Just Cool...

Her Morning Elegance by Oren Lavie

God Came Near...Merry Christmas!

Do You See Him?
by Max Lucado

IT’S CHRISTMAS NIGHT. THE HOUSE IS QUIET. Even the crackle is gone from the fireplace. The last of the carolers appeared on the ten o’clock news. The last of the apple pie was eaten by my brother-in-law. And the last of the Christmas albums have been stored away having dutifully performed their annual rendition of chestnuts, white Christmases, and red-nosed reindeers.
It’s Christmas night.

The midnight hour has chimed and I should be asleep, but I’m awake. I’m kept awake by one stunning thought. The world was different this week. It was temporarily transformed.
The magical dust of Christmas glittered on the cheeks of humanity ever so briefly, reminding us of what is worth having and what we were intended to be. We forgot our compulsion with winning, wooing, and warring. We put away our ladders and ledgers, we hung up our stopwatches and weapons. We stepped off our race tracks and roller coasters and looked outward toward the star of Bethlehem.
It’s the season to be jolly because, more than at any other time, we think of him. More than in any other season, his name is on our lips.

And the result?

For a few precious hours, he is beheld. Christ the Lord. Those who pass the year without seeing him, suddenly see him. People who have been accustomed to using his name in vain, pause to use it in praise. Eyes, now free of the blinders of self, marvel at his majesty.
All of a sudden he’s everywhere.

In the grin of the policeman as he drives the paddy wagon full of presents to the orphanage.
In the twinkle in the eyes of the Taiwanese waiter as he tells of his upcoming Christmas trip to see his children.
In the emotion of the father who is too thankful to finish the dinner table prayer.
He’s in the tears of the mother as she welcomes home her son from overseas.
He’s in the heart of the man who spent Christmas morning on skid row giving away cold baloney sandwiches and warm wishes.
And he’s in the solemn silence of the crowd of shopping mall shoppers as the elementary school chorus sings “Away in a Manger.”
Emmanuel. He is with us. God came near.
It’s Christmas night. In a few hours the cleanup will begin—lights will come down, trees will be thrown out. Size 36 will be exchanged for size 40, eggnog will be on sale for half price. Soon life will be normal again. December’s generosity will become January’s payments and the magic will begin to fade.

But for the moment, the magic is still in the air. Maybe that’s why I’m still awake. I want to savor the spirit just a bit more. I want to pray that those who beheld him today will look for him next August. And I can’t help but linger on one fanciful thought: If he can do so much with such timid prayers lamely offered in December, how much more could he do if we thought of him every day?

Trans Siberian Rocks and A Holiday Recipe!

My mother has made these bar cookies/candy for years at Christmas.  It's a real family favorite.  I can almost guarantee that your family will love them!  Enjoy!

Chocolate Scotch-A-Roo’s 

1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup

1 cup peanut better

6 cups Rice Krispies

12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

12 ounces butterscotch morsels

Cook sugar and syrup until bubbling. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter; mix until smooth, being careful since this mixture is very hot. Stir in Rice Krispies. Pat into buttered 9x13 inch pan. In glass measuring cup, melt together the chocolate and butterscotch chips. Pour over cereal mixture. Cool and cut into bars.

The last Scotch-A-Roo is sure to cause a squabble!

Christmas Canon Rock - Trans Siberian Orchestra

My Father's House

"My Father's House"

Audio Adrenaline

video: YouTube

Please stop by to visit Brittany, Sweet Nothings, and Ginger and Charlotte, Spiritual Sundays to find many other inspirational posts.

So Long Self

So Long Self

Mercy Me

(Don't forget to pause the beach music on my sidebar before listening to Mercy Me!)

