Scrap Of Faith

2010-09-15T12:06:00.002+10:00

This month for September we are looking at what Jesus said about His people being More Valuable than Sparrows

Jesus said Aren’t five sparrows sold for two assaria coins? Not one of them is forgotten by God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7)

So often we so easily forget that God has our total care in His control, that He loves us to bits and that we are worth so much to Him. This month we want you to reflect on just how precious you are to God, that He wants to have a relationship with you and spend eternity with you

Spiritual Challenges
Week 1: Journal where God has shown you his love for you, that you are more value than the sparrows.
Week 2: Pray that God will reveal to you someone that is not feeling "valuable" right now. Send them a card or a note with Luke 12:6-7. Remind them that God does care & love them.

Craft Theme
If there is a project you have been wanting to do, just for you and have been putting it off, spend some time this month doing it. While you are working on the project remember that you are not forgotten by God, he loves you, you are valuable to Him and He wants you to come to Him and be with Him.

2010-07-07T09:52:00.010+10:00

Welcome back everyone :-)

We've been having a bit of a 'tidy up' behind the scenes here at Scrap of Faith, the DT at SoF HQ has been brainstorming and praying over the the last few months over the direction of the site, and we've decided to start up our monthly challenges again!!! With the retreat on our horizon in February, we're going to explore Jesus' teachings, and really delve into the directions He has very clearly given to us in His word.

'Jesus said....' is our theme, and each month we'll be looking at a piece of scripture that shows us how Christ directs us to live, for His glory and as the guide we are to follow to live our lives in Him.

Without any further ado, let's begin!!! Our challenge for this month is 'Jesus said....love one another'

³⁴"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
(John 13:34-35)

Seems so easy, doesn't it? This idea of loving each other seems so simple, such a no brainer, but when we read scripture like this, and others like us, we are challenged to really explore just what love is, what it means to truly love someone. Love isn't just a feeling, it's an action, a verb, a noun, a conscious decision, a choice we make. If we are guided just by feelings, we can be easily decieved, but with clear direction from Christ like this, we are encouraged and challenged to put Christ's definition of love into action.

Challenge 1:

'A new command I give you: Love one another'

Create a LO, canvas, mini book, about loving someone - family, friend, stranger. My LO below is about a couple of very special girls in my life, we've all gone through some health issues in the last couple of years, and knowing they love me through my journey make it somewhat easier, even when life seems just plain hard.

Challenge 2:

'By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another'

Make something for someone as an act of of love. Again, family, friend, stranger. Seeks God's direction in this, He may surprise you where He takes you! I knitted a cap for a child in our community who is currently undergoing treatment for an illness. I don't actually know them or their family personally, but I know their story, and God really laid it on my heart to use the talents He has given me to create something for someone else in their time of trial.

Challenge 3:

'As I have loved you, so you must love one another'

This one defines the challenge in 'challenge'!!! 'So you must love one another' - according to this directive from Jesus, regardless of how we may feel about someone, we are to love them. This is where the conscious decision part of love comes in to play!!!
Journal about someone you are challenged to love as Christ has commanded. Explore what this means for you in your thoughts, your actions, and how you actually do that. This can certainly be kept private, between you and God in your journal, or you can journal on a LO or the like. The idea of this challenge is to explore the scripture and Christ's teachings, to sit with God and ask Him to speak to you about this, to be in prayer and seeking His direction.

Challenge 4:
Create a journal for this journey of 'Jesus said'. Creating with our hands is how God made us, but our intention with these challenges isn't jsut to make pretty things, but to really explore Christ's teaching and apply them to our own lives. Journalling is a wonderful way of recording how God is working in you life, so create a place for you to record this journey we're about to start. I plan to make a stitched cover for mine, pictures will follow soon.

So theres a start, this challenge will continue for July, and the DT will upload their progress along the way. E-mail your creations to sally@scrapoffaith.com and we'll put them up here. Come and chat with us at the forum about your journey, so we can share and encourage each other along the way!

Ali xx

2009-11-17T10:38:00.002+10:00

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Thank You :-)

A BIG thankyou to Anne for organising the weekend's blog hop & for all the wonderful ladies participating. It really was just delightful to go around and see so many talented ladies, sharing their faith and creations. My bookmark list just doubled !!

And thank you for all your beautiful comments. Hopefully over the next few months we'll have more layouts to share and devotions too :)

And the Winner Is........

Tara!!
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Please send me an email at sally@scrapoffaith.com with your details and the cards plus a little something extra will be winging it's way to you.

2009-11-14T08:25:00.004+10:00

A Blog Hop :-)

Welcome to Scrapbook News and Review Magazine's A Faith Perspective Thankful for Friends Faith Blog Hop. Today, we're out in force on the internet -- showing our faith and giving the glory to God. United, we stand as Christian paper crafters and blog owners to make a presence on the internet for all to see. We're celebrating the theme of friends and we're happy to share our projects with you based on the verse:

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. " Ecc4:9-10a

If you're just joining in on the fun, you can find the start of the train here: http://www.scrapbooknewsandreview.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=100783.

First, we would like to take a moment to thank our generous co-sponsors: Layers of Color Stamps, Gina K Designs Stamps and Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. Together with Scrapbook News and Review Magazine, these companies have donated some wonderful prizes for today's blog hop.

Prizes? Oh, yeah! There will be three lucky grand prize winners for today's event.

To enter, simply hop to the blogs of all of the participating staff members of Scrapbook News and Review Magazine, take note of the staff member's name, and leave a comment on their posts. Then send us an email atgames@scrapbooknewsandreview.com listing each of the staff members who participated in today's hop. It's that easy. All entries must be received by Monday, November 16, 2009 at 12 noon, EST and three winners will be randomly chosen to win.

What are the prizes?

One $100 gift certificate from Layers of Color Stamps AND a 6 month subscription to Scrapbook News and Review Magazine.
One basket of goodies -- four stamp sets from Gina K Designs and a 6 month subscription to Scrapbook News and Review Magazine.
One set of digital stamps from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps and a 3 month subscription to Scrapbook News and Review Magazine.
In addition, every participating staff member of Scrapbook News and Review Magazine will offer a free one-month subscription to the magazine to one of their lucky visitors by simply leaving a comment on their blog. That's a lot of chances to win, so let's get to the Hop!

Click on Images to see larger

Layout by Sally

Layout by Gail

And we've also got a little RAK for those who drop by :-) We love meeting new friends so just leave a comment saying "hi". Everyone who leaves a comment will be added to a draw for the following cards. You never know come monday when I draw the names I'm sure I'll have found some more to add to the RAK :-)

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The next stop on this blog hop is: Stampin Sisters in Christ http://stampinsistersinchrist.blogspot.com

2009-09-28T10:44:00.000+10:00

Week 10 - Somewhere in The Middle

This song from Casting Crowns has really been on my heart this past week. Each time I listen to it I'm amazed at just how well the lyrics capture our human walk with God.

Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me

Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who You're making me
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control

Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle

Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves

Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle You'll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control

Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You're by my side
Loving me even on these nights when I'm caught in the middle

(song written by Mark Hall of Casting Crowns)

The line that does it for me is "Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control". WOW!! I know myself I desires so much to follow God's path, yet want to hold onto the control. Driving in the car the other night I said to Mark, we've got to listen to this song. We turned it up loud and cruised along. After I sat there silently praying and saying "Lord where do you really want me to go, am I to sell up everythign and just get a van and go around the country ministering to people, am I to give up work and concentrate on kids, am I to start a home church? What Lord!?" and then the answer hit me straight away, and it was so simple "Just spend some time with me". I've been slack on the prayer and bible study and God was just saying "Come and meet me, spend time with me, have a relationship with me, then we'll deal with your questions". What a discussion and answer just from a song.

So after that "Long" intro, the point of this week is what worship song speaks to you and why?

Verse: Psalm 32:7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

Prayer: Lord thank you for the people in our world who have been anointed with the gift of music Lord. Thank you that we are free to worship you, celebrate you and have a life free to be followers of Jesus Christ.

Application: Paste the lyrics of a song into your journal that is impacting you now, or has impacted on your Christian walk at any stage. Journal why it had such an influence.

Don't forget to share here too

2009-09-09T08:22:00.001+10:00

Week 9 - Count your Blessings

I watched Facing The Giants this weekend and the line "We will give praise when we win, we will give praise when we loose" really struck deep with me. No matter the situation, no matter how grim life can get, there is ALWAYS something to praise God for. Sometimes we can get focused on a problem we end up with blinkers on and can't see the good all around us. Once we step back and see the whole situation, the problem often becomes insignificant.

Verses : Psalm 128:2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.

Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.

Prayer : Thank God for all the blessings and provisions in your life. Ask Him to forgive you where you have claimed His work as your own and to show you where you have been blinded to His blessings.

Application : Count your blessings. Journal your blessings and keep a watchful eye this week to see all the good things that God is doing in your life. Keep a journal of praise. When times get tough you will have a quick place to go to see the wonders that God does in your life. & share the joy here, It's not boastful to share His works

2009-09-03T14:59:00.001+10:00

Week 8 - Trust

I know so many times in my life when I'm struggling it's often because of one simple reason. I failed to trust God I know when He is speaking to me, giving me direction, but often I fail to do my bit. Today I had a big realisation that these acts of "going my own way" are based on my failure to trust God and His plan for me. The laziness and the dragging my heals are rooted in not Trusting Him to make my paths straight. And what's shocking is I never thought I had a trust issue.

Verses : 2 Samuel 7:28 O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.

Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah
John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.

Prayer : Ask God to show you the areas in your life where you have failed to Trust Him. Ask for forgiveness in not handing over the control to Him.

Application: Identify those areas in your life where you have doubted God, gotten impatient that He hasn't moved yet, or you have failed to move on His calling.

2009-09-02T19:59:00.004+10:00

Creating Again

Aren't we so blessed to have a Creator God who loves us and created us in His image?

I so love being creative, taking raw materials and making something beautiful with my hands ... but somehow I'd forgotten the joy that being creative brings ... and I'd allowed the busy-ness of life to stop me from taking time to create.

So in the last week I've made time ... and I've found that creative happy place again ... and the best part about that ... it's a place closer to God too.I've had these photos sitting in a pile waiting to be scrapped for some time now. Every time I flicked through that pile I saw the long grass and thought of the story of Ruth in the Bible, so I decided that my journaling for this layout should be about that.

I've always loved the part of the story where Ruth declares that she will follow Naomi ... "where you go, I will go, your people will be my people and your God, my God" but as you read further into the story you realise that life wasn't suddenly going to become easy for Ruth after making this decision. She ended up out in the fields gathering left over grain just so she and Naomi could eat. And it's these words from Boaz that make me realise just how hard it was for Ruth... "May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord under whose wings you have come to take refuge." Ruth 2:12

And the Lord did reward Ruth ... she went on to become the great, great, great (and lots more greats) ...... Grandmother of Jesus our Lord and Saviour ... now that's some reward!

2009-08-25T06:49:00.000+10:00

Week 7 - Create

We are created in God's image and each day when I go outside I am constantly reminded of what a spectacular artist our God is and just how awesome is His creation. As a child I used to think that I wasn't "creative" that because I didn't have the skills of a painter, a drawer etc that I just missed out on the creative process. It wasn't until I discovered scrapbooking and paper craft that I realised I did have the ability to create. As we are created in His image ALL of us have the ability to create I've been feeling the desire to create, but not allowing myself the time. For the past month I've heard this whispering that "it's okay" to take that time, to find the time. Imagine the great and intense joy that God must have felt after He created the earth. The joy that we feel when we look upon His creation, when we see a glorious sunset, a beautiful flower, the colours of an exotic animal. So be thankful of the gift of creation, His for us and our ability to create and delight in doing so.

Verse : Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Prayer : Thank God for his glorious creation, for creating you & for the gift to be creative. Be also thankful that the works of your hands may be shared and be a blessing to others just as we enjoy God's creation.

Application : BE CREATIVE!! Take the time to create something this week & don't forget to take a photo and share here, please leave a link to your creation in the comments :-) . The form of creativity can be of any medium, scrapping, sewing, kneedle work. I encourage you to create something that includes a bible verse that God has been bringing before you over the course of this journey.

2009-08-17T06:17:00.000+10:00

Week 6 - Rest and Reflection

We have a wonderful Daddy God who just loves us so much and He's patient and gracious. He doesn't pull out a whip and say "HEY GET UPTO DATE WITH THIS NOW!!". Psalm 23 has been on my mind all weekend and it's time we laid down beside still waters and had our soul's restored. Time to reflect and catch up a little.

Verse: Psalm 23

Prayer: Ask God to restore your soul and show you the areas in which you have made progress and where He's really proud of you.

Application: Listen for God's answer, journal and go back over the past weeks and see if your plan is on track or if you want to change it a bit. REFLECT.

2009-08-10T09:44:00.001+10:00

Week 5 - Audit Time

I have just been so encouraged and blessed by the last 4 weeks, sharing this journey with you girls has just been such a delight! Some of the words spoken and seeing God working in your lives has been a HUGE encouragement and blessing. God is just so good.

I know a lot of us have commented on either wanting to be cleaner, have life more simplified, our home more welcoming etc. I think to achieve those things we need to take a step and "Audit" our home. I saw this idea on the "Down to Earth" blog a while back and thought "I really must do that one day". So how does this fit in with our Christian Walk. God called us to be stewards of all he has placed us charge over. That's both physical and spiritual. And through doing the Audit you may recognise things that are cluttering your life, find ways you could do something better, or realise that your pantry has a lot more in it than you thought But the more we take stock of the physical, hopefully that will free up more for the spiritual.

There will be two audits going on this week, a Spiritual and a Physical.

Verse - Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Prayer - Ask God to show you what to keep and what to let go, both in the physical and the spiritual.

Also this prayer from Stormie Omartian - The Power of a Praying Woman, Harvest House Publishers

Lord, help me to never exchange Your truth for a lie. Where I have accepted a lie as truth, reveal that to me. Help me to clearly discern when it is the enemy who is speaking. I don't want to think futile and foolish thoughts or give place to thoughts that are not glorifying to You (Romans 1:21). I don't want to walk according to my own thinking (Isaiah 65:2). I want to bring every thought captive and control my mind.

Your Word is "a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). As I read Your Word, may it reveal any wrong thinking in me. May Your Word be so etched in my mind that I will be able to identify a lie of the enemy the minute I hear it. Spirit of Truth, keep me undeceived. I know You have given me authority "over all the power of the enemy" (Luke 10:19). and so I command the enemy to get away from my mind. I refuse to listen to lies.

Thank You, Lord, that I "have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16). I want Your thoughts to be my thoughts. Show me where I have filled my mind with anything that is ungodly. Help me to resist doing that and instead fill my mind with thoughts, words, music, and images that are glorifying to You. Help me to think upon what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely of good report, righteous, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). I lay claim to the "sound mind" that You have given me (2 Timothy 1:7).

