Word Art Wednesday: What Covers Sin?

When I was a young girl, and my father was still carpentering, I would sometimes go with him to the construction site.  My dad really was a craftsman and he and the other man who made up their crew could put a house up in a very short time.  They worked so hard.  I grew to love the process of building a home and I learned so many lessons from my dad on those occasions.  I learned that your word was your bond, you gave 100% to every task, and quality could not be compromised. When I was older, I had the privilege of doing some interior painting with my dad.  He owned some rental properties and we would go in and get the place cleaned up and painted.  So many times I was aghast at the condition renters would leave the place.  They left trash and destruction in their wake, often leaving without being up to date on payments.  I thought it was a hopeless task, but my dad would simply roll up his sleeves and get to work.  He taught me to paint...and often made the remark, "Paint covers a lot of sin!"  It was true.  A fresh coat of paint and a little cleaning often made a place look perfectly livable again.

  

Our scripture challenge at Word Art Wednesday this week is truly beautiful.  Love can cover up so much can't it?  There is so much hatred and strife in the world I'm often tempted to lose hope...like I did on those houses that were nearly destroyed.  Sometimes I think our world is on the brink of destruction.  But Jesus can cover it all!  Our world needs Jesus as never before.  We are seeing new and ever more frightening faces of evil in our world, but nothing is beyond God's control.  Our loving and sovereign Lord has a rein on all things.  Our job is to share the Gospel as far and as wide, in every place we go.  It is time to roll up our sleeves and be about Kingdom work.  There is so much to do!

Spreading the love of Christ seems like a daunting task when we have the whole world in our lens.  But we need to focus.  We begin in our families and neighborhoods and share who Christ is and the gift He offers.  If we cover our neighborhoods with His love and mercy, it will make a difference.  If all Christians took a stand, rolled up their sleeves and really focused on what our priority is, we would see a revival in our land.  I really believe that. 

The enemy seeks to destroy all that is good.  He has targeted our homes, families, churches.  We can never forget that love covers a lot of sin!  The Gospel of Christ is for a lost and dying world.  It is for those who are trapped by darkness and evil.  Christ can bring hope, healing and light to our world.  But He has called us to be the torch bearers.  He's asking us to go in to our world with the Truth of the Gospel and spread the story of His amazing love. 

There was so much satisfaction in seeing a home restored after Dad and I were finished with it. I was always amazed by the transformation.  There is no comparison to the joy in seeing a life transformed by the love of Christ...a sinner saved by grace.

There is hope in the midst of all the hatred and strife we see in our world.  Jesus can cover all sin, and can bring hope where all hope seems lost. 

Join us for Word Art Wednesday this week if you haven't already done so.  We'd love to see your inspirations.  You can use our verse now or later...but come along and share your projects with us.  I'm a little late sharing mine for this week, so there is still time before a new challenge goes up in a couple of days. 

Continual Hope and Constant Praise

Welcome to another wonderful Word Art Wednesday...where God's Word continuously inspires our art!  Our verse today is marvelous...both in content and style. Karen Murray of Papercraft Memories does a fabulous job of our word art every week, all year long, year after year.  If you have the chance, it would be a blessing to her I know to peek in on her blog and tell her how much you appreciate her scriptural artwork every week.  And while you are roaming, head to our challenge blog to see what amazing sponsors we have this week.  Karen's L. also has another thought-provoking, heart-touching devotion ready for you too.  We invite you to join our challenge at Word Art Wednesday.

A couple of week's ago I was looking for an image to symbolize a travel goal for this year.  I've always wanted to go to Prince Edward Island, the "home" of Anne of Green Gables.  I found this delightful image on Mo's Digital Pencil.  Instantly I was in love with several of her images, made a purchase and now have a delightful little stash.  But this one really pulled at my heartstrings!

If you read any of the Anne of Green Gables books, you will remember the infectious, positive spirit of Anne.  That was one of the things that drew readers to her character.  Anne could always teach a thing or two in every episode!  Arriving at Green Gables, carrying all her worldly possessions, Anne soon finds her way into the hearts of her adoptive family and the entire community of Avonlea.

Our wordart for the week goes so well with this adorable digi of Anne.  Anne always looked on the "bright side" of life and found opportunity for good in every challenge.  A positive attitude may certainly keep a smile on one's face, but it doesn't compare to the hope we have in Christ.  Hope in Christ rests on the nature of His character, not ours.  And because He is perfectly trustworthy, our hope is certain. 

