Proverbs 31 Blog Hop

Welcome to another special Faith Blog Hop sponsored by Paper Tree House Studio! You should have arrived here from Jessie's if you are following the hop.  If you just happen to have fallen here go to the beginning of the hop over at paper Tree House Studio.

At the end of every month a group of bold women gather to give Glory to God with the talents He has given us in a very loud way... :) Our prayer is that through the projects we have created you Will be able to see Him in all of His Glory! May He touch you today as we look at the theme of the Proverbs 31 woman, and may you find that you are indeed everything He designed you to be.

This is how the hop works:
Below you will find the list of the beautiful and brave women that are ready to show their weaknesses in order that you may see His strength. :) Follow the line-up and please leave some love throughout the way. Allow yourself to cry, laugh, smile, along with any other emotion the Lord may bring your way. You will find that there are many prizes throughout the hop. In order to qualify to receive them you must be a follower of the blog and you must leave a comment. Know that if you are announced as the winner of a prize you are responsible for contacting us in order for us to make the prize go your way.

Here are our sponsors:

Paper Tree House Studio: Scrapbooking Kit (valued at $45)
Tombow: Amazing Adhesive Pack
Scrapbook News and Review: 1 year subscription to their magazine.
Punky Sprouts: Sweetie Album
Sweet Stamper: Stampin' Up Stamp Set

Now let's get the hop started! :)

The woman described in Proverbs 31 seems to be perfect! She works hard for her family, keeps up with the house, makes sure that the entire family is fed, is respected by others and her husband, and the list goes on... It can be very overwhelming to try to attain her status- which leaves many of us feeling as though we do not amount to God's standards. If you are anything like me, you too have felt as though there is always something that is just not right in your womanhood. Maybe you are not sweet enough, or neat enough, or submissive enough, or clean enough... Whatever label you do not amount to it can leave you feeling overwhelmed and discouraged.

God did not put this part of Scripture in the Bible so that we would draw away from Him filled with shame due to our incapacity to do what He expects of us. On the contrary, I have become every day more certain that He inspired these words because He wants to show us His Grace. The truth is: we all fall short of the Glory of God and there is not even one that is good amongst us. He KNEW this when He made us and when He decided to save us- and in this He loved us.

The proverbs 31 woman is meant to be a reminder of how much we need Christ! God desires that we would be women like the one portrayed there, and He knew that these areas would be our weaknesses, so He gave us this map of virtues so that we would not conform to the world but allow Him to transform us. The Bible teaches that in our weaknesses He is strong! My prayer is that you would allow the Lord to show you those areas where you indeed fail so that in turn you would learn to be mesmerized by His great strength. You will be doing things you never imagined when you fully rely on Him. In Him you already are the Proverbs 31 Woman you so desire to be. May He show you that truth today as He heals you from all insecurities.

Paper Tree House Studio: www.mypapertreehouse.com
Nana www.youniquereflections.blogspot.com
Jessie www.scrapbookingmiami.blogspot.com
Carrie http://carriewimbish.blogspot.com/
Carolyn http://messmuddleandfun.blogspot.com/ 
Diane http://dianemarra.typepad.com/
Karel www.kareljcreations.com 
Jennifer www.createoften.blogspot.com
Kari http://purplefuntastickcreations.com/
Wendy http://wendyscrappings.blogspot.com/
Melin http://www.PaperCraftingWorld.Blogspot.com/
Nicole scrapmethis.blogspot.com
Chalese http://delectabledesigns-chalesek.blogspot.com/
Candy www.sweetstamper.com
Christel http://onescrappinsista.blogspot.com/

My Proverbs 31 Project

At a recent True Love Waits Retreat I led for the young girls of our church we made interchangeable Bottlecap Necklaces for our activity. We discussed how we could use the necklaces to glorify God and show our love for Him. When I saw the topic for this blog hop I knew exactly what I wanted to do... By wearing my necklace it brings alot of attention and I want to use that attention to portray a woman of noble character. I chose the phrase "far above rubies" because that sums up who she is with all that she does for the Lord. 

