| Judy's Own Words, describing each song on her release...well worth the reading
"CD INFORMATION AND SONG HISTORIES
My Lord, My Family, My Life, was recorded at Wireline Studios in Midland, Texas. I met Ken Morgan, the owner of Wireline Studios, a couple of years ago, and he said he would be willing to listen to my music and help me put it on a CD. Ken is a very talented musician, technician, artist, and all-around nice guy. It has been my privilege to work with Ken on this project.
A little history about the music: In the beginning, each of these songs had an inspiration point, and at the present time, each has an ongoing purpose. God gives every believer gifts to bless others with. One of these gifts is encouragement. God gives us songs to encourage other people.
Song #1: I Won't Let Go Til You Bless Me: This song began as a sudden thought that popped into my head one day while reading the story of Jacob and how he wrestled all night with the angel of the Lord. This story shows the constant struggle of the flesh against the Spirit. As I read the story, I was very encouraged by Jacob's determination. He said he would not let go of the angel until he had the blessing of the Lord. Sometimes we get in serious spiritual battles and things look bleak, but we need to be determined and refuse to give up. We have faith, we trust God, and when we do, our "flesh dies" and we come out of the struggle stronger and closer to the Lord than before. Sometimes we need to say out loud, "Lord, I won't let go til you bless me."
Song #2: God Makes A Way: The Creator set life is set up in such a way that we need the Lord to get through it. I am sad for people who do not know Him. How hard it is to live life without God there to make a way through situations where there is otherwise no way to get through. This song says, "The path seems so small, so dark, that I just have to say, show me the way to go on, Lord, please make a way." I have gone down many dark paths, but God always makes a way through every situation.
Song #3: Go Tell The Mountains: Many years ago, I heard a minister named James Robison say that sometimes we should talk out loud to our problems in prayer, and tell the obstacles in our way just how big our God is. Instead of thinking about how big our problems are, or talking to our friends about it, say out loud that God is bigger than the problem. This builds our faith and reminds us of what a great God we serve.
Song #4: The Hem of His Garment: This is one of my favorite songs on the CD. It is about getting very personal in your relationship to God. He is a touchable God. We can touch Him through prayer. We can touch Him in our thoughts. We can touch Him by reading His word. We can touch Him by faith. When we have touched the Hem of His garment, just like the woman in the bible, we will be changed.
Song #5: Bloom Where You Are Planted: My sister, Karen, wrote this song. She has written a lot of songs and they are all good, but I was happy that she let me put this one on the CD. Living in West Texas, it is easy to understand why someone would want to move far away to greener pastures. Karen was sharing this with a family friend one day and her friend just simply said, "Karen, bloom where you are planted." My sister had a sense of peace about where she was after that. Now, God has moved her somewhere green and pretty but she was tested first in the desert, and she passed the test.
Song #6: Our Song: I wrote this for my husband, Jim. In our almost 19 years of marriage, we have been through some very deep waters. We are extreme opposites and growing together as one has been a real challenge. He has strengths that I need and I have strengths that he needs. That is what a strong marriage is all about, focusing on the good stuff.
Song #7: Jack Of All Trades: My dad and mom are representative of the way of life that made our country great. My dad grew up on a farm in the 30's and 40's, and my mom's family were tenent farmers, so as a young couple they had a lot in common. I never remember my parents hiring anyone to do anything around our house, no matter what it was. My dad often referred to himself as a Jack of all trades and a master of none, but in truth, he is quite capable and has mastered many skills in whatever endeavors he undertook, and the same is true for my mother. There was always a way for them to accomplish what they wanted to, they just had to figure out how to do it. They have built some very nice homes together, and thier accomplishments in life, large and small, are too numerous to mention. They are greatly admired by all of our family, and much to my chagrin, at their age they can still work circles around me.
Song #8: Jesus Is A Rock: This tune began with another idea that just popped into my head one day. The words Rock and Roll just seem to go together ever since the phrase was coined years ago, but Jesus is a rock that does not roll. We can put our faith and trust in Him in all situations. He is a solid rock and a firm foundation.
Song #9: The Ballad of Pete and Mose: This song is based on stories told by my Aunt Flo. Pete and Mose were my grandfather's plow mules. My dad (James) and his sister (Flo) would ride on the mules in their spare time and play like they were cowboys. For the sake of rhyme and fun, and to add a little interest, I used my imagination to fill in the gaps and make it into a nice little ballad. This song has brought some really emotional reactions from elderly folks. One evening at a church social function, a man in his late 70's heard this song and laid his head down on the table and cried. I was not sure what was going on and I had a hard time finishing the song, but the gentleman told me afterwards that it had brought back such pleasant and happy memories of his childhood that he was simply overwhelmed. I hope many folks will have pleasant memories stirred when they hear it.
Song #10: Good Guitar Pickin': My dad, James Murphy, is a really good guitar picker. He has composed a few tunes and this is one of them. I love to hear daddy play the guitar. Ken Morgan accompanied daddy on this song. The two of them met for the first time at Ken's studio and sat down with their guitars and just started jamming together and this was one of the songs they recorded.
Song #11: David: This song was written specifically for a group of senior citizens. I was asked to go to a Baptist church to sing and play music for the "Jolly Seniors" and wanted something fresh and fun to do for them. Everyone loves Bible stories, so I set out to write about this most famous hero and his battle with the giant. We all face giants every day in life, and I think that is why this account is such a blessing to people. It is also important to note that David was, at that time, an insignificant young guy who looked as though he was certainly no match for his opponent, but with God all things are possible.
Song #12: Grandpa's Song: My maternal grandfather, Vernon Thornhill, was a preacher. He was very tender-hearted toward the Lord and would often talk about how good God had been to him. Grandpa had polio as a child and had a withered arm, yet he worked hard all of his life doing many types of manual labor such as grubbing mesquite trees and picking cotton. Once when my mother was a baby, Grandpa worked for three days in trade for a box of baby clothes for her. He was helping to build a bridge and was working in the river with the water moccasins. He preached part-time and allso worked many years in road construction. He left us some tape recordings about the depression years. Sometimes when I feel like complaining I listen to those tapes and realize that I am very blessed. He and my grandmother Ruby raised 8 kids during the depression. My mom said she never remembered going hungry.
I hope and pray that all of these songs are a blessing and an encouragement to you.
God Bless, Judy Wood" |
