Scripture Series: Thou Most High Card---Two Week Long Family Friendly Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

It's Wednesday once again, everyone!  I'm here to bring you one of our final challenges for this year at Word Art Wednesday (WAW) and this one will be up for a couple of weeks so that we can spend the true meaning of the season (birth of our Lord Jesus) along with our families.  That means you have more time to link up to 5 entries for more chances to win wonderful prizes from our awesome sponsors.  Our featured Scripture Word Art (you can download for free at the WAW site) comes from Psalm 9:2 which says, "I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High."  It is believed that David wrote Psalm 9 after a victory over the Philistines.  We recall how David faced the giant, Goliath, and won against him by bringing a sling shot and 5 smooth stones for a weapon.  It took only one stone to bring him down!  

Goliath taunted Israel by all the threats, insults and mockery he spoke against the God of Israel and His people.  This went on for forty days as He over and over again branded Israel as cowards.  He paraded himself to the people of God as a strong, unbeatable man---a seasoned warrior since childhood.  Not one man from King Saul's army would want to fight him, in fact they were all trembling with fear by the mere presence of this man.  Long story short, David (a young shepherd) saw the situation and accepted the challenge from this giant in the midst of King Saul's doubt.  He looked at David and saw him disadvantaged in age, size and inexperienced in battle.  1 Samuel 17:32-37 captured this conversation between both men...."David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.” 

And we all know how this story ended---a victory for God's people!  David's undivided trust, dependence on his Lord and willingness to be used made such a difference.  There's nothing in the first part of the story that would convince us Israel would win. It began when God's army started to look at great army, weaponry, the size of their opponent and the bold challenge they heard from Goliath struck them with fear and they were greatly dismayed.  One article I saw online described this intent of the enemy to discourage us.  It says, "In any contest, it's always useful to demoralize your opponent and strike fear in their heart. First, it may keep you from ever going to battle with them because they are so afraid. Second, if it does come to battle they will fight with fear and apprehension and so with your words, you've done a lot to win the battle before it even begins. This is a significant strategy of the devil against believers."  When we start looking at our circumstances instead of the promises of God and what He can do for in our behalf, we will surely experience the same fear and dismay the Israelites felt with the Philistine army.  A true believer does not look/depend at the natural condition of things.  Our physical senses is not equipped to perceive the spiritual things where all things that transpire in the natural originate.  If we are looking for God with our physical eyes, we will be discouraged because John 4:24 tells us, "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."  The only way we can relate to God while on earth is by FAITH (trust, dependence, adherence, cling to, believing).  New Testament saints (John 3:3, Born-again) are so blessed because we have seen and experienced God in the flesh through our Lord and Savior, JESUS CHRIST!  The God who spoke with Noah, Abraham and Moses in the past and Whom they believed through His Word came to dwell among us and showed us how to live a life of total surrender and trust.  JESUS HAS BECOME THE OBJECT, THE REASON AND THE MEANS BY WHICH WE ARE TO LIVE THIS LIFE AND RECEIVE EVERYTHING FROM THE FATHER.  So like David who trusted God in what seemed be an impossible fight, we are to trust Jesus for anything and everything that we face in our lives.  

In these days where all of the earth and our nation are surrounded by many threats including what I can call a modern-day Philistine army in the form of ISIS and similar Islamic terrorists/jihadists groups under the banner of their false religion/doctrine/prophet/god,  let all who trust in the Lord stand up, speak up and go in the power that God has given us.  Romans 8:15 says, "The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."  No matter what we see in the natural, know that God always hear our cries and that not one of us, His people, is insignificant in His sight.  We all have a role to play and it's not our own talents and abilities that make us special, it is God's presence living inside of us that makes the difference.  SPEAK, PROCLAIM AND CARRY-OUT THE PROMISES OF GOD!  Do not allow the mockery of the enemy (written or spoken) to define you and strike fear in your heart.  And if you become fearful, rebuke that fear by reminding yourself the promises of the Lord. Flush that toxic fear our of your life by the power of the Holy Spirit and go with the supernatural power that the Cross of Christ has already won for you.  Remember that our life here on earth is temporary and after we run this earthly race, we have an eternal life of love, joy and peace in the arms of our Savior.  Today, I would like to declare the Psalm of David, hailing the victory from the Philistine army unto all the powers that seek to destroy America and threaten our faith and way of life.  I declare it in the spirit and the natural realm---for every people, ideology, false religion, doctrines and fake gods that rises up against the Truth of Almighty God to be annihilated, destroyed to its core and erased from the face of the earth.  I stand like the young David whose trust in my God is undivided and I proclaim that ISRAEL and AMERICA will win the fight against all heinous plots and schemes of the enemy not because of any man but because of the great and supernatural power of the Most Holy God.  So, if you believe in the God of David, let this Psalm be a declaration of victory against the evil armies of our day.  Declare this Psalm and speak it's victory for Israel, America and all nations of the world.  Our God delivers!  Praise be to His Holy Name...

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you. For you have upheld my right and my cause, sitting enthroned as the righteous judge. You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever. Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies, you have uprooted their cities; even the memory of them has perished. The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion;

proclaim among the nations what he has done. For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted. Lord, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death, that I may declare your praises in the gates of Daughter Zion, and there rejoice in your salvation. The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. The Lord is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God.

But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish. Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence. Strike them with terror, Lord; let the nations know they are only mortal." (Psalm 9)

For this CAS card, I used a few things.  The base is a white A7 card with envelope from Paper Studio, the house border image is from Heidi Grace, the dotted washi tape is from Paper Studio and the crystal gems from Imaginisce.  Each week is so hectic for me as we approach CHRISTmas and New Year so a CAS card is a fine way to finish a project.  I am happy it turned out great!

                                                     THOU MOST HIGH CARD:

                                                THOU MOST HIGH CARD INSIDE:

                                         THOU MOST HIGH CARD WITH ENVELOPE:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafting by Designs---Holidays
Crafty Creations---Holiday
Crafty Gals---ATG
Creative Moments---ATG
Fresh Brewed---ATG Christmas
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Paper Shelter---ATG
Crafty Addicts---ATG
Wonderful Wednesday---ATG
2 Crafty Girls---ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Craft Your Passion---ATG
Not Just Cards---ATG
Our Crafty Corner---ATG/Winter
Simon Says Stamp---Just a Pinch (A Bit of Washi Tape)
Paper Nest Dolls---ATG
Pile It On----Christmas/Winter
Craft Rocket---ATG
CCC Digi Creations---ATG
Craft Galore---ATG/Christmas
Crafty Time---ATG
Sisters of Craft---ATG
Penny's Paper Crafty---ATG
Simply Papercraft---ATG


Hope you join the fun at our WAW Challenge.  There's wonderful prizes awaiting our blessed winners from two of our sponsors this week, Classy Cards 'n Such ($15 GC) and QKR Stampede (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 take the time to talk to our Heavenly Father every chance we are given, always giving thanks for all the wonderful things He has done. Hugs!