Scripture Series: Better With Fear of the Lord Card---Come and Join us at Word Art Wednesday, Anything Goes/Inspirational Challenge!

Hi there, Crafty pals! It's the middle of the week and Thanksgiving is just a day away.  I hope you have wonderful time with your love ones during this blessed season.  We may not have as plenty as we had last year but the Lord is in control and promised to see us through the future.  This year, I am not just grateful for the works of the Lord in my family's life but I'm also thankful that He holds our world together in His hands.  Day in and day out, we are bombarded by events that are heart-wrenching, alarming and shocking that many years ago, we didn't think will ever happen.  The Lord has given us the Bible to inform us of our past, present and future.  It tells us where we came from, what we had, what we've lost and how it was regained on our behalf by the Only Name, exalted by God the Father Himself, our One and Only Savior, Jesus Christ.  The entire Bible (Old and New Testaments) spoke of Him from the first page to the last.  I am not sure why but when I became a believer, a few weeks after accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior, God took me to read the Book of Revelations in it's entirety.  While many people steered clear of this book in the Bible, I read it several times and was terrified by many things I didn't completely understand. I had to study more and asked some knowledgeable Pastors in my Church what some passages meant.  I was passionate about knowing what the Lord has in store for mankind.  Here I am, many years later, still going through the pages of this book with more understanding than I've ever had before.  Every little thing that happens in this world does not escape the eyes of the Lord and brings us closer to the fulfillment of many prophecies in the scripture.  Some people may not see the connection between one event to the other.  This comes as no surprise because many of them are spiritually discerned (spirit eyes opened).  If our spirits have not experienced the "New Birth" (Born-Again experience as explained in John 3), we are incapable of seeing the Kingdom of God (His Ways).  I've heard many people asking, "Why are these things happening?  Why are people acting this way?  Why are people blind to the truth?  Why are the things that people were ashamed before are now being flaunted, the deeds done in secret are now done in the open?  Not only do they do it in the open but these perverse group of people are forcing everyone to agree with their acts in the name of tolerance.  I am telling you, something is happening in the spirit realm that should prompt us to pray and call on Almighty God to save us, our country, our world from the demonic agenda that is already in place.  I am not saying that we should live in fear.   Instead, we should make the most of the time remaining to tell people about the Gospel (death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ) so that many would come to His saving knowledge, knowing that the "period of grace" is near it's end.  We should also be "Salt" (preservative that slows down decay) and "Light" (exposes/eliminates darkness) to this world, never to be afraid to expose the Truth in  love, no matter what the cost.  We are to be involved in all aspect of our society to bring about "True" (Reality in God's perspective) change.  God mandated us to be "World Changers"  thus, we are to use the talents, resources and abilities God had given us to bring Him glory and honor.  This would be a difficult task on our own but if we partner with other believers, we can surely make a difference.  So, at this time time of the year, I would like to honor and thank God by advancing His kingdom and partnering with Ministries that are committed to helping people get to know Jesus not only through sharing God's Word but by putting God's Word into action.  While I can share the Gospel to the people I come across with everyday, I am also reaching people through others that take the Gospel to the four corners of the earth.  It does not take a lot to be involved.  All it takes is a willing heart that trust and obeys the Lord.  This Thanksgiving, we are not seeking the blessing---WE WANT TO BE THE BLESSING!  This is all possible as we allow God to use us according to His own purpose.  I would love to share with you some encouraging verses for this blessed season:

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."  (Romans 12:1-2)

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:" (Philippians 2:1-5)

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.  This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.  Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else."(2 Corinthians 9:8-13)

Anyway, we are starting another Anything Goes/Inspirational Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  Those of you who want to download our free Word Art can go to our Challenge site and get it there.  It features God's Word in Proverbs 15:16 which says, "Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith."  This verse tell us that having the "fear of the Lord" should be valued more than one person's abundance yet without knowledge of God.  Though a Godly person may have a little, his knowledge and relationship with the Lord assures him of the fact that his Father shall provide for him both physically and spiritually.  Therefore, he lives a life of contentment and peace irregardless of what each day may bring.  On the other hand, the one whose trust is in himself, lives a life of uncertainty, thinking where to get more wealth and how to hide it from thieves and robbers. Thus, he could not sleep, no peace of mind, continuously desiring to gain more wealth and fearing of losing it.  There's also lots of unlawful things one can get into for the love of wealth (money).  I'm not saying that one must be poor (lack basic needs). God wants us to prosper but in the process, He wants us to fully trust and fear (with reverence) Him, knowing His promises to never leave us nor forsake us and provide a way for us are always true no matter what our circumstances are.  For this project, I used an awesome image (which I had for a long time now but first time to use) from Kenny K Downloads called "Policeman" which I colored with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  I had so much fun coloring it.  I chose this cute image because those who don't fear the Lord will get into so much trouble in their lives and would not escape the people who are in authority to enforce the law of the land like that of a Policeman ---(that's my reason and I'm sticking to it!...LOL).  The base card is a Kraft CS that is cut and scored to make a 5.5-inches square card.  The DP's are all from my scraps and the circle is cut using my Nestabilities.  I used a bit of Tim Holtz Film Strip Ribbon and several black brads for added dimension.  Finally, I stitched all over this card using some black thread.  Another manly card accomplished...

