Christmas Day 2020 + Christmas NBUS Snippets card

 Well, it’s arrived! Christmas Day 2020! Tis here, heralding the celebration of our coming King of Kings over two centuries ago. And also heralding soon the end of 2020... is that cheering that I hear? at the thought of 2020 passing?!

Wherever you are, I’m thinking and praying for you all, many are affected and will admit we are here too, as some who planned to come were obliged to stay in Syd due to outbreak there. Thankfully we here on North coast of NSW are still fine, no Covid since April. Long may it continue! Living in country definitely has its advantages.

Now Christmas is important, it’s really the most important Advent of human history. Advent meaning coming... if Christ had not come all those many years ago to be our Saviour, we truly would be bereft of all hope! Through sin we are in isolation, isolated, cut off from God. 

As COVID isolates many, so too are we isolated, without Christ as our Saviour.

Luke 2:7-11 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

This is a beautiful item I read on a friends page on FB, I’m not sure who wrote the original. 

"A Magical, Starry Night"

How many long, exhausting days had the shepherds spent feeding, protecting, and caring for their flocks? 

How many nights had they spent looking into the starry sky? 

I wonder what they thought about and if they prayed much on the hillside. 

On an ordinary night, as the shepherds were just doing their jobs, heaven exploded into the sky and invaded the hillside, their hillside, to give them a special message. 

Unbelievable! The Saviour that was promised had come to them. They were told where to find the baby! 

They were told where to find their Messiah. They were going to see God. They had been invited to see God. 

If the newborn Savior had been born in a palace, the shepherds would not have been at the top of the guest list. They were, however, perfectly dressed for a stable and would feel totally comfortable going there for a visit.

 I wonder if part of the message to the shepherds is a message to us. 

In the middle of our ordinary lives, our God wants to meet us and reveal who He is. 

He is an intimate, loving God - Who chose to come to us as a helpless baby in a smelly barn. 

Jesus is a gift of love, mercy, and grace. He alone has the power to save us. 

What a God!  (copied from a friend)

However all this is worthless!

... unless we come simply and humbly to Jesus as sinner - needing His salvation full and free.

 I think many of us this year have been strongly reminded that life maybe snuffed out as quickly as a candle flame! 

Having had a heart attack in June and adding to my list of another close call, I walk mindfully of this fact, EVERY day!

 That is why I do not stay silent, but mention it often. I’ve seen and know  how fragile life is!

God is only a prayer away, please I beg of you dear friends, do not close your eyes this night, without trusting in Him as your Lord and Saviour. 

None of us are promised tomorrow or even this whole minute.. only this second.

 “What is our life? but a vapour that appeareth for a little while then vanisheth away.” 

To read how I trusted in Christ as a child, over fifty years ago, read this post here, please, and do likewise!

Now I’ve some Aussie photos to share and also a card. Here first of all is my card.

It was inspired by dear Darnell’s card, on the left. 

When I saw it this idea popped into my head. 

I’ve used a (disc.) Memory Box stars stencil, with Versamark and gold EP instead of Background stamp like Darnell, my stamped greeting is by Our Daily Bread from Isaiah 9:6. Use it a lot.

Backed greeting on Vellum with Kraft card as gold embossed stars underneath distracted too much, and don’t have lot of thick vellum to use so added double layer, and gold bling to nativity star. The nativity is from Di's gift from Sweet Pea Nativityscape. All are snippets on this card, except for white base - Kraft, gold cheap shop Mirri card, and that vellum was one teeny strip left from a card batch bake a week or so ago, so off for a Christmas play in the Snippets playground, yay! Wonder if enough snow for a snowball fight?! 

And now I’ve started on next years cards. 

Be warned in this blog I make Christmas cards all year around.

Now to Aussie photos ..

These few are of beaches this week, such a contrast after all that rain, and huge tempestuous seas!

And the visitors and locals in this photo at the creek, five mins from my house is showing how all enjoy our summery Christmas Downunder!

As folks were fascinated last week by the well camouflaged Tawny Frogmouth, my friend in SA, who did last week’s wren mid flight, posted this.. a pair of Tawny Frogmouth!

Please note - some folks kept thinking they were owls, even though I said they are not owls. Just like koalas are not bears, Aust is often different to northern spheres. To read up more on Tawny Frogmouth, see here

I may take a wee break from blogging and come back in the new year. Depends on what happens as uncertain at moment. 

However I really want to thank every single one of you who comment so faithfully even though I’m not as good at returning your kindness, as I ought to be, you don’t know how much really bless my heart!

I pray every blessing upon you and yours this Christmas and in the days ahead, especially prayers for UK, USA, Europe, and too in Oz the north Sydney beach area in lockdown, I’ve family there...  and too many other places. 

Love and prayers Shaz in Oz.x 

Linking over with:

1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes. Both cards  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com

2.  The Impression Obsession bauble is also a NBUS, Never Before Used SCHTUFF - so off to the NBUS Challenge too. Here!

3 Dis Snippets challenge over here

4. Simon says Wednesday Challenge  - sparkle and shine.Here

5 Simon Days Monday Challenge- Celebrate! Here!

6. Chocolate Baroque- anything Goes https://www.welovechocolatebaroque.uk/2020/12/december-challenge.html

7. Allsorts Challenge Sparkle and shine http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2020/12/week-6034-sparkle-and-shine.html