I threw this together this afternoon for the H2H Challenge at www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com. The challenge was to use the colors cocoa, pear and smoothie. I have most of my supplies packed away for a retreat I'm heading to in a couple of days so this is definitely a minimalist approach for me!
The candy box was cut with the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge from Close To My Heart. I used pear, colonial white and cocoa cardstock-the cocoa is on the sides. I used the fun Remarkable Wreath stamp set which offers several options of wreath decorations. I used the flowers and berries options on the straw wreath base. The sparkly dots in the corners are made with our new Bronze Glitz. I finished it off with faux stitching with a white gel pen-I would have preferred brown but couldn't find my packed markers!
Even though it is very simple and understated, it is growing on me and now I need to fill it with a treat and pass it on:) You can order any of these products from me at https://belindak.myctmh.com.
I probably will not have another post until Monday because of the awesome scrapbook retreat I will be leading this weekend. Until then I hope you will all have a fabulous week and Labor Day! Blessings!
This post is a departure from my normal Monday Musing Devotional. My parents' will be celebrating a major milestone in their marriage on Wednesday and I wanted to honor them.
Frank and Monnie met in a dusty little town in West Texas when Monnie was 13 and Frank was 15. She was the 4th child of 5 and her daddy was the new preacher at the local Assembly of God. Frank was the youngest of a family of 5 kids. Like most families of the time, they were both from poor families who lived "hand to mouth". Both of them had parents who believed in the power of prayer and they never went hungry. This heritage of prayer has sustained them both throughout their lives. I remember stories of them gathering around a supper table as kids and praying for their need for some groceries only to hear a knock at the door and finding a box of food on their porch and the one who had left it had vanished.
Frank has repeated over the years that he was in love with her before she was with him. She was a shy, skittish, skinny little thing and he was red-headed, brash and self-assured, traits instilled in him by virtue of being the pampered baby of the bunch. Apparently she spurned his marriage proposals more than once! But following the War to End All Wars she finally gave into his declarations of love and they married on August 31, 1946. Yes, my dear parents have been married for a total of 65 years!!
Monnie was 19 and Frank was 21 when they set on their life's journey together. Today, they are 84 and 87 years young. Mom and Dad still live in their own home and "take care of themselves". My 4 siblings and I are so blessed to have them still here with us and in relatively good health.
Their 65 years have been filled with every imaginable sorrow and struggle-they lost their 2nd child/1st daughter to pneumonia before her 1st birthday. They lost a business in the oil bust in the early 1960's. Mom fought breast cancer over 30 years ago. But, their life together has been filled with great joy and victory. They raised 5 distinctly individual, healthy, productive children. They have 16 grandchildren, 12 great-grand children and 1 great-great-grandson.
Mom and Dad's legacy of faithfulness to each other and to their Lord and Savior has been manifested in all their children serving the Lord, a son who is a pastor, 2 grandchildren in ministry and more to come. The marriages of their children are strong and range in longevity from 6 years to 39 years. Their grandchildren are following in the path of faithfulness to marriage as well. Have there been struggles? Of course-but we try our best to remember our heritage and work through those struggles with the help of our faith.
This is the last week of tenure for the first ever Inspired Stamps Design Team. It has been a pleasure and a joy to serve on this Design Team for such a wonderful company! Check back Sept. 8th to see who the new team is!
This week we were asked to create art with our favorite set of Inspired Stamps. Well, that's very difficult because my favorite set is the any one that I am currently using! AND any of the His Little Ones because they just make me smile and add so much to my projects. They really are easy to color using Copics or other medium and can be personalized in so many ways. I chose the newest set I have: Blessed Little Christmas plus a His Little Ones-Patriotic Girlwith Heart.
Since I was making a Christmas card, I didn't want Patriotic Girl to look patriotic, so I colored in the heart with a very dark blue Copic and then topped that with silver Stickles. I wanted her to look like a tot in a Christmas play so I added butterfly wings to give her an angelic look. The star on her headband is from the Blessed Little Christmas stamp set as well as the sentiment on the gift and the scripture inside. There are fabulous sentiments, scriptures and art in this set. You've got to take a look:
Isn't this a fabulous Christmas collection?