 BETTER WITH FEAR OF THE LORD CARD:

  BETTER WITH FEAR OF THE LORD CARD LAYERS:

  BETTER WITH FEAR OF THE LORD CARD INSIDE:

 BETTER WITH FEAR OF THE LORD CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Brown Sugar---ATG
By Lori Designs---Use Paper
Challenges 4 Everybody---ATG
Color Me Creative---ATG
Come and Get It---ATG with a Twist (Use Digital Stamp)
Creative Inspirations Paint---ATG
DL.ART---ATG
Heck of a Challenge---In the Frame
Lacy Sunshine---ATG
My Craft Creations---ATG
Sister Act---ATG
Aud Sentiments---Any Sentiment
Crafter's Cafe---ATG
Creative Corner---Heavy Metal
Paper Crafting Journey---Bling It Up
Paper Playtime---ATG
Make it Monday---ATG
Scribble & Scrap---Always ATG
Artistic Inspirations---ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Love to Create---3 of Your Favorite Embellishment (Brads, Film Strip Ribbon and lovely DP's)
Crafty Sentiments---ATG
Bearly Mine---ATG
Party Time Tuesday---ATG
Use It Tuesday---ATG (Most of the DP's and the brads I have for years)
Creative Fingers---ATG with Optional Metal (I used Brads)
Inkspirational---ATG
Digitally Sweet---ATG
Allsorts---Bring on the Bling
Catch the Bug---Photo Inspiration
Creative Moments---Vintage
Delightful Challenges---Favorite Things ( I love wonderful DP's, brads, crisp image, scriptures)
Kenny K's Crafty Krew---ATG (with Kenny K image)
Little Red Wagon---Off the Edge (May be hard to see but the film strip extends my base card)
Melonheadz Friends---Fall Colors
My Mum's Craft Shop---Autumn Colors
Simon Says Stamp---ATG

Hope you join the fun at our WAW Challenge.  There's a wonderful prize of an "acrylic stamp set" waiting for our  one blessed winner from one of our sponsors this week, My Craft Spot by Kimberly.  Our other sponsor is Stamp Art Design by Kathryne whose giving away 5 Digi images of your choice.  You can choose to incorporate the free Word Art (sentiment) you see in my card for projects you wish to make and link with us though it's not mandatory.  You can link up to 5 projects (Anything Goes) as long as it's family friendly, inspirational or uplifting.  Can't wait to see what you come up with. Have a blessed Thanksgiving to you guys and always remember to honor the Lord for everything He has done in our lives.

Best Kind of Friend Center Step Card---It's Fun at our Neighborhood, 613 Avenue Create, with our Anything Goes Challenge!

Good Sunday morning everyone.  I'm back with another inspiration card for our Anything Goes Challenge with Optional Twist at our neighborhood, 613 Avenue Create.  I am so glad to have been able to spend time to create in the time of great stress.  There's just so many things in our minds at times, mostly when we perceive changes in life (health, finances, work, relationships, direction, among others) that we experience anxiety that can cause us to worry for the future.  As one gets older, "change" can sometimes be painful  (Hah, I know that now!..LOL).  But change is constant and as much as we want to be in a comfortable position, it does not stay that way.  That's when my trust in the Lord plays a major part.  As a Born-again believer, I still experience "worry" which (I know!) does not help me achieve anything in the first place.  The Bible says in Matthew 6:25-27,  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"  I have kept this scriptures in my heart.  At times I wanted to cradle my worries (Yes, we do so by allowing them to rest upon us and refusing to place it in God's hands), the Word of God battles with the worries in my mind.  As a child of God, purchased by the blood of Jesus, the Word of my Father takes a hold of me and bring unto submission the things that does not abide in Him.  He reminds me of all the times I had similar experiences in the past and how He brought me out of what seemed to be hopeless situations.  Being a believer of Jesus Christ is not without battle.  Looking back, there were so many that it is by grace I am still alive today.  Many times, battles are needed in order for us to realize that without God, we cannot do anything (John 15:5).  When things are going our way, we become complacent and without knowing it, our trust shifts from God our Provider, to our business, jobs, family, status, possessions, etc.  When trials come, we are confronted with our  humanity/limitations and brings us back to the TRUE SOURCE of all we got, GOD, OUR FATHER! 

