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Friday, February 4, 2011

LOC Faith Art Friday - Only the Best

This is not your typical card for Faith Art Friday  at Layers of Color but as I was thinking about what to create I was drawn to the story of the Woman with the Alabaster Jar in Luke 7.

And, behold, a woman who was a sinner in the city, knowing that He reclined in the Pharisee's house, taking an alabaster vial of ointment,
and standing at His feet, weeping behind Him, she began to wash His feet with tears. And she was wiping with the hairs of her head. And she ardently kissed His feet and was anointing them with the ointment. (v37-38)


What a beautiful picture this paints for us - this woman who was extremely poor and had much in her life to be ashamed of, was not inhibited by her either her lack of wealth or her lifestyle.  She, knowing who Jesus was, immediately reached for her best - the Alabaster Jar and the precious oil that it held and took it to Jesus. 
It seems that at no time did she worry about the cost of the alabaster jar or the precious oil that it held, but was intent on bring her best before Jesus -  this response of hers, it challenges me and motivates me to being my very best, to reach for the alabaster jar that I have put away so it won't get broken,  to take it out of that secret place and bring it to Jesus - give Him my very best as a heart response


The reaction of those around was interesting and almost predictable - you can read the rest of the story here

But seeing, the Pharisee who invited Him spoke within himself, saying, This one, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what the woman who touches him is; for she is a sinner.
And answering, Jesus said to the man, Simon, I have a thing to say to you. And he said, Teacher, speak.
There were two debtors to a certain creditor: the one owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty.
But they not having a thing to pay, he freely forgave both. Then which of them do you say will love him most?
And answering, Simon said, I suppose the one to whom he freely forgave the most. And He said to him, You have judged rightly.
And turning to the woman, He said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give water for My feet, but she washed My feet with tears and wiped off with the hairs of her head.
 You gave Me no kiss, but she from when I entered did not stop fervently kissing My feet.
You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with ointment.
 For this reason I say to you, Her many sins are remitted, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, he loves little.
 And He said to her, Your sins are forgiven.
And those reclining with Him began to say within themselves, Who is this who even forgives sins?
But He said to the woman, Your faith has saved you. Go in peace. (v 39-50)

What a beautiful account of the Love of God and  forgiveness of sin - my prayer is that we too, will have the kind of heart that brings Him our very best, whatever the cost, we may not own anything of great worth in the eyes of the world, there maybe no literal Alabaster Jar in our lives, but we do have hearts that can be brought to Him and laid at His feet, 'washing His feet with our tears' and hear Him say those beautiful life changing words  'Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.'

I created the teacups using the Her Majesty's Urns art stamp set.  I stamped off the urn in the middle of the bottom row on some patterned DP and then cut each one out alternating what side I left the handle on, also removing the base stand.  How well does that work - perfect!


this card is for the following Challenges:
C.R.A.F.T. - On the Roll of a Die (use DieCut)
Paper Play - Stamp It Out (use a stamp)
Southern Girls - Dry Embossing
ABC Challenge - N is for Nesties
Sisterhood of Crafters - Anything Goes
House that Stamps Built - Inspiration Casing
PaperTake Weekly - Anythign Goes - Optonal Flowers
Tip Top Tuesday - Anything Girlie

You’re invited to a

Layers of Color – Join our Cake Decorating Party on February 23rd!

The excitement is building as MANY Designers are cooking up something DELICIOUS and inspiring - you are not going to want to miss this 'feat for the eyes' - keep your eyes peeled for some Sneak Peeks while you are waiting for the BIG EVENT

There will be YUMBLY stamped and stenciled cakes - no calorie counting here - they are SUGAR FREE and SWEET as SWEET can be!!  Lot’s of tasty ideas!
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.

Layers of Color is proud to be a Spellbinders Preferred Stamp Company and we all love and use the Grand Calibur!

You can now upload your LOC projects to our Flicker Group HERE, and find tons of inspiration.

And please join us on Facebook HERE.
Making your creative world more colorful with Layers of Color!

Thank you for visiting today your comments and all of the support you give me - you make blogging such an amazing place to be!!  Your encouragement is such a blessing for me  - it makes my day!  God bless you!

{{{hugs}}}

27 comments:

  1. Linda this is gorgeous - love the way you have stamped and paper pieced the cups - what a novel idea!!(I have already visited and commented on LOC)
    Blessings
    M

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  2. Linda, I LOVE what you did with this image. Thank you, also, for the wisdom.

