Scripture Series: We Are His Workmanship Card---Join Us for Another Inspirational Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello everyone.  This is coming out a bit late this Wednesday.  Just had so many things going on today that I was unable to get this out sooner.  Anyway,  we have a wonderful scripture Word Art for free at the Word Art Wednesday (WAW) Blog and we would love for you to download it so that you can use it for your projects.  It comes from Ephesians 2:10 which says,  "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  The question is, are all human beings created to do good works for the Lord?  In order to understand completely, we have to examine the "context" (the background as to when the statement/event was made) when the Apostle Paul, through the power of the Holy Spirit, uttered this verse.  First, he was writing to the Christians in Ephesus (Born- Again believers, primarily Gentiles) in order to strengthen and encourage the Churches in the area.  So, based on the context, this verse is intended for believers of the Lord Jesus Christ who have accepted the Gospel (death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ) and are living for Christ.  Therefore,  a person that does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ cannot quote the same verse and claim it to be true in their lives.  You see, good works that are done for God's glory is birthed by having the right relationship with Jesus Christ.  That's why every believer that came to the knowledge of Christ by faith should be familiar with this verse in Galatians 2:20,  "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."  It is not by a person's good works, no matter how grand it is nor by following the Law (Torah--Law of Moses), that we are accepted in God's kingdom and declared righteous in His sight.  Thus, this verse became so alive in my heart.  It's in Romans 1:16-17 which states,  "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.  For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith."  

You see, all we needed to be declared a sinner is to be born physically.  By coming to the world, we automatically inherited the sins of Adam and Eve and sad to say, there is no way out of this condition unless we are set free by the One who is qualified to redeem us---meaning Someone who is not from the line of Adam, is without sin---One who is perfect!  Well, we can search the whole world and not find such a man----until Jesus Christ came.  He is the Only One in the entire earth that meets the qualifications---He is very God for He is God, thus perfect in every way.  He is also very Man, born wrapped Himself in flesh and born of a virgin.  He paid the penalty for all the sins of man---past, present and future.  He did it once and for all that all who believes and accepts His sacrifice is literally made free from bondage of the enemy.  Thus, He made this bold declaration in John 14:6, "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  So, whether it offends anyone or not, there is only One Way to the heart of the Father (the One True God) and it is through JESUS CHRIST!  I know how most of us grew up with religions/cultures passed on to us from generation to generation but if it does not measure up to the Truth of the written revelation of God (the Bible), such religion and tradition is false and a lie.  The Bible is not just another book---it's the ONLY BOOK that shows us the way to the presence of the One True God.  So, I present to you that only those that has been washed by the blood of Jesus Christ can lay claim to the promise of God in Ephesians 2:10 and as co-workers and co-heirs with Christ, we are to share the Gospel to everyone who are blinded by the ways of this world while there is time so that they too can come to the Truth.  He has given us task and we are to be sensitive to the call of the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill the work He has set for us.  And as we fulfill His plan, He gets all the glory!

So, here is the card I made to highlight the free Word Art.  The gorgeous image is from Sureya (at deviantART) called "Sunflower"  which I colored with my ProMarker/Prismacolor/Spectrum Noir/Sharpie markers.   My base card is a 5.5 inches square Kraft CS with an aqua blue CS for the panels and matting.  The DP's are all from Recollections, gems from Imaginisce, lace from Paper Studio and a huge button from Heidi Grace.  I added some glitters to the image with Stickles (Lime Green and Crystal).  Finally, I stitched all over this card.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it.  Hope to hear your comments.

 WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP CARD:

 WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP CARD LAYERS:

 WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP CARD INSIDE:

WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp---ATG
Crafting By Designs---ATG
Sister Act---ATG
Stampin with the Dragon---ATG
Party Time Tuesday---ATG
Pollycraft---ATG
Hobby House---ATG
Paper Shelter---Buttons and/or Brads
Creative Moments---Flowers
TTCRD---ATG
My Heart Pieces---Use a Digi Stamp
Make It Monday---ATG
Crafty Catz---Pick and Mix (Chose Anything Goes)
Inspire Me Fridays---ATG
Challenges 4 Everybody---ATG
Sentimental Sundays---For the Girls
Crafty Bloggers Network---Bright and Breezy
House of Gilli---Bright Colors and/or ATG
Delicious Doodles---Stitch It
Inky Chicks---ATG
Pause Dream Enjoy---ATG
Penny's Paper Crafty---Girl Power
Platypus Creek Digitals---ATG
Creative Craft 2---A Stitch In Time
Crafty Sentiments---Girl Power