Application - Record you Audits in your journal. The list of tasks can be done one a day, one a week or every second day. Ask God to lead you in the timing of this exercise. As you go about your physical audit pray the prayer from Stormie Omartain first and keep your mind "captive" on the Lord as you go about your task. Perhaps play a worship CD as you go about it, or just keep the dialogue open with God and chat to Him as you go about your tasks.

Day 1 - Where are the hotspots in your home? Where do you accumulate clutter and junk?
What are your spiritual hotspots? Where do you accumulate clutter and junk in your spiritual life?

Day 2 - When is enough, enough? What do you hoard, have to much of, can cull out of your life, give to others? To many clothes in those drawers.
What spiritual truths are you hoarding or holding close to your chest. Do you share the love of Christ with others?

Day 3 - Budget, do you have one? When did you last overhaul it? Do you have any idea where your money goes? Are you able to give to others?
Are you being a good steward with the blessings that have come from God? How does God want you to use His gifts.

Day 4 - What's cooking? Is there a plan to your kitchen? Do you do your grocery shop according to your needs, or your wants? Is your pantry in a bad shape? Do you know what you are eating this week?
What food does your soul need? Is there anything in the house to feed your soul. Do you have junk food around the house to inspire you, or God's word?

Day 5 - What does your home say to others? Take a look at your home from a visitors perspective, what does it say about the occupants.
What does your home for the Holy Spirit say to others? Take a look at yourself from another's perspective, would they know you were Christian?

2009-08-03T20:48:00.001+10:00

Week 4 - Way Out of the Muddle

Wow we've had 3 pretty big weeks. Praying for our calling, getting deeper in the word and identifying our temptation; really essential and positive changes to restoring our relationship with God and others. There is also a lot of other "goings on" that keep us from God and our calling. I know personally for me a clean house is one of those areas. I want to be able to minister to others and have an open home. I worry that people won't call in because of the state of my house or that I stop inviting people because I'm embarrassed. Once I went into a home that you couldn't walk through any of the rooms it was such a mess. It was pointed out to me that often the physical represents the spiritual that perhaps the clutter in the home represented the clutter and muddle in their spiritual life. Do you have things in your home that bring you down? It could be anything from a messy house, lack of routine, health issue etc, or holding onto something that could be let go. What is your Muddle? I want you to remember though that God did not send Jesus because we were perfect & it's not being perfect that gets us saved. The main purpose of this weeks challenge is to take these things to God, ask Him to help us get our struggles in order & His strength to guide us.

Verse - 2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness

Prayer - Ask God to help you prioritise your life and set a plan for getting things in order. To show you what things need improving and what things need letting go.

Application - Record in your journal areas that you want to improve and work out a plan to get out of the muddle. And take baby steps to get out of it. Only tackle one area each week or two weeks. It could be something practical like "get washing done Machine to Put away each day" do that for two weeks then apply another change. Also keep going on weeks 1, 2 & 3 praying for your calling to be clearly revealed and working out how you can get into God's word more and to keep identifying temptations that keep you from God's word and your calling.

2009-07-27T11:33:00.003+10:00

Week 3 - Identifying Tempation

The first 4 weeks we are really looking at our relationship with God and His purpose for us. Being daughters of the King, being his princeses it's really important to restore that relationship and look at our own walk before we start "taking it to the streets" and getting our home in order. This week we need to focus on our tempations. What stops us from being able to answer God's call and what stops us from being the Christian woman we desire to be. I know myself I can get so easily distracted with stuff and put off what I know I should be doing.

Verses - Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
- Luke 11:4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.

Prayer - Ask God to help you identify the temptations in your life. As for strength to overcome those temptations and to "not be lead into temptation" to help remove them from your life.

Application - Record in your journal areas of temptation & some stragegies to overcome them. Also keep going on weeks 1 & 2, praying for your calling to be clearly revealed and working out how you can get into God's word more. Also what temptations keep you from God's word?

Here's a layout share from Week 1 to create your journal. I'm doing mine in a folder, with this slipped in the cover.

(Click image for larger)

Flowers, bling & swirls - Willro&co Sweet Things
Photo corner rounding - Kellie Mize template
Paper - Mindy terasawa
Fonts - Book Antiqua, Kuntsler Script & Edwardian Script

2009-07-21T10:45:00.002+10:00

Week 2 - Firm Foundation

I hope you are starting to get a little closer to God and your walk with Him as a Christian Woman. That God is starting to reveal to you His plan for you I hope that one of the callings is to draw closer to God. Last week we were having devotions with our kiddos and a neighbour and we were looking at the story of the house on the sand and the house on the rock. It occoured to me that before we can even look at practical changes in our life like visiting a neighbour etc, we have to make sure we are spending time with God, getting that foundation right. God is our rock and one of the best ways to build our foundation on him is not only through prayer but through spending time in His word.

Verses - Matthew 7:24-27 24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

Prayer - Continue to pray for direction in your walk and God's plan for you over the coming months. Pray also that God will reveal His plan for you in His word and that you will find the time to spend in His word and find His treasures. Thank God for the freedom that we have to have His word in our homes.

Application - Start making it a habit to spend some time each day in His word. How about setting your alarm 10 min early and start the day with God's word. When you find a treasure right it down in your Restoring our Womanhood journal and why it is a treasure to you.

I also came across this devotion from Ellel Ministries which is perfect for this week :-D

Called to be with Jesus

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve … that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.Mark 3:13-14, NIV

We are often encouraged to identify our particular calling - to preach, to teach, or to evangelise. But I wonder if you've noticed that in Mark's gospel the first call of the disciples was to be with Jesus, and then He sent them out to preach and to cast out demons. For each of us our prime call is to be with Jesus, set apart for Him, spending time with Him. All else will follow from our relationship with Him.

In this account Jesus went up on a mountainside and called those He wanted to come to Him. Presumably in order to respond to Him they had to leave the clamour of the crowds and the demands of the people below and go up higher to be separated and alone with Jesus.

Is Jesus calling you to go up the mountain to a higher level of intimacy with Him? That may mean temporarily separating yourself from the hubbub of life, leaving those things that clamour for your attention - even the good and worthwhile concerns that God may have given you in the past - in order to be with Jesus, to listen to Him and to hear His heart. If you do this as a priority, you'll be able to do the things He is calling you to do.

In the story of Martha and Mary, Jesus told Martha that Mary had “chosen what is better” as she sat at Jesus' feet and listened to Him (Luke 10:42). Will you choose what is better today, to go up the mountain to be with Jesus?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, please forgive me for the times I have ignored Your call to be with You. I want to make it a priority to respond to You, to come up the mountain to be with You. Thank You that You want to be with me. Amen.

Today's Writer : Jilly Lyon Taylor Jilly Lyon Taylor is part of the Leadership Team at Ellel Pierrepont. She worked in publishing and then with children in Hong Kong before concentrating on being a full-time mother and serving in the local church. Her desire to see people healed led her to the Luke Nine Eleven Training School (NETS) at Pierrepont, and now she teaches and ministers there.

Related LinksSitting at the Feet of Jesus - Teaching CDPlease feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship. Provided full acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.To see archive copies or sign up to receive an email copy of this daily devotional please click www.seedsofthekingdom.com

2009-07-13T13:34:00.000+10:00

Week 1 - His plan

It's so easy to get carried away, for the first week of Restoring our Womanhood we can have grand plans about all the things we want to acheive, make better in our life and who we think we'll be at the end of the program. But first things first, we need to go right back to the begining, back to The Creator and ask Him.

Verses - Psalm 128:3a Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;

Jeremiah 29:11For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Prayer - In your prayers ask God to lead you in your role as a Christian Woman. Ask the Lord to reveal to you the dark spots in our heart that need cleaning up and to prepare us on our journey of restoring our womanhood. Pray also that the challenges will be an encouragement and that blessings will come from following the course. Ask for an open heart to accept our role as women. Also pray that he will show you how to be a fruitful vine in your home. It doesn't matter if you are a sister, daughter, mother, flatemate etc. Ask how you can be fruitful in your houeshold, regardless of it's makeup.

Application - Create a journal to document your journey in restoring your role as a Christian Woman.

2009-05-19T20:06:00.000+10:00

Created this a month or so ago for the last of the New Zealand Dares...was challenged to share my faith at church that week...and knew I needed to share my story for the dare. Just thought I'd share it here :-)

2009-03-12T14:16:00.003+10:00

CHANGE

Things will always change...sometimes for the better....sometimes for worse.

Our circumstances change. Our bodies change (darn gravity and it's downward

effect).

God actually requires us to change. Maturing as a Christian means allowing

God to bring about change in our lives. Not always pleasant or fun - but necessary.

Sal talked in the last post about facing changes in 2009. All different sorts of changes are in store for many of us , but in the midst of it all, there is one thing that does not change. Ever. Our Heavenly Father is the only constant in this ever changing world.

He wants us to cast our cares on to him and to rest assured in his love for us.

As you consider the changes and challenges that God has mapped out this year

for you, do not forget His promises to you.

(All digital supplies by Willro&co Designs)

2009-03-04T01:04:00.007+10:00

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Getting the show on the road again :-)
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Last year I was so very blessed to have a weekend course in Spiritual Warfare paid for me. I'll be honest, I was hesitant about going, it all on the surface appeared a bit "freaky" to me and I was getting more and more weary about going as the time grew closer. I rang Tracey (who has had training in this area) for some confirmation as to if I should do this course or not. Tracey in her wisdom said "Take it to the Lord in prayer". So I threw out the fleece I asked the Lord to blatantly show me in His word if this was something I should do or not. God presented me with John 3. The whole verse is about how the Pharisees could only understand the written word and not the things beyond that, about the Spiritual matters about the work that Christ had come to do, about things not of this world. I read the verse to Mark, I had my confirmation to go.
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That weekend has changed so many things for us. I really tried to shut out the enemy and "ignore" Him, but the verse really struck out for me is 1 Peter 5:8-11 8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. You don't walk through the jungle that has a lion in it hoping that if you ignore it it will go away. That strategy wasn't going to work anymore.
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As time goes on and things aren't "going to plan" or life appears not to be following God's path I now look to Spiritual causes, not just brush it off to "that's life". Often it has really made me ask the question "What does God have planed and what is the enemy wanting to stop Him achieving, why is he diverting my eyes from the Lord?" If I had never been made aware of the enemy and his tactics, I honestly don't think I would be sitting here writing this post from our new home. God called us to buy a house after Nov 08 and we were putting it off. I was suffering bleeding with my pregnancy, Cowper's bone marrow stopped working, Holly's eczema went through the roof & Mark for the first time suffered a bad back. We allowed these things to put us off house hunting. How could we contemplate a move to the country with all this going on? We took a break over the summer and started asking the Lord what He thought about all this and why were we facing all of these issues. The message became clear, we were under enemy attack. But why us??? What did God have in store for us that the enemy was so desperate to stop? The only thing we could think of was buying a home. We committed to each other there and then that the first thing we did when we got home was start looking.
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We get in the driveway we open the mailbox and there is a letter saying that in 6wks time our rent was going up $40 a week!! We both looked at each other and said "I think God wants us to get a move on!" The day we signed the contract on the house my bleeding which had been consistent for over a month stopped and hasn't returned, PRAISE THE LORD. Cowper's blood has been normal, we've been making progress with Holly's skin & Mark's back finally started to heal. Just think if we had ignored the enemy pretended he wasn't there, we'd still be living in the city, all having health issues and paying more in rent. PRAISE THE LORD for His love and guidance.
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But the verse doesn't promise happiness and joy ASAP it says "after you have suffered for a while" the enemy has still put up obstacles along the way, he's made us doubt our ability to pay for move, feed the family etc etc, but God did promise to always provide and indeed He has! We made the move with me 34wks pregnant. God gave me strength that I never knew I had. Instead of feeling tired and worn out, I'm feeling fitter, stronger and healthier than I have before. Imagine feeling that way after having a pregnancy that was so troubling!!
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So now when life feels like it's hitting the skids I kind of get excited. I think "HA enemy, if you're up to something, then God is too!!" and I divert my eyes on the Lord. "Resist him, standing firm in the faith" It's not a time to hide or get angry with God or just wallow in our own suffering it's time to STAND FIRM. And God has promised us he will provide the strength to fight.
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So now I look to 2009 and I am really excited about what is in store. I think of all the things that have been happening in the lives of our SoF HQ from Dec 08 till now; Tracey and her DH taking on more prayer ministry hours and the impact that has on the family; Karen's change from being an RLO officer that past 15yrs to that chapter now ending and no more kids at school. Ro now having all her kids at school. Lara and her work changes this year from having been at play centre to now going back to teaching. Bev also having all her kids at school. Gail and last year the Lord led her to withdraw from the theatre which had been such a big part of her life, and being there for her extended family as they face some major health issues. In some way we are all facing some big changes as 2009 gets underway.
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So that leads me to the theme for March 2009. I can't think of a general "name" for the theme, but in your scrapping this month and in your bible reading, focus on God's plans for you and if they've been smooth sailing or if the enemy has jumped in and had a real go at stopping them.
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Some possible layout ideas could be:
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"When the Enemy Attacks"
"God's plan for 2009"
"Changes"
"Lord what do you want from me?"
"Tips for enemy attack" with journaling prompts about what you would do to stop this, kind of like a survival guide.
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Don't forget to share your layouts with us.
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Here's my efforts so far. I've Used Willro&co "Quality Time" kit.
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Journaling reads: Your perfect will and timing Lord won in the end. You told us to buy a house after Nov. 08, and the enemy put in a good effort to stop it. He used bleeding during mypregnancy, Cowper’s TEC, Holly’s eczema and Mark’s back. We are so thankful that we turned to you Lord and you got us back on track, and brought us here to Mt. Colliery.Your Timing,Your House for Us, Your Abundant Blessing, Your Victory!
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Watch this space over the next few days for better uploading of challenge entries.

And Don't Forget... Cyber Crop/Chat this Saturday March 8th, 7pm QLD time in MSN. To join in add sofaugust2007@hotmail.com as a contact.

2009-01-21T16:48:00.002+10:00

WE'RE BAD PARENTS.......

Well that's how I feel, about the poor old SoF blog. The poor thing has sadly been neglected by it's Mum & Dad.

After the retreat I ended up having a few medical issues to deal with. I'm pregnant and started bleeding, my 2 yr old's bone marrow stopped working & we spent a fair bit of our time after the retreat in and out of hospitals. Then December came and we went on our family holidays, glad to run away from all the "issues". And well the whole DT just needed a break really. 2008 went way to fast and I think everyone was just plain old "worn out".

Now January is here and while we were away we assessed why these things were happening and the only thing we could put it down to, was that we were under Spiritual Attack to keep us from looking for a new home. (check out the full story here) So January has had us looking for a new home & rebuilding the SoF forum which broke last year.

