Scripture Series: Waited Patiently for the Lord Center Step Card---Join Us for our Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hey there, Crafty friends!  It's a freezing day out here in Texas and I stayed home the entire day yesterday to make this card in time for the Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  Last night, I went to talking to my 8 year old son about a "calloused heart."  I don't remember what led us to the topic but I know that when the Lord leads me to share with my boy, He always has a purpose.  I told him that God has given us a conscience (moral compass) to know what is right from wrong.  Even though we were born in this world with the sin nature imparted by the devil to Adam and passed along the entire human race, inside of us is the knowledge of what God requires.  What makes me wonder sometimes is that how come so many people don't want to take advantage of the open door---the "free gift of salvation" through Jesus Christ that God already provided?  Why do many people try to work their salvation  (which is an impossibility) instead of just accepting by faith God's sure way of salvation through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ?  In real life, we love freebies!  Tell me where there's something "free" and I would see a line of people trying to get a hold of it.  But why is it that when it comes to the "free gift of salvation", this is not true for many?   Suddenly, the answer to these questions came crystal clear to me.  It is because coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ would require and cause a change in a person's life! I heard many people saying that they want to come to God and change their lives but when the opportunity comes, many of them are not truly ready to let go/give up whatever it is  that's holding them back.  For  many, they cannot let go of a sinful relationship (fleshly desires), addictions, vices, fame and popularity, desire for power, love for wealth and many more.  It reminded me of the rich young man that asked Jesus how to gain eternal life in Matthew 19:16-24.  He went away from the presence of Jesus very sad because He cannot give up his wealth to follow the Lord.  While these people are ignoring their conscience and the call of God in their lives,  their hearts become calloused---so hardened by their own selfish motives that in due time, it can no longer discern right from wrong.  They are so blinded that they forget they are not their own gods and that a time of judgment is going to come.  They started throwing away scriptures that does not agree with their lifestyle choices and settles with their made up god that is all about "love."  They claim that God is so loving that He will not send anyone to hell and that hell is not a real place.  The sad thing is that no matter how they delete, twist, disqualify the Bible (Word of God), their claim will always remain false!  The Bible is very clear in Numbers 23:19 and it says, "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it."  What God declared is a SIN WILL ALWAYS REMAIN A SIN---no matter how much human kind have changed.  The sins that were in existence before is still the same sins we are encountering now---remember Sodom and Gomorrah?  That is why a true believer of God will not have to apologize if God's Word (used in proper context) offended somebody.  A true child of God will not change his/her Biblical view of issues of faith---no matter how sugary sweet others make a sinful issue is.  We take the side of God not to condemn the people whose under the bondage of their selfish desires (though will always condemn the sin).  Instead, we'll earnestly pray that they come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and exchanged their hard and calloused heart for a heart of clay.  Jesus does not want us to "clean up our act" before coming to Him for He knows that it's clearly an impossibility.  He wants us to come as we are for as we follow Him, a change is going to come!  None of us can come so near to a Holy God without being conscious of how unholy and dirty our lives were before He found us.  Our desire to come to know Him, accompanied  by the witnessing of His Spirit inside of us, would prompt a change in our innermost being. Before we know it, our lives have changed from one glory to another.  For some, instantly, for others---a process! As we come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ and allow our dead spirits to come alive through the Born-Again Experience (John 3:3), the Spirit of God lives inside out hearts and reveals more things to us through God's Word.  It paints a clear picture in our spirits and reveals to us the ways of our Father and the purpose why we are to steer clear of the things of this world that could destroy us.  As a result, we hearken unto the voice of the Spirit and we surrender every thought and conduct that does not align with the will of God.  Remember that as we come unto the Lordship of Jesus Christ, we surrendered our lives to Him! We allowed Him to take over our being, be the King of our hearts which simply means that our life is not anymore our own.  Galatians 2:20 clearly speaks of the change in ownership of one's self after we come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  It says, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."  So, I told my son that everything we see happening nowadays is because many people have chosen to please themselves rather than to submit to God.  The free gift of salvation is always available to anyone who truly wants a change and are tired of running their own lives. Many reject it not because they don't believe it has the power to change but because they really don't want the change.  Sad but true!  Here are some verses that can encourage us to take a chance on the kind of change God is going to fulfill in our lives when we come to Him in faith:

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3)

"For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness."  (Romans 6:14-19)

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."  (Romans 12:1-2)

Anyway, we have a wonderful Word Art (by Karen Murray) available for free at the WAW Blog.  It comes from Psalm 40:1 which says, " I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."  As a believer of Jesus Christ, we always come to the Lord to give glory and praise to His Name for the wonderful things He has done in our lives.  We also come to Him to pray for things that concern us and issues that the Holy Spirit placed in our hearts.  Some of these prayers are answered instantaneously yet others requires patience, trust and persistence.  We have to remember that we serve a God who knows everything from  past to future.  Although we may view some situations urgent for us, it is God who knows the  perfect day and time to answer our prayers.  We are to be familiar with the Word of God so that we can pray with thanksgiving knowing that He always fulfills His promises/His Word.  Some people would pray for healing and ask God to heal if it's His will.  Well, it may sound good but we know that the scriptures reveal that throughout Jesus' ministry, He healed the sick and one of the benefits of Him enduring the lashings on His body before He was crucified was for our healing.  The Bible tells us in Isaiah 53:5. "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."  We serve a loving and faithful God so, we ought to come to Him knowing that when we pray in accordance to His Will, He always hears us.  As we wait for the manifestation of His answer, we ought to be patient knowing that God answers in His perfect time.  For my inspiration card today, I used an image from Mo Manning called "Elke and Bear" which I colored with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  I used a Kraft base CS which is cut and scored to make a 5.5-inches Center step design.  The DP's are from  my scraps, the die cut shape from my Nestabilities, the layered flowers from Prima, brads from Recollections, die cuts fence and leaves from MS Punch and nail heads gems from Imaginisce.  Lastly, I stitched all over this card.  So, what you think?

 WAITED PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD CENTER STEP CARD:

 WAITED PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD CENTER STEP CARD LAYERS:

 WAITED PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD CENTER STEP CARD SIDE VIEW:

 WAITED PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD CENTER STEP CARD INSIDE:

WAITED PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD CENTER STEP CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:


*** WANT THIS CARD?  AVAILABLE AT MY ETSY---HERE! *** 

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafting for all Seasons---For the Girls
Crafty Creations---Seasonal
Creative Moments---ATG/Add Some Sparkle
Miriam's Crafting Blog---Flowers
Penny's Paper-Crafty---Spots and Dots
Pile It On---Animals
Rhedd and Rosie---ATG
Scrapper's Delights---Favourite Color (Pink, Blue and Green)
Stamping Chef---ATG
Bearly-Mine---Colour Inspiration
Pause Dream Enjoy---Friendship
TTCRD---ATG
Make It Monday---ATG
Bunny Zoo's Crafts---Stitching
Glitter n Sparkle---Bling It Up
Sister Act---ATG
Rubber Buggy---ATG
Craftitude---ATG or I see Fluffy
HIMCR---For a Loved One
Paper Pretties---Texture (Some wonderful texture on the flowers)
Paper Creator Crafts---ATG
Crafting by Designs---Think Warm Thoughts
Crafting with Dragonflies---Cards/ATG
Little Red Wagon---Child's Play

Time to go, everyone!  Please make sure to visit us at WAW and link up the projects you make out of our free Word Art although not mandatory.  You can link up any inspiring, uplifting, family-friendly projects, up to 5.  We have a very generous sponsor by the name of  The Scrappy Gourmet who is giving away a $50 GC to  one winner.  How awesome is that?  So, head over to WAW and show us your wonderful projects.  Have a blessed week and know that God is always with you to love, care and protect you.  Let us continue to pray for others who have not experienced the Father's perfect love yet because time is running out.  For where God is, there is perfect peace, joy and happiness!