Let your Light Shine

Hello everyone! Happy Sunday! I hope you have been having a wonderful Summer! I have been away and my last several posts were pre-scheduled, but I am back now and my family is here for the week! We are having a wonderful time enjoying the lake, day trips, and lots of fun time together!

Today's Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge has really been a fun one for me, and I hope it will be for you as well! Our hostess is Peggysue and she has chosen the verse from Luke 8:16

"No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lamp stand, that those who enter may see the light."

The challenge is to make a votive holder or a card/project depicting a candle (light).

My Thoughts on this challenge

John 8:12 says "When Jesus spoke again to the people He said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."

As we think about these verses about the true light, which is Jesus, we realize that when we know the Savior, we HAVE the Light of the world within us, and it is our responsibility to shine that light forth in all that we do, say and even think. As we strive to let the light of Jesus shine through us... people will be drawn to that Light... out of the darkness that is all around us in this world.

In Matt 5:14-16 Jesus says "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven". Our greatest desire should be to help bring people to that Light that can save them from the darkness of sin and it's penalty, which is death. When we have the Light of Jesus in us, we have the forgiveness of sins, the promise of heaven and eternity with Him, and the joy of an abundant life here on earth! Why wouldn't we want to shine that light for all to see and be drawn to?

For this week's challenge, I made a votive holder using the wonderful light house image from Our Daily Bread design's very first set, Light of the World. Having lived near the east coast for most of my life, I have a love of light houses, and I can't see one without thinking of these verses! If you have ever been on the water in the darkness of night when you cannot see anything... dangers are all around you but you cannot see them. But when you see that light house, shining out a beam of light to warn of dangers and make your course clear, you are filled with relief and thankfulness. In the same way.... when you look on the light of Jesus, you will be not only able to see the path before you clearly, but you will be filled with His light and life! I hope you are basking in the joy of His light today!

Card Details:
Stamps: Our Daily Bread designs "Light of the World"
Designer Paper: Paper House Products "Sea Scapes"
Accessories: Martha Stewart Shell Punch, Copics to color image (stamped and colored 4)
Vellum for the windows, Spellbinder's long oval die cut for windows, tutorial on SCS, battery operated votive candle

Our Sponsor this week is Karen's Doodles
Be sure to check out the Stampin Sisters in Christ Blog for all the details!

We'd love to have you play along... if you do, please place a link to the Stampin Sisters in Christ Blog in your post, and place a direct link to your project on the SSIC thread.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team for more inspiration for this week's challenge!

We're so excited that Miesje, Cindy and Rebekkah will be staying on as Design Team Members!
Chris
Cindy
Linda
Randi
Peggysue
Lisa
Miesje
Rebekkah

Have a blessed week and I hope to see you on Aug 1st when we reveal the brand new Our Daily Bread designs sets with a fun blog hop and prizes!