Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Challenge #118 - Anything Goes

Welcome!  For those of you returning, THANK YOU for your support and participation in our challenges.  For those just finding us, WELCOME.  We are SO grateful for each of you, and we praise God for you and the art you share with us.  We have another great challenge for you this week, and we're always delighted to see our Word Art Wednesday family growing.   We really hope our challenges/posts will be a blessing to you all.

This week's word art is a beautiful scripture from Galatians 5:22-23, and is fairly familiar to most of us.  You will notice that the word "fruit" is singular.  All nine of the attributes named in this passage are produced by the Holy Spirit and His presence in our lives, but they are all in one like a bundle.  They are also qualities that depict Jesus Christ, so when we have these qualities in our lives, people should be able to see Christ in and through us.  Let's look at these nine qualities one by one.  Love - this is an unconditional love, and the kind of love that Christ has for us, which we should have for one another.  Joy - we all want joy in our lives, and this means having a happiness that the world cannot comprehend - even in times of trouble.  Peace - in Philippians 4:7, the Bible tells us that God will give us a "peace that passes understanding".  The world simply won't comprehend how we can have true peace in times of trouble, but this attribute is such a tremendous blessing in our lives.  Longsuffering - this means patience.  We each know someone who could use an extra dose of patience, right?  God is patient with us, so shouldn't we be patient with one another?  Gentleness - we all need to remember that we should "soften our edges" a bit.  Even in men, gentleness is an attribute that God has given us for a reason.  We want to be like Him after all.  Goodness - this is simply choosing to do what is right, and presenting ourselves in a right manner before others so that they see Jesus in us.  Faith - faith is believing in things we cannot see.  The world tells us to do quite the opposite, but we know our faith is the foundation of our beliefs.  We must have faith in order to maintain our relationship with Christ.  Meakness - this is having a calm and submissive spirit; not just in our marriage, but also in other relationships.  We don't want to be argumentative or abrasive in our relationships.  Temperance - this means self-control, and it pertains to every aspect of our lives - spiritual and physical.  If we don't have self-control, we aren't letting God control us, we're allowing the world to persuade us.  We've just BARELY touched on each of these attributes, but you get the general idea of what each one means.  But here's the interesting part....we each realize where we struggle (which attribute we're lacking in a bit), but when we've accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and He dwells within us, we already possess ALL these attributes.  They are already there, but we don't always tap into them or utilize them to their fullest.  We sometimes allow Satan to deceive us into thinking that we can't achieve one (or more) of these attributes, and we sell ourselves short of the joy God wants for us.  We already have the potential inside us to live perfectly through each of these qualities because we possess them because Christ lives in us.  If there is one (or more) of these qualities that you feel you're lacking, ask God to help you tap into what is already there and let God pour it out on you and cause you to live in true happiness.

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 art (not just limited to cards).  You may link up to 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.  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:
Heart & Soul Rubber Stamps is offering
one lucky winner either 2 mounted or
4 un-mounted stamp sets of their choice!
AND
The adorable Robyn's Fetish is offering
a second lucky winner three (3) of their
sweet images of winner's choice.
Some of our Design Team Members created
today's cards with Robyn's Fetish images.

AND NOW.......Our big winner!
Drumroll please............
The VERY lucky winner of a
$50 Gift Certificate to the
Scrappy Gourmet scrapbook store
is Entry #47 - Rebekka Reed
Congratulations, Rebekka!
Email me within one week to claim this.

May God bless all our amazing sponsors.
We appreciate them all SO very much!
Here's some inspiration from our Design Team
 Our February Guest Designer, Gail Scott
Stephanie Wright
Using Sponsor Image, I Heart You
from Robyn's Fetish Which She Hand-Cut
Lori Ulrich
Using Sponsor, Robyn's Fetish
Darling Image, Crock Pot 'N Flowers
Outside/Front of Card
Inside of Card With Scripture/Word Art
 Carole Robb Bisson
Isn't This Just GORGEOUS?
Laura Lunsford
You'll Notice Laura's "Grass Stained" Inking
 
and....Laura Lunsford Created a
Second Card Using Our Sponsor,
Robyn's Fetish Sweet Image, My Little Cook
JoAnn Atturbury
Using Sponsor Image by Robyn's Fetish
Crock Pot 'n Flowers Image
Karen Letchworth
Outside/Front of Card
Inside of Card With Word Art/Scripture

13 comments:

Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

I love all of the DT members cards/tags this week. I've done a collage and an art journal entry inspired by the Fruits of the Spirit. It's one of my favorites.

Becky said...

OH my goodness, I won :). I am so blessed today. Thanks you.

D- said...

Congrats Rebekka!
DT your cards are an inspiration.
Thank you for blessing us with your talents.
AND thank you all for the sweet comments the really lift my spirits.
Crafty hugs,
D~
DesignsByDragonfly.blogspot

CherylQuilts said...

Oh, what a beautiful Scripture passage this week, and Karen, thank you for this devotional! It truly touched me deeply today! And I LOVE all the beautiful creations that the DT has made to inspire us! May God be praised and may He encourage each of us to grow to be more like Him! Warm hugs!!

Ann said...

Lovely creations by the DT.

Granmargaret said...

Congratulations to the winner of last week. Lovely cards by the design team.
Have added my first card for this week.

kbrandy4 said...

Beautiful DT creations and thank you for bringing us another fabulous challenge!
Hugs, Hazel xx

Carmen S. said...

Wunderbare Kreationen von den Damen.

Liebe Grüße, Carmen

Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P. said...

Lovely projects from DT
blessings to all
and congrats to winners
Tamara

Beebeebabs said...

Beautiful work DT as always!!!

Karenladd said...

So many really lovely projects from the DT! Really love the cute kitchen themed cards!

Mynn xx said...

Thank you for the chance to link up! GORGEOUS DT work--absolutely fabulous! HUGS and Happy Monday! :) Mynn xx

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Wonderful work by the DT really clever ideas.. and what great verse .. have it on the wall on poster large size in this room.. and pray indeed my heart might manifest the fruit of the Spirit - that all may see it!
Let my light so shine before men that they may see my good works and glorify our Father Who is in heaven". love Shaz in Oz.x