By ALLEN FARLEY / Guest Columnist

Recently, I told Muriel that I needed to start playing my harmonica more. She simply smiled and said, “You sure do.” The love of my life understands I have my personal time with God when I’m blowing an old gospel hymn on one of my harmonicas. It’s really hard to explain, but the gospel music I hear myself creating with my breath, well, I suppose it’s my way of worshiping the One who created it.

Psalm 94:11 the LORD – knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.

I’m absolutely convinced our most important, life changing, battles are won or lost through our spirituality. To me, that translates to a mental battle. My thoughts connect me to my conscience, and that connects me to my spirituality. And, my spirituality is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you want to see evidence of “The Hand of God,” start looking at the lives of the people He chose to translate his word into gospel music.

One of my favorite authors of old gospel hymns is Miss Fanny Crosby (1820 -1915). Ms Crosby was blind by our human definition, but she obviously had 20/20 spiritual vision.

It is written that Ms Crosby got the inspiration for one of her most famous songs while speaking to a group of very loud and angry men at a prison ministry service. While trying to speak she heard a man’s voice cry out “Good Lord! Do not pass me by!”

With the thought of the cry of the prison inmate in her mind Fanny Crosby rushed home and penned the following lyrics: Pass me not, O gentle Savior, Hear my humble cry; While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.

Mark 10:48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

God Bless America!!!

Allen Farley represents District 15 in the Alabama House of Representatives. His email is allenfarley@bellsouth.net.