Scripture Series: We Shall Reap Center Step Card---Grab the Free Word Art and Join Us at our Anything Goes/Inspirational Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello Crafty Peeps!  Just got done from my work-out this morning. It is such a lovely day with the crisp sun, blue skies and mild weather.  I always love to look at the trees, the plants in my balcony and observe the birds flying to and fro.  The wind blows mildly which seem to make all the leaves of the trees happy.  Inside of me is a wonderful feeling of joy and peace with exceeding gratefulness knowing that despite of the earth's fallen state, God made everything beautiful in His time and season.  Romans 1:20 says, "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." And I asked myself, "How much more beauty there is on this earth if Man did not rebel against God?  When sin and death are not present and man rule God's creation with authority?  To walk with the Lord in the cool of the day with no guilt and shame?  How is it to lay with the lions in the field and hug a bear for real and find no harm in sight?  To not worry about anything and to have complete trust in our Maker?"  Right now, my spirit is giving me a glimpse of a place we haven't physically seen and I marvel at the wonder and the beauty of that place through the eyes of the Spirit.  We were all born into a world where stealing, killing and destruction has its place in our daily existence.  Some of us grew up in places where we see and experience those first hand day in and day out.  It is sad but such is the reality of the world we're living in.  Since Adam exchanged the glory of God to the cunning lies of the devil and by disobedience, left all of mankind and God's creation under curse, we were all condemned and became slaves to Satan.  Though deep inside of us, we knew what was wrong yet, we continued to sin, giving in to the pleasures of our depraved soul (mind will and emotions) and body (with the five senses), satisfying it's lustful cravings.  The breath that God has given you (your spirit man) was darkened since the Fall of Man.  Instead of your spirit leading your soul and body, it was dead silent.  Therefore, your soul and body took it's command from the diabolic nature of the devil (called the "sin nature") and obeys everything it dictates you to do.  It has its tight grip on every human being born and it compels us to live a life of rebellion against God.  No human power can ever free us from the bondage Satan had placed on mankind.  We were utterly hopeless!  But God, whose infinite wisdom already saw the fate  of man, have long before time made ready the ONLY WAY to our freedom.  JESUS CHRIST is the ONLY ANSWER!  We must understand that while many people see the Cross as a defeat---therein lies every believer's VICTORY!  We placed our faith in Someone who conquered sin and death.  GOD ALWAYS WIN!   Though for a time being, we may see the wicked getting their way but know that they will meet their end.  God's Word says in Joshua 1:9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."  Through faith in Jesus Christ, we were SET FREE from the bondage of sin and death and the devil has no longer control over us. Jesus kicked the devil out of our system as we allowed Him to rule our hearts.  Through faith in Christ and what He accomplished on the Cross, we were Born-Again (John 3:3) with a brand new spirit.  On the other hand, our soul and body needs to be renewed daily.  Things are not going to be easy since the soul  and body had been used to taking instructions from the "old sinful nature." Now, both have to submit to the will of the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us. 

One day, God will restore everything that had been distorted by sin to its original form (as if sin and death had never taken place).  Jesus Who claimed the victory for us all is going to rule with Love, Truth and Justice.   Satan will be bound.  Oh yes, one day I can play and run with the lions in the field, pet a tiger and rub its belly and truly hug a bear so tight.  How cool is that?  I will not be bound with time and will live eternally in the arms of the Lord.  That is super awesome!  Only by trusting in Jesus will this be a reality to anyone.  We have to choose in this lifetime where do we want to spend eternity.  We'll never know when death knocks on our door.  Anyone whose faith is not anchored in the finished work of Jesus Christ will be ETERNALLY SEPARATED from Him.  I pray that you open the door of your heart today and let Jesus come in.  Please don't delay! Here are some verses to encourage every believer of our blessed hope in Christ in God's millennial reign:

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths. The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken." (Micah 4:2-4)

"Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder.  From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings.  On that day you will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from this city those who rejoice in their pride. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill. But I will leave within you the meek and humble, who trust in the name of the LORD." (Zephaniah 3:9-12)

"Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." (Matthew 19:28-30) 

For today's inspiration at our Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW), we are featuring the free Word Art (by Karen Murray) taken from Galatians 6:9 which says, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."  There are many storms of life that can hinder us from seeing what is directly above it---the blue skies of God's love and blessings upon our lives.  We can choose to dwell in the pain and hopelessness of our situations or remember the wonderful promises of God through His Word and speak it out loud against our situation.  We are to continue on and persevere, going against what our physical eyes can see and what our emotions dictate.  In our hearts dwells the Holy Spirit and He will be our comfort and assurance in the darkest moments of our lives.  This is how a believer exist---by faith and faith alone!  We are able to do the impossible if we have faith (trust) in our Lord.   Pretty soon, in God's perfect time, we will see the fruit of our labor (persistence and trust).  God does not respond to our complaining and murmurings.  He responds to His Word!  Remind Him of His wonderful promises in your life and you will reap a bountiful harvest.  For this Card, I used a wonderful image from Saturated Canary called "Princess Harvest" and colored it with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  The white base is cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches center step card.  The DP's are from Recollections and My Mind's Eye.  The wonderful shapes (scalloped circle and circle) were cut using my Nestabilities and MS Circle Cutter.   I incorporated a brad, nail head gems from Imaginisce and stitched all over this card...Hope you like it!

WE SHALL REAP CENTER STEP CARD:

WE SHALL REAP CENTER STEP CARD INSIDE:

WE SHALL REAP CENTER STEP CARD SIDE VIEW:

WE SHALL REAP CENTER STEP CARD INSIDE:

WE SHALL REAP CENTER STEP CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafting by Designs---ATG
Dazzling Diva---Pearls/ATG
Crafting for all Seasons---Lots of Layers
Creative Moments---ATG/Spring
Hobbybrook---Add a Sentiment
I Love ProMarkers---Not Quite Straight
Inky Impressions---ATG
Little Red Wagon---DIY Flower
Paper Pretties---Mother's Day/Spring
Simon Says---ATG
Whimsy Inspiration---ATG
Crafty Sentiments---ATG
Creative Card Crew---Girly
Deep Ocean---Stitching (Real or Faux)
Die Cuttin Divas---Make It Girly
Scrap Creations---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Try It On Tuesday---Springtime
Artistic Inspirations---Pearls and Swirls/ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Crafty Bloggers Network---Die Cuts/Embossing
Creating in Faith, Hope and Love---ATG with Scripture
Digi Makeover---For a Special Lady
Digi Sketch---Sketch/Springtime
Fitztown---Lots of Layers
Melonheadz Friends---Lots of Circles
Craft Creations---ATG
Scrapbook Stamp Society---ATG with Optional Use of Sentiment
Squigglefly---For a Special Lady
Paper Nest Dolls---ATG
Whoopsi Daisy---Hand Colored Image

Make sure you join us at WAW Challenge.  You can use the free Word Art in your creation and link it to our Challenge but is not a requirement.  As long as it's family-friendly, uplifting and inspirational, you can submit up to 5 entries.  Our wonderful sponsors for this week are Pink Persimmon ($40 GC to their shop) and Flying Unicorn Store ($50 GC to their store).  So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, cheer up and let the joy of the Lord overtake you today.  He truly loves and cares for you.