Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 144 . . . God's masterpiece

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ, where all of our challenges are based on scripture. This week's challenge hostess is one of our new design team sisters and I'm so excited to read her first devotional, sweet Jerusha! Her verse is selected from Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Create something that reflects you - you are God's masterpiece!


I had a hard time deciding what to make, I must have a split personality I guess because I couldn't decide what would represent me! I do like using different techniques, so in this card I did wrinkle free distress on the homemade tag, made some glimmmer mist using spun sugar ranger distress ink and gold powder, and embossed the corners of the paper. I also like mixing up elements from different stamp companies and for this project I used Pretty Peonies from Papertrey Ink, the sentiment and flourish from retired sets by MFP, spellbinders, cuttlebug and a new dragonfly die from Serendipity Stamps. Inks are a combination of ranger distress and Stampin' Up. I packed a lot into this one card. 


There is a lot packed into this one verse as well and I am anxious to read Jerusha's thoughts on this. Even the first segment of the verse, 'we are God's masterpiece,' wow. Who thinks of themselves in that way? I know we're each created by God and if the bible says we are his masterpiece, we need to believe it, but when I look in the mirror I don't feel that way. More than likely, this is because we're not supposed to look in the mirror, examine our bank statement or pull out our resume to determine our self-worth. We're supposed to look at ourselves and all of life through God's perspective. 


For me, when I stop looking at life through the lens of the bible, that's when all my insecurities, all my fears sweep over me like a tidal wave and there are times I flutter in indecision and inactivity, paralyzed by my own dim view of myself and of my world. 


What does the verse go on to say? "We are created anew in Christ Jesus so we can do good things he planned for us long ago." My paralyzing fears and insecurities prevent me from being fully effective in the work God has planned for me on this earth. What have I missed doing, who have I missed talking to, because I was afraid or insecure? Because I didn't have a true picture of my eternal worth through the redemption offered by Christ Jesus? I think this is a good verse for me to copy on an index card this week and keep posted on the bathroom mirror. 


Thanks for looking and wishing you a blessed week. 
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Text Style, Pretty Peonies, MFP for verse and flourish at bottom of tag
Inks: SU Rose, Ranger distress ink in Antique Linen, Spun Sugar and Vintage Photo
Paper: Vintage Cream, Pink Pirouette, kraft, Autumn Rose, patterned paper
Other: rock candy crackle, glitter, spellbinders die, serendipity die (dragonfly), ribbon, lace, corner embosser (fiskars), pearls, gold perfect pearls and spun sugar ink refill