5th Annual Blog Hop & Anything Goes - Weeks #679-680

WELCOME!  You're here just in time for our 5th Annual Christmas Blog Hop and we're so grateful that you're joining us.  God has blessed us once again with SO many great prizes (prizes offered from each stop in the Blog Hop where you comment), lots of wonderful Christmas inspiration, our regular scheduled sponsor (offering TWO $25 prizes to their awesome store), a brief devotional to encourage you, and lots of fun.  So, let's get started with this year's Christmas Blog Hop and our final card challenge of 2024.  We're so glad you're here to join in on all the FUN, and we're super excited about all that God has planned for us in 2025.  Praise the LORD!  Thanks for being part of it all.

The scripture used for this new challenge's word art is one that's known to almost every person around the world.  It's John 3:16 and it says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life".  This Bible verse is telling us, quite clearly and simply, that God (a holy God, the Creator and Author of everything) loved us SO MUCH that He became flesh in the form of a son, Jesus Christ.  It tells us that if we place our eternal faith in the fact that He IS God, that He came and died for our sins (satisfying the sin debt) and that He rose again to prepare a place for us; that He will allow us to never truly "die".  Instead, we (our spirit) will spend eternity with Him in a literal place called Heaven.  Becoming a Christian and telling God you want to live for Him isn't just a "Christmas thing".  It's for always.  It's a very simple, very personal act that each person must do in order to secure their bond with God and ask Him to enter your life - becoming your Lord and your Savior.  From there, it's complete.  God did it ALL.  We only need to tell Him that we place our faith in Him (who He is and what He did for us on the cross/grave) and that we want to live for Him the rest of our earthly lives; and forever in Heaven.  He will never leave us or forsake us once we have this eternal bond with Him.  God wants to have that special bond with YOU.  I'm so glad He found me and saved my sinful soul.

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 or to win in our challenges.  We welcome you to share all of your art with us; remembering that Anything Goes as long as it's family friendly.  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 an encouragement to you as we share it.  If you have any questions about the rules, be sure to read the complete list of rules found under our Page tab marked "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 our guidelines.   Please know that this doesn't mean we are judging anyone.  We're not.  We are simply attempting to honor God and follow His rules.  Please let us know if you have any questions about anything; and thank you for your understanding and participation.

Let's meet the AMAZING sponsor of this challenge:

HURRAY!  We couldn't be any more excited

than we are to announce that the fabulous and

FUN Unity Stamps is sponsoring our final

challenge of the year.  They are offering up

not just one (1); but TWO (2) prizes of $25

each.  That's right!  TWO LUCKY WINNERS

will win a $25 credit to spend at Unity Stamps.

This awesome store carries unique and interesting

stamps, dies, embellishments, brushes and SO

much more.  Be sure to stop by Unity Stamps to

look around and also to thank them for their

generous support.  We couldn't have challenges

with prizes if it wasn't for AMAZING sponsors

like Unity Stamp Company.  Praise God!

Here's Our Next Lucky WINNER:

YES, Please!!  It's our wonderful friends at

Lawn Fawn Stamps who sponsored our

previous challenge here at WAW.

Hurray!  Lawn Fawn carries distinctly

wonderful stamps, cute images, matching dies,

stencils, and so many wonderful stamping and

crafting goodies that you will absolutely LOVE.

One lucky person, selected by random draw,

has WON a generous $25 credit to spend at

Lawn Fawn on whatever they choose.  How

FUN and awesome is that?  Be sure to stop by

Lawn Fawn to do some browsing, by their

awesome Inspiration Blog to be blown away,

to let our friends there know you're grateful,

and also by their Challenge Blog where you

can share your Lawn Fawn cards for more

chances to WIN at Lawn Fawn.  Thank you!

Our WINNER is...........

Entry #109 - Donna W.

Our Top 3 Honors Go to Our Friends:

Entry #59 - Bass Lady

Entry #69 - Taty

Entry #137 - Beckie

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.  We

pray for them, and for God's hand of blessing

upon their businesses.  We're SO grateful.

Here's the Blog Hop Order

Please leave a comment on each blog.

This will enter you to WIN the prizes

being offered from that blog.  The TWO

$25 gift certificates from Unity Stamps

are, as always, being awarded to TWO

participants linking up in our challenge.

Cynthia O.

Christine M.

Deanne S., Guest Designer

Wanda C.

Natalie H.

Karen L.

Here's Some Inspiration to get You Started:

Our December Guest Designer, Deanne Saunders

Wanda Cullen

Cynthia Olheiser

Using All is Calm All is Bright (Retired)

Stamp Set from Sponsor, Unity Stamps

Christine Miller

Karen Letchworth

Natalie Houston

Using Caitlin Girl Stamp Set, 

Snow Day Like Today Stamp Set,

Eve Girl Stamp Set, Jacqeline Girl

all from our Sponsor, Unity Stamp Co.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter