Scripture Series: To Them that Believe Card---Join Us for Another Uplifting Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello, everyone!  So sorry to bring this post a day later as I was pretty occupied yesterday with all the the things that are needed to get done.  Most of my day was spent at the City Council Chambers, together with many Churches here in San Antonio, with our  fight against the plan to pass a Sexual Orientation Ordinance (SOR) that was put forth by city council members here in our city.  It is supposed to be an anti-discrimination ordinance which seeks to add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the city charter's protected class.  Like many cities who have adapted a similar ordinance (some don't include gender identity in their wordings), this is actually the most divisive, discriminatory ordinance ever put forth.  It tramples on the right of every person's free speech and freedom of belief/religion and if passed, it will prohibit believers from acting according to their conscience and prohibit the proclamation of the entire counsel of the Holy Scriptures especially those that pertains to homosexuality.  Aside from that,  commercial facilities (such as restrooms, fitting rooms, lockers and gym facilities among others will be opened for "gender identity" claims instead of what a person's "biological" make-up is and would open a can of worms for those who would like to use the ordinance as a way to cater to twisted behavior (such as pedophilia, rape, peeping toms and many others).  With "gender identity" protected, anyone can say that "I am biologically a man but my heart says, I'm a girl so, I want to use the ladies restroom." Because of the law, no one can contest it.  Also, think about the business impact from lawsuits when a Christian refuse to provide service to homosexual for matters that oppose their conscience and beliefs which already happened to many cities and countries that adapted this.  This ordinance is a direct attack to every Bible believing, God-fearing Christians in this country (they go one city after another) and as a child of God, my family as well as our Church took the challenge of standing in the gap of informing people in our city and all over the country about the true agenda of this ordinance.  Why you haven't heard of this?  That's because Media will not cover anything that is Godly in nature so, we are to spread the news one person to another. 

Many endeavors that are put forth today disguises itself under the same fight as the civil rights movement.  The civil rights fight led by Martin Luther King had it's grounds from the written word of God.  Men are created equal, irregardless of their race or color of their skin.  I am Asian and I was born in Asia and my features and skin color bears witness to it.  I cannot change that fact and so are any other person born on earth.  To discriminate against any person because of their race and color is a direct contradiction to the Word of God.  The Bible acknowledges the presence of slavery and it was a direct result of the Fall of Man in which man decided to give up the dominion that God has placed upon him to rule over His creation and gave it over to God's very enemy, Satan!  The Bible tell us in John 10:10 that "Satan comes to kill, steal and destroy."  That is what we see men doing throughout generation, enslaving others to advance himself.  When Jesus died on the Cross, buried and resurrected, he broke the yoke of slavery (from Satan) for all mankind.  Yet, only those who would put their faith and trust in what He had done on the Cross will benefit from this grace and freedom Christ offered us.  A child who is born is either born a female or a male.  Nothing in that child's features or race speaks of him as a homosexual.  The environment, home, friends and activities that child grew up with has a vast influence on what that child would grow up to be.  Being educated and exposed to people who are homosexuals or any perverted behaviors or abuse from family members, love ones, choice of friends or strangers can damage  person to the core and cause them to choose a destructive path one after another (Read Romans 1:18-32).   Romans 1:26-27  says, "Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error."  This clearly tell us that homosexuality is a result of denying and disobeying God.  When people continue to sin and unbelief, God gives them over to even more wicked and depraved sin in order to show them the futility and hopelessness of life apart from God.  One Pastor from my city spoke yesterday at the City Council Chambers and told the councilmen how the ordinance would placed him in a situation where he would be against the very people he loved and would like to help.  He told us that he experienced caring for a homeless homosexual and how his family  opened their home so that he'll have a roof over his head and cared for him both physically and spiritually.  I agree completely with what the Pastor said.  Jesus died for every sinner in this world and he loves every single person but hates every sin.  In our fight, there's not a hatred for the LGBTQ people who are living that lifestyle but we would like to extend a loving and a helping hand and show them that there's a way out and the reality is, THEY ARE NOT BORN THAT WAY!  They chose to live that way.  God has a greater purpose for their lives, if only they will give Him a chance to show it to them through His Church.  I ask every Christian to be vigilant and get involved in the affairs of your city, state and country.   Do not let darkness take over without a fight.  God has placed us in this world to be "Salt and Light" (Matthew 5:13-16) which means we are like "preservatives."  To take us away (which will happen at the Rupture of the Church), will cause lawlessness and decay to consume the earth.  But the time is not yet---we have a purpose as a believer, that is to proclaim salvation through Christ to the ends of the earth.  Be strong and steadfast in the Lord!

