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Here we are in December. It doesn't seem that long ago that we were posting the first Musical Note of the year: Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I Don't Want To Live Without You" (Foreigner). I don't know about you, but there has been a lot of life packed into those 11 months. During that time it is our sincerest hope that Tuesday's Musical Notes have been an encouragement regardless of where your life has gone.
For today we launch our celebration of Christmas songs!!! We must confess that we have a little bit of a twist (as if The Notes weren't twisted enough) for our December 2023 Tuesday's Musical Notes selection. Check back with us every Tuesday to see what song gets the Tuesday's Musical Notes treatment! While you're at it check out the other part of the Cross & Kin Entertainment over on YouTube. The latest video dropped last Thursday and we think it might have you dancing and singing its praises...at least we hope it elicits such a reaction. Cross & Kin Presents: Top 10 Film Musicals
Welcome to the official launch of Christmas here in Notesland!!! Can you have snow in the Internetosphere? There are thousands of great Christmas songs out there and over the past 12 Decembers, we've covered many which we hope are favorites at your house. You can find those by December of each year over on the left-hand side of your screen...keep going...almost there...found the archives, now... need... to find... December...GOT IT!!!
As we've gotten older we find ourselves much more nostalgic passing through the last quarter of the year. Halloween begins the season of celebrations and our memories seem to be more potent, and maybe even a bit poignant, as we pass through Thanksgiving and Christmas. The New Year's celebrations always bring a sense of excitement for what the next period of life holds. Through it all we hope you have family and friends with whom you can share each nuance of every party, meal, gift exchange, and resolution.
As we approach Christmas, we hope you take a moment to breathe from the hustle and bustle, gather your family around, and share...
Riding in behind the reindeer is the song "What Christmas Means To Me" recorded by Stevie Wonder from his eighth studio album and his first Christmas album, Someday At Christmas. Wonder is one of the first to record the song written by Allen Story, Anna Gordy Gaye, and George Gordy. To date, it has failed to chart but has become one of Wonder's, and many other artists', staples for the Christmas season.
A plethora of recording stars have recorded "What Christmas Means To Me" since the 1967 release of Wonder's version. The most recent is English songstress, Joss Stone's recording from 2022 on her Merry Christmas, Love album.
Lyrically, the song goes into the stereotypical tinsel list of things that bring a sentimental tug at your heart. Candles burning low, snow, ice, choirs singing, bells ringing, and lights all a glow. Family and friends gather around a blazing fire and share stories of Christmases of the past. The distractions of the world are carried away on the wings of snow angels decorating the yard. For these precious moments, there is little conflict or worry about the future. There is no politics or war by which we are consumed. There just seems to be contentment and peace that passes all understanding permeating every nuance of the moment. And for that moment, you get a glimpse of what Christmas means to you and those you embrace, and a sense of where it is all coming...
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." - Genesis 1:1
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it." The Gospel of Jesus According to John, a fisherman, chapter 1, verses 1-4.
"What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was revealed to us—what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." 1 John 1:1-3
"The Lord created me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. From eternity I was established, From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth." - Proverbs 8:21-23
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning
What does Christmas mean to me? Well to put it very specifically and short. Christmas means God to me. You can see God's character on display in every aforementioned peaceful moment and memory. You can see God's attention to detail in the way that He uses the seasons to keep the planet in which we reside in perfect climatic balance including the cold and snow of winter. You can see God's plan for mankind unfold as you read the Christmas story from Luke 2. Ultimately, you can see God's love for man as you read the opening words of Genesis and follow through (like we've been doing here at The Notes) to the apex of this world's conclusion.
As you read the Bible, you see God's love and discipline for man. You see His grace and mercy on man. You see His provision and sacrifice for man. So as we get into this season, with its busyness and cacophony, just remember that there is a peace that can come when we remember that all of the things we worry about for tomorrow are in the presence of God already.
God - That's What Christmas Means To Me
'Til Tuesday
Loving HIM by Loving You,
randy
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