Additional supplies:CTMH card stock, CTMH Believe paper, Stickles, rhinestones, Sizzix snowflake embossing folder, Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, white gel pen, ribbon
It's our 2nd son's Senior year! Our 1st son graduated from HS in 2005 and college last year! Because we are "old hats" at this, we decided we would NOT use a studio for his Senior pics but we requested the services of my brother to take his pictures. We saved tons of money AND I think got superior photos.
I am entering these pages to the back to school challenge at www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com. Go check out the great projects featured there!
All papers are from Close to My Heart's new Typeset collection and Kraft paper. The above layout is a variation on the one in the new Idea Book and the Senior one below is from the cover of the Idea Book. I was amused when I saw his shirt is even very similar to the young man's on the cover! If you want to see the details just click on a photo and it will become larger.
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On the Senior page, I used the Pair-a-Phrase stamp set that you can earn for FREE during August. The pages below are my design and I utilized a Close to My Heart Flip-Flap to extend the page. Love these! I also used several cuts from the Art Philosophy Cricut Collection.
This is the last project I made from one pack of Sonoma paper. As you can see it is a mix of several of the patterned papers. This was created from all those little bits and pieces that were leftover. Never throw away a piece of paper you can put to use! I think even though this is a purple card, that the patterns make it suitable for a man. That's why I chose the scripture that I did. The stamp is from Inspired Stamps and the paper is, of course, from Close To My Heart. The mat for the scripture was cut from the...CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cart-DUH :)
Now, on to the next paper pack...Typeset, just in time for back to school.
God’s Word Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go”
The Song Bring the Rain by MercyMe
My Thoughts When you have a chronic illness or other difficulty that drastically alters your life, you will get questions from others. Especially if you are a Christian who remains firm in their faith. “I can count a million times people asking me how I can praise You with all that I've gone through. The question just amazes me, can circumstances possibly change who I forever am in You?” Those words from the song could have been written straight from my journey over the last decade. God allowed me to be taken from my healthy, normal and safe life into one of great uncertainty and difficulty.
Let me tell you a little story though that illustrates how I feel about that transplanting of my life. Our neighbors decided to put in a new pool and since we share a fence, they let us know that their contractor needed a wider opening in the fence than what their side allowed. We agreed to let them take down our side as long as they a) did the work b) paid for the new one c) let the boys have free swim passes!
What I forgot about was that we had 2 very old growth antique climbing roses at the fence. I forgot because they are in a part of the yard that is no longer accessible to me. I figured since I never get to enjoy them then it wasn't a big deal to dig them up. However, when they took down the fence, I got to see the myriad pale red blooms growing wild. They were enjoying their comfortable home so much that they had spread out all over their little corner of the yard. One bush was making friends with the golden plum tree and wrapping its abundant flowers around the tree’s branches. The other was taking a peek into the neighbor's backyard over, under and through the fence.
Now that I could see their beauty, I hated to have them dug up and tossed aside. Our neighbor told me that he would dig them up for me and plant them anywhere else I would like. Well, this was just before Mother's Day and I got the wonderful idea to let this opportunity serve a dual purpose. I had been eyeing an arbor for some time that would look great over our sidewalk. Jeff and the boys "reluctantly" agreed that I could take care of my own gift!
Mark and Jeff transplanted the bushes and Jeff twined the branches over, under and through each side of the arbor. It looked so lovely...for about an hour! Soon, the flowers began to droop, the leaves began to turn brown and those formerly beautiful rose bushes began to really show their age. We decided to be optimistic and give them a little more water and time. After several more days of watering, pruning and praying over those bushes, it appeared all hope was lost. I did cut off a few branches to try to salvage them as "cuttings". Mom told me what to do with them to try to get them to take root as new bushes. Life became hectic and we left the bushes alone for awhile.
Imagine my surprise weeks later as I was inspecting my plants after many, many days of rain and saw beautiful, shiny burgundy and dark green leaves pushing out of those seemingly dead branches! Even the little twigs I had cut off to salvage were sprouting new growth right next to the parent plants just as mom said they would do.
Friend, life may have reached into your cool, comfy little garden and yanked you out of your surroundings. God may have allowed you to be planted in a spot that you didn't ask for or look for and you sure don't like. Your soul and flesh may be withering and fading away. You may have decided there's just no point in being where you are.
