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Little did I realize that God would use Classical music to help my oldest son whether the storms of life and the happy days of life. He began loving this music at a very early age. With a giving heart he passed this love on to the family and many friends. I would like to take time out to say thank you to him. Not only to him but to God.  God gives us so many gifts. I am unworthy of receiving any of them. So undeserving and sinful but made deserving by God's righteousness. Hallelujah! It resides in me. In Abiding In Christ by Andrew Murray , there are quite a few scriptures about God's peace. I didn't realize one of Jesus' names is the King of Peace. I have heard it said that the Gospel is the Good News . I didn't get it. This morning I felt joy in learning He became righteousness for me. Andrew Murray describes the gifts receive by abiding in Christ. He is the Vine. We are the branches (John 15:4).

I'm in the mood for a little Gospel music this morning. On Sunday I listened to Mahalia Jackson. Wow, no matter that she's long gone from us. Her voice is still unique. It's classic. This morning I might throw in a little Andrae Crouch. He's no longer with us either. Still, you can't go long without hearing "that" voice singing about our trials and Jesus. I was first introduced to Gospel music on WHAT in Philadelphia. My mother listened to Mary Dee on Sundays. Young, I didn't appreciate the Gospel music. I liked listening to Georgie Woods on the same station. He played Motown and other hits. There is a gap where I didn't listen to Gospel music. One of my son's brought it back to me with the singing in Bishop Patterson's church in Memphis . I suppose tracking the routes in my life is a little bit easier if I remember the church and it's music. Tiffany L. Warren mentions "We  Are Not Ashamed," with Andrae Crouch. I don&

http://adailyrhythm.com "Deidre cleared her throat and started snapping her finger. Then she sang Adele's Rolling in the Deep" like the song was written for her. She sounded so good that if she wanted a record deal, she could get one that very day." I love the song sung by Adele. After seeing it mentioned in Tiffany L. Warren's novel, I had to listen to it again. This time I paid more attention to the words.

My mother always told me I had lousy timing. This afternoon, in front of my boss, my boss's boss and a whole load of his most lucrative clients, I proved her right. Of course, she was talking about the Viennese waltz, the Argentinian tango and the foxtrot. bibliophilebythesea.blogspot.com

The snow outside icy and grey Hard as a heart I use to know A heart still not dead. Alive and well unable to trust the next boot fall, the next gloved hand Outside the window stands a ghostly specter - a man unable to find, see or touch, pearl seeds in his own hands. Sir, I stole them. May I give them back?  Will you take them from these half - dead cold hands? No? Then, I must hibernate in death without resurrection.

No man is an island, Entire of itself, Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manor of thy friend's Or of thine own were: Any man's death diminishes me, Because I am involved in mankind, And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee. John Donne poemhunter.com/poem/no-man-is-an-island/      

Sue Edwards' Philippians Discovering Joy Through Relationship led me to start a Bible study. I haven't done a Bible study for quite a while. This one is great because it involves a whole book of the Bible. I especially like the fact that it will help me grow in my personal relationships. At the moment, I am studying "humility and self sacrifice." I thought of foot washing services my husband and I use to attend annually. I am happy to have attended these services because there was an intimate involvement with the congregation of the church. There is a quote in the Philippians lesson book. It is taken from Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren Winner . "Community is, of course, central to Christianity at every life stage--after all, the very life of the Triune God tells us that we are persons only when we are in communion with one another." Along with the quotes and scriptures, there are personal experiences from the author. She talks about her friends, her marri