Paint by Dot: Waterfall – Easter

Waterfalls

“A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” (Proverbs 19:10 NIV)

What if, as the water poured over the rock, the rock was to become offended and make a scene?  What if the water were somehow diverted by the unmerciful rock?  Where would the beauty of the waterfall be?  For it takes both the water and the rocks to bring forth the often breathtaking scene of water cascading downward, over rocks, fallen trees, and other debris, into a pool or a moving river–a waterfall.

Relationships can be a lot like a waterfall.  More than one person plays a role and each must face the choice of employing wisdom, choosing patience, and deciding not to dwell upon offenses in order for the beauty of the relationship to emerge.

Greeting Card Design:  REZ-H2Ofall – Waterfalls – click here to view in the Kat Kreations online katalog

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Christmas: Snow Deer

Hope–Confident Expectation

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men … the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us …” (Titus 2:11, 13-14 NIV)

The Sovereign Lord and Creator of all things chose to become one of us. He even arrived the way we humans arrive: born as a baby. Shortly after birth, Simeon, a faithful believer who had been looking forward to His coming, praised Him, saying that he had seen the Lord’s “salvation” (Luke 2:28-32). Later in the Lord’s life on earth, as He healed, taught, and served others, His life was becoming the fulfillment of the prophet Isaiah’s words: “In His name the nations will put their hope” (Matthew 12:21).

His first coming gives us a means of being confident and assured of His presence, His provision and His promises as each new year, new day, or new hour unfolds until His second coming brings the fulfillment of all that we’ve been expecting with assurance that’s grounded on the only One who is always and forever faithful. He alone makes our hope reality. “…put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore” (Psalm 131:3).

Greeting Card Design:  CMAS-SnowDeer – Hope–Confident Expectation – click here to view in the Kat Kreations online katalog

Paint by Dot: Snow – Christmas

Cleansing

Over and over in the times described in the Old Testament of the Bible, the Lord pursues His people with an offer of mercy, forgiveness, and cleansing. He says, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” (Isaiah 1:18 NIV). No matter what they had done, He expressed His genuine willingness to wipe their slate clean and allow them to start over.

He offers the same cleansing to you and me. If you’ve not yet begun to follow Him, He offers you a new life, a life that’s free of the guilt of your past, the bondage of your present, or the fear of your future. If you’ve been following Him already, but your steps have wandered or you’ve given in to things that tempt you to take your eyes off Jesus, He offers to forgive you and to purify you from all that leads you away from Him.

What’s the common doorway for these offers? It goes back to the beginning of that verse in Isaiah, “Come now, let us reason together …”  He’s just waiting for you to ask Him for what He offers … and when you do, He’ll remove every stain from your heart, mind, and life, until you’re as white as fresh fallen snow!

Greeting Card Design:  CMAS-Snow – Cleansing – click here to view in the Kat Kreations online katalog

Paint by Dot: Mill – Christmas

Reflections

An old mill, lots of snow, a wooded area, a small body of water . . . parts of a picture which bring back memories of my childhood and teen years: My family spent a little time camping at a state park with an old mill. There my sister and I would ride our bicycles all over the roads and among the campsites. Back home, we played in a woods that was about a quarter mile behind our house. We’d sled on the little hills, fish in the small pond, hike on the winding cow paths, and play in the woods. . . Special reflections on days now past.

Christmas holds its own opportunities for reflection: A time to consider the year that’s nearly over … A time to count the blessings of family and friends … and most of all, a time to remember a different kind of old building, one that housed animals and smelled of hay and such. It was one night long ago in a stable that “God SO loved this world that He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him would never die” and be separated from Him (John 3:16). There was no room in the inn on the night Jesus was born, because the only room for Jesus was on the cross, where He died for you and me!

Greeting Card Design:  CMAS-Mill – Reflections – click here to view in the Kat Kreations online katalog

Christmas: Fam Photo

The First Christmas Family

Two people pledged to be married most likely had not envisioned the life ahead of them, the treasure that they would be given the privilege and responsibility to introduce to the world. Mary and Joseph were each given a special message from the Lord in order to allay their fears and prepare them for the arrival of His gift through them to everyone.

The child born into and cared for by this family was named Jesus. His earthly father was told by His heavenly Father that this child would save “people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). His human mother was told that “the holy one to be born would be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). Both willingly followed through on the requests made of them.

When we see ourselves on a certain path and life-altering events or circumstances come along, are we as willing as Joseph and Mary to trust our Creator for the new path ahead? Would we choose to say something like what Mary said in response to the Lord’s message: “I am the Lord’s servant…May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38)?

Greeting Card Design:  CMAS-FamPhoto – The First Christmas Family – (also CMAS-FamPet – customizable designs using family photos or pet photos)  Email Kat Kreations at katkreations82@aol.com to request a special Christmas card design with a family photo or photo of a family pet

Christmas: Cornerstone Tree

The Cornerstone Tree

Christmas 1997 may have been one of the most memorable ones for one single mom and her two children: Only one month earlier, this threesome had suddenly found themselves needing to find a new place to live and furniture to make a home. By moving the hearts of members of their church family, God worked to fill the new home He provided. He even supplied the Christmas tree and many ornaments to adorn its branches!

This church family’s women’s ministry, called Cornerstone, gathered for its annual candlelight Christmas meeting .The usual ornament exchange occurred.

After everyone had received an item for her tree, the Lord moved one lady to give the ornament she had received to this single mother. Hearts around the room were also touched. And soon the scene resembled the time long ago when some magi from the east arrived at the house where Mary, Joseph and Jesus were.

They laid their gifts before the King of Kings, who would become the Chief Cornerstone. On that night of Cornerstone’s fellowship, ladies of all ages laid their gifts before a child of the King!

Greeting Card Design:  CMAS-CStone – The Cornerstone Tree – click here to view in the Kat Kreations online katalog

Christmas: Birth

His Name Shall Be Emmanuel

“…The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).  “…which means, ‘God with us.’” (Matthew 1:23 NIV).  “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21).

We name people, pets, and seriously favorite belongings.  Sometimes the names have personal meanings or are the same as a beloved ancestor.  Others can just be pulled out of the air or heard through some media source.  Still others may be chosen because of their meaning.

“Immanuel” or “Jesus”–either one describes one whose name has us in mind.  Immanuel means “God with us.”  Jesus means “the Lord saves.”  Our Creator orchestrated the birth of a particular baby, His Son, who bore both of these names. His purposes were revealed in the names: (1) He chose to live as a human “with us” to experience our kind of living; and (2) He planned all along to do what was needed to save us.

Greeting Card Design:  CMAS-Birth – His Name Shall Be Emmanuel – click here to view in the Kat Kreations online katalog