Thursday, April 7, 2011

Celebrating The Reason For The Season

 Good morning!!  Just as we did at Christmas time, we have gathered once again to celebrate the Reason For The Season!! Welcome to our blog hop!  I'm so happy you could stop by, and hope you'll be uplifted and inspired along the way.  If you arrived here from Sammi's wonderful blog, then you're moving along in perfect order.  If you just happened along, you'll want to go back to the sweet and talented Heather's blog, where this celebration begins.  The card I'm sharing with you today, was made using the He Loves Me digital stamp illustrated by Heather.  This image along with a host of other fabulous images celebrating God's love for us can be found in her Fresh Brewed Designs Store.

This is indeed a blessed time of year, as we remember Christ sacrifice on the cross at Calvary, and celebrate his triumphant victory over death!  We're so glad you've stopped by!  Our purpose these 3 days is to draw the attention back to Jesus Christ, just as we did with our Christmas version of "Jesus Is The Reason" hop.  In the United States especially, Easter has become about mythical bunnies, candy and hunting for colored eggs. While they amuse us, these things distract us from the real cause for celebration:  the most amazing event in history - the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
When Christ was scourged, beaten, tormented, spit upon, ridiculed, mocked, nailed to the cross and forced to bear a crown of thorns (Mark 10:34; Luke 23), it was the greatest act of love (John 3:16) the world has ever known. He didn't deserve any of it - He came into this world without sin. But for our sake, because He loves us, He took on our sins and became sin  (2Corinthians 5:21; 1Peter 2:22, 24).  He gave Himself as the final, substitutive sacrifice, thereby paying our sin debt in full and proclaiming, "It is finished." (John 19:30)  Three days later, after being buried in a tomb, He rose from the dead and walked this earth again (Luke 24; Acts 10:40) before ascending to Heaven (1Thessalonians 1:10)to sit at the Father's right hand (Hebrews 12:2).  If you can just begin to picture all of this in your mind, how can you refuse the gift of salvation?  I pray you will accept it, if you haven't already!
In light of the true meaning of Easter, we friends of faith have gathered together to celebrate and share the Good News.  We invite you to join us:

We also invite you to celebrate the real "Reason for the Season" by posting your own creation celebrating Christ's Resurrection.  There is a place to link on Catherine's blog, and a prize is up for grabs for one randomly selected card/project. 
Enjoy the hop and God bless!  Your next stop will be at Stacy's wonderful blog.

In celebration of our blog hop, I'd like to offer a little bit of candy to one random commenter.  I'll be giving away a set of three of the handmade pins you see pictured on my card.  All you need to do is leave a comment on this post.  That's it!!!!  I'll draw 1 name to win the set of pins on Sunday morning and announce the winner then.  Thanks you once again for hopping along with us today.  May God bless and keep you today and always! 

33 comments:

Imke said...

Lori, this is fabulous. Great DP, layout and coloring !!

Brigitte said...

Beautiful card!!! Love the soft and elegant colors!
brigitteetleschats at hotmail dot com

Heather D. ~ Fresh Brewed Designs said...

Lori,
Oh my goodness how beautiful this post is. I love your card. Isn't it amazing how much he loves us? This image was sort of like the He loves me, he loves me not daisy .. but the good thing about this one is that with every petal, with every struggle, with every obstacle, with everything we face HE LOVES ME!!! Your colors and pearls and that gorgeous pin makes this card just so soft and gentle looking and will surely touch lives and reach out in love just the way Christ intended for it to.

Happy to be a part of this hop with you
Heather

Melissa said...

Beautiful card, thanks for this meaningful hop!!!

mzcherub2009 at att dot net

MiamiKel said...

Oh Lorie, how to even find the right words for this sweet lil creation! He does indeed love us greatly, so much so that our lives are beautiful because of it! Your coloring and shading are truly ones that can't be matched, my friend! I am so glad you chose this image, I have so loved the line up and seeing it IRL created just makes me smile all over! Big hugs to you this most blessed Easter! xox0

Therese said...

Thanks for sharing, Lorie - your card is simply gorgeous! It is not just in the States where the focus is on eggs and bunnies...thinking about the shops - Jesus is not the focus at all, which is very sad - what a blessing you girls are, doing this hop! xx

Linda Anderson said...

Hi Lorie! Stunning, absolutely stunning! Gorgeous image, colored so beautifully!! And your papers are top-notch! Love the pin also. Enjoy the day.

Linda

Barb said...

Beautiful card and such an inspiration!

Suzy800 said...

Wow....everything about this card is beautiful. The simple, yet powerful sentiment, the daisy with the petals falling out...how symbolic. And that pin?! I love it! It is such a soft card with such a powerful message. God Bless.

Becky said...

Beautiful Spring card! I love the cute pearls going around this image, such wonderful details.

Cassie_lu said...

amazing coloring and I love the combination of the sentiment with the image. It's also a great reminder of God's love for us.

April said...

