Alright, the judges have spoken and have selected the 13 tattoos they thought were the best. It was interesting to see how different judges gravitated toward different designs. Please vote by posting a comment with the number or name of the tattoo you dig. "Dig" is open to your own interpretation. You can vote for more than one design if you feel like it. Voting will remain open until Sunday, August 3rd at midnight.
The tattoo with the highest number of votes will win. I included back story for the tattoos that were sent with some. If you own one of these tattoos and want to share your story, email me and I will add it.
1. Mercy - (Very faint design)
I used to be a 'cutter' to use the today's terminology. By God's grace alone I have been free from self-harm for nearly three years. For a long time, though, I was ashamed of my scars. Then the idea for the tattoo's came. My left arm, my spot of choice for cutting, is where I have the word 'mercy.' As it is His mercy that keeps me from getting all that I deserve and now those scars serve as a reminder of all He has kept me from. I have the word 'grace' on my scar free arm because that is what grace is all about. A clean slate, completely undeserved, no blemishes, no spots, no scars. It may be strange to some, I'm sure it is, really. But, more importantly to me, it is the Gospel spelled out on my arms!
2. Dollar Bill
3. Angel on Back
My name is Maggie, I'm 23, and this was my first tattoo. It reads "and He showed me a pure river of water of LIFE clear as crystal". The design was taken from the front of a rather large bible that has been in my family for about 6 generations.
4. Grace Grows in Winter
The general rule for tattoos is that the size is inversely proportional to the amount of regret, so I'll have to go the angel. A bigger tattoo also means more accountability, which means more cash in the faith bank. I think Christian tattoos are also less offending the less sharp points they have on them. Ask yourself, "if this tattoo was a 3D object, could I have this around this house with young children?" - if the answer is yes, bring on the inky needle.
ReplyDeleteI have to vote for "Mercy".....more for the story than for the actual tat.....but what a reminder!
ReplyDeleteNumber 1...the purpose behind that tat is powerful.
ReplyDeletemercy/grace
ReplyDelete#2. A prosperity tattoo?. That must be in the finals!
ReplyDelete"Mercy"
ReplyDeletemercy-- it's cool looking and meaningful
ReplyDeleteGotta go with #3
ReplyDeleteI don't like tattoos...I don't care if they are "Christian" or not. Having said that, I LOVE #1. The story is beautiful, message powerful, and light in color.
ReplyDeleteDollar Bill-that tat is money.
ReplyDeleteGotta go with mercy.
ReplyDelete#1
ReplyDeleteI have to go with Mercy. A wonderfully useful tattoo. My sister cuts - maybe one day she'll know God's mercy too.
ReplyDeleteMercy/Grace
ReplyDeletemercy & grace
ReplyDeleteAngel
ReplyDeleteMercy, for the story alone. And the subtleness of the tat. I'm not big on tats. Actually don't like them at all (but then I'm old), but the poignance of that story makes the tattoo significant and not "look at me" showy.
ReplyDeletei'd be tempted right now to go out and get that mercy tattoo in that beautiful subtle colour! it's gotta be #1
ReplyDeleteMercy / Grace
ReplyDeleteOk, the girl who got her ENTIRE BACK FOR HER FIRST TAT! Props sista! My 3 hour simple cross had me cussin a little.
ReplyDeleteLove the back story on mercy & grace. I thank God for that girl's FREEDOM and pray Romans 8:28 for her.
The money tat is money.
And as someone who is of so aware that grace grows in winter, I like that too.
No votes, just respect for all. Grace & Peace, daphne
I'd have to go with the angel. It's rather awesome.
ReplyDeleteThe dollar bill for sure!
ReplyDeleteMercy... most definitely.
ReplyDeleteMercy/Grace
ReplyDeleteI'm stuck between the dollar bill and "Mercy", but I think I have to go with Mercy.
ReplyDeleteBUT I WISH I had a picture of my friend's tattoo, and I may send it just for fun, but it's the word "Sinner" written on his arm, but the way that it's written, if you look at it from the other way it says "Saint" It's SOOO cool!!
Mercy / Grace is the most awesome idea for a tattoo I've ever heard of. I seriously got a bit choked up.
ReplyDeleteMy vote is for mercy.
ReplyDeleteI cast my vote for #3 - Angel on Back
ReplyDeleteMercy
ReplyDeleteMercy/Grace. Totally awesome testimony.
ReplyDeleteMercy because it's a subtle tattoo but it has a huge story behind it.
