Scripture Series: Planted by the Waters Card within a Card---Join Us for Another Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello everyone!  I pray that you are all doing great and favored highly by our Lord...It's Wednesday today and want to share another project that highlights our Scripture Word Art (you can download for free) at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  It's found in Jeremiah 17:8 which tells us, "For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."  What a wonderful promise we have in this verse.  What we should understand is that this promise is not for everyone.  I love what my Life Application Bible said about this as it explained the breed of individuals that enjoys/will enjoy such a promise.  Here's what it says:  "There are two kinds of people who are contrasted in the verses in Jeremiah 17:5-8.  Those who trust in human beings and those who trust  in the Lord.  The people of Judah were trusting  in false gods and military alliances instead of God, and thus they were barren and unfruitful.  In contrast, those who trust in the Lord flourish like trees planted by water (see Psalm 1).  In times of trouble, those who trust in human beings will be impoverished and spiritually weak, so they will have no strength to draw on.  But those who trust in the Lord will have abundant strength, not only for their own needs, but even for the needs of others.   Are you satisfies with being unfruitful, or do you, like a well watered tree, have strength for the time of crisis and even some to share as you bear fruit for the Lord?"

We must realize that our Father in heaven is a rewarding God.  The Bible tells us in Colossians 3:23-24, "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."  He is the Only One who created all things and the Source of everything.  There is nothing we possess that He didn't own.  There is nothing we can give to Him that didn't come from Him.  Given this Truth, a wise man ought to be grateful and entrust ALL things unto God.  Whether in  the happy or sad times, in richness or famine, in health or sickness, our future and present, we ought to place them all in the hands of our Lord.  These days, we see many people who have given their trust in government, national leaders, politicians, companies, careers or their relationships to attain success and happiness.  The problem with that is the fact that all of them are dependent upon human beings who constantly change their minds based on their situations and surroundings.  They are subject to what they feel at the moment and their judgment is clouded by them.  They may be your friends today but tomorrow might be a different story.  How can we allow ourselves to trust every detail about us to a fellow human being who have frailties of their own?  If we truly are wise, we have to put our faith in Someone who does not change---true to His Word from beginning to end.  And the only One unchangeable is God, Himself!  Numbers 23:19 is clear on this when it said, "God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"  If we entrust our lives unto the Lord, we are going to reap the benefits  of His promises and aligning ourselves to His good and perfect Will.  It would not matter whether the storms and drought of life comes for we know where our provision comes from.  He will not only provide for our needs but He will cause us to be a blessing to others, sharing the fruit of our faith and obedience season after season.  But those who trust in men will reap the benefits of their unbelief and suffer the eternal result of their disobedience and denial of God.  If your faith is anchored in the finished work of Jesus Christ at the Cross, you have every reason to rejoice both now and forever.  I beseech anyone who reads this post to be wise and not fools!  If you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, don't wait another minute!  You can avail of God's promises to His children and HERE is how you can begin that journey.  I would love to share with you one of many chapters in God's Word that will encourage you to  appreciate your precious relationship with the Lord.  I made my choice 25 years ago and I am a witness and recipient of how wonderful God is.  He has blessed us so we ought to be a blessing to others:

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you

from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91)

For this Card, I used one of my Art Impressions Try'folds collection called "Lakehouse."  I fell in love with these stamps when I first saw them and acquired a few but never had a chance to use them.  Maybe because I know I have to spend a lot of time coloring and not sure how can I improve from the usual design and card size which I find very limiting.  But having seen our featured Scripture Word Art for this week, I knew I just had to incorporate the lovely images that is in this set and I am so glad I did.  So, I gave my alcohol markers a break and went back to my Prismacolor pencils paired with Gamsol for some blended and raw coloring.  This was my first coloring medium before I got into alcohol markers. I am sure my Prismacolor pencils have been waiting a long time for me to use them again (If they can only talk...LOL).  Another reason for using this method is because markers would bleed on the paper which would not be cool to see in this card design.  Gamsol (Odorless mineral spirit) also bleed but they dry clear without warping the cardstock.  Worked well with me!  I mounted my 3.75 x 5 inches tri-fold card on my regular 5.5 inches square card.  The DP's are from American Crafts and DCWV.  I used my Fiskars border punch to decorate the side of the card and added some white nail head gems from Imaginisce.  To close the tri-fold card, I punched a couple 1/2 inch circles and mounted them with eyelets to hold my twine for closure.  Pretty clever, huh!  I also used Distress inks (Tumbled Glass, Peeled Paint and Mowed Lawn) to complete the atmosphere in this project.  I was so tempted to add some glitter but I want to keep the watercolor-like feel of the images. For the final touch, I stitched all over this card.  It was a lot of work but well worth it at the end.  Love, love, love it!

PLANTED BY THE WATERS CARD:

PLANTED BY THE WATERS CARD LAYERS:

PLANTED BY THE WATERS CARD SENTIMENT:

PLANTED BY THE WATERS CARD INSIDE:

PLANTED BY THE WATERS CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Creative Moments---ATG/Man in Your Life/Father's day
Double Click---Summer Fun
Fresh Brewed---ATG
Inky Impressions---Summertime
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Little Red Wagon---Stitching
Penny's Paper-Crafty---ATG

Whimsy Stamps---Ribbon, Lace or Twine ( I used Twine)
Wonderful Wednesday---ATG
Crafty Sentiments---ATG
Papertake Weekly---Oh So Pretty!
TTCRD---ATG
Top Tip Tuesday---Cut It Out
Love to Scrap---ATG
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Art by Miran---ATG
Crafty Calendar---Fancy Folds
Not Just Cards---ATG
Oddball Art---Summer Fun
One Sweet---Die-Cut or Punches
Paper Creator's---ATG
Scrapper's Delights---ATG
Simon Says---Fave technique or Product (Stitching technique and love my nail head gems)
Sisters of Craft---ATG
Stamp and Create---Summer Fun 
Eastwind---Ode to Nature 

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 submit up to 5 entries.  Our wonderful sponsors for this week are Classy Cards and 'N Such ($15 GC) and QKR Stampede (3 Digi Images). So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, cheer up and let the joy of the Lord overtake you today.  He truly loves and cares for you.