I love the simplicity of the egg and sentiment. I think it truly conveys the simplicity of His love. No matter the circumstance, the Lord is with us; and we should remember that throughout the year!!

Lagene said...

Beautiful card! Thank ya'll for the inspiration & Thanking God for His sacrifice!

~Paola~ said...

Gorgeous card,as always...
I absolutly love your coloring and your attention to even the minute details...absolutly stunning work my dear friend and your bow,lace and pin...how precious!
I feel so grateful and blessed to be part of this woundrous hop with you and so many other great friends!

Shelly Schmidt said...

I love your beautiful card- and the meaning of this wonderful Hop! A great way to keep my eyes open for some wonderful images too! Bless you!

kadie said...

Lorie, I admire you so much, because in all you do and all you say---your light for Jesus shines. It shines in the way you encourage and love on people and it shines in all of your artsitic creations. This card is really, really beautiful and such a great tribute to what this hop is all about! You are such a blessing to me. Love you, Friend!

Judy McMullen said...

Lorie, your beautiful card is a reflection of the beautiful spirit our Lord has blessed you with and that shines in everything you do. You truly are a reflection of his love, mercy and grace in all you do and say. Thank you for inspiring me, dear friend! I know we share the joy of knowing we are His loved and redeamed children by His wonderous love, mercy and grace!!!

Kaitlin said...

Very beautiful card:)

Kaitlin
angel1694@comcast.net

NanaConnie said...

Beautiful card! Beautiful reason for the blog hop. I am so touched by each of you and all the Christian blessings which you are passing on. Thank you so much for keeping us all in touch with the true reason for Easter.

Maria Matter said...

oh this is beautiful Lorie!!
Thanks so much for sharing today!
hugs & blessings!

Sammi said...

Awesome hopping with you again Lorie!! What a great card!!
(hugs and prayers)
Sammi
xx

Payne Holler Cards said...

adorable!
this is a wonderful hop - so praying for those that read that havent accepted Christ as their Saviour that they realize that today is the day to be saved!

Kirei na Kami said...

BEAUTIFUL!!! I once again find myself at a loss for words by the beauty of this creation. Every detail is gorgeous and the feeling of joy literally jumps off the page...hits the viewer...and spreads happiness to all who see it:) You have truly captured the essence of God's great love with this wonderful card!!! Thank you for sharing your talents and blessings with us and for being the loving and uplifting person you are!!! I am honored and blessed to know you!!

Much love!!
Carolyn

Vickie said...

Lorie
Thank you for this message. I pray that those who are not saved that read this post will realize that time is short and today is the day of salvation!!!! Praying God Bless you and all the members of this hop. Thanks to for helping to keep Christ and his amazing love filled sacrifice at the center of this Easter season.

mw_scrap said...

Awesome job on your card...its so beautiful...I'm so glad to be a new follower of your blog..its refreshing to see a follower of Christ...God Bless you..:)

mary ann

mkeiper72@yahoo.com

Sarah said...

Your card is gorgeous! I love the stick pins and the soft colors. Thank you for sharing the true message of Easter. God bless! Sarah

Sue D said...

Very sweet card and beautiful pins.
slrdowney at hotmail dot com

Becky Dunham said...

Absolutely gorgeous Lorie! i am so glad you ladies are doing this hop to remind us of the real reason for Easter :) Most of these blogs are new to me but I am a long time follower of yours and happy to say that your blog is the one that helped me find these other lovely ladies of faith! For that, I am truly grateful to you. I wish I could categorize the blogs I follow as this group would be my go to group for being blessed and uplifted :)

rebeccadunham at hotmail dot com

*Susan* said...

Wow Lorie, your card is just gorgeous! The colors are soft yet cheery, and the sparkly pin accent is beautiful! I love the image you chose; your coloring makes it glow, just as God's love glows in our hearts! It also reminds me that the simplest things we take for granted, like a daisy, are blessings from God made possible by Christ's sacrifice and love for us.

Lorie, I'm so blessed to have your friendship in my life and to be part of this wonderful hop with you! Love ya! {hugs}

Anonymous said...

Lorie - another fabulous card and an amazing message. I love everything about it and you too!

Hugs
Michelle

"Kirby" (KrB) said...

Lorie, what a gorgeous card and clever idea. So glad to share this special hop with you.

Scrappy Jackie said...

Thank you so much for sharing your faith on this hop! I love how you put it... how could you not accept him after all he has done! Thank you and may you be blessed too... as much as I feel I am by all of you on this hop today. pjritsema at gmail dot com

Catherine said...

Aw, Lorie!!! You did such a BEAUTIFUL job with Heather's image! Your coloring, as always, is gorgeous and I love the teeny tiny pearls! The stick pin is so unique and lovely - YGG!
Thank you for being such an amazing friend and constant source of inspiration in all ways! (((HUGS))) And thank you for sharing your time, talent, and faith for this hop. You are truly a blessing.
Love ya,
Catherine

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