Sunday, April 29, 2012

Like a tree...

“… and they lived happily ever after!” Too bad that isn’t how real life works. A lost job, a bank foreclosure, a broken marriage, illnesses, death… any number of trials and sorrows could happen to any of us, at any time. No one is exempt from the troubles of this world.

 There are questions from the song called “HELD” that Natalie Grant sings that we, as Christians, often ask. The lines say.
 “Who told us we’d be rescued?
 What has changed and 
Why should we be saved from nightmares?
We’re asking why this happens to us, 
who have died to live, it’s unfair.

I have friends at church, who lost their baby granddaughter in a fire in January, and another family from my church had their house burn down this week and they escaped with their lives but lost everything as they didn’t have renters insurance. Another man from my church just last weekend was in a terrible accident that left him hospitalized with a broken back. All of these people love God, yet bad things have happened in their lives.

 It really shouldn’t shock us or surprise us because Jesus told his followers. “…In this world YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John16:33)

 The comfort that we have is: “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Several weeks ago, the Holy Spirit laid the following scripture on my heart. “[Those who trust in the Lord] shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay GREEN; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.”(Jeremiah 17:8)

 Having lived in Phoenix, AZ, I know what happens to trees when heat and drought hit them. Often the heat and drought are too much and they die. Phoenix summers can be brutal. But the trees that do, have a water source survive and are fruitful. The heat and drought are the TROUBLES in life. To those without a relationship with God, the troubles are too hard to bear, but to those who have that relationship with God, they will be sustained. He will care for them and nourish them, and He will help them through those troubles.

My challenge for everyone is to use our green thumbs... either use green on a card/project or use an image of something planted.

 Our sponsor for this week's challenge is DRS Designs . Make sure you check out their website. Amazing stamps. I used this flower and fence stamp for my projects. I made a card and a matching bookmark for a friend in my small group at church. She is a full time mom, and a full time nurse at a nursing home. This last week she was really sad because she had just lost a patient. For my bookmark. I just cut the center birdhouse out. I struggled with how to color the sky. It was really a challenge for me to leave the sky white, but I think it really makes the house and sunflowers stand out. Sunflowers are some of my favorite flowers. I love how the follow the sun. A great reminder for me to follow the SON.


Make sure you check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created for your inspiration:
I love this song sung by Natalie Grant. I am so thankful to be HELD.

 When God put this week's scripture on my heart, I saw it everywhere I looked. It was in several different devotionals, as well as my daily bible study. That same week I was listening to songs by Audrey Assad. (One of my favorite singers- and I got to hear her live in concert last week. Such a blessing!!!) The first line of the song had me in tears, because it just was confirmation to me that God was speaking to my heart about trusting in Him no matter what. I hope this song blesses you as much as it did me.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Your Word is a lamp

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105 This is the scripture that the Holy Spirit encouraged my sister in Christ Linda to share. Last week my small group was studying about hearing and seeing God in our daily lives. I shared with them that it when God speaks to me through his word, I will see that scripture again and again until I finally get it. I will see it when I open my bible and when I read devotions. I will hear it when the pastor at my church preaches and even in the songs I listen to on the radio. That happened to me with the very scripture that Linda choose. After seeing and hearing several times it started sinking in. There were two major thoughts that God was speaking to me through this scripture. The first was the value of His Word. I was reminded this week how important it is to read, study, memorize and know His word. I don't do this as much as I would like to. I started thinking about places where people risk their lives to have a bible. It is probably the most valuable thing they own. And I am sure that they read it and memorize it because they are worried that it will be taken away from them. For me and my society having a bible is too easy and we take it for granted. I know in my house alone we have probably 20 hard copies of the bible and my kids and my husband have the bible on their phones and we have such easy access on computers. It made me wonder if that is part of Satan's strategy to make us not read God's word, that word that lights our path. The second thought was about it being "a lamp" not a flood light. I find myself wanting to see all the way down the path, but God gives me a lamp. Just enough light to see the path and where to take the next step. It comes down to an issue of faith. Do I trust God? Where is that path leading? Does He know best? I am learning each day to focus on just that next step. Not trying to look down the path behind me seeing where I have been, and not straining and worrying about the path ahead. Here is Linda's challenge: create a card/project in soft pastel palette - black or white can be used as a neutral.Inspired Stamps is this week's sponsor. They were so nice to give me the stamps so that I could make this card. I had to smile when I opened that package and saw this week's scripture looking up at me... AGAIN.
 