So We are keen to get the blog back happening and the challenges started again. We are planing some different things this year and hope to be in the swing of it soon. We'll start slowly though as a few of the SoF team have some big commitments happening for Jan/Feb.

So the blogs not forgotten we're just trying to rebuild and make it better just like the new forum and gallery :-)

2009-01-06T18:09:00.000+10:00

IMPORTANT SCRAP OF FAITH INFORMATION

As most of you are well aware the forum at Scrap of Faith has not been playing nicely at all for the past 3 or 4 months. We have found a new home for Scrap of Faith, which appears to work FAST and so far, every time you log on. However there has been a very sad casualty to finding Scrap of Faith a new home. In the process of moving it all over we discovered that the Database that held all the Scrap of Faith information for the forum and gallery had been corrupted (we believe this may have been part of the issues with the old one) and we cannot re-install the old forum. So what does this mean.

1. www.scrapoffaith.com is still the home page
2. www.scrapoffaith.com/forum is still the forum
3. You will need to re-register
4. All the old posts are gone.

BUT, let’s embrace this set back, Ask God what he wants from Scrap of Faith and rebuild, and rejoice in the fact that we can start talking, sharing and supporting each other again.

I will have a few topics to get us started, but if there has been a section on the forum you have always wanted, but it wasn’t there let us know and in this building stage we can get it all together.

We are very sorry about the loss of the old forum, but we are working hard (we’ll Mark’s done most of the hard work) to get a fantastic new one started.

God Bless and we look forward to rebuilding a new forum with you all.

2008-12-05T06:45:00.004+10:00

How are you all going with your challenges this month only one more day to get them into Sal.

I managed to do a few at the retreat .

Here's my princess Gail page for the Book of faith challenge.

And this one is my Mystery challenge attempt.
No patterned paper - stamps may be used and lots of bling. Thanks to Lou for her suggestion of putting bling in the centre of the flowers it really makes the page zing.

Blessings

Gail

2008-11-26T23:35:00.006+10:00

It is hard to believe that we are nearly at the end of November already. The highlight of this month for me was meeting so many gorgeous girls from the Scrap of Faith Forum at our retreat earlier this month - I just hope that the next retreat will see so many more of you attend. It was a time of real blessing.

I haven't managed to do a lot of scrapbooking this month, but I did manage to complete a couple of the challenges at the Scrap of Faith retreat. Here are my takes on the Sketch Challenge (Challenge 1) and also Challenge 4.

I am looking forward to seeing your take on the challenges this month. Don't forget to email them in.

2008-11-26T09:04:00.004+10:00

His Princess Layout

This one will look familiar to those of you who were able to come to the retreat. For those who didn't make it ... this is the layout class we did while there.

Full instructions are available here.

If you haven't already done your challenge layouts this one covers the Book of Faith challenge, but could also be used for the verse challenge or maybe you could use the background techniques for the Mystery Challenge.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

2008-11-18T19:31:00.007+10:00

This months theme is His Princess, we are daughter, of the most high King or as we say at SOF My daddy is the king that makes me a princess. I made this book to celebrate the fact that by faith we are given the right to be called children of God. We are loved by God, and we are forgiven and set free by his Grace.

Full of bling and pretty things.For full intructions go to http://www.4shared.com/file/72159287/e72d42df/Princess_Mini_Book.html
The mini book has been made to fit into the tin made at the retreat. For those not at the retreat please go to http://www.4shared.com/file/72159286/902a7249/Princess_Tin_for_retreat.html
for instructions on how to alter a tin.

Royal Blessings

Princess Gail

2008-11-15T10:03:00.003+10:00

THE SOF RETREAT

Words just can't describe what an incredible weekend the SoF retreat was. So hard to believe that after all the planing and anticipation it's over.

The biggest thrill of the weekend for me was seeing God working in the lives of the girls who attended and seeing the love that the SoF girls had for each other and their willingingness to share that love with new girls who had not been on the SoF forum. The "sisterhood" in Christ was just amazing.

I just pray that for the next retreat (looking at Aprli, May or June 2o10) that many more of you girls can come, as those of you who are on the forum and join in on the blog, were so dearly missed.

So for your viewing pleasure here are some photos from the weekend :-)

CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE AS BLOGGER IS CUTTING THEM OFF IN THE POST :(

Sillyness at the His Princess Dinner
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All the beautiful girls
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The theme
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The Team that put it all together and are the faces behind the blog posts - we missed you Lara & Katie.
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And some of this scrapping stuff did happen....

Gail's Tin Class

Bev's Layout Class

Ro's Digi Class

Our Offereing

There are just tooooooo many photos to share here, but if you want to see more the girls have been sharing their photos on photobucket. http://s368.photobucket.com/albums/oo130/ScrapofFaith_album/

2008-11-03T16:49:00.002+10:00

CHALLENGES UPDATE

A quick appology for being behind in the challenge comps from September to October.

With the Scrap of Faith retreat happening this weekend (YEAH!) I just have spent all my spare SoF time organising that and I've neglected my part on the blog :-( So to bring you all up to speed The following weekend, 14th of November I will draw the winners for September and October, I will also extend the deadline for October entries to that date. The November Challenges are up, but as the themes, Sisters in Christ & His Princess are so reflective of the retreat, we'll have October and November running together for awhile :-) (see the bottom of this post for what the October Challenges are)

So for all of you who are waiting on challenge information and winners, you are not forgotten just delayed.

Also given the horrible turn in the economy and the fall in the Aussie Dollar from 95c US to 65c US I've had to make the voucher at Christian Book $20 instead of $3o.

OCTOBER CHALLENGES

Challenge 1 - to any size layout, traditional or digi based on this sketch by Trina McClune.
Challenge 2 - Verse Challenge - Scrap a Layout or Beyond the Page item featuring the following verse: 1 Timothy 5:1b-2 Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Challenge 3 - Word Challenge - The word for September is "FAITHFULNESS". Do a Layout or Off the Page project based on "FAITHFULNESS". (The inspiration for this word came from what type of qualities do God have and what qualities in friendship would he desire of us)
Challenge 4 - Book of Faith Challenge - The theme for this month's Book of Faith is "Sister's in Christ (our Christian family)"
Challenge 5 - Mystery Challange - Do a layout about your childhood family. Were they Christian, how did they shape who you are in Christ today? If they were not Christian journal about the challenges of this.

2008-11-03T08:00:00.007+10:00

Sister's In Christ

I know this one is a bit late for October ... I actually did have it done last week but somehow forgot to post it here on the blog. (I got busy working on my layout class for the retreat.)

Full step by step instructions to make this layout are available by clicking on this link.

And speaking of the retreat ... only 4 more sleeps to go! I am looking forward to meeting up with my Scrap of Faith Sisters in Christ this side of heaven. No doubt after the retreat I'll have many more photos of my 'sisters' and will be able to scrap a whole series of 'Sisters in Christ' layouts!

Here's just a little sneaky look at the layout class I'll be teaching ... just a little bit royal looking!

2008-10-26T07:46:00.003+10:00

This months BOF theme is Sisters in Christ. AS I started to think about all the wonderful sisters God has blessed my life with a picture started to grow in my head of a beautiful bouquet of friends from my daughter, my SIL, my spiritual mentor, SOF friends and more. This is how the Sisters In Christ Bouquet came about.

Its whimsical and was fun to do and can keep growing as new sisters bloom in my life.

http://www.4shared.com/file/68329887/7d88e5c2/Sisters_In_Christ_Bouquet.html for full instructions.

Blessings

Gail

2008-10-10T08:46:00.004+10:00

It's been a very busy month in the Comber house. I just don't know where the time went.

The only challenge I have managed to get to this month was the word challenge "grow". My thought immediately went to my adult children and how I have watched them grow physically. Its also been a joy to watch my daughter grow spiritually. She has overcome so much this year and it has all been through God's grace & power in her life.

This canvas is to remind us as a family that all things only grow through the power and grace of God.

2008-10-07T16:01:00.001+10:00

And the winner of the RAK is.........

Marion!! :-D

Marion could you please email me and let me know your address and if you prefer paper or digi. Thanks :-)

2008-10-05T17:20:00.005+10:00

I'm so glad that the September deadlines were extended, as life in this household was pretty hectic during the month of September. Yesterday I managed to have a whole day to myself to scrapbook (whilst my daugher and husband were both at work) and manged to do Challenge 2 and 3 from September. It is amazing how much a clean scrapdesk, some new papers and a few sketch maps can inspire you. . I especially loved the "Word" challenge this month. Recently my son graduated and as a family we were all able to be there and celebrate this with him. My youngest daughter was real keen to have a photo taken with his cap on as she really has no desire to go to Uni and figured this would probably be the only chance she would get to wear one. In this layout, I wanted to share with her that real wisdom doesn't come from getting an education or degree and although it can be seen as worthwhile, real wisdom comes from a relationship with the Lord and my prayer for her would be that she will Grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is that relationship and wisdom that is eternal. I also challenged myself to scrap on a patterned piece of paper - very unusual for me.

I hope you have all had as much fun with the challenges this month as I did. I am looking forward to seeing what you all came up with.

2008-09-30T11:25:00.003+10:00

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HOW ARE WE TRAVELLING? & A GIVEAWAY :o) & SOME CHALLENGE UPDATES.
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Just a little checking in post :o)

As this blog is for you guys we want to know what you think?

Are we meeting your needs, what do you like and dislike, and ideas you'd love to see us tackle, or any themes you'd love to see?

We really want to know what you want and all comments will go into a draw to win a scrapping rak, YEAH!!

& the news we've all been waiting for..... SORBET DREAM IS AVAILABLE!! check here for stockists.

So for those who leave a comment for the paper scrappers we'll send out a Rak for the digi girls, we'll send you a SORBET DREAM kit. Just leave digi or paper in your comment.

We'll do the draw next Monday the 6th of October :o)

& The challenge deadline for September has been extended to 11th of October :o)

2008-09-29T09:39:00.001+10:00

This month's book of Faith theme is 'The Ten Commandments'

I have created both an off the page item for hanging in a handy spot to remember...The instruction downloads are just below the pictures of the projects.

bible verses for the project
project instructions

and an 8.5 x 11 layout

the commandments download
Instructions for this Layout

Lara

2008-09-24T12:06:00.003+10:00

Two for One!

This layout is based on this months sketch by Patter Cross. I've used one larger photo instead of two smaller ones and flipped the body of the sketch so that it better suited the balance of my photo.

I also used the verse from this month ' ... whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.' 1 Corinthians 10:31

This is a verse I've been thinking a lot about recently, especially in relation to 'my job' as a Mum. The hidden journalling explains some of my thoughts.

"Raising you three is my job. It's my job to teach you right from wrong. To instruct you in using good manners, to be polite, to blow your nose and use please and thank-you. It's my job to provide for your needs, to dress you well and feed you good food. It's my job to talk to you about God and help you to love Him too. It's my job to read to you, to fill your minds with good things. It's my job to send you to school and help you do your homework, to provide you with experiences to expand your world. It's my job to hold your hand when crossing the street, to cuddle you when you need it and apply sticking plasters when required. Whatever part of my job that I'm doing, I do it all for the glory of my God. That's my job."

Sounds like a pretty awesome job don't you think?

Don't forget that challenges for this month are due on 3 October ...

2008-09-17T13:11:00.003+10:00

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CHALLENGE LAYOUT SHARE
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Well I'm finally underway this month in getting the challenge layouts done. I have really being enjoying the Sorbet Dream kit from Willro&co. Hopefully it will hit the shops soon, will let you know as soon as that happens.

The first one is the monthly theme "The Ten Commandments" I hoping to print this one off and put it up where everyone can see it daily. This used Willro&co Sorbet Dreams.

The second one used Willro&co for the Paint & brushes, Cinnamon Toast by vicki20.blogspot.com for the paper & the Cardboard & lastly the Alpha was created by MymyAlpha - Fei Fei (Fei Stuff). The bracket was a shape I had and used it as a clipping mask to get the carboard look. Don't forget to check out Ro's tutorial and freebie below on clipping masks :-)

And the last layout, you've seen it before was for the Grow challenge, using Willro&co Sorbet Dream and the clipping masks.

So come on join in the challenges and don't for get to share. Remember we draw a prize for each category so the more you enter the more chance you have to get some fabulous resources from Christianbook.
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2008-09-16T00:42:00.003+10:00

How are you all going with your challenges this month.

This month I thought I would attempt a digi layout. This is my take on the Sketch Challenge for the month. Would love to see your layouts for this challenge. Don't forget to email them to Sal.

Credits for this layout are as follows:

Patterned Papers "Kyrstal Hartley's "The sky is falling" Kit.
Bracket and Paint Slash were from Willro&Co "Bright & Funky" Kit
Notepaper: Unknown
Green stem: "Saturday in the Park Kit" by bonscrapatitdesigns.

2008-09-15T19:48:00.003+10:00

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JOIN THE BLOG TRAIN FOR SOME GREAT FREEBIES
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Faith Sisters are running a blog train to introduce their new designers. The theme for the blog train is "Sisterly Love" and our very own Rowena Field is one of the designers participating in the blog train.

Next month on Scrap of Faith our them is - Sister's in Christ (our christian family), perfect timing to go with these kits.

So go hop around the blogs and collect a heap of free digi stuff & then next month we'll do another bonus challenge using these kits :-)

For Paper scrappers don't feel that you've missed out. A lot of these packs have elements that can be printed out and used on a traditional layout. Journaling tags etc.

So go to the first stop HERE and grab your first freebie.

2008-09-14T17:45:00.002+10:00

Hi girls! How are you all going with the challenges this month? This is my take on the sketch challenge - three little cuties, my god daughter Chloe, my daughter Claire and Chloe's gorgeous little sausage puppy, Snoopy. It just begged to be scrapped!

Digi Credits

Shabby Princess - prong, tag, patterned paper, bow, flowers

Peppermint Creative - Confetti Border

WillRo&Co - Bright and Funky Bubble wrap, bracket and patterned paper

Pickleberry Pop - Deb F's Sweet stamp, photo corners, patterned paper, spotted alpha

Gunhild Storeide - Purple Lace

Free Digital Scrapbooking - Swirl Alpha

Love, Tracey

2008-09-10T13:53:00.004+10:00

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WE NEED YOU!!!!

To come to the SoF Retreat.

When - November 7th to 9th 2008
Where - Brisbane, in Sunny Queensland Australia
What - Lots of fun laughter and great company. More importantly no cooking and cleaning!!!
Theme - His Princess, so be expected to be treated like royalty!!
Cost - $150
Deadline to book - 10th October.

More information can be found here or email Sally
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2008-09-07T11:40:00.004+10:00

DIGI TUTORIAL

A digi tutorial....what a great idea!! Clipping masks I hear you say? What are they?!

