Seven Words of Christmas: The Joyful Prophecies that Changed the World by Robert Morris Book Review

In Seven Words of Christmas, Robert Morris explored the power of the number seven in the Bible and how this number means completion and perfection. It took God seven days to create the world, seven golden lampstands, and seven bowls found in Revelations. There are also seven key prophetic words surrounding the greatest birth the world has ever heard of, the miraculous birth of Jesus. These included: salvation, favor, blessed, guidance, joy, redemption, and peace. The book also looked at the Christmas story of Jesus but he also included how Mary, Joseph, Zacharias, Elizabeth, Simeon, and Anna all fit into the story. 

 

 

 

He begins the book by explaining the story of Elizabeth and Zacharias and how it led the story of salvation. They were an older couple who didn’t have any children and, in that time, and culture people could be judged. Back then women who was childless was viewed as less than and if their husband was to die before then they would be looked at as charity. They couldn’t own property or handle the money. One day, Gabriel appeared and told him that God heard his prayer and that they would have a son and he would be called, John. He would become a special forerunner to the Messiah who was to come. Zacharias explained to him that he was old and his wife couldn’t bear any children. Because he refused to believe the message that was spoken, he became mute until the words were fulfilled. Eventually, she conceived and had a child, named John. Robert explained how in that culture the child normally takes the name of his father and some of the people around them was confused by this dramatic change. Next, he also goes into detail about how Mary was told and how she would give birth to Jesus. 

 

 

 

 

I would recommend this awesome Christmas devotional type book to anyone who is eager to learn more about this joyful birth of our Savior and how we can have hope of one day of being with Him forever. I immensely enjoyed how he connected other stories to Jesus and His birth and how prophecies were being fulfilled and how everything come together. I liked the 7 words he used to describe the story of Christmas and how the words can still change our lives. I loved how Robert included some personal stories from his own life and some of these were Christmas stories. I connected with the one Christmas that they couldn’t afford to buy their kids gifts and he explained to God how upset he was at Him. God helped to change his perceptive and how he instead found true joy. He shared how they relied on God’s leading and instead prayed over their children and asked God what spiritual gifts to empower over their children. This turned out to be the most important Christmas gift they ever received and remembered.

 

 

"I received this book free from the publisher, Hachette Book Group/Faithwords for my honest review.” 

 

 

 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Seven Words of Christmas, check it out on Amazon.com:

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Words-Christmas-Prophecies-Changed/dp/1546017291/

Christmas in the Country CD Review and Giveaway

 

I’m a member of the Family Christian Bloggers and they provided me with a free copy of Christmas in the Country.

 

Christmas in the Country is a collection of songs from popular country artists featuring, Randy Travis, Travis Tritt, LeAnn Rimes, Little Texas, Steve Holy, Kenny Rogers and Wynonna, John Michael Montgomery, Clay Walker, Bryan White, Holly Dunn, Kathy Mattea, The Bellamy Brothers, Neal McCory, Big & Rich, and Glen Campbell.

 

The album starts off with Randy Travis – Meet Me under the Mistletoe. This song has the vibe of classic country. The song is about falling in love and meeting your lover under the mistletoe and who doesn’t want to receive a romantic kiss as a first gift! I know, I do!!

The second is a classic radio hit featuring vocals from Travis Tritt called Santa Looked a lot like Daddy. It’s a humorous Christmas song and this one is about a boy witnessing his mommy kissing Santa and he is confused as to why.

The third song is one by LeAnn Rimes and it’s the classic White Christmas. This one makes me recall watching out the window and seeing snow falling and everyone is getting ready to go out after they unwrap their gifts. LeAnn Rimes does an excellent job hitting all of the high notes in this song and her voice is simplify stunning.

Track number four is Here Comes Santa Claus by Little Texas. This one has a country rock feeling to the track and it makes you want to rock out waiting for Santa to deliver presents. I also like how this one talked about how peace would come to all if we would follow the light and giving thanks to God for our many blessings and how we all God’s children.

The five song is one by Steve Holy and Jingle Bell Rock reminded me of an oldies tune mixed with today’s music. The guitar licks in this song is amazing and it makes you to want to get up and dance.

Track six is a duet by Kenny Rogers and Wynonna called Mary Did You Know and this song gives me chills. This one asks the question to Mary if she knew the child, Jesus she was carrying was going to change the world.

