One Day At A Time

Anna Belle Barlow ~ My Maternal Grandmother (Mamaw)

I always remember her singing in a high quavery soprano. She seemed to always be singing or humming a hymn while she worked or walked or quilted. The only time she was quiet was when she was reading a book or dozed off while reading.

The song I remember the most vividly was her "morning song". Her brother owned a little country store/ gas station down the road around the corner from Papaw and Mamaw's farm. And IF you were lucky enough to wake up REALLY early, before anyone else, she would let you walk with her to her brother's store to get whatever she needed for the day. (Butter, loaf of bread,...) and as you walked along with the sun rising and dew glistening on the fields all around and the blacktop still dark black and cool from the night, she would start humming a few bars and then she would sing a word or two kind of quiet till we got past the house so she wouldn't wake anyone up and then she would start singing with all of her heart to God and His nature!

My heart sang along with her! A few times I joined in a bit. But mostly I loved to just hear her beautiful voice lifted in praise to her Savior in the early morning as we walked along hand in hand......

ONE DAY AT A TIME, SWEET JESUS I'm only human, I'm just a woman. Help me believe in what I could be And all that I am. Show me the stairway, I have to climb. Lord for my sake, teach me to take One day at a time. Chorus: One day at a time sweet Jesus That's all I'm asking from you. Just give me the strength To do everyday what I have to do. Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus And tomorrow may never be mine. Lord help me today, show me the way One day at a time. Do you remember, when you walked among men? Well Jesus you know if you're looking below It's worse now, than then. Cheating and stealing, violence and crime So for my sake, teach me to take One day at a time. (Chorus)

(Marijohn Wilkins / Kris Kristofferson)

In the Garden

1. I come to the garden alone,
   While the dew is still on the roses,
   And the voice I hear falling on my ear
   The Son of God discloses.
   
   • Refrain:
     And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
     And He tells me I am His own;
     And the joy we share as we tarry there,
     None other has ever known.
2. He speaks, and the sound of His voice
   Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
   And the melody that He gave to me
   Within my heart is ringing.
3. I’d stay in the garden with Him,
   Though the night around me be falling,
   But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
   His voice to me is calling.
4. Charles A. Miles, 1913

This is James' favorite song. I was surprised when I found that out, for some reason. He's a big, burly Alaskan. Raised on a fishing boat. Commercial fishing since he was 9 yrs old. the middle of 5 boys and one younger sister, his Mother had died when he was 16 and the rest of his time at home was with a heartbroken tough old Cajun father who was gone weeks at a time working.

   Not really a garden kind of guy you would think. But he has a tender heart of gold and he knows that God is where he finds his quiet and strength and isn't afraid to admit that to the world.

"Touch of the Master's Hand"

'Twas battered and scarred and the old 

auctioneer

He though it scarcely 

worthwhile
To waste much time with 

the old violin
But he held it up with a 

smile

What am I bidden, good 

folk, he cried
Who'll start the bidding 

for me
A dollar, a dollar, come, who'll make it two
Two dollars, now who'll make it three

Three dollars once and three dollars 

twice
And going for three -- but no
From the back of the room 

a grey haired man

Stepped forward and picked up the bow

And brushing the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the loose strings
He played a melody pure and so sweet
Sweet as the angels sing

When the music ceased the old auctioneer
In a voice that was quiet and low
Asked, What am I bidden for the 

old violin
And he held it up with the bow

A thousand dollars -- come, who'll make 

it two
Two thousand, and who'll make it three
Three thousand once and three thousand 

twice
And going and gone, cried he

And the people shouted, and 

some of them cried
We do not quite understand
What changed its worth -- 

swift came the reply
The touch of the master's hand

And many a man with life 

out of tune
And battered and scarred 

with sin
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
Much like the old violin

A mess of pottage, a glass of wine
A game and he travels on
He's going once and he's going twice
He's going and almost gone

But the master comes and the 

foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and 

the change that is wrought
By the touch of the master's hand

JN
Oct96

Trusting in God!

