Avinu, Abba
Father, Daddy - Engulfed in His Gaze

­­­The Hebrew word Avinu means Father. The Hebrew word Abba means Daddy.
“But now, O Lord, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter, and we all are the work of Thy hand.” Isaiah 64:8

Celebrate with Anna!

Anna is from the Portrait Collection and is also available as a Celebrate His Birth 4-pack.

“She continued to speak of Him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:38b) 

In the Bible, Anna was a woman of strength, dignity, faithfulness, vigilance, peace and joy in her redemption in Jesus!
The text on the back of this card says: 

We have victory through Messiah Yeshua!

The Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah Art Card is from the Feasts of Israel Fulfilled Collection.

Hanukkah is also called The Feast of Dedication and The Festival of Lights. Did you know that the Bible references Hanukkah in John 10:22-29?

He is the image of the invisible God!
Celebrate His Birth!

The Brightness of His Glory Art Card is available as a 4-pack.  The back of this card includes the following verses: 

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers by the prophets at many times and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son whom He appointed heir of all things and through whom also He made the worlds. And He is the brightness of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. Hebrews 1:1-2

El Roi
God Who sees me

­­­The Hebrew name of God El Roi is found once in the Old Testament in Genesis 16:13-14 on the lips of Hagar, Sarai’s maid. Because of Sarai’s jealous, harsh treatment of her, Hagar fled and found herself in a desperate, lonely, thirsty place.

Together, let’s raise praise!

The Grateful praise Art Card is found in the Thanksgiving Collection and is also available as a 4-Pack. 

On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln gave our nation’s first formal Proclamation of Thanksgiving in Washington D.C.  The proclamation was written by Secretary of State William Seward, and was an invitation to thank God collectively for His provision and care!

Shout joyfully!
Celebrate with thanksgiving!

Shout joyfully is a high-quality art card that can be sent with just one regular stamp! It is available in the Thanksgiving Collection at Flower Girl Greetings.com

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of His name! Make His praise glorious! (Psalm 66:1-2)

He came for you!

The He came Art Card is a simple watercolor painted with green and crimson watercolors and silver metallic ink. The special watercolor paper was soaked in water first, so I could drip the paints to create patterns of different greens. 

Share His salvation!

The Simeon Art Card is available in the Celebrate His birth-Simeon 4-Pack and the Portrait Collection at Flower Girl Greetings.com

The text on the front of this card is, My eyes have seen Your salvation! The inside is blank, so you can share your own personal message or include a letter. The back includes a paraphrase from the passage from Luke 2:21-32 about Simeon...

Wise Journey
His word lights our path!

The Wise journey Art Card is available in the Celebrate His Birth-Wise journey 4-Pack at Flower Girl Greetings.com.

The white text on the front of the card says:
I have seen Your Star and rejoiced exceedingly!
I will seek Your face continually!
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path!

El Shaddai
The beginning word El means God of Eternity or Eternal One.

­­­El Shaddai is used 48 times in the Old Testament (31 times are in the book of Job, spoken by almost everyone in the story). Shaddai is translated as Almighty, All-powerful. Shaddai is a compound of she (meaning who) and day (meaning enough) which means The One Who is All-Sufficient.

The Scroll of Esther 
God never forgets His covenant with His people
A Devotional Overview of Esther's Story
Print the free 2-page PDF

The Context of the Scroll of Esther
The Bible begins with the stories of Creation, Adam and Eve, Abraham, Noah, Moses, Joshua, and the stories of the judges who ruled the land. Then, the Israelites wanted kings. The first kings were Saul, David, and Solomon. Due to Solomon’s sin, the kingdom was divided into the north and south. Most of the kings of these two kingdoms were grossly sinful. And so, both kingdoms were taken into exile by their enemies – the northern kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians in 714 BC; and the southern kingdom of Judah by the Babylonians in 586 BC.

Elohim
God the Creator

The Hebrew Name of God Elohim means God the Creator, Sovereign God, Majestic God, and God of Eternity. 

Elohim is a plural word used with singular verbs, adjectives, and pronouns conveying both one God and the unity of the one God in a plurality of persons. It is the first place we see the concept of the trinity and the confirmation of Colossian 1:16 about Jesus – “For by Him all things were created both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created by Him and for Him.” 

