THE BLESSINGS OF CREATIVITY...

I thank the LORD JESUS for each day that is given me to create wonderful projects...As always, I give Him all the glory.


Showing posts with label 613 Avenue Create Challenges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 613 Avenue Create Challenges. Show all posts

Sunday, February 13, 2022

Especially Made: Warmest Birthday Card---Join Our Anything Goes Monthly Challenge at 613 Avenue Create!

Advance Happy Heart's day, Crafty Peeps!  Last Sunday, we started our February Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create with the optional theme, "My Whimsical Valentine." Go to our Challenge site and you will find many DT inspirations featuring the theme.  However, I decided to make  a very simple Birthday card and like me, you can opt out of the theme for an Anything Goes project.  What's important is to have fun with your creation.

Nowadays, I can't help but watch what's going on with the Freedom Convoy (in its third week now) originated by Truckers in our neighboring country of Canada.  If you are following my Blog post, you know that I am not only sharing Biblical Truths here but most especially in discussing the relevance of God's Word to what's happening to our country and the world as a whole.  Generally, many people don't get themselves involved in current events primarily politics and government unless it directly and personally affect their lives.  Draconian mandates that happen in other states or countries does not worry us much because we don't have to comply as of yet.  But you wake up one day and it's right up your alley. You're threatened with  fines, suspension, subjected to frequent testing to the extent of losing your job and be segregated for something you don't trust to be inserted to your body;  jabs that have proven to offer nothing for your health and protection. But even with that, many end up complying because let's face it, it demands great effort, strength and resources to fight back.  I've known several people who didn't like to take the jab but were afraid to lose their job and benefits.  As a Born-again (John 3:3) believer, God clearly told us that our real fight is not physical in nature. Ephesians 6:12 clearly states, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." The Body of Christ (Church, Ekklesia) is here on earth not as bystanders  but to affect and lead the world with the rule of God.  And because Satan is the god of this world, he has in his disposal human beings that are bent to serve him which he placed in leadership to disguise themselves as champion of human rights and representatives of the people.  But in time, they'll show their true colors as they clamor for power and control.  The very people they claim to protect will suffer under their tyrannical rule by abandoning their promises and strangling the rights of the people.

When Adam sinned against God, all of humanity was plunged into Sin and Death under the bloodline of Adam.  We don't have any choice and are destined to suffer the wrath of God's judgment.  There's nothing we can do as human beings to change that until God sent His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ to redeem us from our bondage with Satan and free us from the claws of Sin and Death.  Though the penalty of Sin was paid in full by the sacrifice of Jesus at the Cross, only those who  placed their faith in the Cross of Christ will benefit from it.  Freedom comes from God and in that freedom is the right to choose! To choose to put our faith on the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross for our eternal salvation or to reject and mock the Only Way provided by God resulting to eternal death.  As a child of God, we have to keep in mind that our spiritual freedom didn't come cheap.  

So it is under the same principle that we have to fight for our freedom in this world. We cannot allow government dictators to erode our rights under the guise of health and safety.  It is no coincidence that many demonic leaderships have used what they called "pandemic" to slowly condition their citizens to comply and then strip them of their right to choose what's best for them and their families.  They start by buying and recruiting people and trolls to propagate their lies (fake social media) while simultaneously using their power and influence to silence and cancel everyone who speaks the truth.  With the coordinated propagation of lies hour by the hour, many are easily deceived because they just accept whatever is in front of them instead of engaging in research to find out what's the truth behind the headlines.  People are waking up to this kind of suppression not only here in the States but in many countries around the world.  With ninety percent jab rate, Canada would be the last country I would think the Freedom Convoy would originate.  For two years, they took everything that their leaders shoved down their throats.  Aside from a few reports of people crying foul to the mandates, I've never heard or saw a significant outcry by it's citizen.  Many of them were duped to believing that there's a scientific support to the draconian measures passed on to them.  But beginning this year, as many countries have announced an end to their Rona mandates, many Canadians realized how abusive their leader is for it showed no desire to hear their concerns to end the mandates. They declared "enough is enough" and are willing to give everything (through peaceful means) to take back their freedom.  The demonic leaders all over the world are scrambling to do damage control. Canada encouraged many other countries in similar predicament to bond together that no amount of lies and threats could stop them from pursuing their goal which is freedom from Rona mandates.

And what can I say?  When we unite to push back the darkness and enforce the light, nothing is impossible with God.  While the Body of Christ is here, our responsibility is to be Salt and Light of this world.  For there will come a time when God takes us away from this world (Rapture of the Church) and all hell breaks loose (Tribulation Period).  The Bible is clear that it's going to happen because a just God will pour out His judgment to the ungodly who willfully rejected Christ and pledged their souls to serve Satan.  Be wise in your choices.  God's Word reveals to us the difference between righteousness and iniquity.  Spending the time to study the Scripture gives us wisdom to see through the disguise that leads to deception.  Freedom is always worth fighting for!

