Enjoy what Christmas means to me via a simple "click" on the orange links to songs/videos, quotes, & SCRIPTURES!
Happy Birthday JESUS!
You are in for a treat if you have never heard this version of "Silent Night" as the voices of Leigh Nash & Dan Haseltine sound amazing together!
"This is how the birth of JESUS CHRIST came about: HIS mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the HOLY SPIRIT." — MATTHEW 1:18
"Christmas is built upon a beautiful & intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home." — G.K. Chesterton
"How many observe CHRIST's birthday! How few, HIS precepts!" — Benjamin Franklin
"How many observe CHRIST's birthday! How few, HIS precepts!" — Benjamin Franklin
Do you think that Mary knew the awesomeness of what her son JESUS would do not only for her, but for all of us?
When I enjoy "Mary Did You Know?" tears begin to well up in me for who JESUS is & what HE did for you & for me.
When I enjoy "Mary Did You Know?" tears begin to well up in me for who JESUS is & what HE did for you & for me.
"Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it 'white'." ― Bing Crosby
"My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?" ― Bob Hope
"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." ― HEBREWS 13:2
The "Preacher’s Wife" is a modern take on "The Bishop’s Wife" & the song "I Love the LORD!" is sung by Whitney Houston.
Even if you don't like church or haven't been to church, this amazing rendition will either disgust you or the joy of the presence of the LORD may get you on your feet to dance as David danced!
"If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." — MATTHEW 10:42
"Joy to the World" is a classic song that seems to always sound the same.
Until now!
Enjoy Dominic Balli's acoustic version with some additional lyrics after the familiar lines we have heard so often.
May we always be filled with Faith, Hope, Joy, Love, & Peace!
"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name JESUS, because HE will save HIS people from their sins." ― MATTHEW 1:21
"If you confess with your mouth, “JESUS is LORD,” & believe in your heart that GOD raised HIM from the dead, you will be saved." ― ROMANS 10:9
"Christmas can be celebrated in the school room with pine trees, tinsel & reindeers, but there must be no mention of the man whose birthday is being celebrated. One wonders how a teacher would answer if a student asked why it was called Christmas." ― Ronald Reagan
"Great is our LORD & mighty in power; HIS understanding has no limit." ― PSALM 147:5
"As I read the birth stories about JESUS I cannot help but conclude that though the world may be tilted toward the rich & powerful, GOD is tilted toward the underdog." ― Philip Yancey
"He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree." ― Roy L. Smith
Have you ever wanted to have a little talk with JESUS?
Did you know that Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, & Johnny Cash really did have a talk with JESUS & all of us should spend a least a minute or two each day of our lives just to have a little talk with JESUS!
"Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't going away." — Elvis Presley
"All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them." — Galileo
No snow to enjoy having lived in Alajuela, Costa Rica or Christiana, Jamaica or Homestead, Florida or Key West, Florida or Medellín, Colombia or Miami, Florida or Oro Valley, Arizona or Stock Island, Florida or Tucson, Arizona means I'm jealous?
I was born in Minnesota, so yes.
However, the majestic beauty of Clydesdales gracefully trotting through the snow, melt away any hint of jealousy I may have.
In Key West, B.O.'s Fish Wagon help as well with their famous Grouper Sandwich on fresh Cuban bread with all the fixings topped off with Key Lime Mayo & a refreshing Key Limeade.
I really miss Garbo's Grill which makes amazingly delicious food & the Cayo Yellowtail Snapper Tacos, Korean BBQ Beef Shortrib Tacos & the []_[]Mami Burger which is 1/2 pound angus, topped with a heirloom tomato, applewood bacon, chipotle gouda on a brioche bun are all absolutely awesome but if you desire pure gluttony, you will drool over the Lando Calrissian which is the []_[]Mami Burger topped with Korean BBQ Beef Shortrib!
My fellow Minnesotan Jordis Unga that I first encountered on RockStar INXS several years ago blessed me in December 2013 with an awesome rendition of "Silent Night" that is stunningly beautiful & takes me back to my roots in Minnesota which meant caroling in the snow & cold but the closest thing to a White Christmas in the desert that is southern Arizona or the Florida Keys or other tropical locations would be the foam of the ocean meeting the sand so instead of snowmen there are sandmen!
Last year in Arizona I was blessed that Christmas Eve brought snow to the Santa Catalina Mountains & Mount Lemmon.
¡No voy a olvidar a mis amigo latinos porque me hace faltan todos de ellos!
Tonight I want to tell you the story of an empty stocking.
Once upon a midnight clear, there was a child's cry, a blazing star hung over a stable, and wise men came with birthday gifts. We haven't forgotten that night down the centuries. We celebrate it with stars on Christmas trees, with the sound of bells, and with gifts.
But especially with gifts. You give me a book, I give you a tie. Aunt Martha has always wanted an orange squeezer and Uncle Henry can do with a new pipe. For we forget nobody, adult or child. All the stockings are filled, all that is, except one. And we have even forgotten to hang it up. The stocking for the child born in a manger. It's HIS birthday we're celebrating. Don't let us ever forget that.
Let us ask ourselves what HE would wish for most. And then, let each put in his share, loving kindness, warm hearts, and a stretched out hand of tolerance. All the shinning gifts that make peace on earth.
"Truly I telly you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of GOD like a little child will never enter it." — MARK 10:15
¡Feliz Cumpleaños Jesús!
I never really liked the song "Happy Birthday" & it's not because last year
on Thanksgiving I passed the half century mark which ended 20+ months as a house parent with GAP Ministries in Oro Valley, Arizona which meant I was not only unemployed but also homeless so of course my wife Martha Luz & I did what any normal couple would do, we took an almost 2 week vacation to Miami & then all the way through the beautiful Florida Keys to Key West!
So...I want to share my favorite song about the birthday of JESUS & since my voice is a bit scratchy today, I will not make you endure hearing me sing which is a good thing as my trying to hit some of the high notes might destroy any crystal glasses in your home.
It was amazing that every time I hear this majestic song, my eyes are filled with tear like that of a crystal clear mountain stream because the LORD has blessed me so richly to know I shall always have a home filled with joy, love, & peace if I worship JESUS as my LORD & SAVIOR!
"As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for YOU, GOD." — PSALM 42:1
I hope that you enjoy "O Holy Night" by Celine Dion
The words are so powerful & are much better than anything that I can come up with so, click on the link & allow yourself a few minutes to truly feel through music what CHRISTmas is all about.
O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear SAVIOR's birth
Long lay the world in sin & error pining
Til HE appeared & the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks, a new & glorious morn
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when CHRIST was born
O night divine
O night, O night divine
Truly HE taught us to love one another
HIS law is love & HIS gospel is peace
Chains HE shall break, for the slave is our brother
And in HIS name, all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy, in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise HIS holy name
CHRIST is the LORD
Their name forever praise we
Noel, Noel
O night, O night Divine
Noel, Noel
O night, O night Divine
Noel, Noel
If you don't want to take the time to click on all those links, I've made it easy to watch each & every video by simply clicking the link below!
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