Earlier today, as I was in that state of battle with worries in my mind, I felt very exhausted from the inside.  My 8 year old boy came to sit beside me and for some reason, asked me to be quiet.  There was no noise whatsoever and all I was hearing were key tones as my husband types on his phone.  At that few minutes, God revealed something to me.  He reminded me of what Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  You see, I am very familiar with this verse but when the Lord reminded me this time, it took on a whole new meaning.  He's giving me a personal direction.  This is what He wants me to do.  To give the worries---the tired and weary soul, and all that junk, at the foot of the Cross (where victory was achieved once and for all by Jesus Christ).  To rest upon the arms of my Savior, who loves me and deeply cares for me.  At one moment of silence, I gave Him a chance to talk to me and comfort me.  It was POWERFUL and it extinguished every bit of negative thoughts that wants to rule my mind.  Not only that, as we broke the silence, I was talking to my son about the need for "being silent" (to hear the voice of God)  and how many people at this day and time are dreading silence (because they are afraid their conscience might talk to them), I was teaching my son to spend time to listen to God's voice while simultaneously, God revealed to me (that very moment) that the message was not just for my son but for me, as well.  This may sound weird for some people but He does want us to be the first to practice what we speak.  "We cannot give what we don't have."  It's amazing how God is filling me with His wisdom while I was pouring the same for somebody---all at the same time!  MY GOD IS AWESOME!  Now, I will face each day armed with this revelation-knowledge, knowing that He carries all my burdens, and had set me up for blessings and victory as I continue to trust solely in Him/His Word and to rely upon His instructions in sweet moments of silence and fellowship.  If you are struggling with any kind of worry right now, I know that this message is not just for me but for everyone in whose eyes will be opened as you read on this Blog  post.  Let the Lord speak to you and if you haven't taken the first step to come to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, now is the time.  It's the most important decision you will ever make in this life which is the key to your eternal destiny.  If you're ready to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and experience the New Birth (Born-Again, John 3:3), I want to help you pray.  Please click HERE.  I would love to leave you with some verses that encourages us to trust in the Lord, always:

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead." (Isaiah 43:2-3)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present our request 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."  (Philippians 4:6-8)

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my (Jesus) name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubles and do not be afraid." (John 14:26-27)

I hope you were blessed as much as I had been with God's Word.  Anyway, our "optional twist" for our Challenge at 613 Avenue Create-Anything Goes is to "Create Your Own Challenge."  You will find more details on that as you visit our Challenge site.  It's fun and easy as I get to use some of my favorite materials anyhow.  If you want a bit of Challenge, take on the twist.  If not, you can still enter any project you have created.   For this Card, I used an image from our Challenge sponsor this week, Bugaboo Stamps, called "Scene It - Close Knit Friends."  I colored it with my ProMarker and Prismacolor markers.  The base card is a Kraft CS measuring 5.5 x 11 inches, cut an scored to form this center step design.  The DP's are from My Mind's Eye, K & Company and some scraps.  The glittered flower is from K & Company, the brads from Recollections and the white nail head gems are from Imaginisce.  The wonderful sentiment is from the book called "Ultimate Guide to a Perfect Card" which I typed and printed.  Lastly, I incorporated some regular and fancy stitching all over this card.  I want to create a "home" scene and I am pretty happy with the results.  What do you think?