For this Card, I used an image from Art Impressions called "Birthday Wishes" and colored it using my Prismacolor markers and stamped the sentiments from the same set.  The base is a white, A7 card base with envelope from Paper Studio.  The DP is from my scraps and the fence border was die-cut using an MS Punch.  I added a couple of brads to complete my design.  

 

WARMEST BIRTHDAY CARD 


WARMEST BIRTHDAY CARD  WITH ENVELOPE


 This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Ching-Chou Kuik---ATG/All You Need Is Love
Clever Dexter---Fave Technique (CAS Cards)
Let's Craft and Create---ATG/From the Heart
Sognando---ATG/Love

This is it for now, guys.  Make sure to join us at our neighborhood---613 Avenue Create---for an Anything Goes Challenge with an optional theme.  Can't wait to see what you create. The Lord is with you every step of the way so, don't compromise God's Word nor be afraid of the what the future holds based on your faithfulness to His Word.  Great is our eternal reward in heaven for us whose trust in not of the world but in Christ!

Ready to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Find out how on the sidebar...

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Fun/Humor Series: Winter Christmas Reindeer Games Card---Join our Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create!

Hi there, everyone!  We have a brand new Challenge happening this entire month at 613 Avenue Create!  As always, it's Anything Goes with optional theme of  "Any Holiday." As you can see, I chose a fun and light Christmas theme for my card sample simply because we all need a good laugh nowadays.  For nearly two years now, the world along with it's globalists politicians and mainstream social media never fail to spread death and fear in the airwaves and sadly, many are still terrified and isolating themselves with every report of Rona variants.  But as for me and my house, our faith is solely focused in the Lord and to His promises which covers not only our temporary life but more importantly, our life eternal.  I can literally go out and enjoy each day with friends and family during winter time without a thought of Rona slowing me down.  Talking about quality life and quality time.  Snow is very rare in Texas but will come up with ways to have fun like that energetic woman in my card...LOL
 
Happiness is always a choice! But there is no meaningful happiness without God in one's life.  Before I came to know Christ, like everyone else, I was living by the standards of the world.  It's like an emotional roller coaster when my happiness is dependent upon my situation and emotional status.  If you happen to have friends or family that listens, you try to share how you feel but have you noticed that most can only afford to offer you an emotional band-aid? It's a temporary relief, not the ultimate cure.  If you are the kind of person that takes time to reflect on your life's journey, you'd realize that we all have this "God-shaped hole" in our hearts that nobody and nothing in this world can ever fill. We try to do everything we can to satisfy it by fulfilling our ambitions in attempt to gain wealth, fame and power to fill our longings.  Some look for temporary fix like drugs, alcohol and toxic relationships.  Many have reached the pinnacle of earthly success but much to our dismay, they have cut their lives short just like that!  All their accomplishments didn't provide them with true happiness.

I would like to share what Gotquestions.org had to say about this issue of spiritual void in the life of every human being. It says, "The “God-shaped hole” concept states that every person has a void in his soul/spirit/life that can only be filled by God. The “God-shaped hole” is the innate longing of the human heart for something outside itself, something transcendent, something “other.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 refers to God’s placing of "eternity in man’s heart." God made humanity for His eternal purpose, and only God can fulfill our desire for eternity. All religion is based on the innate desire to “connect” with God. This desire can only be fulfilled by God, and therefore can be likened to a “God-shaped hole.” The problem, though, is that humanity ignores this hole or attempts to fill it with things other than God. Jeremiah 17:9 describes the condition of our hearts: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Solomon reiterates the same concept: “The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live…” (Ecclesiastes 9:3). The New Testament concurs: “The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so” (Romans 8:7). Romans 1:18-22 describes humanity ignoring what can be known about God, including presumably the “God-shaped hole,” and instead worshiping anything and everything other than God. Sadly, too many spend their lives looking for something other than God to fill their longing for meaning—business, family, sports, etc. But in pursuing these things that are not eternal, they remain unfulfilled and wonder why their lives never seem satisfactory. There is no doubt that many people pursuing things other than God achieve a measure of “happiness” for a time. But when we consider Solomon, who had all the riches, success, esteem, and power in the world—in short, all that men seek after in this life—we see that none of it fulfilled the longing for eternity. He declared it all “vanity,” meaning that he sought after these things in vain because they did not satisfy. In the end he said, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Just as a square peg cannot fill a round hole, neither can the “God-shaped hole” inside each of us be filled by anyone or anything other than God. Only through a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ can the “God-shaped hole” be filled and the desire for eternity fulfilled."
 
Thirty-one years ago, that God-shaped hole in my life was totally satisfied when I decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ and received His sacrifice at the Cross for the redemption of my sins and surrendered my life to His plan and purpose.  Many trials have come and gone and I remained victorious in my journey because the Lord have always been there for me.  In every situation, I live in the truth stated in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." With Christ living inside of me, I have joy and contentment. But in addition to that, I have the righteousness (right standing with God) and peace (incomprehensible) of God in my life now and forever. Some things may deviate from my future plans but the presence of God inside me gives me the perfect reason to stay happy and hopeful about the future.  If you desire to be filled by God, don't delay. I'm not offering you a band-aid.  I'm giving you the Cure!  Receive Christ as your personal Lord and Savior (Born-again, John 3:3) right this very moment,  join a Christ-centered/Biblical Church community at your earliest, study and obey God's Word daily and share what God has done in your life every opportunity God gives you. For that is the will of God for His children.
 
