Grow

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 20-21

Dear friends,
These verses speak to building our faith. How do we do that? I don't know about you, but sometimes I read Biblical passages and then think, "how exactly do I apply that?" So, when these verses tell us to build up our faith, what does that mean? What do we do to grow our faith? Here's a few things we can do:

• Ask God for more faith. James 1:5 tells us to ask God for wisdom. God wants us to come to Him. 
• Study the Bible. Read Hebrews 11 and think about the lessons you can learn from those listed in that chapter.
• Live by faith. Trust God. Focus on Him in all things. Apply what you read in the Bible. If you're not sure how to apply it, again, pray. God will lead you.
• Endure trials gracefully, leaning on and trusting in God. Those trials can help us build up our faith!

Faith is important to God. We read over and over in the Old Testament how the Israelites strayed and weren't faithful. We can fall into the same issues. Let's be diligent in growing our faith.

For the page, I used distress oxides for the background. I then embossed the images. I used the following Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps sets: Wood Backgrounds, In Stitches Alpha, and Teeny Alpha. In Stitches is part of the December release and Wood Backgrounds is the December Stamp of the Month- FREE with a $75 purchase!

I hope you all have a blessed Christmas. Have peace in our Savior. Andrea

Peace be still

Hello friends! Merry Christmas! We are done to just a few days till Christmas and life is getting a little crazy in my house. I love this time of year...the sights, sounds and obviously the tastes. However with all the running to and fro, with all the planning, and attending of parties and events is it possible that Jesus wants a little more time this holiday season. Normally my pages are elaborate and detailed but this time of year I like to try to simplify. Hence this beautifully simple page...

To begin this entry I used three different watercolors in light blue, dark blue and purple to create this lovely smoky cloud like texture. Once dry I was able to stamp the dove right on top. Super simple but yet so profound and bold. I used a couple more stamps from the 'Doves of Peace' stamp set and added some very special journaling to the page. That's it...Bible journaling doesn't have to be beautiful, complex works of art in our Bibles, it can simply be notes from a book or study you are reading.

"That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes form or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." John 3:6-8

Spirit comes from the Latin word for 'breath.' Often this is how the Holy Spirit speaks to us, He whispers. To whisper is to speak softly using only ones breath. With one whisper Adam was created, you were created and the entire universe came into existence. Whispers are so powerful, yet so still. This busy time of year lean in, slow down and really listen to the whispers. May peace, love, hope and joy fill you and your families this advent season!

Father, Thank you for using your holy breath to speak to me. Quiet my thoughts as I lean in to hear your voice. Amen!!

Love and prayers
Jenn @creativegurl85

Peace be with you...

Hi friends,

After Jesus' resurrection, he appeared to his disciples and his first words to them were "Peace be with you." The disciples must have been feeling a storm of emotions, from the despair of Jesus' crucifixion to the hope of the report from Mary that Jesus had risen, mixed with confusion about how that could be possible. Into all of this turbulence of experience and emotion Jesus appears, and his first word is 'peace.'

In fact, Jesus says "Peace be with you" twice to his disciples at this time - they really needed to hear it! The Prince of Peace gives his disciples a peace that passes all understanding. He then goes on to breathe on them (in John 20:22) saying "receive the Holy Spirit." I find it interesting that these words, "peace be with you" and "receive the Holy Spirit" are so closely connected in this account. I believe this is because, lasting peace is only possible when the Holy Spirit dwells within us. The gift of the Holy Spirit is the gift of peace.

When we face turbulent times, whether externally or internally, Jesus has given us his peace in the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our comforter, our counselor and our helper in time of need. He helps us to pray when we don't have the words, and he transforms us more and more into the likeness of Christ. He is the seal of our salvation and the source of our strength. When you begin to meditate on all the ways the Holy Spirit helps and works in us, peace begins to settle more and more into your heart and mind. 

