Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenges

Challenge #124 – Ph. 4:8

2012-01-29T03:00:00.000-08:00

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!

We welcome a NEW Sponsor this week, Inspired Stamps! One of you lucky players in our challenge will receive a $15 store credit to go shopping at this wonderful Christian treasure trove of photopolymer stamps!!

Please be sure to stop by Inspired Stamps and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!!

Linda Lucas is your challenge hostess this week!

Scripture:

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.."

One thing I am sure of - our minds are always full...of one thing or another - we would all have a different answer if I asked you 'what was on your mind today?' Our answer would depend on those things we fill our mind with, our hope and dreams, those things that both consume our minds and feed the 'inner man'.

In this day and age, it is becoming increasing harder to think only on the above things, we are constantly bombarded by the negative influences that confront us in everyday life through the many forms of media that is at our fingertips today. We may try to justify the things that go through our minds that are anything but true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report; virtuous, and praiseworthy - I believe Paul himself would have a battle on his hands.....

In this verse the Greek word for 'think' means 'to keep on thinking.' It is not enough to think about these things once and move onto the next thing - our minds need to be continually filled, they should be part of our everyday spiritual diet . The more we think of these things, the sooner it becomes a way of life for us and we in turn LIVE what we believe - becoming more like Christ to those who are searching for Him.
~Linda

Challenge:

Create a card/project true to your style - show us who you really are!

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, February 4th. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, February 7th. 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*

Winners and Shining Stars: Challenge #122

2012-01-24T03:00:00.000-08:00

This was an amazing week of eye candy in the card gallery! We had so many wonderful entries - each card was stunning! It was such fun seeing the variety too. It was quite apparent that we did have some "new" stuff to play with!

Well I know that this is what you really want to see so here are the winners from last week's wonderful entries:

Nancy D.

Lea L.

Tine - Crafting Christine

Congratulations ladies! You can pick up the HTML code for the Shining Star badge by clicking HERE.

And now for the winner of 2 fabulous stamp sets from Nina B. Designs!!! And that lucky person is...

#79 Karen C

Congratulations Karen, you get those amazing stamp sets from Nina! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist@hotmail.com so that we can arrange for delivery of your prize.

May your week be filled with blessings!

Challenge #123 – Prov. 3:3

2012-01-22T03:00:00.000-08:00

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!

Before we get to our next challenge, I just want to say that due to some blogger issues this week, some of our DT were unable to leave comments on your wonderful entries. Please know if you did not receive a comment from us, it was not due to our lack of trying. We appreciate all our players and we will keep trying to comment! *Ü*

We welcome back Digital Delights by Louby Lou as our sponsor this week! One of you lucky players in our challenge will receive your choice of 3 free digis *Ü*

Please be sure to stop by Digital Delights by Louby Lou and show her some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!!

I (Kris Breach) am your challenge hostess this week.

Scripture: "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." Proverbs 3:3

Have you ever owned a great necklace? Maybe a relative passed one down to you… or a friend gifted you one for your birthday or Christmas?

Janice Hanna says in her book “Everyday Love: Spiritual Refreshment for Women”, that “In some ways, love is like an exquisite necklace, one you deliberately choose to wear. Each bead or stone represents one person you’ve loved or someone you’ve forgiven. It encircles you, reminding you of God’s endless love. And it hangs near your heart, a constant reminder that He is only a heartbeat away.”

God’s love IS endless and we are to share the love of Christ with everyone. Loving those who are close to us might be easy, but we are also called to love our enemies. While our country might consider some places “enemy territory”, I’d be hesitant to consider anyone I know personally to be my enemy. But I’m sure we all could name people that make it very challenging for us to love. Those people that push your buttons, say things to make you feel small and unworthy, who might even question your integrity or motives and just makes you either cry, get angry, or just plain make you want to turn and run the other way when you see that person coming.

The truth is, we ALL have “private battles” we are fighting and we don’t always know what someone else is going through.   They may have just had the worst week of their lives and their actions or words to us is all they could muster up in light of the huge weight they are feeling. We just need to love on them no matter what they might be going thru. Maybe send them a card and share that they were on your mind. Do something nice for them. Our immediate reaction when treated wrongly might be to harbor resentment and bitterness… even revenge, but it’s through Christ’s love for us that we can forgive and show love to even those who do us wrong.

It’s so true that “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Prov. 15:1

I read somewhere that 9 out of 10 times when you smile at someone, they will smile back.   It’s contagious. Same goes when you harbor bitterness and anger towards someone who did you wrong. It spreads like dominoes.   Pastor Cordeiro tell this funny but relational story…

A man gets yelled at by his boss. And at the end of the day he goes home and then yells at his wife. And this infection spreads throughout the family because now the wife yells at their son. The son punches his sister. And so the sister kicks the dog. The dog then bites the cat. And, the cat bites the head off the doll.   All in all, it’s a domino effect. So if you get yelled at by your boss, just go home and bite the head off the doll! By doing so, it’ll save everybody!

Only funny because we all know there’s some truth to this as we remember a time this happened in our own home! But all laughing aside… it would help to remember our verse for this week; “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." Proverbs 3:3

♥   ♥   ♥

I didn’t mean for this to be so long… and while this next part was not originally what I planned to share, it was laid on my heart to do so.

My Christian Radio station, Klove is linking arms with CURE… to show love to children and families in Afghanistan and throughout CURE’s network of hospitals by knitting.   Please watch this video and visit their website and if God lays it on your heart to help, many blessings to you!!

CURE Knit Pray Love from CURE Video on Vimeo.

Please read the instructions on the site. It’s important that we don’t buy hats and blankets… these are suppose to be knitted by you… an authentic expression of yourself as a follower of Jesus Christ to a mom or child in a CURE hospital. So we ask that you provide a personal message with each hat you send(a card maybe?)

There are knitting patterns on their site and instructional videos if you care to learn.

“They’ll know we are Christians by our Love!”

~Kris

♥   ♥   ♥

Hope you’ll join us for a Valentine Blog Hop February 9-13

Challenge:

Make a {HEART} stand out in your card/project.

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 28th. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, January 31st. 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*

Winners and Shining Stars: Challenge #121

2012-01-17T03:00:00.000-08:00

It is good to be back in the routine of things. Seeing so many of you back after the brief break just warms our hearts! We, here at SSIC, really believe that 2012 is going to be a great year, already many of us have felt the incredible healing and nurturing power of God's blessings in our lives. We are grateful that you are on this journey with us.

Okay enough chit chat, here are the winners from last week's wonderful entries:

Lori U

Karen C

Jan Marie

Congratulations ladies! You can pick up the HTML code for the Shining Star badge by clicking HERE.

And now for the winner of a special gift from The Craft's Meow!!! And that lucky person is...

#32 Alissa

Congratulations Alissa, you will love what TCM has to offer! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist@hotmail.com so that we can arrange for delivery of your prize.

May your week be filled with blessings!

Challenge #122 – Rev. 21:5

2012-01-15T03:00:00.000-08:00

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*

Challenge #121 – Phil. 2:3-4

2012-01-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

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*

New Year's Resolutions

2012-01-05T15:24:00.000-08:00

Hello stampin' sisters!! If you don't mind me popping in here a minute... I just want to share some thoughts with you about some New Year's Resolutions for 2012. Have you made your resolution list yet? There's an ol' saying that goes something like this,

"I'll make no resolutions, I find no need for such.

I have a set from least year that hasn't yet been touched."

Among the national "top ten" list includes things like losing weight... get more fit... stop _____ (fill in the blank; ie. smoking, drinking, etc)... get out of debt... get more organized... learn something new... sell the house/move... spend more time with family... enjoy life more... . I'm sure you can come up with a plethora of new ones to add to your own list! And there's nothing wrong with making those goals for yourself. As I stated on my blog, one of my resolutions is to finish turning our garage into a nice bedroom for our girls. But let me offer this advice... don't limit yourself to just these physical or immediate goals... reach farther and do those things that will nurture your spiritual side and (in the "Big picture") grow God's Kingdom!!

One biggy that I would suggest is to get in the habit of thinking positive. Philippians 4:8 says, "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." When we become obsessed with our problems at hand or worry about things that we cannot control... we lose sight of "the big picture" and become untrusting, selfish, and unable to see or tend to the needs of others. I think the best way to get on track is by starting each day with God. Making time for personal devotions is being proactive in changing the way you think and react to daily events that are out of our control. God didn't say that things would be easy in the Christian's life. But with our minds set on Him and our hearts opens to God's guidance we're on the right path towards victory!

Doctors often tell patients that their attitude is what can make them better... or make them worse. A few years ago my brother had been in a bad motorbike accident and was on a ventilator, and was in pretty bad shape. I went to visit him in the hospital and the doctor told me not to let him see me cry or show that I'm worried.... stay positive and give him hope! What if we apply that to our own lives... keeping a positive attitude and offering hope (that is Jesus) to those hurting around us, just think what a difference we can make!

I'd like to share with you the Prayer of St. Francis, which is very well known--you've probably heard many times... and as you read it and/or listen to it, maybe it'd serve us well to add some of these to our list of "resolutions" this year!

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

I really love this rendition from Susan Boyle... enjoy *Ü*

JUST A REMINDER: We have our first Scripture/card challenge of the year coming up this Sunday, Jan. 8th with a very special sponsor (can't let the CAT out of the bag!) I hope you'll drop by for a visit and join in the fun!!

Love, Kris

Happy New Year… and a Tribute

2012-01-01T03:09:00.001-08:00

While we are still on holiday break here at Stampin’ Sisters in Christ (our next challenge will begin next Sunday, Jan. 8th!) we wanted to pop in here to wish you all a Happy and very Blessed new year!!

With a new year brings new opportunities … and of course change. A new blog make-over is just one of those changes… Hope you like it! But there’s also more changes taking place here and as much as it saddens us to announce that several of our sisters are needing to step down from the challenge team, we rest assured knowing that the Lord’s hand has been in our individuals lives and as a group here, and in our happenings on this blog as well and will continue to be. 2011 has proven to be a very challenging year for many of us at SSIC, including job losses, cancer, out-of-state moves, and many personal struggles, etc. but it’s through those individual trials that our lives have become intertwined as we share and support one another and lift our sisters up in prayer. This past year has brought many wonderful blessings as well. These ladies are some of the most exemplary women of faith that I’ve had the pleasure of connecting and fellowshipping with. So, although it is heartbreaking to have several of our sisters leaving the team, we take comfort in knowing we all are choosing to stay connected through our private yahoo group and will continue to pop in here by playing along and visiting you, our players when they can! We have hope for the coming year in what God’s gonna do in our lives and here in our challenges. We hope you, our players will continue to fellowship with us and join in our challenges as we seek to meditate on His Word and share that with the crafting community!!

I’ve prepared a li’l tribute to our sisters who are leaving the challenge team. We love you all and pray that 2012 brings many blessings to you and yours!!

Grace Nywening: Joined our SSIC team on April 2, 2010. Grace, you are a wonderful, caring woman of faith and a mighty prayer warrior. You always have uplifting words of encouragement and have a desire to share God’s love and salvation in all that you speak, do and craft. Your friendship comes so easy and I’ll treasure it always. You’ve been such a blessing to all. Thank you isn’t nearly enough for all you’ve brought to this team and all the gorgeous inspiration you’ve given our players!! We’ll sure miss you and your beautiful cards and hope you will continue to use them as a ministry when you can.

