THE BLESSINGS OF CREATIVITY...

I thank the LORD JESUS for each day that is given me to create wonderful projects...As always, I give Him all the glory.


Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Scripture Series: Hope Joy and Peace Card---Grab our Free Scripture Word Art and Join the Fun of our Family Friendly Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hi there, everyone!  As always, I am here to feature another inspirational project that highlights our free Scripture Word Art which you can get for free at our family friendly Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW)Today's verse came from Romans 15:13 and it tells us, "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."  You know, God is truly amazing!  As I finished creating this card and was getting it ready to submit it to our DT Coordinator at WAW, I stopped by Facebook and while browsing my News Feed, I saw the very same verse shared by one of the groups I liked.  I knew right away that something about this verse is important and the Lord wanted me to meditate on it.  When we see/hear the same words or phrase being repeated in the Scripture (examples like "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty" or "Verily, Verily, I say unto you") or same verse/s or message in different occasions, it means that  the Lord wants us to take that instruction to heart (something very important).    I don't know exactly how many times this happened to me but each time I experience it, it always deals with something that I wrestle with in my spirit.  I can honestly say that this is one of the ways God speaks to me and it's for the purpose of encouragement, to empower me, to instill hope and give me direction.  As the Holy Spirit translates God's working inside my heart and I begin to understand, He pours out his peace and joy as He affirms His presence in my life.  My situation may not have changed physically but something very real inside of me shifts.  

Okay, let me see if I can explain to you what was I wrestling with the past few weeks.  Believe it or not,   it's intense FRUSTRATION!  I do have some personal frustrations but it's nothing compared to the dismay and hopelessness  I see and feel for what's happening to our nation.  I talked to my Pastor/Mentor (my teacher in the College level Bible Class I've been going to for many years now) and I told him about this intense feeling of hopelessness and discouragement for the evil that is hovering over our nation and the world.  The lies and lawlessness, division and immorality, disrespect and the lack of apathy, the selfishness and conspiracy that are systematically propagated by the ungodly---there's just a lot for lil' ole me to take!  He told me that it is expected for a child of God to vex from all the ungodliness we see each day and to have a "Compassionate" (Mercy) spirit for those who are blinded by this world.  The sacrifice of Jesus to redeem all of mankind at the Cross which is the Only Source of salvation and which no man can ever repay nor work for is given absolutely free to them who would place their faith in Christ, our Lord and Savior.  But many, due to selfishness and all forms of pride and lust, have mocked the very sacrifice that could save them.  To be very honest, though it saddens me, I know I can't expect anything from the ungodly (without personal relationship with God) for they are doing what their father, the Devil is known to do (John 8:44)!  So, what truly frustrates me more than the schemes of the ungodly?  I submit to you, my heart cries out the more for those who profess they know God and are calling themselves Christians (which means a follower of Christ) but betrays and mocks the very God they profess to serve.  Most of this mega-Churches and high-profile Pastors with large following have watered down the Scripture, centers their teaching about making money and how to be successful (Prosperity Gospel) yet fail to teach their flock servant-hood, personal accountability, eternal perspective, God's holiness nor the coming wrath of God.  They favored men and betrayed God by lowering God's standards to tolerate and accommodate the evil doctrines of man so that they can continue to make money and build their human empires while all the while disguising it at blessings from God.  I am not saying that having a mega-Church is wrong but if a Church teaches accordingly to what the Scripture says, they'll definitely thin out (especially here in America).  Why?  Because God's Word requires a process of lifestyle change which not many people are willing to go through. The leaders of these congregations turned away from the God of the Bible, have aligned themselves with false prophets---having sold themselves to secular humanism.  I feel deep compassion for those who are being led astray by these men through blind obedience.

Another thing that breaks my heart is seeing those who profess they're believers yet operates by the dictates of their emotion (while abandoning the wisdom of God) and are looking at other people to make a drastic change for our country yet, have done nothing to shine the light nor stand for Godly cause other than talk loud.  Many have idolized men and when the people they taught would answer their problems fail them, they become bitter and passive that they don't want to do anything.  They generalize people and loses all hope while not admitting their own mistake of trusting man rather than depending upon God.  They are not content in keeping that to themselves but inflicts their negativity on others.  I submit to you, these are the things that truly grieves my heart---seeing the
the Body of Christ succumb to the pressure!  The Scripture tells us everything we needed to know about our origin, our eternal destination and everything in between.  I know the victory that awaits me after this lifetime and that empowers me to do what I must in accordance to the purpose God has sent me here for.  While I grieve, I am not paralyzed! I know the God whom I serve and like David, I can face the giants of our times armed solely by the power of God.  A few days ago, I made a decision to shut the noise of the world and instead,  battle everything in prayer.  There is power when we get down our knees and pray.  When we do so, we put an end to ourselves and allow God to take over.  In prayer, He speaks to me while I listen.  He reveals my course of action and through His Holy Spirit, I am compelled to act upon it!  God's confirmation of today's highlighted verse in my life has given me a renewed hope, joy and peace to whatever comes in our future.  Sometimes, we have to make a choice to silence every noise that causes our ears to bleed and listen solely to the voice of God.  Are you going to be part of God's  solution to this world or a burden to the brethren?  If we truly want to make a difference, start by asking God for His solutions through prayer.  He is our Only Hope!  Just want to share the following verses to encourage us to continue to live by the Word of God.  What He said before is still the same today.  God does not change His statutes for man but man is the one who needs to conform to God if he wants a life eternally in His presence.

"Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is." (Ephesians 5:1-17)

For this Card, I used a stamp I bought several months ago from Wild Rose Studio called "Bella with Dahlia" that I colored with ProMarker/Prismacolor/Spectrum Noir markers.  The base is Kraft, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  The DP's are all from Paper Studio, the scallop, the circle as well as all the fancy swirls were all dies from Nestabilities that I ran through my Cuttlebug.  I incorporated several nail head gems as well as glitters (Stickles-Diamond) on the flower.  Lastly, I did some fancy stitching all over this creation. 


HOPE JOY AND PEACE CARD:


 HOPE JOY AND PEACE CARD LAYERS:


HOPE JOY AND PEACE CARD INSIDE:


HOPE JOY AND PEACE CARD WITH ENVELOPE-CARD:


This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafts Galore Encore---ATG
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
CCC Digi Creations---ATG
Cute as a Button---ATG
Digistamps4Joy---ATG with optional Wings
Lost Coast---Circles
Paper Creator's---Dies and/or Punches
Paradise of Stamps---ATG
Petal Lu---ATG
Sisters of Craft---ATG
Through the Purple Haze---Flowers
World Wide Open---ATG
Your Scrapbook Place---ATG
Creative Moments---ATG/Fancy Folds
I Love ProMarkers---ATG
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Moo-Mania---Embellishments
Ruby's Rainbow---Die cuts or Punches
Crafty Sentiments---ATG
Fan-Tastic Tuesday---ATG with Twist: Use Glitter
Papertake Weekly---To Die For
TTCRD---ATG
Try It On Tuesday---Flower/s
Tuesday Throwdown---Texture
Artistic Inspirations---ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Craft Your Passion---ATG
Crafty Boots---Fair and Square
Cutie Pie---Cute and Girly
Incy Wincy---Tic Tac Toe (Bling Bling/Free Space/Metals)
Love to Scrap---ATG
Melonheadz Friends---Hand-Colored Image
Not Just Cards---ATG
Stamp and Create---One for the Girls 
Paper Nest Dolls---ATG
Use Your Stuff---ATG
Whoopsi Daisy---Make It Girly


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---Stamp and Create ($25 GC) and Moonlighting & Co. (3 Digi Stamps).  So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, cheer up and let the peace of the Lord overtake you today.  I serve a good and faithful God---Jesus Christ!  

52 comments:

  1. Your cards are so very intricate and well made! WOW! This is a great one!

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  2. Oh Jo Ann you are so right - the only way we can truly be of use to God is on our knees and listening for His instructions, and then obeying them.! Love your card and how you let the scripture take the eye.
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  3. This is gorgeous! Thank you for entering our World Wide Open Design Team Challenge # 02 and best of luck with your entry.
    Hugs
    Linda xxx

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  4. JoAnn cute and very beautiful card
    Thanks for join us at
    {Digistamps4Joy DT Member}

    Karin

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  5. Awww this is so cute. Unfortunately our limit on number of challenges is 10 including ours so sadly we will not be able to consider this for our winner/top 3. But thanks for sharing it with us at TTPH this time. Hope to see you again next time.
    hugs
    Dawn DT
    http://cherrytreestudio.blogspot.com

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  6. Oh my, that is so adorable. Love your layers and attention to detail, and of course the little elephant. Thanks for linking up to the Lost Coast Portal to Creativity :)

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  7. OMGosh! Love the card and embellishments. Such a great card. Thank you for joining our challenge over at Cute As A Button Stamps. Join us again. Blessings upon you - Francesca, owner

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  8. Gorgeous card Jo Ann. Thank you for playing along with our Challenge at CCC Digi Creations. We would love to see you again. Anet DT x

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  9. Very beautiful.
    Thank you for entering the World Wide Ope Design Team Challenge #02 and best of luck with your entry.
    Don't forget we will be holding the "Champion of Champion'" DT Challenge for all categories won throughout the duration of these monthly challenges. Hope you keep joining in each month.
    Annette DT Leader

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  10. Love this thank you for joining us at the WWODTC
    Michelle DT

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  11. Thanks for sharing at the WWODTC. Best of luck to you.
    Heather DT

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  12. Super cute!!! Thank you for joining us at TTPH, good luck!!! Amy DT

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  13. This is fabulous! Thank you for entering the WWODT Challenge. Good luck with your entry.
    Vicki DT

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  14. gorgeous card
    thanks for playing with us at crafty sentiments
    hugs
    céline

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  15. Wow totally stunning, thank you for playing at Creative Moments, hope to see you again soon
    {Creative Moments Owner}
    Alex x

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  16. A very pretty card, well designed. Thanks for joining us at Ruby's Rainbow. Hope to see you visit us again. Caz DT

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  17. Great card. Beautiful design and layout and perfectly executed. Thanks for joining in at Crafty Boots Challenges this time.