Anne's adorable freckled-face smiles brought love and laughter to those who knew her.  As believers we can have the same "infectious" effect on our world as they watch us praising a loving Father who is completely trustworthy. 

Regardless of our worldly possessions, we know we have the treasures of heaven at our disposal when we trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord.  When we leave this world, we won't even be able to take one carpet-bag full of our possessions.  All will be left behind.  But what we will take with us is hearts full of gratitude and praise.  Our desire will be to praise our God more and more....more and even more!  We will want to stand around the throne of our Savior and offer constant praise for His merciful salvation.

There are life-lessons we can learn from Anne, and those lessons are sure to win friends and influence enemies.  But with a spirit-filled heart of love for the lost of this world, we can do so much more than spread a positive attitude wherever we go.  We can share the Gospel of Christ, and bring true Light into our sin-darkened world. 

I will always place my hope in God, my Father, because He has never failed me.  The older I get the more I realize what I owe and I simply want to praise Him more and more!

We certainly hope to see you over at Word Art Wednesday this week.  Post your link to your inspirational artwork so others will be inspired by its beauty!  Thanks for joining us.

Word Art Wednesday: Singing Stars (FREE DIGI IMAGE)

Word Art Wednesday is such a fun, inspiring place to hang out.  We are averaging nearly 200 participants each week in our challenges.  Our flexible "anything goes" has only one real parameter.  Make your projects encouraging, positive and uplifting.  We'd love to see you use our Scripture image on your project, but it's not necessary.  It's yours to use later if you wish.  We do hope you will visit our challenge page to check out our sponsors and link to your creation.  Our wordart this week comes from my store, Daydream Designs.  One other sentiment is available free on our
WAW blog.  The rest of the set is featured at the end of this post.

I also had the joy and privilege of writing this week's devotion to accompany our challenge verse.  You can read that devotion on our blog, so I won't repeat it here.

My Sample(s):

Figure 1

Just to have a little fun with the image for this week, I decided to create several samples that shows the range with which you can enjoy digi images.  The above was created digitally in Adobe Photoshop Elements 10, the version I use to create and manipulate most of my digital sentiments. I use something different to create my hand drawn images.  I used the PSE10 to change the color of the verse so it would perfectly match the colors in the papers and embellishments I used.  

 
 
I started card making as a traditional paper crafter...all hands on, nothing digitally produced except maybe an occasional sentiment or inside card greeting. Once I started dabbling in digi images, I had a difficult time breaking from my more traditional leanings.  So I started doing a variety of hybrid projects, that is how I use digital images almost exclusively.  The card above was created by using the composite image (Figure 1).  I just printed out the composite image and put it on a card. It gives the illusion of dimension.  But it's real dimension that I love most.

So here's a version with all the digital elements printed out separately then reassembled to make a more traditional looking card.  

All three versions start with the same digital images, but have very different looks in the final stage.  The only time I used completely digital images is to create projects like printed calendars or books.  My goal this year is to produce digital scrapbooks as bound books.  I use My Digital Studio (Stampin' Up!) for that.

I hope these samples will spur your own creativity and you will join us at Word Art Wednesday by linking us to your project.  We'd love to see it! 

Daydream Designs Used:

Shine Like Stars Color Set

13 images with and without sentiments

JPEG and PNG

$3.00

Shine Like Stars Digi Papers

16 sheets / 12 x 12 / 300 ppi / resizable

JPEG only

$3.50

Starry Elements

21 elements (3 buttons without thread not shown)

JPEG and PNG

$3.00

Shine Like Stars Sentiments

11 sentiments / JPEG and PNG/ resizable

black sentiments can be recolored in most photo editing programs

$3.00

Thank you for blessing my day!

Diane

Word Art Wednesday: Perspective is Everything! (FREE DIGI!)

Really, doesn't proper perspective have a powerful impact on the condition of our hearts?  When life closes in on us, we need to step back and get a new view...a heavenly view.  Our scripture challenge for this week at Word Art Wednesday has blessed my socks off this week.  I needed the instruction it offers.  Don't we all?  I hope you'll take a look at my sample then head to the WAW website for challenge details and the sponsor prizes for the winner. 

