We had our first snow of the winter on Friday afternoon. While it was only about an inch, it was enough to provide some winter mood to the photos. I love living in this part of the country because we do get to see all four seasons. While our winters are pretty mild, we will see two or three snowfalls each year, spring is just around the corner, summer can be pretty warm, and autumn is often spectacular. Happy Ruby Tuesday all, and may you have a blessed New Year.
Don't get me wrong. My wife is an excellent cook. I will put her up against Pioneer Woman or Trisha Yearwood any day. She might not win every battle, but she would never finish third. Christmas baking is a tradition around our home, but her lemon meringue pie was a pie for the ages. As soon as it came out of the oven, I knew it was special. Sorry, there were NO leftovers.
We are nearing the end of this year's edition of Christmas Music Marathon. Christmas day will be the final entry for this year. There have been some old familiar favorites and some new arrangements of old songs, as well and some new music this year. It has been a great experience searching the videos and listening to the music of the season. After posting every day for the past 32 days, my hat is off to those of you who blog on a daily basis. It is definitely a commitment and I salute your efforts.
Christmas Eve at the Driller household begins with a candlelight service at the church. After the service we will come home, have dinner, read the Christmas story, and open our presents. It will be a very family affair.
I want to thank those of you who have endured this marathon. There are no prizes for finishing the race. I just hope you enjoyed the experience. Merry Christmas to you and yours. May you celebrate the birth of the Savior and give Him thanks for all He as done. May the new year be filled with those things that bring you joy.
I am often amused by the fact that people are upset when they don't understand God's actions or His purpose for allowing some things to happen in this life. The truth is, if God were small enough for us to understand, He wouldn't be big enough to be God. I don't think most of us truly want to understand God as we want to control Him. We create a god in our minds that fits our lifestyle and our personal belief system. It may be a god that we are comfortable with, but it is not the God of all creation. That God has always confused mankind. God promised His people a Messiah. They were looking for a king, greater than David, to deliver them from Roman rule. God sent them a babe in a manger. Christ healed the sick, raised the dead, but refused to come down off of the cross and save Himself. He didn't come to save Himself. He came to pay the price for our sin and provide a way for us to spend an eternity in fellowship with Him. What began on a night in Bethlehem and finished on a cross at Golgotha has always been difficult for mankind to understand. We have a very difficult time wrapping our minds around, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life." That's just too simple for us to understand. Take a few minutes and read the following verses in the Bible;
1st stop on the Roman Road To Salvation... God Is The Creator Of Life
Romans 1:20-21:
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his
eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being
understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For
although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave
thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts
were darkened.” God reveals himself to us - His divine nature and
personal qualities - through creation. We must acknowledge God as the
Creator and sustainer of life. 2nd stop on the Roman Road To Salvation... Why We Need Salvation – The Fact Of Our Sin
Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
We must recognize that we are sinners and that we do not meet God’s
perfect standards. Sin is serious in God’s sight and includes thoughts,
words and actions. All sin (i.e. hatred and lust) makes us sinners not
just the big, obvious sins like murder and adultery (Romans 5:12). 3rd stop on the Roman Road To Salvation... Man’s Inability
Romans 3:10: “As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.”
No one can earn right standing with God. We must understand that our
good deeds or religion are unacceptable to God because our good works
cannot cancel out our sin. For a view of man’s sinful condition, read
Romans 3:10-18. 4th stop on the Roman Road To Salvation... The Penalty Of Sin
Romans 6:23a: “For the wages of sin is death.”
God’s holiness demands a penalty (consequence) for our sin, which is
death. Eternal death is separation from God forever in Hell. God is a
just God, and He demands punishment for every sin. Justice is getting
what we deserve, because of our sin, we deserve death. 5th stop on the Roman Road To Salvation... God’s Plan Of Salvation
Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sin by dying
on the cross. God is a God of mercy and He sent Jesus to take our sin
upon Himself and the punishment we deserve. Mercy is not getting what
we deserve, we deserve death, and Jesus took our place. 6th stop on the Roman Road To Salvation... God’s Promise Of Eternal Life
Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Eternal life is a free gift from God, there is nothing we can do to
earn eternal life. Grace is getting what we don’t deserve. Because of
God’s amazing grace, He has given us eternal life through Jesus Christ!
