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.