The First Noel

HELLO FRIENDS!

As I steep in the warm feelings of Fall, I become very excited about what is to come.  

Snow.  

Cold.  

Christmas…

It's a blessed thing to remind ourselves - even as we baste in Fall flavoring - that something incredible happened on a cold, miserable night a very, very long time ago. 

It's a wonderful story: young couple seeks shelter in busyness and mayhem of a city fraught with the oblivious and unknowing.  Said young couple is resigned to a "suite" weighted down in the stenches of old animal feed, animal dung and dust. 

Holding on by sheer will power, as the pain grows and persists, Mary breathes the dusty air and exhales hope made possible by the Spirit that fills her.  She is cold.  She is scared.  She is brave.  She is strong.  She bears down, and within moments becomes the mother of the Light of the world. 

This Light interrupts the darkness of the stable.  This Baby replaces thoughts of fear with His first human cry, loud and strong.  His presence ushers in an unfamiliar but welcomed peace, while His tiny body is swaddled for protection.

There was no night like this.  No night like this Noel.

Nuvo drops helped me get a more 3-dimensional affect
for the stars in the sky.

Colors used are shown above.

When we read the account of Jesus' birth,  we forget that He entered humanity and lived humanity.  He did this to present humanity fully before God as His first love and vow.  This birth was beyond anything Mary or Joseph would experience.  It was far more spectacular than anything the Shepherds had witnessed as lowly and forgotten as they may have been.  It was far more anticipated than the Magi ever knew as they traveled long, hard hours to behold a prophesied King.  This Noel was Jesus' Noel.  His timely birth became the catalyst through which God would Redeem His people.  The Messiah had come, and the world could not comprehend.

We're not given to gratitude, but I think even the most grateful of people could not quite come close to the thankfulness due to the Lord for His act of loving-kindness.  Jesus is His tender mercy to us; our one and only Hope for eternity with the Father.  In His birth, Jesus fulfills God's promise of a coming Savior.  By his Life, Jesus demonstrates His grace, mercy and compassion for the world.  By His death, Jesus satisfies the wrath of God making it possible for this crumby, undeserving world to know and receive Him.  Oh, that First Noel!

That First Noel - Jesus' transition from glory to lowly - is remarkable, beautiful and definitely worthy of song!

Embossing powder aided my attempt to make the snowflakes and deer
stand out above the darker areas.

God bless, and much love,

Deeds

I Am an Heir

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,
provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:16-17

Hey guys!
I'm hopeful about today.  I have been reminded about the absolute and unfathomable graces of the Lord.  When John talks about it, he says something like "grace upon grace."  That's exactly what God does in the life of one He's called into His family!
When journaling this passage of scripture, I didn't quite know how to express the words or heart of appreciation for my God!  Have you ever had that happen?
God knows how much it truly means to us, because He's positioned Himself as the King of our hearts and Lord of our lives - inside!  Therein lies the Holy Spirit that testifies with our spirit - they literally come together in one accord and unit - that we are children.  BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE!

Distress inks used to create subtle and colorful backdrop.

 The scriptures here go on to tell - albeit, rather generally - that once we are children, we are heirs.  Generality in the Bible happens when the human mind and heart cannot completely imagine, describe, or understand the totality of God, His person, His blessings, His character - you name it!  We just can't quite wrap our minds around it!

The good news - the "gospel" - is such that we cannot fully fathom the what's and why's of our salvation in Jesus Christ. 
So, Paul is doing his absolute best, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to help us know what the Lord has revealed to him; and he uses terminology that we "get," at least to some degree!
Here's what we know:
1.  Being heirs with Christ starts when the Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit.  In other words, when we have come to the understanding of who Jesus is and accepted Him as such, we are saved by the power of the Holy Spirit and God sees us as a joint-heir with Christ.

Adding "Itty Bitty Blossoms" to
provide a border at the bottom
of the page.

Almost done!

2.  Being a child of God, therefore miraculously entitles us to the inheritence of Jesus Christ!  Jesus is the firstborn of God, the first fruits of the resurrection and the first to receive all that the Father has to give.  But as joint heirs, we are given what Jesus is given - a position as one who will some day be given life in the eternal home with God.  Our destination is secured with God, in Jesus!
3.  Being a joint-heir also positions us as people who suffer with Christ.  The passage clearly points out that though we have eternal glory awaiting us, we do have to remain in the world for a time.  And while in the world, we have hope; the hope of Jesus! The hope of being glorified once our time here is done!

I added white acrylic paint to the bible mat, then
used the brayer to spread it out evenly.

With a thin coat of paint on the mat, the "girl power"
stamp was able to grab a good amount without
getting sloppy.

The acrylic paint gave me a white-stamped
impression on the page.  I did this with several other
"girl power" images.

My heart is overwhelmed by the graciousness and generosity of the Lord.  How can I possibly fathom the inheritance awaiting me in Jesus, when I cannot even fully grasp His riches here on earth?  The Holy Spirit is my connection to Jesus; Jesus is my connection to eternal promise!  Praise Him, I am a child of God!

I usually enjoy the used of a sharpie paint pen to
add small embellishments like crosses across
the page!

I used paper prints to make the clothes of the main "girl power" image
you see here.  I pieced her together and added color to her
face and hair using a simple marker.

If you are a child of God, you are joint-heirs with Christ!  Hopeful, I pray you found this encouraging!
Much Love,
Deeds

Stamps used in this process are:
Girl Power
Itty Bitty Blossoms
& Bitty Minnie Alpha