Behind the Clouds Card---Join Us at my Neighborhood, 613 Avenue Create for Anything Goes with a Twist and a Blog Hop for Paulette at Create with TLC!

Hello Everyone...I have been MIA for quite sometime as there are many things that needs me and my family's attention nowadays.  I may be out for a couple more weeks after this but once everything settles down, I can resume with my regular sharing and blogging.  The past few weeks, my faith in the Lord was tested in so many different ways.  I've hold on to His promises ever since I became a believer and though with many victories, life can be very hard at times.  Yet, I can look back and see  how the Lord delivered me and my family from difficult situations and it propelled me to grow in faith.  Recently, God impressed upon my heart (accompanied by His Word with many signs along the way) answers to many specific prayers.  If any of you wonder how God speaks, it is primarily through His Word (Bible) or sometimes---a still, small voice.  It could also be through His Holy Spirit speaking in your heart, a Word of knowledge from family, friends or even strangers or by profound signs and wonders.  However, even with a revelation of His blessings and promises in my life, what takes place in the physical realm (earthly existence) seemed to contradict the delivery of such blessings.  I don't know with you but when everything is a struggle and every step seems to be a battleground---one step up to victory is followed by two steps backwards hitting a wall in the process, it compels me to seek God's face and ask  if we are truly moving according to His direction.  I remember having experienced many trials in life but at some point, God steps in and provided victory.  But I realized that as we mature in faith, the degree of trials also increases.  Armed with the wonderful promises of God in one hand yet on the other, burdened by what physical reality shows---IT IS A BATTLEGROUND!  As a Born-again believer, we are confronted daily with a CHOICE---to live for God through faith in what Jesus had accomplished or follow the dictates of our own will which directly reacts to what our five senses perceives/encounters.  Whether we eat, sleep, work or play----this battle (choice) rages on inside everyone of us.  My desire is to do the will of my Father in heaven, ask for His direction in all my circumstances.  But there are times, He seemed to be silent.  Unlike my past experiences, it was not clear to me what road to take and when to move.  Feeling helpless, I cried to Him many times, talked to Him, letting Him know what's inside my heart.  I asked Him many "why" questions and prayed that He give me the wisdom to understand.  I asked for comfort and strength and to be given faith and courage to hold on to His promises.  Though my emotion tries to push me even further into hopelessness,  I know one thing for sure---GOD IS WITH ME (John 14:16-17)!   I may not fully grasp the reason why things are such a struggle but I know that through it all,  Jesus is with me on this rough and bumpy ride.  At times, He may be silent but it does not mean He's abandoned me.  The One Who didn't withhold His Only Begotten Son from death on the Cross to save me from eternal separation from Him is not likely to leave me alone in the danger zone of life after His redemptive work was accomplished.  If anything, I know I can trust His Love for me.  My feelings (emotions) would lie to me and everyone forsake me but my Heavenly Father would not (Numbers 23:19). 

You see, people who are sharing God's Word are not exempted from troubles and pains.  It's easy to quote the Scripture and sound spiritual in the eyes of many but the real challenge is do we live the life we share to others?  We tell others to live by faith but when trials come our way, do we anchor our lives with the same faith we preach?  We tell many of the hope we have in Christ but when we're faced with one huge storm after another, is our life saver only Jesus?  I know I have to be very honest with my God.  I tell Him all my concerns, fears and weaknesses for no one knows me more than He does (Psalm 139).  He can work with me if I give it all to Him---no pretensions nor hypocrisy.  It is in fact because of His work in my life that I am able to share His love to everyone and have compassion for others who are undergoing similar trials.  Through Christ, I count every hardship a blessing because it brings me closer to understanding why Jesus had to die for me/us (Romans 8:28).  It's not easy but I trust in the presence of God in my life.  His Word says that absolutely nothing is going to separate me from His love through Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39).  If you are feeling hopeless at this moment, know that the Lord Jesus wants to meet you in your time of need, to love and comfort you and to ease up your burden.  He's just a heartbeat away.  I would like to share with you this article which will sure help you when facing trials---WHY DOES GOD TEST US?  Take the time to read and you'll be blessed!

