Scripture Series: His Courts with Praise Card---Be Inspired by Another Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello there, Crafty peeps!  It's Wednesday and another day to share God's Word through Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  The verse I am highlighting today is available to download for free at the WAW site and is taken from Psalm 100:4 which says, "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." Have you ever experienced helping someone and bending over backwards to meet someone's needs at a given time?  Whether it's just opening the door for somebody, pulling their chair, helping them with their groceries, crossing the street or offering a seat?  In everyday life, we encounter several circumstances when we can provide some kind of assistance to other people.  I have instilled in the mind of my 9 year old boy ever since he was born that we have to be thankful for everything.  When somebody offers him something to eat or drink, gave him help in anyway or compliments him, he should say "Thank you" always.  I have seen how constantly reminding him of it paid off in a big way.  When he had birthday parties and he opened his birthday gifts, he was equally happy and grateful for the dollar gifts as with the pricey ones.  I remember talking to him many years ago telling him that the gifts are not what makes  Birthdays fun.  It is the fellowship with his friends that should be his focus on that day.  That every "gift" is freely given by people who really don't have the obligation to give to him.  Yet they do it out of their love for him.  And he got it!  He got the message big time.

You see, what prompted that conversation with my son was the several birthday parties I attended in the past seeing the kids open their gifts and exclaimed, "No money?!"  They forgot to show gratitude,  shoved certain gifts to the side while obviously looking for the bigger and more expensive gifts which seem to bring out more smiles to their faces.  It's heartbreaking so see ungratefulness in the kids nowadays and the parents that are supposed to educate them on common courtesy would just laugh at it or completely ignore it.  Some people think that it's totally cute for a kid to act that way, after-all they're just kids. But I say that if we don't train our kids to be thankful for every little thing they receive from us or others, how can they even be thankful to God whom they have not seen with their own eyes?  As believers of Jesus Christ (Born-again, John 3:3), we are God's representative to our children.  If they see us thankful to the Lord's blessings and have the right attitude of faith and reverence unto God even in trials, our kids would pick up on that attitude of thanksgiving.  Proverbs 22:6 tells us, "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." 

Now, if us human beings expects gratitude from each other, what can we expect from Almighty God?  He created, formed and equipped us together with everything here on earth and in the universe.  He provides us with the air to breathe and a body that can function.  But the greatest gift of all---He gave His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, to free us from the bondage and the penalty of sin and death so that we can live with Him now and forevermore.  GOD GAVE HIS BEST OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR US! It's not a tiny gift!  It's the ultimate gift---HIS LIFE!  I love this statement I read at Gotquestions.org site.  It says, "We should be thankful because God is worthy of our thanksgiving. It is only right to credit Him for “every good and perfect gift” He gives (James 1:17). When we are thankful, our focus moves off selfish desires and off the pain of current circumstances. Expressing thankfulness helps us remember that God is in control. Thankfulness, then, is not only appropriate; it is actually healthy and beneficial to us. It reminds us of the bigger picture, that we belong to God, and that we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). Truly, we have an abundant life (John 10:10), and gratefulness is fitting."  Here are some verses that will help us glory in what the Lord has done for us:

"Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."   (Isaiah 9:7)

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. "  (Hebrews 12:28)

"Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed." (Revelation 15:4)

For this Card, I used an image (retired) from Sassy Cheryl's Stamps which I colored with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  The base is white CS, the lacy circle from Nestabilities and the swirls are Sizzix dies run through my Cuttlebug.  I layered some flowers from Prima and place a brad in the center.  I added some glitters (Stickles-Crystal) to the swirls and the image.  I also adhered some white, nail head gems.  Lastly, I stitched all over this card.  I love the results.

 HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE CARD:

 HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE CARD LAYERS:

 HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE CARD INSIDE:

HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafty Mess---ATG
Party Time Tuesday---ATG
Clear It Out---ATG
Girl who Crafts---ATG
Crafts Galore Encore---ATG
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Lia Stampz---ATG
Mema's Crafts---ATG
Sisters of Craft---ATG
Creative Moments---ATG/Make it Sprakle
Papertake Weekly---So Girlie
Not Just Cards---ATG
Scrapping4Fun---ATG with Bling
Crafter's Cafe---ATG
Penny's Paper Crafty---ATG
Art by Miran---ATG
Dream Valley---ATG
Great Impressions---Thankful Thoughts
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Paper Pretties---Thanksgiving/Be Thankful
Scrap-Creations---Give Thanks
Simon Says---Thanksgiving
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards---Favorite Holiday (Thanksgiving)
Delightful Challenges---You're a Gem!
Little Red Wagon---Layer It Up!
Crafting with Dragonflies---ATG/Farewell or Goodbye
Fresh Brewed---Give Thanks
Scrapper's Delights---ATG/Traditional Christmas
Lauralcraft---Let's Be Girly (Use Die Cut or Punch) 
Treasured Times---ATG 

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 enter up to 5 times this week.  Lots of prizes to be won from our two wonderful sponsors---V's Sweet Ideas ($10 GC at their shop) and Nicecrane Designs ($20 GC to their shop).  So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, cheer up and let the joy of the Lord overtake you today.  I serve a good and faithful God---Jesus Christ and I am forever grateful for all that He has done for me! God bless y'all!