Chris Olsen: Joined our SSIC team April 2, 2010. Chris, our friendship started long before you joined the team. Yours was one of the blogs I visited daily for inspiration – you exude crafting talent and have such a gentle spirit. I love hearing about your family and life outside of crafting. Your heart for the Lord shines through in all you do and I consider it such a blessing to know you and to be your friend. Thank you for all you’ve brought to this team and to our players. You will be missed greatly here and we wish you and your family many blessings in 2012.

Rebekka Reed: Joined us first as a Guest Designer June 4, 2010 and then became a regular DT member July 31, 2010. Rebekka, what a strong faith journey and testimony you have!! The things you’ve overcome in this life and your perspective and attitude are so admirable. Thank you for sharing your stories with us and sharing your creative talent as well. One thing I really appreciate is that when you needed to take a break from card-making you still were active in conversation in our group, sharing with us what’s going on in your life. I am very grateful for the time we worked together here and wish you all God’s blessings.

Lisa Hjulberg: Co-founded this challenge blog with me, August 10, 2009. Lisa, words can’t express what I’m feeling. We’ve been through so much these past 3 years since starting this blog together. You’ve been such a li’l “go-getter”… taking on many behind the scenes responsibilities, coordinating our Guest Designers and Designers, offering guidance and administrative support. To think of our li’l concepts for this venture in the beginning and to see what God’s done with it— has been such a blessing and cause for rejoicing!! I know you need some time away – you’re on my heart and in my prayers (as all my sisters are) and I pray the Lord just blesses your socks off in 2012… I look forward to hearing all about it so I/we can rejoice with you!! There’s so much more I could say, but private emails is best for that. You know I treasure your friendship … I love all of you sisters in Christ and will miss you all greatly!!

I leave you with this thought from C.S. Lewis … “It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.”

May your wings take flight my sisters.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

My heartfelt wishes, prayers and blessings,

Kris

Winners and Shining Stars: Challenge #120

2011-12-27T18:21:00.000-08:00

Did you have a wonderful Christmas? We did! What could be better than church service with our Parish Family and then being surrounded by our children, grandchildren and parents? It was a truly wonderful day in my family. Now a New Year gets kicked off and we wish you all a wonderful year. We are taking this week off from a challenge to spend time with our families and relax a bit. We will be back with our next challenge on January 8th so be sure to come visit for more challenges based on scripture!

Now without more chatter here are the winners from last week's wonderful entries:

Sherry K

Debbie

Jenn

Congratulations ladies! You can pick up the HTML code for the Shining Star badge by clicking HERE.

And now for the winner of a $15 gift certificate from Our Daily Bread Designs!!! And that lucky person is...

#24 Tania

Yeah Tania, a late but very fun Christmas gift for you!!! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist@hotmail.com so that we can arrange for delivery of your prize.

We look forward to seeing you again next week!

Happy New Year!

Winners and Shining Stars: Challenge #119

2011-12-20T03:00:00.000-08:00

It was fun to see all the birthday cards last week! It is a very special birthday in just a few days - our Christmas Blessing to all of you, our faithful followers. We cherish your friendship. The winners for this week are....

So for this week the recipients of the Shining Star Awards are:

Deona B.

Karen C.

Karen Wallace

Congratulations ladies! You can pick up the HTML code for the Shining Star badge by clicking HERE.

And now for the winner of an adorable stamps set from Simon Says Stamp!!! And that lucky person is...

#13 Jennifer Dunn

What a nice Christmas surprise for you Jennifer!!! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist@hotmail.com so that we can arrange for delivery of your prize.

There's still a bit more time to play in our current challenge to make a religious Christmas card. We hope you'll join us!

Have a very wonderful Christmas!

Challenge #120 - Luke 2:14

2011-12-18T03:00:00.000-08:00

A blessed Fourth Sunday in Advent to you! 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!

We welcome back one of our regular and treasured sponsors Our Daily Bread Designs, offering a $15 gift card to spend in their store!! Please be sure to stop by Our Daily Bread Designs and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!

Miesje Flach is our challenge sponsor this week.

Scripture: Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men."

We always light one candle for each week of Advent and now all the candles are lit on the Advent Wreath; does that mean that we are ready? No, I am not talking about having all of our cookies made and presents purchased and wrapped. I am talking about being ready for the celebration of the birth of our Lord. Although I have not given birth to a child myself I have heard about the “nesting” that takes place shortly before the birth of a baby. The house gets cleaned, the baby’s clothes are washed and folded and put away and everything is made ready for that special arrival. That is what I think of with the preparation of our hearts for Jesus’ birth. We should all rejoice and shout, “Glory to God in the highest!” for the day is almost here. We should all have peace in our hearts and have nothing but good will towards our family and friends.

This can also be a very difficult or stressful time of the year and rejoicing is not what is felt by some people; instead it is sadness or despair. My mother joined our Father in Heaven in September and my dad is struggling, especially during this season. Many people do not have the funds this year (me included) to spend as much money on gifts and celebrations, so they may feel down about that. It may be more of a challenge to feel “festive,” so I pray for peace. Peace is what God wants for us all. I pray for my dad to have peace in his heart and for all who are struggling in whatever manner to feel that peace that I feel when I gaze at a sleeping infant.

We often stress ourselves out over truly unimportant things, such as what to buy for our loved ones that will make them happy. Stress can lead to being short with others and even hard on ourselves. I have told our adult children and grandchildren that the important thing at Christmas is being kind to each other. I think that is the teacher coming out in me! Material things such as the perfect gift do not make anyone happy for more than a little while. The true happiness and joy comes only from the gift that is given to us all with the birth of the Lord! That is what we need to focus on and that is where our hearts should be.

Merry Christmas dear friends! May the peace of our Lord and Savior be with each and every one of you.

Challenge: Make a Christmas card or project that has a Christian image and/or sentiment, one that reflects the TRUE meaning of Christmas.

To inspire you, behold the beautiful creations by some of our Design Team!

Chris Olsen: Twinkles Glow With Stamps

Grace Nywening: Th-INK-ing of You

Linda Lucas: Lovely Linda's Craft Central

Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow

[coming soon]

MariLynn DeGroot: Mississippi McGyver

Miesje Flach – Craft Room with a View

Peggysue Turner - Roses by my Window

Rebekka Reed – Diamond in the Rough

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 PDT (GMT -8) on Saturday, December 24th. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, December 27th. Plus, three of you will be awarded the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Shining Star blinkie!

Please note: this will be our last challenge in 2011. We are taking a break for the holidays and will return on January 8th. We sincerely wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

**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*

Winners and Shining Stars: Challenge #118

2011-12-13T03:00:00.000-08:00

You are all angels! There may not have been very many entries but the ones we did get were "heavenly"! The choice for winners is never easy and this week was no exception.

So for this week the recipients of the Shining Star Awards are:

Lily

Pinky

Jill

Congratulations ladies! You can pick up the HTML code for the Shining Star badge by clicking HERE.

And now for the winner of a $15 gift certificate from Clear Dollar Stamps!!! And that lucky person is...

#16 Linda S

Good for you Linda S!!! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist@hotmail.com so that we can arrange for delivery of your prize.

There's still a bit more time to play in our current Happy Birthday. We hope you'll join us!

Have a blessed day!

Challenge #119 - Luke 2:11

2011-12-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

A blessed Third Sunday in Advent to you! 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!

We welcome back our faithful monthly sponsor Simon Says Stamp, offering this adorable stamp set to one lucky player this week!!!

Please be sure to stop by Simon Says Stamp and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!

MariLynn DeGroot is our challenge sponsor this week.

Scripture: Luke 2:11 "For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

On Tuesday, my oldest daughter Johanna turns 20 and on the next Tuesday my other daughter, Kristina turns 18. Since they were little girls I have tried to make their birthdays special. A friend of mine who also has a December birthday told me to never wrap their presents in Christmas paper, but to use birthday paper to make sure they felt special. One year I saw a cartoon on a bulletin board at a church that we were visiting. It had two scenes; the first portrayed a little boy sitting on the ground with a sad face while all his family was by the Christmas tree. The next scene showed that same little boy with Jesus kneeling by him and saying “I know how you feel, people forget about my birthday too.”

Parties, trees, shopping, lights, presents, food, snowmen, cookies, movies, candy canes, reindeer, elves, Santa… the list could go on and on of all the things we add to Christmas. Those things are all fun. I am guilty of being caught up in some of these traditions. But I love being reminded about the real reason to celebrate. The other day, my daughter Johanna and I were on a road trip and the two of us were listening to Christmas music on the radio. The song “Happy Birthday Jesus” came on.

Happy Birthday Jesus
I'm So Glad Its Christmas
all The Tinsel And Lights
and The Presents Are Nice
but The Real Gift Is You.

Happy Birthday Jesus
I’m So Glad Its Christmas
all The Carols And Bells
make The Holiday Swell
and it's All About You
Happy Birthday Jesus
Jesus I Love You!

I pray that in all the busy crazy days ahead that you don’t forget what Christmas is all about. It is about the Lord of all creation coming to earth to be born as a tiny little helpless baby. To live a simple, but sinless life and then die a horrible death on a cross for you and for me because He loves us.

Challenge: In honor of Christ's birthday, make a birthday card/project.

To inspire you, behold the beautiful creations by some of our Design Team!

Chris Olsen: Twinkles Glow With Stamps

Linda Lucas: Lovely Linda's Craft Central

Kris Breach: Ink Something

Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow

[coming soon]

MariLynn DeGroot: Mississippi McGyver

Miesje Flach – Craft Room with a View

another from Miesje:

Peggy Sue Turner - Roses by my Window

Rebekka Reed – Diamond in the Rough

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 PDT (GMT -8) on Saturday, December 17th. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, December 20th. 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*

Winners and Shining Stars: Challenge #117

2011-12-06T03:00:00.000-08:00

Oh there were some really cute feathered friends for us to view and admire this week. Look at these beauties. Not too many days until Christmas now - are you preparing your hearts as well as your houses? Sometimes it is not easy to keep our focus on what is really important.

This week the recipients of the Shining Star Awards are:

Sarah T

Karen C

Christa

Congratulations ladies! You can pick up the HTML code for the Shining Star badge by clicking HERE.

And now for the winner of a $10 gift certificate from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!!! And that lucky person is...

#14 Allisa

Yeah Allisa!!! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist@hotmail.com so that we can arrange for delivery of your prize.

There's still a bit more time to play in our current "angel" challenge. We hope you'll join us!

Have a blessed day!

Challenge #118 - Matthew 1:20-22

2011-12-04T03:00:00.000-08:00

A blessed Second Sunday in Advent to you! 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!

We welcome back one of our faithful monthly sponsors, Clear Dollar Stamps, offering a $15 gift card to spend in their store to one lucky player this week!!! Plus, they are having a big sale through December 6th, so be sure to pop over and check it out!

I am privileged to be your challenge sponsor this week.

Scripture: Matthew 1:20-22, "But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' which means, 'God with us.'"

When I chose my inspiration scripture a few weeks ago, I thought it would be good to lead off December challenges with something from the story of Christ's birth. I wasn't really sure at the time what I would say about it in my devotional. Then yesterday morning I read Laura Campbell's Faith Art Friday blog post (Layers of Color), and was so blessed by it that I had to share it with all of you... with Laura's permission of course. :) Thank you Laura!

Children count the days until Christmas with joy and excitement! We can catch that contagious enthusiasm and spread it around to others as we are busy with holiday preparations. Christ is Christmas, His birth and resurrection are the reasons for the greatest celebrations the earth has ever known! When we understand the full magnitude that we are the recipient of the gift of God’s son, our gratefulness overflows with desire to give. Let’s allow our daily actions to reveal the character, love and spirit of Christ that dwells within us!