For this Card, I used an image from Art Impressions called "Reindeer Games" that I watercolored using my Stabilo 68 markers. The base is a pre-cut, A7 card from Paper Studio, the  snowflakes I layered  are stamps from Recollections and secured by a brad from the same company.  The pine trees in the background came to life through layered stamping using Memento inks and enhanced by using Frantage embossing enamels and glitters from Stampendous.  I only used it a couple of times several years ago and I'm so glad I was able to use it again for this great winter scene.  Lastly, I added the sentiment that comes with the image and stitched all over this card.  I can say that this is my fave Christmas themed card I have ever made...I just love it!

 
WINTER CHRISTMAS REINDEER GAMES CARD


WINTER CHRISTMAS REINDEER GAMES CARD LAYERS
 

WINTER CHRISTMAS REINDEER GAMES CARD INSIDE
 

WINTER CHRISTMAS REINDEER GAMES CARD WITH ENVELOPE BOX
 
This Card is entered into the following Challenges:
 
Bastel Traum---Christmas 
Art Impressions---Happy Holidays
Ching Chou Kuik---Christmas/Winter
Country View---Christmas
Creatalicious---ATG/Christmas
Do-Al(1) Kreatives---It Smells a Lot Like Christmas
HLS---Watercolor
HLS Christmas---ATG/Toys
Let's Craft and Create---ATG/Vintage Feel
Love to Scrap---Christmas BINGO (Column G---Gold, Red, Emboss, Green)
Merry Little Christmas---ATG Christmas
MIUCB---ATG/Red, White and another color 
River of Creativity---Celebrate 
Scribbles Designs---Warm Winter Clothing
Sognando---ATG
12 Months of Christmas---ATG Christmas
Crafting Challenge---Christmas Sentiment
Four Seasons---ATG Winter
YSP---ATG
 
This is it for now, guys.  Make sure to join us at our neighborhood---613 Avenue Create---for an Anything Goes Challenge with optional theme, "Any Holiday."  If you want to be challenged more, take on our Optional Twist.  But there's really no reason for you to miss it. Can't wait to see what you create. The Word of God is not just an ordinary book.  Read it and you will find wisdom that even the geniuses of the world will never understand that your joy may be full.
 
Ready to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Find out how on the sidebar...

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Fall Series: Thankful for Everything Card---Join Our Monthly Anything Goes Challenge Happening at 613 Avenue Create!

Hello everyone...It's a bit late but I'm here to feature my card for our 613 Avenue Create Anything Goes, November Challenge.  I tackled the optional twist which is "Thanks/Thankfulness."  I bought a couple of Thanksgiving inspired stamps a month ago and I used one of them on this project. I love it!  I hope you join us and have some fun crafting and creating.

So many things are happening around us today.  The evil that is hovering in our country and in the world in general are very alarming that brings many to hopelessness, fear and desperation.  The endless attack on our liberty and pursuit of happiness which has been endowed to us by God, our Creator, is threatened by demonic agenda to force many to choose between what they believe is right or to lose their means of livelihood. Each day, we are compelled to make a choice---to stand firm on God's Word with consequences or to compromise for advancement so as to avoid losing everything.  I am not discounting the fact that some choices are easy and that some are life threatening.  No matter what, a true believer of Jesus Christ (Born-again, John 3:3) should not think as the world does---selfish, self-serving and living just for the "now."  Jesus gave His life to free us from the bondage of Sin Nature (slavery to Satan) so that we can be with Him---in His presence now and for all eternity!  Jesus told us in John 16:20-22, "Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."  Likewise in John 16:32-33, Jesus gave us both warning and encouragement saying, “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.“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.”  

The truth of the matter is this:  The degree of obedience and perseverance we give to the Word of God determines the depth and quality of our relationship with the Lord.  God revealed Himself in His Word (Written Revelation) and through Christ (Personal Revelation).  Jesus, Who is the Word of God, came alive to redeem us and had been with us since then through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. The deeper our relationship with Christ, the less likely we'd fall for the threat of the enemy and the worldly system he is using.  Early this year, I experienced some form of spiritual crisis.  Nothing noticeable in the surface but it was a battle within; a case of spiritual anxiety that attempted to steal my peace of mind.  Discerning what the enemy was trying to do, I pleaded to God for a double portion of His peace---the kind that surpasses all understanding. I want a  heart so peaceful that sees the hand of God even in difficult and trying situations in my own life and as a child of God in this fallen world---resilient and firmly grounded in God's Truth!  I fell asleep and when I woke up, I never felt the same.  Praise God for He instantly answered my prayer and gave me great peace and a new pair of eyes to see what's beneath the daily headlines.  I found a deeper understanding of God's Word in Philippians 4:6-7 which says, "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."  Contrary to what others may think as complacency, I still do everything that God asked me to do for His kingdom but without the weight of the world on my shoulders.  For this is the will of God toward me in Matthew 11:28-30 which says, " Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”  Are you struggling with something today?  Call upon the Lord Jesus.  What He did for me, He will also do for you.

