Hello all! Merry Christmas! Only 4 more sleeps till Christmas...anticipation is rising in my house! Christmas carols and laughter can be heard in my home, and with the 25th approaching my mind has been thinking about the shepherds startled in the night by angels with good news. My page today is an explosion of Joy, and I can't wait to share it with you!
I used the 'In Stitches' alpha and 'Sunshine Girl' alphas as well as a few alpha stickers to complete my title Joy to the World. I felt in needed a little something in the gap between world and the so I pulled out my 'Doves of Peace' and using my big brush marker in black I colored only the globe on the doves belly and stamped it down. I filled in the word 'joy' and the globe with my big brush markers...normally I would watercolor, but today I wanted to create a page a little quicker. Finally I added all the tabs, washi, stickers, and puffy hearts.
"And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: you will find baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" Luke 2:10-14
Reading the Christmas story every year brings such joy and excitement to my heart! I now have the joy and privilege of watching the same excitement rise in my children as we gather together and talk about what happened on that night so long ago. I hope this joy fills you heart and causes you to ponder, you and I have been given a Savior! Rejoice, the King has come, and with this baby, fullness of joy was born for all would believe. Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth on whom his favor rests!
As Jesus nears the time of his crucifixionhe pulls his disciples close to him for some final instructions and words of comfort and encouragement. He speaks about their relationship to him and the need for them to abide in him. He warns them of the difficulties that lie ahead in identifying with him, because the world has shown its hatred of him already. He already knows what will conquer evil and hate. His love will bring victory. And as we abide in him and allow his love to spill out we too will be more than conquerors.
I used the stamp, Joy to the Word, to create the acrostic Jesus overflowing in you...to show the truth of this verse in John. There is a direct link between Jesus's vine discourse and the antidote for evil and hate he discusses later.
Design Detail:
I used gelatos more like watercolor paints to create this background. I stamped the joy from the set, colored it with copic markers and cut it out to place it vertically on the margin. Then I used the Teeny Alpha set for all the lettering. The "t" from this set formed the small crosses on the page. I also used the Texture Tiles set for the distressing on the page.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11
I absolutely loved the movie, The Greatest Showman. Everything about it was pure entertainment, especially the upbeat, positive message of the movie and the endearing music and lyrics. Every musical piece stood alone as a stellar performance and each had its intrinsic meaning. The song, Never Enough, was so powerful, though secular in its message. It did make me think about how empty all the pursuits of this world really are and how our only joy and fulfillment come through our relationship to our heavenly Father. Our trust and obedience to Christ is what gives our lives meaning. Earthly relationships and aspirations don't even compare. Though fictitious, the relationship between Barnum and Jenny Lind was electrifying. Jenny is portrayed, especially through the song, as being so enraptured by the man in the wings that nothing in all the world would satisfy if she couldn't have Barnum.
When I encountered this verse in Psalm 16, I for some reason thought of the lyrics to the song. It should be true of the believer's heart that nothing would satisfy like being in the presence of God. I have often told my husband that I find enjoyment and satisfaction in just being with him. We don't have to be doing anything special. I just like to be in his presence. I feel the same about my God, multiplied!
When you glance at the verses above the passage, there is even more joy apparent in the psalmist's heart. I could say exactly the same. My Wonderful Counselor instructs my heart day and night and leads me in the path of real life. I need never be shaken because I'm securely held in His might hand. Look at verse 9 above. "Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices..." That is my heart's song when I dwell in the presence of the Lord.
Truly...all things, all relationships in life will never fill me with the complete joy I find in God. I LOVE my family, my husband, my children, my grandchildren. I cannot imagine life without them. But the joy I know in the presence of God surpasses it all...for I know that in Him and through Him, my family and I have life everlasting. If I give over my heart completely to God, I will have the capacity for a deeper joy in all earthly relationship too!
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Design Details: I'm doing something a little different for my post today and I hope you enjoy it. I'm embedding the process video for this page. I created the background using gelatos. I'll show you in the video how I did everything on this page. And below that are the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps products I used for the page. The video explains other supplies used. (I hope it works...I've never done this on a blog post before!)
