07)Delivering the Deliverer: Ukrainian Calligraphy by Carli Lewis

 

Meditative calligraphy in Ukrainian. The beginning of the Magnificat; Luke 1:47-49 Reflecting on the parallel of Mary’s words speaking about God’s choosing to use her to deliver the deliverer, that we later would be delivered through Him and called blessed among all people.

The text: 

⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
⁴⁹ for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.

*****

Carli Lewis is an artist, designer, and musician from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, currently based in Kiev, Ukraine. Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/meradijoy Music: http://carlilewis.bandcamp.com/releases

6)Blitzen by Jamie Musselman

 

Merry Christmas from the North Pole!

*****

Jamie Musselman is a painter and illustrator from Indiana.  She has too many hobbies and a deep appreciation for Tolkien.

 

Find more of her work on instagram at Jamie Musselman's (@thebashfulbadger) profile on Instagram.

19)Silent Night by Rano Asanbekova and Baktiyar Doranov

 

Rano Asanbekova is a concert violinist in the President's Orchestra in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.  She loves music, films, crying, and food.  Check out more of her violin-playing on Youtube.  

Baktiyar Doranov is a student and plays in the orchestra in Bishkek.  He enjoys music and photography. 

16)Festive Portraits by Maxim Nogai

 

Maxim Nogai is a professional photographer based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.  He likes ramen, karaoke, food, and gaming. Check out more of his work on Instagram @nogai_maxim. 

4)O Little Town of Bethlehem (Blinded By Your Grace) By King's Anthem

 

 

 

 

King's Anthem is a Plymouth, England based group focused on training and coaching local worship teams.  Due to COVID, they've been involved in a number of online events this year, including this collaboration with a network of local churches.  Listen to their 2020 album "Wild Ones" on Spotify.

2)Silver Bells: Tracy Nitschke and Krista Kahsen

Silver Bells was written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans.

Tracy Nitschke is a singer-songerwriter and producer currently based in a converted van in California.  Hailing from Billings, Montana, she has worked in video game design and likes to share her experiences through her music, which is available on Spotify and Apple Music.
 

Krista Kahsen is a missionary, musician, and photographer.  She likes traveling, volunteering, hiking, and learning new languages.  Originally from Michigan, she is currently works with local organizations in Thailand.  Check out her photography on Instagram @kristakahsen! 

1)Winter Photography by Ramona Parkkonen

 

Ramona Parkkonen is a semi-pro photographer from Southern Finland. She loves animals, nature, travelling and taking pictures of animals and nature while travelling. Check out more of her work on Instagram @ramonaparkkonen or at her website:  www.ramonan.kuvat.fi.  These pictures were taken in Finland and Iceland. 

7)Audrey Gragert "Hope and Light"

"Hope and Light" Watercolor on watercolor paper

Here it comes again, Christmas. The season that shouts,"We have a savior!" On Christmas the world saw him for the first time. First the shepherds and later the wisemen saw him. They did not know how he would save them, but they hoped in him. Not one of his family nor any of his disciples knew how he would save them, but they hoped in him. He is our hope, shining with a dazzling brilliance. No matter how dark, no matter how hopeless or helpless and no matter how unloving and unlovable we are, he will save. Because of him, I have been forgiven. Because he lives, I know that he is saving me. I don't know what it will look like in the end, but I'm looking forward to it!

Audrey Gragert is a Studio Art graduate of CSU Chico (California).  She is currently a homemaker and mother living in North Dakota!  Check out her portfolio at Deviantart: http://10time.deviantart.com/gallery 

3)Stephen Carradini "The Eighth Christmas"

The Eighth Christmas

Or, The Text of a Children’s Book 
Concerning the Eighth Birthday of Yeshua Bar-Joseph

Mary dancing in the foyer.

Joseph turning wood.

Sisters chirping “miracles” while

James takes in the mood.

Jude is singing in the bathroom,

Neighbors bringing food.

Aunties hugging everyone, and

Uncles say “he could

grow up to be a carpenter,

working for his father.”

“Maybe take up fishing,

and then go out with his brother.”

“I hope he won’t take taxes and

shame his humble mother.”

“I pray he joins a rabbi.

Maybe Hillel, or another.

Or maybe something else, I guess,

he’s still got some boyhood.”

“Maybe Mary’s right.” “What’s that?”

“Messiah.” “Ah, she would.”

Stephen Carradini teaches, researches, reviews music, writes poetry, and sings in Arizona.

 

2)Kyleigh Dunn "God in Flesh"

This is my body, broken for you.
His slippery flesh bursts from the womb
Her anguished cries that had pierced the night
Now echo in lungs of the one true Light.

This, This is Christ the King
Joining the sorrow of the suffering
The infant crowned
Blood and sweat on the dust of the ground.

This is my blood, shed for you.
Hers was spilled, bringing Him here,
His poured out rebirthing her soul
Torn apart, making wounded whole.

This, This is Christ the King
Yet arms ‘round their innocents cling.
To earth descends, not sterile creche,
God has come, and in the flesh.

Kyleigh Dunn resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two toddler daughters, where she spends her time reading stories, dancing in the kitchen, and sneaking in blogging and music when she can.

Check her Blog: www.thesojourningdunns.wordpress.com
Or check out her book The Christian Musician on Amazon.

1)Kathryn Joy Nellis "Make Room"

Kathryn Nellis is a painter, writer, musician, and creative genius. She studied at Gordon College and in Orvieto, Italy, and currently works as a self-employed artist and art teacher in Chester County, Pennsylvania. 

