Scripture Series: Rejoice In Hope Card---Join Us for Another Anything Goes Challenge with an Optional Twist at our Neighborhood, 613 Avenue Create!

A beautiful Monday morning, everyone!  So sorry for yet another delayed posting of this project for our Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  My husband and I just had our 12th Year Anniversary this past weekend and the loads of invitations by friends to their kid's birthday parties and a day at the Church made it difficult for me to find the time.   I am just glad I was able to make the card in time for the Challenge.  God is so good! 

Anyway, this week, we see a lot of people getting busy with Fall Festivals, which leads us to more celebrations to the New Year.  It's easy to get out of track on what's really important because of the many traditions that had been handed out from generation to generation and we just do them because we were brought up to observe them.  But did we really take the time to get into the core value of such holiday celebrations?  Halloween is just around the corner and there was a point in my life that I don't really paid much attention to what could this be all about.  I was told that people dress up in most of what is scary, evil and demonic entities to scare the demons away or to camouflage themselves from being bothered by them.  Knowing what I knew now, this is the most ridiculous reason for celebrating this holiday and certainly is not Biblical in any way, shape or form. I am not trying to change anyone's view of this particular holiday but all I ask is for everyone to research the Truth about what we are allowing ourselves to get into,for we are literally passing them on to our children.  Many of the holidays we observe have "pagan origins" and that we must be careful that it does not put us into shame as believers of Jesus Christ.  For me, there is absolutely no benefit in dressing my kid like a demon, vampire, zombies etc. that will point people to honoring God.  Instead, to do so would promote the fascination of people to seek after them (demonic spirits) and empowering the dead.  The Bible is clear in Deuteronomy 18:9-12 which says, "When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you."  

Growing up in the Philippines, I don't remember Halloween being celebrated as big as it's here in the States.  On All Saint's Day, I grew up going to the cemetery to visit memorials of dead family members, camping there (more like having a picnic), light up candles and praying for their souls, which is encouraged in the religion where I belonged that time, Roman Catholicism.  Well, this is based on the belief of a Purgatory---a place where not so evil people's soul can still have a chance of going to heaven.  It's like halfway point between hell and heaven.  Of course, not really knowing the Word of God and having no personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I believed the practice with all my heart.  So, we prayed with the rest of the family with the hopes that we can promote the souls of dead relatives to heaven.  Knowing God's Word now, it is extremely foolish for anyone to believe those things to be true.  Thanks be to God who unveiled my eyes from the deception that my religion, culture and tradition have blinded me with.  There is absolutely no Biblical support for all this belief and all my spiritual effort (if there were really any) was a complete waste of time.  Today, I am free from this practice and have told my son the Biblical reasons why we should not be practicing it.  If you want to know more about Halloween, it's origin, what the Bible has to say about it, you can go here and here.  These are just starting points to study this one holiday we subject ourselves to and our family every year.  I would like to share the following verses for you to ponder on:

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." (Ephesians 5:8-11)

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." (Revelation 22:14-15)

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers." (Psalm 1:1-3)

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9)