Hold on now, you haven't been uprooted and left to rot, you've just been transplanted. Ask for God to bring the rain, to “Bring me joy, bring me peace Bring the chance to be free Bring me anything that brings You glory”. Check to see where your SON is and turn your face towards His light. Transplanting can be painful but if you continue to turn to your Lord and Savior you'll find you CAN "bloom where you're planted". I know it's hard to change direction, learn a new way to live or leave your comfort zone but God may be taking this time to prune away what is no longer living. He may be using this time to show an area where you can really grow. “I know there'll be days When this life brings me pain But if that's what it takes to praise You Jesus, bring the rain”. Give your flowers some time...they're going to be gorgeous!
Your Response
Tell your Father that you know He has brought you to this new place in your life for a purpose. Ask Him to show you how to grow and thrive in this season of your life.
I'm sorry this photo isn't better but this is such a small project I had some major problems trying to get a good one! Are you tired of Sonoma papers yet? I hope not! They are so gorgeous and versatile.
I had a bunch of wooden spools from my mom and wanted to use them in my crafting. This is a large thread spool. It's about 2 1/2" high. I was able to use small scraps from my Sonoma paper from Close To My Heart. The sentiment is from the cut off border of one of the sheets of paper. The butterfly is CTMH as well. The "picture holder" on top is one of the new Foundry Pins from CTMH. After punching a circle of paper to cover the top of the spool, I stacked 2 clear buttons in the center and then stuck a Foundry Pin through the holes and into the paper covering the spool hole. I used Liquid Glass to adhere the buttons and a drop to secure the pin.
Throughout the month of August, Close to My Heart is offering a fabulous deal to our customers!
The offer begins with the following:
2 stamps for $5
When you spend $50 on my website, you’ll qualify to purchase the wickedly cute Stamp of the Month for just $5.
With the purchase of Wicked, the stamp set A Typeface is FREE!(pictured above Wicked)
Add 2 more stamp sets and still just pay the original $5!!
This is the best part, just for the last few days of August, there's an additional offer. National Stamping Month is in September, but Close to My Heart is celebrating early! In August,you can purchase the above special AND the one shown below:
The Pair-a-Phrase stamp set above is available until September 30, but to get more for your money, you need to order in August to receive both specials.
$5 will get you all 4 stamp sets when you order a minimum of $70 and purchase Wicked for $5. Then you’ll receive A Typeface AND the double D-sized stamp sets Pair-a-Phrase for FREE! A savings of $60.80! (Shipping and tax charged on free/discounted items)
If you don’t want to purchase Wicked and get A Typeface for free, you can still earn the Pair-a-Phrase set for free with a minimum $75 order.
View the Close to My Heart catalog online here. To purchase your own catalog/idea book for $5, and receive a $5 rebate, see below.
If you are placing an order of $150 or more, you can receive $25 or more in free products with your order.Contact me before placing your order to find out how.
New Idea Book Cover:
Get your own copy of the new Idea Book!Order the Close to My Heart fall/winter Idea book below for just $5 and receive a $5 rebate on your order of $25 or more on my website.
Idea books sent anywhere in the continental USA by USPS Priority. $5 price does not apply to international customers.
A paypal account is not required to purchase: click the Buy Now button above, then select the “Don’t have a Paypal Account?” on the lower right side of your screen. You will then be prompted to pay with your credit or debit card.
Today is the day you can begin ordering the new Inspired Stamps at www.inspiredstamps.com! This scripture is not one of the new ones but it is definitely one of my favorites. I quoted it so much to my oldest son growing up that when he turned 18, he had it tattooed to his back! I don't like tattoos so much but how can I argue with that one? This is one of the single scripture stamps you can order for only 3.99 and it's available HERE.
I love how easy it is to emboss inspired stamps because of the crisp image you get with them. I also randomly embossed the edges of the card with the gold to give it a bit of shabby elegance.
The papers I used are CTMH Sonoma which I have been posting projects of all week. The entire card, and the flowers, shields, swirls, etc were all cut with the CTMH Cricut cart Art Philosophy.
Happy Thursday everyone! Another Sonoma paper project for you today. This may be my favorite project of all the ones I've made with Sonoma so far. This is my beautiful 84 year old mother. Her absolute favorite, #1 and only color is purple and she has closets full of every shade of purple clothing you can imagine. That's one reason I was so excited to see this new Close To My Heart paper.
I'm sure you've guessed by now that I used the Cricut-CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge to create this confection! The lower flower is an exception though. For it I layered punched round scallops from our Scallop Punch. The rolled flower was straight from the cartridge as were the scalloped mats. The word strips and the green diamond strips are from the strips on top of pages from the Sonoma pack.
