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.

It Takes Teamwork

Hello! Can you believe March is about halfway over? Wow! The month is flying by. It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week we are focusing on 1 Corinthians 12:27, "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." Those who have accepted Christ as Savior are all part of the Body of Christ. We all have different talents and abilities but we are all part of the body. Just as the hand on the human body doesn't function the same as the eye, it's still valuable and needed. Just as the human body functions best when it works together in harmony, so does the Body of Christ. We are able to accomplish so much more in sharing the Good News of salvation when we work together as a team. Satan loves it when we get sidetracked by who is getting more limelight, singing more solos in the choir, or who is getting the credit in the bulletin, etc. Maybe your area of ministry isn't flashy and few people see what you are doing. However, please be assured you are needed, necessary and our Father in Heaven keeps very meticulous and accurate accounts. He knows exactly what you are doing to serve Him. Let's remember that we are all on the same team and work together to share the Gospel and bring glory to the Lord.

This week I chose to use MOJOSketch 511 for my card design. I stayed pretty close to the sketch this time. I was ready for some springy designs, so I chose these pretty purple and yellow papers.

I added some glitter drops to the butterfly bodies, flower centers and to accent the scalloped circle.

Supplies
Cardstock - The Paper Studio Heavy Weight (white for card base), Georgia Pacific (white)
Patterned Paper - Divinity Design 6 x 6 pads (Whimsical Wildflowers and Plum Pizzazz)
Stamp - WORDart by Karen (1 Corinthians 12:27)
Tools/Embellishments - Divinity Designs die (Double Stitched Circles), Spellbinders dies (Petite Scalloped Circles Large), Nuvo Glitter Drops (White Blizzard)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Through the Craft Room Door Challenge - Anything Goes
Scrapy Land Challenge #109 - Anything goes using a die brand Scrapy Land sells (I used a Spellbinders die)

I hope you'll have time to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to see the projects made by the rest of the Design Team and of course, pick up your free digi. Thanks for visiting with me today. I hope  you'll come back often.