“In the Fullness of Time, He came..” + Snippets Challenge + WAW

    Christmas is a celebration of Christ’s birth, yet He is often banished these days out of hearts and homes, stores and public locations… some even substitute X for Christmas calling it Xmas. 

X is an unknown quantity but Jesus is never that. For He is our LORD, our Saviour and coming King.

There are many prophetic passages promising Jesus would come, starting with Genesis 3:15 - man sinned, so our loving God promised a Saviour.

Another promised our coming Christ oft forgotten is of His second coming: the promise given by the angels when Jesus went back to heaven after His resurrection … .

“… HE SHALL COME AGAIN, IN LIKE MANNER AS YE SEE HIM GO into heaven”

 Acts 1:11

As in the fullness of time, ie God’s time Jesus came the first time, He was born, died and rose again - Paul says here: 

.. but when the fulness of the time was come, 

God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 

to redeem (save, buy back) them that were under the law...” Gal 4:4

With Christ’s coming there were a few faithful ones in total expectation of the promised Messiah.

They were not surprised in unbelief that He should come as a babe not a conquering King was to rescue them from the Romans. 

Here’s a list of five but I’m sure there are more:

Elizabeth - the mother of John the Baptist was believing (though Zacharias, his father was struck temporarily dumb for his unbelief) Luke 1: 5-26, 40-45

Mary - Luke 1: 26-80

Joseph - Matthew 1:15-25, 2:13-23

Simeon - Luke 2:25-35 faithful prophecies were made by Simeon, to Mary.

Anna - Luke2:36, 38, at 84 yrs, she’d long waited, in expection. 

Two gospels tell of Christs birth.

Matthew gives it from Joseph’s perspective and dealing in angel appearances and Magi coming; Luke is Mary’s perspective, each also share their respective genealogies.

Are we likewise expectant that our beautiful LORD Jesus Christ will come again, AT ANY DAY, as promised?

 "THEREFORE BE YE ALSO READY for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.”  Matt24:24

Will Christ find us ready longing for His coming as these faithful ones were at Christ’s first Advent? I pray so with all my heart, perhaps it might be today!

At Christmas time may Christ not be left out - but may we ALL remember the most important gift is not UNDER THE TREE,

BUT WAS PLACED UPON THE TREE TO DIE for our sin.

 

Praying earnestly that the real reason of Christmas shine brightly in your home and heart.

 

Just sharing some cards too, partly so I remember what I've made 😆😅, and sent out! The multi coloured cards are done on black card with Lunar Paste then embossed with various folders. 

Most of my cards this year were recycling, which is what the second one in this list here is, stamped with "Jesus is the reason of the season". Stamps are mostly wood mounts from 1990s.

May God richly bless your Christmas day wherever you maybe! And thank you so much for popping over especially if you’ve time for a comment, you are much appreciated.

 I’m with family and enjoying a lovely low key day. God is very good to me.

Prayer hugs,

Shaz in Oz.x

1. Linking over to Snippets playground with the Recycled card, as all snippets except card base.see here

2. Linking over to Word Art Wednesday for first five cards. link here

Dry Embossing with Gansai Tambi Watercolours + WOYWW + NBUS + Snippets

(Warning - photo heavy post)

Thought I'd pop in as its Wednesday (and WOYWW  - link below) and share this new technique I tried, and I love it too. 

Saw it with some of the Seven Cardmakers I follow, popped across to their post here and thought, “Wow! I must try it”. 

However I used Gansai Tambi watercolours, not reinkers as mine are not nice colours to use, the few I have. It worked well with Gansai Tambi as they're bright watercolours.

One of the seven also used brushos, which is another possible alternative. Here are desks too… kinda step by step.

The technique works but does take perseverance in getting black coverage, possibly due to my unfamiliarity with required sandwiches for varied 3D EF. Why can’t they be more uniform?

Do wonder if Versafine Clair (their recommended ink) would be better but doubt it, as newish Versafine Onyx Black very moist. Wasn't impressed with only Versafine clair I have for moistness.

Issues were:

1. Too slow in embossing (hence ink dried some). Had trouble with 3D sandwich as so variable + not used much.

2. Used Cuttlebug not electronic (more even pressure) as was too tired to change machines + they fitted c’bug.

I just did extra passes adding more ink on them. You wouldn't know it, but I used no pink on this first brightly coloured sheet I cut in two. I used purple, bright yellow and orangey red.

