Waiting my turn in line at the grocery store I saw a teaser line on the front of a magazine, “Never Before Seen Photos…” Really?!? How did you take them, how many editors and publishers, printers, packers and deliverers… I guess we’re not that important if we aren’t counted. But then again we’re supposed to be influenced and swayed to buy their magazine based on that juicy front page phrase. What does that say about us?
Really?!
January 27th, 2010My favorite carol lyric…
January 6th, 2010the one(s) with the name “Jesus” in them.
There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12
carols
December 23rd, 2009Hark the Herald has this line near the beginning, “God and sinners reconciled.” God reconciling sinners is an incredible truth. God, who knew no sin, who is just made a way for sinners, who were enemies. Only a God powerful and loving could do that. What a great God we have who would make a way for us.
A verse or two later in the same carol we find, “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel.” This is how God reconciled sinners. He came in the flesh. God incarnated. Unique to Christianity,this doctrine sets God apart and yet is so personal. He can relate to our lives, stress, disappointment, good times and bad. What a God!
Another carol
December 21st, 2009O Holy Night is another great carol with a profound message. Read this line with fresh eyes, “Long lay the world, in sin and error pining; ’til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.”
In the midst of our “empty way of life” we didn’t know much; cyclical sin, despair and pride. But, when Jesus appeared our soul felt something. This event has broader consequences than any other cute little baby’s birth. Worth and value have now taken on a spiritual dimension and our souls feel it. Life in abundance is what Jesus came to bring. Live it this Christmas!
Carols…
December 20th, 2009You hear them over and over during the season but I hope your spirit is awakened and jolted when you hear these familiar but powerful words. Silent Night is an annual favorite and there is a line in the song which describes Jesus as “…Love’s pure light.” Isn’t that awesome! Love…God. Pure…holy, blameless, unblemished. Light…no shadows or darkness.
God has given a gift that gives light to the soul. Amazing.
Carol lyrics cont’d
December 11th, 2009I love the declaration voiced in a line from I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day, “God is not dead nor doth He sleep!” What a line in the midst of a Christmas carol. You can hear the note from a bell that starts with the muted thump of the knocker hitting against the side of a giant bell and then the swelling sound of that specific note ringing out.
The “thump” of meaning from this line voices a powerful truth as God’s silence between the testaments has been broken with the Word. He’s at work with purpose redeeming the world. He’s giving his only Son to show His love. Can you hear the bells?
Carol lyrics cont’d…
December 10th, 2009How about the line in Little Drummer Boy, “…then, he smiled at me.” We all love a little baby’s smile they are so cute and that response from your little one melts your heart because he/she is responding and recognizing you. Also, there is that smile that is full of approval at your thoughtful gift opening presents, sitting around the tree at Christmas.
However in this line we have the King of the world smiling approval, recognition and more; so much more! May we know his smile more this season than ever!
Christmas carol lyrics
December 8th, 2009i’m going to post a few times a week, I know shocking, but since it is Christmas time the songs and their lyrics are filling the airwaves. From time to time I’ll hear a song and get stuck in thought at the depth and wonder of its meaning. That result leads to more and deeper worship and gratitude to God for Christ and Christmas.
First, there is a line in Rocking Around the Christmas Tree that mentions in a “new, old fashioned way.” That contradiction in terms makes me think about the traditions of Christmas with my family. At some point we do new things that are old and they become ours. New couples blend their family traditions of songs, presents and meals and create a new identity and new favorites. What a great time of year.
God did a new, old fashioned way when he sent Jesus. There had been gifts but this one was greater than all. There had been babies but this one was better than all. There had been sacrifices but this one superseded them all. I’m glad God did something new. Now we may become new creations…
Decorating
October 21st, 2009It seems everyday something pops up in front yards all over the place as I drive around suburbia in Northwest Houston. I mentioned it a couple of months ago about yard art but this is seasonal stuff, and not just fall. It is Halloween.
There are skeletons and jack o’ lanterns. cats and spiders, ghosts and ghouls and inflatables. A myriad of colors black, orange along with greens, yellows and eery blood red dominate trees, lawns and porches. They range from playful to a kind of “fun” scary to horror movie worthy.
I continue to be baffled by the amount of time, money and great lengths of thought people go to put up a couple of scarecrows and spider’s webs in their yard for a couple of weeks.
Then, just when I thought I’d seen it all there were handmade “ghosts” of white tissue paper(?) wrapped around a ball and hung on the shrubs. Oh, the ingenuity…
Run or walk?
September 22nd, 2009Do you get less wet if you run in the rain from your car to the door or walk? All without an umbrella of course…
Running you’re not out in the rain as long…
But walking only those falling straight on you hit you…
Doesn’t count if you splash in a big puddle on the way in.