Remember, you can order any of the Close To My Heart products from my website: www.belindak.myctmh.com.
The challenge at www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com this week was to CASE (Copy and Share Everything) one of the design team members examples. I chose Debi's because of the vintage style. While I didn't copy it exactly, my card used many of the same elements as Debi's. We both used a 6x6 Kraft Cardstock base. We both used wooden buttons, flowers, a vintage St. Nick, background lettering stamp. Our colors are also similar.
Debi used a CTMH stamp for her vintage Santa but I did not have one that would work. I substituted a vintage Santa journaling box from Crafty Secrets. The stamps I used are all from Close To My Heart. The sets are Lucky, Art Philosophy and Universal Backgrounds. Are you ready for Christmas? I know I'm ready for Christmas weather!
Every day this week, inspired stampsDesign Team is celebrating and highlighting the fabulous release of inspired stamps new stamp release. You will be able to begin purchasing these stamps on Friday. I was given the assignment of creating with the wonderful new Inspired Stampers Favorite Collection #2 Stamp Set. Antoinette, had a contest on her blog a few weeks ago that asked what your fave Bible verse was. She then chose 3 winners and created a stamp set of those scriptures. My good friend, Denise, happened to be one of the winners! So, my 1st card uses her scripture. We both sing in our church choir together and this scripture happens to be used for a song we love to sing. It is Psalm 121:1-2 and I really need to write a devotional using it. If you didn't know, I write and post a "Monday Musing Devotional" every Monday here on my blog. I hope you'll stop by this Monday and check it out.
This scripture is perfect for an encouragement card or a sympathy card. I embossed it to make it pop out a little. The inside sentiment is from the same set and is just wonderful to send to a friend.
I just love this next card for the soothing colors of the Close To My Heart paper and for the fabulous scripture-2 Thessalonians 3:16. I really like the way Antoinette designed it to highlight the middle words. Yes, this scripture and the inside sentiments are from the same Inspired Stampers Favorite Collection #2. I adore the inside sentiments that are part of this set!
Finally, we've arrived at my favorite card of the bunch. I just had to add one of our His Little Ones Girl Praying. She is just perfect for any card to send to a friend or family member in need of prayer and encouragement. You just have to smile when you see her. This is the last scripture (Romans 8:26) in the set and there's a great sentiment inside this card as well. What an amazing bargain the Inspired Stampers Favorite Collection #2 is with multiple ways to put these scriptures and sentiments together. Antoinette even designed 2 of the sentiments as 2 separate stamps each so you can combine them or use them alone. You'll definitely want to place your order on Friday at inspired stamps.
BTW, the paper I used for this last card is called "Queen Bee"! Must be why I like it so much :)
Alright, be sure you stop by the rest of the Design Team's blogs this week to catch all the new inspired stamps goodness!
"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." James 1:2-4 The Message
The Song
Blessings by Laura Story
My Thoughts
My dear friend, Maria, passed away at the end of this May. For several weeks she had been in the shadow land of life support and a medically induced coma. She had severe complications due to contracting pneumonia following surgery.
The surgery was meant to extend her life and take away some of the pain she had lived with for most of her life. You see, Maria had severe scoliosis and had agreed to have a new and extensive surgery to try to straighten her spine. She was told that she could “grow” as much as 4 inches. When she told me she was planning to be taller than me, I laughed and told her I was going to miss being able to look her in the eyes from my wheelchair.
Maria’s Mother was told that her daughter would not live past age 15. When I met her she was in her early 40’s! God had sustained her, strengthened her and given her a good life. She was married, worked and served her church with joy and with an amazing attitude.
When her friends and family found out she was in ICU, as the song says “we pray(ed) for her healing…We pray(ed) for (God’s) mighty hand to ease (her) suffering”. We believed she would come home to us. But we forgot God’s plans are not our plans. No matter what we think, God’s plans are perfect and He “loves us too much to give us lesser things”. God allowed her complete healing when she entered her heavenly home, not the incomplete and lesser healing the surgery offered.
I know her dear husband, family and friends prayed “for wisdom and (His) voice to hear”. And, I know God “heard each desperate plea and long(ed) that we'd have faith to believe”. Believe what? To believe that only He knew what was best and he loved Maria more than we could ever hope to.