I had fun creating a painted, stenciled background on this page, using a honeycomb stencil as well as some feather stencils. I stamped over the top with Stazon ink then painted the dove from Doves of Peace with acrylic paints. I also used Bitty Minnie Alpha to complete the text. Here are the sets I used:

I pray that we may all grow in our understanding and experience of what it means to live in the peace the Holy Spirit brings to our lives through his indwelling presence.

x Amy x

DIY Simple Christmas Tag Tutorial

Hello and thanks for joining us here on the Sweet n' Sassy Stamps Creative Worship Blog!

The Christmas season is finally here and you may be searching for some fresh inspiration. If so you've come to the right place!! We have so many gorgeous Christmas themed stamps to help your create anything you can think of this Christmas season.

If you'd like to see how I used two of our stamp sets (linked below) to create super cute and easy gift tags, click below! I hope you enjoy!!

YouTube Tutorial:
Making a Simple Christmas Tag with Sweet n' Sassy Stamps

xoxo,
Stephanie Gammon

Doves of Peace

Christmas Pine 

Hello, My Name Is

Advent. (n) the coming or second coming of Christ. 

My prayer during this advent season is that I would spend my time celebrating the birth of Jesus and having great expectancy that He is coming again. As I’ve been reading and studying, my heart has just been filled to overflowing with great joy!

A familiar passage came up in my study the other day, and this time, it leapt off the page in a new way and I was compelled to journal it.

Isaiah 9:6 reads “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” 

Often, I get so caught up in the first part of that verse, that I don’t focus enough on the ending. That baby, that tiny baby, that was born in Bethlehem in a stable was going to be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. What? How in the world was a baby going to be all that? Well, it’s because He wasn’t just any baby...He was, and is, the Son of God!

Wonderful Counselor
When I need someone to talk with, and I need advice, there is no one better than going straight to Jesus. He is always there and ready to listen. He’s even got an entire book of advice for me on any given situation. 

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭33:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Mighty God
Our God is not just any God. He is the mightiest warrior that ever walked. There is no one or no thing that can defeat Him. And the best part, we don’t have to even do anything but stand still. He fights our battles for us.

“You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you."”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭20:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Everlasting Father
To know that there is nothing that God separate us from the love of God is amazing. My God allows me to run straight in to His arms and called him Daddy. I am the child of the everlasting Father. The one who runs to me with open arms, and embraces me, and kisses me is my Daddy God.

“And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Prince of Peace
Peace is the thing in the world that I believe everyone is looking for. Peace from the busyness of life. Peace from the stress of day to day. Peace from the million things tugging at our hearts and minds. Peace. Deep peace. He is our Peace. When we choose to think on the right things instead of the things of the world, Peace is ours.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:8-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

During this time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, and wait with great hope for His second coming, I encourage you to celebrate all that we have because of who He is.

Hello, my name is “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!” 

Art behind the story:

The Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps set Hello My Name Is was the perfect set for this page. I stamped the tags on cardstock and fussy cut them. My sweet team mate, Colleen (stirthesoul on IG), gave me the suggestion for the background. I used gray watercolor and made a light wash. Then I pulled out all types of stamps (I’ll list them below) from several of our sets to add visual depth and interest to the background. Lastly, I splattered brighter watercolors on it. Then I glued the tags down, added a bit of washi, and did my journaling.

My prayer for all of you is that this page will encourage you to dig in, study about the birth of Jesus and the prophecies surrounding Him. Also, that you’ll be waiting with great hope and expectancy. He is coming again!!

Much love,
Gayle
Patio Ponderings

close up of background textures

Hello My Name Is

Doves of Peace

O Holy Night

Texture Tiles 1

Texture Tiles 3

Grunge Elements 2

Pray Big, Bold Prayers

Hello there!

It's Deeds, and I wanted to share something: a bit of my world, as movement, change and situations occur.  There's a lot I could say, but I have found that when God is working at the present time, all my mind can muster is, "God is good.  God is in control.  God is sovereign."

