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.