![\"\"](\"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/DSC039272.jpg\" "\\"DSC03927\\"")
<\/a>For our family, we create our own card each year. All through the year as we are out and about on photo shoots, we\u2019re on the lookout for a special tree or a unique scene.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
If we don\u2019t find it out there somewhere, we search through the thousands of pictures we\u2019ve already taken. We spend time searching for the perfect photo.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In the past we\u2019ve written our own verse to go inside. Here is one example.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cChristmas is more than decorated trees,<\/p>\n
And gifts placed under evergreens.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s more than just a holiday,<\/p>\n
In truth it\u2019s about a tiny babe.”<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t say it was good verse writing. But it was an attempt each year to create something special for family and friends.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve gotten a bit lazy. We create a card on one sheet of photo paper with just a small note. Not like the old days.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
God sent His own Christmas card. Oh, it isn\u2019t like anything we have ever seen before, for instead of being carried by the US Postal Service, it was carried by an angel. This was the message.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.\u201d<\/em> (Luke 2:10-12 \u2013 NIV)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is where the reinforcements were called in. Suddenly, the angel was accompanied by a great company of heavenly host. They all praised God and said,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGlory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.\u201d<\/em> (Luke 2:14 \u2013 NIV)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now that is a Christmas card no one can top!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n God\u2019s message to the shepherds on the hillside is the same message God has for each of us. It is good news of great joy, for without the birth of this tiny baby there wouldn\u2019t have been Jesus the Messiah, the Savior of the world.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n God continued with His card sending. We have an entire book filled with His messages. They are all wrapped up neatly within the bindings of our Bibles. What a message He proclaims!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Christmas cards I receive each year are placed in a prominent position in my home. They are special to me. Occasionally I will walk by and pick up each one and re-read the message enclosed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I\u2019m thankful to be able to pick up God\u2019s Christmas card and re-read His message as well. It has become part of my daily routine.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Do you spend time reading God\u2019s Word on a daily basis? It has a message specifically for you. It is filled with wonder, surprise, love stories, tenderness, miracles, gifts, hope, grace, and so much more. Regardless of what you are going through, you will find a special message from God that will touch your heart.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I pray that as you receive Christmas cards this year, you\u2019ll think of the special message God sent those many years ago and have a renewed sense of wonder about the whole event.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Merry Christmas from my family to yours!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Grace and peace be yours in abundance,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Donna<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Christmas cards are one of my favorite elements to the celebrations at Christmas. I enjoy receiving them. I enjoy sending them. For our family, we create our own card each year. All through the year as we are out and about on photo shoots, we\u2019re on the lookout for a special tree or a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_s2mail":"yes","_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,12,20,15,25,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-636","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-believing-god","category-discovering-god","category-hearing-god","category-knowing-god","category-praising-god","category-seeking-god"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/636","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=636"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/636\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":647,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/636\/revisions\/647"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=636"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=636"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=636"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}