The best way to celebrate His birth is to first make Him the center of your life, accepting Jesus as your Savior. Where your heart is, so there is your treasure. And from that abundance of treasure we can give generously and freely!

The Five Best Christmas Gifts
Forgiveness
Letting go of resentment and bitterness by forgiving someone, or our self is a magnificent gift! Christ asks us to share the gift of forgiveness that He gave us, even while we were still acting against Him. The bonus of this gift is that once forgiveness has been given, it can bring peace and freedom from the bondage and burden of the traits of unforgiveness. Forgiveness can be given regardless of the severity of pain caused or the lack of change or repentance on the part of another. It is a gift you can present to yourself that can enhance the quality of your entire life and spill out onto others in the form of compassion and love.

Kindness
We are called to love each other as we would like to be loved. To treat our neighbor, our co-workers, our boss, our relatives as we would want to be treated. Extend a hand, give a minute of your time, send a card, bring cookies, let someone get in front of you in line, give someone that parking spot, listen attentively, say “Merry Christmas” to strangers. Act like Jesus despite your desire to put anger, busyness, or yourself first. Even minor kind gestures and acts can have a major impact on someones day and can encourage them to do the same for someone else. Little acts of kindness are gifts that keeps on giving!

Smiles
Look directly into someones eyes and give the gift a big genuine smile! A smile can pick up the spirit of a stranger who is having a hard day. It can help to heal, foster compassion and empathy, encourage, bring security, and connection. When appropriate, add a wink, it’s like putting extra whipped cream on a dessert! Every time you see someone as you walk through the room, smile! Give a for-no-reason smile as a gift to a checkout clerk, a passing mother and child, the driver in the car next to you at the stoplight. No matter how down you may feel, you can “fake it til you make it” as smiles are contagious and become better with more use. Let the spirit of Jesus shine through your smile this Christmas!

Time
The best time spent is time with God. Give Him some of your time every day of your life. Praying and reading your bible is the best way to get to know him. Learn about Him and you’ll learn more about yourself and others. You can talk to God in the midst of hectic or calm situations. Every stoplight that holds you still for a moment, pray and talk to God. Make Him the first one you go to for every question, concern and praise, no matter how tiny or how huge. Make Him the center of your life and you can know the deepest relationship with eternal significance and lasting joy! And give your time to other people. Give a moment to hear a child’s story, have coffee and listen to someone share, serve those in need or hurting, sing in the choir, drive for the elderly, volunteer at school or a non-profit organization, make a meal for someone, share family photographs with long distant and lonely friends and family, tuck your children in every night as if you are not in a hurry and stop whatever you are doing to give love to your family every time they walk in the door. Giving time sends the message of love, and love rewards both the giver and the recipient.

Love
God has shown us how to love and has given us all His love through His son, Jesus. The bible is rich with words of wisdom that gives us power, knowledge, truth, guidance, and love. These are among an endless list of special treasures He presents to us, if we will only accept them. The beauty of love is that every human being needs it and it’s a free, sustainable and green resource that builds and grows the more it’s given away. It’s as good to give as to receive. And it is the first and greatest commandment.

“Love your God with all your heart,

and with all your soul

and with all your strength

and with all your mind

and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Luke 10:27

Celebrate in a BIG way this Christmas and generously give the BEST gifts! Give the gift of forgiveness, kindness, time, and smiles and wrap each one with love! You will be giving the perfect gift and spreading the true reason for the season!

Challenge: Make a card/project that features an angel, such as in the patterned paper, a stamped image, a charm, etc.

To inspire you, behold the beautiful creations by our Design Team!

Chris Olsen: Twinkles Glow With Stamps

Grace Nywening: Th-INK-ing of You

Linda Lucas: Lovely Linda's Craft Central

Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow

MariLynn DeGroot: Mississippi McGyver

Miesje Flach – Craft Room with a View

Peggysue Turner: Roses By My Window

Rebekka Reed – Diamond in the Rough

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 PDT (GMT -8) on Saturday, December 10th. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, December 13th. 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*

Winners and Shining Stars: Challenge #116

2011-11-29T03:00:00.000-08:00

So did you brave the crowds on Black Friday, or perhaps you took part in Cyber Monday? Plenty of pressure to shop, shop, shop! It was a busy week and weekend for most of us, not a lot of crafting time to be found. That is okay - the entries that we got were really, really good! Loved them all.

Rebekkah had asked that we make a card or project using music or praise. You answered the call and joined in the song. Just look at these outstanding samples!

This week the recipients of the Shining Star Awards are:

Sherry K

Linda

Wendy

Congratulations ladies! You can pick up the HTML code for the Shining Star badge by clicking HERE.

And now for the winner of a $15 gift certificate from Pizzazz Aplenty!!! And that lucky person is...

#9 Judy

Yeah Judy!!! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist@hotmail.com so that we can arrange for delivery of your prize.

There's still a bit more time to play in our current "feathered friends" challenge. We hope you'll join us!

Have a blessed day!

Challenge #117 - Matthew 6:25-34

2011-11-27T03:00:00.000-08:00

A blessed first Sunday in Advent to you! 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!

We welcome back one of our favorite sponsors, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, offering a $10 gift card to spend in their store to one lucky player this week!!!

Please be sure to stop by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!

Our challenge sponsor this week is Linda Lucas!

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34 ".... Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?...."

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Mat 6:25-34

One thing in life is clear - there is plenty to worry about, Jesus tells us clearly in v25 (above), that we are not to worry; in fact He specifically lists things we are not to worry about - He knows us so well!

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? (v25)

There are many areas we tend to worry about and Jesus answers them. It seems to be the most natural thing to do, worry about where we will live, what we will eat, what job we will have. In fact, we worry about what we don't have, and if we have any wealth we worry about losing it. Each of us could add our own list of concerns...aging, accidents, approval of friends and peers, war, terrorism, death, and in some cases even life. There’s no end to the list of things we can worry about.

Worrying pulls us in many different directions; it causes us to fear. How can we have hope when our hearts are full of fear? No matter in what direction we turn, it confronts us. Our minds become consumed and we are pulled in every direction, literally worrying ourselves sick! Worry has never solved a problem! The truth is that worrying doesn’t ADD to our lives, it takes away from our lives, eating into hours, but can also consume us for weeks, months and in some case years. Can you think of one good thing worry has added to your life? Worry is futile.

Worry stops us from trusting God. In reality there is no point worrying about those things that are out of our hands; there is nothing we can do can change them and we need to trust God with them. Although worrying has physical effects, Jesus is dwelling on the spiritual side of the issue. As Christians we should be living a life of trusting God, not like those people who are not in relationship with God who carry around the weight of the world on their shoulders.

The rest of God’s creation does not worry, but God provides for them. Will he not do the same for us?

Look at the birds of the air...they sing regardless of circumstances. Have you ever seen a bird worry? God provides their every need.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Trust God to provide for you as He has promised. By seeking first His kingdom you eliminate the need to worry. The only place you will find security, peace, love and joy in this world is when you are seeking FIRST God’s Kingdom!

Challenge: Make a card/project that features a bird, such as in the patterned paper, a stamped image, a charm, etc.

To inspire you, here are some creations by our Design Team!

Linda Lucas: Lovely Linda's Craft Central

MariLynn DeGroot: Mississippi McGyver

Miesje Flach – Craft Room with a View

Rebekka Reed – Diamond in the Rough

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 PDT (GMT -8) on Saturday, December 3rd. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, December 6th. 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*

Winners and Shining Stars: Challenge #115

2011-11-22T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hello, I am back and yes, it really is Tuesday! Thanks for taking over for a while, Lisa, you are awesome! It is Thanksgiving week here in the USA and we have so much to be thankful for. We are very thankful to all of you for your support and your comments! So thank you dear friends, and may God's blessings shine upon you and your families!

This was Traci's first week as hostess for SSIC and wasn't she terrific! She challenged us to create a card or project that depicts gratitude, how perfect to showcase some of those shining stars on this week of Thanksgiving.

The recipients of the Shining Star Award are:

Lori

Davi

Victoria

Congratulations ladies! You can pick up the HTML code for the Shining Star badge by clicking HERE.

And now for the winner of the adorable stamp set from Simon Says Stamp!!! And that lucky person is...

#30 E. Marie

Congratulations Marie!!! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist@hotmail.com so that we can arrange for delivery of your prize.

There's still a bit more time to play in our current "musical praise" challenge. We hope you'll join us!

Have a blessed day!

Challenge #116 - Job 13:15

2011-11-20T03:00:00.000-08:00

A blessed Sunday to you! 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!

We welcome a new sponsor today, Pizzazz Aplenty, offering a $15 value surprise grab bag as a prize to one lucky player! Please be sure to stop by Pizzazz Aplenty and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!

Our challenge sponsor this week is Rebekka Reed!

Scripture: Job 13:15 "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”

He will not leave you nor forsake you. I have had times of overwhelming presence and other times it seems like He is not there. Will I still walk in the truth of His Word? Will I still believe even if I do not feel Him? His presence is like training wheels…as long as I feel His presence I believe He is and that He cares. But what do I do when the training wheels come off? Is He any less real, any less present, any less loving? No…His word which He has given us is a solid foundation that helps us not to fall prey to seducing spirits. Oswald Chambers says it better than I ever could:

We have the idea that God rewards usfor our faith, it may be so inthe initial stages; but we do notearn anything by faith, faithbrings us into right relationship withGod and gives God His opportunity. Godhas frequently to knock the bottomboard out of your experience if you area saint in order to get you into contactwith Himself. God wants you to understandthat it is a life of faith, not a life ofsentimental enjoyment of His blessings.Your earlier life of faith was narrow andintense, settled around a little sun-spot ofexperience that had as much of sense as offaith in it, full of light and sweetness;then God withdrew His conscious blessingsin order to teach you to walk by faith. Youare worth far more to Him now thanyou were in your days of conscious delightand thrilling testimony.Faith by its very nature must be tried,and the real trial of faith is not thatwe find it difficult to trust God, butthat God’s character has to be clearedin our own minds. Faith in its actualworking out has to go through spells ofunsyllabled isolation. Never confound thetrial of faith with the ordinary disciplineof life; much that we call the trial offaith is the inevitable result of being alive. Faith in the Bible is faith in God againsteverything that contradicts Him – I willremain true to God’s character whateverHe may do. “Though He slay me, yet will Itrust Him” – this is the most sublime utteranceof faith in the whole of the Bible.–Oswald Chambers

Challenge: Make a card of praise using music, stamp, or design paper, or just the word "praise."

To inspire you, here are some creations by our Design Team!

Chris Olsen – Twinkles Glow with Stamps

Linda Lucas: Lovely Linda's Craft Central

MariLynn DeGroot: Mississippi McGyver

Miesje Flach – Craft Room with a View

Peggysue Turner - Roses by my Window

Rebekka Reed – Diamond in the Rough

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 PDT (GMT -8) on Saturday, November 26th. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, Nov. 29th. 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*

Winner and Shining Stars - Challenge #114

2011-11-18T11:40:00.001-08:00

Okay, by now you all are wondering when Miesje will resume doing the Winner and Shining Stars posts since I've been woefully late with them nearly every week. The good news is next week! Yay! I'll resume posting the Sunday challenges this Sunday, and I promise not to be late with them. My heartfelt thanks go to Kris Breach for taking on that responsibility all these past months.

Okay, without further ado...Peggysue Turner challenged us to dig out an old stamp (set), one not used in a long time, to create our cards/projects. We were treated to some oldies but goodies! Bravo ladies!

