Challenge #40 - Isaiah 64:6

A blessed Sunday to you, dear friends! Welcome to another scripture inspired challenge here at Stampin' Sisters in Christ. We hope you will be blessed by the time you spend with us!

We are very excited to announce that Unity Stamp Company is in the house!






Yep, it's true! One of you lucky ladies will win this wonderful stamp set by playing in our challenge this week:

Thank you Angela and all the wonderful people at Unity!!! Be sure to stop by Unity and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!!!

Our hostess this week is Peggysue Turner, who is not only a gifted writer, but a wonderful friend with a sense of humor I truly enjoy. I feel so blessed that SSCC brought us together!

My youngest daughter and I recently read a fairy tale about people who could walk in the air. The kingdom's ruler always made sure she walked at least five feet above the heads of everyone else to remind them of her superior position.

In the past I would always describe myself as a 'nice' person. But in relationship to the holy Lord, God the Father, we are not good and cannot lay claim to that title.  Isaiah 64:6 KJV "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
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If we cruise along believing we are 'nice' people we fall into the trap of forgetting that "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) I might sometimes do nice things, but am not inherently 'nice' or righteous any more than any other person.

God, in his wisdom and his love for me has brought me a situation in the past few years that has brought out the worst side of my nature. Dark, wicked thoughts have boiled up inside, I have repressed frightening impulses and come face-to-face with the realization that I am as capable of evil as anyone, that sin is never conquered while on this side of heaven. God in His wisdom knew that He would have to give me a thorn I couldn't ignore, one I can only conquer through His grace.

Why? What kind of love is it that would force us to dive into the muck and mire that lurks deep within our souls?

This is a unique love, unlike any you will find on this earth. You don't understand your need for a savior until you are face to face with the wickedness and hopelessness of your own situation. "But I'm already saved!" you declare. As am I. But problems still surface after you are saved and for good reason.

First of all if we're convinced we're complete when we're saved, then what message do we have to share with a fallen world, hovering five feet above the crowd, like that haughty ruler? What empathy could we bring to conversations with a fellow sinner while we remain enthroned in a palace of righteousness in our own minds?

Secondly, if we're 'nice' and therefore complete, what reason to go to our knees acknowledging our continued need for God daily in our lives? It would be all too easy to simply operate on auto-pilot and run from one committee or task to another in our quest for righteousness yet neglect the relationship that is our spring of life. God wants us to draw closer to him, to rely solely upon Him for our daily bread, like the manna in the wilderness that fed the Israelites.

Thirdly this realization of our desperate soul situation helps provide the assurance of salvation that some of us, who are works-oriented, desperately need. Once we've poured ourselves out striving and come to the end of our rope—only to realize that rope falls far short of heaven—maybe then, once and for all, it will sink in that Jesus paid it all for us on the cross. He alone has the power to wash us 'white as snow' and atone for our sin.

Peggysue chose as the inspiration scripture Isaiah 64:6, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." 

Her challenge is to use distressing or sponge the edges of your card/project; any chosen technique to give it a vintage or distressed look.

For inspiration, behold the beautiful cards created by our Design Sisters:

Guest Designer Miesje Flach

Craft Room With a View

Candace Mitchell: Candid Candace

Chris Olsen: Twinkles Glow With Stamps

Grace Nywening: Th-INK-ing of You

Kathy Winter: Winter Creations

Linda Lucas: Lovely Linda's Craft Central

Peggysue Turner: Roses By My Window

Randi Barrett: Randi's a New Creation

We can't wait to see all of YOUR creations! You may enter as many times as you'd like!** Please link us to your actual card/project post(s), not just to your blog or gallery, by 11:59 pm PDT (GMT -8) on Saturday, May 29th.

The winner of the Unity stamp set shown above will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday June 1st. Plus, three of you will be awarded the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Shining Star blinkie!

**If you are entering more than one card for this challenge, please leave a link for each card/project.



Have a blessed day