The Christ of Christmas + WOYWW

Yes, it’s that time of year, my favourite time, busy but fun! It’s also time for WOYWW which is will share below.

Christmas is a celebration of Christ’s birth, yet He is often banished these days, out of hearts and homes, stores and public locations.

However we mostly know Christmas is more than an excuse for gifts, family and food.

Mary at this time saw only in part: not as we do looking back - Christmas to Easter, through birth into death, then new life again, the defeat of death, at Christ’s resurrection. 
Seeing it from Mary’s point of view is quite different.
The greater the trial and sorrow, the greater the blessing given from our Father God, for He sees what we cannot.

Christ came in human form, in complete submission to His Father's will.

He yielded to the frailties of human flesh all the way to the cross. 
Mary was told that her soul would be pierced through with the suffering to come.

Luke 2:34-35
And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

 This prophecy at Jesus' birth for Israel is still being fulfilled today, and also around the world. This virgin birth  of God's own Son is indeed "a sign which shall be spoken against"! 

Christ is still often condemned, as are His followers out of favour.

So in this celebration:
**May we shine the clear, pure light of Christ's birth, coming as Redeemer of mankind, as Emmanuel. "God With us".
**May only the Lord Jesus Christ be lifted up and no other replica to replace Him, or even be along side Him!

******

As it’s also WOYWW, or What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday at Julia’s Stamping Ground.  

My desk earlier! True to season I’m starting to make some more Christmas cards for 2020. Actually really excited as this is the first crafting in a month. Those wondering re health report, I’m much better 😊. Not 100% but well on the way and incredibly grateful at how well my shin healed this time around! Yay! Praise God. 

Using Distress ink pads and Tombow watercolour pens on rectangle ink block. Colouring, spritzing, smooching on paper a number of times to get background. I go over each rectangle about three or four times till colour develops, and am happy.

Used backgrounds several ways.

This first card is a snippet base, odd size as piece white card, sitting on desk. Background I cut down as was messy in smooching and laid on navy snippet then gold rectangle CCD.

The verse is “For unto us a child is born” from Unity Itty Bitty Stamps. 

Washi tape across lower border.

Second card cut in Creatif Wonky rectangle. Stamped silhouette of Escape to Egypt, baby Jesus Stamp is by Nellie Snellen, inked in Versamark + ultrafine gold EP by Stampendous. Added some inky highlights. Mounted as shown.

Greeting by Poppy Stamps Joy to the World.

I’ve made other two up, but differently. I found this stamp difficult on watercolour card, an excellent quality artist pad, freebie from a garage sale, but rough surface not ideal for stamping. Will share later.

Would love to say the fires and drought are all gone, but now in just NSW, an area the size of Wales is burnt. It’s astronomical, almost 1,000 homes in NSW since started in Sept and in last week two volunteer firefighters were killed (young dads, sooo sad) and others injured with burnt falling trees.

 Oh, please, Lord, please send rain soon. We have had rain, showers though and soaking drought breaking rain is needed.

And oh SO many fires, too many, started deliberately! 

That beggars belief. 😢

Lord bless you all dear ones, thank you to so many who’ve sent me cards, I’m sorry to those I missed out. 

Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ, our Lord and our Saviour.
Christmas is remembering this, as able, with God's family, as well as our own family and friends Whom God has given us.
How blessed are we!

O may we walk this Christmas time, and every moment of every day God gives in the presence of Emmanuel "God with us" (Mat. 1:23).
For when God is truly with us, we will live for Him and love Him only.

May the LORD bless your day, wherever you maybe!

Prayer hugs, 🙏🏻🤗🙏🏻🤗🙏🏻

Shaz in Oz.x

How true is this today? And every day? 
Corrie ten Boom is a Nazi concentration camp survivor. She saw it all as a young teen.. her own sister murdered and more. 

Linking up to the following:

1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes. All cards  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au/
2. Snippets Playground