Challenge #122 - Anything Goes

When It Rains, It Pours: You Need an Umbrella!

Devotional by Diane Noble

On any given day, we might long for a few peaceful moments as our lives seem to get increasingly hectic.  No doubt you've had times described by the "when it rains, it pours" cliche'.  Too many deadlines to keep, too many activities to juggle, too many people demanding more of you, and suddenly you feel like you're in a debilitating deluge getting drenched.

Peace - we grab it where and when we can, we hold it over our heads to deflect the downpour for just a few moments - a 15 minute soak in the tub is a luxury, a quiet evening out with your husband is delightful but rare, an evening when you find you are alone in the house and you just sit to soak up the quiet.  Peace - we long for it because we spend our days hurrying and worrying, don't we?  There are so many things in our world to worry about.  What are your umbrellas?  What helps you stay dry during the storms of life?

I have to confess, one of my umbrellas is Pinterest.  Pinterest?!?! I told you I was confessing!  I spend nearly an hour on most days leisurely browsing pins as though I were strolling through the cool and quiet marble halls of an art gallery.  I pin nearly everything I see.  Pinning makes me happy.  Pinning makes me momentarily believe that I could recreate what I see, makes me dream of having the time and talent to pull off those perfect projects.  Pinterest is my get-away.  The problem is, I rarely make what I pin.  Perhaps I create a CASED card now and then.  But mostly, I just pin and dream.  All too soon, I'm grabbed from my reverie as the rains of reality start soaking through my umbrella and I have to make a dash back into life dodging puddles as I go.  Life gets muddy; and the peace doesn't last.

Any peace, any quiet refuge we find in this world won't last.  We can't expect it to.  The world isn't capable of giving us lasting peace.  No spa days, no shopping-just-for-me days, no pills, no get-aways, no counselor - they are all umbrellas that will tear under the weight of pelting torrents of real-life drama. The rain always comes again.  We need a peaceful shelter that will last.

That's why Jesus offers the teaching in our challenge verse, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  (John 14:27)  What an amazing promise!  The peace that Jesus offers to us can eliminate our troubled hearts.  Notice, He doesn't imply that His peace removes troubles from our lives.  Troubles will still rain down, no doubt.  But His peace will heal a troubled and fearful heart.  That is a shelter worth seeking.  As we come into deep relationship with the Savior, surrendering self and sin, we come under His shelter.  More than an umbrella, His peace is water-proof armor.  We can move through the storms of life and not get wet.  "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." (Isaiah 43:2)  Peace.  Walking through floods and not getting wet, marching through rivers and crossing on dry land, standing in fiery furnaces and not getting singed - that is the power of the peace of Christ.  The floods are there, and rivers rush by us, fires sweep through our lives.  Still, the peace of Christ sweeps through our hearts, fuels our faith, strengthens our resolve, and moves us forward.  Peace, not as the world gives, but His peace.  The only true peace.  Is His peace your peace?  If you trust Him, your troubled heart can know His power, His presence, and His amazing peace.

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 (dark images).  Let us know if you have any questions, and thanks for your understanding and participation!

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

We hope that they will be a blessing to you!

Here are this week's PHENOMENAL sponsors:

The wonderful Freckled Fawn is offering
one lucky winner a $15 Gift Certificate
to their super fun store!
AND

One lucky person will win
a 10£ Gift Certificate to
Crafty Ribbons -This lovely store
is filled with luscious ribbons, laces and trims!

And now...here are this week's winners:

The winner of a $15 Gift Certificate
to the wonderful store Classy Cards 'N Such
is Entry #47 - Sara I.
AND

The winner of THREE SETS from
Daydream Designs is
Entry #108 - Ann Whitfield

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

Here's some inspiration from our Design Team
Our March Guest Designer, Sandra Carey

Diane Noble

Laura Lunsford

Using wrong scripture (Karen's fault) and

digi papers from Daydream Designs - Shine Like Stars

Lori Ulrich

Carole Robb Bisson

Stephanie Wright

Jo Ann Atterbury

Karen Letchworth