Wordless Wednesday/Christmas Music Marathon 2011-Day 6

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A Baby Changes Everything

Christmas Music Marathon - Day 6

Have you ever noticed how the birth of a baby changes the dynamics of a family?   A couple becomes parents.  Parents become grandparents, while brothers and sisters become aunts and uncles.  There is joy in the house.  There is excitement everywhere.
This is especially true with the birth of Christ.  He changed the way we deal with sin.  The God of all creation sent His Son to live a sinless life among us.  Jesus willingly gave that life as a sacrifice for our sins so that we might have eternal life.  Yes, on that first Christmas night in Bethlehem, "A Baby Changes Everything".



So what should our response be to this life changing event? We have been given a gift that is beyond our comprehension and there is nothing that we can say or do, to earn or repay such a marvelous thing as eternal life. We must however, accept that gift. There can be only one appropriate response. Once we have acknowledged our need for a Savior, accepted Christ as that Savior and invited Him into our hearts, our only response can be adoration. "Oh, Come All Ye Faithful."



Don't forget to come back each day for a new video...or two. Have a blessed Christmas Holiday. To God be the glory.

Ruby Tuesday/Christmas Music Marathon 2011 - Day 5

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You can expect my Ruby Tuesday and Wordless Wednesday posts to have a Christmas theme for the next few weeks.  This photo is the youngest grand daughter and her sock monkey from last year.  

Christmas Music Marathon

As we move a little deeper into the Christmas season, Christmas music will fill the air.  Did you know that there has always been music associated with the birth of Christ.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Today will be a double-header music day.  Enjoy.

Christmas Music Marathon 2011 - Day 4

 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. "   John 3:16-17

God's heart desires that we spend an eternity in a perfect relationship with our creator. The choice is ours. God revealed His heart to us on a night in Bethlehem. Enjoy.

Christmas Music Marathon 2011- Day 3

Thanksgiving turkey, and the leftovers have been consumed.  The madness that is Black Friday has come and gone.  The Christmas season is officially here.  It's a time to decorate the house, put up the tree, wrap the presents, send the cards, but most of all, it is a "Time of Joy".  May the joy of the season live in your heart.  Enjoy this song from Karen Peck and New River.

Christmas Music Marathon - Day 2

Mary did you know?



Gabriel Announces Christ’s Birth
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”


Mary Miraculously Conceives

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

One can only imagine what went through Mary's mind the following days and weeks.  Did she really realize what was happening to her.  Did she truly realize who her Son was going to be?  The lyrics to this song were written by Mark Lowery.  The first arrangement I ever heard was done by Kathy Mattea.  I think it may still be my favorite arrangement of this song.  "Mary Did You Know?"  Enjoy

Skywatch Firday & Christmas Music Marathon Season II

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Christmas Music Marathon - Season II

Last year I began a new tradition on this blog.  I posted a Christmas music video every day from December 1, thru Christmas Day.  I enjoyed searching out the music so much, that I am going to do it again.  I would say that I am bringing this back by popular demand, but that would be stretching the truth.  The truth is this, the Christmas season begins the day after Thanksgiving in the Driller abode.  I place Christmas music in the home stereo and both cars.  I have two playlists on my computer of Christmas music, about 8 hours each, that I take to the office and play for my enjoyment.  While you are reading this post, I will probably be putting up the Christmas lights around the house and we will be setting up the tree this week-end.  During the next 30 days, you will hear music from some of my favorite artists including, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, John Berry, Signature Sound, The Gaither Vocal Band, David Phelps, Kathy Matea, Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and others.  Last year I started with a video from Signature Sound.  I am going to start this season with the boys again, only  a different song.  Let's start this year's celebration with "Changed by a Baby Boy"  Enjoy.


Come back each day for a new song celebrating the birth of the Savior.  Jesus IS the reason for the season and His birth will be celebrated here!

Wordless Wednesday

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Evening Worship

Come back for Skywatch Friday and the start of my 2nd Annual Christmas Music Marathon.  Have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Ruby Tuesday

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A Man and His Dog

My daughter and son-in-law have a dog...a Yorkshire Terrier.  Taz is not exactly a "manly" dog, if you know what I mean.  Recently my daughter had the opportunity to rescue an abandoned pup, a black lab mix.  Wylie will be a much more manly canine one of these days.  I think the ruby red leash is perfect for him.