Redeemer
Gō’ēl

The Hebrew word for Redeemer, gō’ēl, is found most abundantly in the book of Isaiah. God’s redemption comes after a recounting of loss or waywardness. To redeem means to restore, to clear by payment, or to exchange something bad for something good.

Remain steadfast!
He was looking for the city…

Steadfast is from the Portrait Collection and is also available as a 4-Pack at Flower Girl Greetings.com 

“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise for He was looking for the city that has foundations whose architect and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:8-10)

Be patient in hope.
He will come!

Springs rains is from the Thy Faithfulness Collection at Flower Girl Greetings.com

Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; His going forth is sure as the dawn, He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth. (Hosea 6:3) 

Here is a little hymn that have so shaped my life...

O satisfy me...
in the morning with Thy lovingkindness

O satisfy me in the morning with Thy lovingkindness that I may sing for joy and be glad all my days. (Psalm 90:14)

The Psalmist encourages us that God is waiting to feed us with His presence. This morning, I read Psalm 84 that also encourages us to dwell in His love.

Yahweh Nissi
The Lord our Banner

­Moses called God Yahweh Nissi after their victory over a cruel enemy. Nissi is derived from the Hebrew nēs meaning signal pole, standard, banner or sail. Yahweh Nissi means The Lord our Banner.

Springs of joy!
Celebrate a new birth!

Psalm 87 is a beautiful gem of rejoicing!  It reflects with nuances of the joy of the Lord Most High, His city, His kingdom and His people. The sons of Korah sing of Adonai’s love for His people and the place of their birth. Verses 5-7 read:

Of Zion it shall be said,
“This one and that one were born in her,”
And the Lord Most High Himself will establish her.
He shall count and say, “This person and that person were born there.” Selah.
And the singers and musicians (dancers) shall sing:
All my springs of joy are in thee!

His presence
Our solution

Under His shadow is available as a 4-Pack at Flower Girl Greetings.com and in the Abide Collection.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High God
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God in Whom I trust.
(Psalm 91:1-2)

Shāmar
The fullness of God's protection

Shāmar is a Hebrew word that expresses the rich fullness of God’s protection. This card is available as a 4-Pack here at Flower Girl Greetings. A devotional word study is found on the back of this Art Card. Here are the words:

Shāmar is the detailed all-encompassing, constant, permanent protection of the Sovereign Creator God over His children. English translations use words such as keep, guard, watch over, and preserve to attempt to convey its meaning. God cares for us as a good shepherd cares for a flock or a gardener delicately tends the garden.  

Full earth!
O Lord, how many are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all;
The earth is full of Your riches.
Psalm 104

O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8:9

Yahweh Raah
The Lord is my Shepherd

Isaiah 40:11
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm and carry them in His bosom and gently lead those that are with young.

Yahweh Rapha
I am the Lord Who heals you.

Healing is a restoration of something that has been damaged or is not functioning in its intended capacity resulting in pain. Although we don’t always experience God’s healing, we should not limit His desire or ability to heal, even when the damage is self-inflicted.

Yahweh Shalom
The Lord our Peace

Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.” The Lord said, “Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die.” Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it The Lord is Peace. Judges 6:22-24

Yahweh Shammah
The Lord is there.

Yahweh Shammah means The Lord is there. It is the name of the Heavenly City of God and is found in the last verse of Ezekiel (48:35).

Yahweh Tsuri
The Lord is my Rock

Throughout the Psalms and the writings of the prophets, God is spoken of as our Rock – a reliable, sure source of strength; an enduring firm foundation; a strong refuge.

Yahweh Yireh
The Lord will Provide

The Names of God were given by individuals when a characteristic of God became powerfully personal to them. Often they named the place where they were standing as a remembrance.

Genesis 22:14 says, “And Abraham called the name of that place Yahweh Yireh, meaning In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. Abraham called God Yahweh Yireh when He provided the ram to replace the sacrifice of his son Isaac.

Yahweh Yireh means Yahweh will see, which translated means He will appear on the mountain. Yahweh Yireh has traditionally been translated The Lord Will Provide, because God powerfully appears in our lives when we are in need. His appearance is our provision.

We are Redeemed
Redeemed is the Hebrew nîgāl.

