Frosty the Snowman, Musical Monday

He lead them down the streets of town,
right to the traffic cop.
And he only paused a moment when he
heard him holler "Stop!"
Frosty the Snowman, Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys, 1950

Frosty the Snowman is one of the feel good winter songs! What a fun concept that a snowman would come to life and lead everyone on a parade right through town! Imagine the joy and excitement of kiddies! Frosty the Snowman is a fairytale they say. He was made of snow but the children know how he came to life one day.

As Christians, we face non-believers who think Jesus is a fairy tale. But we know how he came to life one day! And that is the day we celebrate every December 25th. That isn't the actual date he came to life, in a stable as a baby, but it's the day we celebrate the event. Imagine the joy of the Jesus' parents, the shepherds, and the angels.

But that is just the beginning of the story. As Christians, we can't help but look ahead. We know what's coming. Because coming to life isn't what saved us. It was coming to his death, and resurrection, that we received eternal life.

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a colt, as the crowd cheered "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" and the Pharisees tried to get Jesus to quiet the crowd. He lead them down the streets of town right to the traffic cop, and he only paused a moment when he heard him holler, "Stop!" Oh, the pharisees tried to holler stop alright, but Jesus only paused a moment to tell them that even the rocks would cry out if the people stopped.

Jesus was crucified, died, buried, and rose again. He walked the earth to show his resurrection, and then he went back to heaven. As believers, we don't have to mourn his leaving, because we know (like Frosty the Snowman)...he'll be back again some day!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

He sees you when you're sleeping,
He knows when you're awake.
He knows if you've been bad or good,
so be good for goodness sake.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town, J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, 1934

Tis the Season! Many a mom and dad have garnered good behavior from their wee ones by simply uttering the phrase, "Santa is watching!" Children suddenly behave well, for fear of Santa putting them on the naughty list, and receiving coal in their stocking.

Interestingly, I've never heard a parent say, "Jesus is watching you." The funny thing Jesus really does see you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good. That's where the similarities with Santa seem to end.

Santa writes you off when you're bad. You're on the naughty list. Yet somehow, Santa's idea of good versus bad must be flawed. We've all know a bratty child who gets a pony (or at least a new bike) for Christmas. Likewise, plenty of "good," yet poor children get nothing for Christmas. Santa doesn't always come through.

Jesus knows if you've been bad or good. He knows full well. Yet, he loved us while we were still sinners and died on the cross because we could never be good enough. Jesus doesn't base our gift, the gift of Salvation, on our being good or bad. He bases it on our faith in Him. Yes, he does want us to be good and to do good. But when we miss the mark, we still get the gift of salvation.

Musical Musings:
1. Do you realize the because of God's grace, our salvation is not merit based?
2. How does this change your idea of what being good is about?
3. Following God should produce a change in you, and that change produce good things. Ask God to help you today.

Karaoke:
Lord, you know all, you see all. You see every bad thing I do. Forgive me Lord. Thank you for allowing me to receive forgiveness through Jesus. I don't deserve it. You are a good God. Help me be more like you daily. In Jesus name, Amen.

Rock on: Read about life by the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit, that comes from living a life changed by God in Galatians 5.

Blog Carnival - My Tree

I'm participating in a blog carnival. That simply means someone had an idea to do something, and invited all the other bloggers to do it too, and link up. So in this case, the someone was Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee, the something is to share a photo of your Christmas tree, so I thought, Yes, I will! Tis the season.

So here is my tree, with my pups in front of it.

Okay, so it's mostly the pups. So here are a few more photos for your viewing pleasure.

Here is my nativity scene, which I love. Yes, the photo is date stamped 2008. Why take a new photo of it, when I had one in my file. But the tree photos above are from this year, really! The golden retriever was a puppy last year (just 3 months old) and is now a 72 pound one year old.

This is my porcelain church which sits next to the nativity. Another favorite.

One of the EXCITING things that happens in my neighborhood at Christmas is that SANTA comes on the firetruck. And last night happened to be the night he came and I taped it just for YOU. It's very exciting with lots of fire trucks, and Santa on top waving. My kids love this memory. One June we heard a fire truck siren in the distance, and my then 4 yr old said, "I think I hear Santa!" They equate the the sirens with Santa, and that isn't a bad thing.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TIME!


Video of Santa: (If you receive my blog posts via email, you may have to visit my blog to view.)
www.chattykelly.com

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Someday some we all will be together,
if the fates allow. Until then,
we'll have to muddle through somehow.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Judy Garland, 1944

Fate. Do you believe in fate, karma or destiny? Fate is the universal principle or ultimate agency by which the order of things is presumably prescribed. Karma is the cosmic principle according to which each person is rewarded or punished according to their own deeds. Destiny, much like fate, is a power that determines the course of events.