7th stop on the Roman Road To Salvation... Man’s Responsibility
Romans 10:9-10:
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in
your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it
is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with
your mouth that you confess and are saved.” We must believe that
the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God Who died for us on the cross,
rose from the dead, and is Lord. We must put our trust in Jesus alone
to make us right with God. Salvation involves believing in our hearts
(inward belief) and an outward confession that Jesus is Lord. Romans 10:13: “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
There is no complicated formula to salvation; Jesus paid the price of
our sin for us. Our response is to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
If we do, we will be saved from eternal death in Hell to eternal life
in Heaven. Final Stop on the Roman Road To Salvation... Results Of Salvation
Romans 8:1: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” By accepting Jesus’ death as a payment for our sins, we will never be condemned for our sins. Romans 5:1: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Peace with God means we have been reconciled to Him through Jesus
Christ. We can now have a relationship with the living God because sin
no longer separates us from Him.
Are you uncertain that if you
were to die today you would go to Heaven? Have you followed the Roman
Road to salvation? Will you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior
today? You can pray to God right now and claim the promises of His word as your own.
Admit that you have sinned against God and ask Him for forgiveness.
Believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God Who died for you on the cross, rose from the dead, and is Lord.
Call upon Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior.
The bear in the photo is vintage 1984. His name is Boomer (as in Boomer, Sooner). My wife gave him to me when I took a new job in Dallas, Texas and had to be away from the family for several weeks. The rocking chair is vintage 1948-49. I was two or three years old when I got that. I refinished it a couple of years ago and it sits in the study. Christmas is a time to recall memories from the past and to make memories for the future. It is my prayer that you are able to spend time this Christmas with those who bring you the greatest joy.
Baking Christmas goodies at Nana's house is a tradition in our family. Here, Nana, our daughter, and the three grand daughters pause for a photo during the activities.
In years past the girls have always enjoyed spending a day at Nana's house playing in the dough, cutting cookies and decorating them before popping them into the oven. It is one of the highlights of the Christmas holiday around our house. It's hard to believe that the photo below is only nine years old. We were renting a duplex while our home was under construction. That means that the girls were 2,3, and 7. Now they are 11, 12, and 16! Time flies when you're having fun.
This Christmas our country is in need of joy. Recent events have taken a lot of the joy out of the heart of America, and with good reason. There are no simple answers for why things happen the way that they do, and now is not the time to sermonize the situation. Christmas is a time for joy and a time to give joy to those around us. God gave us the ultimate gift of joy when He gave us His son, Jesus Christ. Through Christ, salvation is available, eternal life is available, and unspeakable joy is available. When we need it, in difficult times, strength, comfort, and wisdom are available. This Christmas season, we need all of the above.
Heading into the final week-end before Christmas, I wanted to share my two all time favorite music videos. The first one is just the coolest thing ever. I would love to be in a major city mall during the Christmas shopping season when a choral flash mob breaks into the Hallelujah Chorus.
The second video is my all time favorite arrangement of O Holy Night. I know this song has been recorded by virtually every artist in the industry and many of them do a very good job of singing, but, in my humble opinion, no one does it better than David Phelps. You just need to put the headphones on and prepare to have your spine tingled. Merry Christmas and have a blessed week-end.