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  3. Ohhh wow found you over a challenge! This is a soooo sweet card! Love the image!
    Janine

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  4. Beautiful biblical story with a beautiful card representing giving our best to Jesus. Very special, Linda! Thank you!

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  5. lovely card, thanks for playing along with our challenge at CRAFT this week, x carol

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  6. Great project , thank you for joining us at CRAFT Challenge this week and good luck! Don't forget to check back with us again on Thursday for our new challenge and to check if you have won or made our Top3.

    Jo and Tigerlover.

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  7. gorgeous card thanks for joining us at PTW hugs Jill xx

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  8. I dearly love this card! How creative to turn an urn onto a tea cup. The color palette is wonderful. Thanks so much for the inspiration and the Biblical story about giving our best. :-)

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  9. You are so clever! Love how you used part of the stamp to make the cups. Wonderful card Linda!
    Just wanted to pop in and tell you thank you for all the sweet comments you left on my blog. I'm so glad you found some things that you liked. That's quite a compliment coming from you. I've visited here often in my commenting duties and you have never disappointed me. YOU are the talented one. Not only that but you have a wonderful way of tying in scripture with your posts. What a blessing to those who read them. Thanks so much for your encouragement. It means the world! Hugs, Tracy

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  10. Hi Linda! I already commented on this "wonder" on LOC but had to come tell you just how clever and wonderful I think this is... both what you did with Her Majesty's Urns and the scripture you shared! These "tea cups" might be a bit large... hehe... but I sure do love them paper pieced and stacked up! You are so clever my friend! Thanks for all the inspiration!

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  11. wonderful card! Thanks for joining us at C.R.A.F.T. - good luck!

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  12. Always loved that story. Love the way you used that stamp. You have inspired me to look at my stamps with new eyes in the future.
    Blessings Bernie

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  13. I have to add here, (from my post on LOC), that you are so clever, always thinking about ways to put God's word into our practical lives. Your posts make me ponder on life.

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  14. LOve it Linda! You are Lovely Linda!!! Hugs Kristi

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  15. Linda, Love your thinking outside of the box! Your cups are wonderful and wonderfully made, you inspiration is the same. Thanks for sharing such beauty and work, you are a gift. Blessings

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  16. You are so sweet! But is is you my friend who thinks out of the square. When I seen this, it just blew me away. It is amazing what you do with these images!! I never would have seen a coffee cup out of that pot! I have wanted this set before, but now .... I REALLY want it!! You are teaching me to look deeper into the images! Fabulous LInda!

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  17. How marvelous! I love the story of the Woman with the Alabaster jar and your lovely thoughts to go along with it.

    I was going to be very excited that LOC had tea cups as a new stamp set, but now I'm even more delighted that it's a set I already have! You are so creative. Thank you for the inspiration!

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  18. Absolutely beautiful card! Love, love it!

    Hugs x
    Cecelia B

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  19. Wow Linda! How good was that idea!
    Super idea and even better card!
    Thank you so much for sharing with us at Top Tip Tuesday this week!
    Hugs
    Eiglas
    x

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  20. Great tea cups! Love how they are stacked. Thanks for playing along with us at Repeat Impressions - The House that Stamps Built.

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  21. Linda, I treasure you and your Faith Art Friday posts.

    When I saw this card on the LOC blog, I knew those teacups looked so familier! LOL I racked my brain truing to think of what set they could be from...thinking it must be a stamp set I don't have yet!

    So I came here to find out what set they were from and am delighted at you creativity in creating the teacups from the Her Madjesty's Urns set! I will be looking at my beautiful Layers of Color art stamps in a new light! Thanks for the creative ideas....gorgeous card!!!! ;D

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  22. Such a lovely card,,great embossing too,thanks for sharing this with the Southern Girls. Hope you've had a good weekend,Julie.x

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  23. What great use of these stamps for a non-typical use. Love those cups! Thanks for playing along with our Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge!

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  24. what a cute idea! love it! Thanks for joining us at Top Tip Tuesday Challenge, hope we see you at Top Tip Tuesday next challenge too! Hugs Samantha :0)

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  25. How delightful & creative! Love the combinaiton of dies & embossing - gorgeous!

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  26. Such a beautiful card.
    Thanks for joining us at C.R.A.F.T Challenge & good luck. (Guest Designer)
    Hugs Emma x

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