Track seven is a classic song called Santa Claus is Coming to Town by John Michael Montgomery. I especially miss hearing John Michael Montgomery on the radio. I liked how this version had a wonderful piano solo part and kids will love his voice. Track eight is a soulful song called Please Come Home for Christmas by Clay Walker. This one is about begging your lover to return home by Christmas or at least by New Years. Clay Walker sings this one with such passion like he’s lived this song! It also has magnificent guitar riffs towards the end of the song that really bring the song alive. Track nine is a classic song recorded by many artists called I’ll Be Home for Christmas. I really enjoyed the violin parts that added a sad ambiance and longing to get home to be with your family and friends. Track ten is a Latino song called Feliz Navidad by Holly Dunn. It had a nice drumbeat in the middle of the song. It makes listeners to want to dance along to the track. Track eleven is a song called the Christmas Song by Kathy Mattea. I love the instruments in this track and it sounds like a classic country Christmas song.

Track twelve is by the Bellamy Brothers – Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree. There isn’t a song that the Bellamy Brothers can’t cover. This one has a rocky edge to it that country lovers will love! Track thirteen is one called Merry Christmas Darling by Neal McCoy. This was the first time that I have ever heard this Christmas song and I like how it described the perfect Christmas scene of being by the cozy fire. Track fourteen is by Big & Rich – Blue Christmas and it has such a rock feeling throughout the entire song and it’s different than the typical version of Blue Christmas. I like this version way better and the guitar parts blew me away with how epic they sounded. Track fifteen is called Brightest And Best by Glen Campbell and this one is about shepherds travelling to meet our Savior. It gives me the Heavenly in awe feeling!   I would recommend this amazing country Christmas album especially to any country music fans who are fans of classic country and today’s country. It has the perfect mix of both styles of artists. Even if you’re not a huge country music lover the album is still enjoyable. I really like how this album had classic Christmas tunes and some new songs that I haven’t heard before. The songs are all family friendly and everyone will adore listening to these by the fire. My top five songs are Santa Looked a lot like Daddy, Here Comes Santa Claus, Mary Did You Know, Please Come Home for Christmas, and Blue Christmas. If you’re looking for a wonderful produced album featuring great country artists, then check out this CD! Family Christian has graciously provided me with a Family Christian $10 appreciation certificate to giveaway to a luck reader!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Paper Angels: A Novel By Jimmy Wayne with Travis Thrasher

Paper Angels is a story based on the concept of the Salvation Army angel tree program. The Salvation Army angel tree program is a program that helps needy children get Christmas presents. Most of these children wouldn't be getting any presents without the help of people who care. People can pick up a paper angel from one of the Christmas paper angel trees. They buy the presents for the children out of the kindness of their hearts. They are changing lives and they don't even realize the positive impact it will have on these children. Jimmy Wayne has written this story to bring awareness to this wonderful life changing program. He was a child who was apart of the paper angel program growing up. He has witnessed the impact it had on his life and he had to share it with others. It is a fiction book but it is also based on the true meaning of the angel tree program.


Thomas Brandt is the one of the main characters in this Christmas story. Thomas has a father who is addicted to drinking alcohol. His mother got abused and hit by her husband. She eventually wised up and decided to take her two children and leave. Thomas and his sister, Sara realized that their whole lives are about to change. They move to a small trailer where they don't have very much. Thomas is also getting picked on at his new school by a bully. He wears the same clothes every day and they aren't new. He is made fun of during school and the attacks eventually escalates to online bullying.


The second main character is Kevin Morrell. His business is struggling to survive in the tough economy. His wife is having twins soon and he is about to be without a job and income. The wife sees the angel tree and talks her husband into picking an paper angel off the tree. 


Both of these familes lives are about to change forever. The story will show you the true meaning of Christmas and why it's important to be kind all year long. Everyone is hurting in some way and we can help change the world if we listen and help one another.


I immensely enjoyed reading this book. I felt changed after reading it. Kindness and love are important to have towards one another. This book is a true Christmas meaning story. But we must also keep the kindness all year long. I needed to be reminded to be thankful for what I do have. Someone always has it worst than I have. I have been blessed with so much and I need to start giving some back! This is a life humbling and awakening novel. It also has a wonderful idea on how to stop some bullying. How Thomas turns that around will touch everyone and cause them to think about their own lives. It's a true story about kindness and forgiveness. I think every teenager and adult should read Paper Angels and learn what kindness really is. This book is so good that it needs to be made into a Christmas movie in a few years! Let's really love each other and show kindness!




Salvation Army Paper Angels Interview

http://youtu.be/kmKcUngRvKU






Jimmy Wayne Interview about Paper Angels:

http://youtu.be/Sy9WQoqoiXQ


Jimmy Wayne-Paper Angels

http://youtu.be/-UVIZpRm8ks

HELP: WORST Christmas Gifts

Hello, fellow Bloggers!!!


