Scripture Series: Coming of the Lord Card---Come and Join Us for Another Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday everyone...It's another day to highlight God's Word through our featured Word Art this week at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  It's taken from James 5:8 which tells us, "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."  I love this verse for this is one of the promises in scripture telling us of our Lord's Coming (Second Coming).  This is what separates every Born-Again (John 3:3) believer from other religions.  It's that certainty that Jesus is coming to set up a heavenly kingdom and every one that placed their trust solely in Him will rule with Him in that time of perfect peace.  Thousands of years ago, Our Savior, Jesus Christ, came to redeem us!  He was humiliated, beaten and killed for our sake!  In His death, He reconciled us back to God.  He sealed the deal when He rose again from the dead.  By faith in what He has accomplished for us, never again will we be separated from Him---now and forever!  All of humanity's hope (salvation and eternal purpose/existence) can only be found in Jesus Christ!  It's not in anything present in this world nor in any form or religion, no matter how great/evil their doctrines are.  One day, we will see the fulfillment of the prophecies written in the Scripture and although the world ridiculed, persecuted and abandoned us, the Lord comes with incorruptible rewards for us that believed.  

I don't know with you but I am not fond of watching everyday news for quite sometime now.  Media coverage are tainted with bias and it's obvious that an agenda is being pushed.  Many people bragging about their wealth, powers and influence have used their positions to declare an all-out-war against God Himself.  The same God that our founding fathers have trusted and made this country the super power it is now.  By taking God out of schools, suppressing religious freedom of its citizens,  promoting more power and control by the government while eradicating free speech.  These, among many others are bombarding us daily.  People are made to fight (or are fueled to fight) against each other by puppeteers leading them to destroy one another.  This is accomplished by brainwashing people through unbalanced news coverage, school and campus indoctrination and abusing issues that awake people's emotions.   The easy targets are people who refuse to see the Truth or know the Truth---for God has revealed everything in His written revelation, the Bible!  Many have been fooled because they allowed their emotions to get the best of them instead of seeking the God, the Author of all Truth.  Many have marched to their graves and have taken many with them thinking that by killing others, they will gain eternal reward.  Oh, if it's only easy to reveal to everyone the "Core" of the Word of God and to have every ear open to the "very heart" of our Maker, then every foolishness will stop!  No matter how bad it turns out, the end is already certain and the Winner of this great battle between good and evil have long been revealed.  Philippians 2:10-11 tells us, "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."   When our life here is over, we immediately wake up in the eternal realm. There, we are instantly aware of the Holy God and every sin we have committed against Him.  There will be no excuses for none will be hidden in His sight.  Those who have entrusted their earthly lives to Christ have nothing to be ashamed about for their sins were washed away (without blemish) by the blood of Jesus and is therefore standing in the righteousness given by the Lord.  I am a winner---destined for great work in God's Kingdom!

So in the gloom and doom of our present day, it's easy to be discouraged. We want to give up on our government, society,  environment, family, friends etc...Yet God told us to be patient---which is not the same as passivity.  We are to continue doing the work of God while we are waiting for the blessed day of His Coming.  Take every opportunity to pray for our leaders, our families and friends and those that are deceived by false religion/teachings/doctrines.  While we rebuke and condemn the evil intent they have for us, we are to lift them up to the throne of God that they may know the Truth and that they would be set free from the bondage of Satan.  The Lord is coming very soon and let us ask ourselves whether we have done everything to make sure that our family, friends and neighbors knew about the saving grace found in Christ alone.  God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save everyone from eternal judgment.  Let us not tire of speaking this Truth wherever and whenever God lead us to (without apologies!).  Here are verses in the Bible that show God's love and patience towards us and how we ought to live like Christ in these final days:

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him."  (2 Peter 3:8-15)

 

For my inspiration Card today, I used an image from MayzyArt called "Adventure Meri" which I colored with my Promarker/Prismacolor markers.  I used a white CS for base, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  All the DP's are from K&Company and the solid CS are from my scraps.  I attached 3 brads from Recollections and finally, I stitched all over this Card.  It turned out great!

COMING OF THE LORD CARD:

 COMING OF THE LORD CARD LAYERS:

 COMING OF THE LORD CARD INSIDE:

COMING OF THE LORD CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Sister Act---ATG
Gem of a Challenge---Stitching
My Heart Pieces---Use a Digi Stamp
Crafty Girls---ATG
Girl who Crafts---ATG
Bearly Mine---ATG
Sisters of Craft---ATG
Fan-Tastic Tuesday---ATG
Inky Impressions---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Crafty Creations---Dig Deep/old Stash (All my DP's are a few years old)
Sugar Pea---ATG
Crafting by Designs---Dog Days of Summer
Creative Moments---ATG/Back to School
Digistamp4Joy---Circles
Hobbybook---2 or More DP's
Little Red Wagon---Girl Power
Penny's Paper Crafty---Children and/or Christmas
Scrapper's Delights---ATG/New Beginnings
Simon Says Stamp---ATG
A Random Fan---ATG
Loves Rubber Stamps---2 or More Patterned Papers
Shopping Our Stash---ABC's (I use B for Brads)
Try it on Tuesday---Use Your Stash (All the DP's are in my stash for few years now)
Tuesday Throwdown---ATG
Artistic Inspirations---ATG/Career/Labor Day
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Love to Scrap---ATG
Paper Nest Dolls---ATG

There you have it friends!  Hope you enjoyed browsing at the pics and reading this post.  Please don't forget to join us at this week's WAW Challenge by linking your "Anything Goes" projects.  You can use the free Word Art in your entry but it's not mandatory.  As long as your creation is family-friendly, inspirational and uplifting, you can enter up to 5 projects to have more chances of winning.  Our sponsors for this week are The Flying Unicorn ($25 GC) and Diane's Daydream Designs (3 digi sets).  You don't want to miss out on these wonderful prizes so, make sure to join our Challenge.   Have a blessed day, everyone!