 BEST KIND OF FRIEND CENTER STEP CARD:

 BEST KIND OF FRIEND CENTER STEP CARD SIDE VIEW:

 BEST KIND OF FRIEND CENTER STEP CARD LAYERS:

 BEST KIND OF FRIEND CENTER STEP CARD INSIDE:

BEST KIND OF FRIEND CENTER STEP CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Make It Monday---ATG
Challenges 4 Everybody---ATG
Creative Inspirations Paint---ATG
Lacy Sunshine---ATG
A Gem of a Challenge---Sparkles
Allsorts---Bring on the Bling
Catch the Bug---Photo Inspiration
Color Me Creative---ATG
Inkspirational---ATG
Brown Sugar---ATG
Craftyhands---Sparkle and Bling
Creative Corner---Heavy Metal (all the white gems and brads are metal)
Digitally Sweet---ATG
Sister Act---ATG
By Lori Designs---Use Paper
Come and Get It---ATG with a Twist (Use Digital Stamp)
Crafts 4 Eternity---Glitter and Sparkle
DL.ART---ATG
Heck of a Challenge---In the Frame
My Craft Creations---ATG
Aud Sentiments---Any Sentiment
Paper Crafting Journey---Bling It Up
Scribble & Scrap---Always ATG
Creative Fingers---ATG with Optional Metal (those white gems are metal)
Paula Holifield Crafts---Sparkle and Shine
V's Sweet Ideas---Color Theme

There you have it, everyone.  I hope you were inspired to make a wonderful project to link for our Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  It's always "Anything Goes" so you can have some fun and we created an optional "Twist" for those who want a bit of Challenge.   Whether your artwork is simple of complicated, we invite you to link up.  There's a wonderful prize awaiting our winner from our sponsor, Bugaboo Stamps, whose giving away 7 digital stamps of your choice.  Wow! Can't wait to see your creation soon.  Hope you have a wonderful time giving honor and praise with other believers in your Churches today.  Jesus is worthy of the highest glory and praise from His beloved creation!

Scripture Series: Heavens Declare the Glory of God Card---It's Time for Another Inspirational Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  I am back with another inspirational card for our Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  We have a wonderful verse that is free for you to download at the WAW site which comes from Psalm 19:1 which says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork."  This took me back to the time I was learning about "natural revelation" in the scripture.  It is hard to disprove there is a God (who created all these wonderful things and holds things in their perfect places) because everything around us  is a testimony to the Truth that God exist.  We can plant a seed and expose it to the ample amount of water and sunlight and witness it's growth.  Yet the very power that causes this seed to germinate and transform from one stage to another is entirely all up to God.  We can be quick to conclude that it's our effort that made it grow but we haven't really factor the air and the mixture of gasses that it needs in order to sustain growth.  We often look for the tangible things but forget that behind each thing we see, there is an invisible hand that holds it together.  Why are we this way?  Even Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus, who walked with Him, ate with Him and lived with Him day in and day out, had to look for physical signs in order to believe Jesus' resurrected.  Haven't He witnessed all those extraordinary signs and wonders that Jesus performed throughout Jesus' ministry here on earth?  Wasn't he there when Jesus raised the dead to life, when the same Jesus fed 5,000 men (not to mention the women and children) with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes?   Didn't he witness Jesus calming the storm and walking in the water?  Thomas lived and breathe the same air as Jesus and have heard of the Truths that He declared in His three and a half years of Ministry, yet HE STILL DOUBTED!  Friends, the Truth is that our spirits had been dead since the time we were born.  We are incapable of handling the Truth because the God of this world (Satan) had deposited within us a SIN NATURE which gives us an irresistible desire to go against the will of God.  It is a disease, a CANCER of the spirit, which has no known cure in the physical realm.  There's no amount of good works done on earth that can cure us from this debilitating disease except we step out of the physical onto the spiritual where God Almighty holds the perfect cure---This one and only cure is the FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST (His death, burial and resurrection).  The access by which it can be obtained is only by FAITH alone!  You see, when God said in John 3:3 (Amplified version), "Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.", He was reiterating the blatant Truth that we are incapable of understanding the things of His kingdom unless we die from the cancer that debilitated and killed our spirits and through faith, be made alive again (Born-again meaning "Born from above) into God's Kingdom.  Without the dying to one's SELF (sin nature, human nature), we are incapable of seeing the ways of God (His Kingdom).  Every man, no matter what his status in life is, is confronted by this reality in His lifetime here on earth, for when physical death knocks on our doors, the decision we made in the spiritual (to accept the cure (Jesus) that God Himself prescribed or completely ignore it) is the very "KEY" that we will use to access the eternal.  What a price to pay if we make the wrong decision...