ReplyDeleteMercy/Grace!
ReplyDeleteMercy. Definitely.
ReplyDeleteMercy is my vote
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing ashes to glory story! I also love it that the tat doesnt draw attention to itself, but says "hey, if you are noticing my scars, let me tell you about mercy too" Its such a great reminder of Christs redemption from the depths of our brokenness- it doesnt just say "I love my Jesus" instead, it shouts, "Look how much Jesus loves me, even in spite of myself". Amazing
I vote for both Mercy and the Angel.
ReplyDeleteMercy... that's the best thing I've ever heard!
ReplyDelete#1, because the story makes it even more beautiful than I would've thought it anyway. (And because I'm going to get a similar wrist tat, in dark ink, so I'm a bit biased.)
ReplyDeletei gotta go with mercy/grace, for all the reasons everyone else has already shared: that testimony is so powerful, it brought me to tears, especially because i used to work with college students and this was rampant (though quite underground) with so many of them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Marty (comment #1). While those amazing 'work of art' tattoos are, well, amazing, the regret factor in coming years is immense.
ReplyDeleteThat said, #1 Mercy is the 'hands down' winner of this round due to the story and the simplicity of the tattoo.
#1 Mercy
ReplyDeleteNot having or wanting any tatoos, this one speaks to me.
angel on back
ReplyDeleteMy vote is for #1: Mercy.
ReplyDeleteIf there was ever a good reason to get a tattoo - then this story reflects it. Period.
1 and 3
ReplyDeletemercy
ReplyDeleteplease cast a vote for mercy and for angel on back
ReplyDelete#1 Mercy/Grace
ReplyDelete#1 Mercy/grace...the story touches a lot of lives and has a lot of meaning behind it...amazing story of God's grace and mercy. He is so good!
ReplyDeletethe angel one, and the "mercy" tattoo.
ReplyDeletemercy & grace
ReplyDeleteNumber 1 - Mercy and grace - two of my favorite things about God. And I like how subtle it is, and that's a beautiful testimony. I wish we had stories for all of them!
ReplyDeleteMercy
ReplyDeletenumero uno
ReplyDeletemercy
ReplyDelete...def. the angel... cool art...
ReplyDeleteI pick "Mercy" because of the personal testimony attached to the tattoo. I also like the Wrist Arrows, and I wish they had given a brief story with it. I guess I'm more into the smaller simpler designs.
ReplyDeleteMercy.
ReplyDeletemercy
ReplyDeleteMercy.
ReplyDeleteI vote for Mercy.
ReplyDeleteMercy/Grace because I think it was done to remind the wearer of God's presence rather than to get attention. That makes it beautiful.
ReplyDelete"mercy" for what it stands for
ReplyDelete#1 Mercy
ReplyDeletemercy/grace. awesome. like Him.
ReplyDeleteMercy
ReplyDeleteI vote for Mercy, great testimony.
ReplyDeletemercy
ReplyDeleteMercy
ReplyDeleteMercy.
ReplyDeleteMercy/Grace. Just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMercy
ReplyDeleteMercy. what an awesome testimony
ReplyDelete4
ReplyDeletemercy
ReplyDeleteI have to go with Mercy.
ReplyDeleteMercy
ReplyDeleteI know her story to be true.... Mercy.
ReplyDeleteMercy/Grace...never heard a more meaningful story behind a tattoo.
ReplyDeletethe angel.
ReplyDeleteGotta go with Mercy/Grace... I am blessed to call this young lady a friend.
ReplyDeleteMercy/Grace - the best reasoning I have ever heard to have tattoos.
ReplyDeleteMercy...what a beautiful tribute
ReplyDeletemercy
ReplyDelete"Mercy"
ReplyDeleteHow awesome
I want to vote for Mercy. I think it's a pretty amazing idea.
ReplyDeletedollar bill
ReplyDeleteMy preacher's son brother is a tattoo artist, by the way. I just wanted to put a plug in for him. If you live anywhere near Bend, OR, he's the guy to see.
That mercy thing is wild, but I stand by my vote.
ReplyDeletemercy-grace
ReplyDeleteI work with Maggie (angel on back) so I have to vote for her. Although I told her about this sight and she didn't tell me she was entering. Bad intern, Maggie, bad intern.
ReplyDeleteMercy.
ReplyDelete"Mercy" I love the story behind them. They are not only beautiful, they touch the lives of others.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete1 vote for "Mercy". Love the significance.
