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Sunday, March 18, 2012

Compassion, Not Condemnation: Compassion Part Five


This is part five of a study on showing compassion to the unsaved.  Part One can be found here, Part Two is here, Part Three is here, and Part Four is here

When we understand and acknowledge what Christ did for us, we can extend that same compassion to others.   

Romans 5:6-8 says, "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

We are called to compassion.  1 Peter 3:8-9 reads, "Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another;  love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous, not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing."

When speaking of the unsaved, the Bible calls them "sinners".  While we all sin on a daily basis, Christian or not, the distinction is made between those who will die in their sin because they've refused to accept Jesus as their savior (sinners), and those who are forgiven their sins when they ask with a repentant heart and will live eternally with Jesus (the saved).  So how did Christ treat sinners?

Matthew 23: 27-28: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."

During a sermon a couple months ago, our pastor said, "His scorn wasn't for sinners, it was for the religious self-righteous."

The Pharisees were equivalent to the hypocritical believers of today.  We can turn up our noses at the Pharisees' behavior, but how many times have we appeared beautiful and "having it all together" on the outside when we were actually dead and unclean on the inside?  Jesus despises the "Christian on the fence".

Revelation 3:15-16 says, "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."

Sometimes associating with a Christian who is sinning (walking in blatant sin but still claiming to follow Christ) can be a bigger danger than hanging out with an unbeliever.  The "Christian's" sins seem less obvious and we are quick to make excuses for them.  We are also quicker to forgive them than we are unbelievers.  Should there be a distinction?

When Jesus encountered the unsaved, he showed them compassion---not condemnation!

Luke 19:10: "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

John 3:17: " For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

This article was featured in Issue 54 of The Christian Home magazine.

Linking with: Faith Talking Tuesdays @ AudraSilva.com

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Vintage Paris Book Bundle Tutorial & Homemaking Link-Up Weekend

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Yesterday I showed off my hutch makeover and some of the cute accessories I've been making this past week.  This book bundle is so easy to make so I want to share the simple steps with you!
First, I hit my local Dollar Tree to find some books that were all the same size.  I checked under the dust jackets to see what color the hardbound books were.  Lucky for me, these were a perfect shade of cream!
Next, I chose a picture from Google Images.  I knew I wanted to do something with either a bird theme and a Paris theme.  I found an image with both!  Then I picked out my paper.  My husband had got me this cute vintage-look paper for Mother's Day but it was too thick.  So, I photocopied five sheets of it and then printed my image over it.  I think these colors are so pretty:  a cream background with pretty PINK flower bundles!
I measured the width of my book spine and then multiplied that by 3.  Mine were about an inch wide so that made it easy.  I just drew 1 inch vertical lines on the back of each paper and then cut out a strip from each paper that was 3 inches wide, moving over 1 for each new paper.  Then I used my favorite crafting supply, Elmer's Craft Bond Extra Strength Glue Stick, to secure the pieces to the binding of each book.
Easy and Adorable!  Make sure and check out my entire hutch makeover!

Freshening Up Our Home For Spring with #FreshAccents and #CBias

When I heard about Renuzit's new Fresh Accents air fresheners, I began really thinking about what I wanted to do to freshen up my home for spring this year. 
I knew that, above all else, I wanted to do a makeover on this hutch in my living room!  Believe it or not, Renuzit's Fresh Accents inspired me toward a whole new look!  As I mentioned a few days ago, I really wanted to repaint this hutch but I wasn't sure how my husband was going to respond.  Well, my womanly-wiles won out and Jamie said yes!
I started out by visiting Renuzit's Facebook page and sending a "Gorgeous E-Card".  Once I did that, I received a coupon for $1.00 off my purchase of Renuzit Fresh Accent air fresheners
 I headed to Safeway to pick up my new air freshener.  I really like the twig-like design and I knew this green color of the After the Rain scent would match well with my Grandma's plates that I was planning on displaying on the hutch.  For more photos of my shopping trip, please check out my Google+ album!
I found this pretty vase and berry bunches at Dollar Tree.  They go perfectly with the First Stitches display that I made a few months ago.  One neat thing about the design of the Fresh Accents freshener is that it looks awesome from both sides!  See how it just blends in with my nature theme!
Here it is!  I wanted a white-washed look for the hutch and I am just so thrilled with the way it turned out.  All the colors just go so well together. 
As part of my makeover, I created a couple of new accessories.  Check out my Vintage Paris Book Bundle tutorial to learn how to make one for yourself!  It was WAY simpler than I thought it would be...I definitely plan on making more!  I like how my new berry bushes accent the cream colors in the bird and books.
The bright pink thistle bush that I picked up for the makeover and green color of my new air freshener even went great with my newly-created St. Patrick's Day framed art!  One thing that I really love about the Renuzit Fresh Accents scent that I chose, After the Rain, is that it scents my whole room without being overpowering.  Each cartridge lasts approximately 30 days and is much less expensive than a scented wax bar for my warmer.  On top of that, it doesn't use any electricity!
 Visit the following links to experience Renuzit Fresh Accents for yourself:

Renuzit's Website

Renuzit's Facebook Page
Renuzit's Gorgeous Man Page on Facebook


This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for  Collective Bias. #CBias  All opinions are honest and are my own.

Linking with:
Whimsical Wednesdays @ AudraSilva.com
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