Hopeful Friday – Mary Did You Know?

Cielo at The House in the Roses is sponsoring Hopeful Friday to give blogger friends another opportunity to " celebrate God, to celebrate His mercy and unconditional love, but also a day to celebrate positive thoughts. We need hope to replace our restlessness, we need courage to replace our fear, and we need faith to replace our doubt."

In October I received a book with CD from my Paperback Swap club which is now a part of my nativity collection:
Mary Did You Know. Mark Lowry. Published by J. Countryman, div. of Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1998.
63 p.Words and music to "Mary Did You Know" by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene. c1991.
CD, "Mary Did You Know" performed by Mark Lowry with the Gaither Vocal Band Taken from the Spring House, Inc. project, "Still the Greatest Story-Ever Told’

This is an inside page

This shows the CD single inside the back cover

Here are the beautiful lyrics to this song:

Mary Did You Know?
Mary did you know, that your baby boy
Would one day walk on water?

Mary did you know, that your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know, that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered,
Will soon deliver you!


Mary did you know, that your baby boy
Will give sight to the blind man?
Mary did you know, that your baby boy
Would calm a storm with His hand?

Did you know, that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod
And when you kiss your little baby,
You've kissed the face of God?


Oh, Mary did you know?
Mary did you know?
The blind will see, the deaf will hear,
The dead will live again,
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak
Praises of the Lamb?


Mary did you know, that your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know, that your baby boy
Will one day rule the nations?
Did you know, that your baby boy
Was Heaven's perfect Lamb?
And this sleeping Child you're holding
Is the Great I AM
-- Mark Lowry

The truths expressed in this song gives us joy and hope. Many singers have performed this song and many have recorded it so that its message can be a blessing, no matter your choice of artist.

Edited to add link to Kathy Mattea singing Mary Did You Know? This was the first singer I heard with this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFPHIK9ann8

Further edited to add link to Mark Lowry, author of the lyrics, and Buddy Greene, composer of tune, performing the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7gAkjaqO7s

To see more of today’s "chain of positive thoughts and inspirational messages" please go here for Cielo’s list.

Hopeful Friday – "If You Look for Me at Christmas"

Cielo at The House in the Roses is sponsoring Hopeful Friday to give blogger friends another opportunity to " celebrate God, to celebrate His mercy and unconditional love, but also a day to celebrate positive thoughts. We need hope to replace our restlessness, we need courage to replace our fear, and we need faith to replace our doubt."

For many the bustling holiday season if a time of loneliness. Nevertheless, the following poem expresses the promise that Jesus gave just before His ascension – "surely I am with you always" Matt 28:20 NIV

If You Look for Me at Christmas

If you look for Me at Christmas...
you won't need a special star,
I'm no longer still in Bethlehem,

I'm right there where you are.

You may not be aware of Me

amid the celebrations,

You'll have to look beyond the stores

and all the decorations.

But if you take a moment

from your list of things to do,

And listen to your heart,

you'll find I'm waiting there for you.

You're the one I want to be with,

you're the reason that I came,

And you'll find me in the stillness

as I'm whispering your name.

Love,

Jesus

--Author unknown

Santa Clara 1972 Plate - Made in Spain

To see more of today’s "chain of positive thoughts and inspirational messages" please go here for Cielo’s list.