RENEWAL

Before the Cross: Law, Condemnation, Death. During the Cross: Pain, Suffering, Crucifixion. After the Cross: Resurrection, Hope, Renewal.

The above is how lent should be entered. With Hope and Renewal. I am Catholic so when I say I do not like the image of Jesus on the cross it comes as a surprise to many. He is not on the cross anymore. He is only there if we put him there. I have a wooden cross in my upstairs hallway with the nails and foot block but He is not there. Why? Because He has taken up residence inside of me. He reminds me I am his and that He loves me. Yes, I am imperfect and VERY human. I have heard someone say to another person that Gods spirit wants to live in a clean and perfect body. The person they were speaking to was was sick and infirmed. My heart reached out and I wanted to scream "THAT IS NOT TRUE." God will tidy up His dwelling place no matter the condition. The container matters not. The spirit of the person within does. How a person looks has nothing to do with it. I am guilty of feeling repulsed by visual appearance. Anyone who says they have not been is a lier. If you take the time to see the beauty within you will also find a renewed heart......for yourself. Any time we reject outright someone without first finding the beauty within we have put Christ back on the cross. I know, there are some pretty unlovable people out there. How unlovable are we to someone else? Have you ever asked why? Renewal has many avenues to take but few are as hard as love. You might need to go places you do not want to go. You may need to say things you do not want to say. GO! You may be surprised what you find there. Speak your words with Christ and the cross in mind and you will find renewal. I am NOT on a soap box. I am speaking about your place on that cross. When you put Him back on that cross you are there too. If he truly died for our sins then he must suffer and endure our sins again. This is a time of renewal. Use it wisely. In fact, practice it all year long. It is not just for Lent but for a lifetime.

READ John 5:24

It is time again to shine the light on a few of those that visit and are following my blog. A few are those I am following  and are not following me. I do not ask for followers because I have a hard time getting around to everyone as it is. LOL. That does not mean my followers are not special to me because you are.

Grace from Thinking of you. This is a blog that if you have not visited it before you really must. The cards she creates are a reflection of her spirit. Beautiful, personal and for the Lord. The gentle spirit she exudes will be felt right away. Be sure to leave a bit of love behind after you are touched by her work.

Desire Fourie at Doing Life. Desire is another South African sweetheart that creates cards you will not see any where else. She has a style all her own. Her cards are never a disappointment because they are unique. I don't know how you feel but I LOVE unique. Give her site a look and drop a bit love love in the box on the way out.

Wei Wei at Wei Wei's Cardmaking Garden. Wei Wei is a fairly new stamper although you would never know it from seeing her cards. She has a delightful oriental flair that often blows me away. Her cards a very artistic and have a sense of the color and flow that only the oriental art has. You are cheating yourself out of a genuine treat if you do not visit this site. It is like watching a flower bloom. Don't forget to leave a bit of love behind. Might want to join her blog too.

Today I want to share a card DW gave me. It is one of those just because cards we give each other once in awhile. She said she felt funny giving me a card with an image I colored. I don't care. She did such a fantastic job with one of my very favorite images that I am truly honored. Love you too.

The card was enhanced to bring out the wood grain color of the card. I am not including the colors used since that was done on DW's posting of this card. Her site is Ribbon Challenged.

I have one more thing to share and that is a hanging quilt a neighbor made for us. Last year one of our neighbors knew we were having trouble shoveling our walk on a regular basis. They kindly and without being asked to, used their snow blower to clear our front walk. Since she love to sew, we got her a gift card to a local sewing supply store. Two days ago I went and helped her clear some of the ice from her sidewalk until she got her sons to finish the job. I left my heavy ice chipper with her to help clear the ice away and finished my own walk. About an hour later the door bell rang and it was Janice and her black Lab, Pearl. (Pearl loves to come visit if I am outside and once drug Janice over a three foot high snow pile and across the snow covered street just to say hi and get her loving and belly rub). This is what she brought with her to give to us.

This is the front of the wall hanging quilt. I will have to get a stringer for the top to hang it. Beautiful work. I had trouble getting the back to photograph properly so, for now, it is not included. Amazing craft work. We are so honored to be given this beautiful hanging quilt.

That is it for now. Hope you liked what you found on this post. Remember. Always LOVE THE DETAILS. Love hearing from every one and I will send a personal note back to all who comment.
THANKS AND BLESSINGS TO ALL.