(to read the entire post click on the above title “35 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS”)

Part 1 What
I was inspired by my Bible study leader Glenda’s statement “Keep a pure heart.” Both the heart and the bookmark (photos below) are very simple to make and cost very little too. My goal is to share a craft with you that points you to the Lord.
This morning the Bible study group I’m in completed our last lesson in our First Corinthians study. I made a heart and a bookmark for each member of the Bible study.
The bookmark is I Corinthians 13 which was my Mom’s favorite chapter in the Bible. it turned out so sweet. Just like my Mom.
The other gift is a wooden heart with “Keep a pure heart” on it. The unfinished hearts which I used were purchased at a garage sale. They looked like they were made in someone’s workshop and not by any fancy machine. I love that. Because none of us are duplicates and neither is our heart.
Part 2 Why


The important thing about these items is the spiritual value. This website was set up to give glory to God and share His Word with everyone who visits. I decided to make something that would remind me daily to keep a pure heart. I wanted to have something that would make me ask myself if what I’m thinking, what I’m about to say, or what I’m about to do is lining up with what it means to have a pure heart. I decided to make both a heart with “Keep a pure heart” on it and a I Corinthians 13 (the love chapter) bookmark for my Bible study group.
Prayer
Lord I pray we will have the opportunity to ascend Your mountain and stand in Your holy place because we have clean hands and a pure heart. I pray we will not lift up our soul to anything false nor sware any oaths deceitfully. I pray we will receive a blessing and righteousness from You the God of our salvation (Psalm 24:3-5 AMP). Lord I pray we will be pure in heart, that is people with integrity, moral courage and godly character for Your Word says then we will see You (Matthew 5:8 AMP). Lord I pray we believers will think on, center our mind on and implant in our heart whatever is true, honorable, worthy of respect, right, confirmed by Your Word, pure, wholesome, lovely, peaceable, admirable, of good repute, and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8 AMP). Lord I pray our goal will be to love from a pure heart, good conscience and a sincere faith (I Timothy 1:5 AMP). Lord I pray we will run away from youthful lusts. I pray we will pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace with believers who call on You out of a pure heart (II Timothy 2:22 AMP). In Christ Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN.
Scripture prayed in above prayer
Psalm 24:3-5 (AMP) 3 Who may ascend onto the [c]mountain of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to what is false, Nor has sworn [oaths] deceitfully. 5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Matthew 5:8 (AMP) “Blessed [anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature] are the pure in heart [those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character], for they will see God.
Philippians 4:8 (AMP) Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].
1 Timothy 1:5 (AMP) But the goal of our instruction is love [which springs] from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
2 Timothy 2:22 (AMP) Run away from youthful lusts—pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those [believers] who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Part 3 How
“Keep a pure heart”
The wooden hearts were purchased from a garage sale but you can find something similar at Hobby Lobby, Michaels or maybe even Walmart. Don’t limit yourself to wood though. There’s also unfinished clay hearts and heavy paper hearts available. You could even purchase other shapes that are round or square or whatever as your base and attach a paper heart with your message written on it.
Directions to make one “Keep a pure heart” heart
1. Paint your heart/heart base if it is not already painted. I chose bright red (representing Jesus’ blood shed on the cross for our sins).
2. While it is drying make yourself a paper heart. Cut out a heart smaller than your heart/heart base.
3. Write your message on the paper heart. (Though I printed my message, if you’re just making one heart writing your message by hand is fine.)
4. Glue your cut out heart with your chosen words on the heart/heart base. Let it dry and you’ve got a heart to keep or share.
Suggestions
1. The finished heart can be put in your purse so you can grab it to remind you to consider your words or actions.
2. The finished heart can also be placed on your vanity or nightstand as a daily reminder to “keep a pure heart.”
3. You could come up with another statement to put on your base. Just make sure it will fit on the paper heart you’ll be gluing on the heart/heart base.
4. Think through your project. You may have a better idea than mine. Build on my suggestions or go in whatever direction you are drawn.
“I Corinthians 13 Bookmark”