Hello everyone! We started another Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge a week ago at Word Art Wednesday (WAW) featuring a new Scripture Word Art (you can download for free at the WAW site). It comes from Leviticus 17:11 which says, "For the life of the flesh
is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an
atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement
for the soul."
...Oh the blood of Christ that washes away the sins of the world! Many so-called Christians today don't really have a clue what is the significance of our Savior's death on the Cross because they haven't taken the time to find out the biblical basis of their faith. When Adam fell into Sin which brought Death (spiritual, physical and eternal) to all of mankind, our relationship with God was severed and the only way we can approach Him was through a blood sacrifice. The Bible tells us in Genesis 3:21, "And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them." The Fall of Man had placed all of creation under curse because of one man's disobedience to God. To demonstrate the horrific consequence of such a betrayal, the innocent had to pay in order for humanity to temporarily be allowed access to God's favor. The Scripture told us that innocent animals needed to die for God to use their skin to cover Adam and Eve's nakedness. From then on, mankind was only able to approach God through countless animal sacrifices till the time God provided an everlasting Sacrifice, once and for all, for the forgiveness of Sin.
Then He came---our Savior, at God's appointed time! Jesus, God's One and Only Son and the perfect sacrifice that would take away the Sin that plagued all of humanity (John 3:16). His innocent (sinless) blood poured out at the Cross of Calvary to bring new life and freedom to our rebellious, hopeless and chained spirits. That whosoever believes and receives Jesus' victory over Sin and Death are made right with God (Justification by Faith) and are being transformed daily in the image of Jesus Christ (Sanctification by Faith). They have complete access to the throne room of God and will never be turned away. As a Born-again (John 3:3) believer, we've identified with Christ and no longer bound by our identification with Adam. Romans 5:19-21 says, "For
just as through one man’s disobedience [his failure to hear, his
carelessness] the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of
the one Man the many will be made righteous and acceptable to God and brought into right standing with Him. But the Law came to increase and
expand [the awareness of] the trespass [by defining and unmasking sin].
But where sin increased, [God’s remarkable, gracious gift of] grace
[His unmerited favor] has surpassed it and increased all the more, so
that, as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through
righteousness which brings eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." From the bondage of death leading to eternal wrath, we were set free to an everlasting life in the presence of God which was solely made possible by FAITH (trust, cling, depend, believe) in what JESUS accomplished at the Cross by the shedding of His blood!
My friends, we live in a world of many chaos and uncertainties as we see the Day of the Lord/ Tribulation Period approaching. Everyone whose been washed and covered by the blood of Jesus need not worry for we know that nothing happens without God's knowledge. If we are still living and breathing in this world today, that's because we are still part of God's plan---His great commission to share the Gospel (Jesus' death, burial and resurrection) to whosoever and wherever He would send us. It is also His will for us to continue being the Salt and Light of this world in order to push back on the rapid decay and darkness that will one day break loose at His appointed time. I would like to share what My Life Application Bible shared with regards to our highlighted verse today for greater understanding. It says, "How does blood make atonement for sin? When offered with the right attitude, the sacrifice and the blood shed from it made forgiveness of sin possible. On the other hand, blood represented the sinner's life, infected by his sin and headed for death. On the other hand, the blood represented the innocent life of the animal that was sacrificed in place of the guilty person making the offering. The death of the animal (of which the blood was proof) fulfilled the penalty of death. God therefore granted forgiveness to the sinner. It is God who forgives based on the faith of the person doing the sacrificing." If you want to know more about why God required animal sacrifices in the Old Testament, go HERE.
For this Card, I used an image from DRS Designs called "Cattail Milk Pail" that I stamped over a circle that I created with Distress Inks using a circle Nestabilities die. The base is a white A2 card that comes with an envelope from Paper Studio. Then I printed our featured Scripture Word Art for this Challenge and walah, this card is finished. Definitely one of my simplest cards but I believe it conveyed the Scripture effectively which is what's truly important...