ReplyDeleteMercy!!
ReplyDeletethat is the coolest tat i've ever seen.
MERCY for sure.
ReplyDeleteLove the angel. I'm trying not to chuckle at what it'll in thirty years when its sagging, but my vote is for "Mercy".
ReplyDeleteBTW, having worked in nursing homes I can now speak expertly at what tattoos end up looking like.
mercy - the story is remarkable and the tattoo is beautiful
ReplyDeleteMercy. I used to be a cutter, too, so that story goes straight to my heart.
ReplyDeletePlus it looks like one of those inverse white-ink tattoos, and those are sweet.
Mercy
ReplyDeletethank you mercy - i have friends who cut and are still cutting. i hope that your story might help them to understand how very precious they are and that each drop of blood the bleed is to those who love them.
ReplyDeleteGotta go with #1. I love the story as well as the simplicity of the tattoo.
ReplyDeleteMercy
ReplyDeleteMercy. Understatedly profound. A mixed media juxtaposing scars and ink.
ReplyDeleteMercy - It is a great way to bring others into hearing a powerful testimony.
ReplyDeletemercy
ReplyDeleteMy vote goes for #1.
ReplyDelete#2 Definently !
ReplyDelete#1 for sure!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of things Christians like. I found it funny that so many of the "votes" took the time to write some variant of "Personally I don't like tat's but..." Love it! So Christian like.
mercy for sure
ReplyDeleteMercy!
ReplyDelete"Mercy" is my vote. I also have a tattoo on the inside my wrist as well, for a similar reason (unfortunately, I was out of town during the entires for the contest so I couldn't enter myself [not that I would win or anything, but it would've been fun]). My tattoo is on my right wrist in the spot where Jesus was pierced. It's a simple ichthus (Jesus fish) done in red and about 1 in. long & 1/2 in. wide. I was also a "cutter" in high school when I was going through a really dark time in my life. God also completely healed me of the desire to make the pain I felt on the inside show up on the outside by hurting myself and I haven't cut in over 8 years. It wasn't an easy or short journey, but I've made it only through relying on Jesus. I chose to get the tattoo last summer around the time of my 25th birthday because God had recently brought me through another tough time in my life and I wanted a constant reminder of Jesus' sacrifice that proved how much He loves me & everyone God has created. It's actually a great witness and it has sparked many a conversation where I have been able to share my faith as well as be encouraged or bring encouragement to another believer. A lot of people who notice it ask me about it and it allows them to be surprisingly open about their faith to me in a way that they probably wouldn't if they hadn't seen it. For those that don't know what it means, I've been able to share with them that it was a symbol that encouraged other believers soon after Jesus was crucified...one person would draw half the symbol in the sand & if the other person they were talking to was a Christian, that person would draw the other half of the symbol in the sand. At that point, both people knew they could trust one another and fellowship safely together knowing that they wouldn't be persecuted, tortured, or even killed for their faith. My tattoo is a great reminder to me to be thankful that I live in a nation where I am free to worship Jesus without persecution (or at least the possibility of bodily harm or death). I've absolutely treasured each conversation I've had with everyone about it and each discussion leaves me with a lasting comfort that I was able to share the Gospel or meet another Christian that I may never see on God's earth ever again, but will be able to see again in His Great Kingdom. Thanks for your blog ministry and all the way that it touches so many people across the world!
ReplyDeletei vote for mercy / grace......for the back story and the reality of God's forgivness and ability to create change in us. (and it's subtle, which seems to whisper the owner's story, rather than shout it.)
ReplyDelete#1 mercy!
ReplyDelete"Grace Grows in Winter" - love it.
ReplyDeleteangel on back. as an individual with a recent Jesus tattoo on my back i recognize how amazing this one is (way better than mine). i also recognize how much dedication, time, pain, and money this takes.
ReplyDelete#1 mercy... a very sweet but troubled former youth group member that i love dearly is a cutter, and this just reached out and grabbed me. i know that has nothing to do with this particular person's tat, but it's what got my vote.
ReplyDeletehonestly, carlos' is without a doubt the best i've EVAH seen, bar none. maybe next year you can have a pro class...
Is there any more info on the Mercy tattoo? Maybe a picture of his grace tattoo?
ReplyDeletewow. i wish i saw this site way back when the competition was running...i have a tattoo for the same reason as the Mercy tattoo.....these are all amazing though
ReplyDelete