Story Behind The Song "Early In The Morning"

[GAry L Crawford]

Story Behind “Early In The Morning”

Crawfordand.co     God started giving me songs in 1982. I was born again at the age of five. 61 years ago. Early In The Morning -written about Jim Bakker”s life. 

                              Story behind Early In The Morning .I got up before light of day and started my trip to Branson to pickup
Donna Douglas (Elle Mae Clampet). As the sun started breaking through the Ozark
Hills I started singing to God and it went like this. Early In The Morning I
Talk With Jesus. Anyway I had a wonderful time praising and talking with God on my
way to Branson.

Several people had ask me to be on Jim's show but I wasn't sure
that God would want me to be on the show. However, as Jim spoke on restoration that
morning I told God, that was good enough for me, if the opportunity came up I
would be on Jim’s show. After the show Jim took us to lunch and Donna and myself
spent the rest of the day viewing Morning Side ( New City  and Studio South of
Branson) Jim's latest project  -- Just before dark we arrived back in Branson
and as Jim and I made small talk, I told him about writing a song on the way
down. He said let me see it and what is the name. When I told Him the name, He
said it might make a Good them song for Morningside. However, what he saw and
read was completely change two nights later. Some of his staff came to hear us
sing and after the program while talking with one of Jim's friends, he told me
all about Jim's life in prison. I knew exactly what God wanted this song to say.

Story I was Told 
As Jim lay in prison about to die, every night a prison guard would come by and
whisper through the cell bars--don't give up  don't be defeated. Story is that
Jim went back and read all the (red letter Words) Words of Jesus.  Listen to song.