The Story Behind "Gospel In A Jar"

My name is Robin Carr. I own a small business called RC Designs, and work with my sweet friend, Leah, who owns Patchwork here in Bruce, MS.
I recently had a change of heart. If anyone turns on the news or opens social media knows our world has seen better days. I've racked my brain thinking what I could do to maybe make a small positive change in the world. I prayed and prayed...and prayed some more asking God what I could do with the talents and skills He has given me...OR more importantly what HE wanted me to do.

•I have grown up in church my whole life. I got saved in a little country church that sits right in front of my home where I grew up, at vacation bible school when I was eight years old. My parents made sure my brother and I were there every time the doors were open.•

•I want to tell you about the different elements of this new apparel line called "Gospel In A Jar".

1} The verse or hymn.
I have favorite verses that I have memorized and I love to hear old hymns. I chose to put parts of verses and hymns so maybe...just maybe, it would strike up a conversation. A conversation that consists of God's love and grace for us. I pray that it just makes the conversation a bit easier.

2} The lettering.
I have doodled since I can remember. I doodled on my notes in school and during worship service at church. I seemed to be able to concentrate a little better. (Here's a little extra for you! I was in fifth grade, and the binders with the clear view film were becoming popular. Everyone wanted there names wrote all cute, surrounded in polka dots and stars to go inside that part of their binder! For some reason, my classmates would come to me wanting their name wrote out all pretty. So I did. I then began charging a WHOLE 10 cents for anyone who wanted there's done. --- I sure hope the school doesn't find out now. Individually selling "stuff" was against the rules! ) I see it now as a talent I had back then, that I have come to appreciate. Hand-lettering is something that is so unique and different. I feel like it something God gave me to serve a purpose and now I'm being given the opportunity to use that gift. Basically, all of Gospel In A Jar's designs will not be designed with pre-made fonts. They are all hand-written.

3} The jar.
As I was brainstorming, and praying...A LOT about this line of apparel, it just HIT me that I should put them in jars. It was like God just knocked me upside the head with the thought! I immediately Googled a verse that had to do with "a jar" and its meaning behind it! Here's what I found: "We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves." 2 Corinthians 4:7.
Clay jars were containers created by skilled potters who took raw clay, shaped and molded it as they desired, and then baked the clay until it was hard. They then painted, glazed, or decorated the jars for whatever purpose they had in mind. In ancient times, sacred scrolls or valuable documents were rolled up and placed inside a jar of clay and then hidden for safe keeping. The Dead Sea Scrolls were kept in such jars of clay. Pottery jars could be beautiful or purely functional, but they had one thing in common: they were breakable. Contents could not be forever housed in jars of clay. Clay jars were temporary holding places.

According to 2 Corinthians 4:7, we are like “jars of clay” with a “treasure” inside. This means that our physical bodies are like those jars. We are made from clay. Our bodies come in all shapes and sizes, each designed by the Heavenly Potter for whatever purpose He desired. Our bodies are beautiful, functional, and breakable. Our bodies are temporary housing places for the treasure God has given us, namely, “the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ”. The knowledge of the gospel is a rich truth, indeed.

God entrusts to us treasure that will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:6 defines that treasure as “the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” The treasure we are privileged to hold is the knowledge of our Creator through His Son, Jesus Christ. While we were dead in our sin and destined for destruction, God made a way for us to be made new. Our physical “jars of clay” will be resurrected one day to become glorified, eternal bodies. God extends an invitation for “whosoever will” to come to Him while still in these earthly bodies. This knowledge and resulting relationship with God are the greatest treasures any earthly vessel can hold.
Isn't our God amazing!? 

•My prayer is that each piece sold will bring light into someone's life. I hope it will open the door for that conversation to get started. I pray it will save souls. Through this mission of mine, I hope my relationship, as well as yours, will continue to grow with Christ. If one soul is saved, it will all be worth it. 

With abundant blessings,
RC