Follow was the word Patter gave as our challenge. To follow Christ. I delved into Matthew 16:34 “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” The Bible never ceases to amaze me. I’ve studied and studied yet in ever verse something different or new stands out for me. I’m sure I’ve studied the point before, yet today it took on a personal meaning.
The part of the verse that stands out for me is “take up his cross….” Look this up in commentaries. Everyone seems to have a bit of a different view of what it means to “take up his cross.”
I thought maybe it meant for me to quit complaining about my own sufferings and praise God that he allows me to go through it for His glory. I know it is a view that I have had taught to me.
The cross of Christ was more than suffering. It was indeed great suffering that I can never experience no matter how I follow Him. I cannot take up Christ’s Cross as His cross was unique to His mission in this life. So how do I take up my cross that I might follow Him?
Although His Cross was unique to Him there are principles or traits inherit in carrying my/your cross and follow Him. I ran across a wonderful quote from Pope John Paul II that I believe says it perfectly: “When the cross is embraced it becomes a sign of love and of total self-giving. To carry it behind Christ means to be united with him in offering the greatest proof of love….”
What ever my life gives me whether it be of suffering, struggles, and/or disappointment I am to carry my cross with love and remember to give myself to Christ in following His path for my life.
Here is my ATC for “Follow.”
Ingredients
Tim Holtz Distress Ink reinker Victorian Velvet
Ranger Sepia Archival Ink
Fiskars Stamps Asian Inspired; Ink by Step (cross)
Webster’s Pages letters
Prima Flowers
7 Gypsies clips
Grungeboard
Core-dinations
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist
Kaiser Rhinestones
Gratitude List
1. life
2. rest
3. God’s path
4. the reality of friends
5. quiet heart and mind
The part of the verse that stands out for me is “take up his cross….” Look this up in commentaries. Everyone seems to have a bit of a different view of what it means to “take up his cross.”
I thought maybe it meant for me to quit complaining about my own sufferings and praise God that he allows me to go through it for His glory. I know it is a view that I have had taught to me.
The cross of Christ was more than suffering. It was indeed great suffering that I can never experience no matter how I follow Him. I cannot take up Christ’s Cross as His cross was unique to His mission in this life. So how do I take up my cross that I might follow Him?
Although His Cross was unique to Him there are principles or traits inherit in carrying my/your cross and follow Him. I ran across a wonderful quote from Pope John Paul II that I believe says it perfectly: “When the cross is embraced it becomes a sign of love and of total self-giving. To carry it behind Christ means to be united with him in offering the greatest proof of love….”
What ever my life gives me whether it be of suffering, struggles, and/or disappointment I am to carry my cross with love and remember to give myself to Christ in following His path for my life.
Here is my ATC for “Follow.”
Ingredients
Tim Holtz Distress Ink reinker Victorian Velvet
Ranger Sepia Archival Ink
Fiskars Stamps Asian Inspired; Ink by Step (cross)
Webster’s Pages letters
Prima Flowers
7 Gypsies clips
Grungeboard
Core-dinations
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist
Kaiser Rhinestones
Gratitude List
1. life
2. rest
3. God’s path
4. the reality of friends
5. quiet heart and mind
This ATC is stunning!
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely adoring this ATC...it is so beautiful
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Debby . . . both the ACT and the verse!
ReplyDeleteLove the colours
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful job on this one Debby! Both on your ATC and your sharing! Thanks...Nancy :o)
ReplyDeletethis is truly breathtaking! love all the pretty details you put into it.
ReplyDelete