Challenge #122 – Rev. 21:5

Welcome to Stampin' Sisters in Christ, where our challenges are inspired by Scripture. We pray you will be blessed by your fellowship with us, as we are blessed by yours!

This week we have not one but TWO prizes from our wonderful sponsor Nina Brackett of Nina B. Designs!!  She is just the sweetest… this is what she’s offering for one lucky player in our challenge this week!

            Gleefully Yours                             Christ Has Risen

Please be sure to stop by Nina B. Designs and show her some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!!

Traci Major is our challenge hostess this week.

Scripture: Rev 21:5 “And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He [!] said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true."

Who of us doesn't like new beginnings? Since the beginning of a New Year, I have also begun a new Bible study, and just this week, celebrated a new birthday! All of these bring a bit of excite-ment, challenge, and fresh hope.  I recently read this poem in a daily devotional, and my heart ached with the words the author conveyed.

Starting Over
I wish there were some wonderful place
Called the "Land of Beginning Again,"
Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches   and all our selfish grief could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door, and never be put on again.  (Louise Fletcher)

Ached, because I can empathize with her longings to be free from the past.  Because, as with any new beginning, something old has to be discarded.  I can't expect to start out each day fresh and new if I am still entangled by the mistakes of my yesterday.  Wrong thoughts, impure motives, selfish desires…all of these the Bible warns about. Yet, are you, like me, eager for something new? We want the blessings that the Lord has to offer; but we are not as willing to do what He requires of us.  With the promise of a New Year, we are often so willing to boot the old one out the door like company that has overstayed their welcome, without ever pondering why some things went so awry. We had good intentions, after all. We prayed good prayers, we fought the good fight…and yet sometimes the trials remain.  Trials: like The People that do not cooperate with our plans. Yes, I said it. How many times have I been disappointed because of someone else's behavior? (Underline else.) Most of last year's trials were of this variety. Don't you love how the book of James refers to a "variety of trials?"  I see the unrepentant child who rushes headlong into one long series of bad choices, and I shake my head and wonder.  And yet, before Christ intervened in my life, isn't that what I was, an unrepentant child?

So before I ask God to do anything new in my life this year, I want to first ask Him to make me new. Give me a renewed desire to please him, a renewed willingness to obey him. Give me new eyes to see my present circumstances…a new heart to praise Him for the simple joys of living.  God has promised to renew my thinking, as I immerse myself in His word daily.  So that is where I am starting. I want, more than anything, to see God's newness of life as He pleasures to reveal it to me.  But I know that to do that, He will also have to make some changes in me. And we all know change can be painful.  I can entrust this process to Him. So I am letting go of some of the "to do's" on my New Year's list of goals, resolutions, or whatever you call them.  And replacing them with, " God, Please do…" Do a new work in me, create in me something, someone, worthy of you.

                                                                ~ Traci

Challenge:  Let's use something new on our card/project this week. It can be a new stamp, paper, or embellishment...or even a new technique or an idea that is new to you! Just have fun with your creation!! 

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

 

Kris Breach:  Ink Something 

Another by 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 21st. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, January 24th.  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*