Scripture Series: A Shield For Me Easel Calendar Drawer---It's Another Anything Goes Challenge with Optional Twist at 613 Avenue Create...Join Us!

Good Sunday morning, guys and gals!  It's super duper cold out here and I am stuck in the house for two days, not desiring to go out at all.  The weather gave me a chance to think thoroughly what to do for the Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  But prior to that, I am supposed to rush on some projects I wanted to include at our Christmas Shoppe that is supposed to happen today but due to the overly cold weather, the Church had to cancel.  I am okay with it though since it gave me more time to concentrate on today's project. Anyway, last Thursday, we began another topic in my Bible class which focuses on the Five Disciplines (Prayer, Silence, Meditation, Fasting, Study) and we began by comparing the scriptures in Matthew 25:14-30 which is the "Parable of the Talents" (Read it HERE) and Luke 19:11-26 which is about the "Parable of the Minas" (Read it HERE).  The scriptures in Matthew tells us that man is given by God a measure of talents and abilities.  Not everyone has the same talent and the same portion and we don't get a chance to select.  It is God who provides according to His perfect will.  So, when the first 2 servants came with an increase, even though their portions differ,  yet their increase were the same based on the talent they have started with.  The one that has 5 doubled it up to 10 and the one that has 2 increased it to 4.  Notice that the Master gave them exactly the same rewards.  This tells me that when the Lord gives us talents and abilities, He expects us to use it towards fruitfulness.  It does not matter whether it's a little compared to others but He wants us to give it our all and believe me, He knows when we give it our all---totally surrendered to the working of His His Spirit in our lives!  In Luke 19, something is different.  Here, there were 10 servants and each one of them is given one mina which represents what every believer of Christ possess, a common denominator to all who have put their trust in Christ.  Take for example, we all got saved by means of the New Birth (Born-Again Experience---John 3), we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, we were declared righteous in the sight of Almighty God through the finished work  of Jesus Christ, we have equal access to God through prayers and many others.    When the 2 servants gave their report, one servant added 10 to his and the other servant added 5.  Notice that in this case, the rewards were different.  One that have larger increase gained more than the other one that has a bit of an increase.  This just goes to say that the degree of passion and work you exerted towards obedience to the task/assignment/purpose  that God has placed in your life can have a great impact than those who were given the same yet didn't do much.  Our perseverance to fulfill the purposes of God in our lives are set to meet obstacles along the way but as we remain faithful, obedient in taking action towards our faith, we are going to receive eternal rewards in God's Kingdom where no earthly reward will ever compare.  On the other hand, in both Parables, the 3rd servants have one thing in common.  They told their Master that the reason they both wasted the opportunity towards fruitfulness was because they were AFRAID (FEAR).  If were going to apply our worldly/earthly thinking to this Parables, we would probably tell them, "Oh, you poor thing!  Don't worry, it's okay.  Let me give you a hug to comfort you from that fear." ---Yet that is not what the Master told the 2 servants in both Parables.  Words like wicked, slothful, lazy, idle----did those look like words of comfort to you?  NOT AT ALL!  Being afraid of God or afraid of obeying God because you don't want to work or leave the worldly life He is calling you out of  is NOT AN EXCUSE!  We often paint God as the meek, lowly, never lost His cool God we want Him to be but if you've read many of the passages in the Scripture especially how he dealt with the Pharisees. He said some pretty strong words to them here at Matthew 23 (Read HERE).  When one is called a hypocrite, blind guides, snakes, brood of vipers among others by Almighty God, it should send us a message that God is not playing games with us!  He is righteous, holy and a JUST GOD and we will have to answer for all the talents, abilities and gifts He has entrusted us with.  Know that as a believer of the Lord Jesus, we are not doing "good deeds"  in order to be accepted in the sight of the Lord.  Through faith in Jesus Christ, we were clothed in righteousness and it's a gift.  Nothing we have ever done and didn't do gave us that right standing with the Lord.  It is ours solely because of what Jesus Christ has done.  And so, we work, making every good deed for the Lord because He that lives in us only does what is good and pleasing to the Father.  Our good deeds stem from completely relying on the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives and allowing ourselves to be His vessel to fulfill His purposes on earth.  The end is coming really soon and those that hear what the Spirit says knows this Truth in our hearts.  Let us make the most of the time on earth telling others about what Christ has done for them for the door is going to shut down soon and no outsider will be able to come in.  You who have compassion, hear what the Spirit has to say!  Don't mind the harsh words, the persecutions from friends, family, co-workers and strangers.  Keep your eyes firmly on the Lord for our rewards are stored up in the heavens.  These are ETERNAL REWARDS awaiting all of us who have triumphed in the name of Jesus!  I want to come face to face with my Lord one day and hear these very same words: " Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you  in charge of many things.  Come and share your Master's happiness!" (Matthew 24:21).  I want to share with you some verses about the hope for our eternal future:

"For it is time for judgment to begin with God's household; and if it begins with us, what is the outcome be for those who do not obey the Gospel of God?  And if is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" (1 Peter 4:17-18)

 "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.  This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." (1 John 5:13-14) 

"He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white.  I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:  These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David.  What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.  I know your deeds.  See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.  I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.  I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars--I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you." (Revelation 3:5-9)

