Scripture Series: God Shall Wipe Away Easel Card---Come and Join the Fun and Inspiration at the Word Art Wednesday Challenge!

Hi there, friends!  Today, we are bringing you another Scripture Word Art for our brand new Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  As always, the DT's each made a card to highlight the same God's Word in our projects.  Today's verse comes from Revelation 21:4 and it says, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

Throughout history, God worked in what we call "Dispensation" of time.  Dispensationalism is a method of interpreting history that divides God’s work and purposes toward mankind into different periods of time.  You can read more about it HERE.  Today, we live under the Dispensation of Grace.  Gotquestions.org says, "It began with the New Covenant in Christ’s blood (Luke 22:20). This “Age of Grace” or “Church Age” occurs between the 69th and 70th week of Daniel 9:24. It starts with the coming of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost and ends with the Rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4). This dispensation is worldwide and includes both Jews and the Gentiles. Man’s responsibility during the Dispensation of Grace is to believe in Jesus, the Son of God (John 3:18). In this dispensation the Holy Spirit indwells believers as the Comforter (John 14:16-26). This dispensation has lasted for over 2,000 years, and no one knows when it will end. We do know that it will end with the Rapture of all born-again believers from the earth to go to heaven with Christ. Following the Rapture will be the judgments of God lasting for seven years (Period of Tribulation).

From what God revealed to us in the Scripture that began with Creation, we were made aware of the sinfulness of humanity when Man fell into Sin (Fall of Man) and the Sin Nature (originated from the heart of Lucifer) entered all of humanity due to Adam's disobedience.  Since then, the perfect creation of Almighty God had been marred with a curse as the devil wreaks havoc to steal, kill and destroy everything that God established.  Sin and Death have plagued humanity as selfishness and idolatry darkened the hearts of man.  The devil continues to deceive everyone by turning them away from the knowledge of God therefore, causing each and everyone to do his bid---for us to destroy one another.  We were headed to the sure path of eternal destruction (one we are powerless to escape) until Jesus Christ came into the scene.  He gave His life as payment once and for all, to unchain us from the bondage of Satan (which only Christ is qualified to do being untainted by Adam's lineage).   In His death, burial and resurrection, we are completely redeemed.  Anyone who places their faith in Him (Born-again, John 3:3) and in what He accomplished at the Cross shall witness far greater promises which God assured us, His children, in our eternal future.   And the good news is, it has nothing to do with our own effort (good works).  It's a "free gift" that we must received by faith and faith alone.  I have this thought right now and I want to share it with you.  "If we looked around us and admired the wonderful and awesome creation we've seen daily (which reflected the glorious nature of the One who created it) even being in its fallen state, how much more beautiful and magnificent God's creation is once we arrived at the time when His Majesty unveils to us the New Heaven and the New Earth?"  Romans 8:18-25 says, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.  For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."  Though we are still awaiting many of God's promises and have to endure for a while longer the sufferings of this present time which is bent to destroy the Truth about salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, we focus our eyes to the the eternal future promised by our Father---a place where Sin, Death, Suffering and Pain no longer exist.  And there is always so much more to what we see  as I believe God only gives what is necessary for us to know in order to carry out the purpose He has given us in this present life.  As a creative person, I always come up with wonderful things...What more can I expect from the God Who is the Source of all creativity?  If the believer's future is that bright, how can we be discouraged by anything in this temporary moment of time? Consider what Apostle Paul said In Philippians 1:20-21 which says, "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."  Need I say more?

For this Card, I used an image from Mo Manning called "Swing High" that I paper-pieced and colored using my Prismacolor and Touch Five markers.  The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches Easel card.  The DP's came from Paper Studio and Recollections, the layered flowers from Prima and the brads are from Recollections.  I had to use my I-Top Brad maker to customize the huge brad in the center.  I also used Nestabilities for the Octagon panel, Sizzix die for the swirl, and added some glitters (Stickles-Crystal) for a wonderful sparkle. The inside sentiment is from CDS stamps.  Finally, I used my sewing machine to stitch all over this creation.  I  am very happy with the final result.

 GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY EASEL CARD

 GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY EASEL CARD WHEN CLOSED

 GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY EASEL CARD SIDE VIEW

 GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY EASEL CARD WITH MESSAGE SPACE

GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY EASEL CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

DP2 Challenge---Anything Mo Goes
Chocolate Baroque---Color Challenge
Crafty Creations---ATG
Creative Moments---ATG
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Moo-Mania---Time (The Scripture featured is a promise of God in time)
Crafty Addicts---ATG/CAS
Wonderful Wednesday---ATG
City Crafter---Spring
Crafty Sentiment---Any Shape
Deep Ocean---Dots and/or Stripes
Digi Choosday---ATG
Everybody Art---Diamond/Glitters
Inky Chicks---Flowers
Lemon Shortbread---ATG
PINspirational---Photo Inspiration
Retarte---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Artistic Inspirations---ATG
Color Inspiration Monday---ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
OLLCB---Spring is in the Air
Pammie's Inky Pinkies---ATG
Path to Positivity---Birth/New Beginnings (The Scripture here tells of the time when everyone who placed their faith in Jesus shall be forever with Him and Sin and Death no longer exist). A new era indeed!
Paper Nest Dolls---ATG
Whoopsi Daisy---Going Round in Circles


Make sure you join us at WAW Challenge.  You can use the free Word Art in your creation and link it to our Challenge but is not a requirement.  As long as it's family-friendly, uplifting and inspirational, you can enter up to 5 times this week.  Great prize to be won from our wonderful sponsor---Simon Says Stamp ($25 GC).  So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, cheer up and let the peace of the Lord overtake you today.  In Christ, we have a very bright and joyful (literally) future!