The 56th Annual Grammy Awards were telecast this week so I set my DVR to record.  After all, I love music.  As I began to watch, I fast forwarded through many portions.  And I must be getting old as I wasn't familiar with many of the songs that won. But then again I do tend to listen to Christian music most of the time. :)

Here are a few of my thoughts on this year's show (at least the parts I watched):

• I love LL Cool J.  I think he's entertaining and able to laugh at himself. I'm a fan of the TV show NCIS: LA and have watched it since the beginning of the series.
• I did not like Beyonce and her husband Jay Z's performance at all.  I think Beyonce is very talented but frankly, she showed so much more than I care to see.  I kept wondering what her parents might be thinking.  This was prime time TV so I hope children weren't watching.
• I love Carole King.  I remember when she won best song of the year for "You've Got a Friend" in 1971. That was the year I graduated from high school after all. I know, I know ...as the kids would say "Miss Debbie, you're old". :)
• I love the group Chicago!  Their signature sound always appealed to me. I love the brass sound and always have.  I thought they looked great and Robin Thicke did a good job performing along with them.
• I love the Beatles!  I watched their very first US performance on the Ed Sullivan show on February 9, 1964.  That's the good part of being old.  I was in grade school and many of the girls began to wear black Beatle caps.  They were the rage at the time!
• I love country music!  When my husband Greg and I had a cabin in Flagstaff, Arizona some years ago, we listened to lots of country music.  Shania Twain was a favorite of ours.  Many of the singers have changed a bit but some remain and I love hearing them.  I loved the number with Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard and Blake Shelton. And I love to watch Blake on The Voice!
• I love Michael Buble!  I don't know if I fast forwarded and missed when they called his name but I read that he won for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for "To Be Loved".  He's in a class all his own.
• I was so glad that Mandisa won for Best Christian album for Overcomer. Her video for the song is so inspiring.

Mandisa wasn't present in the audience to accept her award.  I read her post about her reasons and totally understand.  I read that Natalie Grant left the ceremony early as many of the performances were offensive.

Frankly, I think our culture is heading in the wrong direction.

How about you?  What are your thoughts on the Grammy's?  Did you watch them or not?

Blessings and love,

Are you growing up?  Recently I gathered a few of my after school students and showed them photos from the previous year.  They laughed and pointed as they noticed how little they once looked.  They had grown in so many ways and it was obvious.

But how about spiritual growth?  It's not measured the same way.  You can't look at a photo to see the changes.

A Christian's salvation is a work of God alone.  We are saved by grace alone. There's nothing we can do to earn it.  It is a gift of God.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works so that no one can boast.

Christian growth is a call to labor.  In Philippians 2:12, Paul is addressing the church at Philippi.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much  more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

To continue reading, link over to Laced with Grace.


Blessings and love,