Who ever Said…

…that you can’t jazz up old hymns has not heard the “Redemption Songs” album by the group “Jars of Clay“. When you grew up like me with Rock – you will appreciate this project. The melody lines and the lyrics are from old, favorite hymns, like “Nothing but the Blood”, “I’ll Fly Away” or the song you can hear here, “I Need Thee Every Hour”, but oh, the arrangements rock!!!! Although I bought this CD for only the one song I truly love (“I’ll Fly Away”), I love the entire album. I give it 5 stars :razz:…

[audio:https://eph2810.com/audio/I%20Need%20Thee%20Every%20Hour.mp3]

Redemption Songs

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You can find me also over at Laced with Grace with my post entitled “Unexpected Kindness” ~ I hope to see you there. Tomorrow I will host “In Other Words” with a quote by Liz Curtis Higgs from her book “Embrace Grace“.

Blessings on your day and as always…

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Merry Christmas, Everyone

Celebration

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” Luke 2:1-20 (ESV)

Please visit my fellow bloggers this Christmas and celebrate with us the true meaning of the season…or add your link if you have posted your nativity for Christmas.

I often ponder how the young girl Mary must have felt after giving birth to the Son of God. Away from home, in a very cool place….

If this is the first year you discover the wonders of the Babe born in the manger, please go here to find out more about the Savior born unto us…Merry Christmas, everyone. May this Christmas be a blessing to you and your family.

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Closer Than You Think…

If you think that He is distant — fear not — He is closer than you think. I had a rough start yesterday, but then I took some time to read His Word…Well, it could not have been more obvious that He is there (considering that my day was falling apart…)

O LORD, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;
many are saying of my soul,
there is no salvation for him in God.
Selah
But you, O LORD, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I cried aloud to the LORD,
and he answered me from his holy hill.
Selah
I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.
I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.
Arise, O LORD!
Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.
Salvation belongs to the LORD;
your blessing be on your people!
Selah” ~ Psalm 3 (ESV)

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So, next time you feel a little down or think He is not there for you — dust of your Bible and feast on His Word.

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On another note…If you like Darlene’s posts on CWO, than you will enjoy her new Blog God, Four Kids, and a Dead Fish Named Sniff…Yup – Darlene is back in the blogging loop. Why don’t you visit her new Blog and say “Hi”…

Blessings on your day and always,

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The Winner is…

Prize Package

It was really hard for me to select a winner for my essay contest. Thankfully I had help from my blogging friend, Sissy at “The Whippoorwill Chronicles“. All entries for this ‘contest’ are wonderfully written and are unique to the gifts God has given us. It gave me some pointers how I might expand my own witnessing…Thank you ladies for your participation. I am forever grateful that you took time out of your busy life to share about your personal witnessing style.

This said, the winner of the essay ‘contest’ is Laurel, from Laurel Wreath. What really struck me personally in her post was this:

“You may find what I say next shocking, but I want to get along with sinners. I want them to feel comfortable around me. I do not excuse any sin in their life, but I don’t want to pretend to be anyone else than who I am…..a sinner saved by grace.” – Please read Laurel’s entire essay — here.

So, Laurel, upon your return from the Valley of the Sun, please drop me an email, so I can get the prize packet to you…

“Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.'” ~ Luke 24:45-49 (ESV)

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