The soft, periwinkle words on the front of the We are Redeemed Art Card are:
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for His has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people… Luke 1:16
“Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow,” says the Lord. Isaiah 1:18a

From Painting to Printing
The Step-by-Step Process for Creating Flower Girl Greetings Art Cards

Create
The art for Flower Girl Greetings cards was created from 1976 to the present day. To read each art card story, please visit ShaleFragments.com. Not all the art was originally created to be reproduced onto an art card. In 2012, I gathered previous art to use for the cards and then created new art as well.

Woven
You wonderfully wove me!

In January 2017, I painted this portrait of my new grandniece within a womb of light. The rainbow colors symbolize the miracle of life, the child’s progression in the womb, and the surrounding warmth, protection, and love. I painted each oval one at a time filling it with water first and then dropping the watercolor onto the wet surface to create the gradations. After the painting was dry, I added white chalk highlights.

Over and over, the Scriptures speak of the lovingkindness and compassion of the Lord. The Hebrew word for compassion is râchâm and means the nurturing love of a mother for the child in her womb. That is how the Lord loves us. His compassion is infinitely tender, watchful, and hopeful.

I Am the Alpha and the Omega
The Beginning and the End
The First and the Last
The Author and Finisher of your faith

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. (John 1:1-4)

I Am the Anointed One
The Messiah
The Christ
Yeshua haMashiach

I Am the Bread of Life
He who comes to Me will not hunger,
and he who believes in Me will never thirst.

After God delivered His people from bondage in Egypt, He provided manna for them in the wilderness. “It was like coriander seed, white and tasted like wafers with honey.” Exodus 16:31

I Am the Door of the sheep
Whoever enters through Me shall be saved.

Jesus said, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7)

“I am the door. Whoever enters through me shall be saved and shall go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9)

I Am the Good Shepherd
The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

I am the Good Shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one Shepherd. (John 10:14-16)

I Am the Light of the world
Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

I Am the Living Water
Whoever thirsts, come to Me and drink.

Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness and streams in the Arabah.

I Am the Resurrection and the Life
He who believes in Me will live even if He dies.

John 11:25 – Jesus said to Martha,
“I am the Resurrection and the Life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.”

I Am the Resurrection and the Life
He who believes in Me will live even if He dies.

John 11:25 – Jesus said to Martha, “I am the Resurrection and the Life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.”

I Am the Root and the Offspring of David
The Bright Morning Star

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright Morning Star.” (Revelation 22:16)

I Am the Vine
You are the branches.

Jesus said, “Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life
No one comes to the Father but through Me.

And He said, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)

I AM that I Am
Before Abraham was born, I Am.

While Moses was tending sheep, He came to Horeb, the mountain of God. God called to him from a burning bush appointing him to deliver His people from Egypt. Moses asked God to tell him His name. God said, “I AM THAT I AM.” (Exodus 3:14)

Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation
A Family Reading
Free Downloadable PDF

I divided the Proclamation into five parts with headings making it easy to read in a gathering. I then attempted to translate it into simpler language so that I could understand it. This simpler version is at the end of this document and may be helpful to read next in the gathering or to use for discussion and prayer. If you print off the PDF at the link above, it will be easy to cut the portions for each reader. 

For fun pictures of Abe, please read this post to the end!

I know that my Redeemer lives
and at last He will take His stand on the earth. Job 19:25

I created the original art for this Art Card by painting thin paper with inks and watercolors, tearing the paper into pieces, and then gluing the pieces together onto a board.

He is risen 
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ the Messiah
A color-coded merging of the Resurrection accounts from the four Gospels is on the back of this watercolor Art Card.

Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8;
Luke 24:1-12; and John 20:1-10

Redeemer
I know that my Redeemer lives

I created the original artwork for this Art Card with red and green ink in a Gocco screen printer. The Gocco uses flash bulbs to thermally imprint my original calligraphy onto the master screen...

Adore Him!
O come let us adore Him!

This Art Card is a photograph of my nativity. This nativity began years ago with a gift of small figures. We would gather around it with neighborhood children to read the story and celebrate the birth of Jesus. At the brief mention that more sheep were needed for the pasture, offerings from family and friends began to arrive. As the number of sheep grew, so did the pastures, shepherds, and trees. The many sheep remind us that we are all unique and cherished in His sight.

Maidens in the midst
Let us exalt His Name together!

In July of 2012, some friends in our precious home group congregated in our basement to pose for pictures from which I would paint. Maidens in the midst  was created from that photo shoot. The letters are crudely painted with Watercolor Art Masking Fluid...