The Lost Series - Bible Study ReCap

Hello - happy Saturday!

I am so excited to be joining Heart of Mary Women's Fellowship's FIRST link up party! #HOMWFhearttoheart Here is the link to the Link up party - grab your cup of coffee :)

If you are visiting from the HOMWF site - HELLO! If you aren't, you should go check them out.

---

For the past two weeks I've been studying Luke 15: 1-32 with HOMWF. It's called the Lost series: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son (story of the prodigal son).

Though there was so much that I learned, two ideas stood out to me.

Right off the bat, in vs. 2 it says "This man [Jesus] welcomes sinners and eats with them." Just last Sunday we learned from Ezekiel 33 & Matthew 18:15-20 that we too are called to be watchmen of the house, to love everyone, and that we will be the ones held responsible for the sins of others if we didn't attempt to share the Truth with them. It is through meeting sinners where they were at that Jesus was able to love them and convert them. We are called to this same method. With Pope Francis especially, there has been an energized push for a "new evangelization". Namely, it's to meet people where they are at, to love them where they are at, and welcome them home. We aren't supposed to sit on our high horse, soap box, in our wood polished pew pointing fingers and naming names. We're called to go out into the streets, or the store, or the park, or the food bank, or anywhere that they are. We know who they are: it's not everyone that we meet. Rather, it's the people God puts in out path, family or friends or strangers, and through following the prompting of the Spirit, we will be able to evangelize.

The second part that really stood out was the reference verse Luke 19:10. In fact, it stood out to me so much, that I drew it out (what I do as part of my prayer meditation).

Praise be to You, God! For coming after me when I am lost. When I am lost because of doubt, because of sin, because of stubbornness, because of pride. Thank you for searching me out and seeing so much value in me to come after me. 

It is still so impressive to me that God would be willing to seek ME out. Yea, I call my self catholic. Yea, some people would say that I've been found, or saved, or more correctly - being saved. My Shephard comes to seek me out & to save me. I am human. I am a sinner. Even though I say I follow the Catholic faith, I get lost. All. The. Time. Thank goodness, I have a God that runs after me.

But you better believe that He's running after you too! He wants to meet you where you're at. Wherever you are in life, He wants to meet you where you are, hold you, love on you, bring you home, keep you safe. We just have to want to be found.

xo,

Mass Journal - Love Your Neighbor As Yourself

Hand drawn by me - available as a digital download on Etsy

...

Every week we get the opportunity to hear God's Words to us at Mass. And every week we also get the opportunity to take in, absorb, meditate upon, learn, heal, and grow through these words. Here at The Kristina Project, I'll be transposing my handwritten notes from my Mass Journal. Sometimes there may not be complete sentences or full thoughts. I am literally rewriting what stood out to me in the readings/homily so that I can mediate on them later. 

To learn more about Mass Journaling, click here.

To purchase Mass Journals that I create, visit my Etsy shop. 

...

9-7-14 Sunday Mass

Ez 33:7-9; Rom 13:8-10; Matt 18:15-20

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF

It's concern of soul, not vanity. The Only reason we exist is to worship God - not to work, play sports, not be be active in the world.

If we harden our hearts there is a wall between us and God. We need to open our hearts and read the Word & share the Word.

Ezekiel was a prophet & a priest. "Appointed watchman of the House" -> typology for priests, bishops, popes - the hierarchy of the Church.

Others may or may not want to hear the truth. But that's ok because we, the sharers of the truth, must share anyways. If we do not share the truth with others then their sins are held against us. 

We do not get to escape the responsibility of evangelization; it's not just for the "hierarchy". This is part of our baptismal call. When we are baptized, we are baptized Priest, Prophet, & King. 

But we must share the truth in love. "Owe nothing to anyone except love." We cannot be pompous when we share the truth. 

Anyone breathing on this planet is loved by God - because He created them - therefore they must be loved by us. 

We correct the wicked & admonish the sinner not because we are above them - WE ARE NOT, WE ARE ALL SINNERS, but because we love them. and have concern for their soul. 

When I finally fully appreciate the love God has for me, then I can go out and love. Mother Teresa was so motivated by the love of God that she was able to see God in every person she met. 

We often harden our hearts because we are challenged to change. Being a Christian is not like joining a country club, it is difficult and painful, causing conflict & division. 

We cannot just say love, love, love. Love is blood, sweat, and tears.  It is a decision. 

We are called to be the watchmen to help those who have fallen away. We want them to live in life. We want them to come home & go home. 

Jesus was constantly in the presence of sinners so that He could love them & convert them. 

A Technological Scare

Is is a bad sign when you feel an slight identity crisis when your Facebook page disappears?

Yesterday morning I woke up to a disabled account:

"Your account has been disabled because using fake names or not being a real person is prohibited."