 
Posted by Picasa

Friday, April 20, 2012

Last day of MFP April Blog Hop

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's April Blog Hop!
This month's New Stamp Set Releases are
Fabulous Dogs Featured April 17
 Daffodil Greetings Featured April 18
 Hey, Cowboy! Featured April 19 
Train Talk Featured April 20
Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on April 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday April 20, 2012.


Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Marilynn This is me
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Kathy
Brenda
Toni
Tangii
Anna S
Sue
Kelli
Janine
Mark's Finest Papers

I am the first to admit that I am a layer junkie, and I love to color, so CAS cards are very hard for me, but sometime you just need a quick card. This set is perfect. I just stamped the train in black and using a ruler drew four lines and stamped the birthday sentiment from the FABULOUS DOGS set. 5 mins tops. I love how this turned out.  

Thursday, April 19, 2012

April MFP Blog Hop day 3

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's April Blog Hop!
This month's New Stamp Set Releases are
Fabulous Dogs Featured April 17
 Daffodil Greetings Featured April 18
 Hey, Cowboy! Featured April 19 
Train Talk Featured April 20
Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on April 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday April 20, 2012.


Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Marilynn This is me
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Kathy
Brenda
Toni
Tangii
Anna S
Sue
Kelli
Janine
Mark's Finest Papers

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

MFP April Blog Hop day 2

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's April Blog Hop!
This month's New Stamp Set Releases are
Fabulous Dogs Featured April 17
 Daffodil Greetings Featured April 18
 Hey, Cowboy! Featured April 19 
Train Talk Featured April 20
Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on April 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday April 20, 2012.


Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Marilynn This is me
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Kathy
Brenda
Toni
Tangii
Anna S
Sue
Kelli
Janine
Mark's Finest Papers


Daffodil Greetings is my favorite of this month's released sets. Everyone knows that I love butterflies. This butterfly I think is going to be my favorite go to butterfly.

This first card was a sneak peak card that I made last week using the SCS sketch.

This card was another sneak peek card that I made for last week's SCS color combo challenge.
This next card was the last of the sneak peek cards. This was for the SCS F4A challenge to use twinches.
Now on to the new projects. Here is a close up of the butterfly
I wanted to make a tall long card so that I could showcase the butterfly trail which is bling from want 2 scrap. I think it works so well for butterfly trails. I colored the butterfly with yellow orange, green, turquoise and blue.
I used the porcelain paper technique to make this butterfly cluster pin. It is very hard and shiny.
The pin turned out so well I decided to try a pair of earrings. No one will guess that these are just glue and paper..
I know a lot of people, especially my kids make fun of Miley Cyrus songs, but this one is especially pretty and I like it. Hope you like it. If today you are still a caterpillar hang on your time is coming. If you are a butterfly, be thankful for your blessings and fly, fly away.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

April MFP hop day 1

 Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's  April Blog Hop!
This month's New Stamp Set Releases are
Fabulous Dogs Featured April 17 Daffodil Greetings Featured April 18 Hey, Cowboy! Featured April 19 Train Talk Featured April 20
Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on April 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday April 20, 2012.


Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Marilynn 
Pam 
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Kathy
Brenda
Toni
Tangii
Anna S
Sue
Kelli
Janine
Mark's Finest Papers



This song was the inspiration for my card.