Anyway, we have a great scripture Word Art for you (free download at our Blog) at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  It features the scripture in John 1:12  which says, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."  Here, God does not discriminate on who can become sons of God.  There's no reference to any race, color, position, power, fame, free or slaves in this passage.  The only prerequisite is faith (trusting, believing) in Jesus (in His finished work on the Cross).  Receiving in your life the benefits of His sacrifice alone makes you a child of God.  It is not of your own doing, it is His gift (Ephesians 2:8-9).  So, we say, "Come, everyone who are tired of carrying their heavy burdens, their addictions, their struggles, Come!"  You don't need to clean up your act before coming to the Lord because on your own, that will be an impossible task.  Come as you are!  Get to know Jesus and in due time, you'll realize that He does the transformation in your life.  All we need to do is to yield to Him.  He is more than able to transform you and reveal to you the true purpose of your existence in this life and beyond.  

For this project, I used a wonderful image from Prairie Fairy Digital Stamps called "Purrrfect Friends" and colored it with my ProMarker/Prismacolor/Spectrum Noir markers.  I also added some Glossy Accents  to the image's glasses for an added dimension.  The base card is a Kraft, A7 card that comes with an envelope that I just decorated.  The DP's are from DCWV and some from my scraps.  The circles and the lacy square are cut using Nestabilities and my Cuttlebug.  The funky border stamp is from Recollections and the rose vine stamp is from Inkadinkado.  I added some wonderful gems from Hotfix and decided to skip stitching for this design.  I noticed that pennants have been popular with many other card designs so, I am giving it a try.  I am pretty happy with the results. 

 TO THEM THAT BELIEVE CARD:

 TO THEM THAT BELIEVE CARD LAYERS:

 TO THEM THAT BELIEVE CARD INSIDE:

TO THEM THAT BELIEVE CARD WITH ENVELOPE:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Gem of a Challenge---Anything with a "B" (Border stamp, banners)
Amusing Challenges---ATG
Aud Sentiments---Any Sentiment
C is for Challenge---Animals
Crafting by Designs---ATG
Craftin Desert Diva's---ATG
Creative Craft Challenges---Not a Square
Crafty Sentiments---Make It Girly
Creative Inspirations Paint---ATG
Die Cuttin Divas---Just Because
Happy Campers---Use a Stamp (Rubber/Digi)
Krafty Hands---ATG
Lacy Sunshine---Girls, Girls, Girls
Paper Crafting Journey---ATG
Paper Creator's Crafts---ATG
Pile It On---Designer Paper
Rhedd and Rosie Challenge---Something for the Ladies
Scrapbook Stamp Society---ATG
Simon Says Stamp---ATG
Tammy's Scrapin Corner---ATG
Stamping Chef---Use Kraft
TTCRD---ATG
Eureka Stamps---Be Sentimental
Inky Impressions---Animals
Digistamps4Joy---ATG
Crazy 4 Challenges---Animals
Craft-room Challenges---Something New (The digi stamp is new)
Bearly Mine---Digi Days
Make It Monday---ATG

I hope you join our WAW Challenge by linking a project using the free Word Art we featured today although it's not mandatory.  You can enter up to 5 different projects as long as it's family friendly, encouraging or uplifting.  You can win some fabulous prizes from our sponsors today namely Blue Moon Scrapbooking and My Heart Pieces.  The more you link, the better your chance of winning. I want to encourage you to give  Jesus a chance in your life.  Don't count Him out because of what you thought he is or what others told you about Him.  Ask him to reveal Himself to you and I know in the very core of my heart, He will.  He did it for me, 23 years ago, and my life was never the same.

Scripture Series: Godliness with Contentment Card---Time for Another Uplifting Challenge at Word Art Wednesday...

