Is it 2009 or 1980 something?..

Time for new music!

As we enter another year, I thought it would be fun to look back, musically.

I went to a site that listed the top 100 songs for each year in the 80's.

There were tons of great songs to choose from (yes great! I was a teen in the 80's, it will always be great stuff to me). I just picked what sounded like fun to listen to at the moment.

Hope you enjoy them - and I hope they bring a smile to your face as it did me!

Do you remember Adam Ant?!! How about Dexy's Midnight Runners and the Stray Cats?!! Fun stuff!!!

I have to admit, I was enjoying the "new wave / glam pop" music from the early 80's more so than the 'long haired' rock stuff at the end of the decade.

Any favs that you can recall from the 80's?

Truly Wonderful!!

Did you get to watch 'It's A Wonderful Life' this year?

I sometimes take for granted what a terrific movie this is! It is, in my opinion, one of the greatest movies ever with one of the greatest performances ever by Jimmy Stewart!!!!!

I know some years back it was played so frequently that the movie became sort of a holiday cliche. Thankfully, they have now cut back on it's airing (I only saw it listed twice).

(Now if only they'd do that for 'A Christmas Story'... enjoyable, but not nearly the same caliber of movie!)

Although I have seen this picture numerous times, this year the beginning touched me as if I had never seen it before.

Do you recall how it first begins?

It opens with the voices of people lifting up prayers of behalf of the beloved George.

"I owe everything to George Baily. Help him, dear Father."

"Dear God, please help Daddy, he's in trouble."

and so forth..

I have to admit, although I've been a Christian for about 16 years now, I don't think I've ever given any thought as to how our prayers must sound to God.

How cool is it to think that as God sits on His throne, He may be hearing dozens of prayers on your behalf!! Of course, at any given moment, I'm sure He's hearing millions of prayers - but He hears each and every one and gives each His utmost attention (He's so amazing, isn't He?!!!)

It gives new meaning to me when people tell me they'll pray for me. But even more so, it makes me realize just how important it is when I tell someone I will pray for them!!!

I think we can often just sort of say off the cuff 'oh, I'll pray for you." Sometimes I believe it's said because it is the thing to say. When you've heard someone has suffered a tragedy (a death in the family, loss of job etc...) it seems to be the automatic response. I don't think anyone means to not be genuine, but I think sometimes our best wishes can fall short.

But when you stop to think of how it must sound to God when dozens of people are lifting the same person up for the same purpose... WOW!!!

God tells us in Jer. 29:12 - 'You will pray to me and I will hear you.' How cool is that promise?!?!!!

I don't know about you, but in my life there have been many a time in my life when it's been dang near impossible to get a man to hear what I have to say!! But the creator of the world, the one whom holds the whole world in His hand, who knows all, sees all, hears everything I have to say!! He doesn't just hear us (you know how we moms can multi task and hear what one kid is asking while making dinner and fixing the other child's action figure that's lost it's head ..), He gives us His full attention!! He's not distracted as we can be.

I love how Beth Moore words it - ' He treats each of us like His favorite child'

Listen to the beginning part of the Jimmy Stewart classic and see how it affects you.

Have you been on the receiving end of lost of prayers? I know I was earlier this year! How amazing now to think of how that must have sounded to God.

If you have had someone pray for you - drink in just how blessed you are to have had someone go to our heavenly father on your behalf!!!

Just amazing!!!....

"Baby" Jesus

"For unto you this day, in the city of David is born a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord."

People just love babies, don't they? For the most part I mean.

Sure, many a folk would rather not be sitting next to a family with an infant on a flight from Boston to Paris; but to walk by a stroller in the mall and see a tiny little bundled form brings a smile to just about anyone with a heart.

What a wonderful holiday Christmas is. It's easy to celebrate the birth of a baby. This baby happens to be the child of God, born of a virgin and is the savior of the world, but a baby.

Each year, we can look to 'baby Jesus'. It's wonderful and warms the heart.

This is all very good, no GREAT stuff!!!

What boggles my mind, is how we can look to this baby at this time each year, and enjoy him but once this baby becomes a man, we have a hard time hearing about him or talking about him. As long as we keep the word 'baby' before the name of Jesus, people aren't intimidated by him. Do you know what I mean?

Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not shaking my finger at anyone or looking down my nose in a condescending/self righteous manner. I've been on this side before. I get the feeling!

But why is it?

I remember someone saying to me once that talking about Jesus for a lot of people is like entering that room in a distant relatives home that no one is allowed to go in. It's only for the 'adults'. If you go in, you're terrified you'll touch something. It's awkward. Uncomfortable...

Jesus, whether you like to think of him with the word 'baby' before or not, was born with an amazing purpose!!

Yes, He was God incarnate. Emanuel, 'God with us'. But He came to share God's love, show us how to live according to God's plan and to create a path to heaven for us. Hey, He was born and died that we might live! Eternally!!! (John 3:16)

To only worship Him and focus on Him as a baby misses so much!

My friends, please don't miss all that He did for you!!

Let the celebration of Christmas be that of the beginning of your journey with Christ, and not the only part.

Be like the Wise Men of the East, and let this season of Christ's birth start your journey.

THE WISE STILL SEEK HIM!!

God bless you my friends - and I pray that you will have a beautiful Christmas and that your hearts will fill to overflowing with the love and hope of Jesus Christ!!

"What do people notice about you?"

This is the question asked in the new Miracle Ear commercial.

The responses from the various actors go something like this:

"My devotion to my family."

"My love for animals."

"My smile."

"My zest for life."

"That I'm a good friend and a good listener."

And on it goes.

Great commercial, isn't it? How nice that what each person (although I do realize these are actors paid to give these up beat responses) when asked to give one thing people notice about them, all give very positive answers. What great self-esteem!

What was the first thought that went through my head before I even heard the first answer from the people in the commercial? "That I'm fat."

That was the first thing that came to mind. You know, like when you do word association. "Cat... dog" "Up.... down" "Fall... Fruity Pebbles" (I think a sea of fall foliage looks like a bowl of Fruity Pebbles... you may see a problem developing..)

After sticking with the commercial after my initial reaction, I felt a little ashamed of myself that my first thought was so negative. After all, if these paid, scripted actors can come up with positive answers, why can't I?

Here's the question - can I think of positive things about myself that others may notice? Yes.

The Bible tells us: Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philipians 4:8

So in an effort to think of the positive, here are some things I think others may notice about me.

I'm a good mother & wife.

I love God.

I am loyal.

I have a good sense of humor.

I'm a pretty good cook/baker.

Ok, now it's your turn. What do people notice about you? Keep it positive!!