Understanding That God Is “Involved” No Matter Where We Find Inspiration

Happy New Year to each and every one of you!! I pray for you all to have the most wonderful year ever, in every way possible. It’s been far too long…once again; since I have shared my thoughts with you all. I want you all to know that even though it seems like this disease has progressed, BUT...so has MY faith which still stands in our Father God, His miraculous healing powers and the knowledge that He is in charge of everything. With that said I hope that you are standing in your faith as well for whatever your personal situation is at this time.

The title for this blog comes from an experience that I had this past summer. It was when I was on my way out to Florida for the drug treatment/study that I am involved with for the ALS that has affected my earthly body presently. And I say “presently”, because I refuse to accept that my time is up here until God calls me home. Only God knows when our time is up here, so that is my stance, and I hope it is yours as well!

What I experienced this past summer however, was in the form of a song sung by a particular young man I met in Destin Florida. It’s an old song from the 70’s that was originally done by The Allman Brothers. I don’t believe that I had ever heard it prior to that, and if I had, I didn’t remember it. The young man I am making reference to is Forrest Williams. He, his wife Pherrel (who played keyboard) and Dwayne (the drummer) made up the Forrest Williams Band. I got inspiration from this song immediately, and I do still today. I’ll provide the lyrics below so you can read them. To me; at this particular juncture find myself at this time in my life…it really made an impression on me in a positive way.

The first lyrics that I noticed was the chorus…I guess that is the way it normally is, because they are repeated throughout the song. But this chorus is a powerful one – I think. It is a song about life and how “your soul shine” is so important, and that should be what people think of when they think of you. I personally hope that is what people think of us all when they think of us as humans…let alone as Christians.

This just rang true to my soul…I want this to be the way people see me, BUT I also want God to be a major portion of this equation. As a matter of fact I want it be HIS light that shines deep from my soul – God’s soul shine…I just want to be the bearer of His eternal light. Maybe that is something for us all to strive for!

Until next time…

Father God I come before you asking that you let ME be the bearer of YOUR LIGHT…let it shine from me to guide myself and whoever will follow me to Your side…I pray to you Father God to use me as You see fit, and that the strength that You provide for me to continue this journey will shine from my very soul for the world to see. I thank You Father, I love You with all heart and I am so glad you find me worthy to be a servant of Yours. All of this I pray in Your name, Amen.

Soul Shine
by: The Alman Brother's

When you can't find the light,
That got you through the cloudy days,
When the stars ain't shinin' bright,
You feel like you've lost you're way,
When those candle lights of home,
Burn so very far away,
Well you got to let your soul shine,
Just like my daddy used to say.

(Chorus)
He used to say soulshine,
It's better than sunshine,
It's better than moonshine,
Damn sure better than rain.
Yeah now people don't mind,
We all get this way sometime,
Got to let your soul shine, shine till the break of day.

I grew up thinkin' that I had it made,
Gonna make it on my own.
Life can take the strongest man,
Make him feel so alone.
Now sometimes I feel a cold wind,
Blowin' through my achin' bones,
I think back to what my daddy said,
He said "Boy, in the darkness before the dawn:"

[Chorus]
Let your soul shine,
It's better than sunshine,
It's better than moonshine,
Damn sure better than rain.
Yeah now people don't mind,
We all get this way sometimes,
Gotta let your soul shine, shine till the break of day.

Sometimes a man can feel this emptiness,
Like a woman has robbed him of his very soul.
A woman too, God knows, she can feel like this.
And when your world seems cold, you got to let your spirit take control.

[Chorus]
Let your soul shine,
It's better than sunshine,
It's better than moonshine,
Damn sure better than rain.
Lord now people don't mind,
We all get this way sometimes,
Gotta let your soul shine, shine till the break of day.

Oh, it's better than sunshine,
It's better than moonshine,
Damn sure better than rain.
Yeah now people don't mind,
We all get this way sometimes,
Gotta let your soul shine, shine till the break of day.