If the heavens declare the glory of God and it's all over and surrounding us, why are there lots of people that are completely oblivious about the glory of God?  It's because they never even stop and really take notice of it.  They have look at them and never go farther than what their physical eyes can see.  They have ignored the invisible aspects of God creation.  Hence, they worship what was created, rather than the Creator!  They are spiritually blind and will continue to be unless they make a conscious decision to repent of their blindness and by faith, ask the Lord Jesus to open their eyes to the things of God, be their Lord and Savior, both now and forever!  Only then, can we fully look at all of God's creation and say, "WOW, WHAT AN AMAZING GOD I SERVE!"  Here are some verses that I can now read and appreciate because I can see, beyond the words, and truly appreciate the great works of Almighty God, our Creator:

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?  You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor." (Psalm 8:3-5)

"Through him (Jesus) all things were made, without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, that life was the life of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."  (John 1:3-5)

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!  "Who has known the mind of the Lord?  Or who has been his counselor?  Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?" For from him and through him and for him are all things.  To him be the glory forever!  Amen."  (Romans 11:33-36)

So, here's my inspiration card for this Challenge.  I used a background image from Make It Crafty called "Country Walk and a very cute Tilda stamp from Magnolia. I colored both using my ProMarker/Prismacolor/Spectrum Noir markers.  The base card is a Kraft CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5-inches square.  The beautiful DP's are from Recollections, the scallop shape cut using my Nestabilities ran through my Cuttlebug and the circle is cut using an MS Small Circle Cutter.  There's a combination of simple and fancy stitching in this card and to complete the design, I added those white gems from Imaginisce.  It's been a long time since I used one of my Tilda images and I so happy I was able to fit her right in here.

 HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD CARD:

 HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD CARD LAYERS:

 HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD CARD INSIDE:

HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafter's Cafe---Heavy Metal
Crafting for all Seasons---Stitching
Digistamps4Joy---Stitching
Divas by Design---Make it Pretty
Fab 'n' Funky---ATG
Inklings & Yarns---ATG
Lady Anne's---More Than One Layer
Penny's Paper-Crafty---ATG
Scrapper's Delights---ATG
Whimsy Stamps---ATG
Aud Sentiments---Any Sentiment
Challenges 4 Everybody---ATG
Created with Love---ATG
Creative Inspirations Paint---ATG
DL.ART---ATG
Everybody-Art---Use Kraft
Heck of a Challenge---In the Frame
HIMCR---Die-Cuts
Lacy Sunshine---It's a Bling Thing!
My Craft Creations---ATG
OSAAT---ATG
OLLCB---Stitching
Penny Black and More---ATG (Tilda image is a rubber stamp)
Robyn's Fetish---Use Metal (Real or Faux)
Scrapbook Stamp Society---ATG + Option (Embossing: Wet or Dry)
Sweet Stamps---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Crafty Girls---ATG
Craftitude---ATG or Falling Leaves
Di's Digi Designs---Girly Creations
Jo's Scrap Shack---ATG
Make it Monday---ATG

There you have it, guys.  Thanks a lot for visiting my Blog today and surely appreciate all that sign-up as follower or leave comments  here.  Make sure to join us in the WAW Challenge for a chance to win great prizes from our two sponsors this week---Digi Darla (5 digi images of winner's choice) and Heart and Soul Rubber Stamp (for a Stamp Set).  You can make a project out of this week's free scripture Word Art (not mandatory) or link any family friendly, inspirational or uplifting projects, up to 5 (Anything Goes).  Please read the Challenge Rules to make sure your entries qualify.  It's not fun for us having to remove entries that don't adhere to the rules.  I am excited to see what you link with us this week. If you are feeling down, just get a good look around you and marvel at all of God's creation.  When we do so, we'll see that as He holds everything in place, according to their purpose, and is always in control.  It's up to us if we want to run our own lives or entrust each day to a loving, all knowing God...I trust Him my every breath, I need not worry about anything...

Scripture Series: Love in Deed and Truth Center Step Card---Check Out Another Anything Goes (Inspirational) Challenge at Word Art Wednesday...

