Looking unto Jesus

Happy Wednesday!! It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday. Our focus verse this week is Hebrews 12:2, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. As we look at this verse, we first see the admonition "looking unto Jesus." When studying to this verse, I read some comments by  Charles H. Spurgeon, often called the "Prince of Preachers. Regarding "Looking unto Jesus" he explains, The Greek word for “looking” is a much fuller word than we can find in the English language. It has a preposition in it that turns the look away from everything else. You are to look from all else to Jesus. That really helped me see where our focus should be. 

Then I wondered what was meant by "the joy that was set before him." Mr. Spurgeon had this explanation, The joy that was set before Jesus was principally the joy of saving you and me. I know it was the joy of fulfilling His Father’s will, of sitting down on His Father’s throne, of being made perfect through suffering—but still I know that this is the grand, great motive of the Savior’s suffering: the joy of saving us. It was this joy that made Christ strong to endure in the day of His sorrow, and joy must make you also strong to endure unto the end. What an amazing love Jesus has for us that saving us brought Him that much joy! When we keep that in mind, it should be easier to look from all else and keep our eyes on Jesus!

Our sponsor this week is Pink & Main. I have a couple of their beautiful double-sided paper pads and wanted to showcase them in some cards. I have three to share with you today. My first card uses this week's free WORDart that is available on the Word Art Wednesday blog.

I wanted the Scripture to be the focal point so I used this Sweet Sunday Sketch. I kept the embellishments simple so that I wouldn't distract from the verse.

Supplies:
Sweet Sunday Sketch #236
Cardstock: Recollections (burgundy), Georgia Pacific (white), The Paper Studio Heavy Weight (card base), tan - unknown
Patterned Paper: Pink & Main (Take Flight 6 x 6 pad)
Stamp: WORDart by Karen (Hebrews 12:2)
Tools/Embellishments: My Favorite Things Die-namics (Mini Scallop Edge Die), Gina Marie Designs (enamel dots)

My 2nd card uses the same paper pad and one of my all-time favorite quilt dies. Quilt dies are a great way to use up those smaller pieces of patterned paper and really stretch your supplies. A banner stamp and sentiment were embossed on burgundy cardstock and then die cut. This was popped up over the quilt squares and this 4.25" square card is done.

Supplies
Cardstock: Recollection (burgundy and kraft)
Patterned Paper: Pink & Main (Take Flight 6 x 6 pad)
Stamp set: Paper Sweeties (Hello Friends clear stamp set)
Ink: Versamark
Tools/Embellishments: Simon Says Stamp fine detail embossing powder (white), Paper Sweeties Sweet Cuts (Be Happy), Gina Marie Designs Quilt Die (9-Block)

I'm entering this card in this challenge:
Always Fun Challenge #103 - Use Kraft 
Dream Valley Craft Challenge #198 - Let's Get Krafty - Use Kraft card

 My last card features a wonderful loon die adhered over a Distress ink blended background.  The Happy Birthday sentiment was stamped on top after the Distress inks were dry. Another Pink & Main paper pad provided the patterned paper for this masculine birthday card.

Some scraps of the same patterned paper and another stamped sentiment provide the interior decoration.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), The Paper Studio Heavy Weight (card base), Recollections (kraft), Scraps from stash (orange and dark brown)
Patterned Paper: Pink & Main (Pumpkin Spice 6 x 6 pad)
Inks: Distress inks (Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean), VersaFine (Onyx Black)
Stamps: My Sentiments Exactly Clear StampSet (Inspirational Birthday Innies and Outies)
Tools/Embellishments: Gina Marie Designs (Lake Loon Die), The Paper Studio (burlap ribbon)

I hope you will visit Pink & Main and check out all their wonderful products. They have beautiful papers, stamps and dies. They also have a new monthly kit. It's packed full of beautiful papers, stamps and supplies. I also hope you'll be able to visit the Word Art Wednesday blog and see the rest of the Design Team projects and pick up your free digi. 

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope you'll come back soon.