Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge . . . Living out the dash

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ. This week I am the hostess and have selected this verse from John 1o:1o "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp. They have a great variety of stamps and stamping supplies in their store, check it out here.

My challenge is as follows: Around your central image or around the edge of you card or project, use a series of hand drawn in dashes or lines, like faux stitching.

And here are my thoughts on today's verse . . .

While many view Christianty as restrictive, full of rules, the opposite is true. The Christian life is or should be a life of abundance, of freedom in Christ Jesus. This does not mean abundance in terms of physical possessions or the temporal. The abundance referred to is eternal but it starts the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. An abundance of love, joy, peace and other fruits of the spirit . . . Galatians 5:22-23 . . . will grow as we grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

So do we just sit around searching for abundance through some form of Christian transcendentalism? Because one bible verse supports another you know if you are a believer that life lived in Jesus Christ is a life also of service.

The reason I chose the challenge to use dashes or lines around your main image, either drawn in by hand or sewn, is because of the lyrics from this verse in Chris Rice's song Tick Tock.

"Got our heels dug in
But time is draggin’ us toward
The time when time won’t matter anymore
They say life is but a vapor
Just a blip on a radar screen
Not the dates on your tombstone
But the dash in between. . . "

One common denominator for all human beings is that the death rate is 1oo%. What we do with that dash on our tombstone is what makes all the difference. Think about all that is encompassed in that dash--your entire life. How are you going to spend it? In an abundant life, hand in hand with Christ Jesus, working to make a difference in whatever sphere of influence he has placed in front of you or spinning your wheels wasting time?

Choose to live the abundant life today. Make that dash count for something, make it count for Christ.

Thanks for looking and hope you get a chance to play along this week.

Stamps: Sweet n' Sassy
Ink: black
Paper: Enchanted Evening, cranberry, random patterned paper, gold and shimmer white
Other: fiskars edge punch, PTI scarlet jewel buttons, copics, ribbon, black marker