Livingston Texas Visit March 2026

 Hey Friends,

I hope you are having a great day. We are traveling today. We enjoyed our time in Texas immensely. 

This week, we spent a few days with Pastor Don Goodwin and family in Livingston, Texas. It was so encouraging to spend time with our precious long-time friends. We greatly appreciate their time and friendship. 

Wednesday night, we were able to be in church with them at Beech Creek Assembly. It was wonderful to see all of our friends again. They welcomed us with open arms!

Below are so pics from our Livingston visit for this time. I hope you enjoy. 

Odie

Higher Ground Lyrics

Hey Friends,

Thank you for coming by to see what we are up to today. We are still in Texas, and having a great time. I will tell you more about it later. 

For today, we are continuing our Next Step lyrics series. This is track number 8 on the project. 

Higher Ground is an old hymn. Again, this has been a family favorite for many years. 

We have sung this in countless services through the years. It felt right for our dong line-up this time around. 

Next Step is our latest music project. It is available for download on all streaming platforms. You can contact us to order CDs or USB drives. Click HERE to view the official album artwork. 

I will close with the song lyrics. 

 Higher Ground

 WRITER: JOHNSON OATMAN, JR. 1856-1922

 MUSIC: CHARLES H. GABRIEL 

1856-1932

Verse 1

I'm pressing on

The upward way 

New heights I’m gaining every day

Still praying as I onward bound

Lord plant my feet on higher ground

Chorus 

Lord lift me up

And let me stand

By faith on Heavens table land

A higher plain that I have found 

Lord plant my feet on higher ground

Verse 2

My heart has no desire to stay

Where doubts arise 

And fears dismay

Though some dwell

Where these abound

My prayer my aim is higher ground

Chorus 

Lord lift me up

And let me stand

By faith on Heavens table land

A higher plain that I have found 

Lord plant my feet on higher ground

Verse 3

 I want to live above this world

Though Satan’s darts at me hurled

For faith has caught a joyful sound

The song of saints on higher ground

Verse 4

I want to scale the utmost high

And catch a gleam of glory bright

But still I’ll pray

‘til  Heaven I found 

Lord lead me on to higher ground

Chorus 

Lord lift me up

And let me stand

By faith on Heavens table land

A higher plain that I have found 

Lord plant my feet on higher ground

Tag

A higher plain that I have found 

Oh Lord plant my feet on higher ground

Close To Thee Lyrics

 Hey Friends,

Thanks for stopping by today. We are visiting our Next Step project. This is the latest music project by us, Kelly Jo and Odie.

It is available for download on all digital platforms. Contact us to order physical products. We have both cds and USB drives available. 

In our lyrics series, we have reached Close To Thee. This song was penned many years ago by our friend Bro. Jim E. Davis. 

Bro. Jim graciously allowed us to record this song! We have had a great response to the song. I think the message resonates with many people. 

We have loved this song for a long time. The message has encouraged our family for many years. We have fallen back on this song during this uncharted season we are walking in now. 

We do not know the weather forecast of life, nor where the road will lead. Our answer is to stay close to God! He is our only hope!!

Below are this song's lyrics. 

Close To Thee

WRITER: JIM E. Davis

/THOMAS PECK MUSIC/BMI

Verse 1

Stormy weather has always 

Been a part of my life 

Sometimes it seems more 

Than I can bear 

But it doesn’t matter what the weather 

There’s one thing I know 

My sweet Jesus will always be there

Chorus 

Just to be close to thee

In the midst of the storm 

Just to stand by your side 

In the sunshine 

It doesn’t matter what the weather 

Wherever I may be

All I ask Lord is to be close to thee 

Verse 2

When the sun shines 

It’s so easy to forget about the rain 

Sometimes it seems I drift away 

Then you remind me of the last time 

You brought me through the storm

I’m so thankful 

You’re with me each day

Chorus 

Just to be close to thee

In the midst of the storm 

Just to stand by your side 

In the sunshine 

It doesn’t matter what the weather 

Wherever I may be

All I ask Lord is to be close to thee 

Tag

No it doesn’t matter 

What the weather 

Wherever I may be

All I ask Lord is to be close to thee 

Sweeny Texas March 2026 Visit

 Hey Friends,

Mom and I are visiting the great state of Texas. I wanted to give you a peek at our weekend. 

We are getting to visit friends on this trip. It had been wonderful to see everyone again! 

Sweeny, Texas, was a regular stop on our travel route for many years. We love Pastor Larry Lamb and the fine folks at Full Gospel Lighthouse Church. They have been so good to us. 

I am glad we were able to be in a service with them, and thank them for their friendship to BFM. 

I will close with pics from our Sweeny visit this time around. Thank you for joining me today. 

Odie

Lay It Down Lyrics

 Hey Friends,

Thank you for joining us today. The Next Step is our latest music project. It is available for download on all streaming platforms. You can contact us to order CDs or USB drives. Click HERE to view the official album artwork.

Now, we are returning to our lyrics series. The song we are focusing on today is "Lay It Down." 

We first heard this song on the radio in the late 90's. It was a catchy tune with a great message. Later, we owned a compilation CD with radio hits, and Lay It Down was one of the hits. 

The song became somewhat regular on our altar call song list. Mom and I enjoyed singing it. It also spent time in the possible songs-to-record folder. 

The Next Step was the right time. Mom did an incredible job with it. The song is one of my favorites on the whole project. 

The message is a gentle reminder to let go of the things bothering us.  If we truly want God's help to get past our problems. We must Lay It Down. 

Here are the lyrics to "Lay It Down." 

Lay It Down

LAY IT DOWN WRITER: CHERI KEAGGY/© 1996 SPARROW SONG/EMI

Verse 1

If you are empty 

And have nothing to give

You're discontented 

By the way that you live

Maybe you find it so hard to forgive

Why don't you lay it down

Verse 2

If you have done something 

You'd like to forget

If you have spoken words 

That turn in your head

Why beat yourself up

With the things of the past

When you could lay them down

Why don't you lay it down

Chorus 

Cause there’s a source of help 

In every need

Theres a place to dwell

Down on your knees

And if I could tell you 

How to find peace

You've got to lay it down

You’ve got to lay it down

Verse 3

If there are memories 

That are too hard to bear

You open your heart

And find bitterness there

Maybe you hurt so bad

You don’t even care

Why don’t you lay it down

Come on and lay it down

Chorus 

Cause there’s a source of help 

In every need

Theres a place to dwell

Down on your knees

And if I could tell you 

How to find peace

You've got to lay it down

You’ve got to lay it down

Bridge

Its things like pride and anger

And bitter seeds

They robbed us of our freedom

And keep us from peace

It’s things like love and patience

And a forgiving heart

That’s where the healing can start

Let God start healing your heart

Chorus 

Cause there’s a source of help 

In every need

Theres a place to dwell

Down on your knees

And if I could tell you how to be free

You've got to lay it down

Tag

You got to on and lay it down

Come on and lay it down