Saturday, April 28, 2012

All Things Through Christ

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13  

ODBD Shining the Light Challenge #106 ~ DIYDP

This week the Challenge Team at Our Daily Bread Designs wants to see your re-creations using your own backgrounds, embossing, or just plain card stock, that's right Do It Yourself Designer Paper or no designer paper at all!


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 Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Friday, Friday, May 4  at 8 a.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next Saturday.

And, if you use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on your projects, you have the opportunity to be specially recognized with our Shining the Light Award.
For complete details visit the ODBD blog.

To see some very clever interpretations of this challenge, please take a bit of time to visit  my fellow challenge team members blogs, you'll be blessed!

All Things Through Christ. . .

Isn't this a most encouraging scripture? Those who are trusting in Christ are able to do what God requires and what is pleasing to Him. And you will see from the scripture, that this is not in our own strength, but through our Savior who has given us His Spirit! I love what bible commentator Matthew Henry says about this passage in context: 

We have here an account of Paul’s learning, not that which he got at the feet of Gamaliel, but that which he got at the feet of Christ. He had learnt to be content; and that was the lesson he had as much need to learn as most men, considering the hardships and sufferings with which he was exercised. He was in bonds, and imprisonments, and necessities, often; but in all he had learnt to be content, that is, to bring his mind to his condition, and make the best of it.—I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound, Phil. 4:12.

This is a special act of grace, to accommodate ourselves to every condition of life, and carry an equal temper of mind through all the varieties of our state.
  1.  To accommodate ourselves to an afflicted condition—to know how to be abased, how to be hungry, how to suffer want, so as not to be overcome by the temptations of it, either to lose our comfort in God or distrust his providence, or to take any indirect course for our own supply.
  2. To a prosperous condition—to know how to abound, how to be full, so as not to be proud, or secure, or luxurious. And this is as hard a lesson as the other; for the temptations of fulness and prosperity are not less than those of affliction and want.
But how must we learn it? I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, Phil. 4:13. We have need of strength from Christ, to enable us to perform not only those duties which are purely Christian, but even those which are the fruit of moral virtue.

We need his strength to teach us to be content in every condition. The apostle had seemed to boast of himself, and of his own strength: I know how to be abased (Phil. 4:12); but here he transfers all the praise to Christ. “What do I talk of knowing how to be abased, and how to abound? It is only through Christ who strengthens me that I can do it, not in my own strength.”

So we are required to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might (Eph. 6:10), and to be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus (2 Tim. 2:1); and we are strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man, Eph. 3:16. The word in the original is a participle of the present tense, and denotes a present and continued act; as if he had said, “Through Christ, who is strengthening me, and does continually strengthen me; it is by his constant and renewed strength I am enabled to act in every thing; I wholly depend upon him for all my spiritual power.” 
Bible Commentator Matthew Henry

Project Details

Paper:  Stampin Up Baja Breeze, Early Espresso, Naturals Ivory and Kodak glossy photo paper
Ink: SU Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Baja Breeze, Versa Mark
Accessories: Vintage Seam Binding, Rick Rack, Spellbinders Romantic Ovals, Recollections Roses, ATC glitter mist, sponge daubers.
Technique: Versamark Resist
Keywords:  ODBDSLC106, ODBD, ODBDDT, Our Daily Bread Designs, ODBD Butterfly Grunge Background, Scripture Collection 8
Challenges:

Blessings! jme ~ SDG

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Trust the Creator of heaven and earth

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
 Psalm 20:7


ODBD Shining the Light Challenge #105 ~ Go Green


In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  
Genesis 1:1

O Lord, how manifold 
are your works!
    In wisdom have you 
made them all;
    the earth is full 
of your creatures. 
Psalm 104:24

ODBDSLC105 Go Green- Either use mostly green on your card/ project or recycle something on your card/project in celebration of the Lord’s creation of heaven and earth (and everything else!)
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 Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Friday, April 27 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, April 27 at 8 a.m. EST.  If you upload your creations to ODBD, Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword ODBDSLC.  If linking to one of your blog posts, please include a link back to the challenge.
 If you upload your creations to ODBD, Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword ODBDSLC. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to the challenge. Complete details are available on the ODBD blog.
Please take a bit of time to visit  my fellow challenge team members blogs, you'll be blessed!

   Project Details

This card is the "he" version of the "she" card made a few weeks ago using the same stamp set. It's quite obvious that it's not green! But it does use a repurposed item: and old cracker box. . the color and weight are perfect for the faux leather look. . .embossed and then distressed by rubbing a Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Ink in faux burlap over the embossing.

