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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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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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)

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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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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 :-)

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.

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?

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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.

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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 ;-)

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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.

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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

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

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 :-)

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.

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 .