Scripture Series: Let Your Light Shine Scenic Card---Time for Another Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello there, Crafty Friends!  It's Wednesday and here to share some inspiration for our weekly Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  Today's free Scripture Word Art (download at WAW) is taken from Matthew 5:16 which says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  Have you ever been in a place or situation where there was a total black-out?  I've experienced quite a few in my life .  I remember when there's power failure almost everyday in the Philippines.  In those times, we were not informed of when it would happen and it would go on for many hours.  I remember having to buy tons of candles and matches and we positioned them in every room in the house.  Some nights, when the light from the moon was shining brightly, I could see a ray of light creeping in from our windows and it gave a bit of comfort.  But when there's  total absence of light, fear started to get the best of us. In times I could not physically see myself nor anyone in front or beside me, panic started to take over.  You see, light brings comfort and security.  It exposes our surroundings so we can see clearly and act accordingly. 

God has ordained every Born-again (John 3:3) Christians to not only be "Salt" but also "Light" of this world.  Salt not only flavors but also preserves.  Light destroys/eradicates darkness.  All of humanity was plunged into total spiritual darkness when Adam fell into sin.  How?   Because every person that lived on this earth came from him---the first Man!  That is why the scripture clearly states in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  No matter how cute and innocent looking we are when we were born, we all carried with us the "sin nature."  All of us  inherited this from Adam which came from the very heart of Satan.  We are spiritually dead and without hope of reconciliation with our Maker---God Almighty.  We all live in "total darkness."  We are all in prison--- destined for eternal damnation!  But God, in His love and mercy didn't want mankind to suffer that horrendous fate and be eternally condemned.  So He sent His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for our sins, break the bondage of Satan in us and his sin nature.  All that and more so that we can be free to reconcile with Him in this life and the eternal through what Jesus Christ has accomplished (His death, burial and resurrection).  Apart from Christ, we are never going to step out of the darkness we were in.  Colossians 1:12-14 sums it all for me, "Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.  For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."  The moment we repent and receive Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior (Born-again experience), we leave darkness and becomes a vessel of light for Christ. We carry in us the presence of God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that transforms us from one glory to another unto Christ-likeness.  Some changes may come instantaneously, others months or years while some may take a lifetime.  True faith in Christ will radiate beams of light that will be seen by everyone around us.  Those that want to live in total darkness will hate being exposed to that light but those who are looking for Truth, peace, happiness and security will find refuge in that light.  So, whatever level of faith we are in, whatever God has delivered us from and whatever talents God has equipped us with, use them all as a beam of light to expose darkness and give hope to those seeking God's light.  Share with everyone what the Lord has done in your life not only with words but complete with action. Colossians 3:23 says, "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people."  Live a life so different from the world and it's fleshly desires.  Show mankind the ways of the Kingdom and for everything,  give God the glory...Be the light, be the life, be God's glory!  I want to share with you more verses in the Scripture on the importance of being God's light. 

"The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble."  (Proverbs 4:18-19)

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

"For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.  Do everything without complaining or arguing,  so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe."  (Philippians 2:13-15)

Today's inspiration card is something that I pictured in my mind as I saw our Scripture Word Art and a couple of images from Bugaboo Stamps.  They are the "AKV House" and "Lawn Mower Guy" which I colored with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers and did some paper piecing.  I usually build the lay-out as I go along but this one I had pictured clearly in my mind.  It's meant to highlight the wonderful works that God can do in us and through us when He is the One who rules our lives.  All the volunteer work---giving of time, money and effort---to serve the Body of Christ and being "Salt and Light" of this world.  No matter how big or small the task is, it's the love of Christ that propels us to keep doing the good things that God has set for us to do as we walk with Him everyday.  In my Card,  I wrote "Volunteer" at the lawn mower and "Home for the Elderly'" to the house image to show that we can make a difference in the life of our neighbors by showing them the ways of the Kingdom.  As I told you in my previous post, "Leadership in the Kingdom means Servant-hood!  If there is anything we can do to bless others, do it for the glory of God!  Anyway, the base card is a white,  A7 CS.  The DP's are all from my scraps from different companies.  The fence border is achieved with an MS Punch, the circles cut with an MS Circle Cutter and the clouds were fancy-cut from a DP.  I added a touch of glitters (Stickles-Crystal) in the center of the flowers.  Lastly, I combined regular and fancy stitching all over this card.  So proud of this and thankful for the Lord's guidance as I was making it. 

 

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE SCENIC CARD:

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE SCENIC CARD LAYERS:

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE SCENIC CARD INSIDE:

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE SCENIC CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Addicted to Stamps---Make Your Mark
Dazzling Diva---ATG/Color Challenge
Creative Moments---ATG/New Beginnings
Digistamps4Joy---bingo (Die or Punch/Flower/Stitching)
Fab 'n' Funky---Something New (New Digi Stamps)
Fresh Brewed---Favorites (My fave are Scripture Word Art and some nail head gems in my card)
Hambo Hoedown---New Year, New Stash (New Digi Stamps)
I Love ProMarkers---Hobbies
Inspiration Destination---ATG
The Male Room---New Beginnings (New Digi Stamps)
Moo-Mania---ATG
Paper Shelter---Punches and/or Dies
Penny's Paper Crafty---ATG
Scrapper's Delights---ATG with a Twist: New Beginnings (New Digi Stamps)
Simon Says---It's a Guy Thing
Sisterhood of Crafters---ATG with Something New (New Digi Stamps)


Hope you join the fun at our WAW Challenge.  There's wonderful prizes awaiting our blessed winners from two of our sponsors this week, V's Sweet Ideas ($10 GC) and Robyn's Fetish (3 Digi Images).  You can choose to incorporate the free Word Art (sentiment) you see in my card for projects you wish to make and link with us though it's not mandatory.  You can submit up to 5 projects (Anything Goes) as long as it's family friendly, inspirational or uplifting.  Can't wait to see what you come up with. Have a blessed week and always remember to share unto others the hope you have in you.  Hugs!