Had a horrible trip to Anchorage today. Almost wrecked in the taxi and both flights were rough especially the one home!! I was so scared on the one home all I could do was close my eyes and sing the verses over and over,
"Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God!"
I was so scared but the scripture song got me thru the trip, I'm so thankful that God gives us the song we need, when we need it!!!
Audrey

Rockin' Years

I'll do everything I can to make you proud to be my man 
And I'll fulfill all you fantasies 
I guess we're promising a lot, but for now it's all we've got 
And I'll stand by you thru our rockin' years 

Rockin' chairs, rockin' babies, rock-a-bye, rock of ages 
Side by side we'll be together always 
And if you'll hold me tight when you love me 
That's all I'll ask of you 
And I'll stand by you thru our rockin' years 

I'll be your friend, I'll be your lover 
Until the end, there'll be no other 
'Cause my heart has only room for one 
Yes, I'll always love you, and I'll always be here for you 
And I'll stand by you thru our rockin' years 

Rockin' chairs, rockin' babies, rock-a-bye, rock of ages 
Side by side we'll be together always 
And if you'll hold me tight when you love me 
That's all I'll ask of you 
And I'll stand by you thru our rockin' years 

Rockin' chairs, rockin' babies, rock-a-bye, rock of ages 
Side by side, we'll be together always 
And, yes, I'll always love you and I'll always be here for you 
And I'll stand by you thru our rockin' years, and I'll be here 
And I'll stand by you thru our rockin' years 
Thru our rockin' years

(Dolly Parton and Ricky Van Shelton)

One of James and my favorite songs. He put this on the mix tape he made for me for our honeymoon.

"My Best Friend"

You placed gold on my finger
You brought love like I've never known
You gave life to our children
And to me a reason to go on.

You're my bread when I'm hungry
You're my shelter from troubled winds
You're my anchor in life's ocean
But most of all you're my best friend.

When I need hope and inspiration
You're always strong when I'm tired and weak
I could search This whole world over
You'll still be everything that I need.

You're my bread when I'm hungry
You're my shelter from troubled winds
You're my anchor in life's ocean
But most of all you're my best friend.

You're my bread when I'm hungry
You're my shelter from troubled winds
You're my anchor in life's ocean
But most of all you're my best friend...

This song belongs to James and I. It was originally sung by Don Williams years ago and has been redone a few times over the years but our favorite singer is James' Dad!
He sang it to us at our wedding and now sings it for us before we leave their house every time we visit. It truly is "our song"!

"Daddy's Hands"

I remember Daddy's hands
Folded silently in prayer
And reaching out to hold me
When I had a nightmare
You could read quite a story
In the callouses and lines
Years of work and worry
Had left their mark behind

I remember Daddy's hands
How they held my Mama tight
And patted my back
For something done right
There are things I've forgotten
That I loved about the man
But I'll always remember
The love in Daddy's hands

Daddy's hands
Were soft and kind when I was cryin'
Daddy's hands
Were hard as steel when I'd done wrong
Daddy's hands
Weren't always gentle but I'd come to understandThere was always love in Daddy's hands

I remember Daddy's hands
Working til they bled
Sacrificed unselfishly
Just to keep us all fed
If I could do things over
I'd live my life again
And never take for grantedThe love in Daddy's hands

Daddy's hands
Were soft and kind when I was cryin'
Daddy's hands
Were hard as steel when I'd done wrongDaddy's hands
Weren't always gentle but I'd come to understand
There was always love in Daddy's hands

Daddy's hands
Were soft and kind when I was cryin'
Daddy's hands
Were hard as steel when I'd done wrong
Daddy's hands
Weren't always gentle but I'd come to understand
There was always love ............ in Daddy's hands

Holly Dunn

I first heard this song years ago and immediately thought of my own Dad.

I have always been fascinated by my Dad's hands. I have loved watching his hands as he worked, drove, talked, preached, cooked...anything he did, I loved to watch how strong they are and I would point out one scar after another and ask him how he got them. He usually didn't remember details, it was always a welding burn or a scar from working on a car engine or construction work or from the print shop... but one thing I knew he worked hard and earned every one of those scars and I was proud of his hands!

I loved to slip up beside him after church and slide my hand in his. It was always so large and strong and calloused and made me feel so safe, no matter how old or how tall I got!

His hands were strong to discipline me when I needed it but when he hugged me I knew he loved me and was doing what I needed to make me into the Christian Lady I needed to become.

I LOVE my "Daddy's Hands"!!