Music makes the world go ‘round. Where would we be without it. And some of the most amazing places have inspired some of the best songs. Like ‚Amarillo By Morning‚‚ ‚Tupelo Hone‚y‚ and ‚New York‚ New York‚. But unfortunately‚ songs have a way of not caring where you are at when inspiration strikes. As a matter of fact‚ it can happen at the most inopportune times.  I thought it would be fun to explore the interesting places and ways a song was initially written. There are some doozies here that’s for sure.but in the end‚ the song was written and all was well with the world once again‚ sigh.. Friends in Low Places is one of the most iconic and successful songs in country music history. Earl Bud Lee‚ and Dewayne Blackwell were playing hooky from church‚ lol‚ and sipping champagne at a local eatery having brunch when Earl wrote down the iconic lines ‚Blame It All On My Roots‚ I Showed Up In Boots‚ and Ruined Your Black Tie Affair‚ on the back of a napkin. Dewayne wrote the next line‚ and they kept trading off lines. The iconic title‚ and last line did not come until Dewayne told Earl he had left his wallet home when it was time to pay the champagne brunch tab.. Earl responded‚ don’t worry I have friends in low places‚ and the rest is country music history.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e_HtjZS8SQThe bathroom seems to be a pretty popular way of writing a song. I guess the solitude of your thoughts in a somewhat vulnerable position can open the gates of inspiration. The classic Kingsman ‚Louie Louie‚ and Kenny Rogers ‚Lady. Not to mention that Ed Sheeran‚ Post Malone‚ and Taylor Swift have also admitted to writing in the bathroom. I just don’t know which songs exactly.. Possibly the most recognizable living country music legend is Dolly Parton. The trajectory of her career‚ and her staying power are rivaled only by her humanitarian efforts‚ and love for people. One of Dolly’s most memorable songs was written on a tour bus when she was still performing with her then duet partner Porter Wagoner. The song was about growing up poor‚ but her momma made her a coat of many colors to wear to school. Dolly later ‚shared that the coat was the only top she had‚ and the bullies in school tore the buttons off of it by tugging at it‚ and locked her in a closet. She said the memory was horrific‚ and made the song painful to sing early on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1zJzr-kWsIIncredibly enough‚Coat Of Many Colors was written on the back of one of Porter’s sales receipts for a Nudie suit he bought. He was so proud of Dolly’s composition that he recorded it first‚ and framed the receipt. You can see it at  Dollywood.  Jail is another odd place that has inspired artists to write about their woes. The late great Lefty Frizzell‚ one of the progenitors of Honky Tonk music along with Hank Williams is a great example. He was the only artist that rivaled Hank’s popularity in 1951. At barely 19 years of age‚ Lefty was cooling his heels in a Roswell‚ New Mexico jail cell‚ when he wrote one of his biggest hits “I Love You a Thousand Ways..”   https://youtu.be/MJoWuVCYF0s?si=UsFu6lw7q37mH93cPossibly‚ one of the most stirring songs written from a jail cell came from The Hag. The song was written when he was in San Quentin at the same time that Caryl Chessman was. Merle observed all the preps taking place for Caryl’s execution. The chilling experience inspired one of my all-time faves from the Mighty Merle ‚Sing Me Back Home.‚ The details concerning the background and success of the song can be found in one of my previous blog posts. Check back next week for a new installment on ‚Back Stories: The Story Behind The Song. https://youtu.be/ngBM-mAuMGA?si=P9fyM6Wf2UntDomPAnd by the way‚ the oldest full musical composition known is the Seiklos Epitaph. It was written on a tombstone‚ and still standing. The translated song says: While you live‚ shine have no grief at all life exists only for a short while and Time demands his due..Don't forget to follow the blogger on ‚Twitter: Listen to more good country music ‚here  Check out our interviews on ‚Pandora