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  18. Lovely Jo Ann! Thank you for entering TIOT's!

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  19. And thank you for joining MOO MANIA & MORE with this wonderful card!

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  20. Lovely card, thanks for joining us at Moo Mania and More, Valerie

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  21. Beautiful card with a great design! Thank you for joining us at Try it on Tuesday. Mar DT

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  22. This is adorable. Beautiful textures and layout. Thanks for joining us at Tuesaday Thriwdiwn.

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  23. Thank you for sharing your lovely card with us at TioT's this time.
    Yvonne

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  24. Fabulous card, great design and the elephant is so cute. Thank you for sharing your work with all of us at Crafty Boots Challenges.

    Dionne

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  25. This is so pretty - beautifully layered and gorgeously colored! Awesomeness!

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  26. Thank you for your message and your beautiful card! This is truly gorgeous!! So glad you joined us this week over at Incy Wincy Designs Chalelnge with my bingo card!! Hope to see you again soon!
    Hugs
    Karen C

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  27. Great card lovely design . Thanks for joining us at sisters of craft
    Caroline dt

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  28. Loving the layers and texture you created, Jo Ann! Sweet little elephant. I'm delighted to see you playing along in our "Texture" challenge at Tuesday Throwdown this week. Good luck in the draw and come play again in our next challenge, won't you?
    NanaConnie DT

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  29. He looks so sweet with the great flower.
    Thanks for playing with us at Craft your Passion.
    Good luck and I hope we see you again.
    xxx Michelle (DT)

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  30. Stunning card! Beautiful design, amazing coloring and cute image. Thanks for joining us at Love to Scrap! Challenge Blog
    Tina dt

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  31. Aw, isn't that a cute elephant, and I love how you've colored the flower. Your whole card came together so well. Thank you for entering our anything goes challenge at Love To Scrap.

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  32. A great card - thanks for joining us at Crafting from the Heart.

    Helen x

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  33. Wow! This is gorgeous! I love that adorable image. Thank you so much for entering our challenge at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge Blog Looking forward to see you again soon.
    Hugs,
    Tina
    WWO DT
    Toadally Love To Craft {My Blog}

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  34. Jo Ann this is a beautiful project with wonderful attention to detail and perfect for our SECOND challenge. Thanks for sharing your talent with us. Good luck.
    Hugs
    Desíre
    {World Wide Open Design Team Challenge DT Member}
    {Doing Life – my personal blog}

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  35. Jo Ann this is a wonderful creation with great attention to detail and perfect for our ‘ANYTHING GOES’ challenge. Thanks for sharing your talent with us. Good luck.
    Hugs
    Desíre
    {Digistamps4Joy DT Member}
    {Doing Life – my personal blog}

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  36. wow !!! I love your creation! Thanks for joining us at Cute as a Button. Good luck!!
    Bye Ine (DT)
    http://creaine-challenges.blogspot.nl/

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  37. Your card is gorgeous - as always! That adorable little elephant is so perfect with his oversized flower. Thank you so much for entering our ATG challenge at Through The Craft Room Door this week. We are looking forward to seeing you again in the next challenge.
    Sara
    TTCRD DT
    FP3 {My Blog}

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  38. Stunning card. Thank you for sharing with us at I♥Promarkers. Shona x

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  39. Oh a lovely project. Thank you for sharing it with us at World Wild Open DT Challange. Good luck. Hugs Andrea

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  40. This is stunning, I love your colour choices and all the fab dimension! Thanks for playing with us at http://lostcoastportaltocreativity.blogspot.com

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  41. Your work is always so gorgeous. Today's WAW (8-26-15) is strikingly beautiful.

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  42. So gorgeous!
    Thank you for joining us at The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge. Jane (DT) xxx

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  43. Lovely card thank you for joining us at Whoopsi Daisy hugs Sue DT xx

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  44. Beautiful card! Love it!
    Thank you for joining us at Cute as a button
    Veronique DT

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  45. Such a sweet card and love the elephant. Great take on the challenge and thanks for playing with us at TIOT.
    Hugz, Z

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  46. Thank you so much for sharing with us at Ruby's Rainbow for our 'Dies or Punches' challenge.
    Hugs Helen P x

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  47. Just amazing! I love the coloring, the beautiful details and your story. THanks for sharing from Your Scrapbook Place Challenge. We can't wait to see more.

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  48. Such a lovely card!

    Thank you for participating in the MelonHeadz Friends Challenge!

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  49. This is stunning! I love your colour choices. Thanks for playing along with us at Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog! Hope to see you again soon!! HUGS!
    Ann DT

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  50. So cute! Thanks for joining us over at The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge Blog, good luck!

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  51. Beautiful - love that cute little elephant,

    Thanks for joining us at the Cutie Pie Challenge.

    Helen x

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  52. Very pretty!

    Thank you for participating in the MelonHeadz Friends Challenge!

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