When I first heard Maria was in a coma and near death, I was in anguish and disbelief. I just could not comprehend that God would not heal her. I knew she would be scrapbooking again with me and would have an amazing testimony of healing. However, as the days continued without her healing, God had to remind me through sleepless nights maybe “the aching of this life is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy.” He reminded me through this song the “ trials of this life, the rain, the storms, the hardest nights are (His) mercies in disguise”
Our pastor shared a story at Maria’s memorial service about a friend of his who had lost her husband and consequently her life’s work on the mission field. When asked how she could have peace and not question God’s wisdom, she shared that she had learned to have a space on her “life’s bookshelf” that was God’s shelf. When she was faced with circumstances she could not understand, she mentally placed those questions on God’s shelf to give to him when she entered heaven. Of course, she also believed that those questions would no longer matter when she faced her Savior.
I’ve had to place my disappointment and sadness over Maria’s death on my own shelf for my Father but, I do believe beyond any doubt my friend Maria had an idea she might go home to Glory and not to her earthly home. The Sunday before her surgery, we were scrapbooking with other friends at church. She told us she and her husband had discussed what he was to do in the event of her death. She even said she had already given away a few things she wanted specific friends to have. We looked at her in disbelief and assured her she would be just fine. I remember telling her that she wasn’t going through this surgery to leave us but to come back healthier and happier. She told me to not worry about her state of mind and that no matter what happened, God had already given her 30 more years of life than the doctors had given her and she was thankful for that mercy.
What a way to live-thankful for every day you had because you knew without a doubt they were not promised to you. I believe that’s exactly how God would have us live. I also believe Maria is dancing in heaven and loving her freedom. I imagine if she could, she would ask us all to consider “what if your blessings come through raindrops and what if Your healing comes through tears and what if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know (He) is near. What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise.”
Your Response
Thank God for your days, for your breath. Ask him to help you place your questions and doubts aside until the day you see Him face to face.
This is the final of the 4 Christmas cards I created with the Art Philosophy cartridge and stamps. Actually , on this one the stamp I used is from the CTMH Universal Backgrounds Stamp Set. Of course, the card shape, card base and the ornament layer was cut with the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge. The rhinestones and rhinestone button add the final touch of Christmas sparkle. Below is the box I cut with the cartridge hold the 4 assorted Christmas cards I showed you over the last few days. It was sooo easy to cut and fold.
How funny! I just saw there's a missing rhinestone in the corner! Silly me!
This is the 3rd Christmas card I made with the Sonoma paper pack and the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge and stamps. Betcha didn't know there were so many ways to use this cart and papers for Christmas! Again, EVERYTHING was cut with this one cartridge-even the card base and round layers. So easy! Dontcha love the sweet little stocking and gift package. Even the tiny tag was cut out with the Cricut cart. The stamped and embossed detail on the package was so easy to do with the Art Philosophy stamps. The stamped and embossed details on the stockings are from the "A Present" stamp set.
One more Christmas card and then I'll show you the box that holds them all.
This is one of my favorite cards of all the Sonoma paper ones I've created. Again, the entire card and snowflake was cut with the CTMH/Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge. So easy! I did use foam tape to lift the snowflake off the background. Please click on the photo so hopefully you can see the sparkle from the glitter I added to the openings in the snowflake-it really sparkles in person. The center rhinestone is actually a button from the new CTMH Rhinestone Button Pack.
The wonderful material that our Acrylix stamps are made from, allowed me to manipulate the border stamp into a curve to stamp all around the edge with Versamark ink and then emboss with gold embossing powder. The stamp is from the "A Timber" stamp set. Thanks for coming by, more Sonoma projects are on their way!
Remember, you can order Close To My Heart products from me at https://belindak.myctmh.com
I posted a photo last week of all the projects I was able to create with one paper pack of Sonoma from Close To My Heart. Over the next week, I am posting each of those projects so you can see them in more detail. Hope you like purple!
This was a super simple card to make since I used the new Cricut/CTMH Art Philosophy Bundle. I know you are sick of me saying it but this bundle is so full of goodness. The cart has literally not left my Cricut since I received it 2 weeks ago and the stamps are right there with it! ALL the cuts are from this cart including the card, card front, the trees and the shield shape. All the paper is Sonoma.
