Author: CajuTex Treasures

I long to understand and write about everything! Anything I write that is worthwhile or helpful, I give credit to our gracious and loving Father and our Savior. Reading the Words of Jesus and learning what they mean is important. It is worth figuring out how they apply to life, love, kids, family, and salvation. Come and figure this out with me.
Posted in Grace in the Lyrics

Amazing Grace

Posted on by CajuTex Treasures

John Newton, English Anglican clergyman and poet (1725–1807).

“How industrious is Satan served. I was formerly one of his active undertemptors and had my influence been equal to my wishes I would have carried all the human race with me. A common drunkard or profligate is a petty sinner to what I was.”
John Newton, 1778[3]

The message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of sins committed and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God, “Amazing Grace” is one of the most recognizable songs in the English speaking world.

American historian Gilbert Chase writes that it is “without a doubt the most famous of all the folk hymns”[1] and Jonathan Aitken, a Newton biographer, estimates that the song is performed about 10 million times annually. [2]

(See below to learn more about forgiveness)

Amazing Grace (Long Version) lyrics

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun

Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (NIV)

What is forgiveness?

  • Forgiveness, according to the Bible, is correctly understood as God’s promise not to count our sins against us.
  • Biblical forgiveness requires repentance on our part (turning away from our old life of sin) and faith in Jesus Christ.
  • One condition for receiving forgiveness from God is our willingness to forgive other people.
  • Human forgiveness is a reflection of our experience and understanding of God’s forgiveness.
  • Love (not obligatory rule-following) is the motivation behind God’s forgiveness of us and our forgiveness of others.

(Forgiveness Definition by Jack Zevada, Christianity Expert)

 

Posted in Grace in the Lyrics

Jesus Hold My Hand

Posted on by CajuTex Treasures

Albert E. Brumley, American shape note* music composer and publisher, prolific in the genre of southern gospel.  (1905-1977)

Brumley was born near Spiro, Oklahoma on October 29, 1905, into a family of sharecroppers. He spent much of his early life chopping and picking cotton on his family’s farm. In 1926, he enrolled in the Hartford Musical Institute of Hartford, Arkansas, and studied there through 1931. Brumley purchased Hartford Music Company in 1948.Brumley has been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.  He has well known and loved songs such as Victory in Jesus, I’ll Fly Away, Turn your radio On, I’ll meet you in the morning, and Turn your Radio On to name a few of the over 800 songs he has written. (According to his Wikipedia biography)

His message of love and perseverance by strengthening the relationship with Jesus and God is an uplifting one that continues to resonate and is encouraging in life’s sometimes difficult journey. (See below to learn more about strengthening your relationship with Jesus)

Jesus Hold My Hand lyrics

As I travel through this pilgrim land
There is a friend who walks with me
Leads me safely through the sinking sand
It is the Christ at Calvary

This would be my prayer, dear Lord, each day
You help me do the best I can
For I need Thy light to guide me day and night
Blessed Jesus, hold my hand

Jesus, hold my hand
For I need Thee every hour
Through this pilgrim land
Protect me by Thy power

Hear my feeble plea
O Lord, look down on me
When I kneel in prayer
I hope to meet You there
Blessed Jesus, hold my hand

Let me travel in the light divine
That I may see the blessed way
Keep me that I may be wholly Thine
And sing ‘Redemption’s Song’ some day

I will be a soldier brave and true
And ever firmly take a stand
As I onward go and daily meet the foe
Blessed Jesus, hold my hand

Jesus, hold my hand
‘Cause I need Thee every hour
Through this pilgrim land
Protect me by Thy power

Hear my feeble plea
And O Lord look down on me
When I kneel in prayer
I hope to meet You there
Blessed Jesus, hold my hand

When I kneel in prayer
I hope to meet You there
Blessed Jesus, hold my hand

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one 
mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything 
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests 
be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds 
in Christ Jesus.
Mark 11:24 Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, 
believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

*Shape notes are a musical notation designed to facilitate congregational and social singing. The notation became a popular teaching device in American singing schools during the 19th century.