Hi there, Crafty peeps!   Sorry this is coming out a day late, just been super busy yesterday. It's another sunny morning out here in Texas.  We've been having triple digits daily and not liking having to go inside my parked vehicle and get toasted from the heat.  One thing I do enjoy though is the absence of allergies.  I love cold weather but the allergies can be bothersome too.   Anyway, I want to share with you what the Lord has put in my heart today.  It's found in Psalm 19:14 which says, "May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."  In this verse, David prayed to the Lord to guide His words and reflections.  It shows me that even him, as a king who gives out commands and direction to his people, was in dire need of a guidance from a God who is wiser, the unshakeable Foundation  and is able to bring Him to safety.  As human beings created by God, given the authority to lead God's awesome creation, we are prone to thinking that we got it altogether.  When we are strong and able, we take all the glory for all the works of our hands.  We love every praise we can get from our fellowmen and build our lives based on wealth, power and fame.  As we continue to walk that path, we begin to think that we are our own gods.  That we can do what we please without any regard to the ramifications of our actions until a glimpse of death crosses our way.  Then, we are not in control!  Then we begin to seek for answers from a higher source, an authority which will bring us to safety.  King David knew Who his Source was.  He knew Him that gave him the authority and has the power to take it all at the same time.  He knew Who gave him life and that He has a purpose for his existence.  He knew a God that loves him and cares for him.  So, he prayed, asking Him that He approves of every word he'd speak as well as the thoughts and motives of his heart.  He wants to please his Commander---no other than Almighty God! 

How can a finite man please an infinite God?  It is only by faith (trust) and obedience to what God has provided for us.   After the Fall of Man, we are to acknowledge that there's no other way for us to gain salvation outside of Jesus Christ, God's Only Begotten Son, who paid the full ransom (death on the Cross) in order to take us back into His presence.   Knowing that we cannot do anything in it ourselves to please God, we cling to the One who says in John 14:6 , "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.  No man comes to the Father but by Me."  The Father is pleased with His Son and by being "IN CHRIST", we are accepted and loved in the Kingdom of our Father in Heaven.  No amount of our own works and abilities can please Almighty God.  It is solely by the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus that we are saved and accepting that His finished work in the cross is more than enough to carry me in this life and through all eternity.  This is the simple message of the Gospel---salvation through Jesus Christ alone.  I want to share with you the following verses:

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1)
  

"You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:5-7)

"Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:11-14)

So, here's my Card for this week's Word Art Wednesday (WAW) Challenge.  Our free Word Art that you can download for free at the WAW Blog, is taken from 1 Timothy 6:6 which says, "But godliness with contentment is great gain."  It is only by knowing the Truth in God's Word and trusting in the finished work of Christ on the cross can we live a life of godliness. To have Christ in our hearts tells us that it is not us who do the good works but Him in us (Read Galatians 2:20).  And because He has given us the faith to trust in Him, we know that it's pointless for us to worry about anything.  When we rely on God's Word, there's loads and loads of promises that deals with every aspect of our lives written in the pages of the scriptures and we have total access on all of them through Jesus Christ.   God sees our everyday struggles and triumphs and I know that struggles can be tough so many times but it's in those moments that we are brought to our knees and are reminded of our limitations.  It is where our characters are developed and miracles take place, when were helpless and not in control. Apostle Paul breaks it down perfectly in Philippians 4:12:13 which says, "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."  You see, CHRIST is our "GAIN."  When we know the benefits we have as a child of God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we will not have room for worries, whatever this world may bring, because in Him, we literally have everything in this life and beyond.  

Anyway, back to my card, I used a rubber stamp image from Stamping Bella called "Uptown Girl Lucille sends her love."  This image is super cute and I am loving that it's not a tiny image. I had fun coloring it with my ProMarker/Prismacolor/Sharpie markers and I added glitters to the hearts and clothing (Stickles-Stardust) and paper-pieced her dress for added dimension.  The base card is a 5.5 inches square of Kraft CS, the DP's are all from The Floral Fair Stack from DCWV.  I die cut a Lacy Oval Nestabilities  for that wonderful die shape and attached some gems from Imaginisce.   I added some color to the sentiment using my Paint program and lastly, I stitched all over this card.  I am not a pink-lover person but this sure came out pretty nice with lots of pink.  What do you think?  I appreciate all your comments.

 GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT CARD:

GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT CARD LAYERS:

 GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT CARD INSIDE:

GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Make It Monday---ATG
Sister Act---ATG
Allsorts---Use Your New Stash (New Image, New Sentiment, New DP's)
Creative Corner---ATG
Inspire Me Fridays---ATG
Craftin Desert Divas---ATG
Jo's Scrap Shack---ATG
Cheerful Stamp Pad---Your Choice
Hobby Cutz---Create Your Own Background
Craft-room---Something New (New Image, New DP's, New Sentiment)
Gem of a Challenge---Use Die Cuts or Punches
Aud Sentiments---Anything but a Birthday Card
Bunny Zoe's Crafts---Bingo (Die-Cuts/Sparkle/Stitching)
Card Mania---Your Favorite Embellishment (Stitching)
Challenges 4 Everybody---ATG
Color Me Creative---ATG
Cutie Pie---ATG
HIMCR---Thread/Stitching
Lacy Sunshine---Girls.Girls, Girls
One Sweet Challenge---Your Favorite Technique (Layering)
Sweet Stampin'---Bold and Beautiful
Sweet Stamps---ATG
Totally Gorjuss---Die-Cuts and/or Punches
Paper Crafting Journey---ATG
Southern Girls---Warm Fuzzies (To give love and receive love gives people warm fuzzies)
Crafter's Cafe---Bling and Sparkling Things
Creative Belli---Glitter
Digistamps4Joy---ATG
Little Red Wagon---Layers
Paper Pretties---Girly, Girly
Whimsical Designs---Just Add a Glitter
Art Impressions---People Parade

This is all I have for now.  I hope you join our WAW Challenge by linking a project using the free Word Art we featured today although it's not mandatory.  You can enter up to 5 different projects as long as it's family friendly, encouraging or uplifting.  You can win some fabulous prizes from our sponsors today namely Heart and Soul Rubber Stamps and Digi Darla's Designs.  The more you link, the better your chance of winning.  All I can say is continue trusting in the Lord Jesus, whatever your situation is at the moment.  He promised to see you through.

Your Sky Forever Blue Card---Join Us For Another "Anything Goes" Challenge at our Neigborhood, 613 Avenue Create!

Hi there, friends.  I had a wonderful Sunday but got so exhausted that I was unable to post this project on time.   Before I highlight my card, I want to share with you what I learned from watching the program, "The 700 Club" a few days ago....There was this lady whose husband was slowly being taken away by cancer and it came to the point that all hope was gone as the doctor gave that dreaded news that he has only days to live.  Armed with faith, she cried out to the Lord and received  a wonderful revelation amidst the hopelessness.  In the light of what God showed her, she asked herself, "Why do some believers pray asking for "God's will be done" yet never mention the 2nd half of that verse found in Matthew 6:10 (Lord's Prayer) which says, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven."  You see, God made the earth for His precious creation to dwell in, us being His masterpiece.  He gave Man dominion over all His creation and to rule with wisdom and knowledge just like He rules the heavens.  He desires for us to have all the benefits of heaven and does not want to withhold any of the good stuff His Kingdom could offer.  Consider this, there is no sickness, diseases, famine,  death and destruction where God dwells! When Jesus taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, He wants us to declare the things of the Kingdom to happen here on earth.  That is His will and His desire,  "That we may have life and have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) So, this wonderful wife, armed with revelation from the Lord, rallied her family and everyone from her Church to declare God's Kingdom on earth with regards to her husband's condition and to make the long story short, she received what her faith In God declared her to do---her husband was miraculously healed!   He's been cancer-free for many years now.  I can't tell you the extent on which this story have impacted my life.  I know I will never be the same again.  Every revelation God places in my heart is to direct me to His wonderful plan for my life and I can only hope, it blesses you too.  I would like to share with you the following passages to encourage you to put your faith in the God who created you and has your best interest in mind.  Never lose hope at any given circumstances, instead, give all your concerns to God.  He wants to comfort you and give you direction in those hopeless situations and in your triumph, He gets all the glory!

"He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7) 

Through him (Jesus) we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5:2-5)

^"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we 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." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

So, here's what I created for your inspiration at our "Anything Goes" Challenge with optional twist--- Stitching-Real or Faux at 613 Avenue Create. For this Card I was privileged to use an  image from one of our sponsors, Rick St. Dennis, called "Tudor Cottage" (retired digi?).  I colored it using my Promarker/Prismacolor markers and added glitters (Stickles-Stardust) on parts of the image.  The sentiment and the corner images are freebies from Create with TLC (Paulette post freebies daily).  The base card is a white CS, cut in 5.5 inches square, the DP's are from my scraps, the embossing done using a Cuttlebug folder and used a lacy scallop die to lay the sentiment.  Lastly, I stitched all over this card and love the outcome.

 YOUR SKY FOREVER BLUE:

  YOUR SKY FOREVER BLUE LAYERS:

  YOUR SKY FOREVER BLUE INSIDE:

 YOUR SKY FOREVER BLUE WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Make it Monday---ATG
Sister Act---ATG
Allsorts---Use Your New Stash (New Image and Sentiment)
Creative Corner---ATG
Inspire Me Fridays---ATG
Craftin Desert Divas---ATG
Jo's Scrap Shack---ATG
Cheerful Stamp Pad---Your Choice
Sparkle N Sprinkle---Color Challenge
Hobby Cutz---Create Your Own Background
PanPastel---Create Your Own Background
Gem of a Challenge---Use Die Cuts or Punches
Aud Sentiments---Anything but a Birthday Card
Bunny Zoe's Crafts---Bingo (Die-cuts/Sparkle/Stitching)
Can You Digi It---Lift Me Up
Card Mania---Your Favorite Embellishment (Stitching)
Challenges 4 Everybody---ATG
Color Me Creative---ATG
Cutie Pie---ATG
HIMCR---Thread/Stitching
One Sweet Challenge---Your Favorite Technique (Layering)
Sweet Stampin'---Bold and Beautiful
Totally Gorjuss---Die-Cuts and/or Punches

 I hope you join us for an Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  If you love stitching, we would love to see that in your project for an "optional twist."  Lots of prizes to be won from two wonderful sponsors, Rick St. Dennis and Beansie Doodles.  You can enter up to 3 projects so, what are you waiting for?  Hurry and link with us. I will see you in a few days to highlight another card for our weekly challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  Stay rooted in the love of God through Jesus Christ!

Scripture Series: Way of Thy Statutes Card---It's Another Word Art Wednesday Inspirational Challenge!

Hello there, Crafty guys and gals!  It's such a busy Wednesday for me as always but had to take time to create and make this Card for you.  The past weeks was full of many trials for me but so as revelations from the Lord.  In the midst of storm, I have proven time and time again that God speaks and has full control of the life I have given to Him.  When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I hold this verse to be very true in my life.  It's found in Galatians 2:20 which says, "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."  

A lot of times we view trials and storms in a negative way.  Why wouldn't we?  It's ugly, painful and brings a lot of heartaches, frustrations and sense of hopelessness.  It takes us out of our comfort zone and plunges us in an unfamiliar territory---not being in control!  Yet that is exactly where we need to be if we truly want to depend on God.  We are to place our faith (complete trust) in Him (not in ourselves) knowing that He always have our best interest.  I love how 1 Peter 1:7 tells us, "These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."  Though ugly things happen from time to time,   God taught me to possess the right attitude in the midst of the storm.  As human beings, we tend to feel all sorts of emotions at the wake of challenges.  It is  common to feel fear, anger, frustrations and hopelessness when things suddenly hits us. Yet that is why we need to  possess the greatest weapon God has armed us with---His Word!  That in the outskirts of those emotions, we can battle and defeat them by upholding the Truth of His promises.  Never in my life do I hear Him so clearly speaking to me than in those times I am in the battleground.  When I am worn out from the fight, He offers me His arms to rest on and renews my strength.  Oh, the awesomeness of God's presence.  It is unfailing, unchanging, faithful to the end. 