 Made two birthday cards with bright swirl ones.

Didn't like the blue green one till added gloss mod podge. The folder took on too much black and lost colour. Gloss layer made it pop again.

Interesting re Gold and red ones, they were done also in black Versafine, then added gold EP. I'm not sure if this is Dry Embossing alone as added Embossing Powder but did use same technique.

It needed only one coat of versafine which made it much easier. 

Like it better with black I think but is easier to make Christmas with gold, made two identical cards so far with a side panel. Nativity is Sweet n Sassy, sent from a dear sister (Marilyn) in Florida. Greeting a digi, of course reflecting the real reason for Christmas. 

“The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World.” 1 John 4:14

Definitely worth a try and probably just ordinary EF would be easier as time to fiddle with shims was a real pain, and the folk on inspiration post used both folders..

Here's two bonus cards too.

Vellum Lily of the Valley first one, second a wedding card. Mostly Disc products. or unknown. 

Now some Aussie photos. As it’s spring and very sunny Downunder (we are heading to drought again and fires are already here 🙏🙏🙏) here two beach photos on a walk last week.

I’ve been delivering bunches of roses and sweetpeas to elderly or ill friends, or family to bring fragrant cheer for them.

Lost count of how many this one is in a margerine container 😂 with flower foam. Think is my best year for roses probably because I’m watering twice a week, sweetpeas are daily as winds are bad and drying. 

This last card arrived this past week to cheer me up, from our dear kind Darnell.

It’s a keeper, it will go on one of my display boards in craft room. This is my new display board, as I’ve had a dear kind sister in LORD, also a crafter help me and we’ve made things together too.

The two adorable “dumfings” are from Jo or Twiglet for our 2012 WOYWW anniversary.. here’s up close of them and overview of board. Our Shaz Silverwolf 

💜 made the 2018 Crop memory board, and Neet my ATC folder at that crop too. And cos I love Irises, here's a bonus from a recent walk. Aren't they so beautiful, they reminded me of my friend Iris in Lincolnshire.

Thanks so much for popping over and saying hi, may God bless your day wherever you maybe. 

A special shout out to Cathy of Cathy’s Card Place north of here, who popped it to see how I was.

So sad to see the wanton destruction of women children and defenceless ones in the name of Allah. May the One true God of Israel 🇮🇱 🙏 have mercy and save souls through this time of sorrow for His people.

Prayer hugs,

Shaz in Oz.x 

Healthwise I’m a little better, especially as under a Dr who listens to me now, instead of demanding that my square peg system fits in his round hole. Many Drs don’t understand = listen these days and that was part of my problem the first 6 mths of this year. Also that my system is slowing up especially after heart attack 3 yrs ago. 

I survive on medication, have since teens when diagnosed, and so it’s a constant juggling act. Without my wonderful God and Saviour Jesus Christ since I trusted in Him as my own Saviour from sin at twelve years old, I would’ve been dead years ago. (To read that story see here and also here)

When you’ve a life threatening  condition from birth you have a totally different perspective on the brevity of life. 

Every day counts and ETERNITY is but a breath away.

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.

 For what is your life?

 It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, 

and then vanisheth away. James 4:14 

Linking up also with:

1. http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes! All cards I've made.

2. What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Over HERE at Julia’s 

3. Snippets playground 😃 over here! First card, I've had the bible verse greeting stamped and diecut for a very long time and it worked perfectly for this card. 

I found it in the recent clean up (which is still ongoing). All watercolours paper used in these cards were Snippet samples given me years ago, some variations in absorption made it interesting in colouring too.

4. NBUS Challenge. #55 Technique is never used before Schtuff, as is the Christmas folder too.

5. Allsorts Challenge -  Christmas card - Vintage or Anything goes (Vellum card ) https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.c/2023/08/week-7412.html

Still Here! Joining Snippets Playground + very belated WOYWW

 Okay, when three bloggers in less than a week contact you to see if you’re okay, it’s a big prompt from the LORD to do a post. Update is below.

First of all sharing multiple cards I’ve made for August birthdays, had a run of them in first month of August.

This is my desk using some Gansai Tambi watercolours and making three female cards, they’re really all birthday cards but one is late so turned it into a bible verse card and as lady has dementia I made it a simple verse “the LORD is my Shepherd”... so belatedly linking over to Julia’s blog post on WOYWW.  Over at Julia’s

First collection are all wood mount stamps and every item is discontinued, stamps are from early 1990s so 30 years old. 

