Sunday, January 15, 2012

SSIC 122~ Making All Things New



Good Sunday morning! I am your hostess this week for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge blog. Thanks so much for joining us! You can see the gorgeous Design Team entries for this challenge and this week's devotional on the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog.
My verse was taken from the book of Revelation. With a new year already almost two weeks underway, I wonder, if you, like me, are floundering a bit on your "resolutions," or still deciding what you want the new year to look like? This verse seemed so appropriate and inspired my thoughts on God making all things new. Thank goodness, it is not up to me, or my current mood or the day I am having. If I have given my life to Christ, then I also need to trust Him and His resurrection power to bring newness to my life.

Revelation 21:5
“And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ And He said, ‘write for these words are faithful and true.’”
Who of us doesn’t like new beginnings? Since the beginning of a New Year, I have also begun a new Bible study, and just this week, celebrated a new birthday! All of these bring a bit of excitement, challenge, and fresh hope. I recently read this poem in a daily devotional, and my heart ached with the words the author conveyed.
Starting Over
I wish there were some wonderful place
Called the “Land of Beginning Again,”
Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches and all our selfish grief
Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door,
And never be put on again. (Louise Fletcher)
Ached, because I can empathize with her longings to be free from the past. Because, as with any new beginning, something old has to be discarded. I can’t expect to start out each day fresh and new if I am still entangled by the mistakes of my yesterday. Wrong thoughts, impure motives, selfish desires…all of these the Bible warns about. Yet, are you, like me, eager for something new? We want the blessings that the Lord has to offer; but we are not as willing to do what He requires of us. With the promise of a New Year, we are often so willing to boot the old one out the door like company that has overstayed their welcome, without ever pondering why some things went so awry. We had good intentions, after all. We prayed good prayers, we fought the good fight…and yet sometimes the trials remain. Trials: like The People that do not cooperate with our plans. Yes, I said it. How many times have I been disappointed because of someone else’s behavior? (Underline else.) Most of last year’s trials were of this variety. Don’t you love how the book of James refers to a “variety of trials?” I see the unrepentant child who rushes headlong into one long series of bad choices, and I shake my head and wonder. And yet, before Christ intervened in my life, isn’t that what I was, an unrepentant child?
So before I ask God to do anything new in my life this year, I want to first ask Him to make me new. Give me a renewed desire to please him, a renewed willingness to obey him. Give me new eyes to see my present circumstances…a new heart to praise Him for the simple joys of living. God has promised to renew my thinking, as I immerse myself in His word daily. So that is where I am starting. I want, more than anything, to see God’s newness of life as He pleasures to reveal it to me. But I know that to do that, He will also have to make some changes in me. And we all know change can be painful. I can entrust this process to Him. So I am letting go of some of the “to do’s” on my New Year’s list of goals, resolutions, or whatever you call them. And replacing them with, “ God, Please do…” Do a new work in me, create in me something, someone, worthy of you.

The challenge:
Let's use something new on our card/project this week. It can be a new stamp, paper, or embellishment...or even a new technique or an idea that is new to you! Just have fun with your creation!!
The Prize:
Nina Brackett Designs (2 stamps," Gleefully Yours, " and "Christ is Risen."

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Flourishes Snow Wonderful
Paper:  PTI Vanilla, SU! Chocolate Chip, Basic Grey Origins DP
Access: Classic Keyhold Die (Flourishes), Ribbon, Copic Markers: E53, E42, E25, E29, E39, YG95. twig and twine glued with Allene's Tacky Glue, Chalk ink for Background

Thanks so much for taking part of your day by visitng here, and I would love to hear your thoughts, whatever they may be! Blessings on your day!









Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

11 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous card Traci!! Love the coloring of the birds in the earthy tones and the glistening paper!! Have a great week!!
    hugs,
    Chris

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  2. Traci, this is lovely and a wonderful thoughts on new beginnings.

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  3. Traci, first let me say that your card is so pretty! I am loving this image and die cut... enjoyed Peggysue's and now yours! Love the warmth you created with the papers and your coloring! Even more than that, I so appreciated your words today! Your heart for the Lord is so transparent and I love how you focused our thoughts today on how He can make US new... I especially identified with this: "So before I ask God to do anything new in my life this year, I want to first ask Him to make me new. Give me a renewed desire to please him, a renewed willingness to obey him. Give me new eyes to see my present circumstances…a new heart to praise Him for the simple joys of living. God has promised to renew my thinking, as I immerse myself in His word daily." I join you in this prayer my sweet friend!!! God is doing a work in all of us, day by day as we grow in Him and ask Him to renew us! Yes, change can be painful... but as silver is refined.... so are we! Hubby and I are enjoying that study together and it's wonderful!
    big hugs,
    Grace

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  4. Hi Traci *Ü* Another beautiful creation! Love this image and loving it with all the greens--looks like nature. Your devotional today is wonderful and our pastor preached on a very similar message! Thank you for sharing from your heart and God's Word. He wants to do a new thing in all of us. Have a wonderful week!
    Hugs,
    kris

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  5. such a beauty.....and with such wonderful text/thoughts that go with it.....hugs, my friend

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  6. Oh what a great card! I really like your devotion - such insight and so well written! Great time for the new! So glad you are my SSIC! Have a great week!

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  7. Good morning Traci! What a treat to see that stamp in action in such a different color palette, so pretty! I like those papers you chose to accentuate the image. And your words are spot on, I can tell they have resonated with a lot of people. Just the right thoughts to help start off the new year.

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  8. Hi Traci,

    Thanks for your visit to my blog. Your card is just lovely - so sophisticated and yet welcoming. A perfect mix of color and texture and the loving care that went into it reflects.

    I'm going to "follow" your blog!

    Blessings,
    Barb

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  9. Traci - thanks for the heads up that I didn't have a link to the challenge on my end. I have fixed it. Great card, I really like the layout and the birds. Thanks for the devotion that you shared. ~ Abby

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Thanks for stopping by, your comments are a treasured part of my day!!