It's the mantra I'm living by currently.  I haven't found anything else that suffices for the hurt and dark that seems to be encroaching.   Nothing but these broad and core truths about God's character will act as my rock, my refuge and my strength. 
God IS good.

God IS in control.
God IS sovereign.

When we come to the broken and weakened parts of life, I think our initial reaction is, "Why, God?"  At least that was mine when faced with news so stunning, I had to fight hard to believe what was happening was actually happening. 
You probably know that feeling. 
That feeling of doubt.  Denial.  Surreal-ness and dreamlike feelings.  What can possibly weigh in as heavily as tangible fear?  Despair so close you can taste it?

I had a chat with the hubster a week ago regarding all the things that are in full swing, and let me tell you, I'm being swung!  He began to encourage me to truly engage my Creator.  He beckoned me to pray intentional prayers.  Big prayers.  Bold prayers.  Specific prayers.  His kind voice reminded me of a precious Heart that longs to hear my cries, feel my pain, and touch my needs.  And through shaking voice and wet face, I began praying that God would hear my cries!  The aid of the Holy Spirit guided my thoughts and emotions, channeling them toward the One who listens and can do something about it.

There's a certainty of the longing and desire that the Father has for communication with His children.  He is full of love, compassion, peace and mercy, and all we have to do is come.  Draw near.  Pray big.  Pray bold.  Strangely, prayer doesn't seem to hit the top of the to-do list in my Christian walk.  Give me bible studies, give me blogs to write, give me worship songs to sing!  But prayers?

Talking to the Lord?  Talking face-to-face, in a sense, with my God?  Building on the relationship with my Redeemer?  My best Friend??  Why not?  Why does it take a period of darkness to pray for Light?  Why do I wait for despair before I grasp for Hope?  Why  don't I learn that God wants to speak to me and with me in the good times and bad?

Friends, pray.  Pray big.  Pray bold.  Pray!  Just sit with your Master, lean on His shoulder, cry in His lap, and listen to His words.  I don't take advantage of that which Jesus my Christ purchased for me on the cross.  My salvation, yes!  Yes and amen!  But He also TORE THE VEIL that I may have CONSTANT, IMMEDIATE, FOREVER ACCESS to the Holy of Holies!  To the LORD of creation!  To the good, good Father!  I sing about it.  I read about it.  I study about it. 

It's time to pray…

Much love,

Deeds

PS - I'm still working through the "ABC's of Christmas," by Hillary Krippaehne.  The letter 'I' is for "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," and the prompt was to pray to God, asking for peace in a dark time.

Like A Tree

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. "For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8

Hello Friends!
Wow, these verses say so much. Ever gone through rough times? Life is full of them. and the key to get through them, according to these verses, is to trust in God. If we trust in God, these verses say, we will be like a tree with a good source of water. Not only will we be nourished, even when the heat comes, even when the drought comes, our leaves will be green and we will bear fruit, and we will not be anxious. Oh, these verses are like a balm to my soul. Even in our toughest times, God is nourishing our souls if we are trusting in Him. He is the Living Water, after all! And through His nourishment, we have no reason to fear or be anxious even in the midst of circumstances we don't understand. Instead, we can grow and bear fruit.

Have you ever looked a the rings of a cut tree? The ring tells the story of the tree's life. In general, each ring is a year in the life of a tree, the thicker the ring, the better the year- lots of growing. I think tree rings are a great metaphor for us, but in reverse. If our souls had rings, I think the thickest, the ones that make us strongest and show the most growth, would not be for the "good years", but instead would be the times of our toughest circumstances when we had to trust and rely on God.

Our God is good. All. The. Time. We can trust Him. No. Matter. What. If you are in the midst of difficult circumstances, dear friends, hold on to Him. Trust in Him. Be nourished by Him. And BLOOM.

For the page, I used the Following Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps sets: Wood Backgrounds, Shake It Off Caps, and Rebecca Script. Wood Backgrounds is part of the December release and I love it!! It's the December Stamp of the Month and FREE with a $75 purchase during December.

 Have a blessed week! Andrea