I did a couple different things with the trees-1 is simply cut with the patterned paper and adhered to the card front. One is stamped using the Art Philosophy stamps with Versamark ink and then heat embossed with gold embossing powder. The musical tree is stamped with Dusty Plum ink and the Universal Backgrounds stamp. The sentiment was stamped with the AP stamps and heat embossed. I also dragged the edges through the Versamark ink and sprinkled on the embossing powder to get a fun effect on the edges on the sentiment shield. A bit of ribbon and bling finishes off the card.
ALL products are Close To My Heart and can be purchased HERE.
I created this LO for the challenge at www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com. The challenge is to create a project that says "hot" to us. Well, it has been horribly hot and dry here in N. TX until today when we had about 30 minutes of a cool front blow through. It got down to the 80s with strong winds but NO RAIN! The weathermen are all disappointed that it broke our streak of 3 digit days and caused us to miss breaking the record of longest days in a row of 3 digits by TWO DAYS! I tell you though that was one record I don't mind not breaking-the few moments of Fall felt fabulous!
Any Hoo, back to the layout. This says hot to me because the colors are all we've been seeing during this hot summer-deep blue skies, hot orange sun and brown grass! This photo was taken in the "cool" of a 90 degree morning and I wrote about the summer heat in the journaling. It may not say "hot" when you look at it but it sure does to me!
I used all Close To My Heart products and all die cuts were cut out with the Cricut/CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge. Papers: CTMH Dreamin', CTMH Rhinestones, CTMH Smoothie card stock, CTMH Kraft paper, CTMH Brown waxy Flax, CTMH July Word Puzzle stamps, CTMH Corner Rounder and CTMH Chocolate Marker and Ink.
My sons probably think they are both "too old" to receive a back to school gift like this but if I put enough chocolate in it I bet they won't complain! I made this door hanger with the help of....you guessed it-my Close To My Heart Art Phiolosphy Cricut Cardtridge and Stamps! There are some great 3D projects on there and this is one of them. I cut it at the "Fit To Page" setting to get it as large as possible. The papers are from the new Typeset pack from Close To My Heart . The sentiment is stamped on a file tab that was also cut from the cart. I used CTMH Chocolate ink and asst. embellishments.
God’s Word
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. " saiah 53:5
The Song Healer by Michael Jon Guglielmucci
My Thoughts
It’s my prayer that the songs and the words I write and post each Monday allow you to find some comfort and peace . I don’t know what storm has entered your life or is on your horizon. I don’t know what pain you face each day. I don’t know what grief you suffer. I do know that the words I share with you through this blog are not mere words, they are truth and they are hope!
Words can be so empty in the face of any trial. How well I know that! But, as Hans Christian Anderson said “when words fail, music speaks”. Of course, I believe that only the most special music will speak the words our soul needs. Only music that is scripture based and anointed by God will truly soothe our hearts and calm our storms.
That is why King Saul called for David to play his harp when his demons were keeping him from rest. Even in Saul’s descent to madness, the Truth of God’s peace penetrated his troubled spirit through David’s song. This week, I want to leave you with the words from one of my favorite worship choruses. I believe even in its brevity that it sums up everything I have been saying through these posts.
“You hold my every moment. You calm my raging seas. You walk with me through fire and heal all my disease. I trust in You, I trust in You.” My friend. I hope the words I write and the scriptures and songs I share truly penetrate your heart and that you can say without a doubt that God holds every single second and all of the moments of your life. I pray that your stormy seas are beginning to calm. I ask the Father to let you feel His presence in the fires that surround you. It’s my fervent desire that God will heal every disease that assails you. But most of all I pray that you can trust God with your hurt and fear.
I know our precious Father is more than enough for anything that you face. I know that He prepares the portion of peace and comfort that you need to live every day. Even on the days that you have to get through by facing them a moment at a time, my Father is more than enough for you.
Jesus is all we need my dear one. Jesus is all you will ever need whether you are living in want or in plenty. Don’t let go of Him. Hold on for all you are worth and declare to Him “nothing is impossible for You, nothing is impossible, nothing is impossible for You. You hold my world in Your hands”.
Your Response
Say with me to the One who loves you most, “I believe You’re my Healer, I believe You are all I need. I believe You’re my Portion. I believe You’re more than enough for me. Jesus You’re all I need”.
I have been a busy Queen Bee this past week! I wanted to show you ALL of the projects I made from one Close To My Heart paper packet! And, this is not all, I have at least 10 card fronts I am making from the scraps! Not bad for 9.95. This pack is definitely my favorite of all the new ones and can be purchased here: Sonoma.
