Scripture Series: Which Make for Peace Card---Join us for an Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hey there, Crafty guys and gals!  It's Wednesday once again and that simply means we are having another wonderful Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW). Every week, we are sharing with  you a free Word Art (by Karen Murray) you can download from WAW and you will see us highlight that particular scripture Word Art in our projects.  This week we spotlight on  Romans 14:19 which tells us, "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another."  The context of this verse has something to do with food---what believers eat at the Church in Rome .  The Roman Church are diverse group of people which means they have Jews and Gentiles, free and slave, rich and poor, weak and strong among believers.  Through the Gospel (death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ), these people were reunited because of one common factor---that is faith in Jesus Christ alone!  Many times, because of their diversity, they clash on many cultural differences.  Whose way of life is better than the other---down to the very food they eat.  I know this too well because being raised in the Philippines and now, a citizen of the United States, I encountered many differences in the food I eat and those of my friends who were raised and lived here.  Although I would love to share with them some wonderful cooking, I have to consider what they may like and eat when I invite them to our home.  So far, they loved my "pancit" (fried noodles), "lumpia" (like spring rolls but with meat) and my "Tinolang manok" (chicken soup).  I have to make careful choices of ingredients for many of my friends were using chicken more than pork.  The truth is, Filipinos are big when it comes to using pork.  I basically grew up with it being in our table everyday.  I also cook and eat fish and shrimp with head on (at least, the way I would prefer it) but I understand that others may not like it that way.  The point of the highlighted verse is that we are not to pass judgment on anybody---what is clean and unclean, better of worse, good or bad when it comes to food and other cultural practices as laid out in the New Covenant (New Testament).  There is nothing wrong with the dietary laws in the Old Testament which was given to the Jews but we are not to impose it on others that didn't grow up under those laws.  There is nothing in what we physically eat or good works we practice that brings us in "right standing" (righteousness) with God.  Romans 1:16-17 clearly says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”  We are saved and made righteous in the sight of God by placing our trust in what Jesus had done in the Cross---nothing else!  So, while I understand why some people may dislike what I like to eat, I don't take it against them.  I always tell people that if you grew up eating certain foods, you will learn to like them.  Meanwhile I don't force anybody to like what I like and I don't expect them to do the same thing to me.  The key here is "respecting others in love."  Like the old century Church, believers are told to strive for peace in ironing our differences in the many aspects of life.  Romans 12:3 says, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you." We are not to be legalistic on things that don't have a bearing on our salvation. Romans 14:16-18 declares, "Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval."  We are to be firm in standing against all kinds of sin in the scripture and we need to call them as such.  But using the scriptures to impose on someone else preference for food to the point of condemnation is not  a very wise thing to do.  Read the entirety of Romans 14 and you will be blessed.  We are to work in peace through love with fellow believers.  That way, the world will know that we are God's children.  Want to share with you some scripture that will bless you even more:

"If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if anyone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake-- the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience?  If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God--." (1 Corinthians 10:27-32)

"To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted." (Titus 1:15)

 "If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:11)

For my inspiration Card, I use a wonderful image from Sassy Cheryl Digital Stamps called "Pick a Card" and colored it with my ProMarker/Prismacolor/Chromatix markers.  The base is a white CS, cut and scored to create a 5.5" square card.  All the DP's and CS for matting came from my scraps (I simply cannot get rid of them...LOL).  I used my Cuttlebug and a Paper Studio embossing folder to emboss the main panel.  I added a bit of glitters (Stickles-Turquoise) and white opal Liquid Pearls to the image's clothing and headband.  I also wrote (freehand) the scribbles in the image's little sign in the bowl.   Lastly, I incorporated some regular and fancy stitching.  Loving this design and thanking God for the inspiration! 

 WHICH MAKE FOR PEACE CARD:

 WHICH MAKE FOR PEACE CARD LAYERS:

 WHICH MAKE FOR PEACE CARD INSIDE:

WHICH MAKE FOR PEACE CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:


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

 This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafting with Dragonflies---Use a Freebie (My sentiment is a freebie)
Penny's Paper Crafty---Lots of Layers
Rhedd and Rosie---Love is in the Air
Ruby's Texture---Rainbow
Scrapper's Delight---Love
Sisterhood of Crafters---Love is in the Air
Whimsy Stamps---Love is in the Air
Craft-Room Challenge---Color Challenge
Crafty Sentiments---ATG
Cuttin and Stampin---Spring is Here
Cuttlebug Mania---Let's Feel It
Deep Ocean---Love is all Around
Fan-Tastic Tuesday---Happy and Bright
Flourishes---A Lot of Polka Dots
Paperminutes---Decorate the Inside
Papertake Weekly---Lovely Layers
Sweet Stamps---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Top Tip Tuesday---Stitching (Different stitches in a project adds wonderful dimension)
Try it on Tuesday---Handmade/Handwriting (I scribbled the sentiment in signage the image is holding)
Card Mania---Love is all Around
Craft Your Passion---Girly Girl
Love to Scrap---ATG
Make it Monday---ATG
My Craft Creations---ATG

This is all I got for now, folks!  Don't forget to stop by our WAW Blog to avail of the free scripture Word Art I shared here.  You can use it in your project and link it to our ongoing Challenge although it's not mandatory.  You can submit up to 5 projects as long as it's family friendly, inspirational or uplifting.  There's a couple of sponsors giving away wonderful prizes this week---Prairie Point Junction ($15 GC) and Digi Darla Designs (3 Digi Images).  I can't wait to see what you come up with.  Please remember that in this life, we are to give ample respect to others who may be different than us in the Body of Christ.  Let us continue to uphold the Truth of God's Word.