 

Monday, April 16, 2012

Serendipity Stamps

Posted by Picasa
I am having. computer problems. I'm trying to do this weeks post from my phone. I'm not really proficient in posting from my phone. I hope that I can get to a computer that works after church service. The challenge this week is to use something clear or transparent on our cards. I made mine an acetate card. I sewed the two different dp to the acetate. The beautiful flowers and butterfly are from Serendipity Stamps, our sponsor this week. When I get to a computer I will link to the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge as well as my sister's cards and our sponsor. Thanks for being patient with me. I hope that this works.

Update on computer... It looks like I have a video card that is going bad. It is working for now, but with an old computer I don't know how long it will last. My computer isn't so old to have used punch cards, cassette tapes or floppy disks, but almost that old. LOL! I pray that everyone has a blessed week. My goal this week is to try and see all the little blessings that God has given to me no matter how small.
Here is the link to Serendipity Stamps, our sponsor this week. 
Make sure you check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created for your inspiration:

Monday, April 9, 2012

Crossview


I took this photo outside of my church a couple of weeks ago. I was there early for a worship team practice and this just caught my eye. So sorry Pastor Chris for being a few minutes late. I just had to take this photo.
Posted by Picasa

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Hebrews 12:2-3 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." This is the scripture that my sister in Christ Traci chose for this week. This Resurrection Sunday. I am amazed at all that Jesus went through, physically, spiritually and emotionally when he died on the cross for me. Physically, he was beaten, tortured. I don't have a very high threshold of pain. I complain over the littlest of pains like a hangnail. I can't even begin to imagine the physical pain he endured before death claimed his body. Spiritually he had to face being abandoned by God the Father. Emotionally he was ridiculed, laughed at, taunted, and hurt by those he was trying to save. His friends had deserted him and he must have felt so all alone. Yet he did that with me in mind. He could see to the future when MariLynn would be born, be a sinner and need a savior. He loved me so much that he went through this for me. The amazing thing is he did it for you too. Within one week's time, Jesus comes into the city of Jerusalem. People  cheer and praise him. Thursday, his best friends turn away from him. One betrays him, another denies he even knew him. Friday, he endures a mock trial and is executed in the most excruciating way imaginable. He is buried in a tomb. It looks like evil won and good lost. Then Sunday morning comes... Resurrection day. A CHANGE takes place. God raises Jesus from the dead. The most joyful of days. That is what I celebrate today!!

Traci's challenge was to make a joyful card or something celebatory.

I spent quite awhile trying to figure out how I would make a joyful card. Then I decided to make a card that celebrates CHANGE. Because of Jesus's death and resurrection, I have a CHANGED life. Without Jesus, I had no hope of Eternal Life. I was separated from God because of my sin. Now because of Jesus, when the Father looks at me, he sees a reedemed child. My sins are covered by the blood of Jesus. I am CHANGED.

Gorgeous bling!!!!
Inside says "If nothing ever changed, we wouldn't have butterflies."





Do you see the pretty bling on my card? I was blessed to recieve the bling from Nina Brackett. She sent me some of the "SAY IT WITH BLING" from Want 2 Scrap that she designed. Thank you Nina!!!

This week's sponsor is Paper Pretties. Someone will be blessed to win 6 digital images.
make sure you check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created for your inspiration:

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Birthday Telescoping Card

Luke 15:20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

I have read this passage many times. Usually I think about it from the son's perspective. This week I thought about it from the point of view of the Father. I have a house full of teenagers. They are proof that parenting isn't for the weak of heart. There are lots of things that they say and do that hurt my feelings. But no matter what they do. I still love them.I got to thinking about what the son did to the father. He basically said "I don't want to wait for you to die. I want your money now. Then he spent all the money living a bad life. I have often thought about why the father would love and forgive someone who had hurt him so much. Then I thought of my kids. If I can love them with my flawed sinful nature, how much more love and forgiveness comes from our Heavenly,perfect Father.

This week's challenge is to make a card that moves. For example: viewmaster, pop up, slider, gel, etc.Pizzaz AplentyI made my card a telescoping card. If you would like to view the tutorial on how to make a telescoping card on Splitcoaststampers it is HERE.