Whaaaa? Since yesterday my account has been fixed - Facebook experienced a "bug" and are doing reparations for all the deleted accounts. Here's the full story: http://gawker.com/5691682/facebook-gives-women-the-third-degree

So, in light of technology... here's a double page layout of robots! :D lol

{Boys In Motion}

 double page layout. (1) 5x7, (2) 4x6 photos

 it's considered rare to have an opportunity to rhinestones on a boys' page!!

 hand stitched tire tracks. i'm thinking Wall-E track marks!

 ok, I wanted to show off these gears. They can move! They are only held down by the brads so they can spin!

a zoom on in the title - cut from an electronic machine in the "Calvin & Hobbes" font (p.s. my favorite comic strip)

Supply List:

Printed Paper: Cosmo Cricket

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics

Diecuts & Stickers: Cosmo Cricket

Nameplate Arrow & Gears: Quickutz

Brads: Bazzill Basics

Gems: Mark Richards

FYI: this page is for sale in my Etsy shop! Swing by & take a look! (Makes a great gift & it's pre-made ready to go!)

"Happy Halloween"

Happy Halloween! 

I hope everyone had a great holiday & enjoyed the piles of candy laying around. This week - I wanted to showcase Halloween items that I've made over the years. Some for clients, some for me, and some for Etsy!

"Happy Halloween"

{available in the KRISTINA-NICOLE Etsy shop}

 a two page premade scrapbook layout. 

 left side. features a cute 3D little witch & bats, pull out tag for journaling, and glazed embellishments & photomats. 

 the amazing trio: a mummy, frankenstein, and ghost! all the photo mats are triple layered & inked. 

 a zoom on the title

 a zoom on the cute witch with her cauldron. the pot's bubbles have just the right amount of shimmer!

zoom on the glazed mats. half of the polka dots have been given Diamond Glaze to had texture and a little extra POP!

This item is in the Etsy shop. And remember, if you're a blog follower (or become one) there's FREE SHIPPING! {click here to go back to the post with Coupon Code}. 

Check back all week for more halloween projects! 

xo,

A Halloween Must!

Hi Blogland!

I have some Halloween festivities to share with you! 

Every year, Chris & I watch Nightmare Before Christmas. And every year, we make Pumpkin-tinis! mmMMMmm :D

I'm a HUGE Henry Selek fan, Danny Elfman fan, and Tim Burton fan. So of course, I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!

Here's some photos from NB4C memories past....

{jack skellington}

{el capitan, hollywood}

{rockin the 3D specs}

 {decorating halloween themed christmas cookies!}

Now for some Halloween fun!!

Here's a special promo just for you blog followers! Free shipping on any one item!! Woop Woop!! :D

TO REDEEM:

******YOU MUST BE A BLOG FOLLOWER! Following is easy! Just click to the left :)

Once you are a follower, here's how to use the code!

How to use the code:

1. First add an item(s) from my shop to your cart and start the check out process.
2. Enter the code in the 'notes to seller' and the email address where the revised invoice should be sent.
3. Complete the order but do NOT go to Paypal to pay.
4. You will receive a revised invoice, and a link to complete payment, via email reflecting the discount.

Enjoy :D

Happy Halloween Everybody!

xo,

I've Been Featured!!

YAY!!!! A couple of my Etsy Shop items have been featured in two Etsy Treasuries!!

Please comment and support the sellers & curators! {And shopping around might not be a bad thing either!! }

Featured Item: Premade Owl Mini Mailbox

Esty Treasury: THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Curator: jewelofthelion

Featured Item: Halloween Scrapbook Page: Happy Halloween

Etsy Treasury: WHICH WITCH IS WHICH?

Curator: sandyssentiments

Thank you curators!!!

xo,

Two New Products - Under $20!

Hey there!

Just put up two NEW projects on Etsy this morning!

Please check them out. They were such fun to create & I think what you'll find best about them... they are both under $20USD!

Woo Woo!

{Hello Beautiful}

{Best Buddies}

xo,

Ode to Key West...

Hi Blogland!!!

I wanted to share some pictures of a mini I did. This book was created for a woman who vacationed to Key West, Florida. She wanted a mini that would hold 30 photos!

Here's some of the best shots!

xo,

Nominate YOUR favorite crafter!!

Happy Father's Day to all you fathers, dads, daddys, and priests!

Over in my end of the world, we celebrated the day with good food and a day by the pool.

Unfortunately, the chicken, salmon, and ribs were eaten way too fast to get any photos! But here are some of a couple of family friends hanging out with Charlie (my golden!).

And of course... I didn't even get a shot of my own dad (he hates taking photos)

Well, after a good day of pigging out and soaking up some sun... it's time to get down to some business. 

July is approaching and I'm on the look out for the next Kristina-Nicole Artist of the Month!!!

Leave a comment below to nominate a crafter (or yourself, teehee) who you think does an amazing job at what they do & a link to their blog/etsy/facebook. 

Can't wait to see who's up for a nomination!

:D

xo,

Kristina-Nicole