“I have chased after rainbows;

I’ve captured one or two.

I’ve reached for the stars;

And I have even held a few.

I’ve walked that lonesome valley,

Topped the mountains, soared the sky.

I’ve laughed and I have cried;

But I have always tried. . . ” (Dolly).

There is a song, one titled “Try,” one written by a famous, blonde-haired songwriter.  You might know her—Dolly Parton.  She was asked to give the commencement address at the University of Tennessee, and when she walked up to the podium, she carried her guitar because she wanted the young adults she was asked to address to hear the message of her “little song.”  She once said she thought this song was going to become “my song” because it has developed a life of its own, one that may live on and on and on.

“But dreams are of no value

If they’re not equipped with wings.

So secure yourself for climbing,

Make ready for the sky. . . .

“So try to be the first one up the mountain,

The highest-flying dreamer in the sky.

And try your best to be an inspiration

For others that are still afraid and shy.

And try to make the most of every moment

‘Cause if you never try you never win.

So try each day to try a little harder

And if you fail, get up and try again. . . ” (Dolly).

Today is Dolly’s birthday.  It’s a truth.  How do we know?

EASY.

Our calendars display it to be so.  On 19 January 1946—Dolly was born to earthly parents.

Unfortunately, the world does not know Dolly’s spiritual birth-date, but she knows, and that’s really all that truly matters—that a Believer knows that she knows that she knows—she is a Believer, a Christian—God’s.

“You know nothin’ is impossible

If you can just believe.

Don’t live your life in shackles

When faith can be the key. . . .

And the first step is the one that’s always hardest.

But you’ll never really know if you don’t try,

You have to try” (Dolly).

Now, before we go forward too far, let’s clarify this truth—Dolly is famous and maybe we are not, but being famous is NOT what God seeks us to be.

So, before we go any farther, let’s clarify this more “truthful” truth—Dolly professes to be a Believer, a Christian; me too; hopefully, you too, & That Is EXACTLY WHAT GOD SEEKS ALL OF US TO BE—HIS!

Believing in God is an individual decision, one that every person has to make.  God speaks to each person, and we either block out His whispers to our soul, or we turn and look back over our shoulder, beginning to listen.  If we continue to look, to listen to the voice of God, to ponder His truth, then He will lead us to turn away from the direction we are going, from the way we are going, and instead—Turn 180 degrees toward God.

Listening is Easy.

Looking back over our shoulder is Easy.

Pondering His truth is Even Easy.

Turning fully around, taking that first step is “always hardest.  But you’ll never really know if you don’t try” (Dolly).

Believers have every reason to live with confidence.  God’s permanent presence within us, granting us His peace, providing for our needs, and supplying His power to obey and serve Him give us wings, grant us strength, and empower us to keep on witnessing and to keep on singing His everlasting Gospel song.

This world is full of distrust.

This world is full of fear.

This world is full of uncertainty.

And people can easily be fooled—if they listen to the world’s song.

That’s why we (Believers) must continue singing our Lord’s Gospel.

That’s why Believers must never turn back from the way we have come.

That’s why Christ-followers can NEVER TAKE OUR EYES OFF CHRIST!

Yes, today is Dolly’s birthday, and that is a good reason to celebrate.

But today is the LORD’S Day, and that’s another good reason to celebrate.

And, today could become someone’s “spiritual birthdate,” and that would most definitely be the most excellent reason to celebrate & rejoice.

Do not believe Dolly’s words & do not believe my words but believe the Word of God.

The Bible speaks of a prophet Ezekiel, one who proclaimed a message given to him by God and a message that God told Ezekiel would not be well received.  Yet God told Ezekiel—Speak the message ANYWAY!  Ezekiel obeyed God.

“Then the word of the LORD came to me [to Ezekiel] saying, ‘Son of man, if a country sins against Me by committing unfaithfulness, and I stretch out My hand against it, destroy its supply of bread, send famine against it and cut off from it both man and beast,

even though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job [faithful followers of God & obedient followers of God], were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only deliver themselves,’ declares the LORD GOD.”

(Ezekiel 14: 12-14)

And then, the LORD GOD continued in His instruction to His child, to Ezekiel.

“But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness, . . .

“If he walks in My statutes and My ordinances so as to deal faithfully—he is righteous and will surely live,’ declares the LORD GOD.”

(Ezekiel 16: 5-9)

Happy Birthday, Dolly. You have given the world so many songs that have entertained the world. You have written so many melodies that have inspired the world.

It is Dolly who wrote—

“You know nothin’ is impossible

If you can just believe.

Don’t live your life in shackles

When faith can be the key. . . .

And the first step is the one that’s always hardest.

But you’ll never really know if you don’t try,

You have to try” (Dolly Parton).

And it is God who still speaks—

“If he walks in My statutes and My ordinances so as to deal faithfully—he is righteous and will surely live,’ declares the LORD GOD.”

(Ezekiel 16: 5-9)

Let us read God’s Word every single day.

Let us even enjoy listening to Dolly’s melodies.

And most importantly—Let us walk with our eyes focused upon God.

New American Standard Bible, Zondervan, 2002.

Parton, Dolly and Robert K. Oermann. Dolly Parton:  My Life in Lyrics—Songteller. Chronicle Books, 2020.