 

Listen to her music: https://sistersstoriesandsongs.bandcamp.com/

Website: http://katiejoynellisart.com/

FB: Katie Joy Nellis Art

11)Joanna Marshall "Indiana Snows"

Winter

Christmas time

A season of advent

Frozen and dead

Bitter cold and frigid winds

Icy flakes and pale skies

Standing in the middle of the white

Deep green and dark shadows

Contrasting against the bright white

Evergreen trees

Laden with snow

A reminder of hope and new life

Through the bitter cold

Hope of a Savior

Bringing new life

Hope of everlasting joy

And eternal peace

Joanna Marshall studies math education at Purdue; she enjoys snapping photographs, chatting in Spanish, and poeting in her spare time.  Check out more or her work at her website, poetryandphotographybyjo.weebly.com, or follow her on Instagram.

22)"Redemption Knocked" Krista Kahsen

Redemption knocked

At my door

It was a normal night -

and nothing more

Throughout that day

I washed and cleaned

scrubbed and swept

My Inn - From top to bottom

Preparing for

The native travelers

Who worn and tired

Needed a place to lay

Redemption knocked

At my door

It was a normal night -

and nothing more

One by one

I welcomed each guest

Offered them water

And a key to their room

Pristine and perfect

Were each of their spaces

Lain with clean linens

And bowls - To wash their faces

Redemption knocked

At my door

It was a normal night -

and nothing more

Retired to my bed

At half-past ten

I contented myself

With the work I had done

Each guest now lies

Quite comfortably still

In the beds and the places

That I crafted for them

Redemption knocked

At my door

It was a normal night -

and nothing more

Knocked.

Knock.

Knocking.

That persistent knock- who could it be?

The rooms are filled

The door has been shut

I cannot possibly take another

From out of my slumber

I walk to the door

To open and behold

A young couple - Standing there

Redemption knocked

At my door

It was a normal night -

and nothing more

Asking for a corner

Maybe a crumble too

Of my possessions to share

I shook my head -

And said I had nothing

The man pleaded and begged

Telling of the child

That was nearly due

“I don’t have room” -

Was all I could say

Redemption knocked

At my door

It was a normal night -

and nothing more

I thought for a moment

Of the bed where I sleep

Surely I could give up

One night for these travelers

But no!

I hadn’t washed my linens

Nor swept my floors -

I hadn’t dusted the corners

Or patched the lingering holes

Redemption knocked

At my door

It was a normal night -

and nothing more

I mustn’t let them in.

I mustn’t let them see.

Me behind -

My generosity

So turning they went

Away from my Door

To settle in the Stable

On the straw-strewn floor

Redemption knocked

At my door

It was a normal night -

and nothing more

Krista Kahsen is a young photographer, church pianist, and hometown missionary in Michigan. She is currently studying English through CollegePlus and enjoys being a camp counselor when she gets the chance. Check out her blog and like her photography page below:

www.inksimpressionsandivory.blogspot.com

www.flickr.com/kristarosephotography

19)"A Lonely Leaf" Robert Best

A lonely leaf at last gives way

To join the vibrant forest floor.

Autumnal rage has had its day,

And quiet Winter knocks the door.

The days grow short and light recedes

Before the grasping winter night.

The harvest heat to cold concedes,

And Nature shivers in her plight.

The birds have fled to southern lands,

And wary bears have gone to ground.

A chilly pilgrim rubs their hands

Upon a journey homeward bound.

In howling wind and driving snows

The traveller must forge their path,

But in their hearts the home-fire glows

And guides them through the snow storm's wrath.

But hope is frail when darkness reigns,

When sap is freezing in the trees

And ice is coursing through your veins,

For then it seems all life will freeze.

And ghosts are born in winter time

And rise each year to grip our hearts.

An ever striking pantomime

Where memory replays its parts.

A few bring grief and others joy,

Of love, long gone or never found

Or waiting, whether girl or boy

In love we trust, our hopes abound.

And so the trials of darkest night

And bitter bite of deepest cold

Remind us how to seek the light,

And find our warmth within the fold.

In company our freedom lies

From bleak despair and lonely grief.

That's why the pilgrim always tries

To reach the door that hangs a wreath.

Beyond that door is festive cheer,

Where song and laughter fill the air.

So come and taste the food and beer

And curl up on a fireside chair.

The weary pilgrim finds their home

And through the storm their knocking's heard.

They now no longer need to roam

And “Joy” has got the final word.

Joy.



Robert Best is a Corellian starfighter trapped inside the body of a Terrestrial security guard outside Edinburgh. He handwrites most of his work to while away his long and lonely night shifts. However, if you wanted to hear more of his poetry or read his fantastical fiction you're going to have to wait for him to get off his backside to put it online.

17)Holiday Art by Kerri Shadid

Kerri Shadid makes visual art through marbling, like these ornaments.

Marbling involves letting water give paints a unique shape.

Christmas Cards

A Painting

Kerri also does a "poetry stand" where she writes poetry to order at various festivals
or recently as the "artist-in-residence" at the OKC Hilton.


Kerri Shadid is a poet and visual artist based in the Oklahoma City Metro area. She creates unique handmade gifts and art during the holidays and throughout the year, including customized poetry artwork, hand-marbled notecards, and decoupaged Christmas ornaments. For more information, contact her at ks@kerrishadid.com.