In the light of all of these, I am bringing to you the inspiration card for our Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  The free Word Art is available for you to download at the WAW Blog and is found in Psalm 119:33 which says, "Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end."  It tells us that we are to seek God's Word and allow the Lord to teach us His ways.  Many times we go through the scriptures and pick up verses that we want to read and and not seek to study and meditate deeper in the proper context and meaning of the passages.  One thing that I learned in studying the scriptures is that God always brings fresh anointing to His Word no matter how many times I read the same verse.  The revelations are always new and refreshing to a heart that seeks to truly learn from God.  I can't help but think that amidst all these revelations, there still going to be more to discover when we come to see God in His fulness.  But for right now, we take all the goodness from the promises He gave us and live our lives accordingly.  It is now, more than ever, that we need to walk in the Truth of His Word because everything around us walks in their own understanding---darkness creeping all over the earth.  If anything, keep the ways of the Lord in mind and in your heart for with them are the fulfillment of His promises in which victory is certain.  For my card, I used an image from Simply Betty Stamps called"Lifeguard Christian" and the freebie frame is from Tiddly Inks called "Melissa Frame" that were both colored with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers. The base card is Kraft measuring 5.5 inches square, The DP's are from DCWV and I decided to distress the edges of every panel/matting using Tim Holtz Distressing Tool.  I incorporated some brads and gems with lots of stitching for a great finish. I am loving how it turned out.

WAY OF THY STATUTES CARD:

WAY OF THY STATUTES CARD LAYERS:

 

WAY OF THY STATUTES CARD INSIDE:

WAY OF THY STATUTES CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafter's Cafe---At the Beach
Crafting by Designs---ATG
Crafts and Me---ATG
Creative Moments---Sea/Seashore/ATG
Inklings and Yarns---ATG
Perfect Sentiment---Great Outdoors
Sisterhood of Crafters---Oh Scrap (All my DP's are scraps)
Bearly Mine---ATG
Can You Digi It---Lift Me Up
Loves Rubberstamps---Hair of a Different Color
Oldie But a Goodie---Boy/Male Cards (Everything used in this card are older than 6 mos.)
TTCRD---ATG
Try It On Tuesday---Create a Scene
Card Mania---Your Favorite Embellishment (I love brads and gems)
C is for Challenge---Fresh and Bright
Crafty Bloggers Network---Favorite Things ( I love stitching on paper)
Make It Monday---ATG
Kraft Journal---Sew-So Simple
Make my Monday---Add Some Dimension-3D Elements
Path of Positivity---Optimism (My post encourages people to fight the food fight of faith)
Scrapbook Stamp Society---ATG
Stamp with Fun---Summer
Stamp & Fun = Creativity---ATG
Crazy Challenge---ATG
Whoopsi Daisy---Stitching

This is all I want to share with you today, friends!  I just want to invite you to link your projects with us at WAW, up to 5 projects, Anything Goes, as long as it's encouraging, uplifting and family-friendly.  I am also excited to see you use the free Word Art featured this week in your submitted project although it's not mandatory.  You may get a chance to win prizes from this week's sponsors, Fred She Said and C.C. Designs Rubber Stamps.   Have an awesome week everyone and I'll see you in my next post this weekend for the 613 Avenue Create Challenge.  Know that when your trust is in Jesus, you belong to the winning side.

Scripture Series: Strength Refuge Shadow Card---Join Us for An Inspirational Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Good Wednesday morning, everyone!  I'm here to feature my latest card creation for our Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW) this week.  Anyway, the past few days has not been easy for me as the enemy tries to discouraged me in every kind of way.  Whoever thinks that a Christian life is a "bed of roses" is living in a fantasy world because the Truth is, our faith and obedience is tried every step of the way.  The more you are pressing towards the things of God, the greater resistance the enemy places in your life. We all know that Jesus, the Son of God, was not spared from the trials and persecutions to the point death.  At this day and time, I know that every Born-Again believer, washed by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) is already experiencing hardships and perils just standing on their faith in Christ.  It's now evident, more than ever, here in America as many people continue to turn away from the Biblical foundations of this nation (embedded in our Constitution) and seeks to promote lawlessness.  What amazes me is that despite the urgency of the perils surrounding us, many Christians remains passive.  IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP!  We have been sleeping for a long time as the enemy of the Gospel continues to rob us of the freedom the founders of this country fought with their lives for us to enjoy.  We might say, "I have my own problems to care for, hence, I don't have the time to be involved in the affairs of my community/city/country/world." I, too, am familiar with that.  I encounter personal trials daily and it's never been easy but to be confined within the scope of myself and not care for the things that's happening around me (which will eventually affect me and my family in the long run) is utterly disheartening.  I may not be able to respond to every issue this country/world faces but I keep myself available when God quickens me to act on something.  I know He is able to lead me and make me aware when there's something He needs me to do.  We are the Temple of God here on earth (He lives inside every person that placed their faith in Jesus Christ) and we carry out the will of our Father which is in heaven.  Our road map is the Word of God that always leads us to the right path (path of righteousness).  Our authority comes from the finished work of Jesus Christ and because our Father knows the beginning from the end, we already know of the victory that is ours---ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST!  

