Cute Halloween Cards



I LOVE that these stamps are more cute than scary!


I realized yesterday that there's only ONE month until Thanksgiving and TWO until Christmas!  It might be a good idea to get this holiday season rolling!  I tend to skip past Halloween most years because of the lack of little ones in our home.  But, when I saw these adorable Halloween stamps for $1.00 at the craft stores, well, who could resist, right!? I thought I'd share the cards I made for my nieces and nephews this week using the stamps.  

THESE ARE THE PRODUCTS I USED:
* Halloween stamps were $1.00 at Michaels & JoAnns, so cute!
* ColorBok black glitter stickers
* Orange Peel Ranger Stickles
* Gray and black cardstock     
* I can't remember where the halloween pattern paper came from
* You can't tell from the picture, but the black cardstock frame was embossed using my Sizzix Big Shot

Thanks for taking the time to stop by.

~ Happy Fall ya'll !

Pamelyn

BY THE WAY ~ I've learned how to add pages to my blog!  If you click on My Card & Scrapbook Gallery at the top of my blog you'll be linked to my gallery at Scrapbook.com to check out other cards and scrapbook pages that I've made. 



The Book Marker Project

  "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."      Ephesians 2:10

     A few years ago I took on a project to make cross-stitched book markers for the ladies in my church for their birthday.  Finding the right pattern for each ladies' individual taste was what I enjoyed most.  It was a simple project, provided something I thought they could use, and it gave me something to do while watching TV at night (kept me from snacking!).   The ladies looked forward to seeing what their book marker would look like and thanked me profusely for the gift, exclaiming it was "too nice to use".  Toward the end of the year I realized that they meant every word of what they said.  Not one lady had removed her book marker from its plastic holder, not to mention, over half were not even in their Bibles.  The book markers were at home in a "safe place"!  I just couldn't understand it!  I tried my best to convince them I had made them sturdy and durable enough to be used as book markers. 

Here's a picture of my Mom's - still in the plastic! 



     I had to keep reminding myself that these sweet ladies cherished my gift so much they didn't want them to get "messed up".   But, here's a lesson from the Book Marker Project: 

 

In my Christian walk, am I using what God has given me,
for the purposes He intended,
OR
am I just sitting in a safe place - like the book markers?

    

     Ephesians 2:10 states that WE are God's workmanship, created to be useful in His service.  The "good works" of this verse does not refer to working for salvation.  Salvation is by grace, followed by good works that honor and glorify the Lord.  We were created by God for His service and we are to be busy about His work.  God gave us talents specific to the work He has for us.  

    I'm a decent cook ~ not great and not even good ~ just decent enough to keep myself from starving!  The simple truth is, I just don't believe I have the "knack" for cooking.  Preparing a meal for guests is outside of my comfort zone, however, I'm certain that if God intended for me to prepare a meal in my home for a visiting Missionary and his family, He would give me sufficient cooking skills to prepare that meal!  And I, in turn, would have no excuses but to cook. 

    My thinking has always been that I should learn the skill thoroughly and then attempt to do the work.  But, when God calls us from our "safe places" He intends for us to step out in faith; without worrying about whether we have the level of ability or talent to accomplish the task.   

     I encourage you not be the "book marker in the safe place" - step out in faith and serve the Lord wherever and whenever He calls.

~Pamelyn   

   

   

    
    

Beautiful Feet

This Sunday is Pastor Appreciation Day and our church will be honoring our Pastor and his family for their love and devotion to the Lord's work in our church. I couldn't help thinking of this verse today: 

"And how shall they preach, except they be sent?  as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things"!                      ~Romans 10:15

In this passage Paul quotes from Isaiah 52:7 and Nahum 1:15, emphasizing the importance and necessity of preaching the Good News, or Gospel, to a world burdened by sin.  But, be honest, when you read this scripture, don't you giggle just a little imagining the preacher's feet?  I know the first time I read this verse I wondered what in the world God was thinking ... Beautiful feet, really ?!  I believe the Bible IS God's Holy Word but my Dad was my pastor at the time and I knew his feet were far from beautiful !  But,

It's not about the FEET --- It's about the MESSAGE! 

There are different views by Bible scholars about the wording in this scripture.  This is what I've gathered from reading their commentaries:  News was delivered by messengers, often on foot, in the ancient world , and then heralded to the people in their villages.  Villagers would be able to see the messenger running down a mountain slope toward them; anticipation would be high, awaiting news.  Perhaps the messenger is declaring freedom and peace because a war is over.  To this remote village, the dusty and well-traveled feet of the messenger bringing the good news would be considered beautiful because of his message.

 

The Message

As children of God, we are called to share the Gospel message with those we meet.  However, Paul focuses on the preacher as the messenger of the Good News of salvation to a lost soul.  The feet of the preacher that shares the Gospel of salvation by Jesus Christ are truly beautiful, especially to the soul that hears the message, asks forgiveness and accepts Jesus into their heart. 

The Feet

There are, in fact, many references in the Bible concerning feet.  I'll share some with you:

• ULTIMATE AUTHORITY OF THE LORD - Psalm 8:6, "Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet"
• PROTECTION FOR HIS OWN - Psalm 116:8, "For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling."
• GUIDANCE IN ALL THINGS - Psalm 119:105, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
• GOD IS WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE - Luke 7:38, "And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment."
• SUPREME EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY - John 13:5, "After that he (JESUS) poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded."
• EQUIPPED WITH THE WHOLD ARMOUR OF GOD - Ephesians 6:15, "And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace."

Preachers of the Gospel are very close to my heart because I had the privilege of growing up as a PK (preacher's kid).  But more than that, I'm thankful for the men that have surrendered their lives to the ministry and share the message of salvation.  Even if their feet are not beautiful, their message certainly is! 



"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good; that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"  ~Isaiah 52:7

"Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace!"   ~Nahum 1:15a

All Scriptures used are KJV