Challenge #157 - Anything Goes

Happy Wednesday, crafters!  We hope you're ready for another GREAT challenge this week, and we're incredibly grateful that you've stopped by to play along with us.  We have a beautiful piece of free digital word art for you all, two AWESOME sponsors, and a great devotional written by Design Team Member, Diane Noble.  We hope you will enjoy it.

We live in an entitlement culture. What were considered luxuries even 50 years ago are considered necessities today.  I remember the first television my parents purchased.  It was an 18-inch black and white TV proudly placed in a prominent location in the living room where all could gather to watch with wonder.  We thought we had a treasure.  Now, even young children feel deprived if they don’t have their own TV in their bedrooms.  I know of a relatively modest-income family who has four TVs in their home.  In fact, according to a recent survey, it is quite common to have more TVs in the home than residents! What was once a luxury is now a “necessity.”  Multiply that attitude to any number of provisions in our culture (i.e. social security, health care, welfare, unions, fast food, fast cash) and it’s no stretch to see that we live in a "want-it-now, want-it-all, I-deserve-it, I’m-entitled world.  Human nature often bears out the saying, “The more we have, the more we want.”  And the result?  Thanklessness.

 

One of the distinguishing marks of a genuine Christian is a spirit of thankfulness, regardless of circumstances.  Some of the most amazing testimonies of thanksgiving I know about have come from believers of very humble means.  The reason we take note of people overflowing with thanksgiving is that it is a rare demonstration even in the community of believers.  Thanklessness is a sin; and sadly, it has crept into the hearts of many believers.  We EXPECT God to provide comfort, even abundance.  We grow impatient waiting for God to provide answers, money, changes to uncomfortable situations and soon our impatience turns to faltering faith.  If our great adversary can woo us into believing God owes us health, wealth and ease, He knows we will soon be developing a spirit of ingratitude, and ultimately distrust of God.

 

Therefore, we must put a shield over our hearts and be mindful every day of this great temptation. Thankfulness is a spiritual discipline.  Gratitude is a practiced, developed habit of the heart.  God’s will for our lives is for us to be thankful.  Our thanksgiving should focus first on who God is, and what we have in Christ Jesus.  If we have other material blessings, then of course we are to be thankful.  But even if we don’t, we are already wealthy because of what Christ has done for us, in us, and through us.  In everything....every circumstance...let us practice thanksgiving and be obedient to the will of our Father.                                     - Diane Noble

As always, you are welcome to save this week's free scripture/word art file to your computer, but are not required to use it in order to play along in our challenges.   We welcome you share your art with us; remembering that Anything Goes as long as it's family-friendly, and uses an encouraging or uplifting sentiment. This includes any type of altered or digital art (not just limited to cards).  You may link up to five (5) projects each week. The more you enter, the more you increase your odds of winning.  It is our desire that God's Word will be a blessing and encouragement to you each week. If you have any questions about the rules, be sure to read the complete list of rules under our page tab for "Challenge Rules".  Because our ultimate goal is to honor God, we have no other choice but to delete any entries that do not adhere to these guidelines (dark images, etc.).  Let us know if you have any questions, and thanks for your understanding and participation!

Here's this week's beautiful scripture/word art file.

We hope that it will be a blessing to you!

Here are this week's AWESOME sponsors:

Daydream Designs is our digital sponsor
this week, and one VERY lucky person
will win a generous prize.
A $20 Gift Certificate to the
AMAZING Daydream Designs could be yours!
AND

Heart & Soul Rubber Stamp Co.
is offering another lucky winer
their choice of either 2 Mounted
or 4 Unmounted Rubber Stamps of choice!
Click here to shop Heart & Soul Rubber Stamps

AND NOW.....Our Lucky Winners:

 

The winner of our Top Dog Dies prize

which is this lovely die:

Top Dog Dies Baby on Board Die Set

Is Entry #20 - Creative Pursuits by Joanne

AND

The winner of the Flying Unicorn Store

$25 Gift Certificate is the VERY lucky

Entry #123 - E. Marie.  You'll surely

have fun shopping at The Flying Unicorn!

 

 WINNERS:  Please email Karen THIS WEEK

to claim your prize!  Thanks.

May God bless all our amazing sponsors.
We appreciate them all SO very much!

Here's Some Inspiration From Our Design Team

Helen Nile, Our November Guest Designer 

Heather Dennis

Lori Ulrich

 

Stephanie Wright 

 

Laura Lunsford

Jo Ann Atterbury 

Diane Noble

Using Just Being Grateful Images

from Daydream Designs

Carole Robb Bisson

Karen Letchworth

Using Just Being Grateful Images

from Daydream Designs

 

An InLinkz Link-up