This is all I have for today.  I encourage you to make use of the free Word Art in your projects and link it to our Challenge although it's not mandatory.  You can link up to 5 projects as long as those creations are family friendly with uplifting or inspirational messages.  A wonderful prize from our sponsor this week, Cheery Lyn Designs awaits the winner.  Can't wait to see what you come up with.  Anyway, if you don't remember anything from this Blog, just remember that Jesus loves you and He is always waiting for you to surrender your life fully to Him that He can become your personal Lord and Savior.  Hugs!

Take a Deep Breath-Let Go Fat Page/Card---Join Us for an Exciting Challenge at 613 Avenue Create!

It's a wonderful Sunday morning here in my neck of the woods.  Summer is full blast in here but thanking the Lord that we are not into any triple digits yet as we've been the past several years.  Nevertheless, it's still hot and I don't really enjoy every time I step into my vehicle and felt like I am cooking in an oven.  But I am not complaining because I know that each day, whether rain or shine is a blessing from our Almighty God.  I know for a fact that appreciation of God's blessing should not be based on how one feels, even the very situation that is right in front of us---a child of God receives his/her blessings not by feelings but by every word that comes from the mouth of God---His written revelation, the Bible!  God's reality is different from our reality.  His Truth is absolute while ours is often subjective.  Each person's judgment is based on the culture they grew up with, their country, the values or the lack thereof as they were nurtured, the absence or presence of a role model in their lives like parents, even the crowd they hang-out with.  Each of these factors affects our thinking and when we don't acknowledge God's Word as the Absolute Truth, each person's subjective truth would vary differently with others and thus, I can actually say that "man will self-destruct."  When God created us, He equipped us with a moral compass (our conscience) to help us know right from wrong.  Even people who have lived in the caves knew that it was wrong to steal somebody's wife or others property and have engaged in wars because of these without prior encounter with the Bible.  Yet, as we are fed by the society we lived in, that conscience can be marred and constant neglect of what our conscience tell us results in brutal killings, rebellion, disrespect and many other things which results to death. God warned us of how the last days (prior to the Second Coming of Christ) would look like.  The Only Way to be grounded to the Truth is to be grounded in the Word of God---meditating on it day and night, having a Born-Again Spirit that has been dedicated to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, ready to be a vessel for His Work.  Let's examine these blatant warning from Apostle Paul for every Born-Again believer, those that are washed by the blood of Jesus Christ in 2 Timothy 3:1-15.

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.  Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone. You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,  persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

If any of us is seriously thinking that we are not close to those days, then, pray for the Holy Spirit to show us Jesus.  To take away the blinders that had kept us blind from everything happening around us.  Be the light that God intended you to be and expose every darkness around you.  This is the time to pray for our nation, our states and local government. Pray for our neighbors, co-workers and family members.  And after praying, it's time to act.  The Bible declares in James 2:17 that "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."  With God's leading, we are to expose every ideas, laws, rules, ordinances that falls short of God's glory and be willing to stand for Him.  I know that courage is not grown overnight but if you spend time reading God's Word and learning from Jesus, you will be equipped with courage that He alone can provide.  In my recent encounter with demonic agendas that tries to make it's way in our local government and seize to take the voice of every God-fearing person in a systematic way, I've seen the truth in this quote, "TRUTH IS HATE TO THOSE WHO HATE THE TRUTH."  Jesus said in John 7:7, The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil."  Have you been persecuted lately just merely for standing on the Truth of God's Word?  If not, take heed that you have not become deceived yourself that the world is not able to see where you stand.  Seek after God and He will give oil to your flickering lamp.