Me wearing my necklace

I have worn this necklace this past week and had many people question it. "What is far above rubies?" they would ask. That gave me an opportunity to explain the passage in Proverbs 31 and even share my story. In the recent years before I found my husband I focused on these verses. I made Proverbs 31:12 my life verse in those days trying to honor my husband "all the days of my life", even though I didn't know him (turns out I did though :) yet.  Mark and I were married this past October and I still try to live each day honoring and respecting him. This bottlecap was created so that I can honor, respect, and love him. Many people comment on how we are definitely newlyweds because he wears his "I love my wife" t-shirt and I have my necklace with him on it, or we are always holding hands but I truly think that this is still one way we can bring good to each other.

Our first dance as husband and wife

I hope you've enjoyed my blog! Thank you so much for stopping by!

Your next stop is Carolyn's Blog. Remember to leave a comment (I LOVE comments!) on this post if you want to be considered for one of the Grand Prizes. :)

Love in Christ,
Carrie

52 Reasons Why...

The story behind the gift: Mark and I knew each other for years but just from passing at Seneca Lake Youth Camp. We began talking via Facebook on November 30,2010. We met at the Winter Retreat (Seneca Lake), I was a chaperone, he was Co-Director in January. He came to Ohio (from Louisville, KY) for our first date, 7 hours away, on Friday, February 3. He got snowed in (we got 27 inches in a few hours). He ended up stuck in Ohio until Sunday afternoon... On Sunday afternoon, I fell in love. Over the phone on Monday he asked me if I wanted a silver or gold ring... (apparently he fell in love too) The next weekend, which happened to be Valentine's Day weekend, I drove the 7 hour drive to see him. I needed a gift and had 4 snow days to create one for him... 

 

This started as a '52 Reasons Why I Like You' book but after our Sunday afternoon I knew I loved him. I simply bought a deck of cards, a pack of binder rings, and scrapbook paper. I sat down with my Cricut and bad a blast. I had the most fun thinking up reasons why I loved him... Some are quirky like 'We both hate pickles' and some are very serious.

So Very Proud

I am so very proud of my husband, Mark. Today was his ordination service. We had a wonderful day which started out with Youth Sunday. Each month with 5 Sundays the youth group leads worship and Mark preaches. Marks parents, aunt and uncle, and nephew came up for the service then we had a great time going to lunch.

After lunch we showed them the apartment then headed to my parents. It was so nice to have our families together. More of his family and many friends came from Columbus to share in this time. After an hour of council, Mark's ceremony began. It was encouraging to see a good pastor friend of Marks get up and say great things about him. Our pastor closed the ceremony.

Afterwards we there was fellowship with everyone who came out to support him. There was an outpouring of love from both sides of the family, friends near and far, our awesome youth group, and our church family.
I am so proud of Mark for all that he has accomplished and look forward to following God's call for our lives.

Bloggin Buddy

I am so excited because I found a friend who is as addicted to blogging as I am. She is a first grade teacher and her blog is full of teaching ideas. If you are a teacher or have children that you like to work with at home she has some great resources. Follow her: Mrs. T First Grade

Red Letter Dinner

A good friend of mine got me a Red Letter Dinner Set for my bridal shower. My husband used it on me for the first time tonight.

I have seen it as a gift at Bridal Showers many times. It is a really nice idea for anyone looking for a sentimental but inexpensive gift.

How to make it:

1. Buy a nice box (hat boxes work really well as they are already decorated). It ties it all together if the box has red in it.

2. Buy a red plate (dinner and salad), bowl, glass, napkin, and placemat. It is also nice to put a red candle in it as well as a candle holder.

3. Copy the following saying onto a piece of red paper. A special touch is to add the bride and grooms name and their wedding date. Decopauge the letter into the inside of the lid.

Your Red Letter Day

This one setting of red dishes is intended for "Red Letter Days"

Surprise one another by setting it for your spouse of child when you prepare a special dinner for him or her.

Let the birthday spouse or child use the red dishes to mark another year of good health and happiness.

Set the red dishes for a guest of honor who comes to visit your home.

Celebrate the completion of a project or a promotion for your loved one.

One day you may set the dishes for a child who brings home a great report card.

Whenever you use the red dishes, we pray God's blessings on you, your marriage, and your family.

May you have many "Red Letter Days" together in the years to come.

To print the letter click here. (The letter is printed in black font so it shows up on red paper.)

Thanks Sarah & Tom!