So, when the storms of life comes (both personal and worldwide), I cling to the promises of God in His Word.  I still get frustrated at times,  but because of the Word of God, hope springs as faith arises and choke every frustration I harbor inside.  I have a God who loves me and never gives up on me, no matter what!  He is still the same Savior I prayed to many years ago, not to let me out of His guiding hands.  He is faithful, He is true, He is Mighty God!  If you are encountering trials in your personal life right now,  don't let that trial stop you from being a blessing to your community.  The less we focus on ourselves, the less frustrated we are.  Give it all to Jesus and fulfill what He wants you to do outside of your box and you'll see God come through in all areas of your life.  That's what I decided to do at this very moment and I know He will see me through.  I would like to share with you these wonderful scriptures to encourage you:

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31)
  

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you."  (2 Corinthians 4:8-12)

 

^"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39)

So, here is the card for your inspiration today.  It features the free Word Art that you can download from the WAW Blog.  The scripture is in Isaiah 25:4 which says,  "For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall."  This simply tell us that God is our "all in all."  He is our strength, our refuge, our shadow in every season of our lives.  He is there in our rejoicing, in our weeping, in our distress, in our frustrations.  He never leaves us nor forsakes us.  All He ask is that we TRUST IN HIM!  One of our sponsors this week at WAW is Robyn's Fetish which provided me with this very cute image called "Five Little Froggies" and I definitely had fun coloring them with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  The base card is a white CS measuring 5.5-inches square.  The DP's are all from My Mind's Eye, the lacy scallop (biggest) is from Nestabilities that's cut using my Cuttlebug, the flowers are from Recollections  and the leaves are cut with an MS Punch.  I added some glitters to the image, flowers and leaves using Stickles (Stardust) and adhered my favorite white gems from Imaginisce.  Lastly, I stitched all over this project.  It surely turned out great.  Would love to hear your comments.

 STRENGTH REFUGE SHADOW CARD:

 STRENGTH REFUGE SHADOW CARD LAYERS:

 STRENGTH REFUGE SHADOW CARD INSIDE:

STRENGTH REFUGE SHADOW CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

HIMCR---Early Cherry Mist (Color Challenge)
Make It Monday---ATG
Paper Shelter---Punches and Dies
MilkCoffee---Show Us Your Coloring Skills
Crafty Calendar---ATG
Digi Sketch---ATG
Digitally Sweet---ATG
Crafts and Me---ATG
Sister Act---ATG
Challenges 4 Everybody---ATG
My Heart Pieces---Stitching (Real or Faux)
Dis Digi Designs---Stitching (Real or Faux)
2 Sisters---ATG
By Lori Designs---Designer Paper
Hanna and Friends---ATG
Crafty Bloggers Network---Favorite Things (Love my Lacy Die and white gems)
Crazy Challenge---ATG
Lady Anne's---ATG (Must use stamp)
Paper Pretties---Designer Dudes (2 or more patterned papers)
Perfect Sentiment---Favorite Technique (Sewing/Fussy Cutting)
Whimsical Designs---ATG
City Crafter---Polka Dots
Loves Rubber Stamps---ATG
Papertake Weekly---ATG

Make sure you join us at WAW Challenge.  You can use the free Word Art in your creation and link it to our Challenge but is not a requirement.  As long as it's family-friendly, uplifting and inspirational, you can enter up to 5 times this week.  Lots of prizes to be won from our two wonderful sponsors---Mark's Finest Papers and Stamps and Robyn's Fetish.  So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, cheer up and let the joy of the Lord overtake you today.  I serve a good and faithful God---Jesus Christ!

Standard of Grace Card---Another Wonderful Challenge Happening in our Neighborhood, 613 Avenue Create!