The recipients of the Shining Star Award are:

Sientje

Dana

Carola

Congratulations ladies! You can pick up the HTML code for the Shining Star badge by clicking HERE.

And now for the winner of a $15 gift voucher to spend at Clear Dollar Stamps!!! And the winner is...

#13 Karen Wallace

Congratulations Karen!!! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist@hotmail.com so that we can arrange for delivery of your prize.

There's still a bit more time to play in our current challenge. We hope you'll join us!

Have a blessed day!

Challenge #115 - I Thessalonians 5:18

2011-11-13T03:00:00.000-08:00

A blessed Sunday to you! 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!

We welcome back our monthly sponsor, Simon Says Stamp this week!! One of you lucky ladies will win this cute SSS Exclusive Stamp Set called “We Are Family” by playing in this week's challenge!

Please be sure to stop by Simon Says Stamp and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!

Traci Major is our challenge hostess this week!!

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." ESV.”

The day my mom made the decision to go to the nursing home to live is one I will always remember. This was was not a first choice nor a planned destination, but rather a last resort in the realm of diminished options. The entire year before had been a series of admittances and discharges from nursing homes as she waited patiently yet resolutely for my Dad to recover from surgery and resume his care giving role. On this particular visit to their home, I sat in a chair across from my mom, a bag of clothing between us and held up each piece as Mom sat in her wheelchair and surveyed each blouse, pair of trousers, or jacket and said either "yes" or "no." These were not throw-away items, but each was a piece of my Grand mom's wardrobe, all hand sewn; and due to its polyester nature, wasn't worn out. No frayed edges, missing stitches…each floral pattern as vibrant in color as the day the fabric was purchased so many years ago…the clothing remained but the body had worn out just a few weeks before. Mom was making decisions as to what would go to Goodwill and what would stay. She had the final say in the last small legacy of items handed down to her by her own Mother.
To say my heart was heavy would not even begin to encompass my emotions that day…I wanted so for her to stay in the house that she loved, with her doggies and my Dad and the familiarity of home. The words began to flow as we sat there together…not one to be overly sentimental and very much a pragmatist…my Mom began to utter words of thanks. It began like this "I am sooooo very thankful for…" and then she would complete the sentence. I don't even remember what she was saying thanks for…I just remember how the words were like a balm to my troubled soul. At a time when the average person might want to cry or dig in their heels, complain, or at the very least become grumpy with those around her…my mom chose gratitude rather than discontent.
I can't help but think the Father smiles on us …when we are faced with the difficulties in life whether it be the loss of a familiar home, a disappointment in a relationship that seems stuck in neutral, suffering a long term illness, or feeling lackluster in joy…we give thanks. How can we do this? Let's look at Romans 8:28 "And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." If we believe God, and take him at his word, then this verse is saying that God is at work for good for those of us who love him. He is sovereign…which means he rules over all things. The God who rules over all things is at work for our own good. That is an amazing promise!!
I have noticed this…when I am feeling a little down, a little distraught, a little unappreciated…I can easily become disgruntled…which breeds discontent…which breeds a critical spirit which breeds a lack of the Holy Spirit operating in my life, cycling into less joy, less of his presence…less of him and the abundant life he promises. But let's turn that around…if instead, I choose first to accept the disappointments as first of all being filtered through God's fingers of love and believe that nothing can touch me that He has not already given permission to do so…then I am choosing to believe God which sows contentment which leads to joy which leads to an overflowing of the Holy Spirit in my life which leads to more joy …Just a thought.
Mark Buchanan in his book "Spiritual Rhythm" writes this:
"Thankfulness is more than an act. It's an orientation. It's a reframing of reality-not in some whistling-in-the-dark way but in a fixing-our-eyes-on-what is-unseen way. Radical thankfulness makes sense only if behind our touch-and-see reality another reality is hard at work. If there's one thing the Bible makes clear, cover to cover, it's that what we see isn't all there is. It's not even half of all there is. It's at best shadow and echo and rumor of what's really going on. So radical thankfulness is a way of hailing things unseen…a declaration that the unseen God is very much on the job, not surprised or dismayed by a single thing, and able to work it all to good."
In a world of sometimes diminishing options, we all have the opportunity of a choice… the legacy we wish to leave to those around us. I want to choose gratitude. How about you?
1 Peter 1:3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade-kept in heaven for you…"

Challenge: Create a card or project that depicts gratitude...it can be an image of something you are grateful for, a scripture that evokes your gratitude, or it can be a card made especially for a person you would like to thank this time of year!

And to inspire you, here are some creations by our Design Team!

Chris Olsen – Twinkles Glow with Stamps

Linda Lucas: Lovely Linda's Craft Central

MariLynn DeGroot: Mississippi McGyver

Miesje Flach – Craft Room with a View

Peggysue Turner - Roses by my Window

Rebekka Reed – Diamond in the Rough

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 PDT (GMT -8) on Saturday, November 19. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, Nov. 22. 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*

Winner and Shining Stars - Challenge #113

2011-11-09T20:56:00.000-08:00

Once again, I beg your pardon for the delay in getting this post up. Won't you be glad when Miesje resumes doing them in a couple of weeks? They will for sure be on time then! LOL

Okay, for Challenge #113 I challenged you to use fall (autumn) colors in your cards/projects and we had 63 marvelous entries! What a blessing to see all those amazing colors used in such creative ways! Thank you!!!

Our three Shining Stars are:

Yolanda

Wendy

Rosemary

Congratulations ladies! You can pick up the HTML for the Shining Star blinkie by clicking HERE.

And now for the winner of a Ten Pound Gift Certificate to spend at Lily of the Valley (lucky!) is...

#17 Anne (aka Stargroves)!!!

Congratulations Anne! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist@hotmail.com so that we can arrange for delivery of your prize.

The challenge this week is to dig into your stash and use an old stamp (set) that hasn't seen ink in awhile (or maybe ever?... I don't know about you, but I have plenty of those! :). Please join us! We are always blessed by your participation in our challenges.

Have a blessed day.

Challenge #114 – Genesis 3:6

2011-11-06T02:00:00.000-08:00

A blessed Sunday to you! 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!

We welcome back our monthly sponsor, Clear Dollar Stamps this week!! One of you lucky ladies will win a $15 Gift Voucher to the store by playing in this week's challenge!

Please be sure to stop by Clear Dollar Stamps and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!

Peggysue Turner is our challenge hostess this week!!

Scripture: Genesis 3:6 “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.”

Eve took the apple. That is one of many important messages in this entire story from Genesis. Why is it significant?

My daughter recently visited a friend’s after school group at a local church. Among the other activities they gave the kids a mini-message. All the kids in the room, they were told, were good apples. But sometimes in life, bad apples come along who tempt us to do bad things. It isn’t our fault, it just happens. (I found out later that same week that the pastor of that church in a talk with his congregation had thrown the bible down on the floor by the pulpit and told them they wouldn’t be using it anymore.)
No, we’re not all born as good apples. We all are born with sin. Our greatest strivings, the best behavior we can possibly conjure up on our own cannot hope to reach the perfection that exists in God. And we alone fall to temptation; it is not the responsibility of other people. This line of thought leads to salvation by works, not by grace. “If I can just remain a good, unblemished apple . . . “ But we cannot earn our way to heaven. Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Notice how quickly the blame game started, all the way back in Genesis. Eve blamed the serpent. Adam blamed Eve and even blamed God himself, by implication, for placing Eve there. But as it says in James 1:13 “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.’”

Eve and Adam blamed others for their choice to disobey, to sin. And my daughter’s visit to that local church illustrates that the blame game, while as old as Adam and Eve, is still alive and well today. We still blame others or our circumstances for our own sins.
Insert your own name into that first sentence. “I” took the apple. I held temptation in my hand and then bit into it. I am a sinner.
There are so many problems with the blame game, but one primary issue is that as long as a person plays the blame game, “Its not my fault!” and can shove it onto another source, there is no acknowledgment that yes, I am a sinner. A sinner needs a savior. A sinner turns to Christ. Someone who blames other people or circumstances for their own actions not only gets stuck in a rut (a bad pattern for life) but never has a reason to turn to Christ for their salvation, they turn to excuses. Where have you turned?

This week’s challenge focuses on the fact that what is old is new again. Satan often recycles the same old messages and we don’t want to get caught up in the blame game that started way back in the garden of Eden! To remind us of this, pull out one of your oldest stamp sets, one of the first ones you ever bought and use it in a card.

Challenge: Dig in your stash and use one of your oldest stamp sets, one that hasn't seen any use for a long while.

And to inspire you, here are some fabby creations by our Design Team!

Chris Olsen – Twinkles Glow with Stamps

Kris Breach, Ink Something

Linda Lucas – Linda’s Craft Central

MariLynn DeGroot: Mississippi McGyver

Miesje Flach – Craft Room with a View

Peggysue Turner - Roses by my Window

Rebekka Reed – Diamond in the Rough

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, November 12. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, Nov. 15th. 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*

Winner and Shining Stars - Challenge #112

2011-11-03T09:06:00.000-07:00

Raise your hand if you know what day it is. Because I think it's Tuesday... right? No? ;)

Thanks for your patience with me... this has been a crazy week.

Without further delay, MariLynn DeGroot challenged us to make a card that shows TIME (e.g., clock, sun or stars, calendar, seasons, etc.). We saw many beautiful examples of this theme! Thanks to those who blessed us with their participation!

The recipients of the Shining Star award for Challenge #112 are:

Tara

Marsha

Melody

Congratulations Ladies!!! You can pick up the HTML for the Shining Star award by clicking HERE.

And now for the winner of 3 digis of your choice from Digital Delights by Louby Lou...

#1 Karen C!!!

Congratulations Karen! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist@hotmail.com so that we can arrange for delivery of your prize!

There's still a bit of time to play in our challenge this week, which is to use the colors of autumn in your card/project. We hope you'll join us!

Have a blessed day!

Challenge #113 – Isaiah 1:18

2011-10-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

A blessed Sunday to you! 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!

With much gratitude, we welcome a new sponsor, Lily of the Valley this week!! One of you lucky ladies will win a £10 Gift Voucher to the store by playing in this week's challenge!

Please be sure to stop by Lily of the Valley and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!

Lisa Hjulberg is our challenge hostess this week!!

Scripture: Isaiah 1:18 "'Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’”

My husband's aunt, Sally Bair, writes not only books, but also a weekly devotional on her blog, which she calls "Eternal Perspectives." The following is taken from the post she published on October 17th. As a true autumn/winter girl, I am especially transformed and transfixed by the beauty of autumn...a true gift from God...even more so when you consider Sally's words below.
ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES by Sally Bair
The Colors of God
A riot of autumn colors brought out my camera. Everywhere I turned, I saw a snapshot of God’s character. All the colors of the rainbow are evident in autumn, and they’re the same hues evident in the Bible.
The rainbow colors that paint our world with beauty come from God’s light, which He created at the beginning of time. During creation, God proclaimed the light as “good.” From His light come the rainbow colors that show His glory.
The colors we see in the natural world have spiritual meaning, too. The color red, for instance, represents the sacrificial blood of Christ. Isaiah 1:18 reads, “’Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’” Christ willingly took our sins upon Himself that we might be cleansed as white as snow. When we see the blood-red maple and sumac leaves, we are reminded of Jesus’ supreme sacrifice for our benefit.
The brilliant oranges of autumn signify several things: praise and passion, joy and power, fruitfulness and harvest. My mind automatically leaps to thoughts about the Holy Spirit when I see orange. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus’ followers as tongues of fire. The orange flame of God’s Spirit-fire burns hot in our hearts when we allow it.
Our northern poplars and birch shimmer like gold coins on a sunny day. Gold is the color of God’s holiness which shines in our hearts as He releases His strength and energy to us so we can produce His good works. “But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22)
The green of conifers contrasts richly with the changing colors of deciduous trees. Green is the color of plant life and speaks of growth. In spiritual terms, it’s called sanctification. God would have all of us “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)
The blue of the sky reminds us of heaven, from which Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins and in which we will someday spend eternity with Him, if we have surrendered ourselves to His perfect will.
If we hunt for them, we can even find purple leaves in the fall. The color purple symbolizes Jesus’ royalty. He forever wears the crown and robe of righteousness and majesty and power.
Lord, we thank You for the rich variety of color in autumn which reminds us of Your love for us. Help us to learn more about You through Your marvelous gifts of nature. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Challenge: Use fall colors in your creation: crimson, orange and gold (or similar)

And to inspire you, here are some fabby creations by our Design Team!

