Scripture Series: Peace I Leave With You Center Step Card---Join Us for an Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Good Wednesday morning everyone.  It's been a busy week for me and had to pause from the hustle and bustle of life to make a project for our Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  I love making scripture cards because aside from the thoughtful message a card carries, it gives the hope and the light of God's Word which speaks to our innermost and deepest thoughts.  And the wonderful thing about our Challenge is that it gives the Word Art free for everyone to download.  How cool is that?  Today's scripture is found in John 14:27 which says, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  Our idea of peace is so limited compared to the peace that comes from God.  All wonderful and praise worthy things comes from Him.  It is the kind of peace that was given to Adam and Eve before the Fall of Man.  It's that completeness, wholeness and perfection that stems out of total dependence in their relationship with the Father.  God blessed everything they did and accomplished.  There's no presence of guilt and in-adequateness in their humanity.  But a single act of disobedience changed all that and that plunged all of humanity (being in Adam) to the pits of death, bondage, suffering and chaos.  Everyday (since that day), we are bombarded with relentless concerns both in our personal lives and the world we live in.  The reason why most of us are not even concerned about the affairs of the world is that we are hammered with all the hardships right at our own homes.  The cares of the world (jobs, careers, advancements, wealth, power, fame, welfare of our kids etc.) had kept us so preoccupied each and every day that we just got used to it.  We run our own race for as much as there's still something we can do about it.  We rely on us---our own strength and abilities, to make things work.  Yet, one day, we will face the harsh  reality that we cannot solve everything.  When our health fails, when our strength fades, when we can no longer function the way we used to.  When our homes are in such a disarray from failing marriages and uncontrollable, rebellious kids that chose their own paths to destruction without respect and care for others.  Then, we'll break down!  We will begin to realize that this life is not our own and that whatever control we thought we had was only by the sole grace of God.  

You see, the very air we breathe comes from Him.  It is such a terrible thing for us, human beings, to think we can do it on our own. Yet, sad to say that at this day and time, there are countless people who think that way.  Not only do they hate God and deny Him who is the very Source of their existence. To make matters worst, they encourage others to do the same thing. Are we going to wait for everything to completely fall apart before we acknowledge our need for God?  God said in Revelation 3:20, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."  Oh wow, the very God of love, peace and all things that are good will come in my heart and dwell in my spirit?  And all I have to do is open (accept, receive) the door for Him?  How amazing is that?  He didn't say you have to be all perfect, righteous and holy to receive Him.  If you heard His voice (Romans 10:17) and open the door of your heart to Him, He will come to you.  As He dwells in your spirit, He facilitates the change in your life.  He assures us of His love, gives us wisdom and understanding to know His thoughts and the peace that only the Prince of Peace (Jesus, Isaiah 9:6) can give.  I am living everyday in the knowledge of the love and peace of God!  I have mentioned (in my previous posts) about the storms of life our family had to face since this year began.  I was so worried and cried to the Lord and each time, He never failed to remind me not to worry.  That I should not rely on any of my circumstances but look unto God whose been faithful and true.   He reminded me of His Word in Romans 1:16-17 which tells us, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."  And so it is true---my circumstances have not changed but my attitude did.  I wake up each day wrapping myself up with the peace that God revealed to me through His Word and I see the worries melt away.  That is God's working and I am forever grateful!  Here's a few verses to encourage you of the peace that only God through Jesus Christ can give:

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you." (Isaiah 54:10)

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

So, here's my inspiration card for you.  The Word Art for this week is from one of our own WAW DT's---Diane Noble (Daydream Designs).  She has a couple of them for you to download but I chose to use John 14:27.  The base is a white CS that is cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches center step card.  I used a wonderful image from one of my fave artists, Mo Manning, called "A Friend Is" and colored it with my ProMarkers/Prismacolor markers.  All the DP's came from Paper Studio.  The die cut fence border is by MS Punch and the lacy circle is from Nestabilities cut with my Cuttlebug.  I added some wonderful nail head gems from Imaginisce and stitched all over this project.  Hope you like it. 

PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU CENTER STEP CARD:

 PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU CENTER STEP CARD LAYERS:

 PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU CENTER STEP CARD SIDE VIEW:

 PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU CENTER STEP CARD INSIDE:

PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU CENTER STEP CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:


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

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafting by Designs---ATG
Crafting for all Seasons---Spring
Crafting with Dragonflies---Shaped Card
Creative Moments---ATG/Swirls and Pearls
Hobbybrook---Make it Girly
Inky Impressions---3D Projects
Little Red Wagon---Punch It Up
Paper Pretties---Lots of Layers
Paper Shelter---ATG
Penny's Paper-Crafty---Anything but Square
Scrapper's Delight---Bling It Up
Bearly-Mine---One for the Girls
Deep Ocean---Just for a Girl
Loves Rubber Stamps---ATG
Our Daily Bread---Metal or Sweet (The nail head gems are metals)
Papertake Weekly---ATG/Optional: Make Your Own Flowers
TTCRD---ATG
Card Mania---Use a Sentiment
Artistic Inspirations---Sparkles/ATG
Cheerful Stamp Pad---ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG/Use Dies or Punches
Crafting in Faith, Hope and Love---ATG with Scriptures (John 14:27)
Digi Makeover---ATG
Eureka Stamps---ATG
Make It Monday---ATG
Melonheadz Friends---Bright Colors
My Craft Creations---ATG
Pile It On---Sweet/Soft or Bold/Bright
Challenges 4 Everybody---ATG
DL.ART---Girl or Lady Image
Sweet Stampin'---Cute
Doodle Garden---ATG
Aud Sentiments---Any Sentiment for a Girl

Make sure that you come and visit our WAW Blog to link in your wonderful projects using our free Word Art although it's not mandatory.  You can link any project (up to 5) in our Anything Goes Challenge as long as it's family friendly, uplifting and inspirational.  Our goal is to lift up the name of Jesus in our Challenge so make sure to read our rules especially this month that many are making Halloween cards.  There's plenty of Blog Challenges that caters to those creations, but will be inappropriate for our Challenge.  We are sad to delete projects that don't abide by our rules so, please make sure you check our WAW Blog rules before linking.  We are so grateful for the wonderful projects you shared with us each week and can't wait to see what you make for this week's Challenge.  Our wonderful sponsors are Freckled Fawn ($15 GC) and Crafty Ribbons ($10 GC).  Have an awesome week in total dependence upon the goodness of the Lord.