Anyway, here's the project I want to share with you today.  We have an Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create with an optional twist (if you want a bit of a Challenge).  That is to make a Perpetual Calendar or Mini Calendar.  I have not made one in my several years of Crafting so, after researching and deciding on what to do, here's what I came up with.  It's an Easel Calendar with fabulous drawer boxes.  I got some wonderful inspiration from this BLOG. I did make some changes to the size of the drawers and made 3 drawers instead of 4 small ones in order to fit the Easel size I made that is 6 x 6 inches square.  I had to experiment on the boxes several times before I was completely satisfied...The whole project took me 3/4 of an entire day...LOL  I love it though and I'm planning to keep it in my desk so, it was worth all the effort.  Here,  I used an image from our sponsor, A Day for Daisies called "Pearls in my Hair" and colored it with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.   I used mostly Kraft CS for the base and 3 gorgeous DP's from Recollections.  I die cut a Lacy Oval from Nestabilities as a frame for the image, added flowers from Recollections and applied some glitters to them and the birds (Stickles-Stardust).  I added some Liquid Pearls (White Opal) to the image,  The wonderful scripture Word Art is a freebie from Karen Murray featuring Psalm 3:3 which says."But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head."  This is so true and I want to be reminded of this wonderful verse as I go through all the days of this year (in my calendar...LOL).  I found the calendar online (by Finding Nana) and she has it free for download but found out that they were quite big for my project.  So, I took her sample instead and print that and they came out the perfect size for my Easel calendar  after I added some matting to each one.  I placed a Velcro behind each month so that I can remove and place the months accordingly with ease.  I store the rest of the months on the front (big drawer).  The 2 small drawers open on the side and can use them for extra storage.  I used some black ribbons as handle for my drawers, secured by black brads.  I took one of my prepared I-Top Big daddy brads (by Imaginisce) and adhered it to my Easel as a stopper.  Behind that, in the secret area of this Easel, I place an itty bitty notepad (cut-out white papers) in which all (about 8) pages were stamped with "just a note" from Printworks and attached it with 2 tiny clothespin.  Lastly, I did a load of stitching here too.  I was exhausted but very happy with the result.  Enjoy the many pictures I posted here.  Thanking the Lord for the strength.

A SHIELD FOR ME EASEL CALENDAR DRAWER WHEN CLOSE:

 A SHIELD FOR ME EASEL CALENDAR DRAWER:

 A SHIELD FOR ME EASEL CALENDAR DRAWER SIDE VIEW:

A SHIELD FOR ME EASEL CALENDAR DRAWER TOP VIEW (DRAWERS OPEN):

A SHIELD FOR ME EASEL CALENDAR DRAWER SHOWING NOTE PAD:

A SHIELD FOR ME EASEL CALENDAR SHOWING BIG DRAWER (With Monthly Calendars):

A SHIELD FOR ME EASEL CALENDAR SHOWING SMALL DRAWER (There's 2 in this project):

This Card/Calendar is entered into the following Challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge---ATG
Clear It Out---ATG (The I-top brad, the brown brads, brown little flowers were with me for years)
Crafts and Me---ATG
Crafty Ribbons---Spots or Stripes
DRS Designs---Glitter It Up! (There's glitters on the flowers and the birds)
Flourishes---Stitch It Up!
Krafty Hands---ATG
Loves Rubber Stamps---ATG
My Craft Creations---ATG
My Heart Pieces---Sparkle (Glitters were applied to flowers and birds)
Papertake Weekly---ATG
Ribbon Carousel---ATG (The handles for the drawers are ribbons)
Really Reasonable Ribbons---BINGO ( Plka Dots/Flower/Glitter) + Ribbon ( drawer handles)
Scrapper's Delights---Make It Sparkle (Glitters on flowers and birds)
Stamp and Create---ATG
Stamping Sensations---Free and Easy
Corrosive Challenge---ATG
Squirrel and the Fox---Summer or Winter
Stamping Chef---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Tok Bokok---ATG
Pile It On---P is for (Polka dot, person, paper, pearls...)
Simon Says Stamp---Make Your Own Background
Crafty Girls---ATG
Make It Monday---ATG
Crafty Bloggers Network---Girly
Crafty Creations---ATG except Christmas
Create with TLC---Show it Off Sunday
Dream Valley---ATG but a Card
Great Impressions---Use Glitter/Sequins
Scribble and Scrap---ATG
All Sorts---ATG but Christmas
Inkspirational---Photo Inkspiration
Sweet Stampin'---Ribbons (The handles for my drawer are ribbons)
Creative Fingers---ATG with Optional Twist: Easel
Scrapping 4 Fun---ATG
Wags 'n Whiskers---Things with Wings
As You like It---Favorite Digi and Why? (This Digi from ADFD conveys faith and hope)
Happy Campers---Glitter It
Little Miss Muffet---You've Been Framed

Okay folks, that's it for me!  Just a quick reminder to visit us at 613 Avenue Create and join us for the fun at our "Anything Goes" Challenge.  Wonderful prizes are awaiting the winners each week so, don't let it pass.  I pray that you have a wonderful fellowship with the Lord and other believers today and if you have not made the decision to make Jesus your Lord and Savior, this is the day.  Let the Lord lead you to a Church house (Full Gospel) and give the Lord a chance to turn your life around.  I took on the Challenge 2 decades ago and my life was never the same---eternally grateful!