Chris Olsen – Twinkles Glow with Stamps

Grace Nywening: Th-Ink-ing of You

Kris Breach, Ink Something2

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 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, November 5. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, Nov. 8th. 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*

Winner and Shining Stars - Challenge #111

2011-10-25T19:36:00.000-07:00

Okay, pretend it's Tuesday morning. :) How does time fly by so quickly?

For Challenge #111, Miesje Flach challenged us to use two of everything used to create our cards/projects, and you all knocked it out of the ballpark!!! Behold the three Shining Stars...

Shell

Lilly M

Melody

Congratulations Ladies! You can pick up the HTML for the Shining Star blinkie by clicking HERE.

And now for the winner of a $10 Gift Certificate to spend in the Designed2Delight store!!!

#7 E. Marie!!!

Congratulations to you, too, Marie!!! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist@hotmail.com so that we can arrange delivery of your prize!

There's still time to play in this week's challenge, which is to make a card/project that depicts time, such as clocks, sun or stars, calendar, seasons, etc. We are so appreciative of all of you who join us for challenges. Your fellowship with us means so much! Thank you!

Have a blessed day!

Challenge 112 – Eccles. 3:1

2011-10-23T03:10:00.000-07:00

A blessed Sunday to you! 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!

It’s *TIME* we welcome back Digital Delights by Louby Lou as our sponsor this week!! One of you lucky ladies will win 3 digis of your choice from the store by playing in this week's challenge!

Please be sure to stop by Digital Delights by Louby Lou and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!

Marilynn DeGroot is our challenge hostess this week!!

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.....”

Time

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

¹ There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens:
² a time to be born and a time to die,
   a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
   a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
   a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
   a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
   a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
   a time for war and a time for peace.

If there is a time for everything, why do I struggle so much with the issue of time? I start each day rushed and have so much to do that I always run out of time by the end of the day when I collapse into bed, with things left undone. I find myself wishing I had MORE TIME.

There are several questions about time that have been on my heart lately.

HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE LEFT? In the past several months, several times, death has touched people I know. In several of the cases the people were really young. 2 were still in their teens.

DID THEY KNOW THAT THEIR TIME WAS ALMOST UP? No, because none of us really know when our time is up.

IF TODAY WAS MY LAST DAY, HOW WOULD I SPEND IT? WOULD I WASTE EVEN A MINUTE OF IT? There are so many time wasters that I find in my day. Waiting in line, watching tv, getting on facebook (just being honest and transparent here). If today were my last, I hope I would spend it with my kids, my husband, my family, my friends, my church… making memories in the relationships that I treasure.

Lord, help me to get my priorities straight today and not waste my time.

IF I KNEW THAT TODAY WAS YOUR LAST WOULD I TREAT YOU DIFFERENTLY?
WOULD I TELL YOU THAT I LOVE YOU?
WOULD I MAKE SURE YOU KNEW THAT HEAVEN WAS YOUR DESTINATION?
WOULD I TREAT YOU WITH KINDNESS AND FORGIVENESS?

Lord help me to interact with those around me as if today were their last day. Don’t let me live with the regret of things undone, unsaid.

Amen! Thank you Marilynn!!

Challenge: My challenge is for you to make a card that shows TIME. Examples: clock (minutes/hours), sun or stars (days), calendar (years), seasons...etc.

Take a look at what the Design Sisters created to inspire you this week!

Chris Olsen – Twinkles Glow with Stamps

Grace Nywening: Th-Ink-ing of You

Kris Breach, Ink Something2

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 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, October 29th. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, Nov. 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!

Need help linking your card? Click Here *Ü*

Winner and Shining Stars - Challenge #110

2011-10-18T21:13:00.000-07:00

Yowser!!! Linda Lucas issued an "anything goes" challenge and 174 of you answered the call!!! That just might be a record for us here at Stampin' Sisters in Christ! It was NOT easy to narrow it down to just three for the Shining Star award... never is... but here they are for Challenge #110:

Stephanie Wright

Cindy Lou

Sarah

Congratulations ladies!!! You can pick up the HTML for the Shining Star blinkie by clicking HERE.

And now for the winner of the Savor Sweet Cupcakes stamp set from Simon Says Stamp! Drumroll please!!!

#122 Mandy!!!

Congratulations Mandy!!! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist [at] hotmail [dot] com with your mailing address so that we can arrange for delivery of your prize!

Our challenge this week is to use two of each thing you use to create your card/project; i.e., two stamps, two designer papers, two buttons, etc. Please join us!!!

Have a blessed day!

Challenge 111 – Matt. 11:28-30

2011-10-16T03:00:00.000-07:00

A blessed Sunday to you! 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 warmly welcome back Designed 2 Delight as our sponsor!! One of you lucky ladies will win $10 coupon to the D2D store by playing in this week's challenge!

Please be sure to stop by the Designed 2 Delight and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!

Miesje Flach is our challenge hostess this week!!

Scripture: Matthew 11: 28 – 30 “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light..”

“Take my yoke upon you…” First you have to visualize and understand what the yoke was during the time of Jesus. It was a wooden contraption that was often used by creatures of burden such as oxen. Here is a picture of a yoke:
I know many people right now who are burdened by so many different things. I have friends who have lost jobs, some suffering from serious illness, others grieving the loss of a loved one, there is the stress of moving for a couple of my friends, and there are many wading through financial difficulty. Everyone’s burden is unique to them and only God knows how it affects each and every one of us.

When Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” He is telling us that He is there to share the burden with us. Jesus is saying that He can handle whatever it is that is burdening us so we can move forward – so our worries and fears can be lightened.

I have been carrying this image with me so much lately. These verses were from one of the readings at Mass several months ago and the sermon touched me deeply. When I got home that night I wrote out the scripture verses, some of the things my pastor spoke about and my own reflection. I also found an image of the yoke, I am a visual person and wanted that reminder for the days ahead. I really had no idea at the time how much that yoke would help me!

Since that sermon on July 2^nd my husband was diagnosed with cancer and the subsequent grueling radiation and chemo treatments (which ended last week) and my mother passed away. Our finances have also taken quite a hit. To say it has been a difficult time would be an understatement. Yet throughout these months my faith has grown, my spirit has been (mostly) good, and I know without a doubt that my burden was lightened because it was shared with the Almighty!

When I jotted down the scripture and the notes in my SSIC (Stampin Sisters in Christ) folder I knew that I would use it one day for a devotion sharing on this site. I was scheduled to share in a few weeks but earlier this week I was asked to move mine ahead and to share it this week instead. Amazing – I really needed to read my reflections today (it was a difficult week) and to share it with you today – once again my burden has been made light – thank you Jesus!

Amen! Thank you Miesje!!

Challenge: Sharing: use 2 of everything you use. (ie: 2 Dp - 2 flowers - 2 stamps - whatever you use must be doubled)

Take a look at what the Design Sisters created to inspire you this week!

Grace Nywening: Th-Ink-ing of You

Kris Breach: Ink Something

Linda Lucas: Lovely Linda's Craft Central

Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow

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 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, October 22nd. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, Oct. 25th. 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*

Winner and Shining Stars - Challenge #109

2011-10-11T12:19:00.000-07:00

A blessed day to you! It's that happy day of the week when we announce the recipients of our Shining Star award and the winner of the prize for the prior week's challenge!!! Kris Breach was our hostess for Challenge #109 and she challenged us to include fruit in our creations. Fruit is one of my favorite things, as is autumn, so I was especially enthralled with your cards featuring fruit and gorgeous fall colors. My heart was singing!

Without further ado, behold our Shining Stars!

Jan Hunnicutt

Karen Wallace

Denise Morgans aka

The Crafty Den

Congratulations Ladies! Well done! You can pick up the Shining Star blinkie for your blog by clicking HERE.

And now for the lucky winner of a $15 Gift Certificate to spend at Clear Dollar Stamps...

#13 Lea L!!!

Congratulations Lea! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist [at] hotmail [dot] com so that we can arrange for delivery of your prize.

There's still time to play in this week's challenge which is ANYTHING GOES! It doesn't get much easier than that! ;)

Have a great day!

Challenge #110 - Mark 10:27

2011-10-09T03:00:00.000-07:00

A blessed Sunday to you! 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!

Our wonderful sponsor this week is none other than Simon Says Stamp! One of you lucky ladies will win this cute Simon Exclusive stamp set, “Savor Sweet Cupcakes” by playing in this week's challenge!

Please be sure to stop by the Simon Says Stamp and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!

Linda Lucas is our challenge hostess this week!!

Scripture: Mar 10:27 “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”

How many times do we come to a grinding holt when our circumstances seem hopeless, we throw our hands up in the air in despair as we can no longer do this - all seems lost! This is a situation that most of us have experienced at one time or another....in one form or another.

Like many challenges we face, the battle takes place in our minds and are determined in our hearts before we ever see any results in the natural. Decisions we make along with the choices that go along with them are ultimately determined by our ability to turn to God, handing them over to Him and watching Him work - against all the odds!

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Prov 3:5-6

God is not limited by our understanding of Him, there are many accounts of healing and miracles in the Word of God where the circumstances have been impossible but people have placed their trust in God and He has taken the impossible and made it possible. One of the well known accounts is the story of David and Goliath (1Sam 17) - as we know David, the son of Jesse, a mere shepherd, was not the obvious choice to slay Goliath in his family – in fact, in the natural, he did not even qualify - BUT he was the one God had chosen, so that He would be glorified.
David's family tried to deter him, even when challenged by King Saul, David's response echoed his trust in God,

But David persisted. "I have been taking care of my father's sheep and goats," he said. "When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I'll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God!
The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!" 1 Sam 17:35-37

David trusted God - his confidence did not waver, even in the face of his enemy, as we can see when he was face to face with Goliath "Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues His people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD's battle, and He will give you to us!" Isaiah 46-47

Today, regardless of how big the Goliath's in our lives, how insurmountable that mountain before us, - the reality is that our God is a miracle working God - He is not limited by that we would deem as impossible, in fact through Him all things are possible....we merely need to put our trust in Him – the key is WHO we trust in!

I pray that as we face our Goliaths, we will remember the words of Jesus: With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Mar 10:27

Amen!

Challenge: Anything Goes!!

Take a look at what the Design Sisters created to inspire you this week!

Chris Olsen: Twinkles Glow With Stamps

Grace Nywening: Th-Ink-ing of You

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 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, October 15th. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, Oct. 18th. 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*

Winner and Shining Stars - Challenge #108

2011-10-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday! I'm popping in to announce the prize winner and Shining Star awards for Challenge #108. Grace challenged us to make a card/project using the word "blessing" or featuring an encouraging scripture. There were some awesome and inspiring cards submitted!!! Behold the three Shining Stars...

