Scripture Series: In Thee Do I Trust Center Step Card---Join Us for our First Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge for 2015 at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello everyone and welcome to my very first post (just a day late) this year for our Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  A year has come and gone and I still have so many left over projects that needed to be done this year.  I guess, such is a  life of a Crafter---having endless projects!...LOL  Anyway, our Scripture Word Art this week (you can download for free at the WAW site) focuses on God's Word in Psalm 143:8 which says, "Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee."  This was David's psalm/prayer in the midst of hopelessness and depression.  Even though David was a king and had power and riches gold and silver  could buy,  it didn't at all satisfy and exempted him from many trials any human being could suffer from.  He had many enemies and had to struggle with his own humanity as a man of God.  The truth is, none of the things we see, acquired and achieved is ever going to satisfy in this life.  When we hear of impending calamities and danger, all we can really do is to get out of harms way if and when we are able to.  None of us with all our wealth, abilities and capabilities can stop an act of nature from wreaking havoc on earth.  With that alone, we should realize that we don't hold any kind of power in our hands except it be from God's throne of grace who created everything, including us.  I always tell my friends, "We cannot give what we don't have."   God provided us with life, a sound mind, numerous talents and abilities to sustain ourselves for the purpose of serving others.  When we increase, it's not for us to go spending it on lavish things but to extend help  for those who are in need.  If we have a wonderful voice to sing, it's not for us to showcase it to others in order to get recognition/glory from the applause of men.  We are to sing of the hope we have in Christ and to give reverence and glory to His name.  If we can dance, it's not for showing it off to a wide audience for them to appreciate how wonderful a dancer we are.  It is to convey the message of the Lord through spontaneous movement to declare His glory through your life.  Whatever you are good at and whatever you are given is not for you to be famous for but it's for JESUS to be famous in your life.  Without a Born-again experience (Born from above, John 3:3), it's impossible for any man to please God.  It all starts with faith and knowing that what Christ has done for you is enough to satisfy your every hunger and need.  Hunger for wealth, power and possessions are replaced by a hunger to be in the presence of Almighty God.  Yes, we will have dreams and aspirations but having Jesus as the Lord of your heart, these should all be subject to the will of our Lord and His input should always be welcomed.  He may say "Yes, No or Wait."  Through the Holy Spirit and the infallible Word of God, He will guide us to His perfect will and if your heart is set on Him, though it may not give you material/worldly satisfaction, you know that your reward from the Father will be much greater.  

Now, King David knows the importance of having a God to call to in the midst of helplessness. Though He was a powerful man in his time, He submitted and committed himself to the One Who holds all authority.  When we are under trials and enemies are on every side, God has given us a Name above every name to trample on the works of the enemy---His Name is JESUS!  When we approach a fork in the road and we could not decide which way to take, we can call upon Him to direct our feet unto His perfect will.  This means that we are not taking any step without the leading of our Almighty God.  Last night, my nine year old son (Jared)  had to ask me whether he can download a game app he used to play a while back in his tablet.  I told him that he needed his Dad's approval in order to key in the password.  He told me that it was not needed since it was an app he used to have, it will be installed without asking for the password.  Many things have gone through my mind as I was deciding to consent or decline. But then I realized how wonderful for my little man to have asked permission when he could have uploaded it without my approval. He chose to ask permission out of his love and respect for me and the rules we had set for him about games and usage.  With this, I saw a parallel  on how we are to be in our relationship with the Father.  As believers, we are given the freedom to do many things and we can choose to obey or disobey, to bring shame or honor to the finished work of Jesus Christ in our lives.  But if we truly love, we would think many times and ask the help of the Holy Spirit to guide us with our decisions so that we can reflect our love for God and the sacrifice He has done for us and become  beacons of hope for others who don't know Him.  Honestly, when I am frustrated, I can choose to lash out on anybody or succumb to negativity.  But since I truly know Who my Father is and what He can do---I will go against what I feel and apply the Truth of His Word in my circumstances. This is easier said than done cause after all, we allowed ourselves to be guided by our feelings the whole time before we came to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  To separate from our emotions and live in God's Truth is something we need to practice daily.  Our soul (comprised of our mind, will and emotions) are easily affected by our bodies (five senses).  When a part of our body aches, it does not make us feel good.  When we see or hear something against us, we get hurt.  But as citizens of the Kingdom, we are to rely solely on God's Word and not our feelings.  Take for example the passage in Matthew 5:10-12 which says, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."  What I'm trying to say is that the principles of the Kingdom of God is entirely opposite worldly principles.  Sometimes, what we consider trials and sufferings here can be a blessing in disguise to prepare us to the kind of ruler we are to be in the eternal Kingdom.  Let us remember God's promises in the following verses and keep it close to our hearts in times of trials and hopelessness:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." (Romans 8:28)