I would like to share with you this fat page/card I created for our Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  I am not sure what a fat page was at first but after much research, I've gotten some ideas.  But since I am not into making fat pages, I decided to adhere my fat page to a card, like a topper, and it sure worked great.  Our sponsor of this week is Lacy Sunshine Images and I am grateful that I was provided with this digi image to color called "Eleonor and Pickles-Tightrope Walker."  I used my Promarker/Prismacolor/Spectrum Noir to give life to this image.  I began with a 4 x 4 Kraft CS and embellished it with several DP's from my stash (all left-overs) of Paper Studio and dark brown CS for matting.  I incorporated a braided twine and mini clothespin, some gems and lots of inking using several Distress Inks---Vintage Photo, Fired Brick, Broken China and Spiced Marmalade.  Then, I adhered it to a 5.5-inch, square Kraft card base, used a K & Company DP and dark brown CS for matting for my panel and attached an endearing sentiment I got free from Create with TLC.  In many battles and frustrations, I found this sentiment to be so true---"Take a Deep Breath and Let It Go."  As human beings, we are with emotions and we get hurt so many times especially with the many deception, twisting of God's Word happening around us.  But we give these hurts to God---we let it go so as not to hinder us in our walk knowing that Jesus is always with us till the end where our VICTORY have long been established.  Oh yes, God has revealed to us the end of this story and so, we focus on that glorious victory as we go through each battleground.  This will all be but a shadow once we come to the fulness and absolute reality of God's presence.  Hope you enjoy the pics and looking forward to hear your comments.

 

TAKE A DEEP BREATH - LET GO FAT PAGE:

TAKE A DEEP BREATH - LET GO FAT PAGE SIDE VIEW:

 TAKE A DEEP BREATH - LET GO CARD:

 TAKE A DEEP BREATH - LET GO CARD LAYERS:

 TAKE A DEEP BREATH - LET GO CARD INSIDE:

TAKE A DEEP BREATH - LET GO CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:


*** WANT THIS CARD?  AVAILABLE AT MY ETSY---HERE! ***

There you have it folks.  I am delighted to escort people to God's glory this morning.  It is such an honor to stand before the King of kings knowing He has made you His righteousness.  I hope you join us at our Challenge at 613 Avenue Create where you are allowed to create Anything with an optional twist.  Can't wait to see what you come up with.  Have a blessed day and remember that in Jesus, we are more than conquerors.  So, lift up your heads and prepare for battle.  He is our Victory!

Scripture Series: Be Anxious For Nothing Easel Card---It's Time for Another Inspirational Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Good morning, Crafty people!  It's Wednesday once again and I am featuring another card project for our Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  I was making the card while I was watching the NBA Finals in which the San Antonio Spurs (from my city) and the Miami Heat was playing Game 6 out of 7 games.  Our team had the advantage since we just needed to win this game and we could have won.  There's really not much Spurs fans can do to cheer for our team since both 6th and 7th games were not in our home court which doubled the challenge for our home team.  Now, I am not an avid sports fan and the only time you would see me watching games like this is if's already in the finals and our city is at stake.  I was determined to watch while working on my card but found myself just getting frustrated when things were going wrong---turn-overs, not enough defense and players not shooting well.  Finally, at the start of the 4th quarter, I decided that the  only way I can finish my card and get rid of the frustration I was harboring that time was to turn-off the TV.  I told myself that if they win, I have the game recorded and can watch the game minus the frustration.  Later on, I found out that even with an overtime, my team lost by 3 points.  Knowing the results, I was still frustrated but I rid myself of the unnecessary stress that I was putting myself into if I had continuously watched the game from start to finish.

There are things in my life that causes stress and friction at times that I cannot turn off the same way I pushed the button of a TV.   Like sharing what God  has done in my life and the Truth of His Word.  For as long as we live in this earth, God's Word will always be challenged by people who don't believe in God, lovers of themselves and are deceived by the enemy.  Didn't Satan used God's Word and twist it to fit his own agenda?  As believers, we are told in Matthew 5:13-16 that, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."  If we are living for God, no matter what we do, we are hated by the world because the world does not know God.  1 John 3:1 says,  "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."  Sometimes, we encounter worries with our own families that would not accept God in their lives and despises us too.  But this is when the scripture/verse in our free Word Art this week at WAW comes handy in Philippians 4:6 that tells us, God's children, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."  This verse clearly tells us that God knows our needs, He has complete control of our every situation, He knows our beginning and our end. Because we can trust His love for us, we need not worry.  His love will only do what's best for us (even in the midst of trials---Romans 8:28).  He encourages us to tell Him our needs through prayer, intercession and with thanksgiving.  Why with thanksgiving?  Simply because we can trust in what He promised us in 1 John 5:14-15 which says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."  So, you see, as I physically and mentally relieved myself of the stress/anxiety by turning off the TV watching a sports game, I can do the same thing in other aspects of my life---I need to turn off things that is pulling me down and trust in my Father Who provided me with promises of victory.  Unlike the sports game which is uncertain---God's Word is trustworthy, therefore, by faith in Christ, I am victorious in every way from the stress and frustration the enemy would like me to dwell on.

