2016 Christmas Music Marathon - Day 17

2015 Christmas Music Marathon Day 17

Candles have long been a source of light. At one time, they were the primary source of light in a home, after dark. Today they are primarily decorative. They provide a warm glow to a room. Their light has a soothing, calming quality about it. Watching the flame can bring a sense of peace to a heart and mind.
Our lives are in need of a candle.  The light that is Christ can bring a warmth to our hearts, and a calm to our lives that no other thing can.  The Bible says of Christ, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." (John 1:4) The Light of the World came into this world in a manger in Bethlehem. We can invite that light into our heart and lives. When we do, Christmas becomes much more than a part of a long holiday season. It becomes the celebration of the birth of the Light of the World. Have a blessed day.

2015 Christmas Music Marathon - Day 8

Time in a Bottle

Since Christmas is about celebrating the birth of a Savior, it is only natural that Christmas is all about the kids. It seems that they grow up all too fast. The image above is from 2005. The image below was taken last week. A decade has passed and one of these children is now a young adult in her sophomore year at college. One will soon be getting her drivers license and the other two are  beginning their adventures as teenagers. Time flies.

How quickly a decade passes. These two images put into perspective just how little time we have to train our children and influence our grandchildren before they are making their own way in this world. The Bible tells us to "train our children in the way that they should go" and it states that the Bible is good for instruction in all things. Training our children in all things includes their religious and moral values.  There is a whole world out there waiting to tell them that anything goes. The Holidays, Christmas & Thanksgiving are excellent opportunities to teach our children important values regarding friends, family, and worship. We only have them for a few short years. We need to make the most of our time with our children and grandchildren.  Have a blessed day.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday 2014 Christmas Music Marathon - Day 3

 Scavenger Hunt Sunday

This week Scavenger Hunt Sunday has given us the opportunity to post five of our favorite images.  Since I didn't do a true Thanksgiving themed post on Thursday, I'll post those images now.

 Since Thanksgiving is all about family, I thought that a group photo would be appropriate.  We have never had a photo taken with all of us in front of the house, ever!  There is a specific reason for this photo and I may explain it at a later date.

Wednesday afternoon the grand crew came out and spent the night.  It's always a joy when this whole crew is in the same place at the same time and that is getting harder to accomplish.  The oldest is now a freshman in college.  The next is a freshman in high school, the youngest grand daughter is in junior high and the grandson is in middle school.  What is that they are holding, you might ask.

Nana always has a group activity for them and this year it was baking and decorating gobbler cupcakes.  All of the kids like spending time with Nana in the kitchen and a fun activity like this never grows old, even for the college freshman.  There is a lot of time spent in the kitchen around Thanksgiving making high calorie treats.

The oldest grand daughter helped Nana make this pumpkin pie while the youngest grand daughter made and applied the decoration.  She made a template for the leaves, rolled out the dough, cut the shapes, applied the sprinkles. then baked and applied to the pie.

This year Nana decided to take a page from the Pioneer Woman cookbook and bake a Caramel Apple Pie with Pecans.  We're still calculating the calorie count on this masterpiece.  This is my wife's favorite time of the year.  She loves being in the kitchen making special dishes for her family.  Thanksgiving and Christmas give her all of the reasons that she needs to spend time in her favorite place, expressing her love to her family through her cooking.  We are the most grateful recipients of that love.  Well, that's it for my Scavenger Hunt.  Stay tuned, or continue reading for day three of my annual Christmas Music Marathon.  Have a blessed day.


2014 Christmas Music Marathon - Day 3

For the past several years November 4th has been celebrated by some as Blog Blast For Peace. I have participated most years. It gives me a chance to show, through scripture, that peace is the will of God. The purpose of the birth of Christ was so that there might be "Peace on earth and good will toward men." Before peace can come to this world, it must come to the heart of each individual. When the Holy Spirit of God lives in us, we possess a "peace that passes understanding" and when we refuse to accept Christ as our savior, peace will never truly be ours. Still, in a nation that is filled with violence, unrest, evil, crime, corruption, greed, arrogance, and pride, there is a heart cry for peace. May peace visit your heart this season.