marriage- Jordan, Harli, Joei and future Grandchildren!
Praise The Lord
“Finally be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11
Praise and faith please our Father. Yet strength lies in the power of faith to put to flight Satan’s devils. Our Lord once used this song through me to show His power. Many years ago I was to sing at our local church. On the morning of the service, the Lord led me to this song rather than the one I planned. On the same morning, a couple was in church, with whom the Lord had been working for considerable time, as they struggled to find their way together. He used “Praise the Lord” in the man’s life the week before to give him new direction. The evening before church, the man shared the song and its meaning with his wife and they made a renewed commitment to the Lord and to each other. During the morning service, as I introduced the song I said, “As we put on the whole armor of God we can stand against the evil in our world, it doesn’t matter what you’re up against, victory is promised the children of God. The couple looked at each other, and knew the Lord was confirming their commitment. Thank you Father for your work in our lives. PRAISE THE LORD!
I Want To Be There
“Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered info the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” I Corinthians 2:9-10
When I was seven, my grandmother, whom I loved deeply, left us to be with the Lord. For days preceding her death, I sat by her bed, cuddled my teddy bear and held her hand. When she died, I could not cry because I felt if I started crying I would never stop. Months later 1had a dream. Grandmother returned and said, “Linda, I don’t want you to continue crying over my leaving you.” I protested that I cried a tear. She said, “Yes, you’ve been crying inside. Please know that I am happier than I’ve ever been. I’m with the Lord, your grandfather, my mother and father. You wouldn’t bring me back in that old decayed body, would you?” Though I said no, I told her I would miss her. She said, “I’ll be there on all the happy days, when you graduate from school, when you get married, when you have your babies, I’ll be there!” She was lovely and young and wore a beautiful light blue chiffon dress. I watched as she returned to heaven. When I awoke I felt the cloud of depression lift and a good feeling about heaven took its place when I thought of the great reunion one day. I WANT TO BE THERE WHEN WE CROWN HIM KING OF KINGS! Dedicated to: My family members who have preceded me to heaven.
Let Us Praise the Almighty for What He Has Done
“Sing to Him, Sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts.” Psalms 105:2
I love to sing to Him, sing praises to Him and tell of His wonderful acts through the Word, my personal faith, and my gift of song. I committed our Lord’s first sermon to memory many years ago. Matthew 5, 6 and 7 explains the new life in Christ and how to live in unity with the people we encounter. For these wonderful lessons and promises concerning the Kingdom of God present and future… LET US PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE!
The Lord Is My Light
“The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord Is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear, though war breakout against me, even then will I be confident.” Psalms 27:1-3
On September 11, 2001, I watched the news of the terrorist attacks on America unfold. I kept going to my knees in prayer for the families, our President, leaders, and supporters. “The Lord is My Light” scripture and song flooded my mind and heart, as I claimed the Lord’s Power over this catastrophic event. During ensuing months, I sang this to the Lord as a prayer for the men, women, and children who suffered. When asked to sing in a service at the Justin Baptist Church in Texas where we were new members, I chose this song because of the impact it had on me during this turbulent time. To me it is the answer to the evil around us- THE LORD IS MY LIGHT! Dedicated to: Individuals whose lives were taken and families altered due to September11, 2001.
How Great Thou Art
“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise, His greatness no one can fathom.” Psalms 145:3
Oh Father, I experience the warmth of the sun rising in the east, see the brilliance of a sunset, hear, with wonder, the beauty of birds in full song. I enjoy the blessings of my extended Christian family and supportive church community, and I know your grace. For years I was told that I would not be capable of having children of my own but you spoke to my heart in a “still small voice” that “all things are possible.” Then, when life’s sorrows overwhelmed me, you blessed me with the miracle of birth and two beautiful children. You gave me the gift of a wonderful marriage that reflects your love and blessed me again with a child who needed me to love her like the mother she lost. Yet Father, your greatest gift is your love for us all, that led you to send your only son as ransom for mankind. Your grace and comfort pours over my soul. HOW GREAT THOU ART!
Dedicated to Family- William Dale and Kari, Laura, Annalisa, Christianson and Ashlie, Whitney and Justin.
The Lord’s Prayer
“Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9b-10
Our Lord taught us this prayer during His first “Sermon on the Mount.” It has since graced every century in sermons, weddings, funerals, and other times of worship. As but one mortal, I testify to the ecstasy of the Lord’s Prayer as I yield my life to praise Him and experience the thrill of His Spirit flowing in me through- THE LORD’S PRAYER!
It is Well With My Soul
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, 0 God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Psalm 42:1-3
Dale, my husband of thirteen years, lost his first wife Evelyn Lord Behan, to cancer. She was his childhood sweetheart, the love of his life and the mother of his children. When she died, sorrow rolled over and crushed his heart and soul. He retreated from family and friends and walled to God over his loss. But then, as he shares today, “God comforted my heart, gave me hope and strengthened my faith through this painful experience.” When we tread through troubled waters, yet respond to God’s grace, we are strengthened and can say… IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL!
Dedicated to: My husband, Dale and our family
Amazing Grace
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:17-18
As a young child I walked the Isle of my home church, Pinehill Baptist, to be baptized due to the Influence of a friend whose mother was my Sunday school teacher. It was not until sometime later, however, that I said my first personal prayer to our Father. My little dog “popcorn” was diagnosed with an untreatable and fatal lung disease; the veterinarian predicted death by morning. That night, I prayed, “Dear Father, the “God Is Dead” movement is here, but I don’t believe you’re dead. I believe you’re alive and well. Father, if you walk and talk in our world today would you please show me by healing Popcorn.” The next morning, without medical treatment, Popcorn began to eat for the first time In weeks. As each day found Popcorn stronger, so too did each new day birth my growing and insatiable desire to know my heavenly Father in His fullness. I read God’s Word for hours at a time and my reading became a powerful instrument the Lord used to draw me Into a relationship with Him. These verses stood out to me:
For God so loved the World. John 3:16
For all have sinned and come short. Romans 3:23
For the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23
For I stand at the door and knock. Revelation 3:20
For if thou confess the Lord…and believe…you will be saved. Romans 10:9
With great conviction, I knelt beside my bed and asked the Lord Jesus into my life. As I did, it felt as though my sins were on plates and our Father begin throwing them as far as the “east is from the west” to remember them no more. Where sin abounded, God’s “AMAZING GRACE” did much more abound!
”We Shall Behold Him”
“For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught together with them in the clouds, to IM8I the Lord in the air: And so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
I Thessalonians 4:16-18
Find comfort with these words. As Isaiah 7 prophesied the birth of Jesus to a virgin, His death, resurrection and return are also prophesied. If you have not asked Him into your life as Savior please do so soon, even in the quietness of your home, and then make it a public witness. If you’ve made Him Savior, have you made Him Lord of your life? With Christ as Lord of your life, you will produce fruit…other Christians. It is my prayer that each of us will, upon our Lord’s return, herald Him as Savior and Lord. Because one day soon… WE SHALL BEHOLD HIM!