Scripture Series: Christ Abound In Us Card---Join Us for our Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

It's another Wednesday and I'm here to inspire you with a Card for our Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  We have a wonderful Scripture Word Art (you can download for free) as we celebrate Resurrection Day Sunday.  It's taken from 2 Corinthians 1:5 which says, "For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ."  This  tells us that as we come to the Lordship of Jesus Christ through faith in His finished work at the Cross, we become partakers of His suffering, His death and His victory.  Just as we were in Adam (by being born physically), we inherited from the first Man the ugly consequences of his disobedience and rebellion from God. Yet, by being Born-Again (John 3:3) in Christ, we also gained the victory that Jesus accomplished at the Cross.  Having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ didn't promise a "bed of roses" in this lifetime.  This world is still ruled by Satan who hates God and every one who have come to the knowledge of Christ.  The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8-9, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world."  Jesus had to endure terrible treats  since He began His earthly existence.  Satan had plotted to kill and destroy Him.  He, who knew no sin was persecuted, tried and delivered to sinners.  Like a Lamb to be slaughtered, He bore the filthiness of  Sin upon His body.  Think about Who Jesus is---perfect, pure, holy--- without sin! He is the Word of God declared in John 1:1-3 which says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."  A loving God couldn't  deny Himself of His nature to love, so He came to earth in the flesh to save the very people who hated and rebelled against Him.  A "Just God" cannot allow SIN to go unpunished.  He is the very author and perfecter of Love, Truth and Justice.  Man was utterly hopeless!  They have nobody from among themselves that is pure and holy, qualified to save mankind.  Everyone born physically in Adam was tainted by the "sin nature" that came from Lucifer.  Only God is pure!  Because of God's great love for mankind, He gave His ultimate sacrifice---Jesus (the Word of God).  He died on the Cross to reconcile man back to Himself.  Jesus' prayer to the Father at the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:39 says, "Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” What about this cup of suffering?  Were they merely the blows to His body, emotions or the anticipation of the horrible events that He's going to face?  I submit to you---NOT AT ALL!  It's so much more than that as Luke 22:44 tells us, "And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground."  “Hematidrosis” is a rare, but very real, medical condition where one’s sweat will contain blood. The sweat glands are surrounded by tiny blood vessels. These vessels can constrict and then dilate to the point of rupture where the blood will then effuse into the sweat glands. It’s cause – extreme anguish.  The "Cup" that made Jesus suffer the most was the "Cup of God's wrath" befalling upon Him.  The judgment of God against the iniquities of all mankind caused Him to be separated from the Father.  He was always with God.  He and the Father are One.  But that was going to change beginning that night. At the Cross, the eyes of the Father turned away from His One and Only Son, causing Him to cry out loud in Matthew 27:46, "About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"). Friends, He did it all because of His great love for us!  So great, He chose to die!  On the third day, He rose again from the dead which seals His sacrifice to complete victory.  We may be suffering and carrying our crosses daily.   That includes trials and persecutions for firmly standing on the Word of God.  We may lose opportunities, family or friends because of our faith in Him.  But take heart, none of that can compare to the promises we have in Christ Jesus.  He lives inside every believer and never leave nor forsake us.  He knows our pain!  No matter how great the trials are, be comforted that He is under control and that He has our future---a VERY BRIGHT FUTURE, INDEED!  Want to share with you a few verses to strengthen you in your faith in Christ, our Lord!

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." ( 2 Corinthians 4:8-10)

"I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 3:10-14)

"The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.  And by him we cry, Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."  (Romans 8:15-17)

For this Card, I used a wonderful image from Saturated Canary called "Set Free." which is a perfect image for the scripture Word Art we are sharing with you this week.  I colored it with my ProMarker/Prismacolor/Chromatix markers.  The base card is a white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  The DP's are from Pebbles,  the flower from Paper Studio, the leaves are die-cut using an MS Punch, as well as a couple of dark brown brads.  The heart stamp is from Stampabilities.  Lastly, I did some fancy and regular stitching all over this creation.  You see, I am not a big fan of the color purple but thought of giving it a try.  I'm pretty happy with it.

CHRIST ABOUND IN US CARD:

 CHRIST ABOUND IN US CARD LAYERS:

 CHRIST ABOUND IN US CARD INSIDE:

CHRIST ABOUND IN US CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More---ATG
Dazzling Diva---Mother's day/ATG
Crafting with Dragonflies---Mother's Day/Special Lady
Creative Moments---ATG/Girly
Digistamps4Joy---Easter/Spring
Fab 'n' Funky---Flower Power
Hobbybrook---Easter
Inky Impressions---Easter
Nutcrafters---Girly
Paper Shelter---Spring is Here
Rhedd and Rosie---ATG
Ruby's Rainbow---Ladies
Scrapper's Delight---Bloomin' Lovely
Stampavie and More---Easter
Whimsy Stamps---ATG
Emerald Faeries---Color Combo and/or Easter
Crafty Hazelnuts----Patterned Paper
Digi Galore---Flowers
Just B Creative Crazy---Just Because
Mema's Crafts---ATG
Oddball Art Stamp---Easter
Cuttin and Stampin---Easter
Digi Choosday---Use 2 Papers
Everybody's Art---ATG
Scrap-Creations---Easter
Loves Rubberstamps---Easter or Spring time
Oldie but a Goodie---Easter (The image has been with me longer than 6 mos.)
Papertake Weekly---Easter
TTCRD---ATG
Eclectic Ellapu---Easter

Have an awesome day, everyone and looking forward to see your wonderful projects linked at our WAW Blog.  It will be nice to see the featured Word Art in your Challenge project but not mandatory.  As long as it's family friendly, inspirational and uplifting, you are free to link up to 5 projects.  Our sponsors for this week are Mark's Finest Papers (One stamp set), Eureka Stamps (5 Digi Images) and Yours or Mine Paper Crafts ($10 GC).  So start creating and link-up.  You don't want to miss the chance to win any of our fabulous prizes this week.  Just want to tell you how much God loves you and He died on the Cross so that we may live freely.  Be blessed!