It was the ripple shockwave you would expect, we heard that Dolly Parton passed away yesterday 8/25 and we were the ones telling others too. I heard the shocking news from a friend, then I mentioned it to three others, one of whom avowed she would fight anyone who would say anything bad about Dolly, that she was amazing… and we agreed that she was with the angels in a better place. 

“You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” Acts 2:28 NIV

Dolly wrote about a Clear Blue Morning, taking a LONGVIEW. (Lyrics and link below). I have written many times on bible teachings to take a LONGVIEW of life – don’t get clogged by day to day craze, but take a longer wider gaze…

In “Jesus Always” by Sarah Young she writes that “there are times you will have to look THROUGH your circumstances” – essentially ‘[to see God’s glorious radiant presence – imagine looking at a beautiful garden through dirty glass and only seeing the dirt on the glass and not taking that LONGVIEW out to the garden beyond. This is us not looking at our forever home and secured sanctification and salvation but instead being too clogged in view by our current circumstances.]”

We must have faith that gets us through. 

Dolly Parton carried and shared strong faith that was open. The recent song sung with Zach Williams “There was Jesus” runs through my head, it’s a favorite and I appreciate Dolly being the support she steps out of the mainlight to fill in beautifully. Dolly adds such truth in her voice, vowing THERE WAS JESUS in presence and forgiveness and direction… In one music video version she lifts her hands up in praise… Now surely she rests in praise and in the comfort of the carrying arms of Jesus, what He has done for us before we were born. “I couldn’t see it then but I can see it now – There was Jesus.”

The video by Dolly’s family stated humorously she asked to be buried in cotton, she could be rid of the heavy rhinestones – being honest of the glitz and glamor was also hard work… She loved people and also loved her privacy… Surely all is good now, resting IN Jesus, clear blue morning beautiful beyond belief, and no need to look back or forward, for there IS Jesus holding you, Dolly, as He holds us…

God bless you for your faith and strengthing ours…

There IS Jesus.

Amen 

—

Lyrics and link for There Was Jesus with Zach Williams 

Also https://youtu.be/37wV6D49iEY?is=OatMBaU6s0AW1wXg

Every time I tried to make it on my own

Every time I tried to stand and start to fall

And all those lonely roads that I have travelled on

There was Jesus

When the life I built came crashing to the ground

When the friends I had were nowhere to be found

I couldn’t see it then but I can see it now

There was Jesus

In the waiting, in the searching

In the healing and the hurting

Like a blessing buried in the broken pieces

Every minute, every moment

Where I’ve been and where I’m going

Even when I didn’t know it or couldn’t see it

There was Jesus

For this man who needs amazing kind of grace (mm)

For forgiveness at a price I couldn’t pay (mm)

I’m not perfect so I thank God every day

There was Jesus (there was Jesus)

In the waiting, in the searching

In the healing and the hurting

Like a blessing buried in the broken pieces

Every minute, every moment

Where I’ve been and where I’m going

Even when I didn’t know it or couldn’t see it

There was Jesus

On the mountain, in the valleys (there was Jesus)

In the shadows of the alleys (there was Jesus)

In the fire, in the flood (there was Jesus)

Always is and always was

No, I never walk alone (never walk alone)

You are always there

In the waiting, in the searching

In the healing and the hurting

Like a blessing buried in the broken pieces

Every minute (Every minute), every moment (every moment)

Where I’ve been and where I’m going

Even when I didn’t know it or couldn’t see it

There was Jesus

There was Jesus

There was Jesus

There was Jesus

—

Her song, Clear Blue Morning, from 1977 (lyrics and link below to a remake she released with others) state the truth of the HOPE we hold in Jesus “‘Cause I can see the light of a clear blue morning, I can see the light of a brand new day… Oh, and everything’s gonna be all right, It’s gonna be okay…”

—

Dolly Parton 

Light of a Clear Blue Morning

Featuring Lainey Wilson, Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah & Reba

 YouTube

Dolly Parton, 1977

It’s been a long dark night

And I’ve been a waitin’ for the morning

It’s been a long hard fight

But I see a brand new day a dawning

I’ve been looking for the sunshine

You know I ain’t seen it in so long

But everything’s gonna work out just fine

And everything’s gonna be all right

That’s been all wrong

‘Cause I can see the light of a clear blue morning

I can see the light of a brand new day

I can see the light of a clear blue morning

Oh, and everything’s gonna be all right

It’s gonna be okay

It’s been a long long time

Since I’ve known the taste of freedom

And those clinging vines

That had me bound, well I don’t need ’em

Oh, I’ve been like a captured eagle, you know an eagle’s born to fly

Now that I have won my freedom, like an eagle I am eager for the sky

And I can see the light of a clear blue morning

I can see the light of brand new day

I can see the light of a clear blue morning

Oh, and everything’s gonna be all right

It’s gonna be okay

I can see the light of a clear blue morning

I can see the light of brand new day

I can see the light of a clear blue morning

Ooh, everything’s gonna be all right

Everything’s gonna be all right

Everything’s gonna be all right

It’s gonna be okay

And I can see the light of a clear blue morning

I can see the light of a brand new day

I can see the light of a clear blue morning

Ooh and everything’s gonna be all right

Everything’s gonna be all right

Everything’s gonna be all right

It’s gonna be okay

I can see the light of a clear blue morning

I can see the light of brand new day

I can see the light of a clear blue morning

Everything’s gonna be all right

Everything’s gonna be all right

Everything’s gonna be all right

It’s gonna be okay