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."  (1 Peter 2:9)

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 3:12-14)

  

For this Card, I used an image from Make It Crafty called "Adventure Girl" and colored it with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  The base is a white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches Center Step card  design.  The DP's came from Recollections and I incorporated a few butterflies also from Recollections. The die-cuts were created using Spellbinders and ran through my Cuttlebug.  I added some liquid pearls (White Opal), glitters (Stickles-Crystal) and finally lots of stitching to complete this design.  It took a while but it's so much fun to make and I am happy with the result.

IN THEE DO I TRUST CENTER STEP CARD:

IN THEE DO I TRUST CENTER STEP CARD LAYERS:

IN THEE DO I TRUST CENTER STEP CARD SIDE VIEW:

IN THEE DO I TRUST CENTER STEP CARD INSIDE:

IN THEE DO I TRUST CENTER STEP CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner---ATG
Creative Moments---ATG/New Beginnings
Inky Impressions---Something New (New DP's and Image)
Penny's Paper-Crafty---ATG
Simon Says Stamp---Something New (New DP's and Image)
Crafter's Cafe---Something New (New DP's and Image)
TTCRD---ATG
Wonderful Wednesday---ATG
Crafty Hazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Catch the Bug---ATG
Scrapbook Stamp Society---ATG
As You Like It---Favorite Fold ( I love all kinds of stepper cards as it gives wonderful dimensions)
Crafty Catz---ATG
QKR Stampede---ATG
Gem of a Challenge---Something New (New DP's and Image)
Crafty Calendar---What's New? (New DP's and Image)
My Time to Craft---All Things New (New DP's and Image)
Glitter n Sparkle---ATG
Scribble and Scrap---ATG
Dazzling Diva---Inspirational Photo/ATG
Corrosive---Shiny and New (Glitters on Butterflies and New DP's)
Cute Card Thursday---What's New? (New DP's and Image)
Lacy Sunshine---Sparkly and New (Glitters on Butterflies and New DP's)
Loves Rubberstamps---ATG
Natalie and Amy---All Things New (New DP's and Image)
Not Just Cards---ATG
Sister Act---ATG
Sisters of Craft---ATG
Sweet Stampin'---New (New DP's and Image)
Art Impressions---What's New? (New DP's and Image)
Artistic Inspirations---ATG with a Twist (New) (New DP's and Image)
Connie Can Crop---Sparkles (Glitters on Butterflies)
Crafting by Designs---ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Creative Fingers---ATG
Little Red Wagon---Sparkle and Shine (Glitters on Butterflies)
Mema's Crafts---ATG
Party Time Tuesday---ATG
Polkadoodles---Tic Tac Toe (Die Cuts/Stitching/Polkadots)
Paper Girls Challenge---Sparkle and Shine (Glitters on Butterflies)
V's Sweet Ideas---Something New (New DP's and Image)

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 three wonderful sponsors this week namely, Newton's Nook Designs ($15 GC), Lilla Rose (Hair jewelry) and Sweet and Sassy Stamps ($10 voucher for digi images).  That means a couple of chances to win so, head over to WAW and show us your wonderful projects.  Enjoy your week.  Always remember that God loves you and has a great plan for your life!