I used the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge and stamp bundle for every item as well. It can be purchased here: Art Philosophy. You get a cartridge with 700 images, 3 full stamp sets and 3 full sheets of dimensional chipboard shapes for $99. I can tell you it is worth every cent. I will be using it extensively for gift giving, layout and card projects.
I will be back over the next several days with pictures and details of the individual projects that I haven't shown you yet.
If you love creating with your inspired stamps, Antoinette has a great opportunity for you! You can submit one of your favorite inspired stamps projects HERE and may be chosen to be a guest designer for inspired stamps! Take a chance and enter- if I hadn't done the same a few weeks ago I wouldn't be showing you this card today. You have till mid-August. She is also looking for NEW Design Team Members to serve from Sept-Nov.
My 8th great-niece was born in June and this is the card I made for her shower. I had to use this perfect inspired stamps scripture stamp from the Birthdayset and precious His Little Ones Praying Girl stamp.
I used Copics to color her of course.
inspired stamps used
Birthday Praying Girl stamp
other supplies: CTMH paper, ink, buttons, pearls and waxy flax. My Craft Spot crinkle ribbon, Copics
This video shows adorable flowers you can quickly cut with the new Art Philosophy cartridge and then stamp with coordinating stamps from Close To My Heart. You can order both the Bundle and the floral stamp sets from me HERE
I am submitting this layout to the challenge at www.hearttoheartchallenges.blogspot.com for the birthday challenge. I started to add lots more to it but let it sit overnight before I did. When I came back to it, I decided I liked it just like it was. There's so much pattern going on and by the time I add my photos, I think it would be too much to have lots of bling.
I used the new Close To My Heart Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge and stamps to create this beauty; EVERY SHAPE was cut with the cartridge. All the stamping on the embellishments was done with the coordinating stamps and embossed in gold embossing powder.The squares were stamped using Dusty Plum ink and the Happy Journey stamp set.The papers are the gorgeous new Sonoma papers from CTMH. I've been using these papers to make so many lovely projects and I plan to order more soon.
It's official-you can now view and shop from Close To My Heart's newest Idea Book. You can find it here: IDEA BOOK
There is so much scrappy goodness in this book, including the brand new Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge and Stamp Bundle. There are also some fabulous free and special offers this month when you purchase $50 or more.
Isaiah 53:5 “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
The Song
Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns
My Thoughts
The neurologist said with genuine sympathy, “I’m sorry, I really wanted to find a fixable reason that’s keeping you from walking.” He went on to say that in my situation “lightening struck twice”. He had reaffirmed through a recent spinal tap that I have multiple sclerosis and had reviewed my MRIs taken prior to and following the repair of my cervical spine that showed clear damage to my spinal cord.
In other words, the multiple sclerosis was the lightening strike that knocked me down and made me weak and the cervical stenosis was the definitive strike that assured I would not walk again. The two places that nerves do not regenerate are the brain and neck and the enemy, in his attack, made sure he struck both.
What the enemy did not take into account was even if he was allowed to take my ability to walk, he would never be able to take my ability to praise and serve the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth and Author of my life! What the doctor did not take into account when he told me I would not walk again, was that my God has the final say and that same God has the power to raise me up from this chair at the very second He chooses.
Despite man’s pronouncements, I choose to listen to “the voice of truth” that says “do not be afraid”. I have “the kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in” because I know my Savior is standing on the water waiting to hold my hands. The Lord gives me “the kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant with just a sling and a stone” and someday, when my Lord says the word, “I will soar with the wings of eagles”. Because God’s word says we “wrestle not against flesh and blood”, I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth!
I choose to believe God when He says “this is for my glory”. The only way the unbeliever will give Him glory is when there is definitive proof of a miraculous healing. I now have medically-documented, definitive proof that says I have an incurable disease and irreversible nerve damage. I could give in and focus on that knowledge but I know God has promised that “all things work together to the good for those who are the called according to His purposes.” When God does His miraculous work in my body all glory, honor and power will belong to the Great Physician! And as long as I face my present circumstance, I will still give all glory to Him for my life.
Your Prayer
What has a doctor or other person pronounced over you? Take some time to talk to God about it. Ask for His will to be done. Ask for Him to increase your faith in His power and to reveal to you His truth. Determine in your heart and mind that you will not focus on the negative but you will focus on God’s word and His power.