Well! they are very handy little tricks to create fabulous digi layouts! I have used quite a few clipping masks in the LO below (which I have done for our word challenge - GROW), and thought I would do up a quick tutorial to show you how to use them. I have also made a pack of clipping masks for you to have a go with.

the tutorial can be found here: http://www.4shared.com/file/62007910/8b17a8ac/Clipping_Mask_Tutorial.html
and the free clipping mask download can be found here:
http://www.4shared.com/file/61936481/ccf1e6c0/RowenaF_clippingmasks.html

The password you will need is scrapoffaith. Save the zipped clipping mask file to your computer then unzip/extract it :)

And here's a layout that Sally did using the Sorbet Dreams kit & the clipping masks. The heart and the journalling tag were made using the masks.

Dont forget to email Sally with your LO (the link is in the post below) Looking forward to seeing what you can do! Rowena

2008-09-06T20:20:00.003+10:00

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Winners of the August Challenges are:

Challenge 1 - Annette Ledger
Challenge 2 - Janelle Santa
Challenge 3 - Jane Rao
Challenge 4 - Debbie Buckland
Challenge 5 - No entries :(

UPDATE!!! Debbie has genoursly thrown her prize back into the pool after having one the BoF comp. So I have redrawn all other names that hadn't one a prize & Sandy you are the winner.

So if Annette, Janelle, Jane & Sandy could email me for their voucher. Thanks.

Please email Sally to claim your prize.

And to recap the challenges were:

Challenge 1 - to any size layout, traditional or digi based on this sketch by Patter Cross from Tripple the Sketch.
Challenge 2 - Verse Challenge - Scrap a Layout or Beyond the Page item featuring the following verse: Proverbs 17:17a 'A Friend Loves at all times'
Challenge 3 - Word Challenge - The word for August is "BLESSED". Do a Layout or Off the Page project based on "BLESSED".
Challenge 4 - Book of Faith Challenge - The theme for this month's Book of Faith is "Inner Beauty"
Challenge 5 - Mystery Challange - Scrap a favourite childhood memory if you dont have an old photo to use take a current photo that can support your memory.

Check the sidebar to see the entries :-)

September Challenges are up the top.

2008-09-06T12:23:00.004+10:00

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Challange Layout & A New Comp
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What is it they say about best laid plans and all.....

I had really intended to do ALL the challenges this month and some how I only managed one. It's a 2 for 1 hehe. It's my take on the sketch and BLESSED challange.

It's using Willro&co Designs Part of a collab kit called Sorbet Dreams about to be realeased in September. It's a great kit to work with so I'll give you heads up when it's released :-) And the silver alpha is by Amy Teets.

Actually I'm inspired to start a little comp :-)

Here's the deal this month Ro is going to give us a tutorial on how to use clipping masks (how I did the scalloped edges). So do a layout using a clipping mask after Ro's instructions and email it to Sally and we'll post them on the blog. At the end of the month we'll draw all entries and you'll recive free a Sorbet Dreams digi kit & because it's a collab kit it will have HEAPS in it :-)

2008-09-02T16:57:00.001+10:00

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BOOK OF FAITH COMP WINNER
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I am pleased to annouce that the winner of the Book of Faith competion is DEBBIE BUCKLAND.

Congratulations Debbie :-)

Could you please email Sally to claim your prize.

2008-08-27T17:38:00.004+10:00

This month theme is Inner Beauty. I knew what I wanted to do almost straight away - an Altered Mirror and knew which verse I would use. 1 Samuel 16:7c "Man Looks at outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart".

We can dress ourselves up as much as we like, change our hair colour or style even keep up with the ever changing clothing trends but that isn't going to change who we are inside. Only God can make us beautiful on the inside but we do need to listen and allow him to change us.

Follow this link for the Altered Inner Beauty Mirror instructions

http://www.4shared.com/file/60740461/59442246/Inner_Beauty_Mirror.html

Blessings

Gail

2008-08-26T21:56:00.005+10:00

It's been a busy busy month this month in our household, so finding a night to myself has been a bit of a luxury. I have really enjoyed the challenges this month and have managed to do three of the five challenges.

This is my take on the Sketch Challenge.

Second layout was Challenge 2 for the Verse of Scripture, and since the verse was based on "Friends, it was a great to do a layout about two of my dearest friends. They are a real blessing from the Lord, and have been a real source of encouragement to me, especially in my Christian walk.

Third layout is based on the word "Blessed". I don't often get to scrap photos of my parents and sisters, so this was the perfect challenge to do this. I have been so blessed in my life to be raised by wonderful Christian parents, and have sisters who love and support each other, even though we are all as different as chalk and cheese. I hope you have as much fun doing these layouts as I have had.

2008-08-24T11:46:00.002+10:00

Here's my layout for the book of Faith theme: inner beauty.

I wasn't sure how many layouts on this month I would get done as I have started a new job and my children have had a nasty flu that has been going around this area... my son needed to stay home today from Church as he has a temperature so I have had the perfect opportunity to get this scrapping done while the girls went to church with their dad.

This layout is created using the sketch for inspiration.

created this wall hanging for the word challenge: Blessed - just a wee reminder that they are blessings... cause sometimes I need that. It measures about 6 x 12, with the photo being a 6 x 4.

2008-08-23T14:37:00.003+10:00

These are my attempts at this months challenges.

This little piece of torn paper was the inspiration for my Word challenge. I was struggling to prepare for the SWS scrap day where I was hoping to knock over a few of the challenges, when I stopped to pick up a torn piece of paper on the floor - for those who don't know, my scrap room floor is usually covered in things. So I picked up this pie e of paper that had "Her children arise up and call her blessed, Proverbs 31:28" . If that wasn't God inspire me to do a LO on this verse I don't know what is.

This is said LO. I made the PP using Bazzill, AL flowers stamps and Enchanted ink.

Sketch challenges I still find very difficult to do, but had fun playing with this one.

This little wall hanging was made for a"Teeny Tiny" swap on Handmade craft forum, using this months verse challenge Proverbs 17:17a.

I am still hoping to get a LO done for this challenge.

How are you all going with your challenges?

2008-08-16T11:08:00.002+10:00

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Calling July Winners
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Could the following ladies please email me your prefered email address to have your vouchers sent to.

Gayle Smith
Gennie Smith
Janelle Santa
Debbie Buckland

Thanks Annette I have your email :-)

I know you are all probably thinking "But she has my email, I used it to enter the comp" That's right, but the first month we ran the challenges I went by that rule of thinking and one of the ladies had an email change between entering and winning. It took 3 months to get the problem solved with Christian Book. So for all prizes to be issued and for my sanity in making sure the electronic vouchers are going to the right place, could you please send a quick email saying "this is my email to use".

Thanks Ladies.
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2008-08-11T20:03:00.002+10:00

The Search for Inner Beauty

This layout was created for this month's faith challenge. Layout was created using digi elements from the Carnival Collaboration Kit from Sweet Shoppe Designs - particularly Heather Roselli, Susan Bartolini and Shauna Clingerman. Brushes from Willro&co.

Love, Tracey xo

2008-08-11T09:59:00.007+10:00

I've just come back from a scrapbooking retreat and have managed to put together some digi layouts for three of the challenges for this month. I have another one to come but it still needs a bit of tweaking! All the layouts were created using packs from Willro&co (our Ro!)

Man of Integrity - this layout is my response to the Sketch Challenge.

Blessed By Her Light - this one is for the challenge to use the word BLESSED.

A Friend Loves At All Times - this one is in the response to the bible verse challenge.

Hope you are all beavering away on your layouts too!

Love, Tracey xo

2008-08-02T16:22:00.002+10:00

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JULY WINNERS
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I'ts the first Saturday of the month, so that means new challenges posted (check just under the blog banner at the top), winners for last month's challenges announced & a cyber crop tonight. For those who want to join in the cyber chat in MSN please email sally your MSN addy to be added to the Scrap of Faith list. Chat starts at 7pm Eastern Standard Time Australia and goes till late :-)
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Wow we had so many entries this month it was great :-) My beautiful assistant Holly did the draw for each category and the winners are:

Challenge 1 - Gayle Smith
Challenge 2 - Annette Ledger
Challenge 3 - Janelle Santa
Challange 4 - Debbie Buckland
Challenge 5 - Gennie Smith

Congratulations Ladies :-D Could you please email me you email address so I can make sure that Christian Book gets the correct details to get your voucher to you. Once I have received all 3 confirmed email addresses I will arrange with Christian Book to get them to you. This might take a couple of weeks, so bear with us.

Check out the bottom of the sidebar to check out the entries.

For those of you who still like to be challenged the July Challenges were:

Challenge 1 - to any size layout, traditional or digi based on this sketch by Jana Eubank found at pencillines.com
Challenge 2 - Verse Challenge - Scrap a Layout or Beyond the Page item featuring the following verse: Matthew 5:16 'Let your light shine before all men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven'
Challenge 3 - Word Challenge - The word for July is "QUIET". Do a Layout or Off the Page project based on "QUIET".
Challenge 4 - Book of Faith Challenge - The theme for this month's Book of Faith is "Thanksgiving"
Challenge 5 - Mystery Challange - Scrap a Layout about one of your favourite “Psalms” and how this Psalm has touched your life.

2008-07-29T17:56:00.001+10:00

Have you met my friend Pollyanna?

There was a time recently when the wheels seemed to be falling off more than usual and the Lord whispered a little something in my ear …

“What can you be thankful about right now?”

And despite whatever nasty was happening at the time, I was indeed able to think of at least one thing … then another … and so it goes on.

I’d like to think I’m an optimistic person but in reality it seems that my pessimistic side often elbows the optimist right off the radar. I guess it parallels the struggle that Paul talks about in Romans where he describes doing the very things he doesn’t want to do.

What I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Romans 7:19

It isn’t how I want to be and it isn’t what God wants for me either. He wants me to live my life in line with His Word.

So in times of trouble, think on just one thing you can be thankful for. If you’ve ever read the “Pollyanna” series of books by Eleanor H Porter, you might see this as a version of the ‘glad game’ – the game Pollyanna played to find the good in any situation. It was her version of counting your blessings. It drove the pessimists in the story batty – until they tried it themselves and found their lives transformed. And isn’t that a great parallel of life before and after Jesus?

The word ‘Pollyanna’ is still given to people in society today, but it is often used as a way of being derogatory towards their positive outlook – in much the same way as it has become unfashionable to be a ‘do-gooder’. Should we be surprised as Christians that being positive through doing good to others, counting our blessings and being thankful are seen as negatives by the world in general? No, it’s actually a very simple analogy of the battle that continues in the heavenlies today, the battle between good and evil. We just have to choose who to serve.

I for one am happy to stand shoulder to shoulder with Pollyanna – because she was completely in line with God’s word to us. Consider …

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

And also
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2a

God warned us that it wouldn’t all be plain sailing in our lives …

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

He wants us to be overcomers. Not pessimists. Not without hope. But overcomers – with Him. And He gives us the tools to achieve it.

The creator of 'Pollyanna’, Mrs Porter, said that "Pollyanna did not pretend that everything was sugar-coated goodness - instead Pollyanna was positively determined to find the good in every situation." It sounds to me as though Mrs Porter created a character who used her free will to choose how she saw the world. We too can choose to put our will in line with God’s in each situation.

So even in the darkest times, we can still choose, like Pollyanna, to find the good, to find one little thing to be thankful for – and when we ponder that, think on it, mull it over, selah, praise the Lord for it – then that is bringing light into the darkness and pointing our spirits in the right direction – connecting us with He who is all light, all hope, all gladness.

Sometimes we just need a push in the right direction.

So today, praise God for the Pollyannas in your life. And choose to be one – for yourself and for others.

Way to go Pollyanna! I say you’re back in style!

Love, Tracey xo

2008-07-25T11:14:00.004+10:00

Let your light shine.

I've been having a little stained glass window fun.

In the same way LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Mattew 5:16

When reading this verse I kept thinking of a stained glass window, high up in a beautiful church somewhere. It's real beauty can't be seen unless the light is able to shine through and the light can't shine through unless it's clean and free from dust and dirt. How beautiful it looks when the light shines and the colours dance and the room is transformed with it's beauty.

In the same way, our lives should be free from the dust and dirt of sin and the room should be transformed with the beauty of God that shines from within us.

I used tinfoil, transparencies and glass paint to make my layout shine. Instructions on how to do this yourself can be found here.

2008-07-23T21:12:00.002+10:00

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Here's my take on the sketch. I see a lot of us are loving this one :) The "dude" in the photos is my little man Alec, he's 3 and a typical 3 year old, and makes a best friend out of anyone he meets ;-)

Giving Thanks in All Things

Mark and I have five kids and we both feel that our family is done, however neither of us is ready to take the step and get an operation to make it that way, we feel that if we take that step we are saying to God “We don’t trust you with this aspect of our lives”.

This decision brings about a dance every month. I fully stress out that I’m pregnant, I get freaked out with Mark that “We did all the right things, YOU must have sperm that live FOREVER just waiting!!”, and I get angry with God and say “YOU know the desires of my heart, why would you give me another kid when we have 5 & we are happy with 5?”. Then I feel guilty for blaming everyone that I “might” be pregnant and then I think of all my friends who struggle to fall pregnant, & then I say, “Lord what is going on here?”

This silly dance happens for about 3 days every month. It’s in those days that I think, well perhaps one of us should get the operation, that would solve this and we wouldn’t do this dance every month. Then I worry that I am letting the enemy fill my head with thoughts of not being able to trust God, would I then forever be questioning myself about the decision. How could I look God in the eye and say “I couldn’t trust you?”

I then come to a realisation that as agonising as this dance is each month, I’m actually really thankful for it. Each month I get angry frustrated and scared, all the “What if” questions fill my mind and after a time God always wins me back. It’s like falling securely into his arms and snuggling in there and saying “I know you are looking after me, and what ever happens this month, I know it’s Your Will and I know that’s the perfect solution and I know I’m okay with that.”

No matter how hectic my life is, no matter how little time I’ve spent with God for the month, we always have this time together, this check up of “I’m still here, I’m still in control, do you still love and trust me?”, and the answer is always “Yes Lord I do.”

So three days of freaking out every month is a bit funny to be thankful for, but I am just so thankful that God is in control, that HIS WILL IS PERFECT and I am just so amazed and in awe that each month He grabs my attention and alerts me to the fact.

1 Thessalonians 5:18
give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

2008-07-22T11:35:00.003+10:00

This months OTP project is one of my favourites so far "Be thankful Layered Mini Album ", following our book of faith them "Thanksgiving". I had sooooooooooo much fun playing with different techniques and mediums for this one. Including stamping & printing on transparency, using texture medium & paint and layering with vellum & transparencies to give an interesting tactile mini album. I have actually made this album to give away but I really wanted to add pictures of things I am thankful for so have a little look at what I came up with.

