So, me being the Christmas Nut that I am, actually held off this year on watching Christmas movies in the middle of summer and/or listening to Christmas music months before Christmas. =) I'm relieved to know it's finally this time of the year and I get a couple weeks to bask in the Christmas wonderfulness that is the Holidays!  

Jonathan C. introduced this song called Second Chance by Hillsong during worship this past week (Great choice and thanks btw!) and where I thought that song would have no relevence to my first Christmas post of the year, in actuality, it has everything to do with Christmas and why we celebrate it.

You see, without Christ's birth, we wouldn't be able to experience this second chance that He has given us...i would also add, that His birth has not only given us a second chance, but it's given us a 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. chance as well.    

" But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.'" Luke 2:11

" For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

Instead of beginning my 1st Christmas Post of the year with a traditional Christmas Song, I figured, this song works just as well. 




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKIT4KPS-VQ&feature=related

There is so much to be thankful for and to celebrate...Bring on the Christmas Cheer!!

*Correction: Upon watching the initial video i posted, i noticed that there is kind of BIG mistake in the lyrics that changes the meaning of the line written in the song completely..it actually doesn't make sense the way it was wrongly transposed, so, I HAD to change the video even though I liked the other plain simple layout better. The RIGHT lyrics trumps aesthetics. ;)

 Every year, I am always captivated by the bright reds, oranges, and yellow of the foliage here on the east coast.    It always makes me think that sometimes the best lesson in color theory are in the images God has already made for us.    Here are some of the images taken in front of my house and neighborhood.

 "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11 

 
I woke up one morning to this red/pinkish glare coming off the reflections from the tree outside my house.

As a recap to just a part of Pastor Ken's message yesterday, I wanted to read/share about the interview with Shia LaBeouf that was mentioned.  I was intrigued with such openness and honesty that Shia LaBeouf expressed in this interview that echoes so much of the loss, emptiness, insecurities, dissatisfaction, and brokenness experienced by so many- and so it goes...we continue to wander restlessly trying to find what it is that could fill this "God-sized hole..." Read the full interview here:

http://www.parade.com/export/sites/default/celebrity/2009/06/shia-labeouf-mixed-up-life.html_71192263.html

Matthew 11:28-30 (New International Version)