Category: CajuTexTreasures

Stories, essays and articles about writing, animals, kindness, kids, and words for living; cajun quisine and texas tastes.

Posted in Grit with Grace

America, We Love You

Posted on by CajuTex Treasures

America! Growing with you has been an adventure. There you stand watching as our dreams come true, ordinary and extraordinary – Yes, sometimes dreams do fall apart, but we thank you for providing all of us a chance to dream and then another, plus the opportunity to work hard and succeed. You are about the freedom to choose, figure it out, and then work hard to survive and discover our joy, our very lives, and our success. You (and we) are not perfect, but we keep trying to work together and get it right.

Make no mistake, you have already gotten much right…through the years, your citizens have made extraordinary strides accepting one another for the ‘content of their character’ as the great leader Martin Luther King so wisely dreamed of for your people, America.

Americans care passionately for one another. Every situation may not be understood yet we stand ready to support and offer a hand up. The love we have for each other is unmistakable. It is evident when there is a disaster of some kind or when a loss is experienced by a neighbor, a friend, and often by a complete stranger.  

A love light shines as volunteers go far and wide here and to other countries to be a beacon of hope. Americans donate millions of dollars each year to assist others as they face some catastrophe. Immigrants who want to come to America and work hard to make their own way, fairly to become part of our citizenry, are always welcome.  My wish is for all to look for the good and embrace the positive to be part of the solution not the problem.

 

Jeremiah 29:11-13 New International Version (NIV) 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declared our Lord “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Matthew 22:37-39 37Jesus replied: “‘Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

Posted in Grace in the Lyrics

I Know a Man Who Can

Posted on by CajuTex Treasures

I Know a Man Who Can –  Lyrics

Sung By George Jones (feat. Sheri Copeland and Barry Smith)    A hymn that expresses the faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior and Friend who can heal, forgive, and transform. The first recording was on December 2, 1968, and was released in April 1969.

I can’t take a heart that’s broken
Make it over again
But I know a man who can

And I can’t take a soul that’s sinful
And make it white, whiter than snow
But I know a man who can

Some call Him Savior, the Redeemer of all men
I call Him Jesus, for He’s my dearest friend

If you feel, no one can help you
And your life is out of hand
Well, I know a man who can

I can’t walk upon the waters
Or calm a raging sea
But I know a man who can

And I can’t cause blind eyes to open
Make the lame to rise up and walk again
But I know a man who can

Some call Him Savior, the Redeemer of all men
I call Him Jesus, for He’s my dearest friend

If you feel, no one can help you
And your life is out of hand
Well, I know a man who can

Some call Him Savior, the Redeemer of all men
I call Him Jesus, for He’s my dearest friend

If you feel, no one can help you
And your life is out of hand
Well, I know a man
Yes, I know a man who can

 

2 Corinthians 4:16-17   “Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day.” This verse reassures believers that their inner selves are being transformed, even amidst physical suffering. 

Psalm 42:11: 
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” This verse encourages believers to trust in God during despair. 
Romans 15:13:

 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” This verse emphasizes the joy and peace that come from trusting in God. 

 

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)