They were coloured according to how I thought the ladies would like them. But one I don’t know the favourite colours, so went with mine 😂

The next card is a CAS washi thank you card, die is Disc. CB die with Olivia alphabet, with simple scoring and peel off borders.

Last is a pop up window card (technique See post here) for Mister Four, image is from a Google add for Paw Patrol.. I think. First photo is me trying to figure out the layout. Ollie's mum made an amazing Paw Patrol cake, so glad they rescued it!! 🤣🤣🤣

Personal update:

A simple reason for silence is poor health. I’ve multiple congenital conditions (from birth) that have affected my health all my life, and been on life saving medications for 55 years. When I had my heart attack three years ago Drs did their usual of thinking ‘they know best’, and refused necessary medication on admission. 

Result is a mild heart attack was not. This has totally affected my health stability. Combined with my 36 y.o very wise local Dr retiring, I have spent the last 18mths trying to source a new one, becoming more ill as time passed due to a Dr who wouldn’t listen. In God’s great mercy, I’m now (last 2 months) under another brilliant medical team and things are starting to stabilise a little, at last. I know that there is a good, God-chosen reason for everything, including this, and THAT is such a comfort at all times.

A Dr who will listen is a rare thing these days. It’s not taught in Medical Schools my Naturopath said (who teaches Physiology to Nurses at our local Medical School on our University campus). New Drs are apparently taught to listen to their learning above the patient! 😳 So grateful my health is improving a little, but I’m not what I was when went on miracle trip in 2018 to visit all my blogging pals. I probably won’t even travel locally far, my system is now too fragile, and won’t be able to blog much, as I’m so slow. 

Crafting still continues though 😆😍 and my garden and other things, I just have more help, God is good, all the time.

Here are some Aussie photos, some of nearby creek, with full moon recently . 

 

Including my garden today in front yard, the natives are in bloom, mostly grevillea (orange = Birdsong, cream = Moonlight), but white flowering bush is Leptospernum or Teatree (we are in late winter Downunder).

Thank you so much for caring bloggers, especially (in order of contact this past 5 days) to Neet, Liz and Brenda L. It’s a beautiful thing in blogland when you’re actually missed by your non appearance!

Also a big shout out and thank you to Julia who actually sent me an ATC for our WOYWW anniversary in May, I was very unwell then and sadly I’ve not acknowledged its receipt either. Here it is with Iris’ hedgie from Lincolnshire.

Thank YOU, Julia and for my new WOYWW badge too, to add to my collection, (especially as I’m not sure you’re that well either)... 😍

I receive a lot of your posts via “Followit” but rarely comment as time and ‘oomph’ is scarce for such things. 

Praying God’s blessing upon you all and those you love, this day and every day ahead till Jesus comes again, just as He promised us (Acts 1:11)!

Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x 

Thought of the day:

For those who wonder why I always do a “Thought of the Day”, it’s because of such events as 26.6.20, when after mild heart attack I nearly died again because was refused required medication. That was time number 7, my complicated Endocrine condition is very rare, hence easily misunderstood. When you nearly die 7 times you totally realise the ‘brevity of life’. Each blog post might be my last, and I always want to honour the One Who makes my life worth living, our beautiful LORD Jesus.

After such an update the verse that leapt out in my mind was Romans 8:28. It’s oft quoted in times of hardship, because it is SO reassuring. 

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for GOOD to them that love God,

to them who are the called according to His purpose.

Note: it's GOOD according to God's purpose... NOT good according what we think it should be!

It’s ALL THINGS … this of course is for those who love Jesus, we can be assured that everything happens for GOOD - and I add for GOD!

Our Loving Father God sees what we cannot, our wondrous God sees the BIG PICTURE.

The WHY behind everything. So when life gets tough it’s such a comfort to cling to “the God of all comfort”.

For some reason we are always expecting life to run smoothly, but this is exactly the OPPOSITE of what our LORD Jesus promised us. 

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. 

In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Our Jesus promised PEACE in Him, but TRIBULATION or trouble in the world, BUT HE has overcome it all, and will give us the victory in it all in this world by faith in Him ... 

The key is to abide, or live in His peace - while in the midst of the world’s trouble. Jesus alone can HELP us do that.