For this Card, I used an image from Stamping Bella called "Teeny Tiny Townie with a Pumpkin Pie" that I colored with the Paper Studio Brush markers.  The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  The DP's are all from Paper Studio, the layered flowers are from Prima and the brad is from Recollections.  The leaves were punched from a couple of punches from Fiskars and EK Success. I added some glitters from Stickles (Crystal) and stitched all over this project for added dimension.  


THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING CARD


THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING CARD LAYERS


THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING CARD INSIDE


THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

2 Sisters---ATG
Ching-Chou Kuik---Thankful/Thankgiving/Thanks 
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Creatalicious---ATG/Ribbon or Twine 
Creative Craft Cottage---Add some Sparkle
Daisy Chain---Add Sparkle 
Dream Factory---Limitless 
Girlz Rebel---Autumn Colors 
If You Give a Crafter a Cookie---Picture Inspiration (love the colors and leaves)
LeAnns World---ATG 
MIUCB---ATG/3D Projects 
Sognando---ATG
Crafting Challenge---Stitching  
Four Seasons---Fall 
YSP---ATG


This is it for now, guys.  Make sure to join us at our neighborhood---613 Avenue Create---for an Anything Goes Challenge.  If you want to be challenged, take on the Optional Twist.  But there's really no reason for you to miss it. Can't wait to see what you create. Remember to put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ always and in His Word to stay in the right course.

Ready to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Find out how on the sidebar...

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Fun/Humor Series: Being This Fabulous Summer Card---Join Our July Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create!

Hello everyone...I'm here to feature my card for our 613 Avenue Create Anything Goes, July Challenge that started several days ago.  While the other DT's took on the Optional Twist which is "Watercolor, " I settled with Anything Goes.  I've had this fun stamp for quite sometime but it's only now that I'm able to use it. I hope you join us and have some fun crafting and creating. I also trust that you are enjoying your summer with your family and friends, perhaps some swimming like the image featured in my card.  However, I want to share God's Word with you which is always a source of wisdom and knowledge needed at this time.  Hope this blesses you.

Isaiah 12:2  says, "Surely God is my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid.  The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation."  My Life Application Bible shared this explanation about Isaiah 12 which says, "This chapter is a hymn of praise---another graphic description of the people's joy when Jesus Christ comes to reign over the earth.  Even now we need to express our gratitude to God---thanking Him, praising Him, and telling others about Him.  From the depths of our gratitude, we must praise Him. And we should share the Good News (Gospel) with others." The time will come when a remnant of God's chosen nation will acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ and will experience true peace and security promised by God as He comes to rule and reign on this earth,  Presently, it is sad that many of the Israelites are lost in their own religion and remained blind to the salvation found only in Jesus Christ.  

Yet in their spiritual blindness, God opened the doors of salvation to all the people of this world.  We were the uninvited guest (Gentiles) in the Parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew 22:1-14.  Because those that were originally invited (Jews) refused to come to honor the King's Son (Jesus Christ) and have mistreated and even killed many of the King's servants (prophets) who brought the joyous invitation to them. So the  King was enraged and sent an army to avenge their death (God's wrath).  He then asked His other servants to invite anyone they can find (both good and bad) from outside the wedding hall (God's kingdom)  and the banquet was filled with guests.  And these people were provided with beautiful wedding garments that reflects the occasion.  And yet, the King noticed somebody who refused to wear the  garment provided to the guests. That in spite of the generosity of the King and His Son, this person chose to cling to his old ways.  Therefore, He was thrown outside of the banquet---where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Gotquestions.org shared a great explanation to this Parable of the Wedding Feast.  It says, "This was Jesus' way of teaching the inadequacy of self-righteousness.  From the very beginning, God has provided a "covering" for our sin.  To insist on covering ourselves is to be clad in "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). Adam and Eve tried to cover their shame, but they found their fig leaves to be woefully scant.  God took away their handmade clothes and replaced them with skins of (sacrificed) animals (Genesis 3:7, 21).  In the book of Revelation, we see those in heaven wearing "white robes" (Revelation 7:9) and we learn that the whiteness of the robes is due to their being washed in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14). We trust in God's righteousness, not our own (Philippians 3:9).  Just as King provided wedding garments for His guests, God provides salvation for mankind.  Our wedding garment is the righteousness of Christ, and unless we have it, we will miss the wedding feast. When the religions of the world are stripped down to their basic tenets, we either find man working his way toward God, or we find the cross of Christ.  The Cross is the only way to salvation (John 14:6)."

