Jayson & Carrie Whelpley

This year, like the past two, Carrie and I designed our own cards to send to family, friends and ministry partners (that’s you) for the celebration of the birth of our Savior. Unlike past years, we used computer technology to design our cards.

There were three different designs – you only got one of them. So, we wanted to share what you may have missed out on.

The red and green one were Carrie’s design. She manipulated a photo she took of some branches and sticks that we have around our home as decoration and created design with them. Mine, the blue one, was purely digital – I used Adobe Photoshop and created the design of the roots and the shoot. Click the thumbnails to see the full post-card…

All of them are based off of a verse from the prophet Isaiah wrote about the coming Messiah:

Then a Shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. – Isaiah 11:1

This verse sums up much of the anticipation that the Jewish people have had for Messiah. At the time of Christ’s birth, there was a only a ’stump’ of the (Jesse’s son) David’s dynasty remained… it is from there that the new shoot, Messiah, would spring forth!

Some of the translations that the early church fathers used had the word “star” in place of shoot – giving light in the darnkess of this fallen world. How those who witnessed the new-born King wondered at the hope that was shining forth through His birth that night!

Just a note for anyone who got a letter from us about end of the year giving – you may or may not have noticed a few things missing. We didn’t mention who to make your gift out to (Campus Crusade for Christ), and we didn’t leave a spot on the response card for your name (so please PLEASE include your return address). And for those of you who have already responded, thanks so much – it really has made a difference.

Also, if you remember Dave from the letter, he has since then made a profession of faith, so he could use your prayers as well!

That’s all!