Please share with your friends and vote for me in the Worst Christmas gifts!!! You can vote once per day!!!

http://apps.facebook.com/radioshackholiday/contests/172068/voteable_entries/39644667 

I received a homemade Skunk, a Homemade Santa that says England, a watch that the battery was already dead, a Candy Cane door hanger, a homemade knitted hat that doesn’t hit, an abs cruncher (I don’t know what they were implying), a talking Christmas tree with a motion sensor that screams Christmas carols at you, a singing stuffed animal, a weather thermometer that moves these rain drops up and down.  But you can’t even tell what the correct temperature is. It only has 68, 72, 76, 80 degrees! I guess, the temperature can only be hot and not above 80 degrees and not under 68 degrees!

Thanks so much for your help!!!

Andrew


What are some of the worst and best gifts you have received at Christmas?

Christmas Questions

Tricia Goyer is releasing Remembering You soon and to celebrate she is doing a Christmas Contest.


If you want to participate check it out below:


http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/2011/12/remembering-you-holiday-meme-chance-to.html



Here are my answers to these questions:


1. What's your favorite holiday song?

My favorite holiday song is Carol of the Bells. As a child, the Addam's Family Movie was the first place that introduced me to the song. I love the choir and heavenly feeling it brings. I am also glad one of my favorite artists, Mandisa recorded part of the song on her Christmas CD.


2. What's your favorite holiday tradition?

My favorite holiday tradition is putting up the tree with my mother and listening to Christmas songs.


3. If you could travel one place with an elderly family member where would you go?

I would go to Tennessee. I have always loved seeing the Smokey Mountains and Pigeon Forge. The Smokey Mountains are breathtaking and adventurous! 


4. What questions would you ask?

I would ask them about how they grew up and how they lived their life to the fullest.


5. What is a non-tangible gift have you received from an elderly relative?

I received wisdom about their life lessons and struggles they have to go through and overcome.


6. What is the best/worst/strangest gift you've received from an elderly relative?

My best gift was spending time with them and learning about their life.



Now share your answers!  

The Christmas Spirit by Joel Osteen Book Review

The Christmas Spirit is a collection of Christmas time stories. Joel Osteen shared stories and memories about his family and how they celebrated Christmases when he was a young boy. His mother and father always made the major decision to tell the Osteen kids about Jesus being born for the whole wide world. Joel Osteen and his brothers and sisters did get some Christmas presents growing up. But the Osteen children were taught values that continued and made them who they are today. Joel’s father, John Osteen gave Joel, his brother, and his sisters a special Christmas present to share with one another and to teach them a virtue. Joel Osteen also gave a similar gift to his son and daughter, because it meant so much to Joel when he received it from his father. Joel Osteen informed his readers about Victoria’s Christmas traditions. Victoria would always travel to see her family at Christmas time. Joel Osteen will make you think about Christmas as a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. He also believes in spending quality time with your family and never taking them for granted. Joel Osteen conveys the message of Christmas throughout The Christmas Spirit.

I liked this book because it told stories and memories about Christmas from Joel and Victoria Osteen. I found out that we both celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. I think the whole world needs to hear the message of Christ. This book is a great one to read during the Christmas Holiday. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the Christmas season! In addition, I would recommend it as a gift to give someone else for Christmas. Joel Osteen shares his memories of Christmas in a way that will make you want to spend quality time with your family. His book will inspire you to make every day count and every Christmas needs to be enjoyed because it might be someone’s last.

Here is the trailer for the book, The Christmas Spirit:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m2RR9QIDGJ67N2/ref=ent_fb_link

If you would like to purchase a copy of The Christmas Spirit by Joel Osteen it is available at Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Spirit-Memories-Family-Friends/dp/1439198330/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_4

Christmas Time Thankful

Christmas time is when the cold air starts breezing around your neck. You just wish you had that new scarf to wrap around your neck. You hang the stocking for Santa near the cozy fireplace. Kids getting up at 5 a.m. to open their presents. Parents filming it for everyone to see. Then after the presents we just stop it all.

Christmas is over for that year. Then we got back to busy lives. One thing I know about Christmas is it brings families together. Most of us like our families some don’t. But something I have always heard was you can’t pick your families. (They pick you) Okay so maybe that’s not entirely true. Sure some of your parents might have returned you. If they could have. Maybe sometimes you wish they would have. But that’s not what matters. What truly matters is your alive aren’t you. (Or you couldn’t be reading this) So why not live and love a little.

But I want Christmas to never change- being with family, singing Christmas carols, opening presents, giving gifts, loving people, and sharing the cheer with everyone. There’s nothing like that. It only comes once a year. But then we tend to get caught up with our busy lives.