There is trouble in the broken world, because of Genesis 3, man sinned and a curse was put upon all, for all have sinned (See Romans 3:23). BUT one glorious day, ALL CROOKED THINGS will be made STRAIGHT (see Isaiah 42:16)! 

INDEED What a glorious day that will be!

Linking up also with:

1. http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com/ Anything goes! All cards 

2. What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday - 5 days late! 😅 better late than never. Over at Julia’s 

3. Snippets playground 😃 over here! Card most snippets is all gold, + card with stamped images of Lily, but choosing “the LORD is my Shepherd “ card, these are such old stamps too, so very good to have them out!

4. Allsorts Challenge - https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2023/08/week-7412.html All Creatures Great and Small - Paw Patrol Window pop up card

Happy News day = Resurrection Day! + NBUS Masking + Sweet 'n Sassy

 Well, YESS! today is a day of great rejoicing as my title shares. 

Today is Resurrection Day!

Can you imagine the depth of sorrow among the women and disciples upon the first day of that week so long ago? 

They thought all was lost - Jesus dead upon the cross of Cavalry, then buried in stone tomb.

 

BUT INSTEAD - their grief would roll away as surely as that giant stone did at the tomb's door!

Sorrow - turned to joy!

 That is what to do with our troubles today - tell them ALL to Jesus.

 

 He is the Burden Bearer, He will uphold us in our every care!

"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
² And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
³ And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
⁴ And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
⁵ And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
⁶ He is not here, but is risen: remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee,
⁷ Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
⁸ And they remembered His words," Luke 24:1-8 (emphases mine)                               .

The STONE rolled away - what was unseen in the purpose of the cross is now seen! The same with our burden today - one glorious day the purpose of these trials will be revealed and as it says in 1 Cor 4:5 ".. every man shall have praise of God."  🙏💙🙏  What a day to look forward to, dear ones!

 

 

 

 I think this image of an empty tomb encapsulates Resurrection Day.  

The work of the cross  - the death, burial and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ, the Son of God our sin-bearer on the cruel tree.

May our Father God help us to walk every single day in the glory of resurrection day!
Satan is the defeated foe, for evermore the victory is in Jesus, as we rest and trust in Him alone! 

This hymn came to mind, I serve a Risen Saviour... may it bless your heart as it did mine.

To Him alone be all the glory, honour and praise, with much thanksgiving for Resurrection day!

Hymn sung below by Mennonite Youth choir. (link here if missing)

Now to share a couple of cards followed by Aust pickies of course.

The First card is my NBUS (Never Used Before Schtuff) - and of course, it is two lots of new schtuff! This CAS card was a really quick card. I suspect attempt two wouldn't be the same but I will find out as going to make a set or that is the plan!  

 

The gorgeous Dandelion stamp was borrowed, was teaching a friend how to use her new stamp platform, so used my new verse stamp (from Sweet n Sassy "Fear not" set) and her new dandelion stamp. It's a clear cling by Card Deco Essentials, on bottom it says Holland, maybe a brand from there? other name is www.findittrading.com CDECS098. 

Black embossed both stamps with Versafine Onyx Black and clear EP, gloss doesn't show in image, then masked a circle with die cut on scrap card and taped down + inked up with ink dusters. White splatters added too. Love this verse too!

  From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: 

lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2

Here is the last of the cards made thus far with Altenew Beautiful Bergenia 3D EF, inked top side of folder 3x with Oxide Seedless Perserves.

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. Ps 62:5

This image shows the shimmery spray used, used SB Majestic Circle die set, and Sweet 'n Sassy, Wait on LORD set. 

Love both of these verses. The disciples could have clung to them both in their grief on Resurrection Day.

Lastly some Aussie shots - floral and scenes. The cosmos have taken months to decide to flower - just as went to rip them out! The hibiscus is a stunning one at our church. Last two photos were out and about nearby.

Thanks so much every one for popping over for a peek and chat!
May God bless your day wherever you may be. 
  Will do my very best in commenting, and truly appreciate your visits!
Shaz in Oz.x 

Linking up to:

 1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes, all three cards   http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au  

2.  https://mynbus.blogspot.com/2023/04/nbus-challenge-49.html  NBUS items are stamps from Fear not set and Dandelion stamp on first card. 

3. Allsorts challenge Anything Goes / option spring garden  First card