December 24 Christmas Card 2024

Designing my own Christmas card plays a big part of how my heart gets involved in Christmas each year. 

I began reading "50 Days of Heaven" by Randy Alcorn late last winter. On Day 25 (page 123), there is quote by Augustine: "Why do we not know the country whose citizens we are? Because we have wandered so far away that we have forgotten it. But the Lord Christ, the king of the land, came down to us, and drove forgetfulness from our hearts. God took to Himself our flesh so that He might be our way back."

Upon reading this, I was so moved, so convicted ... my heart ached. And every time I read it, I have the same sense of wonder that He would make it possible--what it actually took for Him to make it possible--for us to spend eternity with Him. I wrote the quote down right away in my Christmas card folder for later use ...

SO, here is the card I designed and mailed out to 65 friends and family.

FRONT:

Scripture: "Christ first came down to the lowly world in which we live. The same One who came down is the One who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that His rule might fill the entire universe." Ephesians 4.9-10 NLT

INSIDE:

BACK:

I took these pictures two years ago while walking around Meijer Garden in freshly fallen snow, hoping to eventually use them on a card or two. 

When I began the process for this year's card, I was a little late starting. I usually like to have a ready-to-print copy no later than mid-November. But I couldn't get anything to come together when I would attempt it, and almost gave up making one this year. I asked the Lord to help me design one that would honor Him and share His love; and I felt His presence as I spent several days in early December putting this together. The quote from Augustine is perfect, isn't it? If only ... if only I didn't keep forgetting that this earth will one day be made completely NEW, and that believers will LIVE here in resurrected bodies with the resurrected Christ ... for all eternity. What a great Savior we have! What a great and awesome Triune God! So thankful for Him.