A Prayer of Praise for Who God IsBy Heidi Vegh "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD". – Psalm 160:6 As readers of the Bible‚ we often get caught in the mindset of reading the Bible to find ourselves. It is true that the Bible is full of the ways that God loves us‚ the beautiful ways that God created us‚ and how He longs to be invited into our lives. These are beautiful truths; however‚ if we are only trying to find ourselves in the Word and striving only to apply it to our lives‚ we are missing the biggest part of Scripture – Who God is. When we read the Bible instead to find God‚ our eyes open to a whole new way of finding out who He is‚ why He did what He did‚ and why he does what He does. When we understand who God is and why He loves and cares for us so much‚ it gives it much more depth and penetrates our hearts at a deeper level. Not just "God help ME‚" but "God‚ be who you ARE; that will help me." We often go looking in the Bible for ways that God can help us; that is what it is there for‚ YES. But there is so much more to it when we really seek it out. I often find myself flipping through the Psalms. This is my favorite book in the Bible as it is filled with prayers from people‚ real hurting and confused people seeking guidance and truth from God. We find prayers of praise‚ lament‚ and oftentimes confusion and anger about what is going on in the writer’s life. We find that over one-third of the prayers in Psalms are of lament or mourning. The writer is hurting and looking to God for comfort. But on the flip side‚ we find that in the entirety of the Bible‚ we see the phrase Praise God an astounding 6‚892 times! God is worthy of our praise! The list of things that we suffer from seems endless. But let us remember that God IS endless. His capacity to care for us and love us is something we cannot comprehend. Paul says in Ephesians 3:18‚ "And may you have the power to understand‚ as all God's people should‚ how wide‚ how long‚ how high‚ and how deep his love is.” When we list out our grievances to the Lord‚ we can rest assured that God's character will have the perfect antidote for our suffering. Let's Pray: Dear Lord‚We live in a fallen world full of suffering. We hear of tragedies taking place all over the world. We know there are people struggling to survive in indescribable hardship. I don't understand why you allow for so much destruction‚ but I do trust that you are bigger than anything anyone will ever face in this world. Thank you‚ Jesus‚ that we have the hope of perfection in heaven and that this world is not all there is.  Thank you‚ Lord‚ that for everything we suffer through in this life that you have a perfect attribute to cure us with simply being who you are.  When I am weak‚ you are STRONG (2 Cor 12:10) When my soul is hungry‚ you feed me. (Matthew 4:4) When I am thirsty‚ you give me something to drink. (1 Cor 10:3-4) When I turn from you‚ you remain FAITHFUL (2 Tim 2:13) When I sin‚ you are GOOD (Psalm 34:8) When I am worthy of punishment‚ you are MERCIFUL (Titus 3:5)  When I am at the end of myself‚ you are OMNIPOTENT and INFINITE (Matthew 19:26) (Romans 11:33) When I am undeserving‚ you are GRACIOUS (Psalm 145:8) When I am hurting‚ you are my COMFORTER (Matthew 5:4) When I am confused‚ you are my SOURCE OF TRUTH (John 3:33) I praise you‚ Lord‚ for all your perfect attributes. You call me your child and beckon me to behold your glory. Help me to focus on who you ARE when I struggle. Help me to see you move in my circumstances even when I don't understand but help me to trust you because you are SOVEREIGN (Col 1:17) over all things.  Thank you‚ Lord‚ for your love for me‚ even when I fall short. There is nothing I can do to change that. Help me to live in these truths and remember to call on your name‚ praising who you are when I forget or when the world distracts me with lies. I know that you are with me; you promise in your Word.  "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." – Deuteronomy 31:8 Thank you‚ Jesus‚ Amen Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Kieferpix Heidi Vegh is a writer‚ speaker‚ and ministry leader living in Gig Harbor‚ WA. She is a remarried mother of four‚ navigating the blended family life after the loss of her first husband to cancer in 2013. She longs to use her writing as a way to encourage others who have experienced loss and guide them on the road to healing. She contributes to her blog found at www.mrsheidivegh.com ‚ sharing stories and devotionals of faith stemming from her loss and healing‚ mothering‚ and her blended and complex family. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a degree in Creative Writing and English and is working on her first book. Heidi is the Women's Ministry Director at Gig Harbor Foursquare and has a deep heart for sharing Jesus with women and encouraging them in their faith walk. When she is not writing she loves to travel‚ read‚ craft‚ and experiment in the kitchen. Visit her Facebook and Instagram (@mrsheidivegh) to learn more. Teach Us to Pray is a FREE prayer podcast hosted by iBelieve writer Christina Patterson. Each week‚ she gives you practical‚ real-life tips on how to grow your faith and relationship with God through the power of prayer. To listen to her episode on What to Pray in the Morning for a Worry-Free Day‚ click below! Now that you’ve prayed‚ are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer of Praise for Who God Is – Your Daily Prayer – January 12 appeared first on GodUpdates.