This was a great reminder to me that God has given us so much and we need to show him our thankfulness, not just for the big things but also for that butterfly that just landed on your pretty flower, for the laughter of children playing and the beautiful blue sky. And as hard as it is we need to give thanks in our tough times too as we know God is with us through each and every step in our lives.

In everything give thanks 1 Thess 5:18

To download the instructions for the Be thankful Layered mini Album follow this link
http://www.4shared.com/file/56078785/b0a225d6/Be_Thankful_Layered_mini_book_July.html

Blessings
Gail

2008-07-22T11:30:00.002+10:00

This is my LO for the WORD challenge. Quiet. I am not a very quiet person so this photo of me with my mouth closed and appearance of listening doesn't happen very often.

Am hoping to get to the BOF challenge this week

Gail

2008-07-21T19:56:00.000+10:00

I did this 12 x 12 layout using the sketch for July.
It's about a change of attitude in line with other changes going on in our family.
This sketch is fantastic for using scraps of patterned paper... I'm all into that at the moment. The only 'new' thing I used was the white cardstock.

How are you going with your responses to the challenges this month?

2008-07-20T19:44:00.003+10:00

This is my attempt at the verse challenge. I have journaling down the side that reads "God calls us to be lights in this dark world. Our actions & words may be the only way they see God's love, grace and mercy". I had heaps of fun with this challenge and completed it in less than one day (that's massive for me LO's usually take me a week to get it right).

Blessings

Gail

2008-07-09T23:35:00.003+10:00

Here is another layout inspired by this month's Sketch challenge. All credit again to Ro (Willro&co) for the digi elements which are from her Bright and Funky kit (except the photostrip which is from her Lost in Space kit). This layout celebrates the annual Scrapping With Soul Retreat held in Nowra NSW which was attended by a group of girls from Scrap of Faith. I was fortunate to do a class taught by fellow Sofer, the endlessly creative Lusi Austin, who I'm sure will love the paint splats and bubble wrap on this layout LOL!

Tracey xo

2008-07-08T21:48:00.004+10:00

You've gotta love this month's sketch challenge! And how easy is it once you have the hang of digi scrapping? All credits to the wonderful Ro as this layout of my littlest nephew's birthday was created using elements from Ro's "Grunge" kit.

Looking forward to seeing everyone else's layouts for this challenge - might even have another go at it myself!

Love, Tracey xo

2008-07-05T18:19:00.003+10:00

JUNE WINNERS

We only had entries in Challenges 1, 2 & 3. Poor old Challenge 4 & 5 :(

So after the draw for each category with entries, our winners are:

Challenge 1 - Janelle

Challenge 2 - Monique

Challenge 3 - Jane

Congratulations Ladies :-D Could you please email me you email address so I can make sure that Christian Book gets the correct details to get your voucher to you. Once I have received all 3 confirmed email addresses I will arrange with Christian Book to get them to you. This might take a couple of weeks, so bear with us.

Check out the bottom of the sidebar to check out the entries.

For those of you who still like to be challenged the June Challenges were:

Challenge 1 - Sketch Challenge - to any size layout, traditional or digi based on the sketch by Cecilie over at Life Moments found here. Thanks Cecilie.
Challenge 2 - Verse Challenge - Scrap a Layout or Beyond the Page item featuring the following verse: Psalm 32:7For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.
Challenge 3 - Word Challenge - The word for May is "LISTEN". Do a Layout or Off the Page project based on "LISTEN".
Challenge 4 - Book of Faith Challenge - The theme for this month's Book of Faith is "Evangelising/Reaching out"
Challenge 5 - Mystery Challange - Scrap about a challenge you've had in your life and how God bought you through it.

Please see the header for current challenges :-)

2008-07-05T09:45:00.004+10:00

COMPETITION UPDATE

Last year we announced a Book of Faith competition. Here's a recap.

What do you have to do to be eligible to enter? Complete a layout each month on the topic being explored for that month. Topics will be listed each month and previous month’s topics will be recapped so anyone at any stage over the 12 months can join in. All entries must be uploaded into our gallery in a special competition folder by August 30th 2008. You must email S ally for the login details for your competition folder and upload instructions. (This has changed, due to gallery issues please email your layouts to Sally even if you have loaded layouts please email ALL layouts to Sally)

You must do a cover page with the title "Book of Faith" for the album that your layouts will go into.

The only deadline is the final deadline August 30th 2008 for all layouts to be completed and uploaded. The aim is for you to scrap a year’s worth of faith layouts and it doesn't matter if you do a layout per month or all the layouts in one hit! The point is that you do them :) You can enter either the class layouts or your own work, but your layouts must correspond with the monthly themes and each must include one bible verse.

THE PRIZE - A full retreat package costing $150 (if you win and have already paid for the retreat your monies will be refunded in full or you can choose the overseas entrants prize). For overseas competitors who cannot make the retreat you will be sent $150 (Australian Value) Gift Voucher to Christian Book. (please note last year we advertised scrapping goodies, but to reflect the direction we felt God taking Scrap of Faith, we feel that growing in Christ is more important than growing our scrapping stash, however if you would prefer the voucher for scrapping goodies, or 50/50 please let us know).

The winner will be chosen by a draw. All persons who have fulfilled the requirements will go into the draw. This is not about how well you scrap, but that you scrapped! All other entries will receive consolation prizes.

Sounds like a good comp hey!! So You have till August 30th to get the following layouts done. & just to help you all out I'll give you a heads up on next months theme too.

LAYOUTS REQUIRED.

Book of Faith Cover page
August 2007 - Your Purpose
September 2007 - Proverbs 31
October 2007 - Our Work
November 2007 - Defeating The Enemy
March 2008 – Change
April 2008 – Lessons
May 2008 – Love of Christ
June 2008 – Reaching out Evangelising
July 2008 – Thanksgiving
August 2008 – Your Inner Beauty

Encase you're wondering there are no layouts for Dec, Jan & Feb.

Email all layouts to Sally (preferably at one time so I can keep track of it easier) by August 30th to be in the Draw!!

Just so you understand the prize a bit better, Scrap of Faith is hosting a retreat this year in November. Click Here for more details.

2008-07-05T09:23:00.004+10:00

CYBER CROP TONIGHT

Just a friendly reminder that tonight is the first Saturday of the month and that means Cyber Crop :-D

We host it in MSN. For those wanting to join in please email Sally your MSN address so we can put you on the Scrap of Faith friends list. I will also email you back the SoF MSN addy so you can put it in your friends list. Read HERE for more instructions.

Cyber Crop starts at 7:30pm QLD (Eastern Standard Time) and New Challenges for the month will be released & the winners for June announced.

For the Winners of May I have placed the order with Christian Book, but I am still waiting for confirmation. *sigh* Not sure why they take so long to process electronic gift vouchers, but rest assured the process is underway :-)

2008-07-01T18:22:00.003+10:00

Here's my take on the Sketch challenge and the Listen Challenge.

It has been a mad house here in the Clifford family this past month. From now until October we get pretty busy with our work, especially June and July, as in triple the workload, talk about busy!! Hmmmmmm it's no wonder I struggle to get my tax return in on time.

With all this crazy busy it get's really easy to forget that there is a world outside the immediate "must do's" and a lot of clients with important deadlines, but there is a world and we were commissioned to go out into it and spread the word of Christ. Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Great, how do I do that when some days I don't even leave the house? It's true I've become a shut in. Okay I exagerate, I'm not a shut in, but not leaving the house except for the mundane tasks, like grocery shopping and the essentials, starts to feel a bit like it.

With all this work, I'll admit I've been hiding, I knew I had to write and article on Evangelising this month, and yet here I am saying "Lord are you for real?? Of all the months to be inspiring and I've had such a bad month at getting out there." Struggling with what to say and feeling like a complete evangelistic failure, I was reminded that it's not the big show, it's not making sure I had a full on conversation with someone about God, but it was being "Christ like" in all the little things.

It's about being a friend, as simple as saying "I'm praying for you", stopping to say "Hi" to the new person at church, stopping to say "Hi" to a long term member of the congregation. Saying "I love you" to your Mum and Dad before you hang up the phone. It's the little things, It's putting on the cross and without a word saying "Hey I know Christ" and looking that check out chick in the eye and saying "Thank you" like you mean it.

2008-06-29T11:39:00.003+10:00

This month Scrap of Faith these is all about reaching out to others or evangelising. When presented with the theme this month, God immediately brought these couple of verses of scripture to my mind.
I decided to use the verse in Mark 16:15 as the title of my layout.

“Go into all the World and Preach the good news to all creation”
Mark 16:15

As a young person I remember a quest speaker at church one night speaking on evangelising and how Acts 1 v 8 is as relevant to us today as it was to the early church. He pointed out that our responsibility to evangelise was world wide, and broke down this scripture so that it applies to our situation and location today. This really challenged us as a couple and has played a huge part in our lives as we have prayed about the different ministries in which we have felt the Lord has led us to be involved.

“But you will receive power when the HOLY SPIRIT comes on you: and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the Earth”
Acts 1: 8.

I would love to challenge you all to apply this verse of scripture to your lives and look at the areas in which you are reaching out to others with the good news of the Gospel of Jesus. My layout represents some of the ministries of reaching out with the Gospel of Jesus, that we have been or that we are involved with at the moment. Our reaching out needed to be amongst the people in our own town. – Rockhampton = Jerusalem I have used a photo of the girls I meet with monthly to scrapbook with. It needs to be in our State, Queensland = Judea, and for this I have used a photo of the Scripture Union logo, as over the years we have been heavily involved in SU camping and chaplaincy ministries. For our country Australia = Samaria, I have used the logo of Scrap of Faith, as I see this as a ministry which touches the lives of lots of woman in this wonderful country in which we live, and our witness also need to reach out globally (world) and I have used the Compassion logo to represent the sponsor children we support overseas. This is a relatively cheap layout to reproduce as I have not used any patterned paper at all. You could use it instead of paint if you so desire.

You will find a full set of instructions HERE

2008-06-28T09:51:00.006+10:00

The theme we are exploring this month is reaching out, or evangelizing. I’ve had a pretty difficult month so far and I had barely given any thought to what I could share on this topic – just getting through each day seemed challenging enough.

In the past week, my darling Grandma was rushed into hospital and it wasn’t looking all that positive. It makes such a difference when you can ask for prayer in tough times, and to cut a long story short, prayers were answered, a miracle provided, and she’s home again – though still with a way to go to get back to good health.

And at the same time, my beautiful little sausage dog Monte, my faithful friend – died.
He was 13 which is a pretty decent age for a dog. Our little family has only existed for 15 years and he was with us for 13 of them. Leaves a pretty big hole.

So in the space of a few days there are wonderful highs and painful lows. My Gran and my Monte were great mates – both sunlovers who adored keeping each other company when she came to stay. It will never be quite the same again, even if Gran can get back to being well enough to visit us again. We all feel the void, that things have changed and cant go back to the way they were.

Sometimes I feel a weight of responsibility when it comes to being a Christian. That how I behave, how I respond, how I deal with situations reflects well or badly on Jesus. Statistics show that a great percentage of people who come to know Jesus as Lord do so because of their relationship with someone who already knows Him and loves Him. Given those statistics, it seems to put even more pressure on me and how I then relate to people - that somehow I have to be always perfect, always happy, always have it all together …well if I overlay that view on my past week of life, it’s just about laughable. Might as well give up now!

But a wise person once told me that Jesus Christ was more than capable of doing his own PR. And it was the work of His Holy Spirit which draws people to Him. So I’m relieved that it’s not all my responsibility (which really is a pretty self centred view of things anyway) – but even in difficult times, is there something I can do to play my part?

At the beginning of this year, the Lord challenged me to get real with my scrapping. I guess what He was pointing out was that there are two sides to me – the real me, warts and all, seen best through the pages of my prayer journal which chronicles my journey through life with Him… and the scrapping me, whose layouts tend to focus on the brighter side of life. The ‘me’ of my prayer journal happily chronicles both the ugly and the joyful sides of life, but the ‘scrapping me’? Well there wasn’t much warts and all there. He could see it, and wanted to see me scrap more of my whole journey – not just the brighter side.

And also during this year particularly I have been continually challenged, uplifted and inspired by one Stitching Mum on our forum, the very real Ali. She’s been thrown some complete curve balls in life, can share so honestly and openly about them, and the one thing that shines through the midst of it all is her faith in the Lord, how it both blesses her and challenges her. The wonderful thing is that people still see Jesus, and I think even more clearly, when Ali is sharing the reality of her life. It isn’t always pretty, but it’s always honest and true, and Jesus is there through it all for her – and that’s my Jesus too, that’s the Jesus I want everyone to know and to have in their lives.

Through His words to me in prayer and having Ali’s example in front of me to follow, I want to trust Him and obey, and try and be more real – and if scrapping is the vehicle He wants me to use, then so be it. For the first time I have done a layout which doesn’t feature a happy memory, or smiling faces, or beautiful photos or any of the elements which usually inspire me to scrap. I’ve tried to be real in my layout journaling so it’s not really that different to what I poured out in my private prayer journal.

Because at the end of the day, He can use me far more to reach out to others who don’t know Him if they can see that I’m just like everybody else - not perfect, don’t always have it right – but what I do always have is Him. He gives me a future and a hope, regardless of the wonderful highs, the painful lows, and even the mundane moments of everyday life. And everyone who asks Him into their lives can have exactly the same.

He never promised us that if we believed in Him we’d have charmed lives. In fact He told us that in this life we would have trouble. But He also told us He would never leave us or forsake us. We never have to be alone.

So right now, it’s a dark time for me. But I’m not alone. And there’ll be brighter times ahead too. And He’ll still be there. Jesus is no fair-weather friend. He’s with us for keeps. We just have to reach out – and be real...

Tracey xo

Digi Credits – Sometimes Love Hurts
Layout done in PSE5
Papers, heart, paint splat, note paper – WillRo&Co (Ro Rocks!)
Titles – Shabby Princess
Fonts – Century Gothic and Rage Italic

2008-06-21T12:56:00.005+10:00

Listening.

There are so many things to listen to.
The ipod....the television.....the children arguing......
We have so much competing for our attention that we get very good
at not listening. Selective deafness. Choosing what we want to hear...what suits us to give attention to.

There is a scene that happens too frequently at our house. I've given instruction....my offspring have chosen not to listen. There is a consequence. That doesn't go down so well, resulting in the next lot of instruction also not being listened too. It is a downward spiral that inevitably ends it tears. I'm sure you've seen it. I get to the end and in desperation say..."If you had just LISTENED to me at the beginning, NONE of this would have happened". How often has God said that to me...or you...?