Tricia

Judy

Riette

Beautifully done!!! Congratulations Ladies! You can pick up the HTML for the Shining Star blinkie by clicking HERE.

And now for the lucky winner of five free digi images from Pink Cat Studio:

#16 Lea L!!!

Congratulations Lea!!! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist [at] hotmail [dot] comand we'll arrange for delivery of your prize. Enjoy!

There's still time to play in this week's challenge, which is to use fruit in your card/project. We can't wait to see what you create!

Have a blessed day!

Challenge #109 – Gal. 5:22-23a

2011-10-02T03:00:00.000-07:00

A blessed Sunday to you! 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!

Our wonderful sponsor this week is none other than Clear Dollar Stamps! One of you lucky ladies will win a $15 Gift Certificate by playing in this week's challenge!

Please be sure to stop by the Clear Dollar Stamps and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!

I (Kris Breach) have the honor of being challenge hostess this week!!

Scripture: "Gal. 5:22-23a "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

Ugli, Ungi, Farkleberry, mangosteen… these are some of the lesser-known fruits, but there are literally hundreds of fruits & varieties of them. We all know they are healthy for us; one reason is because they are high in anti-oxidants. Bear with me for a minute … and you’ll see where I’m going with this :) I’m sure you’ve all heard the term “Free Radicals”? Oxygen, when combined with certain molecules, can create free-radicals which are harmful to us, and provide a perfect atmosphere for diseases to grow. So anti-oxidants, found in fruit, stop the oxygen from combining with the molecules and therefore cancels free-radicals!

In Galatians 5, Apostle Paul gives us nine fruits that can help us prevent free-radicals in our lives… “Fruits of the Spirit.” These fruits may not contain anti-oxidants, but they certainly can provide anti-accidents!

Paul speaks about the power of the Holy Spirit to prevent accidents of sin in our lives in Galatians: Verse 5:16 says “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” The Biblical term “flesh” (found 150x in the N.T.) is basically referring to an outward expression of an inward emptiness of a life without God. Sometimes it’s used to describe physical flesh (skin & bones) but many times it refers to a spiritual meaning, to describe what we were like before we came to Christ. When we become Christians, the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts and lives and helps us grow into the likeness of Christ.

How do we become Christ-like?? Paul gives us nine ways… the Fruits of the Spirit… for the challenges we face each day and helps us develop the personality of Christ.

Below I’ve listed the nine Fruits of the Spirit… let’s see what “Anti-Accident” value they possess:

LOVE: Love is a fruit full of anti-accidents that will prevent things like gossiping, jealousy, hatred, envy, and even fear. (I John 4:18 says that “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.”) The Bible also tells us that love never fails or falters.

JOY: Joy is a fruit full of anti-accidents that will prevent things like depression and anxiety. Joy should be a natural response of a follower of Christ. (Psalm 32:11 says, “Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy all you upright in heart!”) Although it is NOT correct to assume that just because one is a Christian that he/she will never get depressed. Job was absolutely depressed … especially after his friends gave him such lousy advice and told him all the bad things happening to him were HIS fault… because of sin in his life! But Job didn’t sin against God. Sometimes others can steal our joy… but take heart! Keep the faith and trust the LORD in all things. He will not leave you there for long, for “Joy comes in the morning!!”

PEACE: Peace is a fruit rich in anti-accidents that prevents personal grudges (ever held a personal grudge? Didn’t sleep well did ya?! And I speak from experience here), fear, dissension, and emotional and physical stress. Peace has the ability to bring calmness and clarity to your situation. John 14:27 says, “I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.”

LONGSUFFERING: or as some might say “humility” ~ not the most popular of the Fruits, but it has the anti-accident ability to prevent retaliation, vengeance, anger, and malice. (nah… none of us would admit to any of these right?) We should be longsuffering towards others because Jesus Christ was “longsuffering toward us" (2 Peter 3:9).

KINDNESS: Kindness is a fruit that contains anti-accidents that will eliminate harsh words and actions, self-centeredness, and disregard for others and their feelings. Kindness will draw others to you and to the God you serve. Romans 11:22, “Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness.”

GOODNESS: Goodness has anti-accidents that prevents manipulation, insincerity, slander, and evil. Goodness has associations with the godly attributes of mercy and love. Psalm 33:5b says, “the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD”… shouldn’t we bear this same goodness?

FAITHFULNESS: Faithfulness is a fruit full of anti-accidents that can prevent very painful things like divorce, infidelity, doubt and insecurity. Psalm 31:23 says, “the LORD preserves the faithful.” How wonderful to know that God will be faithful to those who are faithful to Him!

GENTLENESS: Gentleness has the anti-accident power to prevent intimidation, anger, overreactions and abuse. Even Jesus, fully powerful Son of God was “gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

SELF-CONTROL: Self-control is a popular “fruit” although not as easily attained as others. It has the anti-accident power to prevent overeating, overspending, and even doing or saying the wrong things. This fruit is important to creating balance in one’s life. 2 Peter 1:6 says “and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness.”

God gave us these gifts (Fruits of the Spirit) so we can be strengthened against the free radicals of the world that can hurt us. So just like eating fruit is good for our physical bodies, we should be conscious of our spiritual health… fill up on the Fruit of the Holy Spirit so we can be strong in the LORD!!

Challenge: Include FRUIT in your creation (stamp, digi, paper, charms, etc.). *By definition, a pumpkin is a fruit, and so are some other “Harvest” produce :)

Take a look at what the Design Sisters created to inspire you this week!

Kris Breach: Ink Something

Linda Lucas: Lovely Linda's Craft Central

Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow

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 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, October 8th. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, Oct. 11th. 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*

Challenge #107 - Prize Winner and Shining Stars

2011-09-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

Okay, pretend today is Tuesday! We get a do-over! Yay!

Just kidding, of course. I let the day fly by and forgot to do the post. And, yes, I had it written down. So much for lists. I guess you have to read them! :)

So without further delay, I'd like to announce the winners of the Shining Star Award for Challenge #107, which was to make a card/project featuring wings and a Biblical verse or quote.

Lori Ulrich

Karen Letchworth

Rosemary

Beautiful cards Ladies!!! You can pick up the HTML for the Shining Star blinkie by clicking HERE.

Now, for the winner of a $15 Gift Certificate to spend in the Our Daily Bread Designs store!!!

#15 Nancy D!!!

Congratulations Nancy!!! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist @ hotmail.com so that we can arrange delivery of your prize. Enjoy!!!

There's still time to play in this week's challenge, which is to create a card that uses the word "Blessings," or features an encouraging scripture. If you haven't already, I encourage you to read Grace's devotional... you will be blessed!

Challenge #108 - John 16:33

2011-09-25T03:00:00.000-07:00

A blessed Sunday to you! 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!

We welcome a new sponsor this week, Pink Cat Studio!! One of you lucky ladies will win 5 free digis by playing in this week's challenge!

Please be sure to stop by the Pink Cat Studio and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!

Grace Nywening is our challenge hostess this week!!

Scripture: "John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

A young woman was talking with her dear friend one day. This friend had been going through some difficult times and was feeling down and alone. She expressed the feeling that she didn't really think anyone in their town cared about her or her family at all. Later that week, a tornado ripped through their town, the first in this mountain town in over 50 years! It leveled buildings, trees and left a number dead or injured. One of the areas hit particularly hard was where this friend lived. They lost over 75 trees, both of their vehicles, a garage, and some damage was done to their home, but thankfully they were protected. The next day, people started showing up with chain saws, heavy equipment, water, food, supplies.... there were over 30 people working on this family's lot alone! They continued doing so for weeks!!! She finally realized how many people cared!!! Her attitude was completely changed after the storm!

The next Sunday in church, the special music, which had been planned and practiced long before the tornado struck, was this song - Blessings, by Laura Story.

In case you cannot open the link or hear the song,
here are the lyrics.

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching(s) of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

A few weeks after the tornado, my husband and I sat in the church where these two young women attend on a Sunday evening, where people of the church had gathered to sing praises and give testimony of God's grace and mercy! It was all I could do to not be weeping as one after another told their story.... yet each one, in spite of having lost much of this world's "things" had such joy and thanksgiving for all God had done for them! It seems that some of their blessings truly did come through the rain and wind and storm, literally! Sometimes, we don't realize how much we have to be thankful for until something happens to threaten what's dear to us... and suddenly our earthly cares become so unimportant to us in comparison to eternity!

Recently, here on the east coast of the U.S., in ONE week, we felt the tremors of a 5.9 earthquake and the powerful forces of a huge hurricane that slowly made it's way up the coast, leaving a path of floods and destruction.The people of Texas have been enduring the worst drought and fires imaginable.

The news every night is full of sensational stories of pain and suffering all over the world! Wars, famine, hatred, murders, earthquakes and disease abound! It's all around us and I am sure that in our own lives, not one of us is without burdens! Perhaps we have sat at the bedside of a suffering loved one, watched a parent slowly disappear into a world we cannot seem to reach, prayed through sleepless nights over broken relationships, buried that loved one we thought we could never live without, lost that baby we thought God wanted us to raise, and cried for help in the midst of our darkest hour. We've had our moments when our faith has been tried, and we've even had times when we had some doubts. We've asked Him "WHY? Why are you letting me go through this?"

I shared this song today because I know so many of us are suffering through some dark hours right now! The words touched my heart and I hope they will yours as well. As Christians, we tend to think our lives should be trouble free and just the way we "want" them to be. When they're not, we pray that God removes the painful things. I know for myself, that some of my darkest hours have ended up being my greatest blessings: times of growth and a refocusing on what's really important; times of realizing how gracious and merciful God has been to me! I don't think I would ever fully have appreciated the gift of this life had I not almost lost mine at the hand of a hit and run driver. I'm pretty sure I would not have learned to truly forgive unconditionally if I had not had that experience. I also don't think I would have had the compassion for people who are suffering had I not been left with chronic pain myself. My pain has given me many opportunities to encourage others in a way I never would have otherwise! Sometimes some of us need to stay broken for a while so that God can do the work in us that needs to be done. Perhaps instead of praying for removal of the pain, we should be praying for His will and glory to be seen in it all, for growth in our relationship with Him, and for the joy that comes from really being surrendered to and loving our Savior and knowing that His plan for us is always the best plan! Remember this.... He loves us enough to give us what we need, not necessarily what we "want"! When we are in the deep waters, we may not see the blessings He has for us... but He has a plan for each of us, and it's for our good!

Let me simply leave you with a couple Scriptures:

Ps. 30:5b "...Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Rom. 8:35, 37-39 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

I hope He pours out His Blessings on you today!

Challenge: Create a card that either says “Blessings” or uses an encouraging Scripture.

Take a look at what the Design Sisters created to inspire you this week!

Chris Olsen: Twinkles Glow with Stamps

Grace Nywening: Th-INK-ing of You

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

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, October 1st. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, Oct. 4th. 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*

Winner and Shining Stars - Challenge #106

2011-09-20T03:00:00.000-07:00

A blessed day to you! I'm popping in to announce the prize winner and Shining Star awards for Challenge #106. Rebekka challenged us to make a card/project featuring a door. That was a challenging one (haha), but 20 of you stepped up to the plate (or should I say door?) in beautiful ways! Behold the three Shining Stars...

Marsha

Maria

Denise

Gorgeous!!! Congratulations Ladies! You can pick up the HTML for the Shining Star blinkie by clicking HERE.

