Hope

We'd like to thank you for visiting our blog and for those who have shown us such beautiful creations. We look forward to visiting your blogs and seeing what you have come up with - please leave us a comment and a link so that we can visit.

Our theme this time is

Hope

We are living in uncertain times, so it's understandable if folk feel that there is no hope. As Christians, we have hope because of what Jesus did for us at Calvary. This hope isn't an airy-fairy 'maybe' for the future, but it is a certainty that we can claim now.

In our church we have recently been privileged to hear a series of sermons on hope, which is what prompted me to choose this topic now. On Sunday we sang the song which is on my LO, which I feel sums up our Christian hope:

Our confidence is in the Lord
The source of our salvation
Rest is found in Him alone
The Author of creation
We will not fear the evil day
Because we have a refuge
In every circumstance we say
Our hope is built on Jesus

The verse from Hebrews 6:19 says it much better than I could: 'We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.'

We pray that you may have the joy of experiencing this hope for yourself.
We would love you to show us your interpretations of this theme.

Hazel

Ruth

Esther

Kimberly
Kim
Lythan

Give Thanks (with a grateful heart)

A self explanitory topic this week of

GIVE THANKS

(with a grateful heart)

Isn't there an abundance of things that we can be grateful to God for?! For starters - sending his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sin, so that whoever believes in him will not perish eternally in hell, but live with Him forever and ever and ever in heaven- praise God!

Ok so it might not be easy to thank God in the hard times, but lets not forget all the blessings he has given to us and be thankful for them! Amen?!

We are sorry to see two of our design team members leave us due to other commitments, thanks to Gillian and Casey for their dedication and beautiful work which they have contributed to SALT since it started.

The Lord bless you Sisters!

Esther

Kim Hazel

Kimberly

Ruth

Lythan

Rest

Good evening or good morning to you depending on where you are in the world! Thanks to all those lovely people who left us a comment for the last challenge!

This week the topic I have chosen is rest. Now I am not just talking about the physical act of rest (although that is something I do enjoy LOL!). Jesus talks about rest in Matthew 11:28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Now in those days, young men were given the chance to take on the yoke of a Rabbi. This meant that if they proved themselves worthy, they could study from this Rabbi and almost mirror his life. They had to do this 'til they were 30yrs old. At this time, they could start their own ministry. This was a really huge, all consuming task which was a heavy burden to carry.

What Jesus is saying is that we can take on his yoke and will not burden us. He promises to give us rest from all our seeking and striving to be acceptable. That's the bit I think is cool. So often I find myself striving so hard and have not even asked God to walk with me through it.

When I consciously walk through things with God, it is then that experience the REST he is talking about. It is a rest or peace in my heart, even amidst chaos.

My prayer is that you too may experience this rest.

Please join with us this week in creating something to share. Don't forget to leave us a comment so we can share it with you. Blessings, Casey

Casey Hazel

Lythan
Kimberly
Ruth

Kim

Esther

Pray Continually

Prayer is the life line of a Christian, the powerhouse of the church, essential to growing in faith and relationship with the Lord.

As a busy mum it is easy to get through the day and have not bended my knee in prayer to the Lord. Throwing up prayers whilst washing up or walking to school sometimes has to be my lifeline and one aspect of praying continually.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18

However I think this verse implies more, that we are not to give up praying. It's not a one off act, it should be part of every day of the rest of our lives.

Please make a project that might help you to pray or be a response to meditating on this theme.

Ruth

The little spade is remind me that it's hard work but worth it!

Kim
Hazel


Esther

Lythan

Casey

Kimberly

He knows us inside and out

Last time it was my turn (Lythan) I chose the Psalms as the challenge theme. I'm having a variation on that this time as I would like you to look in depth at a particular Psalm - Psalm 139. It is quite long so why not have a look at it here. That way you can also see a variety of translations.

this is one of the Psalms that I love best. It is quite challenging in parts but there is plenty to reflect on as well. Sometimes it is so comforting, sometimes a bit scary to think that God knows us so well. What does the idea that

He knows us inside and out

mean to you?

I am really looking forward to seeing what you produce. Here are the team's ideas

Lythan


Hazel

Kimberly

Kim

Casey

Ruth

Think on this ...

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4: 4-9

I've been thinking a lot about our last challenge and obeying God's word. I was discussing this passage with my Mom about how we are to think ... and have been endeavouring to walk and talk and think just like this passage tells me too. Look at the rewards for doing so! And so this week I challenge you to join us in making some art about this passage and also to think about what you are thinking about. Does it line up with whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy? I know my thoughts don't always. But, as I fill my heart with God's word, and look to Jesus my thoughts are turning more and more to this. Thanks, Kimberly

Kimberly Hazel Esther
Ruth

Obedience

Psalm 119:60, “I made haste and did not delay to keep Your commandments.”

Greetings! We continue to be blessed by your participation in our challenges and all of the lovely comments we receive on the SALT blog. We pray that, like us, you will be inspired to create a piece based on our challenges and encouraged to further study the topics discussed.

This week I (being Kim) chose the topic of OBEDIENCE.

We use a phrase with our children, adopted from some close friends; obey right away. Delayed obedience is really disobedience. Thinking that you can obey God’s commands later, maybe when life’s circumstances are different, is dangerous thinking. For this attitude would prove that we have no serious intention of obeying at all. As the saying goes, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

In our text we see that the psalmist “did not delay” to keep God’s commandments. His prompt response shows his love for God, faith in His Word, and wisdom in the application of Scripture to real life. He was not relying on his own feelings, conscience, or advice of family and friends to decide if he was living a life that was pleasing to God.

How was the psalmist able to keep God’s commandments? Is it possible for anyone to perfectly keep God’s law? Not a chance! But this is the good news of the gospel! The more we see how sinful we are, the more we will know our need for God’s grace in Christ, who is the only One who kept the whole law of God.

May we “make haste” to obey God’s commandments, putting away all excuses, repenting of our disobedience, and committing ourselves to a right relationship, gained only through trust in Christ, with our Creator!

If you'd like to participate in this week's challenge, please leave us a comment with a link back to your blog or gallery. We'd be delighted to share in your creative process!

Kim
Esther

Hazel

Kimberly
Ruth


Lythan
Casey