Christmas Blog Hop - Weeks #470-472

Welcome by for our final challenge of 2020, everyone.  As we wrap up this year and approach Christmas; we're CELEBRATING with a BLOG HOP to show our appreciation to all of you who faithfully and generously share your art with us throughout the year.  Of course, we will have our traditional random draw for a prize from our regular primary sponsor, Stamp Simply Clear Stamps; but there will be additional prizes offered from Emma's Paperie at each stop on the Blog Hop.  Just visit each blog and leave a comment to be eligible for the prize shown on each Design Team Members' blog.  To give our DT Members a break for Christmas, this will be the last challenge of the year; so you'll have three weeks (instead of two) to complete the Blog Hop and leave your comments.  And...because this challenge is three weeks long, you can still enter 5 times per week - for a total of 15 entries.  We can't wait to see what you'll create, and we look forward to having you visit our personal blogs as well.  Thanks for joining us as we start our 1st Annual Christmas Blog Hop.

Blog Hop Order:

Word Art Wednesday - You Are Here

Karen Conner

Holly Lau

JoAnn Atterbury

Ginny Maxam

Natalie Houston

Stephanie Wright 

Karen Letchworth

The verse we see in our beautiful word art scripture is Matthew 1:23 - "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name, Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God is with us".  These wonderful words confidently spoken through the divine appointment of God proclaimed that a virgin (Mary, who never knew Joseph in a physical sense before or during the time she conceived and was pregnant with our Savior, Jesus) would be with child and that she would bring forth a son whose name would be Emmanuel which means God is with us.  Yes, although He was a baby we call Jesus, HE WAS GOD.  GOD loved us SO much that He became human flesh and dwelt among us.  He came to pay the price (being spotless without sin) and was the ONLY perfect spotless sacrifice, precisely as the prophets of the Old Testament predicted, thus fulfilling ALL prophecies said of the Savior, the Messiah, the awaited One.  It breaks my heart to know that some (many, including His chosen people, the Jews) have missed out on this TRUTH (and the ONLY way to God) as they still await their Messiah.  Because of false religions, skewed versions of the "bible", added writings that the original Bible/Word of God contradicts, myths, and all sorts of falsehoods that PALE in comparison, people have been lead away from the One true God by false hope.  Here's the bitter truth - the option to Jesus (eternity with Him in Heaven) is an eternity in HELL - an eternity (never-ending time) separated from Him in a terrible (literal) pit of fiery suffering.  NONE can save us from what our sinfulness deserves but JESUS.....the GOD Child Who came, walked among us, suffered and died, rose again, and has gone to prepare a place for us.  HE, Jesus/God, who is patiently waiting for YOU, for ME, and for ALL who call upon Him and find the ONE and ONLY - WAY, TRUTH, and LIFE.......Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the one and ONLY WAY to finding an eternity in Heaven with Him, or any eternal peace whatsoever.  Unlike what Hollywood wants to (lie) tell you, not all roads can lead to the same place when they contradict one another.  There can only be ONE absolute truth (the Bible.  God's written/spoken and recorded Word), there is ONE WAY, and that is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross.  And there is only ONE LIFE, and that reminds us again ONE life...not multiple "ways of getting there", and that ONE LIFE is the one that Jesus GAVE for you and for me.  We MUST call on Him if we want to spend eternity in Heaven with Him and escape Hell (what our sinfulness deserves).  He came to this earth for YOU.  Will you live your life for Him?  He's waiting to bless you and seal you for all eternity....He's patiently waiting, but time is running out quickly.  My life is SO much better living for Jesus and the promises of my eternity with Him than anything this temporal world has to offer.  Don't hesitate another day.  Talk with God today and get it right with Him.  He's there to bless you, heal you, and save you because He loves us all SO much.  #blessedlife

As always, you are welcome to save the word art to your computer; but you are never required to use it in order to play along in our challenges or to win.   We welcome you to share your all your art with us; remembering that Anything Goes as long as it's family-friendly, and uses an encouraging or uplifting sentiment. This includes any type of altered or digital art (not just limited to cards).  You may link up to five (5) projects each week, for a total of ten (10) entries per two-week challenge. The more you enter, the more you increase your odds of winning.  It is our desire that God's Word will be a blessing and encouragement to you as we share it. If you have any questions about the rules, be sure to read the complete list of rules under our page tab for "Challenge Rules".  Because our ultimate goal is to honor God, we have no other choice but to delete any entries that do not adhere to the guidelines.  Please know that this doesn't mean we are judging anyone.  We're simply attempting to honor God and follow His rules.  Let us know if you have any questions, and thanks for your understanding and participation.

Check out our AWESOME sponsor for this challenge:

Stamp Simply Clear Stamps is an AWESOME

store.  They carry high-quality acrylic stamps,

steel dies, and SO much more.  One lucky

person will win their choice of either

TWO stamp sets, or ONE stamp set

and ONE die-cut.  What a generous and

AMAZING prize to win.  Below are a few

samples using Stamp Simply Clear Stamps.

AND

Each stop on this Blog Hop offers prizes from

Emma's Paperie.  Some have added extra treats

as well.  Just leave a comment on each blog to

be entered for that prize.  This is in addition

to our primary sponsor for this challenge.

AND NOW......Another LUCKY WINNER:

Our FABULOUS sponsor of our previous

challenge, Trinity Stamps,  offered a

very generous $40 prize.  WOW!

The lucky person who will be enjoying

this AMAZING prize is:

Entry #106 - Sandi Pressley

Our Top 3 Picks This Week:

Entry #51 - Crafty Hazel

Entry #56 - Cynthia O.

Entry #116 - Bad Kitty/Christmas Train

Please email Karen if you'd like a

Top 3 or Winner's Badge for your blog.

All winners must also email Karen

to claim prize (per the Rules Page).  Thanks!

May God bless all our AWESOME sponsors.

We appreciate them all SO very much,

and we pray for their success.

AND NOW....Here's some inspiration to get you started:

Our December Guest Designer, Karen Conner 

Natalie Houston

Using Stamped Simply Clear Stamps

Seasonal Wreaths: Fall & Winter

JoAnn Atterbury

Jo Ann Using Farmhouse All Occasion Greetings

Holly Lau

Using Stamped Simply Clear Stamps

Seasonal Wreaths: Fall & Winter

Ginny Maxam

Stephanie Wright

Using Fishtail Banner Die-Cuts

from Sponsor, Stamp Simply Clear Stamps

Karen Letchworth

Using Sponsor, Stamp Simply Clear Stamps

Beautiful Fall/Winter Seasonal Wreath Stamp Set

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter