Coming Tomorrow! Summer Fun Hostess Bonus Promotion

Heads Up!!!
On June 1, I'll be ready to post (as soon as they are released) the Stampin' Up! Last Chance Stamp and Accessories Lists (formerly called the "retired" lists). The Summer Fun Hostess Bonus Promotion kicks off, too.
REMEMBER: All these Stampin' Up! promotions (including hostess promotions) are available with a qualifying on-line order. Supplies will be limited and sell out quickly on the Last Chance Lists.
Today's card relies on the God's Beauty stamp set (Hostess Level 1 ). Team up with a friend, place your order on-line and earn this stamps free. Plus, take advantage of the additional hostess free merchandise for qualifying orders ($150 or more, workshops or on-line) placed in June.

This card is cased from pumpkin1966's gallery on SCS. Click on Split Coast Stampers under My Favorite Links to see more cards made with this beautiful stamp set of 4 stamps. She also used the ticket corner, scallop oval (in the Occasions Mini Catalog) and large oval punches to make this card. Click the following link to go straight to this card for more details: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1346487?cat=16127

Encourage Ink Words - "It is by grace you have been saved."

Ephesians Chapter 2
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)-- 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him (Christ Jesus) the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. NIV

April Showers bring May Flowers

A Card Made with One of SU!'s Current (08-09) Hostess Sets

This is a card made from a current SU! hostess set. It is so pretty. This is from one of SU!'s demonstrator's blog I follow. Call me if you would like to earn one of these sets for doing a workshop (in house or catalog).

Encourage Ink Words - Set your hearts and minds on things above

"When you go to war against your enemies (as Christians we are all at war, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Eph 6:12) and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. He shall say: 'Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.' " Deuteronomy 20:1-4 NIV


Colossians Chapter 3 (NIV)
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

This morning's EncourageInk Words

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Selah Psalm 24:1-6 NIV

Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:1-7 NIV
Wait for the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it. Psalm 37:34 NIV
The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. Psalm 37:39-40 NIV

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 NIV
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 NIV
Words this color - Gold Nuggets

Mother's Day and Get Well Cards

Well, I am finally getting around to posting my Mother's Day Cards and a Get Well card I made for a friend who is recovering from pancreatic cancer and needs your prayers. Enjoy!

Today's EncouagInk Words - Psalm 107:17-22, Jeremiah 9:22-26

Don't you ever wonder why you have to suffer, I know lately I have been wondering that a lot because I have been going through a lot of physical pain which usually leads me to mental anguish. I usually go to the Word of God during these times because I know that He is my source of all truth. This morning I was lead to a devotional in the book Breakfast for the Soul compiled by Judith Couchman. The devotional is:

There Is a Balm

by Kay Arthur

(I am going to type this in for you because it really helped me and

I thought it may help someone else looking at my blog.)

"Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician? --Jeremiah the Prophet

[In Gilead] as balm was produced which was known not only for its healing properties but also for its cosmetic benefits.
Gilead, however, was not only known for the balm it produced. It was also known as a place where people fled when they were in trouble. Jacob fled there when being pursued by the Philistines. And David fled there when being pursued by Absalom. Under Moses, it was declared a city of refuge.
O Beloved, as a child of God, where do you run in the time of trouble? Where is your city of refuge? Where is your Gilead?
Over and over again the psalmist describes the varied states of distress in which God's people found themselves. As you read, the tension build, relived only byt the words, "Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses" (Psal 107:13 nas).
Twice we read this phrase, and then we come to verse 17:"Fools, because of their rebellious way, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all kinds of food; and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions". Psalm 107:17-20 NAS
There it is! The Word of God that can heal the soul. You--anyone--can be delivered from your pit of despair because there is a Balm in Gilead, there is a Great Physician there!
In Jeremiah's day God's people had committed two evils. First they had forsaken God, the fountain of living waters. Second, they had hewn for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, which wouldn't hold water. In other words, they had turned from God and His ways to the flesh and its ways. They did not draw from Him that which is essential for life--living water.
A cistern is simply a place to store something, usually water. What you put into a cistern is what you get out of it. In contrast, a wellspring has an unseen source from which you draw. The people of Jeremiah's day had forsaken the fountain of living waters for broken cisterns which couldn't even hold water! We do the same thing when we turn from the Word of God to the counsel and wisdom of man for healing our hurts.
You can be healed if you will be healed His way. You can be healed if you will run to Calvary, your city of refuge. Remember, there is a Balm in Gilead and there is a Physician there.

Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be

saved, for you are the one I praise. --Jeremiah 17:14 NIV
There is healing through the blood of Christ and deliverance

for every captive. --Smith Wigglesworth"

"Some became fools through their

rebellious ways

and suffered affliction because of

their iniquities.

They loathed all food

and drew near the gates of death.

Then they cried to the Lord in

their trouble,

and he saved them from their distress.

He sent forth his word and healed

them; he rescued them from the grave.

Let them give thanks to the Lord

for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men.

Let them sacrifice thank offerings

and tell of his words with songs of joy." --NIV Psalm 107:17-22

This is what the Lord says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strenght or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the Lord. "The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh -- Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab and all who live in the desert in distant places. For all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart." --NIV Jeremiah 9:22-26

EncourageInk Word for the Day

This is the Word of God that was given to me yesterday. Most people just want to hear pleasant things, some seem to think an encouraging word is always pleasant but that isn't always the case. We need to be challenged to do what God desires, I know I do. God desires obedience and we need to be encouraged to obey His Word.

Ephesians 4:22 "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.