Scripture Challenge

Wishing you a blessed Sunday morning!! Today's we celebrate a new week, scripture, and challenge on the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog. Our challenge is brought to us by the talented Candace. Please go to the SSiC blog to read Candace's devotional thoughts this week and see what the lovely team has made!
This week's scripture:
Proverbs 30:5 "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him."

The challenge: Use a sentiment only: no images.
Our sponsor: Our Daily Bread Designs: 15.00 g.c.

I love featuring scripture on my cards! God's word stands alone. It is beautiful and I don't want to ever forget the simplicity and truth in God's word...alone!! Sometimes we are tempted to "add to" or "embellish" the Bible either because we think adding our own application (experiential)  or what we think it means, (subjecive,) will give more credence to or somehow add to what God has already said.  Some add allegories or mystical experiences to scripture when it is not there (or anywhere for that matter!) Scripture is sometimes taken by others and bended, embellished, added to, taken away, sifted through, watered down, to the point that if you do not know it, you may be very confused just what God says! Rather than letting scripture rule, and context reign...we allow our own finite minds to rule and our own preconceived notions to reign.  But if we were to just take scripture and first, regard it as "true" and "God-breathed," then meditate on it...that is when we are allowing God to speak through it, and that is where the power of the written word to "teach, rebuke, correct and train in righteousness is!"  (2 Timothy 3:16)
Last night I was having a conversation with a lovely woman and we were discussing the recent devastation of the fires in and near our community. I told her that two days after the outbreak in Colorado Springs, I had attended a Christian conference right in the heart of Colorado Springs. While the fires raged  just west of us,we had a powerful time of prayer for the community and state:  beseeching God for His protection, His mercy, and His provision...but also to please send rain!! And within just a few days, we had downpours all over our state, putting out those fires. The woman I talked to agreed with me that it was prayer, but then she added this, "Well, Mother Nature, God, whatever you want to call it... the power of prayer and community put out those fires." As a believer, I am certain that God is God, and not Mother Nature, that He alone is sovereign over the weather! And we have Him alone to thank for bringing us the rain!! And am I ever thankful for that!
This is a stamp image  I've had a long time and have not yet used...I think it was gifted by a friend. I decided to attempt to match the ink to the d.p...and used a small ink spot to ink up one word. The leaves are a Sizzix die, shaded in a deeper blue ink, tiny prima flowers for added elements, two layered Spellbinder dies, and one pretty designer paper! I had a lot of fun with this challenge, and hope you have the opportunity to join us this week!
Thanks for stopping by...until next time, wishing you a blessed week!

SSiC~Preparing a Place

I am excited to be this week's hostess at Stampin' Sisters in Christ. This week the verse and challenge choice are mine, along with the devotional. Please be sure to stop by the SSiC blog and see all the fun and beautiful DT creations!
The Scripture:

John 14:1-6

"Do not let your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going."

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My latest past time has been refurnishing and decorating a bedroom at our mountain “cabin” in Colorado. Due to the basement flooding, we had to throw out all the existing furniture, redo the drywall and replace carpeting. So, buying new beds, shopping for cozy comforters, sniffing mountain scented candles, scouting out a beautiful pine armoire and rustic hand carved shelving…all in the name of comfort and home…have taken a lot of my time and attention. All the while, I am anticipating our two daughters driving over the mountains from their separate homes for family gatherings in our cozy retreat. I am envisioning the welcome they will feel as they lay down their suitcases and plop on the beds, snuggling under blankets and laughing the way they used to as little girls. I have been, without even realizing it, preparing a place for them. Getting this room ready has brought me much delight because each detail and decision was made with my daughters in mind. There is just one more thing to complete the room…a nice soft night light.


When I read this passage of scripture, I can’t help but be amazed. The same God that created the universe in six days has spent the past eons of time preparing a place for his children in heaven. Jesus often refers to heaven as “my Father’s house.” And there are many “dwelling places” in this house. Culturally in Jesus time, families were joined together by adding an additional wing on to a single dwelling as the son would marry and bring a wife into the family. These wings formed a community around a single courtyard or patio. The picture here is of communion with the family of God.

Jesus is preparing a place for us. I can sense the anticipation in this passage, the longing of the Father to be with his children. What a comforting thought! If you are a mom and have children leaving home for the first time to college or moving away for a new career, take comfort! If you are a daughter whose parent or child has gone home before you, take comfort. If you have a prodigal, and like me, are looking down that long road searching for their face, take comfort! If you are weary of this world and its anxieties and cares and feel there is no place to lay your head, take comfort! Jesus is preparing a place for you!! I can almost picture the pillows fluffed, the welcoming glow in the windows. But we won’t need a night light. His light will fill the place, for He will reside with us in all His glory. I can only imagine the homecoming we will have!!

Revelation 22:5 “And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun because the Lord will illumine them, and they will reign forever and ever.”
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My Challenge: Create a card or project that depicts something that says "home" to you!

The first card uses an image that best reflects my devotional.
Here is my cozy cabin, all decked out with snow and a hint of Christmas in the air! I used Flourishes stamps and the Tuesday Challenge sketch featured this week on the Flourishes blog.  This card uses Flourishes "Snow Fun" set, Flourishes keyhole dies,  and colored in copics (light beige for trees and fence shading,  blues for snow and sky, and reds for the cabin.)  The background is a Sizzix folder with the edges inked in Tim Holtz Antique Linen ink. A Webster's "sparkler" is the final touch to my card, along with some glitter for snow. I combined two ribbons, a cream crochet and layered a deep red cream-edged over it using a 1/8 inch scor-tape.

My second card uses this week's sponsor's digital image! DRS Designs has generously sponsored this week with a 10.00 voucher to their store! I love this coffee image, it is cool and hip. And guess what, I learned something new! Paper piecing with digital! Home means a cup of coffee, and of course, hospitality. I used a lace doily for the side panel, a bright blue ribbon topped with a corduroy brown button and a brown pearl.
I do not usually dabble in digital, but wanted to give it a go. I used a tutorial from my friend and fellow SSiC DT member, Diane Noble.You can find the tutorial on her blog, Diane's Designs, with an exciting announcement. Diane has followed her dreams and has started her own store, Daydream Designs. This weekend she has lots of samples, tutorials, and free images to boot! I think I may have to learn digital to utilize some of her beautiful and unique designs. I won't spoil it for you, just go and take a look...you will be blessed!
 I hope you enjoy my creations this week...
And more importantly, I pray you are comforted by today's scripture.
Thanks so much for your visit. I hope you can play along in my challenge this week...and have fun creating your own homey creation!!