Linda Gail Crow

Child of God, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, retired school teacher, lover of flowers, cookies and milk, St. Louis Cardinals and Mizzou basketball

[Byron Donalds @ByronDonalds]

To you, it's just a Cracker Barrel parking lot. To me, it's where I gave my life to Jesus Christ.

I was 21 years old. I was working at the Cracker Barrel in Tallahassee after some of the worst years of my life. I'd made mistakes. Real ones.

I grew up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, raised by a mom who worked hard and didn't accept excuses. But I made decisions that should have ended my story before it ever really started. By the grace of God, they didn't. But every day, I was carrying them.

One afternoon, a church group came into the restaurant, just back from a revival. I served them their meals like I served any other table. But something happened while I was serving them. I can't fully explain it to you. The Lord spoke to me. He said, “Stop running from Me.”

It knocked me back.

I went to find the table, and they were all gone. I could see through their windows that they were getting on their bus, and I knew deep down that if I let them drive away, I was going to keep running. So I went outside. The last woman, just as she was stepping onto the bus, turned to me and asked, “Are you okay?”

I told her, “No ma’am, I’m not okay.” I told her the Lord was telling me to stop running.

That whole bus emptied out, stood with me in the parking lot of a Cracker Barrel in Tallahassee, Florida, and prayed over me right there.

I gave my life to Christ that day. Right there.

I still get emotional about it. Because I know what I was before that moment, and I know what He's done since. He gave me a wife who shares my faith. He gave me three sons. He gave me a career, a community, a calling I never would have dared to ask for. He took a kid from Crown Heights who’d run out of chances and gave him a life that doesn't make sense apart from grace.

People ask me sometimes why I talk about it. Why I bring up the parking lot. Why I don't just keep that part private and let folks see the polished version.

I'll tell you why.

Because there's a young man out there right now — maybe in Tallahassee, maybe in Tampa, maybe in Miami, maybe in a small town in the Panhandle — who thinks his story is already over. Who thinks the mistakes he's made disqualify him from the life he could have had. Who thinks God doesn't want anything to do with somebody like him.

I'm here to tell him: that's a lie.

In life, you're not who you are at the lowest point. You're who you choose to become after.

The Lord met me in a Cracker Barrel parking lot. He'll meet you wherever you are.

You just have to stop running.

[Oliver Burdick @oliverburdick]

Science says we need four basic elements to survive:

- Food
- Water
- Air
- Light

Now here's what Jesus says:

- I am the bread of life
- I am the living water
- I am the breath of life
- I am the light of the world

Science was right, we all need Jesus.

[Beth Moore @BethMooreLPM]

I’ve never pastored a church. Couldn’t pay me a jillion dollars to. Never been ordained. Have no desire to. The only paid staff position I’ve ever held in a church was as an aerobics teacher in our church gym. But how in heaven’s name a woman discussing a sermon on a podcast could be objectionable to some is beyond me and what I believe to be beyond scripture. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, good. Stay sane. If you do, I’ve lived a long time and this has been my observation:

Extremism, whether in conservatism or liberalism, whether in politics or religion, is never satisfied. It will always inch a little bit further. It’s a constant test of the purists.

[Luccas @Shery_cricket]

My autistic little brother came home smiling because a group of boys invited him to sit at their lunch table.

I immediately got suspicious.

Kids had mocked him for years.
Copied the way he talked.
Laughed when he got overwhelmed.

So when he excitedly told me,
“They saved me a seat today,”
my heart sank.

I thought it was another setup.

The next afternoon, I secretly went to the school during lunch.

I watched from across the cafeteria expecting to see them humiliate him.

Instead, I saw one boy move his backpack off the chair beside him and say,
“Hey man, we waited for you.”

Another had brought my brother his favorite chocolate milk because he remembered he liked it.

Nobody laughed at him.
Nobody mocked him.

For the first time in years…
my brother looked relaxed around other kids.

When school ended, one of the boys stopped me outside and said,
“He makes lunch better. He’s the nicest person here.”

I drove home crying harder than my brother ever did.

[Shane Pruitt @shane_pruitt78]

Youth Pastors and College Pastors are not hirelings, or glorified babysitters. They are God-called ministers of the Gospel.

Treat them as such.

[Dr. John Marshall @john316marshall]

Don’t isolate yourself from fellow believers. Even John the Baptist, when separated from the group, doubted. We Christ-followers need each other. Stay in touch with one another.

[Riley Nuttall @nuttallriley1]

Pretty good answer

[Adam Wainwright @UncleCharlie50]

I had a chance to be a special instructor in @Cardinals camp this last week. My family loves Jupiter and this was extra special time with my son Caleb and a great group of Players and coaches. A few comments about what I saw: the pitching is impressive actually. Young guys with big arms, big opportunity, and big goals. A LOT goes into preparing these players and the staff is crushing it. Oh, and there is a crop of prospects coming on the mound and in the field that will win. Tanner Franklin, Quinn Mathews, Liam Doyle, Richard Fitts, Mason Molina, Tai Peete, Joshua Baez, couple catchers that were legit, big arms, and dangerous bats. Give this team a couple years and it will be a World Series contender.

[Oliver Burdick @oliverburdick]

The Bible was written on three continents:
- Europe
- Asia
- Africa

In three languages:
- Hebrew
- Aramaic
- Greek

By over 40 different men:
- Kings
- Prophets
- Fishermen
- A doctor

Yet it tells one unified story:
- Creation
- Fall
- Redemption
- Christ

God is incredible.

[Dr. John Marshall @john316marshall]

Ten days into his presidency, Eisenhower was baptized in a private ceremony at a Presbyterian Church near the White House. Ike remains the only USA President to have been baptized while in office.

[C. S. Lewis @CSLewisDaily]

“You may forget that you are at every moment totally dependent on God.” - C.S. Lewis

[Shane Pruitt @shane_pruitt78]

Don’t just show up to church this weekend, instead be intentional:

1. Pray before you go.
2. Worship in the car on the way.
3. Get there early.
4. Invite someone.
5. Talk to people.
6. Sing loudly.
7. Bring your Bible.
8. Take notes.
9. Be kind at the restaurant afterwards.

[Franklin Graham @Franklin_Graham]

“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.” –Corrie Ten Boom

[STL Sports Central @STLSprtsCntrl]

Thank you, Brendan Donovan!

A Gold Glove winner, an All-Star and willing to play anywhere to help the #STLCards

Good luck in Seattle 🫡

[Linda Gail Crow @CrowGail]

@RegionalTVCat Unbelievable!!!

[Shane Pruitt @shane_pruitt78]

The purpose of life:

Know Jesus.
Make Jesus known.

[Linda Gail Crow @CrowGail]

@TheHurricaneBen @Cardinals No!

[Shane Pruitt @shane_pruitt78]

If your church seems loud, because it’s full of young people...

Be sure to praise the Lord for that, because a quiet church with no young people is truly deafening.