Hello there, Crafty friends! It's such a sunny and chilly day here in Texas and I am thanking the Lord for the mercies He has for us each and every morning.  The past week had been such trying times for the country I originally came from, the Philippines!  My immediate family were all safe (Thank God!) but I have tons of distant relatives (mother side) that live on those typhoon Haiyan (locally called typhoon "Yolanda") ravaged city of Tacloban and other cities and provinces in Leyte and Samar (Central Philippines).  I have Aunts living here in the States that have immediate family out there and was sad to see them worry throughout the week and scrambling for every bit of news they can find.  I also saw the news of the devastation and how this super typhoon (first of its kind in strength) have destroyed, displace and scattered all these people.  And because this area in the Philippines are mostly islands, any damaged bridge, roads and debris would make it difficult to bring humanitarian aid.  So, I see desperation, frustration, hunger and thirst among people that survived the brutal storm.  Many have resorted to looting and illegal activities just to feed and clothe their families.  Many, if not all, have no shelter, clothing, food and basic necessities of life, accompanied by worries of their missing love ones, wondering if they are still alive, buried under the rubble or washed up to the sea.  And many couldn't help but ask, "Where is God Almighty in all of these calamities?  Was He silent to the cries of these human lives?"  I would not dare answer these questions by my own understanding.  For God said in Isaiah 55:8-9, "“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  On thing I know of the One, True God and it was all captured in John 3:16 which says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  This verse alone tells us that He loves us so much  that He unselfishly gave up His Son, Jesus Christ, being the Only One, who is qualified to redeem us from the price of high-treason committed by the first human, Adam!  Because of Adam's sin, the results were catastrophic (Read Genesis 3).  Man gave up his authority ("dominion"given by God---Read Genesis 1:26) to the one who hates God the most, Lucifer (Satan) whose sole purpose is to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10).  And since that time, we became witness to merciless devouring of the devil using the authority he got from man.  Unless we understand why we are in the condition (spiritual, moral decay) we are right now, we can never make sense of all the things happening around us.  We are all passers by in this temporary life/world in which we live in yet our decisions here on earth determines where we will be in the eternal.  Everyone of us will face physical death at some point and the God of heaven and earth made sure that we have a way of escape (through faith in Jesus Christ alone--Read John 14:6) from the place that is made for Satan and all his co-horts, which is a place for people who have rejected the benefits of the "finished work of Christ" (death, burial and resurrection of Jesus) in their lifetime.  Calamities can either cause us to lose our confidence in ourselves and cling to God (know Who He truly is) or be bitter and plunge into even further destruction.  I hope that by saying this, you are not thinking that I meant clinging on one's RELIGION for I tell you the Truth---NO religion is ever going to save anybody!  I am talking about having a "personal relationship with JESUS CHRIST"---the One who died on our behalf, so that we can be free from all the bondage of the enemy both here on earth and the eternal life.  I am talking about the GOD of the BIBLE---who have led men and women of faith since the beginning of time, who have trusted HIM alone towards the fulfillment of His promises through Jesus Christ and how His plan can never be thwarted (despite all attempts of the enemy).  I hope that tragic things happening around us will not cause us to be weary  but to see the goodness of the Lord underneath the rubble.  He has given us His Word (the Bible) so that we can get to know Him and make sense of things happening around us---good or bad!   Take the time to read it...Whatever situation you are in right now, go to Him and let it all out.  He is a Father that wants to comfort you, give you answers or just allow you to rest in His arms.  Here are some scriptures that would encourage you in times of need:

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. "Selah"(Psalm 46:1-3)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  (Matthew 11:28-29)

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)
  

"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." (Romans 8:28)

Anyway, we have another Inspirational Challenge for you at Word Art Wednesday (WAW) featuring a free Word Art which you can download at the WAW site found in 1 John 3:18 which says, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."  It simply means that "LOVE" should always be accompanied by action.  We cannot tell anyone we love them just because we can and talk is cheap but it is important that we have a genuine love that comes from the heart that knows God.  God's kind of love is not self-centered but self-sacrificing---always seeking for the good of others first.  It requires patience, understanding and a humble heart (among others) to give this kind of love.  Thus, we have to learn from the life lived by Jesus Christ here on earth.  We have a model that set the bar so high that we need to ask Him for help through His Holy Spirit to ever be able to love our neighbors in it's purest essence.  As I trust in Him, each day is a day to be transformed to His image and likeness.  For this Card, I used an image from Art Impressions called "Girlfriends Stamp-Umbrella" which I colored with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  My base card is Kraft CS and was cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches center step card design.  The DP's are all from Paper Studio (Beach House Pack), the flowers I layered from Prima and Recollections, applied glitters (Stickles-Diamond) at flowers and umbrella and added some metallic brads from Recollections as well.  The scallop circle is from Nestabilities and the swirl is a Sizzix die---both cut using my Cuttlebug  and the border is punched with an EK Success Punch.  Lastly, there's some regular and fancy stitching incorporated in this project.  Hope you like it!

