Hello there, Crafty Peeps! I'm posting a day late for our Anything Goes Challenge with an Optional Twist (Create Your Own Challenge Chart) at 613 Avenue Create! Though my title says fun and humorous which depicts my project today, there is no humor in the message God wants me to share in this post. Anyway, I can't believe we passed halfway through the year and there are many things that had happened in our country that makes me very sad. Yet the hope of God's promises to His people (the Church) remains true no matter how crazy this world has become. The Sovereignty of the One True God never changes. Just because one does not believe He exist, it does not mean that he is outside God's jurisdiction. Let's see what Job penned about God in the following verses:
"To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his. What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man he imprisons cannot be released. If he holds back the waters, there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land. To him belong strength and victory; both deceived and deceiver are his. He leads counselors away stripped and makes fools of judges. He takes off the shackles put on by kings and ties a loincloth around their waist. He leads priests away stripped and overthrows men long established. He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders. He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty. He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light. He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them. He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he sends them wandering through a trackless waste. They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards." (Job 12:13-25)
What powerful words that speaks about the works of the Lord. The verses also gave us a picture of the condition our country today. We have become a place that allowed everything that is detestable in the eyes of God to rule and reign in our nation. We entertained the false pretenses of the "separation of Church and State" to keep us (God's people) from the affairs of our government. We were deceived into thinking that the principles of God has no place in governing the country though the fact of the matter is that this law was created to protect the Church from the control of the State. Our Constitution was made under the meticulous governance of God's Word and great men and women of God wrote it under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And because it was so, it made America the greatest country it was known for. But what have we done today? We have allowed the ungodly to re-write what the Lord gave us. By a stroke of a pen, they made us subject to their prostitution of this country? Why such a strong word? Because we have allowed anything and everything that is detestable to God and are practiced by many countries to defile us. In the name of tolerance, we permitted everything to control and shape our thinking and abandon the statutes that has governed our nation to greatness. In the past, people come to our nation and they learned to live as Americans do. Yet now, they form their groups and demand that they'd be pleased by the entire nation. Everyone are forced to learning their ways, their traditions, their language and a whole lot more in exchange for their support? I came to this country having prepared myself for what is waiting for me...I learned the language and the ways, rules and principles that must be followed as a lawful citizen of this country. That does not mean I abandoned the country and the ways I grew up with. I just don't enforce them on others instead, I share them with those that would like to learn about them. Who are the unwise people that changes things that are effective for things that have already been proven to fail? Only them that wants to see this nation fail; those that bite the hands of them that feed them---the TRAITORS! I want to share the following verses as an eye opener to them that are defiant to God:
"All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods and followed the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city they built themselves high places in all their towns. They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger. They worshiped idols, though the Lord had said, “You shall not do this.” The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways.
Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that
I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through
my servants the prophets.” But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord their God. They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.” They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal. They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sought omens and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger. So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left, and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced. Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence." (2 Kings 17:7-20)
I know this is very hard to take in but God does not want us to be ignorant of our wrongdoings. He warns us so we can turn from where we are heading and go in another direction. We must not be silent anymore but we must shout the decrees of the Lord from the hilltop and proclaim His Word over all. Participate in the affairs of your state, fill in governmental positions, be active and assume responsibilities in your community. Let's take the message of the Gospel from the pulpit outside the four walls of the Church and support everyone who stands up for the Truth. This is not the time to be cowards but a time for the brave men and women of God to stand up and be heard. Fear has no place for them that truly serve the One True God. He is the Power that is behind us and the One that goes before us. When there seems to be no hope---trust His Word, trust His heart! As it is written, VICTORY IS OURS!
Wow, that was intense! This is what the Lord wants me to write and I am just obeying...On the lighter side, I am sharing an Anything Goes type of creation for our challenge at 613 Avenue Create. How about a stylish birthday card? In this Card, I used an image from Stamping Bella called "Uptown Girl Bianca Loves Her Big Cake" and colored it with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers. The base card is a white CS that I cut using my Wildcard Cartridge (through my Gypsy) and ran through my Cricut machine, measuring approximately 5.5 inches. The two Dp's are from Pebbles that I layered, weaved and stitched. The flower is from Prima with a mini button at the center from my stash. I added some Stickles Glitter (Crystal and Diamond) to the cake and the dress of the image. The leaves were cut using MS Punch. The funny sentiment came as a freebie from Create with TLC. Lastly, I did some more fancy and regular stitching all over this creation.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY-OLD ENOUGH DOILY CARD:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY-OLD ENOUGH DOILY CARD LAYERS:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY-OLD ENOUGH DOILY CARD INSIDE:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY-OLD ENOUGH DOILY CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:
This Card is entered into the following Challenges:
Color My World---ATG
Cupcake Inspirations---Color Challenge
Dragonfly Dreams---Midsummer Delights
Glitter n Sparkle---Summer Sunshine
Great Impressions---Use Your Favorite Stamp
Creative Card Crew---Die Cuts
Top Tip Tuesday---Summer Fun
DL Art---ATG
Craft Your Passion---ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Card Mania---ATG
Natalie and Amy---Summertime
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Sisterhood of Crafters---Happy Birthday
Wags n Whiskers---Birthday
Not Just Cards---ATG
Color My World---ATG
Cupcake Inspirations---Color Challenge
Dragonfly Dreams---Midsummer Delights
Glitter n Sparkle---Summer Sunshine
Great Impressions---Use Your Favorite Stamp
Creative Card Crew---Die Cuts
Top Tip Tuesday---Summer Fun
DL Art---ATG
Craft Your Passion---ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Card Mania---ATG
Natalie and Amy---Summertime
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Sisterhood of Crafters---Happy Birthday
Wags n Whiskers---Birthday
Not Just Cards---ATG
This it for now, guys. Make sure to join us at our
neighborhood---613 Avenue Create---for an Anything Goes Challenge.
