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2019 Christmas Music Marathon – Day 26

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Christmas 2018

The grand kids +1. Our oldest grand daughter and her husband are seated while the remainder of the grand group surround them. This image was taken in the foyer of our church. As you can see, the grand-son-in-law is the only one truly smiling for the camera. Everyone else is just being themselves. Have a very blessed Christmas everyone.

Do you have any special Christmas traditions? Almost as long as I can remember, the churches that my wife and I have attended have had some sort of Christmas Eve service. Our family attends the service. Afterwards, everyone gathers at our home for dinner. Once dinner is finished we assemble in the living room. One or more of the grand kids read the Christmas story from the second chapter of Luke, followed by a prayer and then the exchange of gifts. It is a great family time and one we look forward to each year. May you and your family have a most blessed Christmas and a joyous New Year.

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2019 Christmas Music Marathon – Day 25

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Christmas 2015

There are only a couple of days left in the 2019 Christmas Music Marathon. Thank you for stopping by and listening to the music of the season. Since many will be busy with travel, family and other obligations, I am going to use today to share several of my all-time favorite performances.

O Holy Night is a classic Christmas song and it has been recorded by seemingly every artist in the industry. However, I don’t believe anyone has done a better arrangement and presentation than the powerful tenor voice of Mr. David Phelps.

Another of my all time classic favorites is the hallelujah chorus from Handel’s Messiah. The most creative presentation I have ever viewed and one of the reasons I am actually thankful for the internet and YouTube comes from a flash mob in a shopping mall. The results are stunning. I would love to be caught up in this.

Christmas to many folks is all about family, especially the little ones. Children bring a special joy to the celebration.  It was a child that gave us the reason to celebrate. God promised to bring a Savior into this world and that child would be born of a virgin. I can only imagine how surprised Mary and Joseph were when they found out that God had chosen them to usher the Savior of mankind into this world.

To this day many refuse to believe the truth of the Gospel because is seems such a strange way to save the world, but God told us that He doesn’t think the same as us.“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord” Isaiah 55:8.

While Christmas, like every day, is a day that the Lord has made, it is the day that He fulfilled the prophecy and brought a Savior into our midst and salvation to our hearts. Rejoice and be glad.

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2019 Christmas Music Marathon – Day 22

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The marathon is moving very quickly toward the finish line. I have decided that I will most likely go dark for the week after Christmas. I believe I am going to upgrade and rework the blog site.  So that means there will not be any encore performances this season and since we have one week less between Thanksgiving and Christmas I have a lot of music left to share. Let’s get on with the celebration.

Every married couple that has experienced the birth of their first child knows one thing for sure, a baby changes everything. The circumstances of Christ’s birth not only changed the lives of Mary and Joseph but it was God’s promise fulfilled to change the hearts and lives of all mankind.

2019 Christmas Music Marathon – Day 19

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The Christmas season provides endless photo opportunities. Hopefully, I can get out and about to capture a few images of what is going on around our town. Today was cold, wet, and just generally unpleasant. Tomorrow should be a better day. It’s easy for us to postpone doing things we would like to do  or, more importantly, we need to do, just because it is a bit of an inconvenience. God has provided us with a path to eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. All we have to do is accept that gift through faith. It is the only way to obtain eternal life. The decision is ours and there is no better time than Christmas to make Christ the center of our life. Have a blessed Holiday season.

2019 Christmas Music Marathon – Day 18

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Christmas 2018

The first image includes, standing, our grandson-in-law, his wife (our grand daughter), our daughter and son-in-law. Seated are middle grand daughter, grand son and youngest grand daughter. The bottom image has the grandcrew standing while Nana and I are seated. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.  We truly wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

2019 Christmas Music Marathon – Day 17

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Christmas 2010

One of the blessings of Christmas is family. One blessing that our family has enjoyed is that we live in the same town, so we get to see each other on a somewhat regular basis. My wife and I have been able to watch the grandkids grow  up. We’ve attended baseball games, soccer matches, track meets, dance competitions, choir concerts and more. Each year we get to celebrate Christmas together even if only for the day. My your Christmas be filled with the joy that only family can bring. Merry Christmas.