So, here's my inspiration card for you at WAW.  You can download the free Word Art at our WAW Blog.  I used a wonderful image called "Rose Bush" from our sponsor this week, Crafty Secrets. I also used an image from Mo Manning Digi Stamps called "Make a Wish" and I colored both images with my Promarker/Prismacolor/Spectrum Noir markers.  I made a  5.5" square Easel base card using white CS.  I also used a yellow-green, aqua blue and more white CS for my panels and matting.  I embossed using 3 different kinds of embossing folders, all from Cuttlebug.  I die cut 2 different shapes using my Nestabilities.  I added some glitters (Stickles-Stardust) to some parts of the images and stamped a sentiment in the message box from Printworks.  Lastly, I stitch all over this card.  Hope you all like it.

 BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING EASEL CARD:

 BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING EASEL CARD SIDE VIEW:

BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING EASEL CARD WHEN CLOSE:

 BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING EASEL CARD WITH MESSAGE SPACE:

BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING EASEL CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

One Crazy Stamper---Summer Fun
Deep Ocean---Welcome Summer
Make It Monday---ATG
Polycraft---ATG
Paper Pretties---Summer Fun
Aud Sentiments---Summer
Country View Crafts---Die Cuts
Loves Rubberstamps---Summer Theme
Hobby House---ATG
Color Me Creative---Colors of Summer
Scrapper's Delight---S is for stitching
Stamp and Create---Summer Fun
Whimsical Designs---Summertime Fun
Inky Impressions---ATG
Crafting by Designs---Show Your Season
Southern Girls---Punch or Die Cut
Little Red Wagon---Cardstock Capers
Creative Moments---ATG/Weather
Scrappy Moms Stamps---Summer Time
Crafty Bloggers Network---Bright and Breezy

Hope you enjoyed my featured project today at WAW...I am looking forward to see your projects linked to our Challenge.  You can include the free Word Art in your projects to link,  but not a requirement.  You can submit any inspirational, uplifting, family friendly creations (up to 5) for more chances to win our prize from our sponsor this week---Crafty Secrets.  I'll be back this weekend to highlight another project for our neighborhood---613 Avenue Create!  Always remember to call on Jesus 24/7 if you need someone to talk with.  He is always willing to listen and is able to meet everyone whose heart is seeking after Him.  

Moment Worth Remembering---Time for Another Anything Goes Challenge at our Neighborhood---613 Avenue Create!

Hello everyone...This is quite a late post as I had a busy Sunday.  Today is also Father's Day so, I would like to greet my wonderful hubby, Joseph, "Happy Father's Day."  We had a great day time in the Church learning about the Holy Ghost Healthcare. What was instilled in my mind by the message delivered by our Pastor today was that "There's no incurable disease in the Kingdom of God."  Jesus, in His ministry here on earth, healed every manner of diseases.  The following are scripture verses that proves this fact:

"Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people." (Matthew 4:23)

"Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill."  (Matthew 12:15)

"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick." (Matthew 14:14)

"One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick." (Luke 5:17)

"He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all." (Luke 6:17-19)

"But the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing." (Luke 9:11)

Now, in all these verses, we saw Jesus and His Power (Holy Spirit) working together to heal everyone in need of healing. Yet, we must also understand what came first before healing ever took place.  The fact that people came and received it was because THEY BELIEVED first in the one Who gave them healing. Where there was unbelief, Jesus was unable to perform many miracles as He was rejected in his own town of Nazareth as accounted in Matthew 13:56-58 which says, "Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things? And they took offense at him.  But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home. And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith."  You see, it is God's will for us to be healed from all manners of sickness and diseases. That is why He died on the Cross, that we can be free from all bondage of the enemy (Devil).  The scripture declares in Isaiah 53:5, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." When Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven, Hes sent us His Holy Spirit to dwell every believer.  He is literally "God with Us." The Holy Spirit only operated within the parameters of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross.  Every promises of God that is fulfilled by the sacrifice of Jesus are delivered unto us by the the Holy Spirit. He is the very power that is released to every spoken Word of God.  The Bible declares in Hebrews 13:8:  "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." The way Jesus healed every man that believed in Him in His time, is the same way we are healed at our day and time.  It is solely by FAITH in Him.  So, from the common cold to the dreaded cancer, we have healing in the Name of Jesus.  He wanted us to be healed that He uses doctors and medicine to deliver His healing.  But understand that if all else fails, we can come to Him like the woman that touched the hem of His garment in Luke 8:40-49 that caused healing power to come out of Jesus, we can ask for the manifestation of healing in our mortal bodies.  Mark 9:23 says,"'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for one who believes."