I've had a tough week.  If I started describing it, many would merely scoff and say, "Really, you think THAT's tough?  Let me tell you what I'm going through!"  And if they described their circumstances, I would have to retreat into my shell of shame.  Perspective.

When growing up, I attended a few pity parties.  And when my mother would notice me dressing up for one she would often remark, "You don't have to look far to see someone else who has it much worse than you.  Be grateful for what you have."  Perspective. 

When we view our "light and momentary" problems through the lens of perspective our vision is often cleared and we see things as they are.  Most of us can't imagine the death, devastation and decay that so many Filipinos are seeing in the typhoon's aftermath.  My grandsons are there.  I see it differently knowing how close my precious guys were to tragic consequences. I'm grateful they escaped, but so many didn't.  Perspective. 

I saw an immediate connection between the image I used for my DT sample and our verse.  This adorable snowmama tenderly lifts her child's face as if to say, "Look up.  Look at me and know that I love you."  Can't you just hear the voice of our heavenly father beckoning us to do the same?  When your heart is troubled, look up.  Perspective.

I clearly recall the crisp October day my father crossed from this life to heaven's glory.  I intentionally waited until sunset to start my solo journey home.  I prayed for a glorious sunset, and God painted a masterpiece for me that evening.  I imagined my daddy living as he had never lived before just beyond that sunset.  That night before bed, my husband and I stepped outside to look at a star-strewn sky.  The God of the universe was looking down on me, and I was looking up at Him.  Our eyes met.  I could see Him....I could see His glory as the firmament displayed His handiwork. Earth didn't seem so empty when I considered the glory of heaven.  Perspective. 

When life swallows your heart, look up!  Seek His glory and He will show you His amazing handiwork.  Look around.  You don't have to look far to see someone else with a bigger struggle, a deeper hurt, a longer journey or a heavier weight.  Perspective.

Have you ever stepped outside when snow is cascading to the earth in huge, down-feather flakes?  It's dizzying isn't it.  You can get lost in it.  The next time it snows like that, step outside.  Look up.  And imagine the grace of God settling over you, the spirit of God filling you, the love of God covering you...and the eyes of God giving you new perspective.  Go ahead....get lost in Him...in His glory...the the handiwork of His firmament.

Look up.  The heavens have a message for you.  They declare that the Maker of heaven and earth is mindful of you.  He knows your light and momentary troubles and He knows your tragic tribulations.  His perspective is perfect.  He sees you, knows you, and loves you.  But if you want to look Him in the eye to see glimpses of what He sees, you have to look up.  Perspective.

My sample was calming to make.  I enjoyed every minute of it.  The digital image is from an upcoming set.  Part of my light and momentary problems have included dealing with unexpected changes made by my store's host.  As it appears at this time, I will have to add all my products (600 and counting) all over again into a new store format.  What looks like an insurmountable hurdle, is really pretty small from God's perspective.  And that's where I have to shift my view.  Currently, I can't add new product, or I would be releasing this set and the one featured in last week's Word Art Wednesday.  So for now, I will simply joyfully announce this as a sneak peek!

I'll just throw up the set promo photos, and gratefully say, "They are coming soon!"   And I'll have fun in the meantime creating a few more samples to share when I really can release them.  Perspective is everything!

Until these are available in the store, 

you can purchase them right here, 

securely through PayPal,

 and you don't have to have a PayPal account.
Allow 24 hours for emailed files. 

Let It Snow Color Set
 22 precolored images / JPEG and PNG
Use PNG files to layer images and create your own snow scene!
$5.00

Elegant Snowflakes Digi Paper Pack
10 sheets / 12 x 12 / 300 ppi / resizable
$3.00 

 Let It Snow Outline Set

15 images / JPEG and PNG (transparent and white-filled)

300 ppi / resizable

$4.00

Meet the Flakers
1 composite image and 2 sentiments
JPEG and PNG (transparent and white-filled)
$3.00

Snow Fun Sentiments 
 16 sentiments or sentiment stems / JPEG and PNG/ resizable
can be recolored in most photo editing programs
$3.00

This FREE DIGI is available until November  27.  Enjoy!

(Digi has expired)

May the firmaments above you show forth His glory!

Thanks for blessing my day!

Diane