SSIC Iron Sharpens Iron

I am honoured to be hosting this weeks Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge. I have thought about what scripture to share today and decided on this one from the book of Proverbs...

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.. Proverbs 27:17

My challenge for you this week is very easy - to use some form of metal on your card

This scripture speaks to me so loudly and I can think of a number of times I have experienced this  - you know how it is when you first get to know people, it is all wonderful and as friendship grows and definitely has a warm glow about it, all snug and warm as the fire heats up and you are so cosy in its glow- you know the 'honeymoon stage'.  After a while, as you let walls down and you feel comfortable with that person, perhaps even bordering on a little bit of familiarity - then, a few sparks start to fly around and it can get a little bit uncomfortable....then the HEAT IS ON and sparks start really flying!!

Here is the thing - it is at this point we have a choice to make - we can either jump out of the fire and be all bent out of shape and totally nonfunctional and unusable OR we can stay in the fire, let the heat burn away the rubbish and come out as a refined and finely tuned instrument, shaped and formed into what we are meant to be!  The choice is ours....our friends are there to grow us too.  This day and age when things are so disposable, it can be easier to jump out of the fire than to persevere and grow, becoming more refined...in the Masters Hands. 

Interestingly enough,  Friday was International Day of Forgiveness and the focus a number of areas, one of them being friendship and how to heal rifts....personally, I think if we truly understood about friendship and the way it is a blessing in our lives, that friends are more than just people who love us on good days and are there to make us feel good.  Our friends become part of our family and enrich our lives, making us part of theirs as well - these are the people who are there to grow us in our lives - the ones we are 'in the fire' with and need to work things through with - not jump out of the relationship at the first opportunity - remembering that 'friend sharpens friend!'

This is for the following Chalenges:

Our Daily Bread Designs - Texture It - Distressed edges
Floursihes Timeless Tuesday Challenge - Lace
Alphabet Challenge Blog - Roses
Crafts and Me Challenges - Petals and Pearls
Kaboodle Doodles Challenges - Lovely Flowers and Lace

For more inspiration make sure you visit each of the Design Team:

*Lisa * Chris * Cindy * Grace * Peggysue * Randi * Miejse * Rebekkah *

You can see more of my projects in my Layers of Color Gallery, while you are there make sure you check out the other Design Team galleries there is so much inspiration waiting to be discovered.  You are invited to join us on our SNR Group where there is lots of fun and chatter (No surprises there I know! LOL)  There are also discounts and previews that are exclusive for the Group Members - come and join us!!

Thank you for your comments and all of the encouragement you leave me here!  I love seeing that you have visited - it makes my day!  God bless you!

{{{hugs}}}