If you want to be challenged (like I was), take on the Optional Twist.
But there's really no reason for you to miss it. Our sponsors--- Scrapper's Delights, Stamplorations and Oddball Art Stamps are
giving away some fabulous prizes. Can't wait to see what you create.
The Lord is with you every step of the way so, don't be afraid of what the future holds---we are safe in the arms of Christ always.
Such a darling card Jo Ann...love your coloring as always!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us over at Color Your World! with such a wonderful card, good luck
ReplyDeletecaroline senior ct
WOW what a fun, happy card JoAnn!! Love all the beautiful colors! Thanks so much for joining us at The Sisterhood’s ‘BIRTHDAY’ challenge and please come back again soon!
ReplyDeleteDarlene
one of the 'Sistahs'
The Sisterhood of Crafters
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS
How fabulous...I love that big ol cake! How come I can't get one like that for my birthday?! Great coloring on here! Thanks so much for joining us at Great Impressions!
ReplyDeleteAdorable! Love all the elements on your card. Thank you for joining our challenge at Cupcake Inspirations this week.
ReplyDelete-Sandy, DT Sweetie
A beautiful card. A great mage and colours. Thanks for joining Top Tip Tuesday. Elaine
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous creation. Love the stitching around the sentiment and your image is colored beautifully. Thanks for joining the Sisterhood's "Birthday" challenge.
ReplyDeleteSuch a delightful card - love the rich coloring. Thanks so much for joinng us this time at the Dragonfly Dreams Challenge, Elizabeth (DT)
ReplyDeleteLoving this card too! The bling on the cake looks good enough to eat. Thank you for joining us Top Tip Tuesday. Brenda
ReplyDeletewow, your card is SO pretty!! Your coloring is amazing!! That cake looks so yummy:-) Thanks for playing with us at Cupcake Inspirations Challenge!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful card. Your colouring is amazing. Thanks for joining us at Not Just Cards this month.
ReplyDeleteLynda xx
Awesome Jo, love all the layering on your bonnie and bright creation and your colouring is fabulous. So cool too, to see a matching envelope, somebody is truly going to love receiving this birthday card, I know I would :) Thank you for joining us this fortnight at OSAAT and good luck :) Big hugs, Jane xxxxx
ReplyDeleteSo cute! Thanks for joining us at The Sisterhood of Crafters!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful! So much attention to detail, amazing! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Craft Your Passion#270!
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous. Thanks for joining us at CCC xx Jan
ReplyDeleteWhat a super-sized cake! Wonderful card! So glad you were inspired by our color theme at Cupcake Inspirations!
ReplyDelete~Debbie, DT Sweetie
Beautiful. Love love, love your coloring and the design of the card. Thanks for joining my DL.ART JULY LINKY CHALLENGE. Have a blessed day DIANA L.
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely fabulous, Jo Ann! I adore the bright colors, fun shape, and all that sparkle! Thank you so much for joining us at Great Impressions! HUGS! :) Mynn xx
ReplyDeletehahaha just love this. how creative you have been with this. Best, Samara DT for OSAAT
ReplyDeleteTotally adorable card!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us over at Lacy Sunshine Color Your World Challenge!
Hugs
Sandra (DT)
Wonderful Creation, love the washi tape, and the image is sweet. Thanks for sharing with us at Lacy Sunshine Color Your World Challenge, Good Luck
ReplyDeleteCindy CT
Such a fun and happy card. Love the sweet image and your card design.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your project with us at Wags ‘n Whiskers.
Have a wonderful day!
♥ Lena - DT
Lena’s Creations
Gorgeous creation. Thanks for joining us at Card Mania Challenges. Good luck and hope you'll join us again.
ReplyDeleteWow! Love this!
ReplyDeleteThank-you for joining us at Color Your World!
Very cute card. Thanks for joining us at CraftyHazelnuts Patterned Paper challenge.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, DT
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us at Dragonfly Dreams and I hope we see you again soon!
Hugz
Laurian
Owner Dragonfly Dreams