RECYCLED ITEM: Akmak Cracker Box
Ink: Versa Fine Onyx, Ranger Distress Frayer Burlap, Color Box Silver
Card Stock: Stampin’ Up! Basic Black, Metallic Silver and recycled cracker box
Accessories: Sizzix Damask Embossing Folder; chipboard “buckle” covered in silver pigment ink and embossed with SU Glassy Glaze, faux rivets (colored black with markers); Stampendous clear embossing powder, Cuttlebug embossing accent, piercing.
Notes: The background, belt and accent layer are all part of the recycled cracker box.
Challenges:

Blessings! jme ~ SDG

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Joy Springs Forth

The joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10


ODBD Shining the Light Challenge #104 ~ S.P.R.I.N.G

This week the ODBD Challenge team invites you to celebrate SPRING with a word challenge. Use three of the letters in the word “Spring” for your embellishments, materials, or image. Example- s=stitching, p=pink, r=ribbon, i=ink, n=nestabilities, g=green
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 Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Friday, April 20  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 tworeations 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, April 20 at 8 a.m. EST.  If you upload your creations to ODBD, Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword ODBDSLC104.  If linking to one of your blog posts, please include a link back to the challenge.
 If you upload your creations to ODBD, Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword ODBDSLC104. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to the challenge. Complete details are available on the ODBD blog.
Please take a bit of time to visit  my fellow challenge team members blogs, you'll be blessed!

The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength!

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. Nehemiah 8:6-12

This is such a marvelous time in the life of God's people! The Lord was restoring them to the land and to himself after years of captivity and estrangement. . if you haven't read Nehemiah recently consider adding it to your reading list. You will be blessed and encouraged!  After the building of the wall, Nehemiah asked Ezra to read God's Word to the people who had been called to assemble in the square. They stood and listened from morning to mid-day and when they heard and understood, and as God's Word was explained by Levites, they began to weep and mourn as they realized their sins against the Lord. Yet they were exhorted to not be grieved, but to rejoice.They were calmed and encouraged. When we are brought to our senses by the powerful sword of God's Word; when our hearts break as we realize how grievously we have sinned against our loving and holy God, then we are to rejoice for He has provided for us everything that we need in the Lord Jesus Christ: forgiveness, reconciliation, righteousness, the strength to obey by His Spirit!  The joy of the Lord is our strength!

Project Details

S.P.R.I.N.G.
String
Poppies
Ribbon
Ink
Nestabilities
Gold glitter and gems

Ink: Versa Fine Onyx
Card Stock: Stampin’ Up! Basic Black, Whisper White
Designer Paper: Basic Grey Curio
Accessories: ODBD Vintage Borders Embossing Plate and Crochet Circle Die, Spellbinders Petals Edgeabilities & Labels 20, EK Success Border Punch, Baker’s String, gold ribbon, Stampendous Chunky Gold Glitter, Champagne Pearl Embossing Powder, Zva Creative Gems, Prisma color and Bic markers.
Notes: The postmark medallion was crafted by covering a small piece of paper with Versamark ink, sprinkling with embossing powder, heat until melted and while still hot, sprinkle with more embossing powder heat and repeat. While the mixture is still soft, stamp image and allow to cool. Tip: Heat from underside to keep embossing powder in place.
Challenges:

Blessings! jme ~ SDG

 

Sunday, April 8, 2012

He has risen!

And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back— it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. . " Mark 16:4-6

 All Glory, Laud and Honor

All glory, laud and honor,
To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To Whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.

Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s Name comest,
The King and Blessèd One.

The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went;
Our prayer and praise and anthems
Before Thee we present.

To Thee, before Thy passion,
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise.

Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King.

Theodulph of Orlean circa 820 a.d.

He is Risen!

He is Risen! And those who are found in Him, will also rise. . this card is a reminder to us that we become new creations when we are converted and place our trust and hope for this world and the next in Jesus. The old things have passed away. .and we should be seeking daily to put off the old ways and put on the new ways that are honoring to the Lord!

The green and the brown remind us that though we are but dust, we have been given life, and life eternal in Christ. Even so, our bodies will return to the dust at death and and our spirit will go to be with the Lord. That is, until that great day when the trumpet sounds and all are reunited with their resurrected bodies for all eternity. He has risen and so shall we!

He has opened up the door to Paradise (which is why I chose a gate fold card!) and the way is open to all who will repent of their sins and turn and follow Him.

