Sunday, March 20, 2011

Assurance of what's not seen

Close-the-door-closed


Hello everyone! It's Sunday and time for another Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge! This week I am the hostess and I have chosen Matt. 6:6 for this week's Scripture.

"But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."

My challenge to you is to make a card or project that has something hidden from first view. It could be many things! It could be an envelope, a pull out, doors that open to reveal something, a Joy Fold, a Flip Flop or swing card, a Magic card, Slider or triple slider, explosion box...anything that has something you don't see at first glance. I hope this doesn't seem too hard for you to play along. When you think about it... almost anything can have something hidden from first view... even if you just have a sentiment inside. I hope you'll get creative and play along!

I wrote a devotional which is posted on the Stampin Sisters in Christ blog so I won't copy it here, but I do hope you will stop by there and read it.

EDIT: Well it seems that SSIC is having some technical difficulties and cannot post my devotional so I WILL put it here! LOL! Sorry for the length of this post now, but here it is:

Have you ever been with someone whose motive is to impress everyone with THEIR achievements, abilities, etc. How do you react to someone like that? For the most part, most of us are not impressed at all! We see that person for who they really are… self indulgent, prideful and not at all interested in anyone but themselves. They are generally not interested in relationships… only self promotion.

Well this is exactly what many of us do to the Lord. Sometimes I think we “play” Christianity. We love to talk the talk, but that doesn’t mean we are walking the walk! Somehow… we are more concerned with making other people think we’re great Christians than we are about really loving the Savior and walking in close relationship with Him, and doing the things that please Him.

Imagine a relationship that doesn’t include some deep intimate conversation! Imagine how your spouse or child would feel if the only conversation you ever had with them involved lists of requests or demands…. No times of sitting and listening to what THEY want to tell you… no times of praising them for jobs well done or just telling them that you love them! Needless to say… there wouldn’t really be much relationship! How can we expect it to be any different with our Lord? ANY relationship needs personal communion with each other… a time that’s special just between the two of you!

Prayer is one of the most intimate times we can spend with our Savior. I think the reason it is mentioned here in Matt. 6 in conjunction with the warning to not practice our “righteousness” for the praise of men, is that we basically tend to pray in public differently than we do in private. Our prayers may be heartfelt, but the tendency is often to be talking for the benefit of others in the room as much as to our Savior. While God is not saying not to pray in public, what He wants first and foremost from us is for us to have intentional personal time dedicated to talking to Him…. and listening to Him. I think the reference to the inner room and closing the door is that we are to shut out all distractions, for our minds easily wander. God sees our hearts and hears our heart’s cry. He wants our hearts to be centered on Him…. loving Him, praising Him, seeking His will, seeking His forgiveness, yielding our wills Him, and trusting Him to meet our needs. “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much”. (James 5:16) Let’s press on for this reward!


Close-the-Door

For my card I used Our Daily Bread designs "Ask, Seek Knock" set for my door image, and the newly released Scripture Collection 7 for my Scripture which is behind the door. The dp is 7 Gypsies Savannah, The Paper Co. and K&Co. The base is Papertrey Dark Chocolate. I used THoltz Distress Ink to sponge distress. I stamped with Archival Ink and water colored the door. To get the inside of the door to be oriented right with the hinges on the right side, I stamped the door image onto plain rubber, then stamped that onto my cs and colored it to match the front. I added a little bronze lockset and key. I also added Ultra Fine Flower Soft in Sage and sewing. My sewing machine tension was messed up but I decided to go with it... it kind of adds to the aged look. If you ever have that happen, just pull the treads and the nice even holes will be perfect paper piercing!

Our Sponsor this week is Our Daily Bread designs!
The prize is a $15.00 Gift Certificate toward stamps
We want to thank Kelley for her continued support of Stampin Sisters in Christ!
This week we have been celebrating ODBD's Third Anniversary and there is a great Customer Favorite Scripture Contest going on. Check out this post for a chance to win.

For more inspiration on today's challenge, please visit my DT Sisters:
Chris, Linda, Peggysue, Miesje, Rebecca, Lisa , Kris, Sabrina, & MariLynn
Randi (is on leave)

I am entering this into the following challenges:
Delicious Doodles - dimensional project, Simply Create - monochromatic, Art Impressions Stamps Challenge - Punches or Die Cuts, Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Anything Goes, The Rubber Cafe - Monochromatic Colour, Little Red Wagon - office supplies (loose leaf paper), Crazy Challenge - Eyelets or Brads (key and lock are brads), Card Ideas -Chocolate, Caramel + 1 other colour - neutrals also allowed

Thanks for stopping by!
Grace

26 comments:

Chris Olsen, Glowbug said...

