CAS Series: Consider Your Age Unlisted Card and Crochet All-Buttoned Up Deco Pillows---It's Anything Goes for a Monthly Challenge at 613 Avenue Create!

Hello guys!  Just to tell you that 613 Avenue Create has gone from a bi-weekly Challenge to monthly.  As always, it's Anything Goes with an Optional Theme and you can link up your creations for a chance to win wonderful prizes from our Challenge sponsors.  My, oh my!  I am very sorry for this super late post as I had to deal with many things this week that kept me out of my computer desk.  There are many things that felt I need to be concerned about and when my mind and emotions led me to worry, the Spirit of God rose from within me and commanded me to quit entertaining the worries.  Instead, He told me to keep trusting God!

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I engage daily in a never ending battle to trust God's promises completely or to do what I can to make things happen for us.  I remember praying to the Lord and confessing to Him an issue of concern for my family. Before I'm even finish talking, He asked me, "So, what do you want?  Be specific!"  Recognizing the Lord's voice, I smiled and gave Him a specific answer.  I knew in my heart (right there and then) that He already took care of things.  I was full of hope and faith that everything is going to be okay. 

Yet, the story didn't end there.  As the days passed, we got more and more bad news.  We tried to complete everything that was asked of us to do yet things seemed to go from bad to worst.  Everything we are facing in the natural today seem to contradict the answer I received from the Lord that faithful day.  I know that the Lord's promise is true and He has everything under control but why is it that the circumstances hasn't shown us His favor?   Subconsciously, that's at the back of my mind.  And then the Lord reminded me of Abraham and his wife,  Sarah.  They wanted a child of their own and God promised Abraham a son and make him "father of many nations."    Abraham had to hold on to God's promise everyday and it lifted up his spirit.  But many years had passed and they became very old without a sign of the promise being fulfilled.  Sarah who was barren from the beginning realized how impossible it was in her age and condition to hang on to the hope of God's promise.  In desperation, she took matters into her own hands and gave her servant Hagar to Abraham so that he could have a child with her.  The result of such human effort was Ishmael!  As we read further in Genesis, we can conclude that what she did was a big mistake.  Till this day, the descendants of Ishmael had been wreaking havoc in the world.  You see, when the Lord promised something, He does not need the help of human beings to fulfill it.  Our duty is to patiently wait, obey and continue trusting for an "Isaac" (the promise of God) in our lives.  God does not operate according to our timeline.  It's when we are hopeless and powerless (when there's absolutely nothing we can do to change our circumstances) that we should see the hand of God working supernaturally and truly give Him glory.

Okay, I know how hard it is to wait and to keep our faith in God's promises especially when we are bombarded with nothing but negative reports.  Nobody said it was easy!  When my faith is low, I call on Someone who empowers me to continue believing "supernaturally." An invited preacher reminded us last Sunday at Church that human beings were born "natural."  But those who had been Born-again (John 3:3) by accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior have added the "Super" into their lives---the "Holy Spirit."  He lives inside everyone whose faith is in the finished work of Jesus Christ at the Cross and He's the One who empowers us to do the impossible in accordance to the Will of God upon our  lives.  When I'm tempted to take matters into my own hands like Sarah did, I call upon the Holy Spirit to help me and direct me towards the true plan of God.  Not my will but His will be done!  God's plan is always perfect and we can depend upon His faithfulness to deliver His promises at the right time.  If you haven't experienced God in a personal way, call upon Him and give Him a chance to show you how much He loves you.  I would love to encourage you to take time to read God's Word (start with the book of John as it tells you who you are in Christ) as you face the daily challenges of life.  Keep your eyes focused on Jesus and what He did for you at the Cross.  If the Father willingly gave His One and Only Begotten Son to free you from every spiritual bondage, how much more would He not take care of your needs here on earth?  Know God's Word, rely on His promises, and live with a purpose!

PSALM 91

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

For this Card, I used images from Stampers Anonymous Sets called "Bird Crazy" and "Crazy Things" and watercolored it with my Distress markers.  The base is an A7 blank card with an envelope from The Paper Studio. The DP's are from my scraps and the nail head gems are from Imaginisce.  The sentiments both  inside and outside are from Printworks.  I made this card quickly for a friend's birthday.

 CONSIDER YOUR AGE UNLISTED CARD

 CONSIDER YOUR AGE UNLISTED CARD INSIDE

 CONSIDER YOUR AGE UNLISTED CARD WITH ENVELOPE

Here's another project that I'm really happy about.  Ever since I saw it in a Crochet magazine, I knew I had to make it.  I love that I can make each pillow in different colors and connect them together.  The pattern was simple but needs patience and a good amount of time to make.  I thought I had to place lots of stuffing in each of them but to my surprise, it didn't even consume the one bag I purchased.  That means I can make more next time...LOL.  I am planning to make them in many other colors as time permits.  You see I am not a seasoned Crocheter and there are still many things I needed to learn.  All I can say is that Cardmaking and Crochet relaxes me and makes me happy so, you'll see more Crochet projects featured here in the future as time permits.

 CROCHET ALL-BUTTONED UP DECO PILLOWS

CROCHET ALL-BUTTONED UP DECO PILLOWS CLOSE-UP

These Projects are entered into the following Challenges:

A Bit More Time to Craft---ATG
Animal Friends---Summer
Artistic Stamper---ATG
Card and Scrap---ATG
Card Mania---Let's Party!
Classic Design Team---ATG
Crafts Galore---Use Stamp or Digi
Crafty Awesomeness---ATG with Colored Image
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Creatalicious---ATG
Creative Craft---For Men/Boys
CCC---ATG
Digistamps4Joy---ATG
Lunagirl---ATG
Paper Creator---Keep it Simple
Paradise of Stamps---ATG
Petal Lu---ATG
Sisters of Craft---ATG


There you have it, folks!  Don't miss the opportunity to join our Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  Again, we are now monthly so you'll have more time to link your projects and increase your chance of winning our fabulous prizes. Our lovely sponsors for this week---Crafty Sentiments Designs, Digital Delights, SLS Lines, QKR Stampede, All Dressed Up Stamps, The Cutting Cafe and A Day for Daisies.  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 God is faithful and true to His promises!