Listening is a skill. It is active. It requires attention and effort on our part. It requires a response.
James 1:22 says " do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourself"
God wants us to listen to him. Funnily enough, he doesn't yell.
You need to be quiet to hear....but then you need to do.

Kat has a great signature line. "The closer I get to Jesus....the less I need to shout".
Love it :)

digi credits - all Willro&co Designs

2008-06-15T17:52:00.000+10:00

Challenge 2 - Verse Challenge
I have written the journaling for this as a prayer for my children, that God would be their shelter - their hiding place, their protection as they walk through this life.

Materials: Sassafrasslass paper, Bam Pop paper & die cuts, making memories alpha stamps, paper, edge distressor & brads. Stampin up spiral punch and ink cube.

How are you going on this months challenges?

2008-06-15T14:38:00.003+10:00

This months theme is reaching out or evangelising. I thought this project of an altered tin with a mini book of Bible verses would be just the thing to give to a friend or family member your are witnessing to. Very simple and a lot of fun to make. I kept mine very simple but you can make it as fancy as you like, Adding pictures would make it more a more personal gift.

The verses I chose to use in the mini book were:-1 Chronicles 16:34, John 3:16. 1 John 4:7, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a & Proverbs 1

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE FULL INSTRUCTIONS HERE

2008-06-11T20:23:00.002+10:00

This is my attempt at the verse challenge. Made using my favourite paper BG Romani and fussy cut flowers.

When I saw this pic of me hiding in the trees I knew it was just right for this verse.

I am still new at LO's and I still find journaling hard. Bear with me I am sure one day soon I will be journaling form the heart .

2008-06-07T19:37:00.002+10:00

We are happy to announce the winners for May's entries.

Challenge 1 - Annette Ledger

Challenge 2 - Terrie Logan

Challenge 3 - Dawn

Challenge 4 - Debbie Buckland

Challenge 5 - Janelle Santa

Congratulations Ladies :-D Could you please email me you email address so I can make sure that Christian Book gets the correct details to get your voucher to you. Once I have received all 5 confirmed email addresses I will arrange with Christian Book to get them to you. After last month we learned this might take a couple of weeks, so bear with us.

And for those who have just found us and like to be challenged, this is a recap of May's challenges.

Challenge 1 - Sketch Challenge - to any size layout, traditional or digi based on the sketch by Trina McClune found here. Thanks Trina.

Challenge 2 - Verse Challenge - Scrap a Layout or Beyond the Page item featuring the following verse: Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Challenge 3 - Word Challenge - The word for May is "WORLD". Do a Layout or Off the Page project based on "WORLD".

Challenge 4 - Book of Faith Challenge - The theme for this month's Book of Faith is "The Love of Christ"

Challenge 5 - Mystery Challange - "Meet with God". Scrap a layout or OTP which shares where you meet with God. This might be your Church, your Bible study group, the top of a mountain, the shower ... wherever it might be where you feel you meet with God.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE HEADER FOR JUNE'S CHALLENGES.

2008-05-23T13:04:00.008+10:00

BEACH PHOTOS
I love taking photos of children on the beach, but the full sun especially in the middle of the day can be a bit of a challenge.

Challenge: Full sun
Solution: Try and find some shade
Beach huts, trees, the shade from a cliff, underneath a pier. Look around and see what you could use to provide shade

Challenge: There is no shade
Solution: Backlight

The clear blue sky and full overhead sun can cause harsh shadows on one side of the face, while blowing out the other side. The main trick to avoiding this is to watch the way you position your subject.

Even when the sun is overhead, you can still position them in direction that will provide more shade on their faces. Walk around them and look at the way their shadows are falling on the ground. Position them so that they are facing their shadow. (or at least position yourself on the shadow side of them) The sun will hit the top and back of their head, creating not only a beautiful glow around their hair, but will also keep their faces out of the direct sunlight.

Use a daddy to block the sun :)

Position yourself on the shaddow side of your subjects while they play. When they turn towards you, you'll be in the perfect spot to snap them.

Challenge: Full sun

Solution: Use it.

This works better in the morning or late afternoon when the sun is lower. Just position your subjects so they are directly facing the sun, not side on to the sun. Their faces will be more evenly lit. One tip.... watch where your own shaddow is falling. If you don't want it in the pic, you may need to stand back more and zoom in with your camera.

2008-05-21T10:17:00.004+10:00

This is a LO I did last year that talks about my quiet time room. I use the sun room in our home to have my quiet time. It looks directly out on what a friend of mine calls our park. This is my special "God" place. It reminds me everyday how blessed I am to live in such a beautiful place.

My journalling is under the pic.

This LO came from my wandering mind while I was doing the Love Monogram. I am just so thankful that Jesus Loves ME.

Under my journalling is my Bible verses. John
3:16 and Romans 5:8

Blessing

Gail

2008-05-20T10:34:00.003+10:00

My first digi layout from scratch!

I am currently doing a digi course for beginners, (see www.jessicasprague.com) and when the chance came to try a layout from scratch, I turned to our very own Scrap of Faith May Challenges for inspiration! Due to a nasty bad back (which means I am standing as I type this with my laptop perched on top of a couple of plastic tubs LOL) I'm not allowed to sit, so I decided to combine the word and sketch challenges into one so I could still participate but keep my sit time to a minimum. I have used digi elements from DebF at Pickleberry Pop and also freebies from Shabby Princess. Hope you like it! I'm off to have another lie down - but dont you follow my example, get those challenge entries in, as usual your creativity and interpretation is so inspiring. Have a great day!!!

Tracey

2008-05-19T15:15:00.004+10:00

Yay - we have a slide-show with challenge entries. Well done those who have already got work there, they all look fantastic!

This is my effort for the sketch challenge. I really love layering papers so I guess that's why this sketch appealed to me. I've used basic grey archaic papers, loving the brown and blue at the moment.

I just happened to sit in on Alexander's Sunday School lesson recently. His prayer really summed up the two biggest things in his life at the moment. Honey sandwiches and dinosaurs. That's the kind of thing I want to remember about him as a six year old!

Keep working on those challenges ...

2008-05-17T18:11:00.003+10:00

My Prayer Journey

These are my offerings for the Prayer challenge. The first is a mini album I did on prayer and featuring images and info on my prayer life.
The layout is one I did featuring my favourite prayer place, which is in my prayer closet (my car) on the banks of the lovely Georges River in Picnic Point, Sydney. This is the place I always gravitate towards, especially when I have big things on my mind or big decisions to make - and I am always amazed at the answers I receive (the concept that the God of the whole universe actually speaks to me is still a major spin out) but also the way in which He speaks to me using examples in nature - of which there are plenty on a waterfront!

Blessings,

Tracey

2008-05-16T23:16:00.007+10:00

There are some great challenges this month, and I must admit I have really enjoyed doing these layouts.

My first layout is for Challenge 1 - Sketch Challenge - to any size layout, traditional or digi based on the sketch by Trina McClune found here.

I had to turn this around a little as I did not have a portrait photo that I could use. I haven't participated in sketch challenges much in the past, but I have really love doing the last couple.

I loved doing this challenge This second layout is for Challenge 3 - Word Challenge - The word for May is "WORLD". Do a Layout or Off the Page project based on "WORLD".

Recently I have watched a couple of Louie Giglio's DVD's entitled "Indescribable" and " How Great is Our God". This certainly put into perspective just how great, how Huge and our aweseome our God really is - He is the creator of the Universe - this Earth we live in is a very very small part of God's creation, and yet God so loved us, that he sent his only son to die for us, so that we could have a relationship with him and live with him forever. This was the inspiration behind this layout.

My final layout is for Challenge 5 -Mystery Challange - "Meet with God". Scrap a layout or OTP which shares where you meet with God. This might be your Church, your Bible study group, the top of a mountain, the shower ... wherever it might be where you feel you meet with God.

This is my response to the challenge to scrap where I meet with God. Although I regularly spend time with God at home in my bedroom or office, it is the times that I sit watching the sun set or the waves rolling in on the beach that I am really aware of God's aweseomeness, his majesty, and his power. I guess being a creative person, watching a sunset like this reminds me that God is also creative and that each sunrise and sunset are an expression of his creativity, as these vibrant colours are splashed across the evening sky. Scenes like this really do bring me into the presence of God and make me want to worship and praise HIM.
The Heavens declare the glory of GOD: the skies proclaim the works of his hands.
Psalm 19:1.

How are you going with this months challenges - I'm so looking forward to seeing your layouts.

2008-05-14T08:18:00.003+10:00

A cheerful heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:22

I love this photo of my daughter on a swing. She looks so happy and cheerful. Unfortunately she's not always like this. More often than not Rebekah is a 'glass half empty' kind of kid. When things aren't going her way it would seem the whole world is crumbling down around her.

My aim is to catch her being happy, encourage those cheerful moments and help her experience life in a more positive frame of mind. So I've used the journalling in this layout to give her some 'life advice' about being happy. "Live life as if you are on a swing, flying through the air with nothing holding you back. Free to enjoy the moment ... free to be all that God created you to be."

How does this verse speak to you?
Can't wait to see your layouts for this months challenges.

2008-05-13T09:58:00.004+10:00

QUIET TIME WITH GOD

Here's my take on Bev's challenge, "Where do you meet God" My Journalling reads. My favourite place in the house to sit and read the bible and read my prayers is on the couch in our bedroom, however the only places that I get real privacy and get lost in my thoughts with God are the shower and out at the clothesline. Perhaps they are the two places the kids don't want to be around me. Recently for my birthday Mark got me the message translation and I have found this translation to be great for spending more time in the word. Because the language is modern, I am getting lost in God's story and finding it hard to put down. I also let the prayer book open where it may and the prayers have always been right what our family needs. I am so amazed at God's intimate knowledge of all our needs, physical and spiritual.

This layout was created using Rowena's Lost in Space Kit. It can be found here.

Don't forget to email me your entries. We have only had one so far and it needs some friends to make a slide show :-) Besides we just LOVE seeing all the wonderful work that you do.

This month it's my turn to do the layout with instructions. I'm busy trying to write a turtorial for one layout in both traditional and digi, both with step by step instructions. So if you have been wanting to get into digi, but don't know where to start then this will be for you. WATCH THIS SPACE.

2008-05-11T14:35:00.000+10:00

Just finished my take on Trina's sketch.

2008-05-11T13:04:00.000+10:00

Here's my response Beverly's challenge to scrap where I meet with God. While I meet with God most days in my room at home there's just something about being at a beach that draws me into a time of silent praise and worship to our Amazing God.

How are you going with this months challenges?

2008-05-10T10:00:00.004+10:00

"Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so, little to ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong. Yes Jesus loves me. Yes Jesus loves me. Yes Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so."

This song from my childhood was going through my head the whole time I was putting together this months OTP project, Altered LOVE monogram. What security to know that Jesus does love me. ME a sinner. What have I done to deserve his love, NOTHING, but he has chosen to love me. AND no matter what I do he will still love me. WOW. He gave His life up for me he forgives my sin and has made me right with God, he has given me His spirit to guide me and to make me like him, again WOW.

My prayer is that each of you will know this love of Jesus Christ and that you will "grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:18b-19).

This was a fun project to put together. Made using BG two scoops range including die cut stickers and alphas. The back is also covered in paper and this is where I did my journalling:- Bible verse about Christs love, a few quotes, my thoughts on Christs love and of course the above song "Jesus Loves Me".

Have fun trying this project, please put a pic in the gallery when you do make it.

http://www.4shared.com/file/46953267/80802ea8/Gail_Instructions.html?dirPwdVerified=c4f8a5fc

Blessings

Gail

April Challenge Entries

2008-05-04T11:11:00.001+10:00

2008-05-03T15:17:00.003+10:00

April Challenge Winners

We've done the draw and the winners for each category are.................................

Challenge 1 - Leisa Cook

Challenge 2 - Anne-Marie Richardson

Challenge 3 - Gayle Smith

Challenge 4 - Gennie Joy

Challenge 5 - Kerryn Leworthy

Congratulations Girls :-D Watch your inboxes for your voucher to Christianbook.com.

2008-05-03T11:31:00.003+10:00

The Biggest Lesson God has taught Me - Beverley Warwick

God has taught me many lessons over the 34 and a half years of my life. Some were fairly simple to learn and some I'm still learning – let's face it, I'm a slow learner!

It's hard to pick 'one' as the biggest, but the truths in 1 Peter chapter 5 formed a very important lesson for me. One that served as a key turning point in my life.

Resist him (the devil), standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are under going the same kinds of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:9

I learned this lesson as a teenager and it's one that has stayed with me through many trials I've faced on my journey as an adult.

I was brought up in a Christian home. My parents took me to Church, taught me Bible verses and trained me in Christian things. I accepted the Lord Jesus into my heart as a young child and then 'recommitted' my life to God at every kids camp I went to thereafter – just to be sure I'd get into heaven!

As a teenager, however, I began to question the truths I had been taught. I started asking questions. Is God real? How can I be sure? I became depressed and started wondering about what would happen if I died. I reasoned that if God was real, then when I died I would go to heaven and if God didn't exist then dying would simply be the end of my life. Both options seemed better than dealing with the problems I was facing as a lonely teenager.

I was soon to discover that God certainly was real and interested in my life. I went to a weekend sports camp with my youth group where we not only played sport but got together to sing Christian songs and study the Bible. I found it impossible to stay in those meetings. My doubts of God's existence and my thoughts of suicide made me very uncomfortable to be in a place where everyone was talking about God.

My friend noticed this and arranged for us to talk privately with the camp speaker, Lew. I said nothing at all about what was bothering me, all I could do was cry. Lew opened his Bible and began reading the verses found in 1 Peter 5. He spoke about standing firm, about how others throughout the world have undergone the same kinds of sufferings. My heart was opened at this point as I began to understand that other people have also asked these questions.

He went on to explain that there comes a point in every persons life when they must accept for themselves the existence of God, the truth of Christ's love and the miracle of His death and resurrection. He explained that there must be a change in believing because your parents do, to believing because you know it to be true yourself.

I believe it was God speaking through this man. I hadn't said what was bothering me, yet what he was saying was exactly answering my thoughts. At that moment I knew without a doubt that God was real and I would stand firm in my faith. I was comforted by the next verse too...

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10

God had called me and in his grace He, himself, would restore me and make me strong enough to deal with my teenage problems. As Lew prayed with us my tears flowed, not of intense sadness this time, but complete joy in knowing that God had restored my faith and he would help me to stand strong, firm and steadfast.

Since learning this lesson I have been comforted by these verses in many 'tough times.' Whatever the problem might be I know that I can stand firm in my faith. There is no need to waiver, to wonder how on earth I can get through another trial. I know that I am not alone – others throughout the world have had the same kinds of problems. If they got through it, then I'll get through it too. And I can claim the promise that God will himself restore me and make me strong, firm and steadfast once again.