Shapes were added to the noteheads in written music to help singers find pitches within major and minor scales without the use of more complex information found in key signatures on the staff.

Shape notes of various kinds have been used for over two centuries in a variety of music traditions, mostly sacred music but also secular, originating in New England, practiced primarily in the Southern United States for many years, and since 2013 experiencing a renaissance in other locations as well. (Wikipedia)
source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/albert_e_brumley/jesus_hold_my_hand

Posted in Grit with Grace

Stop Tailgating!

Posted on by CajuTex Treasures

All you gung ho, gotta get there drivers, ask yourselves three questions:

1. Is driving 2 feet from my bumper when we are both going 55 or 60 miles an hour and passing is not available on that stretch of road really helping you get to your destination faster.

2. If I have to stop and you hit me and we call the police and have to sort out what happened and why, will that help you get there any faster?

3. Who is in your backseat? If you say no one, then that explains why I am more concerned with road etiquette and safety than you are. Many times I have precious cargo in my backseat such as my beautiful grandchildren or others of my precious family. It saddens me to think their safety is in jeopardy for no good reason (because I am certain you had to say no to the first 2 questions.)

I have a true concern for other drivers on the road. I will slow down to allow your car to get in when you need to or wait in line a little longer to let you merge in front of me. If the road permits, I will move over to let you by. I do not tailgate because I assume the people in the other car are important to someone who will feel their loss keenly should something happen to them.

I’m pretty sure that the driver in back is gonna be at fault. I’m gonna keep watching out for you but you are making me nervous…Please stop tailgating! This is just one of the ways you can “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18)

Posted in Feathers 'N Fur
Posted on by CajuTex Treasures

Mutt Mutt Molly (Miracle Dog)

Chapter 2

  I wanted to let her know I wanted to care for her.   Patience will be the key 

 

“Stray dogs are resilient because they must use whatever resources are available to them in order to survive”

petpress.net

This mutt was hurt and starving. No way I could whisk her away this time. Of course, she would not let anyone near her. We would periodically get a glimpse of her when she semi crawled out from under the house to go to the bathroom. I began to put out food for her and fresh water. She would only come out when there was no one around. I could see her eat from the bedroom window if I was very quiet, so she didn’t know I was there. I fed her that way for about 2 weeks, then decided to try and build a little trust between us. Kind of like when you first hear who Jesus is. It takes a little time to know Him and a little more to understand He only wants the best for you. 

Mutt had already been through so much in her young life, and she had no way of knowing she already had touched my heart.  I set out to show her. I read all about gaining trust with animals, specifically dogs.  One tip that really paid off was to trade the dry food for wet food that smelled better.  Supposedly the smell would then be associated with me, and she would begin to let down her guard a little. 

The plan was to catch her and take her to a vet then to a shelter.  We did not want another dog for keeps.  I figured gravy train with a can of dog food would smell especially nice so that became her staple.  Every evening, I would put the gravy train with warm milk or water plus the can of Alpo mixed in for good measure.  I also gave her a name, “Mutt”, that eventually became Mutt-Mutt.  I will get to the ‘Molly’ soon. 

Posted in Feathers 'N Fur

Mutt Mutt Molly (Miracle Dog) Chapter 1

Posted on by CajuTex Treasures

                     Chapter One:    The Beginning..

“Stray dogs are resilient because they must use whatever resources are available to them in order to survive”petpress.net

I saw her for the first time, and she tugged at my heart. She was terrified and her tail was tucked. There was a light brown stray pup trying to stake a claim to the clammy, wet underside of our house. Part of our home is up on blocks, and the newer part is on a cement slab. She claimed the dark access portal as her front door.

I told my husband about the dog, and we shooed her away, hoping she would go home.  I was happy when I didn’t see her for a few days and thought she had returned to her family.  She came back. The sad truth is that she was starving and somehow felt safe under our house.  This time, though, she had been hit by a car, and her left hip was visibly broken, and she had other cuts and scrapes.  I knew I had to care for her until we could give her away or take her to a shelter.