January 12‚ 2024 Reframing Our LonelinessMEREDITH HOUSTON CARR Lee en español "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens‚ you are there; if I make my bed in the depths‚ you are there." Psalm 139:7-8 (NIV) "What do you have coming up this week?" I tried to disguise the crack in my voice as I answered my mom’s question as casually as possible‚ not wanting her to hear the ache of isolation I felt. "Oh‚ this and that. You know‚ busy mom life." A cross-country move had left me miles away from family and friends. Sure‚ life was busy in this new place - but busy is a poor substitute for relationships and the security of being known. Those days‚ loneliness felt like my only friend‚ a BFF so devoted she would never leave my side. Perhaps you can relate. The friendships you desire haven't materialized (or perhaps they've fallen by the wayside). The partner you'd hoped to spend your life with hasn't shown up yet (or maybe decided to walk away). Your home that used to buzz with children's laughter and light is all quiet now (or you've dreamed of this home but haven't been able to build it). Despite all the blessings in your life‚ there's no denying it - your heart feels the sorrowful squeeze of seclusion. When loneliness strikes‚ the Bible provides comfort. In my season of solitude‚ I especially found encouragement in today's key verses from Psalms‚ beautifully penned by David: "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens‚ you are there; if I make my bed in the depths‚ you are there" (Psalm 139:7-8). In poetic form‚ David reminds us of the one crucial truth we can cling to for dear life when loneliness looms: We are never truly alone‚ no matter how void our hearts or homes feel. God’s watchful‚ unwavering presence wraps around us‚ even when others have walked away. His Spirit goes with us to the world's farthest reaches or into the workplaces where we feel unseen. He holds us steady when grief gnaws at our souls and when the enemy whispers‚ You will never belong. Like David‚ we can learn to reframe how we see lonely seasons - not as a vacuum to fill but as an invitation into a deep and abiding fellowship with our heavenly Father. Through this lens‚ we can even learn to embrace lonely seasons as a unique opportunity to let Jesus fill our empty spaces. In the process‚ we'll find that His presence provides an abundance no earthly relationship and no amount of numbing can match! The next time loneliness squeezes your heart‚ let it be a reminder to lean into God's unseen‚ unending presence. Through prayer‚ tenderly turn over all your pain and tears to Him. Then invite Jesus into your empty places‚ dear one - and prepare to enjoy the comfort of His closeness like never before. Dear Jesus‚ thank You for the gift of Your constant presence. When loneliness overwhelms us‚ remind us that You're calling us into deeper‚ sweeter fellowship with You. Draw us close to Your heart! In Jesus' Name‚ Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS Isn't it true that sometimes when we're struggling the most‚ it also feels most challenging to pray? Truthfully‚ there are times when we simply don't have the words. That's why we put together For the Girl Who Needs Hope: 50 Biblical Prayers for the Hard Moments - pre-written prayers that will speak to the exact situations you are facing. They'll also equip you to walk through hard seasons with a friend who's hurting: You can text her one of these prayers today. Download here! ENGAGE Join Meredith on Instagram for more encouragement and a few laughs! FOR DEEPER STUDY Romans 8:38-39‚ "For I am convinced that neither death nor life‚ neither angels nor demons‚ neither the present nor the future‚ nor any powers‚ neither height nor depth‚ nor anything else in all creation‚ will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (NIV). How does God's steadfast‚ loving presence in your life change how you view loneliness? What is one thing He might be trying to teach you in your season of solitude? We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments. © 2024 by Meredith Houston Carr. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews‚ NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post Reframing Our Loneliness – Encouragement for Today – January 12‚ 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

1924 - History of Science Society organized at Boston 1943 - Frankfurters replaced by Victory Sausages (mix of meat and soy meal) 1945 - German forces in Belgium retreat in Battle of Bulge 1950 - Swedish tanker rams British submarine Truculent in Thames‚ 64 die 1957 - Southern Christian Leadership Council (SCLC) founded with Martin Luther King Jr. as leader at Ebenezer Church in Atlanta 1971 - Congressional Black Caucus organizes 1974 - "Joker" by Steve Miller Band peaks at #1 1998 - Nineteen European nations agree to forbid human cloning. 2007 - Comet McNaught reaches perihelion becoming the brightest comet in more than 40 years. 2010 - Colombia officially leaves the recession after achieving 2% economic growth in the last quarter of 2009 More Historical Events »

Historical Events 1809 - British take Cayenne (French Guiana) from French (until 1814) 1918 - Montreal Canadien's center Joe Malone scores 5 goals in a 9-4 win over Ottawa to become the first 20 goal scorer in NHL history; goes on to score 44 regular season goals 1986 - 24th space shuttle (61-C) mission-Columbia 7-launched 1987 - Britain's Prince Edward resigns from his Royal Marines training 2004 - The world's largest ocean liner‚ RMS Queen Mary 2‚ makes its maiden voyage. 2021 - India's Supreme Court puts on hold three controversial new farm laws that ignited weeks of protests by farmers in Delhi More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1819 - Zealous Bates Tower‚ American Brevet Major General (Union Army)‚ born in Cohasset‚ Massachusetts (d. 1900) 1937 - Marie Dubois‚ French actress (Wise Guys‚ Jules and Jim)‚ born in Paris‚ France (d. 2014) 1941 - "Long" John Baldry‚ English blues vocalist ("Don't Try to Lay No Boogie Woogie on the King of Rock and Roll")‚ born in East Haddon‚ United Kingdom (d. 2005) 1944 - Viktoria Postnikova‚ Russian pianist‚ born in Moscow‚ Russia 1950 - Ricky Ray Rector‚ American murderer (d. 1992) 1975 - Jocelyn Thibault‚ Canadian NHL goalie (Montreal Canadiens)‚ born in Montreal‚ Quebec More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1732 - John Horsley‚ British archaeologist (Britannia Romana) dies (b. 1685) 1909 - Hermann Minkowski‚ German mathematician (work on relativity - Minkowski spacetime)‚ dies of appendicitis at 44 1947 - Jonas Cohn‚ German philosopher (Wertwissenschaft)‚ dies at 77 1999 - Leo Cherne‚ American economist and commentator (All Star News)‚ dies at 86 2009 - Russ Conway‚ Canadian-American character actor (Richard Diamond Private Eye)‚ dies at 95 2010 - Daniel Bensaïd‚ French philosopher and a leader of the Trotskyist movement in France‚ dies of cancer caused by the side effects of drugs used to treat AIDS at 63 More Famous Deaths »