CAS Series: Crazy Bird Birthday Card---Join Us for Another Wonderfu Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create!

Hello there, Crafty Friends!  It's my first post for the New Year and I am hoping that you are having a wonderful start of 2016 as well.   Like always, I had so many things to do so, I am a day behind posting this.  Anyway, a lot of people have set some goals to accomplish early this year commonly known as "New Year's Resolutions." Although I am familiar with the practice, I don't remember making a list whatsoever even before I came to know Christ.  Now that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the more I realize I don't need any resolutions.  I do have long-term goals that are more spiritually oriented.  Among them are spending more time in studying the Word and to faithfully pray, to share the hope I have in Christ to as many who will listen and to have the strength, patience and boldness to proclaim God's Truth no matter what.  To faithfully execute the task the Lord has given me as watchman unto God's people making sure that the Word of God is delivered and administered accurately in all Churches---in my community, my city, my state, my country and the world.  From the Garden of Eden to this day, false teachings/doctrines remains to be the poison that sickens our society which hinders many from knowing the Truth and have led those who once in the Truth astray.  It is very important that we hold leaders, pastors, teachers, elders of our Church accountable to the infallibility of the Scriptures along with all the members of the Body.  Nobody is above the Word of God! 

Anyway, a New Year's Resolution is not at all negative but nowadays, they are mostly effort by men to better themselves for their own merit. Without the presence of the Holy Spirit in one's life (Born-Again, John 3:3), all of men's efforts are without lasting effect.  It is God's Spirit that empowers us to do supernatural endeavors not for our own merit but for the glory of the God who created us and it always starts by surrendering our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and accepting the gift His finished work at the Cross made available for us.  I would like to share with you what I read online from Gotquestions.org pertaining to the origin of New Year's Resolutions and how Christians should approach this practice.  I hope you'd be blessed.  Here's the article:

"The practice of making New Year’s resolutions goes back over 3,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a new year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31 and January 1. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?

Common New Year’s resolutions are commitments to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money more wisely, and to spend more time with family. By far, the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating more healthily. These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.

Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals. However, these New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?

Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5 declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year’s resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God’s Word, we will not receive God’s help in fulfilling the resolution.

So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make? Here are some suggestions: (1) pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead, allow them to motivate you further; (6) don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6 says, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

Anyway, I created a CAS project to highlight our Anything Goes Challenge with an Optional Twist at 613 Avenue Create.  For this Card, I used an image from Stampers Anonymous featuring Tim Holtz Bird Crazy and Crazy Things Stamps.  The base is an A2-size cream card that comes with an envelope.  The image was stamped in a watercolor paper and colored with my General's Kimberley Watercolor pencils.  I've had it for a long time and I am glad I was able to use it again as it made coloring easy.  The birthday sentiment is from Stampendous and the border stamp is from Heidi Grace.  The inside sentiment I got online which I wrote down using my EK Tools Journaling Pen.  I love it!

                                                 CRAZY BIRD BIRTHDAY CARD:

                                              CRAZY BIRD BIRTHDAY CARD INSIDE:

                                       CRAZY BIRD BIRTHDAY CARD WITH ENVELOPE:


This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Deep Ocean---ATG
Artistic Inspirations---ATG/Winter Blues
Aurora Wings---Warm and Fuzzy
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Craft Your Passion---ATG
Crafty Boots---Something Old, Something New (Old: Base Card, New: Image)
Eureka---Birthday Cards
Fun Cuts---G is for Gratitude
Lost Coast---CAS
Not Just Cards---ATG
Our Crafty Corner---ATG
Simon Says---Something New (Image is New)
Crazy Challenge---Celebrations
Paper Nest Dolls---ATG
Where the Heart Is---ATG
Amusing---New (New Image)
Lacy Sunshine---ATG
Come and Get It---Something New (Image is New)
Dragonfly Journeys---They Say It's Your Birthday
Glitter n Sparkle---ATG
Quirky Crafts---Let's Quirky Celebrate
Robyn's Fetish---ATG
Catch the Bug---ATG

This it for now, guys.  Make sure to join us at our neighborhood---613 Avenue Create---for an Anything Goes Challenge.  Our sponsors---Eureka Stamps, Melonheadz Illustrating and The Stamping Boutique 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 the what the future holds---we are safe in the arms of Christ always.  Remember to dedicate every plans to Him and to faithfully give Him all the glory!