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.