This Card is entered into the following Challenges:
Aud Sentiments---Spring/Easter Sentiment
Cardz 4 Gals---Mother's Day or Spring Flowers
CRAFT---ATG
DL Art---Easter
Krafty Chicks---All Occasions (Resurrection Sunday)
Creative Moments---For a Special Lady
Ellibelle's---Spring is in the Air
Sisterhood of Crafters---Sentiment Only
Paper Funday---ATG/Green/Gold
Digi Choosday---ATG
Everybody-Art---Spring
Ike's World---ATG/Tic Tac Toe
TTCRD---ATG
Crafting Happiness---ATG
Double Trouble---Less is More (CAS)
Jan's Digi---ATG
PIP---ATG
Path of Positivity---ATG/Something Special from your Childhood
Use Your Stuff---White + One Other Color
Lil' Patch---ATG
Stamping Sensations---Stamp Something for Spring
Corrosive---ATG
We Love Stamping---Spring
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 several times in two weeks. A great prize awaits our winner from our wonderful sponsor---DRS Stamps
(25 GC).
So excited to see what you come up with. Remember that faith is the
currency of heaven and without it, we cannot please God. When we know
the basis of our faith by studying His Word, we can effectively share the Gospel for the salvation of many.
Ready to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Find out how on the sidebar...
Super moving Card JoAnn! Thank you for sharing your meaningful creation with us at Jan's Digi Blog Challenge. I hope you will join us again next month for a NEW challenge. Good Luck and Happy Crafting!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Jan
(Owner & Illustrator of Jan's Digi stamp shop)
Such striking use of colour, thanks so much for sharing and joining us at Stamping Sensations and We Love Stamping Spring challenges.
ReplyDeleteB x
What a stunning card Jo Ann - and yes, too many folk don't really know the full importance of the blood - in fact I don't think we can really ever grasp the full implications of what God has given, and achieved, at the cross
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Maxine
Beautiful card and sentiment. The CAS design is so effective with the silhouette image. Thanks for entering your lovely project in the challenge at The Paper Funday!
ReplyDeleteDonna
The Paper Funday Challenge
The Inspiration Station Challenge
Striking card, thanks for joining us at We Love Stamping
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely BEAUTIFUL Jo Ann! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Sisterhood of Crafters challenge! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often.
ReplyDeleteDarlene
SISTERHOOD OF CRAFTERS
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS
The focused red really stands out,outside a gorgeous shade. Thanks for sharing it with us at Paper Fundays Challenge. Kate
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card, beautiful sentiment. I love it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for entering the DL.ART THANKFUL THURSDAY challenge #296 “EASTER”. Have a blessed day
DIANA L.
DL.ART
http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com
A really beautiful creation, thank you so much for sharing at my Crafty Wednesday challenge!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a striking card. I love the big bold red with all the black and white. Thanks for joining us at Use Your Stuff this challenge.
ReplyDeleteTammy DT Co-ordinator
oh wow! very original! thank you for joining us at Corrosive Challenge! DT Kary
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your lovely work at Stamping Sensations. Vee xx
ReplyDeleteWonderful card and sentiment. Thank you for joining us at Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog
ReplyDeleteBest Wishes Lisa xx
craftycard-designs.co.uk
The image is perfect against the big bold red circle and your scripture is beautiful. Thank you for sharing your card with us at Double Trouble and Use Your Stuff.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done - a great way of colouring the image.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us at the Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog.
Helen x
DT
Nice card JoAnn. Thank you for entering the Anything Goes Challenge at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends.
ReplyDeleteI'm back with another DT hat on. Thank you for entering the Anything Goes Challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps.
DeleteAn interesting card... your blood red circle really pops and matches your sentiment. Thanks for playing along with us at AAA Cards.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card - Thanks for playing along at USE YOUR STUFF - DT Gail
ReplyDeleteLovely card, Jo Anne! Great use of a single color for our Double Trouble challenge! Thank you for sharing!!! -Donna
ReplyDeleteOh what a beautiful card, just love how you have created this artwork :) :) Thank you for joining us this month at IKEsWORLD. Hugs DT Mimi xx
ReplyDeleteI love the stamp and it looks great on the red. Thanks for joining in our challenge at Cardz 4 Galz Dawn S DT x
ReplyDeleteThis is so striking. Love the design. Thank you for joining us at AAA Cards. Hugs ~ Ishani.
ReplyDeleteLovely and heartfelt, Jo Ann! Such a special Easter card. Thank you for playing along with us at Double Trouble Challenge #106.
ReplyDeleteAmen! The Blood of Jesus Christ is the atonement for our sins. And your beautiful card expresses it wonderfully Jo Ann.
ReplyDeleteRodney