Jeweled Lamps

Good morning and a very happy Sunday to you. Today at Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenges, our verse is Philippians 3:13-14, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Just as I was typing that verse, it hit me like a ton of bricks. The world says to "forgive and forget," but I don't think that's what the above verses mean. They speak on a spiritual level, as does the rest of the Bible, which is way, way above worldly ways that always get us into trouble. If you fall down spiritually, you repent, and get yourself back up and right with God again and MOVE ON. If you don't truly repent, you'll be like a dog that eats its own vomit. Gross. But that is what we have a tendency to do. Only when you truly repent 100%, you will be able by God's power and strength to press toward the high calling. If we were to be honest with ourselves, most of the time we're only sorry for ourselves for getting caught with our hand in the cookie jar rather than having remorse for grieving the Holy Spirit. Some sins get us and get us good and hold us in bondage as well. You don't want to do something but do it anyway, and I do know what I'm talking about here. Only when I decided to be obedient, and trust me, it wasn't because of me, but of the Holy Spirit working in me and on me, that is when I was able to forget that what was now behind me and reach out and towards my calling. Jesus took away the sins of the world on the cross. His last words on the cross were, "It is finished." If you were to read the events leading up to his death on the cross in his human form, Jesus did not want to do this. He asked the Father in prayer not to have to die on the cross, but he did it out of obedience and his suffering is something we'll never even begin to comprehend. That was Jesus' high calling; to take away my sin and your sin. We all have our own calling in Christ. Do you know what yours is? We are all called to be like Jesus and let our light shine. While we go through different seasons in life and are called to do certain things during those seasons, our main calling is to be like Jesus, the light of the world.

Today's challenge is to make a project that will encourage another or offer an apology to another. I made an encouragement card. My design team sisters and I thank our faithful monthly sponsor of Simon Says Stamp, who is sponsoring our challenge today.

Please share with us what you make for today's challenge and link it back to the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge 51. We also encourage you to share with others your work and our challenge. If you upload your project to another online gallery, please use keyword SSCC51 so that we may find it as well and leave you some encouragement.

I also would like to invite you to our First Birthday Party Blog Hop on August 16. Please join us in celebrating! God bless you and have a wonderful day in the Lord.

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