OK Solberg: 00:00

I wanna again welcome you to the 4:05 Coffee Break. Guys, get your cup of coffee, glass iced tea, same routine as always, bottle of water. Let's see what's happening. Spring wheat, $5.35 a bushel. 550 pound steer calf $4.07

OK Solberg: 00:17

Butcher hog in Iowa, 51¢ a pound, and a 100 pound lamb that is fat in Billings will fetch you a $1.86 But guys, there's more, much more, okay? When the elders at my church asked me to do a radio program on KMMR five days a week, way back in 2018, I knew one thing that I wouldn't do. I knew I wouldn't preach to you. Now think about that.

OK Solberg: 00:49

Isn't that a funny thing for a preacher to say? But see, I know about some things and I know I didn't wanna preach to you. If you wanna hear a sermon, you'll come to church, and I invite you to come anytime. We'll welcome you with open arms. So anyway, I knew I wouldn't preach, but I would at least have a Bible verse every program.

OK Solberg: 01:12

This program is about building relationships, not about preaching. But this week, I have the opportunity to share morning devotions also over KMMR. And just yesterday morning, yesterday, I had a devotion that I thought you might like hearing. So I'm gonna include it on this episode today. Here it is, word for word, right?

OK Solberg: 01:35

Good morning, Frank, and good morning to everyone listening. Glad you tuned in. All week long I'm sharing Merle Haggard gospel songs. It was Merle Haggard, the felon. Merle Haggard, a prisoner in San Quentin.

OK Solberg: 01:52

It was Merle Haggard, the man redeemed by God that said, faith is the only way we're gonna make it. None of us are smart enough to do it on our own. Listen to my most favorite Bible verse in the Bible. It's fitting to what Merle just quoted. For without faith it is impossible to please God, for anyone who would draw near to God must believe that he is, and that he is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

OK Solberg: 02:23

Hebrews eleven:six. This morning I will close the devotional with a Merle Haggard song titled Where No One Stands Alone. Have you ever felt alone? Have you ever felt lonely? In the song he sings, but I don't know a thing in this whole wide world that's worse than being alone.

OK Solberg: 02:50

When we call upon Jesus, he comforts us in our distress. When we have Jesus in our lives, he calms us through the storms of life and through the long, lonely night of being alone. Now, I like to say that most of my education came from movies and songs. Now, it's not totally true, but there is much of my learning that did come through, movies and songs. And one song that I'm reminded of right now, when I'm talking about Merle and being alone, is a song titled The Little Girl.

OK Solberg: 03:28

And it was sung by John Michael Montgomery and written by Harley Allen. Always remember the songwriter there, hiding in the shadow, and yet they are very, very critical. Listen as we think of being all alone. Her parents never took the young girl to church, never spoke of his word, never read her his word. Two nonbelievers walking lost in this world took their baby with them.

OK Solberg: 03:59

What a sad little girl. Her daddy drank all day and mama did drugs, never wanted to play or give kisses and hugs. She'd watch the TV and sit there on the couch while her mom fell asleep and her daddy went out. And the drinking and the fighting just got worse every night. Behind their couch, she'd be hiding.

OK Solberg: 04:28

Oh, what a sad little life. And like it always does, the bad just got worse with every slap and every curse until her daddy, in a drunk rage one night, used a gun on her mom and then took his life. And some people from the city took the girl far away to a new mom and a new dad, kisses and hugs every day. Her first day of Sunday school, the teacher walked in and a small little girl stared at a picture of him. She said, I know that man up there on that cross.

OK Solberg: 05:11

I don't know his name, but I know he got off because he was there in my house and held me close to his side as I hid there behind our couch the night that my parents died. God's word says in Matthew, come to me all you who are labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Then I played the Merle Haggard song, Where No One Stands Alone.

OK Solberg: 05:51

Just thought you might like hearing it. So until next time, as you go out there, remember now, don't be bitter.