This week’s Faith Art Friday is hosted by Linda Lucas…

“The Cost of Admittance”

It is my pleasure to be hosting Faith Art Friday here at Layers of Color this week.  You will find different members of the Design Team will be sharing their art and their heart from time to time, I love the inspiration that comes from Faith Art Friday, on many levels!

The heart – it seems we cannot avoid the fact that it is at the very core of so many aspects of our faith.  The Cross – it is at the Cross that we find our salvation through the shedding of the blood of Jesus We are all familiar with the scripture in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…..”

This leads to the question is it enough to know of God, to know all about Him, even be a theologian and know the Word of God from beginning to end…as much as it makes us feel good to think that knowing about Him gives us our ticket to Heaven.  What about attending Church – surely this is enough to ‘get us in’?!  It no more secures our seat than sitting in a garage for 20years makes us a car.

Scripture clearly tells us that we need to believe on HIM to be saved, in fact the second part of one of the most well known scriptures goes onto say, “…that whosoever believes on Him shall be saved!‘  Therefore we need to believe – it is not enough to be good, to go to Church each week and be seen doing the right thing – the first step is to believe – scripture clearly tells us,

‘If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.’ Romans 10: 9 -10

this is when we have assurance of our salvation!

It has been said that it is arrogant for Christians for believe that Jesus is the only way – that every religion is a candle on the road of life – to this I would say, “Why settle for a candle, when you can have the LIGHT OF THE WORLD!!”

It is always thought provoking for me when I create Faith Art – I love to include symbolism.  The thinking and creative process tend to blend and become one motivating and challenging process!

May the light of Jesus shine in your life today,

This week’s Faith Art Friday is hosted by Kristine Breach…

Some of my favorite stamps to create with are birds… I think because they remind me how precious we are in God’s eyes. They are so small, and yet God provides for them. Just think how much more He wants to give us what we need! And to think how beautiful these little creatures are… and yet He created US in His image! When I think about birds singing in the early morning, it reminds me of how God wants us to sing songs of praise to Him, and He gives us a fresh new start every day to do just that. We have a choice how we start the day… are we going to wake up grumbling because we have to go to work, or anticipating the kids fighting or the housework that needs done… or are we going to wake up being thankful for a new day and give God thanks for a new start and for His love that endures forever… no matter what our day brings, His love never changes! This verse I used on my card reminds me of a song by Chris Thomlin that I’d like to share with you…

Give thanks to the Lord

Our God and King

His love endures forever

For He is good, He is above all things

His love endures forever

Sing praise, sing praise

With a mighty hand

and outstretched arm

His love endures forever

For the life that’s been reborn

His love endures forever

Sing praise, sing praise

Sing praise, sing praise

Forever God is faithful

Forever God is strong

Forever God is with us

Forever

Forever

From the rising to the setting sun

His love endures forever

By the grace of God

We will carry on

His love endures forever

Sing praise, sing praise

Sing praise, sing praise

Sing your heartsong today! ~ Kris Breach

Today for Faith Art Friday Linda Lucas has created a beautiful work of art from her gallery to share with us. . .

1John 2:17

‘The world and its desires pass away,

But the man who does the will of God

Lives forever!’

May God’s words be honey to your mouth today,

Layers of Color Designers are overjoyed to

WELCOME Kristine Breach

to our design team!

What a lovely friend and fresh new talented artist that God has blessed us with!

We’re sure that you will be equally inspired by her faith and beautiful paperarts!

Please come enjoy a stroll through her brand new art gallery featuring Layers of Color art stamps! Learn more about Kristine on her “About” page…Hop on over to her blog and say, “Hi!”. ..And join her for a wonderful faith-based challenge at her blog, Stamping Sister’s in Christ Challenge Blog!  She will add color to your day!

After Layers of Color went to winter CHA, we’re very excited about our new plans and the many opportunities that were presented through networking at the show. Lord willing, 2010 promises to be a year of great growth for Layers of Color! We’ve already jumped ahead early with 31 stores carrying our clear art stamp line! RED RUBBER is on it’s way, so get ready stampers, we have some new products coming soon!

We’ve made some changes here on our design team as well as we’ve promoted our designers to Sr. Design Team! Linda is now our Design Team Coordinator, Heather is our Publication Artist and Patter is heading up our newest venture, Video Production! And a new design team is forming, with Kristine as our first designer of the new year! Please help me in congratulating all these talented ladies and join me in praying for each one!

Anytime spent in God’s presence will refresh your heart and renew your soul (Acts 3:19). That’s why the psalmist says, “As for me, it is good to be near God” (Psalm 73:28).  If our art ministry is the product of our relationship with Christ, then we need to nurture that relationship. For what would it profit an artist to have the world by the tail and lose his/her soul because the person wasn’t living in a relationship with God (Luke 9:25)?

"Time With God" Angel painted and stamped by Laura

Knowing God is even more important that being an artist. In Jeremiah 9:23-24 we are encouraged to not boast (about our art), but boast about knowing and understanding who the Lord is, for God delights in people doing this. God is the one drawing us to Himself. Go and sit with Him, spend time in His presence. Give your soul a moment of rest in a busy world, during a busy time of the year. You’ll be putting yourself in a position to hear something personal from Him – something meant just for you. Remember Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship.

"He Provides For Me" by Linda Lucas