 LOVE IN DEED AND TRUTH CENTER STEP CARD:

  LOVE IN DEED AND TRUTH CENTER STEP CARD LAYERS:

  LOVE IN DEED AND TRUTH CENTER STEP CARD INSIDE:

 LOVE IN DEED AND TRUTH CENTER STEP CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Aud Sentiments---Feminine
Brown Sugar---ATG
Card Mania---ATG
Di's Digi Designs---Girly Creations
DL.ART---ATG
My Craft Creations---ATG
Paper Girls---Cut It Out
TTCRD---ATG
Make It Monday---ATG
Sister Act---ATG
Challenges 4 Everybody---ATG
Lacy Sunshine---It's A Bling Thing
Paper Make-Up Stamps---Stitching
Paper Playtime---Sparkle
Anonymous Stamps---ATG
Artistic Inspirations---ATG/Use a Sentiment
Love to Scrap---ATG
OLLCB---Stitching
Crafty Sentiments---Blues
Penny's Paper-Crafty---Add a Sentiment
Scribble & Scrap---ATG
Whimsy Stamps---ATG
Scrapbook Stamp Society---ATG
Crafter's Cafe---Embellish Like Crazy Person
Crafting for all Seasons---Stitching
Crafty Creations---Dies & Punches
Creative Moments---ATG/CAS
Digistamps4Joy---Stitching
Fab 'n' Funky---ATG
Lady Anne's---More than One Layer
Scrapper's Delights---ATG
Create with TLC---Show It Off Sunday

Thanks a lot for visiting my Blog today and surely appreciate all that sign-up as follower or leave comments  here.  Make sure to join us in the WAW Challenge for a chance to win great prizes from our two sponsors this week---Paper Sweeties ($10 GC to their shop) and My Creative Classroom (Free Class).  You can make a project out of this week's free scripture Word Art (not mandatory) or link any family friendly, inspirational or uplifting projects, up to 5 (Anything Goes).  Please read the Challenge Rules to make sure your entries qualify.  It's not fun for us having to remove entries that don't adhere to the rules.  I am excited to see what you link with us this week. God is in control and no matter what our situation is right now, we can truly rely on His promises.

Scripture Series: Fear Not, I Will Help Thee Card---Time for Another Inspirational Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Good morning, wonderful fellas!  I am a day delayed again in posting this for our Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  Yesterday was a challenging day for our family having lost our canine family member of 10 years.  I know this day would come but it's still hard to let go of a "loyal friend" that has been part of our lives for a decade.  She was there before my son was born and had been with our family for all the fun times and the not so good times.  It hit me the hardest after  I came home last night...I will not be able to hear her barking excitedly, wagging her tail with just my mere presence.  Even our cat, whose best friends with her, is missing her a lot too.  He's there sniffing her bed and going through the areas where she used to stay.  It breaks my heart!  You see, death is not an easy thing to face.  I know this for a fact after losing both my parents (who were both healthy and didn't show any problems) died within months apart from each other.  Though they didn't live together for many years due to unpleasant situations, I lost them without much warning.  There's really nothing that can prepare us when physical death comes knocking at our door.  All  of us will see it happening around us and eventually face the fact that we ourselves will someday face our mortality unless the Lord takes us (every Born-Again believer) prior (rapture of the Church).  This is what the Lord revealed to me yesterday in the passing of our dog, Buffy!...As I face the sad decision to end the life of a friend whose endured pain and suffering from all the tumors growing inside and outside her body and how it tore me up inside, so, I saw a glimpse of the heart of God seeing each and every individual He created (in His image and likeness---Genesis 1:26) face death without accepting the gift of salvation that Jesus Christ has provided for each and everyone of us.  He is the Only Way Out of the "eternal death" that is awaiting everyone who have been spiritually dead by being born in Adam.  When Man fell  in the Garden of Eden,  he (Adam) gave away the authority (dominion) that God originally gave him and deliver it to Satan (committed high-treason).  By one act of man,  he plunged all of humanity into fiery lakes of hell.  There's nothing we can do in it ourselves that can change that outcome until Jesus came into this world and paid the price for our freedom with His own blood!  Romans 10:9-10 says, "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."  Because God knows that man needed to be restored spiritually (Born-again Experience, John 3:3) to ever see His Kingdom and that physical death is eminent, He provided to us the Only Way for restoration---JESUS CHRIST!  Like I grieved for the passing of my parents and recently, my dog--- His heart bleeds for every soul that rejects Christ knowing that after every opportunities in their lifetime to come to the knowledge of Christ, they rejected the very One whose able to save them.  It is not the heart of God for anyone to die as He originally created us in His image---immortal and without sin.  But the Fall of Man happened and SIN and DEATH BY SIN took a toll on all of us which are still affecting all of humanity to this day.  

