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Sunday, January 8, 2012

Stampin' Sisters in Christ first challenge of 2012 . . . Others



Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ, wehre all of our challenges are based upon scripture. This week our sponsor is The Craft's Meow, you can find more information about TCM on the main page, and see the other creations by the design team.

This week I am the hostess. The verse I have selected is from Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." My challenge is for you to create a card to let someone else know you are thinking about them. It can be a bible verse, a real thinking of you sentiment, sympathy, or hello.

I have some thoughts to share about this verse, if you care to red them.

Welcome to a new year. I don’t know about you, but 2011 was a tough one for our household and for many of my friends. When my husband and I sat down to look at the year in retrospect we realized we’re both tired.

But what you put into your mind and heart influences your outlook on life. This past week two of my children attended Passion 2012 in Atlanta, a gathering of more than 40,000 college aged people who worshipped the Lord and pledged to try to end human trafficking in their lifetime. Due to one person’s generosity, a live video feed enabled us to watch the sessions too and we were brought to tears by the stories of the individuals through film or narrative, representing the 27 million people around the globe who are enslaved or in human bondage.

I had a rough year? By my standards I did, yes. But I wasn’t sold into slave labor. I didn’t watch one of my friends get killed by a pimp. I don’t work all day for a crust of bread, a cup of tea and a beating at the end of it all.

I have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast there fore as it continues in Ephesians Chapter 2, verse 10, “we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

I have work to do this year. Yes, we might be tired but I need to pick myself up and continue in the work the Lord has prepared for me to do, because my tiredness is nothing compared to 99% of the rest of the world. And before I ever watched that conference or heard those speakers I had selected this motto for myself for this year, to think of others before myself. To remember that reaching out to others, that remembering their needs and their wants above my own is the surest cure for the blues or the self-centered thinking that pulls me down in a whirlpool of self-pity.

So this week’s challenge is based on Philippians 2:3-4 and the goal is for you to make a card to send to someone who needs a lift. The general thought is a thinking of you card, but it can contain a scripture verse or any sentiment that conveys that your thoughts or your prayers are with that other person. That’s my biggest new year’s ambition, what is yours?

At the Passion 2012 conference the organizers challenged the college students there to raise $1 million to help end human trafficking. These poor students (very few college students I know have any money) raised more than $3 million in three days. If they can do that what can we do in the name of Jesus Christ this year?

I made two different types of cards for this challenge, one with my favorite duck stamp from Hambo and another with a wonderful bible verse I recently received off off a blog win from Our Daily Bread Designs, Scripture verse #3 collection. I like each and every verse in the set. I haven't stamped since last year prior to Christmas, it took a sketch to help me at least get started, so I found one at Mojo Monday, number 222.

We do hope you can find time to play along this week. Thanks for looking.

16 comments:

Kristine said...

Very nice cards Peggysue! The first is 'simply' elegant & meaningful (love the verse) and the 2nd is full of fun and cuteness. That's just awesome that your kids got to attend Passion 2012!! I've heard nothing but awesome testimonies that came from that and what an amazing amount they raised in a short amount of time. I hope that makes a huge difference... and I'm sure their generosity will come back to them. I count my blessings and thank the Lord for where we live and what He's given me and my family. Gonna get those cards mailed out this week--one of my resolutions ;) Have a good one!

Grace said...

Hi Peggysue! Love both your cards! Amazing how the same sketch can be so elegant and so fun and whimsical... all depending on paper and images! Love that your kids got to go to The Passion. Our youth went and today we were blessed to hear some of the tell about it and I could tell it was a life changing event for them all! God is still on the throne and doing a great work among those who realize that He does have work for them to do... and are willing to do it! Love your motto for the year and the message today!
hugs,
Grace

Traci M said...

Hi Peggysue!! I agree with what you said about the anecdote to the blues...keep giving and blessing and being available to others. Maybe I should follow my own advice more in that regard. I am really happy to hear about the conference and wish I could have heard more of the stories shared at it...what a blessing your kids went!! Wow,that would make me thrilled for sure!
Your cards are pretty and cute, love them and that sketch!! Have a blessed week, friend!

MariLynn said...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts this week Peggysue!! What a praise that these young people were able to be so generous and sacrificially give to help others. What an example for the rest of us. I like how your cards look using this sketch. Wasn't it a fun one to do? I pray that you have a great week filled with blessings!! Hugs!!

Miesje said...

I love both of those cards - what sweet colors and great layout! I really appreciate your devo - what a wonderful example of the "good" that so many young people do in this world. Thanks for sharing....Have a great week!

Joanne (jojot) said...

what an experience for your children AND you...wow

fab cards, too, my friend

Happy New Year a bit late....I have been MIA for the holidays

Becky said...

What a wonderful experience for your children..What a wonderful devotional, when our life has troubles we have a tendency to focus on our self's and not the suffering of the world.
Love both of your cards this morning, especially love the duck :)

Cammie said...

Wonderful cards! Love how you created such different cards with the same sketch. And thank you for sharing your thoughts; the love of these students and the challenge they have set for themselves is so encouraging.

Gina Lindsay said...

Both of these cards are very nice. I love the mix of colors and patterns on both of them. I get so much reading these posts. It's been a rough year at my house too, but compared with many others. I am still blessed.

Karen Letchworth said...

This beautiful card (Be still and know that I am God) would be SO perfect to link up in the challenge at Word Art Wednesay (wordartwednesday.blogspot.com) and there is still time. I really hope you will stop by and link it up to our challenge, we would SO love to have you enter this beautiful card in the challenge.

Blessings,
Karen - Design Team Member

Unknown said...

What beautiful cards, Peggysue. I love the layers of papers on the top one and the pretty flower.
The frogs on the second one are adorable, great texture!

Thank you for adding your card to my Word Art Wednesday challenge. I hope you visit again to share your beautiful art with us!

Have a great day!

Dell said...

Fabulous cards! I especially love the duck one.

Dad24treasures said...

I love all the layers in both your cards!

2011 was a hard year for us, too (including a cancer diagnosis for me) -- and right now my husband is at the library doing just what the verse says -- being still, and knowing He is God! (Truly -- that's what he went there to do after dropping children at their activities:)

Thanks for participating in WAW :)

Debbie said...

Beautiful verse card!! Not only is the verse comforting, but the soft colors and design give that feel, too.

The Mama Monkey said...

Absolutely gorgeous and I love that card layout!! So versatile and fun! Happy 2012!

Lovely Linda said...

Hello Peggysue - what an amazing Sustah you are! Your cards are gorgeous and your devotion is so timely for so many of us! Thank you for sharing from the heart! {{{hugs}}}