Project Details

Stamps: Sweet and Sassy Stamps New Creature, Verve, Stampin' Up! Refuge and Strength  
Card Stock: Naturals Ivory, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla  
Designer Paper: Brocade Background
Ink: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip  
Accessories: Zva Creative Pearls, SU Lattice Embossing Folder, Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Three, Sponge, SU Bird with Leaves and Flower die, Tag punch, EK Filagree Border Punch Technique: Stamping, Sponging, Die Cutting, Gate Fold

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Behold, the new has come!


Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 
The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 
2 Corinthians 5:17


ODBD Shining the Light Challenge #103 ~ New Life

Since spring is now here and signs of new life are happening all around, the Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge Team wants to see your (re) creations celebrating new life…this can be Easter, new baby, budding trees, flowers…..etc.

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 Bread Designs store!! In addition, for those who use ODBD stamps, one to two projects will also be selected for the Shining the Light Award. Entries for the prize and the award must be submitted by Friday, April 13  at 8 a.m. EST.  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.

If you upload your creations to ODBD, Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword ODBDSLC103.  If linking to one of your blog posts, please include a link back to the challenge. Complete details are available on the ODBD blog.
Please take a bit of time to visit  my fellow challenge team members blogs, you'll be blessed!

New Life in Christ!

New life. . .in Christ!! I can't think of a better way to meet this challenge than with a verse that reflects the new life we are given when we trust in Christ. . .the old passes away and the new has come!! We are raised from the dead, spiritually speaking, and made alive in Christ. 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever should believe in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) .not only new life, but life eternal!! Are you interested in new life, in life everlasting, in being saved from sin, death and eternal condemnation. . .saved to new life?

"In Acts 16:31, in response to the question, 'What must I do to be saved?' Paul answered, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved and your house.' Salvation is received by faith. When Scripture says that you must believe 'on' (or 'in,' or 'upon') Jesus Christ, it is talking about something more than mere assent. The Bible is clearly saying that you must depend upon Jesus Christ. But, what does that mean? It means that you must entrust your entire life, here and hereafter, to Him. It means that you must depend wholly upon what He has done, to be saved. 

But what has He done in order to save? Jesus Christ died on the cross, bearing the punishment that was due to all who throughout the ages will believe on Him. He rose from the dead, giving evidence that God accepted His penal, vicarious sacrifice. The wrath of God fell on Him instead of them. All who trust Him as Savior have their sins forgiven. This is the 'good news' that the apostles proclaimed around the Mediterranean world and that you are now learning in this blog. If you depend upon the saving work of Christ on the cross you will be saved.

Notice, the 'gospel' is good news to be believed; not good deeds to be done. News has to do with something that has already happened; not with something yet to be done. You cannot be saved by depending upon your good works, on ceremonies like baptism, or church membership. Nothing you have done or ever could do will save you. You must look away from yourself and others and look in faith to Christ alone. It is depending on the Lord Jesus Christ alone that saves. You cannot be saved by some vague invitation to 'come forward,' or to 'let Jesus come into your heart.' There must be an understanding of the good news that Christ died on the cross for guilty, condemned sinners like you, and a willingness to depend on His death and resurrection to save you from your sin.

And, in trusting Christ as Savior, you must be willing to admit that you are a sinner. When the Bible says that you 'have sinned and come short of the glory of God,' it means that, apart from God’s forgiveness, there is no way in which you can have eternal life. He will not allow unforgiven sinners to live in His perfect heaven. You must change your mind about yourself (apart from Christ you are unacceptable to God), about God (He is not a Santa Claus who accepts all into heaven) and about Christ (He isn’t just a great man; He is God come into the human race to save sinners).

Is God at work, convicting you of your sin and the need for a Savior? Then repent, change your mind; submit yourself to Jesus Christ and He will make you a new person and change the direction of your life. Trust Christ today."                  Jay Adams, Institute for Nouthetic Studies

CARD DETAILS
This card is basically a one layer card. . .okay, the main image panel is one layer! That one layer is then matted on a few other layers to give a bit more depth and color. Sprinkled embossing using Stampendous PEARLustre Champagne embossing powder adds a bit of gold sparkle (the hint of the glory to come.) The upper right corner represents the new page, the new leaf, the new life. . .as we put off the old and put on the new!


Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Series 2; Bird and Butterfly Corners and Bird and Butterfly Labels
Ink: Stampin' Up! Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Paper: SU Naturals Ivory, Old Olive, Early Espresso
Designer Paper: None
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels 8, Stampendous PEARLustre Champagne embossing powder, Petaloo flowers and leaves
Notes:  Used a technique called "sprinkle embossing" where you sprinkle on embossing powder and then heat from beneath to give a few areas of sparkle.
Challenges:

Blessings! jme ~ SDG