Good Times Better Shared Card---Come Join Us in Another Anything Goes Challenge with a Twist in my Neighborhood, 613 Avenue Create!

Hi there, fellow Crafters!  It's another Sunday morning and another day the Lord has made.  It's nice to wake up and be grateful for all the wonderful things the Lord has done.  Sometimes, we focus on the significant happenings in our lives but ignore the daily and more obvious blessings.  Take for example, the air we breathe!  Proper combination of gases in the air allows us to breathe without threat to our health.  How about the gravity that holds us in place? Without it, we will be floating in space and die.  Now, what about the magnificent heart that beats inside every one of us?  You know what happens when it stops working, right?  Everything that is inside of us and whats in our environment (essential to our survival on earth) has been created by God to support and sustain us.  The entire universe was made by God to benefit His masterpiece---MANKIND!   Psalm 144:3-4 tells us, "LORD, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them?  They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow."  Oh yes, we have to know who we are in the eyes of God in order to understand the depths of His love for us!  In Genesis 3, we've seen how mankind mess up the wonderful plan of God and betrayed the very One who gave him life.  He conspired and  gave the authority (dominion) God has given him to the very enemy of his Father (God).  From then on, we became slaves to Satan!  We did every despicable  and ungodly things we can put our minds into.  Once we were created in the image and likeness of God and possessed every good and wonderful thing that comes from being sons and daughters of Almighty God.  But then, we went so low!  Look around and right in front of you, you'll see the evidence of the destruction we have placed ourselves into.  There was no way out of this slavery!  We're destined to hell as descendents of Adam.  But God knows no defeat!  Before everything came into place, He already provided the Only Solution to Man's deep crisis.  It was demonstrated and accomplished by God's Only Begotten Son---Jesus Christ---upon His death on the Cross and sealed to victory by His resurrection!  Anyone who is Born-Again (John 3:3) through faith in the finished work of Jesus had been free from every kind of bondage.  I want to share with you Romans 5:12-21 and I ask that you meditate on this Truth:

Death in Adam, Life Through Christ

  

"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

It is clear---through Adam, we became slaves to sin and thrown into death (spiritual, physical and eternal) with no hope of ever seeing the glory that we were originally created for.  But because Christ paid the price at the Cross---died and gained victory over death by His resurrection---anyone  who place his faith in Him alone also enjoys the full benefit Christ has won through that once and for all sacrifice. We have every reason to rejoice in the present as well as in the eternal future for He has changed our destiny from death to life.  That is why, no religion (with all their proclaimed gods) can save mankind.  Our problem was/is Adam's sin and the only solution is found at the Cross of Jesus Christ.  This is why it does not make any sense when people claims there are many ways to come to God---it is utter foolishness!  In God's written Word (Bible), He told us what was the problem of man and in the same book, He told us of the Only Solution.  I pray that if you have not allowed the Lord Jesus inside your heart right at this moment, that you do yourself a favor and consider what I shared here.  God is gracious! Each day we wake up is another chance to get to know His Son, Jesus!  No one can force you to believe in anything.  Don't allow your family, friends or love ones to make a decision for you.  You will be standing on your own, face to face with God Almighty (in the appointed time) and must give account of all that you have done.  You cannot put the blame on anybody if you were deceived by virtue of your relationships. This is by far the most important decision you can ever do in your life (securing your eternal destination/future) while you are still alive.  Come to Jesus and allow Him to tell you great and mighty things you know nothing about. He loves you more than you'll ever know.  Please don't wait for tomorrow for it may not come.

On the other hand, I want to share this Card that I made for our Challenge at 613 Avenue Create,  It's always Anything Goes with an optional twist of Party/Celebration.  I used one of the images from one of our sponsors---Oak Pond Creations, called "Love Pets" which I colored with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  I used a white CS for the base, DP's and brads from Recollections, nail head gems from Imaginisce and Washi Tape from Smash.  The stamped sentiment on the pennant is from Studio 112.  The main sentiment below the card is a freebie from Create with TLC (Thanks a lot, Paulette). Lastly, I stitched all over this Card...I think it came our pretty cute!

 GOOD TIMES BETTER SHARED CARD:

 GOOD TIMES BETTER SHARED CARD LAYERS:

 GOOD TIMES BETTER SHARED CARD INSIDE:

GOOD TIMES BETTER SHARED CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Eclectic Ellapu---Pink (Country/Travel)/Purple (ATG)
Great Impressions---Animal Friends
Pile It On---Summer Fun
Scribble and Scrap---ATG
That Craft Place---ATG
Crafting by Designs---ATG
Penny's Paper-Crafty---ATG
Fairy Tale---Use a Digi
Crafts Galore Encore---Use Stamp/Digi Stamp
Handmade Harbour---Summer Fun
Oddball Art Stamps---Show Your Coloring Skills 
One Sweet Challenge---Color Challenge 

I better get going but let me remind you to visit our Blog at 613 Avenue Create and join our Anything Goes with Optional Twist Challenge.  Lots of great prices to be won from our  two great sponsors this week---Oak Pond Creations and Sassy Studio Designs!  Have an awesome day praising the Lord and would appreciate any comment you will leave me here.  If you enjoyed visiting my Blog or found some wonderful inspiration, please consider being a Follower.  God bless!