Challenge #121 – Phil. 2:3-4

Welcome back to our first challenge of 2012!! We trust you're having a blessed Sunday so far -- "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!"  Psalm 118:24

Our cherished sister and friend Lisa Hjulberg may not be able to participate with the DT challenges this year, but she didn't go far... she is our awesome sponsor this week! Please be sure to stop by The Craft's Meow and show her some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!!

Peggysue Turner is our challenge hostess this week.

Scripture: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. rather, inhumility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests buteach of you to the interests of the others."  Philippians 2:3-4

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?

                                                                ~ Peggysue

Passion 2012, Atlanta: Did you know that this group of college students, who generally are not considered wealthy, had a goal of collecting $1 million in 3 days to donate to organizations that fight human trafficking?  They actually raised over $3 million in 3 days!!  If the impoverished college students can empty their pockets for the cause of Christ, then we should worry a bit less about where our next meal or paycheck is going to come from . . . just sayin'!  *Ü* 

Challenge:  Create a "Thinking of You" card 

And to inspire you to play along, here are some fabby creations by our Design Team:

 

Kris Breach:  Ink Something 

 

Linda Lucas: Lovely Linda's Craft Central

MariLynn DeGroot: Mississippi McGyver

Miesje Flach – Craft Room with a View

 

Peggysue Turner - Roses by my Window


Traci Major: Major Moments

We can't wait to see all of YOUR creations! You may enter as many times as you'd like! **PLEASE NO BACKLINKING (any cards linked here that are dated before our post goes live are subject to being removed by us--sorry!  Just gotta be fair)... and **Please link us to your actual card/project post(s), not just to your blog or gallery, by 11:59 pm PST (GMT -8) on Saturday, January 14th. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, January 17th.  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!

Need help linking your card? Click Here *Ü*