How absolutely beautiful Grace!! I just love your door and design!! You are so creative and talented my friend!! one word describes this project: "STUNNING". What a great message and devotional as well!! Thanks for sharing your words and your talents to inspire us.
hugs,
Chris
TTYS!

Wendy @ E-1-A said...

FABULOUS card Grace. Hope to read your devotional later today. XX

seamom said...

How very beautiful! Your card and the thoughts that are encompassed in it.

Wendy @ E-1-A said...

Wonderful words of wisdom. We need to be so careful to give God all the glory for the gifts, talents, etc He has given us and to use them for His glory and not our own.

Hugs
Wendy xx

Miesje said...

How do you do it? Your cards are always so amazing, I spend a lot of time just looking at all the wonderfully perfect elements. I love it! I have never been very comfortable praying out loud - something I have to work at. Have a wonderful week Grace!

Donna said...

Amazing card, I just love it Grace, fabulous design. hugs Donna x

Becky said...

Good morning Grace;
Wonderful devotion this morning, and ever so true.
Gorgeous card, you always seem to do fabulous cards!!:)
Hugs..

Becky said...

Beautiful card Grace and your devotional is a meaningful and beautiful one as well. Thank you for both :)

darling Ho said...

Wow!! What a terrific project!! I do love it.
Thanks for sharing it at CCH and SC this week. Hope to see you soon. ~~hugs~darling Ho~~

MariLynn said...

This is gorgeous. I love the lock and key. Thanks for the thoughts on praying in secret.

Kristine said...

Grace, your card is sooo GORGEOUS!! Love that door, just perfect for this challenge and I just love fun li'l elements like that on a card anyways. I was expecting to see the verse about "Knock and the door will be open unto you." behind it, LOL! But it is so beautiful. THANK YOU for a wonderful challenge this week. It did prove to be a "challenging" week but we made it! *Ü* Hugs!

Dianne said...

Beautiful card! What a great verse and the image was perfect with it.

Hugs,
Dianne
http://mypaperhugs.blogspot.com/

Riet said...

Beautiful card Grace,I love the image and the colours.
So gorgeous papers.

Hugs Riet.xx

Rose C. said...

I love this Grace. Very pretty and different.

Bobbi Miller said...

Grace, this card is stunning! And, your devotional message is more so. I am a new viewer to your blog and I choose to view it, and your wonderful messages at night, when I am ready to retire for the evening. It gives me food for thought; and makes me realize I have to spend more time with Him. You remind me daily, and for that, I am thankful. The music is uplifting and at times, brings tears to my eyes. Bless you for who you are, and what you bring to me.

The Mama Monkey said...

Once again, a beautiful creation! Love how the door opens!

Karen W said...

I totally love this card, what a fantastic idea to use the door set, I guess I need to get mine out and play. Fabulous card!!

Sabrina Jackson said...

Grace, sweet Grace, this card has got to be my all time favorite of yours so far.......WOW!!! I am blown away by all of your cards, but this one, I don't even have words!! Thanks for an amazing challenge my friend and was tons of fun thinking outside the box!! I hope you've enjoyed those grand babies!! Hugs and blessings, Sabrina

Joanne said...

Absolutely beautiful! Thanks for joining us at Little Red Wagon:)
Joanne xo

Bananastamper said...

Such a beautiful creation! Wow!

Teri said...

Beautiful project hun! Love your colours.
Thank you for playing the 3D challenge at Delicious Doodles this week, and good luck!
Hugs,
Teri xx

Laura said...

This is stunning, I love it :)

mckinkle said...

Super card Grace.

Thanks for playing along with our 3D challenge this week at Delicious Doodles.


Keryn :)

Denise Pustelniak said...

I think your card is stunning! Love this technique!

Faith S. said...

Wow!! Gorgeous card--it's just stunning! I love the verse behind the door. Such a beautiful idea! Thank you for joining us at Card Ideas!

Unknown said...

Grace I loved the message you had for everyone this week. i just realized this evening I hadn't stopped by yet to tell you so! This is gorgeous!