Top 5 Friday - Favorite Christmas Albums

Happy Friday my friends!  I got this idea from Annieblogs so I thought I would start it on my blog as well.


TOP 5 FRIDAY is when we each list five of our favorite things, depending on the topic. Feel free to join in via the comments or by posting on your own blog and linking back here. Play along. It’s Friday.

Since it is now officially the Christmas season I thought I would share my top 5 favorite Christmas albums.

1. Amy Grant - A Christmas Album

I grew up listening to this album with my family at Christmas.  These songs will never get old to me.  Actually, all of Amy's Christmas albums are my all-time favorites, but in fairness I will just list one..haha.

2. Chris Tomlin - Glory in the Highest

Chris does an excellent job with this album and helps one to remember what the true meaning of Christmas is about.  

3. Josh Groban -Noel
Beautiful. This album takes me back to Christmas 2007 when I was living in Columbia with Courtney.  We decorated for Christmas and listened to this album for hours.  Josh sings some beautiful Christmas classics on this one.

4. Celine Dion - These Are the Special Times
I have been listening to this album for years and will never grow tired of it.
5. Matt Wertz - Snow Globe

One of my favorite singer-songwriters released a Christmas album this year.  I have to say that it is quickly becoming one of my favorites.  It is an album that I will be listening to for years to come...LOVE it!

A Spirit of Thanksgiving Day 6

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends! As I am writing this I am watching "The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," and smelling the wonderful aroma of all the foods that mom is cooking for lunch with the family.  Where ever you may be on this holiday I hope that you take some time to remember all that you have to be thankful for.  


Today I am thankful for my relationship with Jesus Christ and what He did for all of us on the cross.  I am thankful for His grace and mercy that He gives me each day.  


I am also thankful for my family who I will see and spend time with today. One fun tradition that our family has done for years is sing what we call "The Thanksgiving Song."  My mom originally started singing it to her sister when they were young to annoy her and it has just stuck. "Today is Turkey Day it's Ellen's holiday, and we will laugh and sing and do all kinds of things" (There is your blog shout-out auntie! You are the best and I love you!).  


Read Psalm 136 and be thankful. :)

A Spirit of Thanksgiving Day 5

Today is Thanksgiving Eve and I could not be more excited about the next few days.  Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and I am looking forward to it.  I am thankful that I will get to:
- Spend quality time with my family
- Enjoy conversations with people that I do not get to see often.
- The Thanksgiving meal.  I may be a bit biased but I think my mom's cooking is the best.  I only hope I can cook like she does one day.  
- Shopping and the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season.
- Watch football with the family.  I am addicted and I love it! :)


What things are you looking forward to about the holiday?

A Spirit of Thanksgiving Day 4

Over the last couple days I have been humbled and encouraged by how much I have to be thankful for.  


Things I am thanking God for Today are:
- Forgiveness

- Missionaries who proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.
- The military who continue to fight each day so we can keep our freedom.

- Singleness 
- Unexpected notes of encouragement
- My health


What are you thankful for today?  I would love to hear how God is blessing and using you. :)

A Spirit of Thanksgiving Day 3

Continuing in my Thanksgiving Series...


Today I am Thankful For:
The Little Things - Sometimes it is the little things that mean the most such as:
- Quality time with family
- Conversations with old friends
- Reading your favorite book over again
- Shopping for others
- Uninterrupted time with Jesus reading His Word


What are you thankful for today?

A Spirit of Thankgiving Day 2....

To continue yesterday's post, I am going to be writing about things I am thankful for each day leading up to Thanksgiving.  


Today I am thankful for:


The Bible - The Word of God brings peace to me when nothing else can, and it is never changing.  My verse of the day is 2 Corinthians 12:9 which states,  "But he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power my rest on me."
My Home - I am so thankful to live in a nice warm home where all my needs are met.
Faithful Friendships - I am so thankful for all of the close friends that I have who encourage, support, and pray for me.  They are such a blessing.
Ministry - I am so thankful to be a part of two incredible ministries: Modeling Christ and Devotional Diva.  I love working with folks who love Jesus and desire to make His name known. 
Music - The right song can express exactly what you are feeling when you can't explain it yourself. My song of the day is "Carry Me" by Audrey Assad.  Check it out here.


Join me on this journey and let me know what you are thankful for today.  :)

A Spirit of Thanksgiving

A recent apology to my mom, and a Joni Eareckson Tada Devotional convicted me that I have lost my spirit of gratitude in the midst of a trial.  In her devotional, Joni made a point that we always say we are thankful for God's strength through a circumstance, but we are never actually thankful for the circumstance or affliction itself.  Recently, I have dealt with continued health problems which I cannot control.  However, I can control my attitude which is something I have fallen short of lately, and for that I am sorry.  I want a consistent, healthy, and happy life but the one thing I am not consistent in lately is reading the Word of God. No wonder I do not have a spirit of gratitude, or no sense of peace.  1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "to be thankful in ALL circumstances" All does not mean just when things are going my way, when I have everything I want, or when I am in good health.  No, it means in everything.  This reminder and conviction could not have come at a better time with the nearing of Thanksgiving. I am going to start being thankful now instead of waiting on life's circumstances to make me thankful. Each day leading up to thanksgiving I am going to post about things I have to be thankful for, and reasons I have to rejoice. So here goes:


Today I am Thankful For:
- The gift of Salvation and my relationship with Jesus -- His faithful love and joy!
- Parents that love me, and who have done everything in their power to make me happy and content in the midst of a trial.  Their faithful love even when I am not so faithful amazes and humbles me.
- A best friend and sister who shares in my love for Jesus, music, chick flicks, and football. "Girl, you know that I love you more than my luggage!" ;)
- That I get to be home during my favorite time of year to enjoy my favorite holiday -- the perfect smell of Thanksgiving that cannot be bought.
- Mom's amazing cooking that never gets hold.
- The sweet and cozy taste of the perfect cup of coffee with just the right Christmas movie playing in the background.


In health or in this case sickness, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year, and I will choose to act like it.  THANK YOU JESUS!!!!!!!


Will you join me on this journey of thankfulness?  What are you thankful for today?