Anyway, here's an inspiration card for our optional theme of "Someone Special (male)" at 613 Avenue Create.  One of our sponsors this week is Rick St. Dennis and I am happy to highlight one of his images called "Country Lane" which I colored with my Promaker/Prismacolor/Spectrum Noir markers.  My base card is a white CS measuring 5.5 inches square together with a white textured and olive green CS for panels and matting.  I used Distress Ink (Pumice Stone) to age the sides of the image, embossed using a Paper Studio embossing folder, added several brads and included a wonderful sentiment from Tim Holtz Artistry Collection.  Cards for male are always a challenge for many cardmakers but for me, I found out that simplicity with the right color selection is the key.  

 MOMENT WORTH REMEMBERING CARD:

 MOMENT WORTH REMEMBERING CARD LAYERS:

 

 MOMENT WORTH REMEMBERING CARD INSIDE:

 MOMENT WORTH REMEMBERING CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Make it Monday---ATG
Aud Sentiments---ATG
Challenges 4 Everybody---ATG
OSAAT---Use a Digi
Digi Haven---ATG
Sister Act---ATG
Inspire Me Fridays---ATG
Creative Moments---Summertime
Hobby House---ATG
Paper Playtime---ATG
Alphabet Challenge---I is for Image
Oldie But A Goodie---Stitching (All materials used except for the image is more than a year old)
Craft-room Challenge---Here Comes the Summer
ART---Summertime
TTCRD---ATG
City Crafter---All About Him
Papertake Weekly---Hello Boys
Top Tip Tuesday---Masculine
Tuesday Throwdown---For a Boy/Man
Crafting for all Seasons---One for the Guys
Sisterhood of Crafters---Man or Boy
MilkCoffee---Father's Day/Male Inspired
Jellypark Friends---Masculine
Simply Create Too---Father's Day or Male
Card Crafter's Circle---In Stitches
One Crazy Stamper---Summer Fun
Oozak---ATG with Sentiment

This is all for now, my friends! I hope you'll join us at our Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  We always love seeing the wonderful projects you come up with each week.  I will have another card highlighted for our Word Art Wednesday (WAW) Challenge this coming Wednesday. I pray that the peace of God, in Jesus Christ, be in your heart always.  Hugs!

Scripture Series: Enemies to be at Peace Center Step Card---Join Us for Another Inspirational Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

