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.

You Needed Me

I sold my soul, you bought it back for me,
And held me up and gave me dignity.
You Needed Me, Anne Murray, 1978

What does unconditional love look like to you? According to Wikipedia (the online encyclopedia) unconditional love is to love someone regardless of the loved one's qualities or actions. The paradigm of unconditional love is a mother's love for her newborn.

I don't know about you, but I'm not good at unconditional love. Oh, I love people, but certainly their qualities and actions come into play. I am not oblivious to someone's actions enough that their behavior doesn't play a part in how I feel about them. Yet that is what unconditional love is.

God is the perfect example of unconditional love. The Bible puts it this way, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.*" Through sin, I sold my soul. But through Christ's death, he bought it back for me! He held me up and gave me dignity. And He does this for everyone who accepts Him!

You have to have faith. Some people lack faith, and may say to Jesus, "And I can't believe it's true, I can't believe it's you." But I say to Him, "I needed you, and you were there! And I'll never leave. Why would I leave? I'd be a fool. Because I finally found someone who really cares."

In John 15:14, Jesus said, "You are my friends if you do what I command." He even calls us friend. Follow Jesus today. You need him.

Musical Musings:
1. Do you think you are capable of giving unconditional love? How can having Jesus in your life help you be more loving?
2. There are many things we need: Food, clothing, etc. How does you need for a Savior weigh on your mind relative to your other needs?
3. Do you realize how much you need Jesus? Think about the ways you need a Savior in your life. Then thank God for fulfilling that need.

Karaoke:
Dear Lord, I need you! You bought my soul back, with the blood of Jesus. You found me when I was lost. You gave me hope when I didn't have it. You even called me friend! Thank you, Lord, for showing me unconditional love and teach me to have a more loving heart like you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Rock On: Do a word study on the word "need" in the Bible. Look at all the ways God helps the needy and meets our needs.





*Romans 5:8