Lent

As Kimberly is on maternity leave it is Lythan's turn to do a challenge. You can find out the latest here. Kim we miss you. Actually I think the rest of the group decided just how much they missed you when I posted this challenge.

Lent.

I thought it would be a decently tough challenge but I honestly hadn't realised how much. Although the denomination I am part of (United Reformed Church) doesn't make a huge deal out of Lent, it is part of our cycle of the Church year. I took it for granted that all denominations use the various elements of the Church year as a hook to hang certain ideas of discipleship. So I have learnt something new. Its actually been a good experience as we have reflected why we think Lent is or isn't important for faith. Although I promise to give a simpler theme next time. Something like transubstantiation maybe. Kidding, just kidding.
For those who want to learn more about Lent - look here for a brief summary

Here are our attempts to express our views of Lent creatively. We pray that our challenges are a blessing to you and ask that if you'd like to create a "Lent" themed project to leave a comment, with a link back to your gallery or blog, so that we might share with you!

Lythan

Hazel


Kimberly
Yes, I'm on "mat leave", I just really wanted to do some crafting ... this is what I came up with! Missing you guys too!

Esther Ruth

Kim

Gillian

God's Astounding Grace

Heartfelt greetings to all our visitors! We continue to be encouraged by those that visit, leave comments, and join with us in using the gifts that God has so graciously bestowed upon us to create projects focused on His goodness and attributes! It has been a blessing to join with you in this endeavor!

This week it's my (Kim) turn to set the challenge and since I've had a song running through my head, "Grace by which I Stand", for the past few weeks, I chose:

God's grace

God provides us with a measure of grace each and every day, to face hardships, to grant us patience and forgiveness, to strengthen us in a time of temptation....but most importantly God's grace delivers us from the bondage of our sins by enabling us to trust in Christ as Savior. I am encouraged by this description of grace from D. Scott Meadows' booklet, "God's Astounding Grace" and pray that it might be a blessing to you as well:

"The word grace is a kind of shorthand for the whole sum of unmerited blessings, which come to men through Jesus Christ. Primarily, it describes what we, for want of a better expression, have to call a "disposition" in the Divine nature; and it means the unconditioned, undeserved, spontaneous, eternal, stooping, pardoning love of God."

Amen and Amen! Surely, God's free gift of grace can cause us to sing His praises each and every day!

We pray that our challenges are a blessing to you and ask that if you'd like to create a "Grace" themed project to leave a comment, with a link back to your gallery or blog, so that we might share and rejoice with you! Please enjoy the work below that our team has created based on this week's theme.

Kim

Casey

Hazel

Lythan

Ruth

Esther

Gillian

Encouragement

We have been pleased to see folks joining in our challenges, including the wonderful creations for 'There your heart will also be'.

It's Hazel here; it's my turn to set the challenge this time and I've chosen

'Encouragement'

Here on Salt we have been very encouraged by your comments and by the wonderful creations that you have shown us as together we have combined our faith and our love of crafting.

I love that verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:11: 'Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.' - in fact, there is so much about encouragement in those letters, and indeed, in other letters from Paul. Encouragement is such a blessing to receive and also to give.

We'd love to see your take on this challenge
so please leave us a comment when you are finished your piece,
so that we and others may see your work.

To get you inspired the team on Salt have come up with some beautiful pieces.

Hazel

Casey

Esther

Lythan
Kim

Ruth

There your Heart will also be

Happy New Year!
May 2008 be a year of Blessings and Growth in the Lord for you.

Hi everyone, Gillian here, and it's my turn to set the challenge for the next two weeks.
You know setting these challenges is quite a soul searching exercise.
When I chose this theme the time of year came to mind
The Start of a New Year
and so many of us make New Years Resolutions
we look at the New Year as a sign of Change & a time to Grow.
In order to Change & Grow
We must Examine
So this weeks Challenge is perhaps a verse
that may help you to examine
Please take Inspiration from the
Gospel of Matthew
Chapter 6, Verse 21
For where your Treasure is,
there your Heart will also be.
to help your creative juices along, our DT have created some amazing pieces
We'd love for you to join in with this weeks challenge
Once you've completed your piece, leave us a comment at the bottom of this post
and we'll come and view your Creations.

Gillian

Lythan
Kim

Kimberly
Casey

Ruth

Esther

Hazel

John 3:16 For God so loved the world...

How time flies, and it is my turn (Esther) to set the challenge again. With Christmas now around the corner, I thought it best that we still concentrated on the 'true meaning' of Christmas namely -JESUS.

The verse John 3:16 'For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only son, that whoever believed in him shall not perish but have everlasting life'

It is perhaps a well known verse, but it is a real testimony to our Christian faith, the fact that the babe Jesus was born as a SAVIOUR for our sins. So that if YOU believe that he came to die, and ask for forgiveness YOU ALSO will recieve the GIFT of eternal life in heaven. John 15:13 reminds us 'Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.'

Use this verse to inpire you or to meditate on in the next few weeks, and especiallly over the Christmas period. God bless you all and have a wonderful Christmas.

See you in the New year with more challenges!

Please leave a comment with this post,

it is always encouraging to know that you come and visit our blog.

Especially if you want to share your creation on this topic

Esther

Gillian

Casey
Lythan

Hazel


Ruth



Kim


Kimberly

Jesus, the true meaning of Christmas

Blessings to you all from me (Casey)

How wonderful it is for me to bring the topic of this challenge!

Jesus, the true meaning of Christmas

We all love celebrating Christmas because it is a time for us to stop, remember and praise God for the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. HE IS the true meaning of Christmas. Not presents, not parties, not decorations, etc. JUST JESUS!!!

Here's what we have come up with in response to the challenge. If you'd like to know more about the pieces of art here, just click on the name above the photo which will direct you to the blog that has the inspiration and explanation from the artist.

We' also love to see what you come up with too!

Feel free to leave us a comment so we too can share in your art!!!

Casey

Kimberly


Lythan

Please note: the photograph is downloaded from the internet. If you know to whom I should give credit then please notify me via my personal blog

Hazel

Kim

Esther

Gillian

Ruth