There is little doubt that we live in a world desperately in need of a Savior. Over the past forty years, we have systematically removed God from virtually every aspect of our daily lives. We have become so politically correct that the very name of Jesus is only whispered in public. The results have been devastating. The only way to return this country to the greatness that it once enjoyed, is to acknowledge that it was the God of all creation that blessed this country and seek His forgiveness for abandoning Him. The violence that has become all to common place in our society is an outward expression of an inward problem. Our hearts no longer have room for God. Our minds refuse to acknowledge His sovereignty, and we believe that our own, self-proclaimed righteousness is perfectly capable of solving all of our problems. We have a heart problem and no amount of legislation will fix that. Only a Savior can heal our hearts.
We are not about to celebrate a holiday. We are about the celebrate the birth of the Savior of this world. "For God so loved the world that He Gave His only begotten son the whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life."Not only is Jesus the Reason for the Season, but He is the only answer to our broken nation.He has said, "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven , and will forgive their sin and heal their land." I fear that we have become too proud to humble ourselves. The choice is ours. A Savior waits to restore His people once again. May the God of all creation and the Savior of mens souls live in your heart this day and forever.
Several years ago I found this wreath at Walmart for five dollars. It is made out of mylar on a plastic frame. It was fun, festive and cheap. So, I bought it and took to the office where it has adorned my door for the past few Christmas seasons.
Well, if you have followed this blog for the past couple of weeks, you know that my wife can make a wreath that will put this to shame. And since she has already made several wreaths for friends and co-workers, I decided that my office door needed a new look. I informed her that my little mylar decoration wasn't going to cut it this year and I needed something nicer. I got what I asked for.
Now that's a wreath for the season. Thank you dear.
As we enter the final full week prior to Christmas, I will be sharing some of my very favorite music.
Life is filled with changes. Our first day at school is a life changing event, as is our graduation day. Our wedding day is a life changing event. The day that we become parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, etc. is a life changing event. Regardless of our relationship with the newborn it is obvious, "A Baby Changes Everything." In a world desperately in need of a savior, God sent His Son. Into a world looking for a king, God sent a child. Inviting Christ into your heart is indeed a life changing event. This "Baby Changes Everything." May your Christmas be blessed with the presence of Christ.
Each year I put the Christmas lights around the house. I change a few things each year and move a couple of the pieces to new locations, but the basic scheme remains the same. Even though I participate in this activity, I've always wondered why we spend time on this tradition...then I found this song. Enjoy.
We are moving toward the final full week before Christmas. I hope you are enjoying the music as much I am enjoying locating it and posting the music of the season. And now, a couple of more videos. Enjoy.
Sometimes God just stops you in your tracks with His creative work. Every morning He starts our day with a sunrise. On the Florida coast the results can be spectacular.
The thought of His perfect plan for our salvation and an eternal life spent in His presence should be enough to stop us in our tracks and give Him thanks for His mercy and grace. We often believe that somehow we are going to heaven because we are good enough. We haven't committed a major crime, we give to charity, we love our wife and family, we even treat our neighbors with honor and respect. Compared to others, we believe we're pretty good people and good people go to heaven. The truth is, good people don't go to heaven...redeemed people go to heaven. We are redeemed through the gift of God's only Son and His shed blood on the cross. We are redeemed by that little baby. The very thought of this method of redemption stops us in our tracks and forces us to make a decision to accept this gift from God or to reject it. May the gift of Christmas find a home in your heart this season. Merry Christmas.
A few days ago (Day 18 to be exact) I posted a photo of the main tree in our living room and said how peaceful it can be when the only lights on are those from the tree. Honestly, the lights from the mantle wreath and decoration add significantly to the mood.
Yep, it's another wreath, and yep, my wife made it. A co-worker of hers brought a very plain looking wreath into the office last week and asked my wife if she could "spruce it up" a bit. What you see here is about 20 minutes of sprucing up.
Most of us Christians could use a little sprucing up. There was a time when we were excited about our faith and willing to share it with everyone. Then we "matured" and became much more sedate in our religious viewpoint. After a while, we just didn't want anyone to know how we felt about Christ, His kingdom, our relationship with Him, nor how this whole Christian thing works. That's just sad. We need to come before our Savior, present Him with our heart and and say, "Could you spruce this up a bit." I think we would be amazed at the results. We just need to take our heart back to Bethlehem.