Anyway, I created this Card for our Anything Goes Challenge with an optional Twist (Use Pink) for our Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  I am privileged to use a wonderful image from one of our sponsors, Time for Tea Designs called "Pedal Power" and I colored it with my ProMarker/Prismacolor/Bic markers.  The base card is Kraft, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  The DP's are from DCWV and my scraps.  I did some embossing with my Cuttlebug, added some white nail head gems and some glitters (Stickles---Lime Green and Diamond) to the clouds and the image.  Lastly I did some sewing inside and out. 

On the other hand, this POST is very special because I want to dedicate it to a dear friend here at Blog land---PAULETTE from Create with TLC!  She encountered an accident at home which caused her to be hospitalized and undergo surgery.  She's looking forward to better days taking some rest.  However, if you are like me, then you have been a recipient of her generosity through her daily sharing of free digital stamps!  I have a wonderful collection of great sentiments and images from her which I always refer to when I create my cards.  I know I can always find something wonderful that will suit every kind of theme I can think of.  In short, she does not share simple artwork but are in fact, the best sentiments and images one can find at no cost.  She would rather receive thank you comments and that truly makes her happy.  And even those she sells at her store are the most affordable sets one can ever find.  I am blessed to be a part of her Design Team and make projects with her artwork every now and then.   She's truly an amazing lady!  To make her smile today, we (her DT's) have arranged a BLOG HOP to bring sunshine to her cloudy days. 

I AM THE LAST STOP which means you came from HETTY'S BLOG and have enjoyed your time hopping to 10 others before her.   After me, you can proceed back to the main Blog---CREATE WITH TLC if you want to link a get well/encouragement project/s and/or send your well wishes to our dear, Paulette!  I know she has touched so many lives and this is just a small token of appreciation to brighten her day.   I am featuring a freebie sentiment I got from her in today's project and  would like to encourage her with its message.  Hope for your speedy recovery, Paulette!  We truly miss you! 

BEHIND THE CLOUDS CARD:

BEHIND THE CLOUDS CARD LAYERS:

BEHIND THE CLOUDS CARD INSIDE:

 

BEHIND THE CLOUDS CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Addicted to Stamps---Polka Dots
Ditzie Digi---ATG
Lacy Sunshine---ATG
OSAAT---ATG
Pile It On---Kawaii/Cute
Scribble and Scrap---ATG
Corrosive Challenge---Color Me Happy
Squirrel and the Fox---Metal (White nail head gems are metal)
CCC Digi Creations---Digi/Flowers
Divas by Design---3or More Layers
Digi Designs---Lots of Layers
Crafty Catz---Stitching
Sugar Pea---ATG
Creative Moments---ATG/For the Boys
Hambo Hoedown---Summer
Paper Pretties---Summer Fun
Crafty Girls---ATG
Creative Corner---Summertime
Just for Fun---Here Comes Summer
Lia Stampz---Summer Fun
Sisters of Craft---ATG
A Creative Need---ATG
Crafting Musketeers---Stamped Image (Including Digi)
Crafting by Designs---ATG
Stampin Royals---ATG
Paper Crafting Journey---ATG
Sunshine Mail---ATG
Loves Rubberstamps---Spots and Dots
Rhedd and Rosie---ATG
Stamping Chef---ATG


 There you have it, folks!  Don't miss the opportunity to join our Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  There's wonderful prizes awaiting the winners from our lovely sponsors for this week---Bugaboo Stamps, Hannah Lynn Art, Lee's Digi Shop and Time for Tea Designs.  Can't wait to see what fabulous projects you're going to highlight this week.  Also, thanks for stopping by my Blog to check what I have for Paulette of Create with TLC and thank you for checking the rest of the DT's Blog. Have a wonderful week and remember that for a believer, Christ is with us and for us, no matter what!