you are my sunshine

A blessed Third Sunday in Lent to you! This is the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

It's my turn to host the challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ. I chose as my inspiration scripture Philippians 4:6-7 "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 your minds in Christ Jesus." My challenge is a different kind of peace... piece... as in paper piecing...use paper piecing in the main image of your card/project.

My card features Little Frieda's Flowers, exclusive to my very own little store The Craft's Meow. From now through Tuesday March 29th, if you buy all three Little Frieda stamps you can save 20%! Just enter the code 3LittleFriedas at checkout. I'm also co-sponsoring this week's challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ, offering a set of the three Little Friedas as a prize. Technique Junkie Newsletter is also sponsoring our challenge with a free one-year subscription! What better time to play in our challenge?!

I paper-pieced Little Frieda's dress with patterned paper from the Emma's Shoppe collection by Crate Paper. I'm just in love with this paper set. The flowers and patterns and colors sing to my heart! I've sort of cobbled together a scene with the paper, making it appear that Little Frieda is basking in the sunshine in a field of flowers. :)

As I sit down to write my devotional for this week's challenge, it's just after midnight. I have to admit that I sorta forgot it was my turn to host the challenge this week. I've been preoccupied for the past few weeks, mainly focused on getting my store opened, but I've had quite a few things on my mind lately. So I'm sitting here wondering how I can possibly... at this late hour and with a distracted mind... write a meaningful devotional? I'm not sure I can. So I'm going to cheat a little... I've pulled out my notes from the sermon preached by our pastor on February 27th...

It was during that service that I chose my inspiration scripture. I think there's a theme lately where my devotionals are concerned. Have you noticed? They all seem to be about worry... or should I say trust and faith? I suppose there's a reason for that. I find myself being tested these days.

The title of the sermon was "Is Today the Tomorrow You Worried About Yesterday." That gives you some food for thought right there, doesn't it?  Our pastor offered Philippians 4:6-8 as "A Practical Guide for Worriers." This scripture exhorts us to PRAY... to BE THANKFUL for what we have both here on earth and eternally...to RECEIVE THE GIFT OF PEACE... and to OCCUPY OUR MINDS WITH GODLY THINGS. In other words, the way to deal with worry is to seek first the kingdom of God. Shift your focus away from worldly affairs to your eternal life, because when you seek God, everything else takes its rightful place.

I keep reminding myself of this... not to worry... to "let go, let God." I always feel the peace on some level, for my faith in God hasn't waned. It's just my weaker human self that allows the gloom to set in, the self-doubts, the questions, the regrets, the indecision. But I keep coming back to center...to God...and that, my friends, is the peace that passes all understanding.

Please be sure to stop by the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog to see the wonderful cards created by our design team. I encourage you to also visit each of their blogs... you will be blessed!

Thanks for stopping by today. God's blessings to you!