Because of an event that is scheduled to take place in our home next week, my wife decided to use a silver and gold theme on the main tree in the living room, instead of the traditional red and green color scheme. The results, on this 9' tree, are spectacular. It is always a special moment to sit in the living room with just the lights from this tree turned on. It's part of what makes Christmas such a special time of year around our home.
There are four trees in our home during the Christmas season. In the sitting area, adjacent to the kitchen, resides my favorite tree. It is much more rustic than the main tree, but what makes it special are the ornaments. This tree is filled with "picture frame" ornaments. I take photos of each of the four grandkids each year and add them to the tree. This has been going on since the oldest was only a year old. She is now sixteen. This tree will have over 50 ornaments on it this year. Looking at each of the photos brings back fond memories of Christmas' past. It is a very special part of the Holiday season for our house. I just LOVE it.
As I said in an earlier post, as much as we cherish the traditions of Christmas, the celebration is about more than traditions. While Christmas is a time for family, friends, giving, and spending time with loved ones, there is something more important going on. Christmas is about God's love for us. Christmas is indeed about the birth of a Savior, but Christmas is also about the cross.
Earlier in the 2012 Christmas Music Marathon we asked the question "Mary, Did You Know?" We can only wonder if Mary comprehended what was happening to her as a result of her obedience to God. She and Joseph surely endured a great deal of criticism for their situation. In fact those close to Joseph counseled him to walk away from her. In their minds she had obviously been unfaithful. But through their relationship with God, Joseph and Mary remained faithful to the Creator and to each other. Joseph knew the child that Mary was carrying wasn't his child, and I think they both knew it was God's child. All of us are God's creation and deserve a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. At some point in our lives we can decide if we simply want to be one of God's creations, or one of God's children. There is a difference.
No, this child wasn't Joseph's child, it was God's child. Jesus, what a wonderful child. Have a blessed week-end.
Several days ago I posted an example of my wife's creative gift when it comes to decorations, and I promised to show you a few more items. Traditionally our house is filled with the Christmas colors of red and green. Last year was no exception. Our mantle looked like this. My wife did all of the decorations.
This year, because she is hosting an event at our home, she decided that gold and silver would be more appropriate. So here is what she came up with. This is what makes Christmas special around our house. I never know what the house is going to look like for Christmas, but I do know it is going to be beautiful.
In a year that has been filled with drought, hurricanes, and other storms of life, it is difficult to imagine that life will be good again for some. People have lost their homes, their possessions, and even their loved ones. The only thing they have left is hope. The question is, where does our hope lie. If it lies merely in friends, family, the Red Cross, or the government, then we will eventually be disappointed. Usually sooner than later. Our hope must rest in The Light. The light of the world was born on Christmas day. In Him there is hope, there is joy, there is peace, there is strength, and there is comfort, regardless of what we are going through. We can sing Hallelujah, the Light Has Come.The 2012 Christmas Music Marathon Marches on. Enjoy.
Man is an inquisitive sort. It seems like we are always looking for the answers to something. We want to know how things work. We want to know why things are the way they are. We want to know why people do what they do. We are constantly seeking the truth. Unfortunately we often don't recognize the truth when we see it because it doesn't conform to the answer we believe to be correct. We are not always looking for the truth, merely validation of our opinion. There is a difference. The "Truth" does not require you to believe it, in order for it to be true. The "Truth" is the truth, whether you believe it or not.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6. This emphatically answers the question, are there multiple ways to get to heaven? The answer is no. That is the truth. You can choose to believe otherwise, but it doesn't change the truth. This Christmas season, if you are looking for answers to life and your purpose in this life, I pray that you will turn to the light of this world, Jesus. I pray that you can say, "I Have Seen The Light". Enjoy.