I am thankful to the Lord for He opened my eyes to the reality of my need for Him.  The Bible is very clear in John 15:5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  Though I will not be able to see my Mom and my Dad, my pet (Buffy) while I am on this earth---because I have ETERNAL LIFE in CHRIST,  I will be reunited with all my love ones (who came to know Christ) in God's eternal Kingdom.  Because of this revelation, I can face the future.  Though with a bit of sadness,  but with  far more hope and exceeding joy.  When this life is over, (immediately) my true life in Christ begins and will never end.  Be comforted by these promises from the Lord...

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me (Jesus). In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."  (John 14:1-4)

"But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)

"When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:54-58)

Anyway, I would like to share with you the inspiration card I made for our Challenge at WAW this week.  As always, we feature a verse that you can download for free at the WAW site like the ones you see in my card below taken from Isaiah 41:13 which says, "For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."  What a word of comfort from the One Who created heavens and the earth!  Picture this, in the coldest of times, in our darkest hours, we have a God who holds us...Because He is God, He's never letting go!  As we reach out and cry out to Him like a child to his Daddy, fully trusting of the love in our Father's heart, no harm will come upon us.  His voice reassures us that, "Things are going to be okay."  I don't know about you but when the Lord promises things, He always fulfills!  Numbers 23:19 tells us, "God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act?  Does he promise and not fulfill?"  We may not receive every answer to our prayers but rest assured that whatever it is, He has a greater plan for our good.  Be it in joy or in sadness, let us put our trust in God Who truly cares for us.  He loves you more than you can ever fathom.  Anyway, for this card, I used a wonderful image from one of our sponsors this week, Robyn's Fetish, called "In the Cold" which truly embodies the message of the scripture for this week.  I colored it with my ProMarker/Prismacolor marker and did some paper piecing on a part of the image's  clothing.  I added some glitter (Stickles-Stardust) to show some heavy snow.  The base card is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5-inches square card.  The DP's are all from My Mind's Eye (Lost and Found Two Paper Pad), added some brads and a banner from Basic Grey.  Lastly, there's a ton of stitching all over this card.  I am pretty happy with how it turned out.

 FEAR NOT, I WILL HELP THEE CARD:

 FEAR NOT, I WILL HELP THEE CARD LAYERS:

 FEAR NOT, I WILL HELP THEE CARD INSIDE:

FEAR NOT, I WILL HELP THEE CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Bearly-Mine---ATG
Card Mania---ATG
Craftin Desert Diva's---ATG
Craftin for all Seasons---Autumn Colors
Crafty Boots---Autumn
Crafty Creations---Autumn Colors
Crafty Sentiments---For All Guys Out There
Paper Make-up Stamps---Lots of Layers
Divas by Design---Use a Digi
DL.ART Thankful Thursday---ATG
Everybody-Art---Autumn
Hanna and Friends---Glitter
Ladybug Crafts---Autumn Colors
Love to Scrap---ATG
Loves Rubberstamps---ATG
My Craft Creations---ATG
My Mum's Craft Shop---Autumn Colors
Nutcrafters---Autumn Splendor
Paper Pretties---Falling For You
Papertake Weekly---ATG
Parade Your Crafts---Autumn
Penny's Paper-Crafty---Lots of Layers
Scrapbook Stamp Society---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Wags 'n Whiskers---ATG
Victorine Stamps---Fall or Thanksgiving
Deep Ocean---Winter
Delightful Challenges---All that Glitters
Fresh Brewed---Snow/Christmas
Paper Shelter---Winter Fun

I hope you'd been blessed by what the Lord has put in my heart.  If you are suffering from a lost of a love one these days, my heart goes out with you.  Allow yourself to grieve and let the Lord help you move on.  That's what I am going to do.  He is able to deliver me from anything.  I am going to hang onto Jesus for His help never fails.  Make sure to join us in the WAW Challenge for a chance to win great prizes from our two sponsors this week---Mark's Finest Papers and Stamps and Robyn's Fetish.  You can make a project out of this week's free scripture Word Art (not mandatory) or link any family friendly, inspirational or uplifting projects, up to 5 (Anything Goes).  Please read the Challenge Rules to make sure your entries qualify.  It's not fun for us having to remove entries that don't adhere to the rules.  I am excited to see what you link with us this week.  Anyway, keep your eyes upon the Lord and He will see you through...Hugs!