Peaceful Nuthatch in the snow

Happy New Year. I am thank for the blessings that God gave me and my family last year. I am looking forward to seeing what He is going to do this coming year.

I love this little bird sitting on this snowcovered fence. I have often noticed the little birds in winter and said a quick thankful prayer that I'm not having to be out in the cold all the time like they are. I'm spoiled. I like my warm house, my warm clothes, my warm bed... There are several scriptures that come to my mind about God caring for the little birds. Psalm 50:11 says "I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine." To me it is a great reminder that I too am God's and He is going to take care of me this New Year.

The little bird is a Mark's Finest Papers set called - Peaceful Nuthatch. The technique lovers challeng at SCS was to make a wet card. My wet "snow" was made using glitter and styrofoam.

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.
This is the scripture that Rebekkah, my wonderful stampin' sister in Christ choose for this week.
This verse, to live out, takes tremendous faith. My kids were at a youth retreat this weekend where they were talking and learning about the persecuted church. The leaders had toy guns that they used to "kill" the students because they were Christians. They would grab the students at random and question them and when the students would say that they were Christians, they would put the gun to their head or to their friends head and say renounce Christ or die. To my kids and the other kids from our church it was just an exercise, but there are Christians throughout this world who on a daily basis have the possibility of being killed for their faith. What is my excuse for not sharing Christ more, praising God more, giving more?... I am challenged to not take my freedom to express my faith in God casually, but to thank God everyday for that freedom and I am also challenged to pray for those who don't have that freedom.

Rebekkah's challenge is to : make a card of praise,using music, stamp, or design paper or just the word praise.

I used the sheet music for this old hymn, and a soon to be released Mark's Finest Papers set called Peaceful Nuthatch. I also used Layers of Color "Joyful noise" set in the background.



Hallelujah, praise Jehovah,
From the heavens praise His name;
Praise Jehovah in the highest,
All His angels praise proclaim.
All His hosts together praise Him,
Sun, and moon, and stars on high;
Praise Him, O ye heav’n of heavens,
And ye floods above the sky.

Let them praises give Jehovah,
They were made at His command,
Them forever He established;
His decree shall ever stand.
From the earth, oh, praise Jehovah,
All ye floods, ye dragons all;
Fire, and hail, and snow, and vapors,
Stormy winds that hear His call.

All ye fruitful trees and cedars,
All ye hills and mountains high,
Creeping things, and beasts, and cattle,
Birds that in the heavens fly.
Kings of earth, and all ye people,
Princes great, earth’s judges all,
Praise His name, young men and maidens,
Aged men and children small.

Let them praises give Jehovah,
For His name alone is high,
And His glory is exalted,
And His glory is exalted,
And His glory is exalted,
Far above the earth and sky.

Check out what my stampin' sisters have created and read Rebekkah's devotion on the STAMPIN' SISTERS IN CHRIST challenge blog.

Our sponsor this week is :Pizzazz Aplenty.

The scripture that my sister Traci picked for this week is:

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

I don't now if anyone else struggles with this, but I do. This last week, we had sickness in our house. To add to that there is a coach who has had it in for my daughter since the school year started. There was a lot of drama on Friday, becuase my daughter was home sick. I can deal with people doing a lot of things to me personally, but I struggle when my kids are attacked.
After I prayed and shared my anger with God, I sat down to write this post. The Holy Spirit started speaking to me.
I give thanks in good circumstances, and I give thanks in kinda good circumstance, but when I have bad circumstances, I pout and have a pity party. I even get a little angry. The bad thing is when I feel that way, the only one who suffers is me. If I can only learn this lesson to be thankful in ALL circumstances how much better off I will be.
Satan whispers"Why would you give thanks for bad circumstances?" I even asked God that question today. This was His answer to me.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

I don't have to know why I have bad times. I don't have to understand how God will work it for my good (Romans 8:28). I do have to Trust and give Thanks.

Traci's challenge:
Create a card or project that depicts gratitude...it can be an image of something you are grateful for, a scripture that evokes your gratitude, or it can be a card made especially for a person you would like to thank this time of year!!


One of the things that I am thankful for are all the birds that are in my area. Just the other day I saw two bald eagles soaring on an air current. It really made my day. My card has a little red breasted nuthatch on it. I am going to give this card to a friend at church who I am grateful for her support. The nuthatch is a sneak peek at a Mark's Finest Papers set called peaceful nuthatch.

The sponsor for this week is Simon Says Stamp.
Check out Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge to see Traci's devotion and to see what my other Stampin' Sisters have created.