Fruit of the Spirit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

In opening up this week's Christian Paper Crafts Bible Verse Thursday Challenge Hostess Abby says, "In this scripture, the word 'fruit' refers to evidence of what is within. The fruit of the spirit are those characteristics, gracious habits, or spiritual fruits that reflect the glory of God through attitude, action and application."

She adds, "Notice the scripture doesn’t say 'fruits' of the spirit, but rather 'fruit'. The nine stand together: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control and make up our walk with God. We will enjoy a bountiful harvest of spiritual fruit when we yield to God and allow His Spirit to work in us as we travel on life’s journey. Just as we reap the benefits from fresh fruit; those around us will reap the benefits of our spiritual fruit."

So. . .this card illustrates the gracious working of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of believers. The different manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit in our life are represented by the different varieties of apples that are filling up and overflowing. May we be such a vessel for the Lord, full and overflowing with the fruit of the Spirit that we might be a sweet smelling fragrance to those who are being called to salvation!

CARD DETAILS
The background pattern was made by inking up the acrylic stamp blocks and stamping directly onto the paper. It was then trimmed and embossed. This wasn't intended to be a background, just a technique practice, but it looked workable and saved paper. This is the CPC Fun on Friday Challenge.

The main image was colored with Prismacolor pens and SU watercolor crayons using a blender pen. I added a bit of glitter to a couple of the apples. Portions were fussy cut so that the Out of the Box technique could be used with a Spellbinders Nestabilities Die. The result is that part of the image is die cut and part is "out of the box" meeting the CPC Clean and Simple Saturday challenge.

Card Stock: Old Olive, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White

Designer Paper: None

Ink: Old Olive, Ranger Distress Faded Lipstick, Bashful Blue

Accessories: Twill Tape, Ribbon, Hodgepodge Hardware, Sizzix Dots Embossing Folder, Spellbinders Nestabilities Reverse Scallop Squares, Acrylic Block, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Blender Pen, Watercolor Crayons, Prisma color pens

Technique: Stamping, Coloring, Acrylic Blocks, Out of the Box, Fussy Cutting

Challenges:  

• Christian Paper Crafts Challenges:
  ~Clean and Simple Saturday 35 "Out of the Box"
  ~Bible Verse Thursday 114 "Fruit of the Spirit"
  ~Fun on Friday 113 "Use Your Acrylic Blocks"
• Flourishes Farm Fresh Challenge FLLCJUL11.

The Western Way

The joy of the Lord is my strength. Nehemiah 8:40

 

The inspiration for this card was from (don't laugh) my new cowgirl boots and socks (yes. . they're pink!).

This is the second version. The first time, I got all the way to stamping the last image and. . .stamped it crooked. And I thought I was doing just fine with my free-hand stamping. Well, the Lord showed me that I needed to be guided and that I couldn't depend on myself. So out came the Stamp-a-ma-jig and the card went together like a dream.

I thought of how much like my own life that is. . .I think I'm doing just fine headed along, all in control of the situation and then the Lord is faithful to remind me that my heart is deceitful and though the way seems right to me, it is not. . .I need Him and the guidance and direction He provides through His unchanging, infallible Word.

The card is called, "The Western Way" because we out west have this rugged individualistic mind set . . . a mindset that can be quite opposed to "The Way" so we must be ever vigilant to conform our ways to His!

As the Lord uses the mistakes in our lives for His glory and our growth, I was able to use the first version for the inside of the card. . .a reminder that the sins of those trusting in Him, are covered! Thank you, Jesus!

Details

Stamps: SU Wanted, Bronco Wheel, Our Daily Bread Designs

Card Stock: Pink Piroutte

Designer Paper: Homemade

Ink: Early Espresso, Bright Blue, Close to Cocoa

Accessories: Twine, Sizzix Top Note Die, Cuttlebug Embossing strip, Spellbinders Labels

Technique: Masking, Sponging, Stamping

Challenges: Christian Paper Crafts Clean and Simple Saturday One Layer (CPC-CASS34)
 Split Coast Stampers (Teapot Tuesday, Free for All Friday, Inspiration Challenge, Ways to Use It Thursday)

Transformed. . .

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

For those in Christ, the image of God effaced at the fall is being restored and renewed by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit made possible by the redemptive work of Christ according to the perfect plan of the Father. . .Praise God!

This card represents that image that is being restored or better, re-created. . as we are transformed through our sanctification that image, the likeness of God in his communicable attributes, becomes clearer and clearer. . .being perfected only when we reach our eternal home!

And the sanding of the card, like the trials of our lives, brings forth that image! (And that is why we are to rejoice in trials and consider them joy, though they are difficult and can be perplexing!)

If you look closely or click on the picture, you can see that one of the buttons has an anchor. . .that anchor is the Lord Jesus, the steadfast hope of our souls!

This was crafted for this week’s Christian Paper Crafts Clean and Simple Saturday Challenge CASS33 to “transform” a piece of designer or patterned paper any way you choose. It also meets the Color Monday CM113 (Nautical Living Room) and the Fun on Friday FOF109 (make your own designer paper) challenge.  Blessings!

Stamps: Verve

Card Stock: Naturals Ivory, Navy

Designer Paper: Core'dinations Whitewash Collection

 Ink: Navy

Accessories: Cuttlebug Shell Collage Embossing Folder, Sanding lock, Mother of Pearl buttons, twine, pearl, assorted buttons, tag

Technique: Stamping, Embossing, Sanding

Challenges:

• Christian Paper Crafts
• Clean and Simple Saturday CPC-CASS33
• Fun on Friday CPC-FOF109
• Color Monday CPC-CM113