It is therefore through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that we, Born-again believers (John 3:3) can rejoice exceedingly in the grace that was extended to us by our great Father in heaven..  On our own, we cannot do anything to change the Sin Nature that kept us in bondage from the day we were born in this world.  We were hopeless!  But Jesus paid the debt that humanity owed since Adam and Eve fell into Sin,  He paid it with His own blood.  It is the ONLY valid payment.  He died, was buried and resurrected back to life so that He can invite all of us to His wedding feast dressed up in the wedding garments of righteousness He provided for us.  God did all the work---our part is to come!  One day, we will sing of all the marvelous things Jesus has done along with the great multitude of people from all walks of life who trusted in the Word of the King and the redemptive work of His One and Only Son.  Whatever situation we are in right now, always remember that things are already settled in heaven and victory is already given to us who believed.  If you know exactly what that means, fear will not rule your heart.  

For this Card, I used an image from Art Impressions from their "Girlfriends Collection" and colored it with my Prismacolor markers.  The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  The DP's are from American Crafts and Paper Studio, the washi tapes are from Tape Works and Recollections and the layered flowers are from Prima.  I also added a brad from Recollections and some glitters from Stickles (Crystal).  Lastly, I did some regular and fancy stitching all over this card. 

 

 BEING THIS FABULOUS SUMMER CARD


 BEING THIS FABULOUS SUMMER CARD LAYERS


BEING THIS FABULOUS SUMMER CARD INSIDE
 

 BEING THIS FABULOUS SUMMER CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX
 

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Clever Dexter---Hello Summer
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Mix It Up---ATG/Aperture
Sognando---ATG
Sweet Stampers---Summer Fun
Crafting Challenge---Summertime
YSP---ATG


This is it for now, guys.  Make sure to join us at our neighborhood---613 Avenue Create---for an Anything Goes Challenge.  If you want to be challenged, take on the Optional Twist.  But there's really no reason for you to miss it. Can't wait to see what you create. Think about your relationship with Jesus Christ.  If you don't have a personal relationship with Him, today is the day.  He will not turn anyone who calls on His name.

Ready to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Find out how on the sidebar...

Friday, May 14, 2021

CAS Series: You're the Best Flower Mini Notecards---Join our Monthly Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create!

Hello everyone...It's almost the middle of the month and I finally found the time to post the project that I featured for our Challenge at 613 Avenue Create which started the first Sunday of this month.  You still have plenty of time to join the fun by visiting our site.

Day after day, there's always something to do and I couldn't keep up.  It felt like time is whisking away and more than ever, many of the prophetic promises from the Word of God is coming to pass daily.  Some will not care as they are not aware of God's plan, have rejected God or are totally deceived.  Some are paralyzed by fear and hopelessness that they do whatever their so called experts tell them to do though it defies logic and wisdom.  Some are demonic possessed that they carry out the Satanic destruction by promoting lies to deceive many as leaders and media influencers.  And there are those who war with both the spiritual and natural realm to continue the work and the plan of God for the freedom to preach the Gospel for the salvation of many souls.  

2 Corinthians 4:18 says, "We fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen." I would like to share  a devotional from Our Daily Bread dated June 22, 2020 (written by Estera Pirosca Escobar) exhorting this verse.  It says,  "Eternal eyes, that's what my friend Madeline prays her children and grandchildren would have.  Her family has gone through tumultuous season that ended with the death of her daughter.  As the family grieves from this horrific loss, Madeline longs for them to be less and less nearsighted---consumed by the pain of this world.  And to be more and more farsighted---filled with hope in our loving God.  The Apostle Paul and his-co-workers experienced great suffering at the hands of persecutors and even from believers who tried to discredit them.  Yet, they had their eyes fixed on eternity.  Paul boldly acknowledged that "we (Born-again, John 3:3) 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."  Although they were doing God's work, they lived with the reality of being hard pressed on every side," "perplexed," "persecuted," and "struck down" (2 Corinthians  4:8-9).  Shouldn't God have delivered them from these troubles?  But instead of being disappointed, Paul built his hope on the "eternal glory" that supersedes momentary troubles (2 Corinthians 4:17).  He knew God's power was at work in him and had complete assurance that "the One Who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:14).  When our world around us feels shaky, may we turn our eyes to God---the eternal Rock that will never be destroyed." This message resonated with me as I contemplate on everything that is happening in our country,  around the world, the Body of Christ and Israel.  

If we want to get a glimpse on where we are in the prophetic timeline of God, we need to take a close look on what is happening to these three indicators---1) The Body of Christ (the Church)  2) God's chosen people (Israel) and 3) The World (Nations).  Though we were blessed with great freedom here in America, our very way of life protected by our Constitution are being trampled on and perverted by the ungodly whose sole purpose is to establish the reign of the Antichrist (One World Government, One Religion, One Currency).  The illegitimate government that runs our country for the past few months are looking for ways to abandon our greatest ally Israel---by lifting sanctions placed by President Trump against those who wish to harm Israel.  Instead, this fake administration funds the enemies of Israel under the disguise of humanitarian aid and when these countries get our money, they use it to procure weapons and missiles to attack Israel and Christians.  All over the world, demonic leaders are  disguising as Covid experts doing their best to mandate vaccines, enticing the public to get their shots using lotteries and bonuses for those who would comply with a vaccination that is still in its trial phase using humans as guinea pigs.  With no guarantees and knowledge on the long term effect/s it will do to the population, the fearful bow down while trying to find ways to criminalize those who wouldn't comply by threatening us with the implementation of vaccine passports to take away our rights.  If you think this is not a precursor to the mark of the Beast in Revelation 13:15-18, think again.  It's all about using fear to condition people's minds.  And I tell you bluntly right now---(unless it's fear of the Lord) FEAR IS NOT OF GOD!