Imagine having to rely on the fates to see each other again. And until, we'll have to muddle through somehow. I don't know about you, but just "muddling through" until fate happens seems like a hopeless cause. And karma, being punished according to my own deeds is even worse! Yes, I am a "good person" perhaps by worldly standards, but compared to perfection I fall far, far short.

I am thankful that I have Jesus in my life. With Jesus, I don't have to "muddle though." I can live triumphantly, filled with the joy and peace of a Savior. I know the hope that comes from knowing and believing that I am loved unconditionally and don't have to face the punishment I deserve for my sins.

This Christmas season, don't just muddle through somehow. Put your faith in Jesus...and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas now!

Musical Musings:
1. According to Wikipedia, "if the LORD allows" was part of the original song, and was purged and replaced with "if the fates allow" to remove religious reference when the song was released. Consider how the world continues to try to remove the Lord from our lives.
2. Do you put your faith in God? If not, how are you muddling through without Him?
3. Spend some time in the Bible this season, so you can not just survive but thrive this Christmas season.

Karaoke:
Dear Lord, forgive me for not putting my faith in you enough. I want to be filled with faith so that I don't have to muddle through but can life a life fulfilled by you. In Jesus name, amen.

Rock On: Read Romans 5, to find out how much God loves you, and why you can have hope because of that.

Watch the video of Judy Garland singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

Cecil Murphey - Radio Call in Show Info

The following information is about Cecil Murphey's call in show. He is a great Christian writer, and you may recall I was ALMOST in his Christmas Miracles book, as I blogged about it here.

Bestselling Authors Join Forces Again
Call-Ins Welcome

(Bettendorf, IA) — Name that title. This book is now in its fifth year on the New York Times' bestseller list. It's sold more than five million copies and has been translated into 40+ languages. A feature film is in the works. The book? 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper and Cecil Murphey.

Piper will join Murphey on the new Toginet online radio show, Cec And Me on Tuesday, December 7th. Tune in to learn how the authors connected—the birth of a multi-book project and their mutually-respected relationship.

Listeners are welcome to call in with questions or comments, with opportunities to win free books. Piper and Murphey offer comfort and wisdom from their vast source of life experience with heartache, pain and loss. These men live out the phrase, “I feel your pain.” This show is certain to deliver grace-filled strength.

More about The Cec And Me Show: Billed as a delightful, thoughtful, serious, and not so serious call-in show with Cecil (Cec) Murphey and Twila Belk, the show promises a blend of fun and a variety of topics, including tough issues such as cancer, caregiving, and sexual abuse, as well as lighter topics such as writing and Christmas miracles.

The far-reaching, refreshing, faith-based, shared conversation and call-in show offers:
An inside look at the “Man Behind the Words.” This patriarch in the publishing industry shares from his life of words—over 100 books and going strong.

Special guests who've been impacted by Cec in some way—people who in turn impact others—authors, speakers, pastors, ministry leaders and more.

A wide range of topics—tough issues, practical helps, encouragement, inspiration, hope, and some fun thrown in for good measure.

The opportunity to call in with your questions and comments.

About Cecil (Cec) Murphey: Murphey is an international speaker and bestselling author who has written or co-written more than 100 books, including Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (with Dr. Ben Carson). His books have sold millions and have given hope and encouragement to countless people around the world. Many writers claim Murphey as their mentor or the father of their writing.

About Twila Belk: Belk is a writer, inspirational speaker, and conference director who also works fulltime with Murphey as his manager and personal assistant. She serves as the show’s host.

Check out this clip for more details of Cec And Me:

Date Night

I love my husband. But I can take him for granted at times. Even though I see him every morning and every evening, sometimes we don't make enough real time for each other. We become like room mates passing in the hall.

But then we schedule a "date night." We get a sitter, and I get "gussied up" just for him. Instead of my normal yoga pants or jeans, I put on something fancier. I ditch the tennis shoes for some pumps. When we go out for our "date night" we can look into each others eyes without interruption. We have real conversations, and renew our love for each other.

So, are you & God having a "date night?" I love God, but I can take Him for granted at times too! Even thought I see Him in everything I do, sometimes I don't make real time for Him.

But when I schedule a "date" with God, I make time to look into His Word, and have a real conversation with Him, I renew my love for Him. And I don't even have to change out of my yoga pants.

Why not schedule a date with God, and renew your love for Him?

Domestic Diva

I've never been good at "domestic" stuff. Cooking, cleaning, decorating, crafting....one can say I was challenged in these areas. So I decided to embrace my non-domestic ways. Me? Cook? Ha, never. I am woman, hear me roar! I became part of the feminist movement that says I don't have to do these things. Truth is, I was never trained. Growing up with a mentally ill mother left me challenged. But then something changed.

I joined a cooking co-op. If I would cook dinner just 1 night a week, for myself & three other families, then 3 nights a week I would have dinner delivered to me by another family. To someone who hated (aka can't!) cook this was a dream come true. What happened next was truly a surprise.

Join me over at Titus 2 in Action to find otu what happened next.