And now for the lucky winner of the "Teachers Love Apples" stamp set from Simon Say Stamp... drumroll please...

#18 Karen C!!!

Congratulations Karen!!! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist [at] hotmail[dot]com with your mailing address and we'll arrange for delivery of your prize. Enjoy!

There's still time to play in this week's challenge, which is to use wings and a Biblical verse or quote on your card/project. We can't wait to see what you create!

Have a wonderful day!

Challenge #107 - Isaiah 40:31

2011-09-18T03:00:00.000-07:00

A blessed Sunday to you! 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!

We are always very excited to welcome back our sponsor, Our Daily Bread Designs!! One of you lucky ladies will win a $15 Gift Certificate to the ODBD store by playing in this week's challenge!

Please be sure to stop by Our Daily Bread Designs and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!

Chris Olsen is our challenge hostess this week!!

Scripture: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with winds like eagles. Isaiah 40:31."

How many of us turn to God when life seems difficult or when we are struggling in some way. Isn’t it a comfort to know that He is there in the worst and best of circumstances?!!!
In this verse, wait means two things: relying on God and waiting for His answers. He is always there if we ask, seek and knock!!! God makes a promise in Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the Plans I have for your says the Lord, Plans to prosper you says the Lord, Plans to give you hope and a future.’ God is not talking about financial riches or prosperity but spiritual riches. God does not say life will be easy if we call upon Him but that He will be there with us in the rough and the joyful patches of our lives if we ask or rely upon Him. God knows what we need before we ask it but we still need to ask in His name.
Recently, in one of the more difficult and trying times of my life, I turned to my Bible, a devotional bible left to me by my dear sweet mother in law who has passed away. (Mom was a deeply spiritual person who relied on scripture and God’s guidance even when fighting with cancer. A true testimony in all she did.) Within the Bible’s pages, not only did I find many comforting verses but a poem that was special to Mom. I think this poem tells it all!!! I don’t feel it was coincidence that I found it at that moment but rather that it was meant especially for me as a reminder. I hope you find as much comfort in it as did/do I.
YOU MUST WAIT
Desperately, helplessly, longingly I cried:
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said, “Child you must wait.”
Wait, you say wait,” my indignant reply.
“Lord I need answers. I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked and am claiming your Word.
My future and all of which I can relate
Hangs in the balance and YOU tell me WAIT?
I’m needing a ‘Yes”, a go-ahead sign,
Or even a ‘No’ to which I can resign.
And Lord, you promised that if we believe
We need but to ask and we shall receive.
And Lord, I’ve been asking and this is my cry”
I’m weary of asking! I need a reply.”
Then quietly, softly I learned of my fate
As my Master relied once again, “You must wait.”
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut and
Grumble to God, “So I am waiting for what?”
He seemed the to kneel and His eyes wept with mine,
And He tenderly said, “I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun,
I could raise the dead, cause the mountains to run.
All you seek I could give, and please you would be.
You would have what you want, but you wouldn’t know Me.
You’d not know the depth of My love for each saint;
You’d not know the power that I give the faint;
You’d not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there;
You knot know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence were all you could see;
You would never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of my Spirit descends like a dove;
But you’d not know the depth of the beat of My heart,
The glow of My comfort, late in the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight,
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.
What it means that ‘My grace is sufficient for thee!’
But oh the loss, if I lost what I’m doing in you!
Author unknown

Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Challenge: Use wings and a biblical verse or quote on your creation.

Take a look at what the Design Sisters created to inspire you this week!

Chris Olsen: Twinkles Glow with Stamps

Grace Nywening: Th-INK-ing of You

Kris Breach: Ink Something

Linda Lucas: Lovely Linda's Craft Central

MariLynn DeGroot: Mississippi McGyver

Miesje Flach – Craft Room with a View

another by Miesje:

Peggysue Turner - Roses by my Window

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, September 24th. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, Sept. 27th. 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*

Shining Stars and Prize Winner for Challenge #105

2011-09-13T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hi all! A blessed Tuesday to you!

Peggysue challenged us to use quiet tones in our cards/projects for Challenge #105, and there were 74 GORGEOUS entries! We are so very blessed by your participation in our weekly challenges! Behold the three that have been awarded our Shining Star:

Hazel

Heidi

Tracy

Wonderful, aren't they? Thank you Ladies! Please grab the Shining Star blinkie by clicking HERE.

And now for the winner of a $15 Gift Card to spend at Clear Dollar Stamps... ta da...

#29 Rebecca!!!

Congratulations Rebecca!!! Please email us so that we can arrange for delivery of your prize!

There's still time to play in this week's challenge, which is to include a door in your card/project. It can be part of the image, part of the designer paper, created by hand... whatever! Please join us!!!

Have a blessed day!

Challenge #106 – Matthew 7:7-8

2011-09-11T03:00:00.000-07:00

A blessed Sunday to you! 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!

Today is “Patriot Day” … the 10th Anniversary of the horrific & heroic acts of 9/11 that changed our nation on so many levels. Let’s remember to pray for those families who’s lives were forever changed. And to honor those who gave their lives I want to challenge each of us to do something today that will make a positive difference in the world… even if it’s one small thing… you can help make a difference! If you need some ideas, and would like to know more how you can help from your own home, or out in your local community, please visit ChristianVolunteering.Org

And now on to this week’s sponsor! We gladly welcome back our monthly sponsor,Simon Says Stamp!! One of you lucky ladies will win this exclusive Simon Says Stamp set called, “Teachers Love Apples” by playing in this week's challenge!

Please be sure to stop by Simon Says Stamp and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!

Rebekka Reed is our challenge hostess this week!!

Scripture: Mt. 7:7-8 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

In 1975 I had moved to Jacksonville Fla. We were staying in a motel waiting for our furniture to arrive. I did not know the Lord at that time but the Holy Spirit had been moving on me with conviction. That Sunday Morning I woke up hearing the Holy Spirit speak to me, 'seek me' there was a bible in the night stand and when I pulled it out, it fell to the floor, when I picked it up my eye's went straight to this verse, it became alive in me. Right away there was an urgency to go to church, as I quickly explained to my husband what was going on we got dressed and rushed out of the door. As we were driving we were passing many church's and my husband kept asking which one, and I said " I don't know, keep driving God will show me where to go." Finally the Holy Spirit spoke and said that one right there, it was Ortega Baptist church, celebrating 100 years of service. I ran in and was about to disrupt the service, I needed this Jesus, but the Holy Spirit restrained me until after the pastor spoke. When he was done I ran up to the front of the church and was over taken by the Holy Spirit and with the Gideon bible still in hand I said " I do not want this religion that you people have here but I want this living Jesus I just read about." That day began the journey of my spiritual walk with God, that morning planted the seeds of faith that have grown through the years. Ask and it will be given, seek and you will find, knock, for the door will be opened. We are told to pray (ask) for the peace of Israel, for the peace of the nation we live in, for rain, food, the list goes on and on. We are to ask believing, we are to seek God diligently with all of our hearts by prayer, study of His word and guarding our soul's against sin. We are to knock, continuing until He answer's. And this is also a command, not a suggestion!

Challenge: Your card is to have a door.. :)

Take a look at what the Design Sisters created to inspire you this week!

Chris Olsen: Twinkles Glow with Stamps

Grace Nywening: Th-INK-ing of You

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 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, September 17th. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, Sept. 20th. 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*

Prize Winners and Shining Stars: Challenge 104

2011-09-06T03:00:00.000-07:00

You must all be pretty good cooks because the recipe challenge was a big hit. Such fun seeing how you used the variety of "ingredients" to make the perfect card. Thank you for joining us and having fun while you were "cooking". Here are our winners for challenge #103 of Stampin Sisters in Christ.

Colette S

Glenda Atkins

Aleksandra

Congratulations! You can pick up the HTML for the Shining Star blinkie by clicking HERE.

Now, for the winner of a $10 gift voucher from Sweet n' Sassy Stamps chosen randomly from all entries:

#9 - Lori U

Congratulations Lori! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist@hotmail.com with your mailing address and we'll arrange for delivery of your prize!

There is still time to play along in the challenge for this week which is use nothing bright. Use 'quiet' colors in your creation, either pastels, or low key earthtones, soft, muted shades of beige or neutrals..

Have a blessed day!

Challenge #105 – I Thess. 4:11-12

2011-09-04T03:00:00.000-07:00

A blessed Sunday to you! 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 welcome back our monthly sponsor, Clear Dollar Stamps! One of you lucky ladies will win a $15 gift card to the store by playing in this week's challenge!

Please be sure to stop by Clear Dollar Stamps and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!

Peggysue is our challenge hostess this week!!

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 "Make it your aim to live a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to earn your own living, just as we told you before.12 In this way you will win the respect of those who are not believers, and you will not have to depend on anyone for what you need."

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”

I chose this verse in particular because it represents almost the exact opposite of what we see in society today. I don’t recall a time period when there were more ‘reality’ shows-- voyeuristic invitations to intrude upon the private lives of stars or aspirants in a desperate bid to garner public attention.

And what an odd juxtaposition of words in the first phrase…make it your ambition to lead a quiet life…isn’t it everyone’s ambition to be famous, wealthy, popular like the people on these TV shows? But how often do we witness tragic results from the toxic combination of wealth, self-promotion, boredom and fame?
Some people are called into the spotlight naturally or by accident, through a heroic act, public service or the display and use of special gift or talent given them by God, such as music or athletics.

We might long to be in the spotlight, at least once in a while. However, most of us lead a “quiet life,” raising a family, going to work, going to church, cleaning house, cooking dinner, leading Awanas, coaching Little League, visiting elderly parents and the list goes on. Can you see the value in these things? This passage affirms that God does.

God’s plan has work for us all and the quiet life can accomplish much within a family and a community. I have a friend who purposes to live a ‘quiet life’ and in this life has given gifts of the work of her hands that have blessed many people. Creating a happy home where a healthy, godly family can grow in love and in service to others in their community is a gift in and of itself. Working with your hands to support yourself and your family without having to rely upon others, unless in times of tragedy or misfortune, is of great value as well.

In addition, a quiet life leaves room for reflection, to meditate on God’s word and His promises, Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

While you may win the respect of outsiders, even living a quiet life however, does not guarantee that you will always fly under the radar of notice when it comes to faith. As it says in 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 (NLT) Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?

We are all adequate for, or will receive God’s power when needed, to walk the path laid out before us, most often a path of little notice and quietude. The ultimate purpose of our lives after all, is to bring glory to God, not to ourselves.

Psalm 46:10
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Challenge: Nothing bright. Use 'quiet' colors in your creation, either pastels, or low key earthtones, soft, muted shades of beige or neutrals.

Take a look at what the Design Sisters created to inspire you this week!

Chris Olsen: Twinkles Glow with Stamps

Grace Nywening: Th-INK-ing of You

Kris Breach: Ink Something

Linda Lucas: Lovely Linda's Craft Central

MariLynn DeGroot: Mississippi McGyver

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 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, September 10th. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, Sept. 13th. 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*

Prize Winner and Shining Stars: Challenge #103

2011-08-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

Such brave crafters we have here! You came out of your comfort zones and tried something new. The results of that bravery were really good. Loved the variety we saw in your projects. It is always such fun to see what you come up with and to read some of your stories, both in paper crafting and in your life journeys. Thank you for sharing with us. You lift us up. Here are our winners for challenge #103 of Stampin Sisters in Christ.

The Crafty Den

Karen C

Sara l.

Congratulations! You can pick up the HTML for the Shining Star blinkie by clicking HERE.