Anyway, here's a card I made for your inspiration for our Challenge.  It features the scripture from Romans 12:12 which says, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."  This just tells us that in whatever circumstances we find ourselves into, we are to always place our trust in the God that loves us and has our best interest in every situation.  Come to think of it, if our lives have always been smooth sailing, we will not learn to appreciate/value the blessings that the Lord showers us daily.  Our faith is challenged when impossibilities knock on our door and we absolutely don't have any idea what to do.  This causes us to call upon the Lord and entrust everything to Him knowing that His promises are not only good for this lifetime but for everlasting.  I have come to the point in my life that I don't wait for the big challenges to come my way before calling on the Lord.  Prayer is an attitude of the heart!  So, whether I am waking up in the morning starting my day, I pray to give the Lord thanks. When I'm making choices on what to wear, I pray for the Lord to provide me the right clothing for that day. Even when it comes to posting things/topics here in my Blog, I ask Him for divine guidance to supply the words to say.  In everything I do and everything I say, I want the glory of the Lord to shine, that He may be praised and glorified through my life.  This is what we are here for---to fulfill the purpose that God has predestined us to do before the beginning of time.  For this card, I used an image from our sponsor this week, Squigglefly, called "My Favorite Kind of Weather," and colored it with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  The base card is a Kraft CS that is cut and scored to make a 5.5-inches square card.  The DP's are all from Paper Studio called "Newsworthy."  Since our optional twist is "Paper Piecing," I did some of that on the image's window and the girl's shirt with 2 of the papers I used for the panels.  I sprayed 2 shades of Walnut Ink from Tsukineko to the flowers (Prima) to create a vintage effect, layered them and added a brad and a ribbon.  I die cut the Lacy circle with my Cuttlebug using my Nestabilities.   I stamped a wonderful scripture sentiment from CDS stamps (now, out of business) and stitched all over this card.  I am not an expert on vintage card but love that I incorporated some of it in this creation.  Hope you like it too. 
 

Cross references:

1. Deuteronomy 18:9 : Dt 9:5; 12:29-31
2. Deuteronomy 18:9 : S Lev 18:3; 2Ki 21:2; 2Ch 28:3; 33:2; 34:33; Ezr 6:21; 9:11; Jer 44:4
3. Deuteronomy 18:10 : S Lev 18:21
4. Deuteronomy 18:10 : 1Sa 15:23
5. Deuteronomy 18:10 : S Ex 7:11
6. Deuteronomy 18:10 : S Lev 19:31
7. Deuteronomy 18:11 : Isa 47:9
8. Deuteronomy 18:11 : S Ex 22:18; S 1Sa 28:13
9. Deuteronomy 18:12 : S Lev 18:2

 

 REJOICE IN HOPE CARD:

 REJOICE IN HOPE CARD LAYERS:

 REJOICE IN HOPE CARD INSIDE:

 REJOICE IN HOPE CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Challenges 4 Everybody---ATG
Creative Inspirations Paint---ATG
Lacy Sunshine---ATG
Pile It On---Embellishment Crazy
Stamping Sensations---All Creatures Great and Small
Corrosive---Tic Tac Toe (DP's/Image/ Sentiment)
Hiding in my Craft Room Door---Use a Critter
My Sheri Crafts---A Little Comfort
Sugar Creek Hollow---Birds of a Feather
Sweet Stampin'---Wood, Trees or Leaves
My Creative Moments---Anything
Wags 'n' Whiskers---Paper Piecing
Everybody Art---Feather
House that Stamps Built---Paper Piecing
Brown Sugar---Autumn
Card Crafter's Circle---Autumn Splendor
Craftyhands---ATG
Crafty Girls---ATG
Craftin' Boutique---ATG
Crafty Little Fairies---ATG
Paper Crafting Journey---ATG
Perfectly Rustics---Pattern Paper
Use it Tuesday---Creatures (Hoarded Supplies are DP's and Prima Flowers)
Inspire Me Fridays---ATG
Make It Monday---ATG
Sister Act---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Create with TLC---Show It Off Sunday
Artistic Inspirations---Fall colors/ATG
Delightful Challenges---Winged Things

There you have it, friends!  I hope you  consider joining our Challenge for this week at 613 Avenue Create.  There's really no excuse not to join because if you are not interested in joining us for the Twist, you can always submit any project for the ""Anything Goes."  And did I tell you there's a prize awaiting the winner from our sponsor, Squigglefly, who happens to have so many darling images?  So, what are you all waiting for?  I can't wait to see what you showcase for us in this Challenge.  I love it when you make it difficult for us to choose a winner. Have an awesome week and always remember to trust in the Lord in everything and to read His Word every opportunity so as not to be deceived by false teachings.  This is only possible after a new birth (John 3:3) has taken place in your life.