Normally, I should be in a panic mode these days---both naturally and spiritually.  But several months ago, I poured my heart to God and laid every concern I have for our country, this world and the "so-called Christians" that are persecuting the true Body of Christ.  God allowed me to rest upon Him that day and He calmed my spirit.  From then on, He gave me "supernatural peace" that always reminds me that no matter what happens,  I AM IN HIM!  He impressed upon my heart that while I am still here, He will continue to use me as His Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16)  for the salvation of  many.  Worries and fear no longer rule my life.  Brief existence in this temporary world is nothing compared to a life without end in the arms of my great Savior and Lord, JESUS CHRIST!  Entrusting my life to God in this life and the next is the secret to a fearless, peaceful and totally free life no matter what the circumstances are.  

For this Card, I used an image from Glitz Design Stamp for the background and the flowers from Recollections that I colored using my Prismacolor markers.  The sentiment is from Technique Tuesday and the sentiment on the envelope is from Printoworks.  The base is a packed notecards with envelopes that I bought at Michaels years ago.  I made a total of six cards with two of each kind for a set.  These are totally cute.  


YOU'RE THE BEST FLOWER MINI NOTECARDS


YOU'RE THE BEST FLOWER CARD 1


YOU'RE THE BEST FLOWER CARD 2


YOU'RE THE BEST FLOWER CARD 3


 This Project is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafty Gals Corner---For the Ladies
Ellibelle's---ATG/Blooming Beautiful
Card Concept---Garden Pleasures (I was inspired by the beautiful flowers)
Paper Funday---ATG/Flowers/Florals
Crafty Catz---ATG/Just Chill
Let's Craft and Create---ATG/No Patterned Paper
Mix It Up---ATG
PINspirational---Photo Inspiration
Crafting Challenge---Flowers and/or Butterflies
YSP---ATG

This is it for now, guys.  Make sure to join us at our neighborhood---613 Avenue Create---for an Anything Goes Challenge with optional theme, "Mood Board."  If you want to be challenged more, take on our Optional Twist.  But there's really no reason for you to miss it. Can't wait to see what you create. In every situation, put your trust in God alone.  In Him you'll find love, peace and joy no matter what.

Ready to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Find out how on the sidebar...

Saturday, April 10, 2021

Scripture Series: Great are His Signs Card---Join Us for Monthly Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create!

Hello everyone...I'm here to feature my card for our 613 Avenue Create Anything Goes, April Challenge.  I went on my own with Anything Goes while the other DT's  tackled the optional twist which is "In the Garden." 

The Word of the Lord exalted in this card comes from Daniel 4:2-3 which says, "I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.  How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation." In this passage, King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged the great things God showed him by way of God's prophet, Daniel, who interpreted his dream about the future of his kingdom and the others to come.   He also had in his mind  the miraculous protection of God upon the three Jewish men (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) when they were thrown in the fire yet not destroyed after he punished them for refusing to bow down to his golden image.  He realized God  reigns and rules over the earth for all eternity.  But do you think that him witnessing God's salvation of His people  taught him to be humble as a ruler of Babylon?  Certainly not.  

I would like to share what My Life Application Bible wrote about our highlighted passage today.  It says, "Although Nebuchadnezzar praised Daniel's God, he still did not believe in Him completely or submit to Him alone.  Many people attend Church and use spiritual language, but they don't really believe in God or obey Him.  Profession doesn't always mean possession. How do your beliefs match with your obedience?  One of the most difficult lessons to learn is that God is sovereign.  He is above all those that are above us He limits the power and authority of all government, business and religious leaders in the world.  Those who live in freedom and with a relatively high degree of autonomy find this difficult to understand.  While we may feel as though we are free to do what we please, God is sovereign over all of our plans and desires."

What I see in the story of Nebuchadnezzar is the fact that he has a short term memory when it comes to the things of God.  Many believers today have the same problem.  When facing trials, we call upon the Lord to save us.  But shortly after, we are back into exalting our own efforts and accomplishments. For Jesus to be Lord of our lives is to give Him permission to use us as part of His bigger plan.  It's not about us---IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT HIM! We should know that disobedience to God's Word denotes rejection of God and His sovereignty over our lives. Nebuchadnezzar declared that there is no other God than the the God of Israel yet still follows other gods .  His acknowledgment didn't mean He'd made God Lord of his life.  Like him, we may acknowledge the sovereignty and power of God but if we don't acknowledge His Lordship over us, we are depriving ourselves of the opportunity to be changed and utilized for God's purpose and honor.  I hope and pray that we treasure the wonderful revelations of God that he showed us in the past along with his great and mighty works each day.  The key to not forgetting God's goodness is to fully saturate  ourselves with God's Word  and to live in obedience to Him continually. 

