Imperishable Seed . . . SSIC #23

Happy Sunday stampers! Its time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ. This week it is my turn to play hostess and I selected this verse from 1 Peter 1:23 (NIV) "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable , through the living and enduring word of God." For this challenge, since most seeds come up as tiny green shoots, use the color green somewhere in your creation, not all over green, monochrome, but some green somewhere.

I selected this verse a while ago and my thoughts about its impact keep shifting, especially in light of recent world events. I like the image of the seed. A seed is like a promise in a wrapper, a hope that given a bit of sunlight, earth and water will burst forth into new life. The seed itself has to die before it can become a plant or a tree, and in the same way, we have to die to ourselves before we can find new life in Christ. But when we do, that new life can be as green and abundant as the most lush forest or verdant grassland you've ever pictured.

This earth though, contains nothing but perishable seed. Living in an area with all four seasons, my family can see the plants start from tiny seeds, flourish, blossom and then wither and die when winter comes. But on a larger scale, plants are not the only created thing that withers and dies. Buildings can crumble, governments topple and thousands of lives can change in an instant, or be lost entirely, in the blink of an eye.

What can we hold onto when our foundations are shaken? I can think of only one thing--Jesus Christ. He is the imperishable seed. Through faith in Jesus Christ we have a hope beyond this world, we have the promise of eternal life through Him. Find and take hold of that imperishable seed and don't let it go.

This card uses a Northwoods stamp and the glitter technique again. I cannot seem to put my glitter down. I stamped the image on acetate with black memento ink, let it dry and then used four shades of green, a yellow, orange and brown for the image. I did paint the background behind it with a light blue, although you can't really see it once the acetate covers it. Next time I'll use a more intense shade.

I stamped the image also on PTI spring moss in Stazon Timber brown and the used just a portion of the glittered panel in a variation of the spotlight technique. I used images from PTI's guidelines one set on the blue background and a sentiment from Everyday Button Bits. This card is for my son's friend, who has been in and out of the hospital with a serious condition for months. Thanks for looking.