Now, for the winner of a $15 gift voucher from Paper Fashions, Etc chosen randomly from all entries:

#35 - Shruti

Congratulations Shruti! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist@hotmail.com with your mailing address and we'll arrange for delivery of your prize!

There is still time to play along in the challenge for this week which is a recipe challenge to use at least 3 of the following, (ribbon, brad, button, swirl, popped up image, hat pin, charm).

Have a blessed day!

Challenge #104 - 1 Cor. 10:17

2011-08-28T03:00:00.000-07:00

A blessed Sunday to you! 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 is our Guest Designer, Teresa Kline’s last week with us here at SSIC… but don’t worry, I’m sure she will be back to fill in again for us!! We actually had such a wonderful time with BOTH our August Guests that we extended them an invitation to join us permanently, and we are thrilled that Traci said yes! Teresa would love to as well, however she has other commitments to fulfill at this time. So this is not goodbye, but see you again (hopefully sooner than later!) *Ü* We wish you many blessings as you have been a blessing to all us sisters here. We consider you “family” and you know you are welcome back any time!

This week we welcome back Sweet n' Sassy Stamps as our sponsor! One of you lucky ladies will win a $10 gift certificate to the Sweet n' Sassy store by playing in this week's challenge!

Please be sure to stop by and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!

Miesje Flach is our challenge hostess this week!!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:17 – Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.”

We, though many, are all one body. This chapter in the bible is wonderful and covers so many great examples. Every part of the body is important. Tonight my husband and I went to church. Right after the service a woman who lost her husband a few weeks ago to cancer came up to us and embraced us. She shared some of her journey and warned us about some difficulties that we have not yet faced but will. Her pain became a balm of healing for us today. Our church, our Christian family, is made up of so many different people and all have gifts that they bring to the church family. We are all one body and we all partake of the one loaf.

My husband and I were blessed with 8 children who are all grown now. They are all different and bring their unique gifts to our family. During this time in our family we have noticed that their gifts to us are incredible. A son who has taken over a lot of the outside house duties; a daughter in law who checks in on my aging parents; a son who makes sure that his handicapped sister is okay; a future daughter in law who asks how I am doing; a daughter who has our oldest grandchildren call their grandfather to talk about their football game, each one bringing their unique gifts to our family with each offering special and filled with love.
At the Catholic School where I teach we had a little exercise at the first faculty meeting. We were all given 2 toothpicks. We were then asked to pick up a toothpick and break it – easy. Then the principal collected the other toothpicks and bunched them together. When he tried to break them he could not. Together we are so much stronger.

Here at Stampin Sisters in Christ we are all different, in fact I have not “met” any one of them in person. Yet, we bring our uniqueness with us when we share with each other and with all of you. These ladies are one of the first ones I reach out to when major prayers are needed. They are the ones I share my joys and challenges with. They are even the ones that we can, occasionally, disagree with. Yet we are “sisters in Christ” and together we are strong.

Challenge: Recipe Challenge - choose at least 3 of the following for one card. (ribbon, button, a swirl, hat pin, brad, charm, popped up image)

Take a look at what the Design Sisters created to inspire you this week!

Grace Nywening: Th-INK-ing of You

Linda Lucas: Lovely Linda's Craft Central

MariLynn DeGroot: Mississippi McGyver

Miesje Flach: Craft Room With a View

Rebekka Reed: Diamond in the Rough

Teresa Kline - Paperie Blooms

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 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, September 3rd. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, Sept. 6th. 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*

Prize Winner and Shining Stars: Challenge #102

2011-08-23T03:00:00.000-07:00

Music certainly is a universal language isn't it? The projects were wonderful this week. Just look at these samples! We loved all the musical notes and the and images, they were very fun to look at. We are always so glad that you could participate. It is back to school here in my neck of the woods - more stamping time for some. Hope to see you joining us again this week. Here are our winners for challenge #102 of Stampin Sisters in Christ.

Lori U

Rosemary D

Tameko

Congratulations! You can pick up the HTML for the Shining Star blinkie by clicking HERE.

Now, for the winner of an adorable stamp set from Simon Says Stamp... chosen randomly from all entries:

#4 - Debbie

Congratulations Debbie! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist@hotmail.com with your mailing address and we'll arrange for delivery of your prize!

There is still time to play along in the challenge for this week which is to try something you have been afraid to try.

Have a blessed day!

Challenge #103 - 2 Timothy 1:7

2011-08-21T03:00:00.000-07:00

A blessed Sunday to you! 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 welcome a new sponsor, Paper Fashions, Etc. One of you lucky ladies will win a $15 gift voucher to the Paper Fashions, Etc. store by playing in this week's challenge!

Here’s a li’l bit about this new company:

Paper Fashions Etc. has a blog and online store that offers a growing array of digital images for paper craft enthusiasts. Owners Diane Noble, Gayla O'Dell and Melissa Rodgers—all veteran paper crafters—are excited about the variety of their images. They offer traditional hand-drawn images that are digitized, as well as images that are computer generated. All products provide endless possibilities for crafting projects whether creating cards, scrapbook pages or 3-D items. The creators of Paper Fashions Etc. have been crafting for years and were all Stampin' Up! demonstrators. None of them ever thought they would trade traditional paper crafting for digital crafts…until they started using them. Immediately they saw the clear advantages of digital images—re-sizing, recoloring, rotating, flipping, cropping—all fun ways to personalize images that cannot be done with rubber stamps. They were instantly hooked on digi images. They are launching new images every week and invite you to visit their store to see their newest additions.
You can visit Paper Fashions Etc. at www.paperfashionsetc.com - It will be well worth the visit!

Please be sure to stop by and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!

Marilynn DeGroot is our challenge hostess this week!!

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind..”

One of the songs that I have been listening to lately is by JJ Heller. There is a line in the song that says… “I’m tired of being afraid…” It made me think about the topic of fear. Last week my daughters and I experienced FEAR as we tried to get a possum out of our garage. I had just gone to bed when I heard a terrifying scream. . I jumped out of bed when I heard the scream and went to see what was wrong. My daughters had been going outside to my oldest daughter’s truck. They had opened the door between the garage and the house and turned on the light. There inches away from their feet was a possum that hissed at them. I armed myself with a broom, while my daughters grabbed a stick and a golf club and we went into the garage to make sure our unwanted guest left. When that was done, the adrenaline was rushing through my body and it was hard to fall back to sleep.
What are you afraid of?
Some fears come from our past experiences. When I was little we lived in an apartment that had tarantula spiders that climbed over the doorways and they would drop on you when you opened the door. When I was in high school I had a black widow spider in my hair. I was also bit by a brown recluse spider. When I see spiders, I know in my mind that I am bigger than they are, I am stronger than they are and I can kill them, but I am still afraid of them. Note to self don’t watch the old movie Arachnaphobia.
What happens when little ordinary fears become so big that they become the focus of our lives? Fear in the extreme we call phobias. I looked on the internet at a list of phobias. The list was too long to even count. Some of them sounded kind of funny to me. Neophobia – fear of something new. Koniophobia – fear of dust (if any of you have this fear don’t visit my house) and the one I thought I might try with my family is Mageirocophobia – the fear of cooking. (I can just see it now… I think we will have to go out to eat I have Mageirocophobia!) I am sure to those who suffer from these phobias it is not a laughing matter.
I did a computer search (King James Version) and the phrase “FEAR NOT” was used 68 times.
This is the verse that I picked to share with you today:
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind
I can’t even find the words to describe what an awesome gift this is. I often say this verse at night when I am struggling with my fears. It seems like the middle of the night is when Satan like to wage battle, using my fears against me.
There are a few more verses that go along with the one I picked.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends, all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Challenge:
My challenge for you is to try something that you might have been AFRAID to try before now, examples... a new technique, a new color combo, a new style (CAS if you are a Layered stamper, or reversed)Take a look at what the Design Sisters created to inspire you this week!

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

Rebekka Reed: Diamond in the Rough

Teresa Kline - Paperie Blooms

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 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, August 27th. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, August 30th. 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*

Prize Winner and Shining Stars: Challenge #101

2011-08-16T03:00:00.000-07:00

I see there are quite a few of us who have "must have" crafting tools but do not use them as much as we thought we would. Well, I can certainly see and say that they were put to good use last week. Some amazing cards were made. Thanks for participating. Here are our winners for the 101st challenge of Stampin Sisters in Christ.

Julia

Marsha

Jill G

Congratulations! You can pick up the HTML for the Shining Star blinkie by clicking HERE.

Now, for the winner of the $15 gift certificate from Clear Dollar Stamps... chosen randomly from all entries:

#12 - Pat Sgt

Congratulations Pat Sgt.! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist@hotmail.com with your mailing address and we'll arrange for delivery of your prize!

There is still time to play along in the challenge for this week is to incorporate music in some form into your project (ie. Sheet music, music notes, instruments, or singing).

Have a blessed day!

Challenge #102 - Col. 3:16

2011-08-14T03:00:00.000-07:00

A blessed Sunday to you! 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 gratefully welcome back our monthly sponsor, Simon Says Stamp! One of you lucky ladies will win this cute Simon Says Stamp Exlusive set by playing in this week's challenge!

Please be sure to stop by Simon Says Stamp and show them some Stampin' Sisters in Christ love!

Our Guest Designer for this month, Teresa Kline is our challenge hostess this week!!

Scripture: Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

When I read this scripture I think of how we can help each other and giving God the glory through it all. We are not meant to go through life on our own, the Lord has given us brother and sisters to support us on our journey. God's word can give us peace, power, joy, and happiness. If we have God's word in our hearts, it will radiate out of us unto others. We can speak encouragement into the lives of others and lift one another up. We need to be reminded that God will not give us more than we can handle and the people God has put into our life will be there to pray on our behalf when we can't. The Lord knows our every need and sometimes that means a trial or testing. It may not be comfortable but it may surly be "a need" to make us more like Christ. He has placed everything and every person in our path to be there for us. This is why we need to have the Word in our hearts so that God can use us in a time of need to help someone else.

And then we are to give thanks, through psalms, prayers, and singing to our Lord with all the thanksgiving we can show. I am moved through music for many different reasons; when I am hurt, when I hurt for others, and even in my thanksgiving I am moved through music.

So today sing a song to the Lord, maybe you are hurting and need to express that pain with a song. Don't forget there are others that will come along side of you and sing your song! Be encouraged and know God knows our every need and will meet us at any place and time!

Challenge:
My challenge is for you to incorporate music in some form into your project (ie. Sheet music, music notes, instruments, or singing).

Take a look at what the Design Sisters created to inspire you this week!

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

Rebekka Reed: Diamond in the Rough

Teresa Kline - Paperie Blooms

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 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, August 20th. The prize winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Tuesday, August 23rd. 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*

Prize Winner and Shining Stars: Challenge #100

2011-08-09T03:00:00.000-07:00

Oh you all love your critters! There was quite a variety of delightful creatures displayed for us to look at. It was really fun to see them all. Here are our winners for the 100th challenge of Stampin Sisters in Christ.

Mary D

Linda Carson

Hazel

Congratulations! You can pick up the HTML for the Shining Star blinkie by clicking HERE.

Now, for the winner of the $10 gift certificate from Doodle Pantry... chosen randomly from all entries:

#5 - Sande

Congratulations Sande! Please email us at stampinsistersinchrist@hotmail.com with your mailing address and we'll arrange for delivery of your prize!

There is still time to play along in the challenge for this week is to Dig deep into your craft cupboard and use something from your stash that you 'just had to have' cause you would use it everyday....but have forgotten about... Have fun with this - we certainly did!

Have a blessed day!