Bible Verse Thursday Challenge 10 ~ Christ Is Savior for All

Good Morning and welcome to the first Bible Verse Thursday Challenge of 2012!  This week, we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany.  The day that the Wise Men brought their gifts to the child Jesus.

A light of revelation to the gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.

                           ~ Luke 2:32

The Magi were the first gentiles to acknowledge Jesus as King.  Their act of worship was one of the first indication that Jesus was for all people.

One of my favorite family traditions during the holidays is marking the doorways.  On Epiphany, the symbol  +C+M+B+ with two numbers before and two numbers after representing the year (ie: 20+C+M+B+12) is written on the lintel or above the doorway.  The letters are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi – Caspar, Melchior, and Balthsar, and also abbreviate the Latin Christus mansionem benedicat, (“May Christ bless this house”).  The beginning and end numbers represent the year and the crosses represent Christ.

There is a blessing that goes along with the marking of the doors:

	“Peace be with this house and all who live here and all who enter here.  During the days of the Christmas season, we keep this Feast of Epiphany, celebrating the manifestation of Christ to the Magi and thereby to the whole world.  Today, Christ is manifest to us!  Today, this home is a holy place because of the presence of Christ here.  God, Lord of all that exists, you revealed your only-begotten son to every nation by the guidance of a star.  Bless this house and all who inhabit it.  Fill each of us with the light of Christ, that our concern for others may reflect your love.  We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.”

And a wonderful old prayer that fits as well:

Bless this house O Lord we pray; Make it safe by night and day;
Bless these walls so firm and stout, Keeping want and trouble out;
Bless the roof and chimneys tall, Let thy peace lie over all;
Bless this door, that it may prove ever open to joy and love.

Bless these windows shining bright, Letting in God's heav'nly light;
Bless the hearth a'blazing there, With smoke ascending like a prayer;
Bless the folk who dwell within, Keep them pure and free from sin;
Bless us all that we may be Fit O Lord to dwell with thee;
Bless us all that one day we May dwell O Lord with thee.

~Helen Taylor, 1927

Your challenge this week is to create a project using the scripture above or another verse that reminds us that Jesus came to save us all or of a favorite holiday tradition.  When uploading your project, please use keyword ODBDBVT10 and then join us at Our Daily Bread Designs Forum to share what you’ve done!

 

Supplies

Cardstock:  Stamping Bella – White; Bazzill – Cocoa, Parchment, Walnut Cream, Black

Stamps:  Our Daily Bread Designs – Christmas Door, Scripture Series 1

Inks, Stains and Paints:  Ranger Distress Ink – Fired Brick, Walnut Stain; Tea Dye; Staz-On – Jet Black

Prismacolor Pencils:  PC940 Sand, PC941 Light Umber, PC945 Sienna Brown, PC946 Dark Brown

Dies, Punches & Embossing Folders:  Tim Holtz Alterations Texture Fade– Bricked

Accessories & Other Stuff:  Tim Holtz Idea-ology – Grunge Board, Flower Soft – Pine, Vintage Christmas; Recollections – Cross Charm

Blessings to you!