And the awesome thing about this, is that God cares for all our problems. The big ones and the small ones. We can stand firm knowing that He cares that same whether our problem is a life-threatening one or simply a case of a hard to toilet train toddler!

PRECIOUS AND LOVED - GENNIE JOY

The Journaling on my LO reads:

Precious and Loved

As I sit and ponder the biggest lesson God has taught me....I come back constantly to the incredibly long journey that He needed to take me on...the journey of Self Acceptance! Not just to read Scripture and know 'Head Knowledge' that I am acceptable and loved just as I am, but 'Heart Knowledge' in the very depths of my soul. I love both Psalm 139 and Isaiah 43. Both are Scriptures that God has imprinted on my heart. I am precious to Him and loved and am therefore acceptable to others, a person of great worth. Gennie 20.3.08

The Biggest Lesson God Has Tuaght Me.

When asked the question ‘What is the biggest lesson God has taught you?’, how do you respond? How do you choose just one? Or for that matter, the biggest one??? When faced with this dilemma recently I thought of some of the many lessons that God has taught me over the years I have walked with Him. I thought of ‘Keeping my peace…His peace’, of ‘patience’, of perseverance’, and of ‘trusting Him’. I thought of ‘learning how real and important prayer is’ and how I came to really understand ‘the truth of depending totally on Him for absolutely everything’. So many lessons, some easily learnt, others still being learnt over and over again.

There are so many lessons in life that God has taught me…but really there is no choice, no competition when asked ‘this’ question! By far the hardest and biggest of all lessons that God has needed to teach me is ‘Who I am in Christ’. To not only accept myself, but to accept that He created me with all my faults and failings, with my weaknesses and strengths because He KNEW me and He knew what I would pass through on this earth and what I would need to not just survive but to thrive as well.

God needed to teach me that I was lovely, loved and loveable. That I am His child and His vessel, use-able in other’s lives, and created for His workmanship, for His glory. That I am beautiful to Him on the inside and on the outside. That nothing I do (short of outright rejecting Him) can alter His love for me and who He created me to be.

Why was this such a hard lesson for me to learn? Well, hand up if you have ever seen a photo of yourself and thought ‘yuck’! Or, ‘I look terrible’. Hand up if you’ve ever NOT put your photo in a blog or an Avatar or on a Layout, just because you didn’t like the way it looked, or the way you looked in it! You felt that you were too fat or too thin, too wrinkled or too ugly. Too undeserving or too……….. (you fill in the gap)!

We have all struggled to some degree or other at some stage in our lives from a wrong view of who we are in Christ, a poor self image, a lack of confidence in who we are or how we fit into this world. There are so many reasons for this. A home life growing up where Christ was not the centre nor were His words taught and lived out. A place where there were a lot of the ‘right words’ and a lot of show, but behind closed doors a lot of ungodliness took place, (such as was the case for me). Or, maybe it was schoolyard bullying where you were told ‘It doesn’t matter’, Or worse, you were repeatedly told that ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me’. Perhaps it was a marriage not built on Godly principles or an abusive relationship. Or maybe, it was just the constant barrage of media and advertising that tells you: ‘You’re not thin enough’, ‘You’re not beautiful enough’, you don’t have a big enough house, car, goods, accessories’. For some people the lies are slow and insidious, for others they are overwhelming, condemning and oppressive, if not depressive.

They are however, all lies, lies of the enemy, the evil one, Satan himself who ‘Prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour’. (1 Peter 5:8) The ‘world’, of which Satan is the master, gives so many negative messages that it is hard for us to stand strong in the truths of what God says about us. But, listen to some of Psalm 139! ‘You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!’ Psalm 139:13-17

David is talking to God and acknowledges just how important he is to God. How much God loves Him and the ways in which this is revealed to him. It’s a beautiful example of a theme that appears all through Scripture. Our worth to God and how precious and loved we are by Him.

One of my all time favourite passages of Scripture is found in Isaiah 43. “But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honoured, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." Isaiah is giving a prophesy about God’s people who have been scattered, but whom He will reclaim because they, like us, are precious in His eyes and honoured and He loves them!

Learning the truth about who we are in Christ is hard for many, many people. Because of the abusive home life I came from, where secrets abounded and truth was unreality, it has taken years for God to penetrate the lies that had filled my life. It has been an enormous journey, a huge effort, a lot of hard work to re-train my brain and to re-order my thinking. But slowly, once God got me out of that situation, He (and eventually I) started the rebuilding process of putting a life back together based on His word and His truths. It has taken years and years and sometimes I still have to remind myself of the truth, but overall, I have learnt that I am special! I am a child of God, I am fearfully and wonderfully made AND I am precious and loved by God just the way I am. Not that I can or should stay as I am, but as I walk, day by day, with Jesus by my side, I am who He wants me to be and I continue to grow and change in Him, by the Grace of God!

The biggest lesson of my life has been to learn that I am (and you are too!) a child of God, precious, special, deeply loved by the creator of the whole universe! God is MY Father, My best Friend, My Saviour and My Lord. I pray that you will know these truths as reality in your lives too.

(For further reading, an excellent book on this subject is 'The lies we believe' by Dr Chris Thurman.)

2008-05-01T23:20:00.002+10:00

Thank You

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who entered the challenges this month. WOW what an amazing selection of layouts and SO MANY!!! :-D we are just so thrilled at the level of participation and it's just amazing to see so many people scrapping their faith. We will draw the winners on Sat the 3rd of May and they will be announced here on the blog. Also the new round of challenges will be announced then too :-D

Thanks again and I know I can't wait to see what you all create for May :-D

2008-05-01T18:19:00.004+10:00

When we ran the comp for new DT members the theme was "The Biggest Lesson God has Taught You". Some of the applicants have graciously allowed us to share their lessons with you. We hope you enjoy their stories and creations as much as we did.

Today we are sharing the wonderful contribution from Meredith Harmer.

Hand written Journaling
When I was married in 19991 this is not how I imagined that my family would look in the year 2007 – but the fact that it does look like this has taught me many things.

Typed Journaling
Everybody has a story to tell – but sometimes we don’t take the time to hear it or to understand it. If you asked me in my early 20’s if I was judgemental I would have answered “NO” but I would have been wrong. When it comes to other people’s stories we often see what we see from the outside looking in, then join the dots together and make our own conclusions or judgements.
Very rarely does life go exactly according to plan and mine was no different. I expected that by the age of 30 I would have had my family of three children. Instead I was the mother of one – beautiful Bronte. I had two miscarriages in 1999 but then nothing year after year. People began to make their own judgements about me, suggesting that it was “time” I had another baby, or asked why I had chosen not to. Little did they know!! So one day when I was having a word to God about these people he gently reminded me that I was one of them.
He pointed out that I often made judgements about others without knowing their story. This lesson was powerful, significant and life changing – JUDGE NOT.

REFLECTION

Over the years I have learnt that it is very dangerous to point the finger at other people’s faults because God has this gentle but very direct way of pointing that finger right back at you. It was difficult for me to face the fact that I had been judging other people, but I quickly realised that God simply wanted to show me how subtle and easy it was to fall into this trap.
This lesson began simply with a reminder not to judge other people but has evolved into much more. God went on to show me that if I changed the way I responded to people’s questions about my family- rather than being hurt, to be open and honest about the situation (whatever it was) then they would understand a little bit about my story, a little bit more about me. In doing this I began to notice a trend, I had given other people the opportunity to share their story – it was about being real with each other.

This was a new season for me, I had become open to the Holy Spirit, become open to being taught, to being changed from the inside out. Don’t get me wrong - I am no angel BUT I am determined with the Spirits leading to be more and more like Jesus.
I love that Jesus loves us too much to leave us the way we are, and I am thankful for the promise in Phil 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

The journey so far has not been straight forward, but each bump in the road has taught me to trust God’s plans and not my own. He has this life of mine firmly in his hand and is unfolding it way better than if I called the shots.

Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean NOT on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your path straight. (a note of thanks to Colin Buchannan for helping me remember where to find this treasure)

2008-04-30T14:41:00.004+10:00

Scrap of Faith Retreat.

We have planned a great weekend for you - scrapping, fellowship, a theme night, classes, goody bags, worship and lots of laughs - and most importantly … NO COOKING OR CLEANING!!

With the year flying by at a cracking pace it won't be long before the retreat is here. If you register today with $30 it is then only $20 a month over the next 6 months to pay for it :-) So don't forget to register and we would love to see you all there.

WHEN

Friday the 7th to Sunday the 9th of November 2008

WHERE

Frederick Marsden Youth Centre
10 Narangba Rd, Kallangur, Queensland
http://www.fmyc.org.au/

COST
Full Weekend: With Accommodation $150
Without Accommodation $115
Extras: Pillow & linen hire $22
Towels & face washer hire: $16.50

Day Packages Saturday & Sunday $90
Saturday Only $75
Sunday Only $72

PAYMENT PLANS

$30 deposit with Full Balance payable by 10/10/2008
$30 deposit and monthly payment plan with equal payments spread over the months between receipt of deposit and 10/10/2008

REGISTERING

Please email sally for a full set of registration forms & payment details.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Full Weekend – With Accommodation
- Starting Friday 7th at 5:30pm to Sunday 9th 3:00pm
- All meals (all mains, supper, morning and afternoon tea daily)
- Share accommodation for the full weekend.
- Demonstrations
- Worship Session
- Goody bag & T shirt
- Prizes
- Sat Night Theme Night
- Great Company & Lots of Laughs

Full Weekend – Without Accommodation
- Starting Friday 7th at 5:30pm to Sunday 9th 3:00pm
- All meals (lunch, dinner, supper, morning and afternoon tea daily)
- Demonstrations
- Worship Session
- Goody bag & T shirt
- Prizes
- Sat Night Theme Night
- Great Company & Lots of Laughs

Day Package – Saturday & Sunday
- Saturday 8th at 9:30am to 5:30pm and Sunday 9th 9:30am to 3:00pm
- Lunch plus morning & afternoon tea each day
- Demonstrations
- Worship session
- Goody bag & T shirt
- Prizes
- Great Company & Lots of Laughs

Day Package – Saturday Only
- Saturday 8th at 9:30am to 5:30pm
- Lunch plus morning & afternoon tea
- Demonstrations
- Goody bag & T shirt
- Prizes
- Great Company & Lots of Laughs

Day Package – Sunday Only
- Sunday 9th 9:30am to 3:00pm
- Lunch plus morning tea
- Worship session
- Goody bag & T shirt
- Prizes
- Great Company & Lots of Laughs

So what are you waiting for?? Book today!! :-)

2008-04-30T12:38:00.002+10:00

Last Day for April Challenges! I Just Made it!

Here is my layout for the Sketch Challenge. I loved this photo as it looks as though I'm peering through the lens at a special private moment between my husband and my little daughter (then aged 5) as they walked through a gorgeous garden in Surrey, England. So putting it into a circle reminded me of a lens and seemed to work really well. It's a very special memory, one of those ones that you hang back from actually scrapping because you just want to do it justice. Thanks to the sketch from PageMaps, I'm happy!

If you still have a layout to add to the April challenges, it's not too late! At Scrap of Faith Headquarters, we are SO delighted at all the layouts you have shared for April. Hope you've enjoyed doing them.

Blessings, Tracey

2008-04-28T22:06:00.000+10:00

The greatest lesson God has taught me was a threefold lesson in listening, obeying and trusting Him.

God had for some time trying to tell me I was in a place where he did not want me to be, but I kept ignoring his small still voice for some years until it became a total conviction that I wasn't where he wanted me to be. Once I realised this I had to make a choice to either obey him or to keep living in disobedience. To obey him I had to withdraw from a committment I had made and really felt that I was going to let many people down, this was where step three came into being. TRUST me, God said. I did trust him, stepped out in Faith & obedience and those involved were incredibly understanding even though they couldn't really understand my reasoning for leaving. BUT the best part was yet to come.

Out of my eventual obedience came incredible blessing, beyond what I could ever had imagined. Within a month of leaving Music Hall Sal invited me to be a part of the Scrap Of Faith Design team AND I had 3 of my altered tins accepted for publishing in Handmade magazine.

The above LO celebrates my journey of Listening, obeience and trust and YES great blessings. So really this was a fourfold lesson. The verse that came to me again and again through all of this journey was "Be still and Know I am God" Psalm 46:10a.

The OTP project for this month is a memory box to store those little life lessons that God loves to share with us.This box is lined inside and has a felt base and decorated cards waiting for those lessons to be written up.

Download the full instructions here

2008-04-28T17:34:00.005+10:00

Mystery Challenge

This is my layout for the Mystery challenge, using the title of a Christian song as my layout title. The song is "When it's all said and done" by Robin Mark and I have extended it to describe my boy - "When it's all said and done, you're authentic" - I had been trying to use the fact that he wore a short with the word 'authentic' on it in a layout about him as it does describe him well - he's real and genuine, no pretence. A blessing and a challenge, all rolled into one much loved package!

Only a few more April days left to get your challenge entries in. I am loving what I am seeing from all of you! Hope I'll get at least one more fitted in myself ...

Blessings, Tracey

2008-04-28T09:01:00.001+10:00

Would like to share a lesson I learnt this week? ... Here is a summary of my day.