Monk & Neagle

Praise & Worship Sunday is hosted by Brittany, Sweet Nothings. Spiritual Sundays is hosted by Charlotte and Ginger.

video: You Tube

Monk & Neagle

"Hallelujah Jesus"

Keeper of the stars

Lord of time and space

I will live my life

Lifting up Your name

Lover of my heart

God who came to save

Thank You for the cross

And the life You gave

Wonderful, powerful

Jesus is Your name

Hallelujah, Jesus

Hallelujah, Jesus

Hallelujah, Jesus

You are the everlasting God

Author of my life

Friend of sinful man

Holy, mighty God

Ever Great I Am

You’re so wonderful, powerful

Jesus is Your name

Hallelujah, Jesus

Hallelujah, Jesus

Hallelujah, Jesus

You are the everlasting God

Hallelujah, Jesus

Hallelujah, Jesus

Hallelujah, Jesus

My Lord, beautiful You are

I love to sing Your name

I love to sing Your name

I love to sing Your name

I worship and adore You, God

I love to sing Your name

Hallelujah, Jesus

I love to sing Your name

Hallelujah, Jesus

I love to sing Your name

Hallelujah, Jesus

I worship You with all my heart

Wonderful, powerful

Jesus is Your name

Beautiful You

Praise and Worship Sunday is hosted by Brittany, Sweet Nothings. Spiritual Sunday is hosted by Charlotte and Ginger.

Don't forget to pause the beach music on my side bar before listening to "Beautiful You".

This song by Monk & Neagle describes some of the wonders of God's creations on Earth.

"Beautiful You"

All the oceans and the seas know the sound

Of Your beautiful voice

And if You tell them to be calm and be still

They have no other choice

You put the stars in the sky and then

You taught them to shine

They know just what to do

Every morning’s a symphony that’s perfectly timed

Thanks to beautiful You

Beautiful You

I can’t imagine life without You

Beautiful You

I can’t imagine being alone

Beautiful You

The only thing I ever wanna do

Beautiful You

Is have You hold me in Your arms

Beautiful You

All the waterfalls know just where to fall

Brilliant every time

When it rains, you are behind it all

With gentle rhythm and rhyme

Mountains high know Your voice

And they are ready to move where You tell them to

With all my heart, I believe that I can do the same

Thanks to beautiful You

Every ocean, every sea

Every morning’s a symphony

Every drop of rain, every waterfall

All the stars in the sky are so beautiful

Every breath I breathe, every beat of my heart

I feel so alive ‘cause of who You are

Every day I rise, every time I sing

I’m reminded of Your great love for me

You’re beautiful, so beautiful

Beautiful You

I just want to be around You

Beautiful You

I can’t imagine life without You

Beautiful You

There is nothing that I can’t do

Beautiful You

When I build my life around You

Beautiful You

Checkin' Stuff Off The Wedding To Do List

One thing at a time we're all checking things off the wedding prep list. This is the song Jacob and I will be dancing to for the mother-son dance. Elton John - "Blessed". I love the song - just ignore the weird video! And it DOES feel like he shouldn't be walking yet! Gosh, the time has flown since he was placed in my arms for the first time!

(Don't forget to pause the beach music on my sidebar before playing Elton!)

Callin' Me Home

I just thought this video and song by Barry McGuire was pretty so I thought I'd share it today. I'll be home tonight from my wonderful Florida girls vacation! I'll be back posting pics in a couple of days!

"Callin' Me Home"

Don't forget to pause the beach music on my sidebar before clicking on the video!

The Ocean Floor

I am sooooo happy and feel sooooo blessed to be in sunny Florida this Sunday with sister-in-law Jeri! I love Audio Adrenaline and thought of this song to post today. It compares the depth of the ocean to God's forgiveness. When we receive forgiveness, it's forever - our failures never to be seen or remembered again by God. Just as if it's all been swept away to the depth of the ocean floor!

Don't forget to pause the beach music on my side bar before clicking on the video...

you tube

"Ocean Floor"

performed by Audio Adrenaline

written by Matthew

The mistakes I've made

That caused pain I could have done without

All my selfish thought

All my pride

The things I hide

You have forgot about

They're all behind you

They'll never find you

They're on the ocean floor

Your sins are forgotten

They're on the bottom

Of the ocean floor

My misdeeds

All my greed

All the things that haunt me now

They're not a pretty sight to see

But they're wiped away

By a mighty, mighty wave

A mighty, mighty wave

Your sins are erase

And they are no more

They're out on the ocean floor

Take them away

To return no more

Take them away

To the ocean floor

Please visit Charlotte and Ginger at Spiritual Sundays and Brittany at Sweet Nothings for more inspirational posts.