Faith Discovery Challenges {February Highlights}, an ANNOUNCEMENT, and a FREE GIFT!

February is now behind us and we’re now approaching the end of the winter season for most parts of the world. Springtime is starting to make its way back and from where I live, I’m already seeing the changes that are taking place outside. The air is warming up under the sun, flower buds are opening, leaves are starting to sprout from the bare branches, and I’m beginning to see more birds flying around the neighborhood. I guess I’m one of those people that really love to watch the different transitions between seasons and the little changes that take place especially the RENEWAL of life in different forms. It’s something that keeps me reminded of how God renews us when we grow weary or tired, He gives us strength when we need it most, He lifts up our heads when we feel suppressed, He makes us new inside and out. He is our redeemer that keeps us from stumbling and helps us on our journey through life. Every day is a new day, a new beginning. One of my favorite verses that I love to read when I'm feeling spiritually or physically exhausted is in Isaiah 40:31 - "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint."

Speaking of RENEWAL, I’d also like to make a little ANNOUNCEMENT! I will be taking a few weeks off to take care of some business with housework, family, and my wonderful taxes, so please know that the FAITH DISCOVERY CHALLENGES IS ON BREAK! Spring break that is! I do want you to keep coming back for updates on some new changes and new things that I’m going to be doing when I do return so, please don’t forget to check back in a few weeks! And because I appreciate you all so much for being so wonderful and supportive of me throughout this all, I made a little freebie for you!

Download here.

Anyways, the Faith Discovery Challenges for February were about things that dealt with love and hopefully gave us a better understanding of God’s amazing love towards us all. It also gave us a chance to remember certain loved ones in our lives who were great examples of Christ-like love, a love that simply surpasses our expectations. To me, it was a challenge to really pick the topics that I felt the Lord wanted to have me share because there’s such a wide range of themes that I could have touched on. But what I came up with was to emphasize the love of Christ and His ultimate demonstration of real, immeasurable, sacrificial, selfless love that nothing in this world can compare to and how we can follow that example. I appreciate all of you who participated and gave me an even greater appreciation for His perfect love, just by reading some of your precious words concerning the love of Jesus. Thank you so much for being a blessing to me as well as to everyone who were touched by it!

Again, I have prepared slideshows for all the layouts created for each FDC challenge in February weeks #4 - #8. If you’d like to take a closer look at these galleries, please go to our Faith Discovery Challenge Gallery and leave some love for these talented ladies! These layouts were taken directly from our gallery so, if you do have a layout for these challenges that are in a different place in the gallery, please let me know and I will add it in.

Week #4 - {Desires of the Heart}

Week #5 - {A Pure Heart}

Week #6 - {Lover of My Soul}

Week #7 - {Sacrifices of Love}

Week #8 - {Unconditional Love}

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FDC Forum

FDC Gallery

Faith Discovery Challenges - {January Highlights}

Hello sisters! I honestly have to say, I have been so blessed beyond words this last month. When I began the challenges, I had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that God placed me here and He has given me this opportunity to be His vessel and be used for His glory. Looking back 10 years ago, I probably would have never imagined that I'd be doing what I'm doing now. I wasn't even living in God's perfect will and serving Him with my whole heart. Like most people who grew up in a Christian home, I was led astray during my teens and lived a life far apart from God. Yet, I was searching for something real and knew about Jesus but, couldn't seem to find my way back to Him. It wasn't until I reached the bottom of the pit that caused me to really let go of the life I was living and surrender it all to Christ. The rest was history…. Soon, God began to work in my heart and in my life in such a miraculous way. The moment I made the decision to live my life for the Lord, was the moment that I truly began to live my life. Nothing in the world could compare to the love of Jesus and what I once considered to be fun and exciting was suddenly revealed to be empty, vain, and destructive. And what I thought was going to last forever proved that without Jesus, would only be short lived and temporary. Being here at Faith Sisters is not temporary (God willing) because what I do on earth will echo into eternity. (A line from the actor, Russell Crow, in the movie “The Gladiator) I could be doing something else or maybe nothing at all but, it’s no accident that I was brought here. YOU, my friends, were brought here on purpose, for His purpose, to fulfill your divine purpose… Romans 9:17 says, "For the scripture says to Pharoah: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Reflecting on just this past month and even past years, it is so obvious that the Lord has directed my steps and led me to do what He has destined me to do… Thank you all for supporting Faith Sisters and our community. We couldn’t do this without your love and prayers…

Okay, where was I? ahem… J Well, because I have been so wonderfully amazed at the creativity and talent these past weeks, I want to publicly showcase the beauty of your layouts on the front page. So, from now on I will collect the layouts from each challenge and create a slideshow for them and post it on the FS blog at the end of each month. That way, we can all see and appreciate the amazing work that was created for these challenges. Sound good? Well, here are the layouts for the January’s Faith Discovery Challenges!! Praise God!

Week #1 - {Open the Door to a New Day}

Week #2 - {Time For Change}

Week #3 - {Your Family Legacy}