For this Card, I used an image from DRS Designs called "Seaside Dock" that I colored using My Creative Expert/Prismacolor markers.  I also used Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Broken China) for the background clouds using my made-up cloud stencils. The base of this card is a white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  The pictures may not show but I also added a touch of glitter (Stickles-Crystal) to the tiny bird.  I added some Imaginisce gems as well as fancy and regular stitching to this project.This is  similar to the Card I posted last month with minor changes to the color of the image and a different Bible verse.  I don't usually repeat an image or duplicate a design but a friend requested a birthday card and a specific verse.  And when I showed the other card, she loved it and just asked to accommodate the verse she wanted.  I truly love it!

 

GREAT ARE HIS SIGNS CARD
 

GREAT ARE HIS SIGNS CARD CLOSE-UP
 

GREAT ARE HIS SIGNS CARD INSIDE
 

GREAT ARE HIS SIGNS CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

 

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Creatalicious---ATG/Flowers
Let's Craft and Create---ATG/Add Flowers
Love to Scrap---Spring Forward
QKR---ATG
Rabisco---ATG
Sognando---ATG
Crafting Challenge---ATG/Easter
YSBP---ATG

 

 This is it for now, guys.  Make sure to join us at our neighborhood---613 Avenue Create---for an Anything Goes Challenge.  If you want to be challenged, take on the Optional Twist.  But there's really no reason for you to miss it. Can't wait to see what you create. Remember that God is sovereign over His creation.  

Ready to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Find out how on the sidebar...

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Fun/Humor Series: H'Atta Girl Slider Card---Join the Fun for Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create!

Hello everyone...I'm here to feature my card for our 613 Avenue Create Anything Goes, March Challenge that started last week.  I took on the Optional Twist like the other DT's  which is to create a "Slider Card."  I've had this fun stamps for a while but it's only now, I am able to use them. I love it!  I hope you join us and have some fun crafting and creating.

As a believer (Born-again, John 3:3), I have so many things to be grateful about in life not only for the blessings God delivers daily but also for all the promises He revealed to us in His written Word.  2 Peter 1:3-4 tells us, "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."  In these verses, it is very clear that the message is addressed to a specific group of people---the Body of Christ in whom God bestowed upon His divine power, enabling them to live a godly life (kingdom standards) having been freed from their sinful nature by the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross.  Jesus Himself is God's promised Savior and the only way human beings can benefit from God's redemptive plan is by placing their "faith" (trusting, believing, accepting, clinging) in all that Jesus accomplished on our behalf; when we make a personal decision to follow (obey) Christ.  As we go before the Father in Christ, God sees us "justified" (righteous, no blemish) in His sight.  Jesus lives inside a believer's heart and changes us from within as we surrender ourselves wholeheartedly to His process of sanctification (setting apart for God's purpose).  Sadly, there's so many people that thought they were living for God by following religions and traditions of man yet oblivious about God's move in this world today.  That's because they didn't take the time to get to know the One True God as well as to study and obey His Word.  Therefore, they act so blindly---often carried away by their emotions and experiences, perverting God's Word.  Driven by fear, they cower on every worldly pressure, dictates and doctrines of man.  With no ability to discern right from wrong, they subject themselves and others to the altar of  deception, fueled and ruled by fear.  

No matter how ugly this world is becoming, everything that is happening today is already written in the Scripture. As a child of God, it's apparent that we will be facing great challenges and persecutions to continue being Salt and Light of this world. God is the Only One who knows what's ahead of us but I know that in the nick of time, before all hell breaks loose, He will snatch us away from this world where we will  be with Christ forever. But for those left behind,  God's wrath  (unlike no other) awaits those who hated and rejected Christ---along with their supporters.   So when my focus is on God's promises in His Word---FEAR DISAPPEARS AND FAITH ARISES!  Matthew 24:35 says , "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."  What a great assurance for all of us that believe.

For this Card, I used an image from Art Impressions Clear Stamps that I colored using my Prismacolor markers and some paper-piecing. The sentiments are also from the same set.  The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 4 x 5.5 inches slider card (excluding the pull tab on top).   The DP's are from Recollections (used to paper-piece), the heart gem from Imaginisce and I ran it through my sewing machine for some stitching.  If you want  to see where I got the design, this VIDEO from Jennifer McGuire and I used my Paper Cutter as I don't have the template she used. 


H'ATTA GIRL SLIDER CARD
 

H'ATTA GIRL SLIDER CARD WHEN PULLED

 
H'ATTA GIRL SLIDER CARD TOP VIEW
 
 
H'ATTA GIRL SLIDER CARD INSIDE

 
H'ATTA GIRL SLIDER CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This is it for now, guys.  Make sure to join us at our neighborhood---613 Avenue Create---for an Anything Goes Challenge.  If you want to be challenged, take on the Optional Twist.  But there's really no reason for you to miss it. Can't wait to see what you create. Think about your relationship with Jesus Christ right now for tomorrow may be too late. 

Ready to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Find out how on the sidebar...

Saturday, February 20, 2021

Fun/Humor Series: Love of Chocolate Card---There Still Time to Join our February Challenge at 613 Avenue Create!

