Scripture Series: Toward the Goal Card---It's time for Another Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create!

Good Monday morning, everyone!  This post is coming to you a day late...I had my hands full yesterday to have it ready for our Anything Goes Challenge with an Optional Twist (Color Challenge) at 613 Avenue Create.  But the card featured here, made it in time for the Challenge which highlights  one of my favorite verses in Bible.  I'm talking about Philippians 3:14 which says, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  Whether you recognize it or not, all of us are in a journey!  God equipped us with talents, abilities and the passion to fulfill the purposes He has for us on earth.  But we are not to achieve any of them without the guidance of the One who created us.  Before Man fell into sin, Adam and Eve lived in constant fellowship with the Father.  There's no inclination nor knowledge and desire to rebel against God---no SIN to separate them from Him!  He was their Perfect Source for everything.  So, where did sin come from?  The Word of God clearly tells us that it was found in Lucifer (Satan) as stated in Ezekiel 28:13-17.  This very nature of sin (SIN NATURE) has plagued man right after Adam disobeyed God.   The first man gave away our dominion (God-given authority), and brought us all to become slaves to Satan.  So we asked, why is there so much evil happening all around us?  Only when you have complete understanding on what Adam gave up and whose in-charge of the affairs of this world since then, will you be able to make sense of all the horrible things mankind have experienced and still experiencing throughout history.  John 10:10 states, "The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."  This verse tells the very source of all evil and what he wants to accomplish. Yet in the same verse, what Satan meant for destruction, the Lord Jesus will bring to life and restoration.  We must understand that God's plan can never be thwarted and I meant, NEVER!  We may have deviated from the purpose that God has for our lives but if we admit to our sins and trust in the antidote that God has provided for the salvation of mankind against the poison that the devil have injected upon every single one of us, we leave the old nature (in Adam) and becomes "Born-Again" (John 3:3) into the Kingdom of God (in Christ) where we were before the Fall happened.  

You see, the Father didn't detail the ups and downs, the different twist and turns each of our lives is going to take.  We need to know that God is Sovereign and being the One who knows the ending from the beginning, we are to put our complete trust that whatever life may bring us, He is under complete control!  Everything that we have and enjoy comes from the finished work of Jesus Christ---His death, burial and resurrection!    If in this lifetime, we have not come to the knowledge of Him and cling to the hope and salvation that He already provided for us, that simply means that we have placed our trust in "OURSELVES" and that we are saying to God (Who made us, the heavens and the earth) that "We don't need You!"...This may seem harsh but if we say "NO" to the saving grace that is in Jesus Christ alone before death, we have already sealed our destination---in the lake of fire, where Satan and all his cohorts are destined eternally.  One can say goodbye to every ounce of good thing for such is a place of inconceivable evil---the absence of anything that we know is good!  So please, I encourage anyone who have ears to listen---whose heart God is knocking at right this moment (as you read this post).  Get to know the God of the Bible---JESUS CHRIST!  He is our "ONLY WAY OUT" from the lies and deception that the devil has placed upon us.  The ticket to the Kingdom of God can only be accessed here on earth but if you fail to receive it (Jesus' gift of salvation in your behalf), you need not do anything because the ticket to damnation have long been arranged.  Sorry to be blunt but that's the truth! No amount of prayers nor what your love ones can do here on earth, will reverse that outcome (Read "The Rich Man and Lazarus at Luke 16:19-31) once a person dies.  That is why it is useless to pray for the dead---we are to pray for the living! 

On the other hand, those of us who have placed our trust in Jesus Christ are to press toward the goal.  While on earth, we depend upon the Lord to finish the race.  We may encounter a fall, an injury, extreme exhaustion that would slow us down or send us crawling in the track.  But if we persevere (truly depending in the power of the Holy Spirit to get us there) and fix our eyes on the prize (the crown of life), God will supply us with the strength and passion to stand up and go on with the journey at whatever cost.  Our very purpose comes from God and He can make that a reality as you solely depend upon the Victor of victors---Jesus Christ!  He will be there---face to face with us at the end of our journey and oh, what a glorious moment that will be. Here are some verses that would encourage all of us to run the race---keeping our focus on the prize:

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."(Hebrews 12:1-3)

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."  (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

For this Card, I worked with a digi stamp from one of our sponsors, Kenny K Downloads.  I chose the "Olympic Runner" and colored it with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  I chose my DP's (from Paper Studio) based on our optional color themes (3 color combos to choose from).  I chose blue/purple/turquoise because the other two color combos were too girlish!  It was not an easy task to work with those colors because truthfully, I would not think of putting those 3 colors together in one project...LOL  The hardest color for me to include was purple because it may deviate from my original plan of creating a masculine card.  So, I left the colors to the DP's and colored my image with my own color choices.  I can't imagine placing a purple anywhere in the image and still make it look manly---but I did try, yet felt I couldn't use it, specifically with this image...LOL.  Anyway, the base card is Kraft, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  I used an MS Circle Cutter to produce the circles, added some glitters to the image (Stickles - Orange Peel and Yellow), some metallic nail head gems from Imaginisce and ran the panels into my sewing machine for some stitching.  The wonderful scripture sentiment was put together by yours through Word document.   

 TOWARD THE GOAL CARD:

 TOWARD THE GOAL CARD LAYERS:

 TOWARD THE GOAL CARD INSIDE:

TOWARD THE GOAL CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

*** WANT THIS CARD?  AVAILABLE AT MY ETSY---HERE! ***

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Anyone for Anya---Masculine/Grungy
OSAAT---ATG
Scribble and Scrap---ATG
Crafty Hazelnut---ATG with Patterned Papers
Creative Moments---ATG/Optional Things with Wings
Sister Act---ATG
Stamping Chef---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Fan-Tastic Tuesday---ATG
Country View---Paper Chase
Artistic Inspirations---Easter Colors/ATG
Crafty Catz---ATG
Paper Crafting Journey---ATG
HIMCR---Freestyle
Creative Fingers---ATG
Crafty Girls---ATG
Corrosive Challenge---Show Us Your Metal
Crafting from the Heart---Cute and Cuddly/ATG
Craftin Desert Divas---ATG
Kraft Journal---Inside and Out
Make My Monday---One for the Boys
Make Something Monday---Sparkle
My Craft Creations---ATG
Scrapbook Stamp Society---ATG
Simon Says Stamp---ATG
Crazy Challenge---Bling It Up
Color Me Creative---Sparkle It
Creative Moments---ATG
Craftitude---ATG/Add a Brad or Eyelet
Stampin with the Dragon---Bling It Up

There you have it, folks!  Don't miss the opportunity to join our Anything Goes Challenge with an optional Twist at 613 Avenue Create.  There's wonderful prizes awaiting the winners from our lovely sponsors for this week---Kenny K Downloads and Aurora Wings.  Can't wait to see what fabulous projects you're going to highlight this week.  I hope you have a wonderful week filled with the divine inspiration of God's Word to carry through the journey of life.  Would love to hear your comments too.   Hugs, always!