Scripture Series: Whom Have I in Heaven Card---It's Time for Another Inspirational /Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hi there!  I'm a day behind for my Wednesday post but wanted to share with you this project that highlights another Word Art (you can download for free) at our Word Art Wednesday (WAW) Challenge.  It's taken from Psalm 73:25 which says, "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee."  I wonder what is going on in the mind of the psalmist in order to utter such words of love and adoration to God.  Obviously, if we look into the minds and hearts of many people throughout history and our present  time, such dependence, trust and faith unto the Lord is uncommon.  If we place ourselves and get lost in what could be going on inside the mind of the psalmist, we'll see that knowing and experiencing the reality of the presence of  the One True God comes from placing our trust in all that God is.  It is the knowledge that Almighty God, the Creator of haven and earth, is with me, in me and is for me.  Because God loves me, I am secured in His arms and there's nothing far more important to me (both now and the eternal) but to be in His presence.  It is that knowledge deep inside the very core of our spirit that God is really all we need in our lives.  This worship and adoration is not forced or taught but it comes from realizing how God so loved us and reciprocating that love wholeheartedly (from one's free will).  God's greatest commandment is spoken in Deuteronomy 6:5-9 which says, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.^"

You see, before Man fell into sin,  He enjoyed a close and personal relationship with God.  He was given dominion over God's creation and  would rule the earth as God rules the heavens. His spirit, soul and body (Tripartite Being) only desires what God wills and the very presence of God clothe them. But Man fell into temptation and rebelled against the very God who created and gave them everything.  They were tricked into exchanging the greater glory of God to depravity of the human will---thinking that the created can trample over his Creator.  They assumed the will of Satan (John 10:10---to steal, to kill and to destroy) and have taken up his cause, believing in the devil's lies and promises of false glory.  Truth to be told, every person born on this earth desires wealth, fame, fortune, power and the approval of men.  Unless God reveals Himself to any of us, we only think of OURSELVES! It is because of this that a NEW BIRTH (Born-again, John 3:3)  is extremely important.  We have to die from that old sinful nature and be reborn in order to reconnect with God---like we were in the beginning.  Acts 4:12 says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."  1 Timothy 2:5 also reveals, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus." Before the law of Moses (Torah),  Man's wholehearted faith in God made Him righteous before the Lord.  We see this in the life of Abraham as spoken of in Romans 4:3, "What does Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."  Notice that it was not based on his works, his strength, his own efforts and abilities.  Him believing God made him a recipient of God's righteousness.  Only God can place us in right standing with Him.  Apostle Paul, bearer of God's many great revelations in the New Testament had been greatly used by the Lord even though his past life involved persecuting and murdering Christians.  God saw in him what others failed to see---that one day, Paul would give up everything and took responsibility of the task He purposed him to do.  Paul, the Pharisee of pharisees was blinded by false religion and killed many because of his ignorance of the truth.  When the Lord called him, he believed, emptied himself and renewed His mind to the perfect will of God.  What I want you to understand is that there is no other way we can trust and depend on God till we believed that He is Who He said He is and in turn, surrender to His Lordship.  Salvation is by faith alone---before Jesus Christ' ultimate sacrifice---it is still by faith that we can come to God this day through what Christ has done!  Having given myself totally to His divine will, I can utter with absolute confidence the same words as the psalmist in Psalm 73:25.  I declare this,  "Jesus, You are all I have! I desire nothing on earth  and in my life than to be in your presence."  I want to leave you with this wonderful scripture, written by Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to encourage you to seek the greater things of God---eternal and unchanging:

"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."  (Philippians 3:7-12)

For this Card, I used a wonderful image from Time for Tea called "Polly" and colored it with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  The base card is size A7, the DP's are from Recollections, the ribbon from my stash and the ribbon flower, I made.  I know you are all used to my bright cards but I decided to make this simple and subdued for a change.  I added some regular and fancy stitching to finish this Card.  Turned out really good.  Tell me what you think.

 WHOM HAVE I IN HEAVEN CARD:

 WHOM HAVE I IN HEAVEN CARD LAYERS:

 WHOM HAVE I IN HEAVEN CARD INSIDE:

 WHOM HAVE I IN HEAVEN CARD WITH ENVELOPE:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Pile It On---Use Patterned Paper
Melonheadz Friends---Summer Fun
A Creative Need---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Sister Act---Any Card Goes
The Paper Shelter---Summer Time
Digi Designs---Ribbons/Bow
Craft for the Craic---Summery/With Flowers
Get Inky---Get Inky this Summer
Fussy and Fancy Friday---Outdoors
Stampavie and More---Summer
Time Out---Summer with Optional Flowers
Card Mania---Flowers
Digitally Sweet---All for Girls
Digistamps4Joy---Flowers, Flowers, Flowers
Creative Moments---ATG/Monochromatic
Crafty Creations---Tic Tac Toe (Flowers/Ribbon/Digi Image)
Creative Romance---ATG with Optional Birthday
Art by Miran---ATG
Stampin' for the Weekend---ATG
Crafty Girls---ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Inky Impressions---For the Girls
Loves Rubber Stamps---Clean and Simple

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 couple of wonderful sponsors this week namely, Docerela Stamps (Stamp Set), Really Reasonable Ribbon ($15 GC) and our Karen Letchworth (WAW DT Coordinator) will have a special prize to give away.  That means three chances to win so, head over to WAW and show us your wonderful projects.  Have a blessed week and remember to put your trust in the Lord for He truly cares for you.