SSIC Something New

I am honoured to be hosting the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge this week - this is the most wonderful group of ladies and each one of them is a blessing to me and every other member of the Team.  We love it when you are able to join us and share your inspiring works of art and of the heart - thank you for you support - it means so much!

 

The scripture I have chosen is:

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:34-35

and the challenge I have set is to use something NEW on your project

I have used one of the new Spellbinders Dies - Majestic Squares Nestabilities, definitely a favourite with me!  It has been cut with the Spellbinders Grand Calibur and the Crafty Secrets image has been layered onto it.  The sweet tag is from the Spellbinders Home Sweet Home Licensed Dies by NinaB Designs.

The divine bling is from Want2Scrap, also designed by NinaB Designs.

I have also used Seam Binding and a Mulberry Rose - both favourites of  mine!

This card is for the following challenges:

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Anything Goes

Fun with Shapes & More - must include die cut/punch

Stamp Man - Bling it On

CCEE Stampers - Tag or tag on a card (on bow)

Sugar Creek Hollow - Vintage Children

Stampin' For The Weekend - Show us Your Style

Fab 'n' Funky - Cute & Girly

Craft Room Challenge - Friendship

Try It On Tuesday - Anything Goes

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Girls, Girls, Girls

Craft Your Passion - Things with Wings

Fashionista Challenge - Winged Things

Incy Wincy Designs - Anything Goes

Make it Monday - always Anything Goes

Stamp with Fun - Angel

Whoopsi Daisy - Things with Wings   

This has been a favourite scripture of mine for as long as I can remember, even before I was a Christian I have wonderful memories of my older brother singing it as a chorus and playing along on the guitar, I used to beg him to sing it over and over again, loving the words but not realising the full impact of them for a number of years.  It has always been a scripture that stayed with me, etched deeply into my heart.

Over the years I have come to understand how powerful this commandment is.  It is easy to love those who love us, but more of a challenge to love those who are not so loving, who don't understand us and can often be the ones who cause us so much heartache.  Those ones who cause us to feel anything but loving on the inside.  I have found that it is in those circumstances that God wants my response of be that of LOVE, not the gushy emotional based love that we all love to feel....but the powerful and life changing love of God.  It seems that this kind of love is not an option for the followers of Jesus, neither a recommendation, but is just as the scripture reads, a commandment!

Emotionally based love does not define who we are, or infact our relationship with God.  It is dependant on circumstances, but the unchanging and steadfast love of God is so powerful and changes both our lives and the lives of those who come into contact with it.   In the  Old Testament we see the command to "love your neighbor as yourself" - Lev 19:18, but Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another" - Jn 13:34.  This is more than a commendment to love one another, we are called to a new and higher standard of love!   The more that the love of Jesus fills our lives, the more we will be able to love other with the same kind of love that He shows toward us.

Jesus has shown us a powerful tool to show the world that we are
   His disciples...


Make sure you stop by the Designers Blogs are some amazing inspiration - these ladies are inspirational on so many levels!!

* Kristine * Linda (that's me) * MariLynn * Miejse * Peggysue * Traci M *

* Candice * Diane * Helen * Jerusha * Michelle * Sandie L *

Thank you for 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}}}