DAY TWO of BLOG HOP!

Hello! Have you been HOPPING? If you missed yesterday, you will want to go back and see these beautiful projects the Design Team has created.

Start on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps blog

and head to Suzy Lorie Faith and scroll down here for another Sneak Peak from me...

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is doing things a bit different this BLOG HOP and RELEASE PARTY. We are posting the challenges throughout our BLOG HOP and you will have a chance to win these 4 new fabulous stamp sets! This time around, the Design Team is posting the challneges on their blogs - so check out each blog to find out the challenges! This card was a take on the Sketch Challenge! Come on and play- we WANT to see what you create! (Scroll down to see the Challenge I posted!)

This stamp set is called Spring Scenes - I just love the versatility of this set! You will definitely have to go through the HOP to see all of the different ways the Design Team uses this set!

Here are the details:

Stamp Sets: Spring Scenes and I'd Pick You Mouse and words)

Cardstock: Basic Black, Coordinations, Whisper White

Accessories: Scallop Eyelet punch, Dew Drops, Mini Glue Dots, Rounded Tab Punch

Be sure to hop on over to be FULLY WOWED by the Design Team

and head to

Cindy

Sandy

Janette

Jeanette

Sarah

I have had a few friends who are struggling this week. I struggle at times myself and read this devotional from Proverbs 31 Ministries and it encouraged my heart, so I thought I would share it with you today...

The Truth About Fear
Micca Monda Campbell

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:8 (NIV)

Have you ever noticed how some TV commercials mix just enough truth with their product to make it believable? While that's called false advertisement, the product still comes off convincing. It's not until we purchase the product, and it fails, that the trickery becomes exposed.

In the same way, Satan specializes in false advertisement. He's good at making our fears look real when they are not. Does that mean all fears are wrong? No. The fear of standing near a high cliff protects us from getting to close to the edge and toppling over. One the other hand, Satan's spooks are full of trickery. They are usually disabling and keep us from progress. This kind of false advertisement can choke our faith and fuel our fears.

Have you ever wondered where our struggle between faith and fear began? I have. According to author and teacher Malcolm Smith, fear was introduced to the human race by a satanic lie.

The Garden is the first place where the serpent deceived Eve by twisting God's word. The Lord told Adam not to eat of any tree in the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17). If he or Eve ate from that tree, they would surely die spiritually. Not only did Eve eat the forbidden fruit, but she offered it to Adam and he ate too.

As soon as Adam disobeyed God, their relationship changed. Adam was not only afraid, but he doubted God's authority, friendship, and provision. Satan's lie told Adam that he didn't need God. In fact, Adam was persuaded that he could be his own god, self-sufficient in every way.The same can be true for you and me. At times, you an d I live independent of God's presence. We act as if everything depends on us. We wouldn't dare admit that we are in over our heads. We want to appear in control. But God never meant for you and me to be strong in and of ourselves. We were meant to show His strength in our weakness as He provides for our needs. We were created to live like little children, dependent on the care our heavenly Father.

The times we insist on living life our way, in our own strength, we experience the same result as Adam and Eve. We will live in fear. This is right where Satan wants us.

If we're afraid to try, we never will. If the enemy can keep us contained by fear, we won't be able to fulfill our potential or make a difference in the life of another. Satan knows what we are capable of with Christ. To prevent us from that realization, he poisons us with fear.

The truth is what we fear rarely comes to pass. This kind of fear that is fueled by Satan's lies can be described by this acrostic:

False

Evidence

Appearing

Real

It's not that we shouldn't be concerned about certain issues of life such as safety and health. But when worrying takes over by keeping us up at night and shutting us down during the day, we've moved into a place we were never meant to live. We must return to living in God's presence and relying on His promises and provision. Only then will we be able to distinguish between truth and lies. Only then will our lives be marked by faith, not fear.

Dear Lord, help me to discern between false fears and real concerns. As I commit Your Word to memory, make Your truth alive in my heart so that I can battle fear and live by faith. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

An Untroubled Heart by Micca Campbell

i am not, but i know I AM by Louie Giglio

Finding a Faith Stronger Than All My Fears (3 CD set) by Micca Campbell

Visit Micca's blog

Application Steps:

Determine if your fears are real or if they are only False Evidence Appearing Real. If your fears are real, heed their warning. If they are smoke and mirrors performed by the enemy, take those thoughts captive and give them to God in prayer.

Reflections:

Do you doubt God's provision and protection - why or why not?

Are you living independent of God's presence, or carefree in His care?

How can depending on God's resources and strength eliminate your fears?

Power Verses:

Romans 8:31, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (NIV)

John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Let not your heart be troubled and do not be afraid." (NIV)

1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." (NIV)

© 2009 by Micca Campbell. All rights reserved.

If you have not heard of the Proverbs 31 Woman Ministries, I really enjoy their devotions.

Have a blessed day!