7am - left home to drive to appt for pelvic ultrasound (You know the kind girls, where you have to drink all the water and then hold on) Grrr ….
7.30 Ultrasound appt is across the street from Shopping Centre so had planned to park there. Too early, parking not open, so have to find a spot on the street. Trying not to think about the toilet. Double Grrr ….
7.31 Find a spot right outside PTL! Two hour parking, didn’t kick in until 8.30am so that gave me until 10.30am. Had been told I'd be out and report in hand by 9.30am (seeing doctor at Midday).
7.32 Try to read Scrapbooking Memories to keep mind off things. Have had to leave kids at home which not happy about but no choice and no call yet so they are still asleep PTL. See layouts from Carolina and Ro in SM, but too exciting, makes me think of how much I need to go you-know-where … continuous grrrr ….
7.33-7.45 still sipping
7.50 Ultrasound practice opens. Try and be pleasant and get all paperwork out of the way while keeping legs firmly crossed
7.51-7.54 Try and read trashy mag. Doesn’t help. More grrrr ….
7.55 Cant believe it, only 5 minutes to wait and I SERIOUSLY have to go - but not just number 1's - feel definite attack of diarrhoea on the way! Receptionist suggests I try to just let 'a little' go. (Don’t know if anyone else finds this as impossible as I do - even my husband knew that just wasn’t going to happen when I told him later)
7.56 - yep, - well I'll spare you the details but suffice to say I'm sitting there now fully swigging two bottles of water quick smart! Grrr gurgle ..
8.02 Called in for ultrasound. At this point I'm told it will also be an internal ultrasound as well. No hassle, had that before. The external part took about 2 minutes tops (that's what all the water is for, and apparently it made no difference that I'd only drunk it two minutes before!!!)
8.05 Now she tells me to empty my bladder COMPLETELY before the internal. Well that's a bit of a job, my body is in such confusion by this stage. Have to have two go's at it.
8.25 All finished, dressed, back out to the counter. “So I come back at 9.30am, right? To get my report? Get home to my kids?”
“Oh no madam, doctor doesn’t look at anything until at least 9.30am so it will be 10am at the earliest. Come back then”. GGGGGRRRRRR!!!!!!!
8.26 Ring DH, give update, concerned about kids, have they called? No, all quiet. Have breakfast - very nice, but you guessed it, poor old bladder is still trying to get rid of two bottles of water. Probably now know location of every loo in Miranda Fair.
10am - back at Ultrasound. “Can I have my report please”?
“Oh sorry, we are having problems with computer system, films are ready but no report. You'll just have to wait”.
“But ... my kids have been home alone since 7am – I have to get home!”
“Sorry madam. Cant be helped”.
“And, how strict are they on the two hour parking out the front?”
“VERY”.
10.10am Call girlfriend who organised appointment for advice - can I have report faxed to doctor and take the films myself? No, legally they can’t separate them. She will call them to see if they might make an exception.
10.12am Daughter calls – “when are you coming home Mum?” Upset to hear about delay. “Why can’t you come now?” (Grrr just doesn’t cut it here, what’s the abbreviation for utter turmoil and guilt?)
10.15am I station myself at front counter where I can see my car and hopefully any parking police lurking. Too late to try and park in shopping centre now - school holidays, cinemas ... forget it!
10.25am A lady pulls up out front to park behind me - I rush out and ask her to 'swap' spots with me so I now have a 'new' 2 hour spot. It's a tight squeeze, hope the 4WD behind me doesn’t want to get out in the next 5 minutes ...
10.45am Another loo stop
10.46am Return the loo key and receptionist hands me my films - Cool! “Is the report done then?”
“No, will have to fax it”.
10.47 In the car, let's go, still time to get home and calm little daughter before I have to get to doctor's.
10.47 Car dies.
10.48 Call dear husband - I need a hero!!!
(Would like to say the next part was really prayerful and godly but ... it wasn’t .Visions of VERY ANGRY 4WD driver returning to their car and unable to get it out because I’m in the way.
10.50 Sit and wait for NRMA road service to come.
AHA!!! A light bulb moment. I text Sal and ask her to pray - something like 'disaster morning and now car has died and Claire home without me and upset'
Sal answers and prays.
10.51 NRMA man calls me - just a couple of minutes more
10.53 NRMA man arrives. Diagnoses dead battery. But we only had the battery checked last week? Well, sometimes they just have 'heart attacks' and die. Really? I smell a rat!
11am NRMA man escorts me to Auto Electrician and comes and pleads my case for immediate repair so I can make my appointment. By this time I just wanna get home!!!
11.05 I call doctor's and let them know what is happening, can I come later in the day? “No, and no report faxed yet either. Call us when you know whether you can still make it”.
11.10 Speak to dear son who knew I was late from my husband but didn’t know about the car. Tries to comfort his sister but a bit of a tall order.
11.15 speak to friend from Ultrasound - computers still bung, no report for noon appointment is possible.
11.20 Back on the road. Praise the Lord! Call dear husband, who is amazed I'm back on the road in such a short period of time. (Usually a minimum of one hour wait before NRMA serviceman even arrives, and in wet weather it’s even longer – and of course it was showery). He reminds me I have a big God. Ooops. Sometimes I need reminding.
11.21 Call doctor - they have a cancellation - can I come at 4.30pm instead? Ooh yeh! 11.30 Call in and pick up my Grandma - was supposed to be picking her up after doctor's, glad she is ready, need to get home!
Noon - Home at last! YAY! Little daughter VERY happy. Everyone now pleased I managed to buy Krispy Kreme donuts while I killed time between loo stops at Miranda.
4pm Call doctor's to see if report had turned up - no. They will follow up.
5pm See doctor - yes, had an ovarian cyst which explained the cyclical pain over many months but it had 'exploded' and was in the midst of resolving itself. YAY!

I mentioned to doctor that on the day of my last appointment with him when we decided to organise ultrasound etc, I had pain that afternoon but the next day it was gone - this was unusual because in previous months the pain had lasted for about a week each time. He said that in all likelihood that was the day that the cyst 'exploded' and what we were seeing now on the ultrasound was all the evidence of the bleeding as it resolved itself.

So what is the point of all this? What is the lesson I have learnt from it all?

The power of prayer.

Yesterday was such a comedy of errors, and I didn’t handle it so very well. I did pray but I was a bit too stressed to think straight (that's what a full bladder and stressing about my kids always does to me) but things only started to straighten themselves out when I thought to ask someone to pray for me (thanks Sal).

I should have asked for prayer myself from all of you Scrap of Faith sisters prior to the appointment. I'm always quick to say to people that no request is too small, or you shouldn’t be put off when others have concerns that seem so much more weighty. But I fell into my own trap there, I read posts the night before that made my need seem so trivial and I committed the sin of hypocrisy and I didn’t ask. Please forgive me girls for being a hypocrite and not practicing what I preach – oops! And I’m so sorry Lord!

But I did ask for prayer from two of my Scrap of Faith sisters prior to my initial doctor’s appointment. I shared my concerns and what I was worried that the doctor might find and they added their prayers to mine for that appointment. To find that there had been a problem but it was likely healed on the very day they had been praying for my healing is a wonderful God-incidence so I want to thank Him and glorify Him – and thank Sal and Ro who were praying for me.

So even when I’m being distracted by everything the enemy wants to throw at me, when I remember to call on Him or ask someone to call on Him with me because I’m unable, He always answers our prayers.

So the lesson I’ve learnt? The moral of the story?

There’ll be lessons to learn every day. The “Teacher” is always in the classroom, waiting. I just have to remember to check in and PRAY!!!!

By Tracey Smith

2008-04-27T18:46:00.002+10:00

Only three days to go ... before the end of the month and your challenge layouts are due.

I see we already have lots of very inspiring entries. And I'm looking forward to seeing a few more go up in the next three days.

This is my effort for the sketch challenge. I'm loving sketches at the moment, they give my creativity a great jump-start so all I need to really do is cut and stick my bits of pretty paper down.

I have used some Heidi Grace papers here - and also dragged out some eyelets!

This next layout is for the verse challenge.

I really enjoyed studying the whole of Psalm 46 while I was creating this layout. The first few verses really grabbed my attention too.

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, ...

10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

Right now it really does feel as though parts of my world are crumbling down around me. Yet I will not fear. God is my ever-present help in times of trouble. I just need to be still before my Lord and know that He is God. I will make it through these times of trouble and He will be exalted!

Hope you have had a blessed Sunday.
I'm off to create another layout.

2008-04-25T21:58:00.005+10:00

The challenges this month have been great for me to add to my Book of Faith.

Word challenge.

Mystery challenge.

Verse challenge.

First Time I have ever used a sketch.

2008-04-22T17:51:00.007+10:00

I think the Scrap of Faith Challenges this month have been terrific and I was keen to get in and participate. Here are my examples of

Challenge 1 - Sketch Challenge - to any size layout, traditional or digi based on this sketch here (click on the word here). Thank you to pagemaps for the sketch, taken from your June 07 sketches.

Challenge 2 - Verse Challenge - To do a layout any size, traditional or layout featuring the following verse: "Psalm 46:10"

Challenge 5 - Mystery Challange - Scrap a LO or OTP where you take as your main title, the title of a song by a Christian artist. You don’t have to include the lyrics though by all means do if it fits with what you are scrapping. However, do include an acknowledgement of the Christian artist somewhere on your work.

I would really love to see what you have come up with so I really want to encourage you all to participate in these challenges and email your entries to Sally before the end of the month.

There are great prizes too. Prizes for the challenges are a $30 voucher to Christian Book. Christian Book has an online gift voucher system and ships worldwide, so Prizes can be redeemed by winners regardless of where you live in this wonderful world of ours.

2008-04-17T16:15:00.006+10:00

DIGITAL LESSONS...

I have had some talented helpers this month with the digital freebies we have on offer (huge thanks to Casey, Sal, Terrie and Dawn) .... and I think, that we have a pretty fabulous freebie for you to download.

The pack can be downloaded here. To help you along a little more, the 3 LO's done below are also available as quickpages here. (You will need the password 'scrapoffaith' for both of the downloads). That means if you are abit nervous about the whole digital scrapping thing, all you have to do is open up the page and insert your own photo. Too easy!

Another little special thing you will find in the download pack is a desktop design for you to use for May courtesy of Dawn. It works the same as a quickpage so that you can customise it with your own photo, then simply save it then go back to your desktop and right-click on it to have the option to change it to your new LO.

The digi team has enjoyed making these little goodies for you, and we pray that it might help you reflect on the lessons that God has been working on with you :)

by Scrap Evangel (Terrie)

by Ro (Glenwillyn)

by Sally

desktop design by Dawn (Dawn10379)

2008-04-14T15:51:00.003+10:00

The Biggest Lesson God Has Taught You.

Wow that’s a big one!! What is the biggest? There are so many to choose from and I still have many, many more to learn, God, by no means done with me yet, but one of the big ones I’m constantly learning is to be content, that the grass isn’t greener on the other side.

Matthew 5:5 "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. – The Message

John 14:8 Philip said, "Master, show us the Father; then we'll be content." – The Message

Our contentment comes when we have seen the Father, when we have made Him Lord of our lives. The only way we can be content is to ask God to examine our hearts and show us our blessings.

I spent a life of looking at others and thinking they had it all, especially with material things. Getting jealous, trying to keep up with the Joneses and of course believing the lies in gossip mags, that my life just didn’t measure up. I was by no means content. How does a family function when Mum isn’t content? Well it doesn’t function. I was so absorbed in my wants and failings that I stopped to consider others.

When God finally “clicked” and I surrendered my life to Him, he started to work huge changes in my life. I went from looking at what I didn’t have to what I did have. Or should I say what God had given Mark and I stewardship over. First we had God’s Love and Christ’s Salvation, the greatest gift ever given to the world; no grass is greener than that!! We had God’s word and direction for our life. Nup can’t find a better self help manual ever written than that one. We had prayer, a direct line to the Creator of the Universe, somehow I don’t think I’ll ever find a better help line. We had each other, a marriage that is unbreakable with God as it’s guide. We had 5 kids, 5 of God’s children that He had asked us to look after for Him. Then we had the promise of ALL our needs being met. Isaiah 58:11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

With God at our helm how could we be discontent? You would think that wouldn’t you, but I slip up….. a lot. I was born in sin and I fall short of the Glory of God. I had my camera break, it was covered by insurance and I wasn’t content to replace it, I had to get bigger and better and succumbed to my desires and not my needs. I didn’t allow God to have full control over it, I put the insurance money to pay for some of it and used my interest free card for the rest and now I have a GREAT camera, but I have debt to go with it. I also have a DH who is questioning himself at 2am in the morning, “Did we do the right thing?”. I allowed the perception of “the greener grass” to put stress on my husband he doesn’t need. I didn’t rest in the Lord to be content with borrowing Mark’s camera and waiting till I could get one without the debt. I had to have it……yesterday.

I still let the enemy get a foothold and look at the outside and not the inside but slowly and surely I’m working on it & I am very thankful that God gives us gentle reminders. I came across this quote over the weekend for a scrap challenge “Be Kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle” - Plato. It spoke volumes to me about my grass is greener battle and just like Lara said “It’s not about me, it’s about Him” and with it being about Him, it’s about being content with us and looking out for the situations of others, not just our own.

Journalling - Just like this photo is a little blurry so are our perceptions. Each one of us though smiling has struggles and made mistakes. I am so thankful that theses Sisters in Christ look beyond their own situation and think of others

"SPRING TIME FEVER" DIGITAL KIT BY TIA BENNETT – Paper, ribbon, flower

Kristin Aargard – Frosted Symbols

Word art quote – Kellie Mize

Kate Teauge – Brush

Font's Edwardian Script & Lucida Bright

2008-04-13T16:07:00.002+10:00

oooh, my first post on the SOF blog, very exciting!

click on this link to find out 'how' to do the layout above!

Well... it's all about 'the biggest lesson God has taught me'... only, he's still teaching me! I'm a bit slow... but his word teaches that He will finish the work He has begun in me (Philippians 1:6).

The Big lesson I want to share with you is that It's not about us!!!
This was said during open worship time at Church last Sunday and is one of the 'biggest lessons' God has to teach me over & over again - Yep, still going. With this thought in mind I was reminded of Rick Warren's 'Purpose Driven Life' book where the opening chapter is all about this. The first chapter is titled 'It all starts with God' and the first two paragraphs read:
It's not about you.
The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It's far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.

The Bible talks of 'loosing my life for His sake' & tells me that I'll then find it... This verse has stuck with me since I used to listen to it driving home from school or evenings out as a teenager (home was half an hour from town) in my wee '84' Mazda 323 about 17 years ago (I said it's a long time lesson). The song was by David Meece:

DAVID MEECE TO THE GLORY OF GOD LYRICS
For awhile it was fine, hearing the roar of the crowd,
For awhile it was mine, flying up over the clouds,
But then the sun melted my wings, now I’m on my knees.
To the glory of God,
Next time I fly it will be to the glory of God,
I want my life just to be to the glory of God.
And once I used to ride off to war,There was glory to win, thought I knew what it was for,
But most of the battles were mine; and now so is the pain.
To the glory of God
Next time I fight it will be to the glory of God,
I want my life just to be to the glory of God,
To be to the glory of God.
They say the man that finds his life will lose it, and mine was slipping away,
But, oh, the man that has the faith to lose it will find that his life is saved.
To the glory of God,
Next time I fly it will be to the glory of God,
I want my whole life to be to the glory of God,
Next time I fight it will be to the glory of God,
I want my whole life to be to the glory of God,
Next time I fly it will be to the glory of God,(fade)

It's not about me,
It's about Him!

2008-04-13T10:50:00.002+10:00

2008-04-05T19:20:00.003+10:00

March Challenge's Winners

We just want to say a BIG thank you to everyone who entered the challenges. We had such a lot of beautiful layouts to display on the blog it was a great month!! Well the draw has been made for each section and here are the winners!

Challenge 1 - Sketch Challenge - Cathy Lucas

Challenge 2 - Verse Challenge - Jasmine Brown

Challenge 3 - Word Challenge - Mary Crosthwaite

Book of Faith Challenge - Jane Riches

Mystery Challange - Tammi Harris

Please email your address to Sally so I can mail out your $30 gift card to Koorong bookstores. Congratulations girls!!

April's Challenges are up the top so check em out and enter away!! Entries due at midnight the last day of the month. Looking forward to seeing the new creations for April.