SIWS35 - The God of All Grace

I know I'm late again - I do apologize.  I have still been sick (a case of getting worse before I got better) but am now gradually improving.  I am thankful for the Lord's healing and for a very patient & supportive husband!  I will do my best to get next week's card posted on time.

This week's focus verse in the Say it With Scripture Challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Connection is 1 Peter 5:10, "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."

The two verses before our focus verse say (1 Peter 5:8-9), "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."  Now let's read verse 10 again, "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."  This verse is a comfort because it tells us that while we will suffer {after all it is a battle} in resisting the Devil and remaining stedfast in the faith, the Lord will use this to strengthen us. Frequently in the Bible, the word perfect can be read as "mature."  So we learn that by resisting the Devil and remaining stedfast, the Lord will use that to mature us. This will then help to stablish (establish), strengthen and settle us more firmly in our our faith.  The Lord is not going to leave us out there on our own to fight these battles, but instead, He will use our struggles to help us "grow up" in Him.

While I've been sick, I've been re-watching videos from StampTV on my Kindle.  I came across the Heat Embossed Background with the Cuttlebug technique and decided to give it a try.

I used the same embossing folder that Gina does in the video but used black cardstock underneath the embossing powder instead of slate.  I also used her card as my sketch.  It's so simple but I think gives such an elegant look.  I will probably be using it again.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections (black), Georgia Pacific (white)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy (Amazing Grace)
Ink:  VersaMark
Embellishments/Tools:  Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Victoria), Spellbinders (Petite Ovals large & small), Gold Pen (Michael's), Pearls (Oriental Trading), Ribbon (Offray), sanding block (brand unknown) 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Paper Sundaes #107 - Sundae Bar (use any two or more:  cream, blue, distressing, pearls - I used distressing & pearls) 
Word Art Wednesday #15 - Use Scripture
Scripture Thursday #16 - Use Scripture (this week's theme is Amazing Grace)

I hope you'll play along with us this week and don't forget to stop by The Connection for your free digi.

Thanks for stopping by today.