Scripture Series: Thou Upholdest Me Card---Join Us for Another Anything Goes/Inspirational Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hi there, Crafty Peeps!  Here to feature another Card for our bi-weekly Anything Goes/Inspirational Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  Our free Scripture Word Art (you can download for free at the WAW site) comes from Psalm 41:12 and it says, "And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever."  This world we live in was made by Almighty God with all the beauty, wonders and blessings that originates from the loving hand of our Creator. It is one of which humanity dwells and was given the responsibility to tend and to keep along will the rest of God's creation.  This is very clear in Genesis 1:26 which reveals, "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

But in an awful turn of events, Adam gave up that dominion to Lucifer (Satan) by disobeying God.  Genesis 2:15-17 tells us, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”  Adam was warned the very day he was placed in the Garden of the only thing he was not to do for it will cause him "DEATH!"  Just think of the countless ways we could have enjoyed the blessings of the Lord with joy, life and freedom and the fellowship with our awesome Creator without knowledge of sin had Adam obeyed God.  But he chose to do the "ONE THING" that would separate him from his loving Father and traded all the good things that flows from God's throne.  That's what DEATH is all about---a SEPARATION!  Notice that after eating what the Lord forbade them to eat, Adam and Eve didn't die physically that very moment.  But something truly died that day from within...Their spirits (the inner and true man) died that day and has no longer fellowship with their Creator.  It is by the mercies of God that we are able to live each day after that sad part in the history of man. Not only did we turn our backs from God but we submitted ourselves to the control and influence of Satan whose only intent is to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10).  Up until the Son of God came and became flesh, we were beyond hopeless, with hell in our eternal future.  But Jesus came to take back everything that the enemy stolen and He succeeded at all counts through His finished work (death, burial and resurrection) at the Cross. 

Friends, it is all done!  Jesus already won the victory and anyone who places their faith on what Christ has done will find grace, forgiveness, healing, peace, love and joy even in the midst of living in this fallen world.  We look everywhere and see the fury of the enemy all around us.  We experience a barrage of trials of all shapes and forms, attacking our body, soul and spirit.  Though many of us placed our faith in the saving knowledge of Lord Jesus Christ which made us citizens of His kingdom, we are still very much living in this world while we are still in our physical bodies.  But the good thing is that we don't have to live according to the standards of this world.  We are now able and qualified ambassadors of our eternal kingdom and we are to tell others of what that Kingdom is like.  Though our stay here is brief, we have eternal dwellings in the arms of the Lord free from the destruction the enemy has placed upon us in this world.  Jesus gave us a pattern on how to pray and it began with a profound truth in Matthew 6:9-10 which tells us, “This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."  We shouldn't tolerate being pushed by the enemy to the side and cry "Pity me."  We are to declare the promises and victory Jesus won for us and place the enemy where he rightfully belongs, under the feet of the children of God.  JESUS died for us so that we can stand in the presence of Almighty God, free from all the guilt and shame which we inherited from Adam.  It is ONLY by HIM that we can boldly declare righteousness before our Father in Heaven!  One day, we will finally experience a new heaven and new earth where everything takes place in accordance to God's original intent---free from eternal death and destruction.  Now, that is the Truth every believer can embrace in the midst of overwhelming chaos in this world!  I would love to encourage you with the the following verses that only the Word of God can powerfully give you:

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:26-27)
 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."  (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

For this Card, I used a image from Saturated Canary called "Harriet Hearts" (limited edition) that I colored with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  The DP's and washi tape came from Recollections, the layered flowers from Prima and the brad (gem) at its center is from my stash. I inked the flowers and die cut using Distress Ink (Pumice Stone).  The wonderful die-cut image of a Church came from Simon Says Stamp Wafer Dies called "Churches."  It's wonderful to be able to try one of their products that is set to release today under the category, "Reason to Smile."  You can find out about these new products using #SSSReasonToSmile.  Anyway, I finished this creation by adding some regular and fancy stitching.  One of my few attempts to color and make a black and white card. I'm pretty happy with the result. 

                                                    THOU UPHOLDEST ME CARD:

                                               THOU UPHOLDEST ME CARD LAYERS:

                                           THOU UPHOLDEST ME CARD SIDE VIEW:

                                              THOU UPHOLDEST ME CARD INSIDE:

                                     THOU UPHOLDEST ME CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafty Calendar---Love is in the Air
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Creatalicious---Fave Color Combo (Black and White)
Creative Moments---ATG
My Time to Craft---Check it Out
Penny's Paper Crafty---ATG
Stamping Boutique---Love
Whimsy Stamps---ATG
CCC Digi Creations---Fave Color Combo (Black and White)
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Love to Scrap---ATG
Mod Squad---The Great Outdoors
Natalie and Amy---Hearts and Flowers
Not Just Cards---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Where the Heart Is---Love
Unicorn---Love
Our Creative Corner---Sew and Sew
Classy Cards---Stitching
Crafting When We Can---Add Hearts
Dragonfly Dreams---Hearts and Flowers
Dragonfly Journeys---Wishi Washi
Eclectic Ellapu---Love Actually
Glitter N Sparkle---Love is in the Air
Coloring without Boundaries---ATG
OSAAT---Love is in the Air
Stamping Sensations---ATG
Corrosive---Love Love Love
Crafting by Designs---Tic Tac Toe (Bling/Die-Cut/Stitching)
I Love ProMarkers---Bingo (Brads/Free/Flower)
Little Red Wagon---A Pop of Color
Moo Mania---Hearts
Sisterhood of Crafters---Warm Thoughts
Stampavie and More---Hearts
Crafty Addicts---ATG
Wonderful Wednesday---ATG
Colour Q---Color/Picture Inspiration


Hope you join the fun at our WAW Challenge.  There's wonderful prize awaiting our blessed winner from our awesome sponsor this week, Simon Says Stamp ($25 GC).  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 share unto others the hope you have in Christ.  Hugs!