Together Wedding Card---Join the Fun with the Backporch Gang of 613 Avenue Create for an Anything Goes Challenge with Optional Twist!

Good morning, everyone!  This is coming out a day late but want to share with you the project I made for a couple of friends that got married just this weekend. Also, I am featuring the same project here for our Anything Goes Challenge with an Optional Twist (Use 1 color in each of the 3 columns in our Chart) at 613 Avenue Create.  Before that , I would like to share something in light of the events we are dealing with in our country and around the globe.  Our world is wrapped in terror these days where human beings rebel against God and acting out the evil in their hearts that came from their twisted thinking and hatred of God.  And so, it is always a welcome and happy sight to experience the union of two people starting a new life together, seeing one of God's will for his creation building up each other and far from the destruction we always see and hear all over the news nowadays. It does not mean nothing good is happening around us (in fact there's many) but it's purposely ignored to spread fear and terror to achieve an evil agenda. You can tell I've just had enough of the media bias of our times.

It is important to keep a positive mindset (not easy!) even if all we see is destruction and negativity.  But I submit to you that if you're looking for the positive in things that are temporary, you cannot go very far.  Apart from the knowledge of Christ, His Word and having a personal relationship with Him (Born-again, John 3:3), there's only confusion and deception which gives birth to chaos and destruction.  Sadly, the whole world is filled with people who continue to rebel against the One True God and are taking many ignorant and selfish people with them.  Proverbs 16:18 says, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."  I had to look up what "haughty" means and saw this from vocabulary.com:  "Someone who is haughty is arrogant and full of pride. When you're haughty, you have a big attitude and act like you're better than other people. A haughty person acts superior and looks down on others. Haughty people are disdainful, overbearing, prideful, swaggering, and obnoxious."  We know for a fact that our nation had been plagued with leaders with such a spirit and had become agents of Satan. Not only do they lead their office with complete disregard for the people they represent but with pride and arrogance, they mock the One True God by going against everything God mandated in His Word.  They support and continue to promote killing, stealing and destruction by the stroke of their pens.  Jeremiah 49:16 says,"The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks, who occupy the heights of the hill. Though you build your nest as high as the eagle's, from there I will bring you down," declares the LORD."

It is vital for us to examine ourselves individually...To prostrate ourselves before the presence of Almighty God in repentance as we place our trust and hope in the Only One Who can truly save us---JESUS CHRIST!   We always make the mistake on looking for a man we call "heroes" of our days.  We place our faith on the seen instead of what is unseen (eternal).  How much longer before we all get down on our knees and admit to ourselves that there's really nothing we can do to change our situation but God?  Oftentimes, we say:  "Lord, have your way" but then try to fix things ourselves.  I am convinced that we have arrived at the point in time where there is nothing we can do with our own power and strength to change the hell and leadership we allowed into our country and the entire world.  I say it with a heavy heart but true.  Yet there's always hope!   The hope I am talking about can only come from those whom God called---His Body (the Ekklesia, the Church) in whom the Holy Spirit dwells and leads.  Because the very presence of God is within us, we can do great and mighty things!  Oh yes, we may be outnumbered and dwarfed by the evil giants of our day but believe this:  The One that lives inside of us is much bigger and much stronger.  With CHRIST IN US, nothing is impossible!

Because CHRIST LIVES IN ME, I can see the positive in the negative.  His Word promised us of the glory that awaits those who place their trust in Him. When this life is over, eternity is waiting for us in the presence of the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  Right there with Him is our eternal dwelling place where the memories of evil shall be no more.  Before then, we live each day in this fallen world...I am not denying that it terrifies me what each day may bring but I am always reminded by the Word of God in 2 Corinthians 5:6-11 which says, "Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.  For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.  So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience."  I know that God can do great and mighty things for our country by using men and women who truly love and honor Him, even others whom He will raise up for Himself (like Apostle Paul).  We must be patient in waiting, sensitive to His leading and act promptly when He gives us the go.  GOD IS OUR ONLY HOPE! 

For this Card, I used an image from Bugaboo Stamps called "Make it Snappy-Congratulations" that I colored with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  The base is a white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  I used a couple of embossing folders from Cuttlebug for my panels, layered some flowers from Prima and glitters from Stickles (Crystal).  I also incorporated a pearl brad, doily from my stash, leaves that were die-cut using Fiskars punch and some Liquid Pearls (Platinum) to accentuate the necklace part of the image.  The outside sentiment came from Heidi Grace and the inside sentiment from Fiskars.  Finally, some stitching all over this creation.  Pretty cool, huh!

 TOGETHER WEDDING CARD

TOGETHER WEDDING CARD LAYERS

 TOGETHER WEDDING CARD INSIDE

TOGETHER WEDDING CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

A Bit More Time to Craft---ATG
Little Patch of Crafty Friends---ATG
Artistic Inspirations---ATG
Classic DT---ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Dare2BArtsy---Lots of Layers
OLLCB---Texture (Embossing)
Sisters of Craft---ATG
Your Scrapbook Place---ATG
Craft Your Passion---ATG
Crafting with Friends---ATG
I Love ProMarker---Glitter and Glitz
Love to Scrap---ATG
Crazy Challenge---Summer Fun
Paper Nest Dolls---ATG
Use Your Stuff---Die-Cuts and/or Punches
Lacy Sunshine---ATG
Dragonfly Dreams---ATG
Eclectic Ellapu---ATG
Glitter N Sparkle---ATG
OSAAT---ATG with Elements of Nature
As You Like It---Your Trademark Style and Why (It's Layered Cards as it's fun and gives more)
Crafting with an Attitude---ATG
Crafty Girls---ATG
Crimbo Crackers---ATG 
Little Miss Muffet---ATG

There you have it, folks!  Don't miss the opportunity to join our Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.   Our sponsor for this week is The Fantasy Art of Nikki Burnett.  Can't wait to see what fabulous projects you're going to highlight this week.  I hope you have a wonderful week and know that through faith in what Jesus accomplished through the Cross, we have complete victory that we can effectively share with others!