Hi there, everyone! We have a brand new Challenge happening this entire month at 613 Avenue Create!  As always, it's Anything Goes with optional theme of  "Hearts and/or Soles."  I made a Hearts Day inspired card here with some humor. 
 
Anyway, I would like to apologize for this delayed post which was delayed even more with a week of first ever Winter Storm in Texas.  You may have heard from the news by now how we had to endure rolling, lengthy or several days without electricity followed by water shortage.  Right now, we still need to boil our water for consumption.  Though many enjoyed snow which is considered rare in the state of Texas,  it was the way below freezing temperatures that made the roads unsafe and impacted the families braving the cold  in their homes with no power to run their heaters.  The icy road conditions disrupted the flow of food and grocery items from coming to the store while the consumers couldn't get to the store to buy supplies for their families.  And when they did, they had to wait for hours and are left with empty shelves.  But in such dire situations, we also heard of the many acts of kindness that make Texans unique. And hey, there's no looting and everyone patiently falls in line.   It was only yesterday when we saw the sun that melted the snow on the ground and today, we'll start to return to the warmer weather we're more used to.  Yet throughout the ordeal, I'm truly grateful to the Lord for providing us with everything we need.  There were things we wished we had like bread, bottled water, camping grill etc, but hey, we've never skipped a meal.  Even when electricity was gone for 6 hours or longer, with a little bit of planning, we were able to keep the refrigerator cold.  We had curtains blocking the chill from the windows and candles which helped light, warm and kept the house smelling great while waiting for the electricity to turn back on.  With our blankets, we huddled/cuddled with each other while we watched news/movies over our phone/tablet.  Throughout the week, in spite of being confined in our home with daily challenges, I can honestly say that we never had a desperate nor boring moment.  We felt/sense the goodness of God in the big and littlest things we encountered and He truly saw us through this first ever lengthy and coldest winter storm In Texas.  Glory to His Name!

But this is not the case all the time.  Sometimes, we truly have to live by faith by patiently waiting till we see the manifestation of God's promises.  My biggest challenge is to keep the faith by battling with myself and against what my natural eyes can see.  Unlike the Apostle Thomas, I don't need to see the wounds of Jesus in order to believe.  God's Word spoke to me the day I allowed Him to work into my heart till that faithful day when I gave my heart to Jesus and made Him my Lord and Savior by faith in His finished work at the Cross. He paid for me by His blood that freed me from the shackles of the enemy.  Though I have not seen Him with my natural eyes, my spiritual eyes attest to the glory and majesty of His presence while my soul continue to experience His matchless love.  Since I first came to the knowledge of Jesus Christ (Born-again, John 3:3) to this time, there's always a battle that rages inside of me---to follow the path of the Lord or to pursue worldly pleasures.  It's a war between eternity with God or temporary things of this world.  I am grateful to say that through the Spirit of the Lord working and residing within me, I made my choice to trust the Lord Jesus, my Savior and Redeemer no matter what. Apostle Paul told us in Philippians 4:11-13, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."  For people who love God, there's always something to be grateful about even in the worst of situations.  But for the discontent and complainers, there's always something negative to criticize about even when things are doing great."  I would like to share these verses to encourage you to keep trusting the Lord...
 
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:4-9)

For this Card, I used an image from Art Impressions called "Love Chocolate Set" which I colored using my The Creative Expert and Prismacolor markers.  The sentiment is from the same set.  The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  The DP's are from my scraps, and I used a clear stamp from Stampendous  with a red Mememto ink to produce the heart frame.  I added some glitters (Stickes-Crystal) to outline the heart and stitched all over this project.

 

LOVE OF CHOCOLATE CARD

LOVE OF CHOCOLATE CARD LAYERS

LOVE OF CHOCOLATE CARD  INSIDE
 

LOVE OF CHOCOLATE CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

 

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:
 
Allsorts---ATG/Number 
Taylormade---ATG/Love Potion
Colour Crazy---ATG 
Crafty Catz---ATG/In the Garden 
Pattie's Creations---Love, Love, Love 
Simply Create Too---Use Hearts
As You Like It---Digi, Rubber or Clear Stamps and Why?  I love Clear stamps but I can use rubber or
                           digi if I love the image like the rubber stamp I used in this card.
Ching Chou Kuik---All You Need is Love 
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper 
Creative Craft---Happy Valentine/Love
Creative Sketchy---Girls Only 
Digi Doodle Studios---Include a Sentiment
DL Art---ATG
Dream Factory---Chocolat
Lets Craft and Create---ATG/Red, Pink and/or White 
Love to Scrap---Love Is
Mix It Up---ATG/Fancy Fold
 
 
This is it for now, guys.  Make sure to join us at our neighborhood---613 Avenue Create---for an Anything Goes Challenge with optional theme, "Hearts and/or Soles."  If you want to be challenged more, take on our Optional Twist.  But there's really no reason for you to miss it. Can't wait to see what you create. In every situation, put your trust in God alone.  In Him you'll find love, peace and joy no matter what.

Ready to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Find out how on the sidebar...

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