Challenge #207 - Anything Goes

Welcome, everyone!  We hope you're having a wonderful week, and we're SO glad you've stopped by to play along in our challenge.  We always look forward to seeing the art you will share, and we're SO grateful that you share it with us.  We hope you enjoy this week's post.  We wish you all the best of luck in the random draw for our AWESOME prizes at the end of the week.  Check out the give-away this week on Design Team Member, Charity Chamberlain's Blog.  Also, we need a Guest Designer for November (VERY soon).  If you're interested in being our November Guest Designer, please leave the letters GDT after your name on your entry (or you're welcome to leave a message).

Our word art/scripture for this week is John 15:5, and it's a well-known and loved verse.  Jesus spoke these precious words to His disciples; telling them several times to "remain in Him" or to "abide in Him".  But what does it mean to "abide in Him"?  It's more than simply saying you're a Christian.  When we are truly abiding in Christ, and we embrace Him and accept Him as our Lord and Savior; we prove to Him that we truly love Him, trust Him, and that we are willing to remain in Him faithfully during this life so that we can spend the rest of eternity with Him in Heaven.  When we do abide in Him, we will "bring forth much fruit", and it will be good fruit.  This is how we know for certain that someone is truly living the Christian life and not just saying they're a Christian.  The Bible says that we will know them by their fruit.  When we have obedient children, a happy marriage, a part in ministry, etc. (we bear good fruit), then people know that we are truly abiding in Christ.  Now, we're not saying that Christians won't have troubles in their lives.  We all have struggles.  But if there is absolutely no good fruit coming forth from your life, you need to re-examine your relationship with Christ and make some adjustments.  The verse tells us that apart from Him, we can do nothing.  This is when our branches dry up, and are unable to bear good fruit.  When you are truly abiding in Him, people should be able to "enjoy your fruit".  Meaning that you should be a blessing to others, having much to offer them; and your life should be in order and bearing obvious and evident good fruit, even if those around you aren't bringing forth good fruit.  Does that make sense?  Just think of it like this....fruit bearing involved becoming like Christ as the Spirit conforms us more to the image of Christ.  Fruit involved an internal heart transformation to be loving, joyful, at peace, self-controlled, and other manifestations of Christ.  Good fruit also involves external behavior and obedience, such as good works, service, or ministry in the name of Christ and accompanied by His grace and power.  It's important to give our lives a check now and then to really ask ourselves if we are bringing forth good fruit.  One thing is for certain.......we can't do it without Jesus Christ in our lives.

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 our guidelines.  Let us know if you have any questions, and thanks for your understanding and participation!

Here is this week's word art.  We hope
that it will be a blessing to you.

Here are this week's AMAZING sponsors:

One lucky person will win a brand new die-cut

from Top Dog Dies called Dog Days #2

which is a $16 Value.  It's adorable!

AND

Sweet-n-Sassy Stamps is our digital sponsor

this week, and one person will win a

$10 Gift Certificate for some sweet new

digital images from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.

AND NOW.......Our VERY LUCKY winners:

The Flying Unicorn is such a WONDERFUL shop

and they carry all the big names in crafting.  You

are sure to find something WONDERFUL at the

Flying Unicorn.  Guess who has won a

$25 Gift Certificate to their awesome shop...

It's Lucky Entry #7 - Beth Fiscus

AND

Fred-She-Said was our SUPER FUN

digital sponsor last week.  The lucky person

who has won some sweet new images from

Fred-She-Said is

Entry #107 - Leslie Turner

May God bless all our amazing sponsors.

We appreciate them all SO very much!

Here's Some Inspiration to Get You Started

Our October Guest Designer, Tamara Dixon

Using a Sponsor Image from Sweet-N-Sassy

Called Feeling Fruity Set

Carole Robb Bisson

JoAnn Atterbury

Charity Chamberlain

Stop by Charity's Blog for her FUN

Blog-a-Versary Give-Away

Natalie Houston

Using a Sweet-N-Sassy Stamps Image

Called Sunshine and Flowers

Karen Letchworth

An InLinkz Link-up