Grander Still: God's Love

If I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me. Psalm 139:9-10

What a rich, comforting reminder we have from the psalmist, that no matter where we go, if we are the Lord's, He is with us. . . So then, what's up with a dreary, somewhat dark, neutrals card when all about us is vibrant, red, white, pink and lacy; and when the theme for the Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge #96 is HEART?

This verse prompted me to think of how the Lord is with His children, guiding not only from a geographical perspective (the far side of the sea), but more importantly, spiritually when we are immersed in the dark times with the sea of life raging about.

God's love isn't just a sunny day love, it is an eternal love and as the psalmist reminds us, there is nowhere that we can go that we are out of sight, out of the tender guiding care of the Lord. Psalm 23 reminds us that even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He is with us. But these promises are only for His children, those who are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. They are, however, available to all who will call upon the His name. . Jesus says, " Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30

In researching the hymn used for the background of this card (a photo copy of a page from a vintage hymnal), I came across another hymn, entitled, "The Love of God," and thought it worth sharing a little about the hymn and the third verse, in particular:

 Could we with ink the ocean fill,
  And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
  And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
  Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
  Though stretched from sky to sky.

Frederick M. Lehman wrote this song in 1917 in Pasadena, California, and it was published in Songs That Are Different, Volume 2, 1919. The lyrics are based on the Jewish poem Haddamut, written in Aramaic in 1050 by Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai, a cantor in Worms, Germany; they have been translated into at least 18 languages.

Lehman in his book,  “History of the Song, The Love of God,” 1948, said: "One day, during short intervals of inattention to our work, we picked up a scrap of paper and, seated upon an empty lemon box pushed against the wall, with a stub pencil, added the (first) two stanzas and chorus of the song…Since the lines (3rd stanza from the Jewish poem) had been found penciled on the wall of a patient’s room in an insane asylum after he had been carried to his grave, the general opinion was that this inmate had written the epic in moments of sanity." 

The love of God is far grander than the ocean's story and far grander than anything which this world, our flesh and the devil could fabricate to divert our affections! It breaks through the very darkness of our souls with the marvelous light and love of the Lord Jesus Christ!

ODBD Shining the Light Challenge #96

This week the Our Daily Bread Designs' Challenge Team would like to see your creations using three items, materials, or techniques beginning with three different letters in the word “HEART”. For my sample, I've used:

ODBD Stamps Used: The Mighty Sea  

H = Hymn * E=Embossing (Heat and Dry) *  A = Antique Artifact (button) * R= Ripping *  T=Twine 

Don't forget to write out the three letters you've used and the items or techniques used for each letter.

To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily BreadDesigns store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Friday, February 3rd at 8 a.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next Saturday. If you are not using ODBD stamps, please do not enter more than once. Additional entries without using ODBD stamps will not be commented on or will they qualify for prizes.

While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on your creations, we would love to see them if you have them. As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we will again be choosing one to two creations to spotlight for our Shining the Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Friday, Feb. 17 at 8 a.m. EST.  If you upload your creations to ODBD, Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword ODBDSLC96. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to the challenge.

For some really beautiful work, please take a bit of time to visit  my fellow challenge team members blogs. . .I know you’ll ♥ {HEART} what you see!

Sabrina Jackson

Debi Southard

Lori Ulrich

Chris Olsen

Rosemary Dennis

Jan Keen

Kathy Roney

Project Details

ODBD Stamps: Mighty Sea

Ink: VersaFine Onxy; Ranger Distress Antique Linen, Tea Stain, Frayed Burlap

Cardstock: SU Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Whisper White

Designer Paper: Homemade: photo copy of hymn from an old hymn book (I don't yet have then new "It is Well" ODBD Stamp!

Accessories: Twine, button (antique artifact :D ); Spellbinders Nestabilities, Zva Creative Gems, Canvas Arts Burlap ATC, Stampin Up Lattice Embossing Folder, Sizzix Tim Holz Distressed Embossing Folder.
Challenges:

• Our Daily Bread Designs ~ Shining the Light Challenge #96 HEART
• Stampin Sisters in Christ ~ Card or Project that Shows Love
• Sugar Creek Hollow ~ Masculine Valentine

Blessings! jme ~ SDG