Christmas for some would mean the following:
1.More traffic (GET OUT OF THE WAY)
2.Rude people (People who think that’s what Christmas is) (I heard this one to many times-I’m the Customer hurry up the checkout line)
3.What am I getting for Christmas (Selfish)- It’s cute but when your 4 years old but some people need to grow up – Me Included
4.Scarier times- (Some people are just crazy-some would love to take things from you)

I understand we are all busy. But our kids are watching us. Most of them would just be happy to spend time with you. Some people work way too much to climb the ladder of success. We all were affected by how fast the economy fell. Climbing the ladder didn’t help us not fall.

Sure kids want some toys too. But they don’t have to have that $600 new toy. I will give you a hint. Here it is…. Technology and trends change every minute. So if you miss one toy there is just going to be a better one that always comes out. Did I mention the old one will be cheaper by that time? Overpriced much?

Kids only need love. Wrong. Didn’t know I was quizzing you did you? Everyone needs love. That is the real season of the holiday after all. Isn’t it?

Most things in life are only a season that’s why Spring must come where Christmas can fade away.
We freely give during Christmas but afterwards most of us tend to stop. Some of us go back to our old ways. We get caught up in life. We don’t think about visiting our family. We just think oh I will see them at Christmas again next year. Well what if their gone. Is it too late then? I am guilty of it too. Not loving others and letting them know it. Sometimes it takes a bad thing to turn us around and see ourselves for who we really are. But God graciously forgives us when we fail. Not once but every time. All you have to do is ask.

But you can’t love people if you don’t know how too. But that’s just an excuse. You know what love is look into your heart. When you see a homeless man getting food. When you see kids light up when you hug them. Some of us have gone through a lot. We all have made mistakes. We can’t begin to comprehend how someone could love. Maybe someone hasn’t loved you as would have like them too. But there is someone whose love never changes. GOD! He always forgives us.

38 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,” 39 “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 (King James Version)

29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.” 30 “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” 31 “Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31 (King James Version)

14 “For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] One died for all, then all died;” 15 “And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (Amplified Bible)

16-18 “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.” John 3:16 (The Message)

19 “We love Him, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (Amplified Bible)

One of my favorite shows did something on helping others. It’s called What Would You Do? Linda Hamilton is a homeless lady and she was one of the only ones trying to help this man on the street. She didn’t have anything to give herself. But she tried everything to get people to help this guy on the street.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49YQhTLoGuA

If you would like to read the update on how Linda is doing. Here’s the link:

http://abcnews.go.com/WhatWouldYouDo/story?id=7125839&page=1

“Oh, the smallest thing can make all the difference Love is alive, don't listen to 'em when they say
You're just a fool Just a fool to believe you can change the world The world's so big it can break your heart And you just want to help not sure where to start So you close your eyes, and send up a prayer into the dark.” Carrie Underwood-Change

If you would like to listen to a song about helping people here’s one below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JASx1gVnqkc

You may be wondering what is love. Love has no distance. If you truly love someone you would do anything for them. Even if it’s something you know would help them in the future. (That’s called tough love)

1 “I THEREFORE, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to and beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the [divine] calling to which you have been called [with behavior that is a credit to the summons to God's service, 2 “Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another.Ephesians 4:1-2 (Amplified Bible)

We have soooooo much to be thankful for.
1.If you have a house your going pretty good
2.If you have a car at least you don’t have to walk everywhere
3.If you have a Family at least you have people who love you
4.If you have water to drink you have clean water
5.If you have pet that’s one less pet without a home
6.If you have food at least you have some food to eat
7.If you have a bed at least you’re not sleeping on the ground
8.If you have friends at least you have some people to hang out with
9.If you’re able to get out of bed
10.If you get to go to school

Okay I will stop with ten but you get the point. We take a lot for granted. Someone would love to have any of those things. Some have nothing. Some of them would give anything to trade their lives for yours. We all need to realize how lucky we have it. I know a lot of us don’t have that much money to give. But time is sometimes more valuable. All some people need is love and someone to care about them.

“Lookin at the hand of the time we’ve been given here This is all we got and we gotta start pickin it
Every second counts on a clock that’s tickin’ Gotta live like we’re dying We only got 86 400 seconds in a day to Turn it all around or throw it all away We gotta tell ‘em that we love ‘em While we got the chance to say Gotta live like we’re dying.” Kris Allen-Live Like We're Dying http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3N5CsXYlCk

There’s always something to be positive about just take a look around. Take time to enjoy the Holiday season but most of all enjoy life to the fullest. You only got one shot at life. It’s your choice on how you are going to live it.

God Bless,
Andrew