Good morning, everyone!  It's another day of blessings from the Lord!  I am grateful for everything that happens in my life because I know that they teach me to trust Jesus.  Whether I'm happy or sad, afflicted or not, with burden or without, His love for me never changes.  He is always there, patiently guiding me every step of the way.  He knows my thoughts, my motives, my limits and capabilities.  He sees my passions and frustrations but most of all, He knows how to cheer me up even when it's hard to find a reason, at times, to do so.  You see, I strive for perfection!  In everything I do, I need to know that I have given my all otherwise, it's better not to do it.  I am that type that when I start to create something, I will not go to sleep until that something is done.  I am a stickler to the rule and tries to respect every authority.  I value "word of honor" to the highest degree.  I love helping people and giving time to truly listen to them with the hopes that somehow, I would get the same courtesy.  I was thought by my parents to respect every person especially those who are older than me and to strive for peace as much as possible.  Yet, I learned that in this life, not everyone values the same things. And no matter how pure your motives are, there's people that would view everything you do as pointless and useless.  They don't follow up on their words, don't care for courtesy and does not care to respect.  On each encounter, I am so glad I can turn to the Lord Jesus and rely upon His hand for guidance in all my relationships.   He always directs my path, even in my stubbornness.  As I fully rely on Him, He makes a way.  When all I see is chaos, He brings me to His peace and shows me His perfect will. What I want to share with you today is that God is not finished with us yet.  We may not be as patient, as loving as we wanted to be, nor understand every behavior that people around us is showing us nor understand even our own behaviors but rest assured that as we bring each circumstance to the Lord and rely on His help through His Word to keep order in our lives, He is there to help us every step of the way---shaping us to the perfection which is only achievable through Jesus Christ, our Lord!   I would like to share with you the following verses to meditate on:

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." (Romans 5:1-5)

 So, here's my inspiration card for you at our 613 Avenue Create Challenge.  It's always Anything Goes with an optional theme of "Adding a Sentiment."  I got this wonderful Word Art for free at Create with TLC (perfect for the message I wanted to convey).  One of our sponsors this week is Sassy Studio so, I am grateful they allowed me to use this wonderful digi stamp called "Victorian Beauty," which I colored with my ProMarker/Prismacolor/Spectrum Noir markers.  The base card is a Kraft CS measuring 5.5-inch square.  The DP's are all from Paper Studio and incorporated a beige, kraft and mustard CS for matting/panels.  I used an MS Punch to produced the shaped panels, a Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations die for the lace border and distressed some white Prima flowers ( I layered) by spraying some ink on them using Tsukineko Antiquing Solution (Walnut Ink and Terracotta).  I added some glitters (Stickles-Diamond) to the flowers and blue metallic brads.  I adhered some gems to this card and stitched all over.  Hope you enjoy the pics...

STANDARD OF GRACE CARD:

STANDARD OF GRACE CARD LAYERS:

 

STANDARD OF GRACE CARD INSIDE:
 
 

STANDARD OF GRACE CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks---Bling
By Lori  Designs---Designer Paper
Card Mania---Summer Blooms
Crafting by Designs---ATG
Creative Inspirations Paint---ATG
Cute Card Thursday---ATG
Die Cuttin Divas---ATG
DL ART August Linky Party---ATG
Hanna and Friends---ATG
MilkCoffee---Show Us Those Coloring Skills
Oldie But a Goodie---Best Dressed (The DP's and most embellishments are more than a year old)
Penny's Paper Crafty---Stitching (Real or Faux)
Simon Says Stamp---ATG
Sister Act---ATG
Crafter's Cafe---ATG
Make it Monday---ATG
Challenges 4 Everybody---ATG
Paper Crafting Journey---Punches and/or Die cuts
Inspire Me Fridays---ATG
Craftin' Boutique---ATG
Creative Fingers---ATG
Scrap-Creations---ATG
Delicious Doodles---ATG

There you have it, folks!  Please join us at our Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  You don't want to miss the opportunity of winning great prizes from our wonderful sponsors, Sassy Studio Designs  and Rick St. Dennis.  Lastly, I just want to say---Worship the Lord with thanksgiving in your heart, no matter what circumstance you have today.  He is perfectly in control and all you need to do is trust in Him!