Skywatch Friday Thoughts and More

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Turnberry Isle Resort

In October I took a business trip to Turnberry Isle Resort in Florida.  It is located between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami.  It is a very nice place to spend a couple days.  Earlier in the year I stayed at the Fountain Bleu in Miami.  I like Turnberry much better.  It is a more relaxed environment.  The photo above was the view from my balcony on the fourth floor.  It is a beautiful place to spend a few days, but it's not home.  Regardless of how beautiful a place I am required to stay when traveling on business, I always look forward to getting on that plane and coming home to Northwest Arkansas.  For the Christian, this world is much the same way.  It may be the only place we know, and it may may be as well manicured as the Turnberry, but it is not home.  Our home is in a place prepared for us by our Savior.  As I grow older, I understand a little better why some senior adult Christians are ready to go home.  I'm not as thin as I once was, and never will be again.  I'm not as athletic as I once was, and never will be again.  Age has a way of taking a little of the joy out of life, but there is a place where neither age nor physical condition will not be an issue.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not ready to go just yet, but I do understand the message in this gospel favorite. There will come a day when I will say,  "Precious Lord, Lead Me Home".  Have a blessed week-end.

Wordless Wednesday

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High Rent Bird House

Ruby Tuesday

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This past week-end found us taking the youngest granddaughter to her soccer tournament in Tulsa, well actually Sand Springs, Ok.  One of our opponents were in all red uniforms, so it made a perfect Ruby Tuesday photo opportunity.  These girls are 9-10 years of age.  They are just beginning to show some real soccer skills and teamwork at this age.

We won this match 2-0, which was a bit of an upset.  The other team was much bigger and I believe most of their girls were at the older end of the age bracket.  Tulsa soccer clubs are usually very good, so it was a big deal to beat one of their clubs.

The granddaughter is not in any of these photos.  These just happen to be what I picked out for Ruby Tuesday.  I've got other captures of her that I will share later.  Happy Ruby Tuesday all.

Skywatch Friday Thoughts and More

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Recently we were in Tulsa, my home town, for a Gaither Homecoming concert.  We took a day to visit a few places I have not visited in a very long time.  One of our stops was the Tulsa Rose Garden.  Scroll down to my Wordless Wednesday post to see the flowers.  This is the greenhouse located on the grounds.  The main building is a mansion built in 1919.  There is a carriage house and this green house located immediately behind the mansion.  I cannot imagine living at this scale.  The Rose Garden, Woodward Park, and the mansion make up a very special place, prepared for the enjoyment of the citizens of Tulsa.
I am reminded that there is a place prepared for me and it is far beyond my imagination.  My Creator, Savior, and Heavenly Father have prepared it for me.  As beautiful as the grounds of the Rose Garden are, they will pale in comparison to that place that I will spend eternity.  For that reason, I don't want to get adjusted to this world.  The Gaithers say it much better than I.  Enjoy and have a blessed week-end.

Wordless Wednesday

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Tulsa Rose Garden - November 2011

 

Ruby Tuesday

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Late October Knock-out.

We had a very wet Spring in Northwest Arkansas.  Then we had a very long, hot, dry Summer.  I would not pretend to imply that our Summer was a brutal as our neighbors to the south in Texas, but it was still a very tough summer on the plants.  I have lost several shrubs.  However, the Knock-out roses seemed to have survived quite nicely and are blooming more profusely now than ever before.  We've had two frosts and I believe that the first hard freeze in just around the corner, so, I'll be pruning these hardy little bushes for the winter very soon.  Still, when I came home from work the other evening I just thought that a final photo shoot was in order.  This capture turned out to be my favorite gem of the the group.  Happy Ruby Tuesday all.

2011 Blog Blast For Peace

What exactly makes for peace and why should we pursue it.  It's such a simple word.  Peace is not simply the absence of conflict, whether it be personal or international.  Peace is not simply tolerance of others, regardless of their beliefs, behavior, or attitudes.  In order to have peace on a grand scale, it is necessary to have peace on a personal level.  Peace cannot be found in wealth.  It cannot be found in power.  It cannot be found in pleasure.  Our world is filled with miserable people who have tried to find peace in all of these things.  True peace comes from our Creator.  However, we must seek it out.  Again, the world is filled with miserable people who thought that merely labeling themselves as Christians would bring peace into their lives.  We are not promised wealth.  We are not promised power.  We are not promised a life filled with pleasure.  We are promised that the God who created us and sent His Son to die on a cross for our sins, will give us peace in the midst of our surroundings.  Regardless of our position in life and the circumstances we find ourselves in, if we can look to God Almighty and truly say, "It Is Well With My Soul", then we have found peace.  May you and yours find peace.  Enjoy.

Skywatch Friday

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Wordless Wednesday

Autumn Soccer - Game On!