Good morning,
How are you? I hope all is well. I wanted to say thank you for making this year's Open Studio fun and successful! It was late in the year, much later than I've done before. So, thank you!
As I've been doing in the past few years, I've got a downloadable PDF Christmas card which you are welcome to print and use if you'd like.
I didn't add any text this year. Just an image and a silent offer of peace, even though that is a cardinal and not a dove.
The olive branch has become a symbol of peace in our world. I never thought about it before but I imagine it's because when Noah sent the dove out to see if there was dry land, it was an olive branch she brought back, signifying peace and safety.
It's not been a very peaceful year has it? So I've been thinking about peace. We often quote bible verses or other things about peace. Peace on earth and goodwill toward men. We all want peace and yet it seems so elusive.
What is peace? At least one aspect of peace is disjointed pieces, broken pieces, being put back together.
One of my favorite bible passages is from Ephesians, chapter two. Paul, the author, is writing to Gentiles (people who were not Jewish). Verses 11-18 are about Jesus making peace between Jews and Gentiles, who had been hostile toward each other for millennia. The verse I love the most from this passage is verse 17.
"For He himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near." - Ephesians 2:14-17
What peace did He preach and what peace did He bring? He brought peace with God to the whole broken human race.
He brought reconciliation to us, the pieces, that had been scattered and shattered just after the beginning.
Are you longing for peace this season? Are you jaded and disheartened that everything seems to be a mess?
There was a time in my life when everything was a broken down shambles and I came to end of myself. And Christ found me and brought me peace.
Peace with God, my Creator, and consequently peace began to make it's way into all aspects of my life. Even when there's no peace in my circumstances, His peace never leaves.
He came, he preached peace to us, who were far off and to us who were near. Peace with God, through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound" (Romans 15:13) both now and forever.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas,
Ginny
Click here to download the Christmas Peace pdf file.