It's Wednesday and  as promised, I want to feature a Card highlighting scripture for our Anything Goes/Inspirational Challenge for Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  Today, our free Word Art comes from Proverbs 16:7 which primarily talks about one of the perks of pleasing the Lord.  Outside a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (being Born-Again as per John 3:3), it is impossible for man to please God mainly because we inherited from Adam the sinful nature (which originated from Lucifer) when man fell into sin in the Garden of Eden.  From walking with God in the cool of the day, having fellowship with the Father and clothed in God's righteousness, down to being a slave to Satan. This is  the condition every human being physically born on earth inherited.  That is why the Bible says in Romans 3:10, "As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one."  Throughout the history of man, we all tried to reconnect with God through own efforts.  The evidence  of that is every religion that was established on earth, all for the sake of bridging the gap between us and God.  Each religion have certain requirements, promising favors from whoever god they profess if man will only make sacrifices and make every effort to change.  The harder we try, the more we fail. Yet what many religions and belief system failed to see is this---We're doomed to destruction not because of "what we do" but for "who we are".  Our action is a product of our fallen state.  We were created righteous before God sight, unmerited, solely because God has given us His righteousness.  Adam enjoyed this status right before He rebelled against God and became Satan's slave.  That righteousness is what we need to possess in order to please God.  No amount of human effort---goodness we do on our own---can merit God's righteousness.  Like Adam before the Fall, God Himself has to give it to us---not because we are good---but because He wants us to have it.  Realize this, Moses was used by God to give His law and people tried in every shape and form to abide by those laws yet the Bible clearly says in James 2:10, "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."  Furthermore, the Bible tells us all about the intent of the heart in Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  In our fallen state, we know we are hopeless.  But wait!  The scriptures also told us about Abraham.  He was born before the law ever came to man, yet what did God gave him?  The Bible says in Genesis 15:6, "Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness."  What did we learn from this scripture?  It is plainly by Believing in God (Faith) that we can be made right with Him!  Guess what?  Today, we are made right with God solely by Faith---By faith in the One whom God sent to sacrificed His life as payment for our sins---none other than, Jesus Christ!  As we put our faith in Him---He transforms us to His image making us available for every good work He has set for us.  I hope we can see the difference between man's good works and God using man as His vessel to do good works.  Every valid "good work" is initiated and accomplished  by God---not us!  It is "GOD IN US" (Him literally living inside of us) that makes us capable of doing good works for Him.  Our only role is to believe and yield ourselves to Him.  Therefore, when we submit to Him, He is pleased. He opens for us a door that even those whose against us fails to shut.  They find themselves in an unfamiliar territory of helping us without them even knowing it.  This is a very comforting verse about the legacy of every person whose been Born-again through faith in Jesus Christ...

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." (Romans 8:28-30)

So, here's my inspiration card for you today.  I chose these 2 images from the Expressions Bundle at Melonheadz Illustrating and colored them with my Promarker/Prismacolor/Spectrum Noir markers.  I chose to make a center-step card starting with a 5.5" X 11" Kraft with 2 tones of brown CS.  The DP's are from DCWV and Recollections, die-cut scallop from Nestabilities, embroidery punch by MS and I layered some Prima flowers.  To finish up, I added some glitters (Stickles-Crystal and Lime Green) and stitched it inside and out.  It is so funny how my 7 year old boy and hubby was wondering about the angry boy image and had to explain to them that I had to use him to illustrate the Word Art/Scripture better.  You see, in this world, many will get upset with us because we stand for what is right in the sight of God. We all know, they can be very  unpleasant, but we are here to please God and not man.  We are to show compassion to them that are lost, pray for them and share the message of the Gospel as God leads us without compromising God's Truth, ever!

ENEMIES TO BE AT PEACE CENTER STEP CARD:

ENEMIES TO BE AT PEACE CENTER STEP CARD LAYERS:

ENEMIES TO BE AT PEACE CENTER STEP CARD SIDE VIEW:

ENEMIES TO BE AT PEACE CENTER STEP CARD INSIDE:

ENEMIES TO BE AT PEACE CENTER STEP CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

A & T Emerald Faeries---Dies/Punches
Aud Sentiments---Anything Goes
Bearly-Mine---Anything Goes 
Challenges 4 Everybody---Anything Goes 
Country View Craft---Die Cuts 
Eclectic Ellapu---B is for (Boy, Bow, Border) 
OSAAT---Pretty It Up
Paper Playtime---Anything Goes 
Robyn´s Fetish---Die Cuts or Punches 
Hobby House---Anything Goes 
TTCRD---Anything Goes 
Artistic Inspiration---Stitching Faux/Real
Crazy Amigo---Rounds, Circles and/or Dots
Digi Haven---Anything Goes 
Great Impressions---Leave a Little Sparkle (glitters)  
Oldie but Goodie---Stitching (flowers, images, border punch are old)
Cutie Pie---One for the Kids 
Melonheadz Friends---Die Cuts 
Make it Monday---Anything Goes 
Pin and Tack---Anything Goes 
Quirky Crafts---Fold It 
Party Time Tuesday---Fancy Folds 
Little Red Wagon---3 or More Patterned Papers 
 
     
Have an awesome day, everyone and looking forward to see your wonderful projects linked at our WAW Blog.  It will be nice to see the featured Word Art in your Challenge project but not mandatory.  As long as it's family friendly, inspirational and uplifting, you are free to link up to 5 projects.  Our sponsor for this week is Verve Rubber Stamps. Just want to tell you how much God loves you and wants to have fellowship with you if you'll allow Him.  Hugs and blessing, everyone!