You Are God's Masterpiece, Loved Beyond Measure

Ever since I was a teenager (many, MANY years ago) I've known young women who don't recognize their own self worth or their worth to God. Sometimes they feel that way only when they're down, but other times they feel alienated from God all the time. I've known some who feel out of place in Christian circles and others who feel they don't have any good traits. So often this happens from the negative input from other people or from comparing themselves to someone else. I always believed God wanted me to encourage them the way His word always encourages me.

Sin in our lives definitely pulls us away from fellowship and blessings from Him, but even then, He loves us beyond measure. That's why Scripture says, "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us," taking the punishment for our sins through His death on the cross. Once we have believed this and received that gift, we need to understand that nothing we do and none of the things done to us can separate us from that love. Yes, we have to confess and repent of the sin we continue to commit due to our human nature, but we can gain victory over so many bad habits and attitudes and maintain our fellowship or closeness to God through such confession and help through prayer and His Spirit living inside us. We don't have to continually feel like He's not there for us.

I made this card to encourage someone who feels God could never love her because of all the bad things that have happened in her life. I love this verse from Romans 8:38-39 because it means that not even the worst sin or circumstance can separate those of us who follow Christ from the love of God:  "For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." I felt this verse implies that we are God's masterpiece, which is the challenge this week at Stampin' Sisters in Christ. The verse is from Clear Dollar Stamps "Value Verses 1."

I was inspired by this sketch from Freshly Made Sketch and the color palette from The Play Date Cafe, asking us to use black, white, and a splash of blue.

May God bless and encourage your heart as you realize how awesome you are to Him.

Challenges for this card:
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #144 - something that reflects how you are God's masterpiece
Freshly Made Sketch # 40
The Play Date Cafe #137 - black, white, and a splash of blue

6.5" x 5" Encouragement Card Recipe:
Paper - Bo Bunny "Enchanted" collection; Close To My Heart White Daisy, Black cardstock
Image - Clear Dollar Stamps digi "Value Verses 1"
Ink - CTMH "Moonstruck"
Accents and Tools - Sizzix Swirly Vines with Hearts embossing folder; Spellbinders Nestabilities "Labels 10," Lattice Rectangles; Making Memories navy blue ribbons; Close To My Heart My Legacy writer, black button brads, stipple brush