Scripture Series: Them that Diligently Seek Card---Another Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge Going On at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello Crafty Peeps...Things are starting to cool down here in Texas and I'm so excited to enjoy that cool breeze again after a scorching summer.  Anyway, we are beginning another challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW) and the free scripture Word Art  highlighted today is from Hebrews 11:6 which says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."  Before we can fully understand this verse, we have to find out what FAITH is as defined by God's Word.  Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."  It is to trust and rely upon God beyond the influence of our five senses.  His Spirit inside each of us attest to His presence in our lives even though we cannot see, hear, feel, smell or taste His physical presence.  The scripture further tells us in John 4:24, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."  In order to save us, God clothed Himself in the flesh and lived among us to free us from the bondage of Satan.  People were able to see Him, converse with Him and witness His matchless work. He died for our sins and resurrected on the third day.  He later met with His disciples who could not believe what they had seen.  I find it sad that  Thomas (one of Jesus disciples) outspokenly doubted the news of Jesus' resurrection till he's able to prove it by seeing Jesus pierced hands.  John 20:25 tells us, "So the other disciples told him (Thomas), "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."  Aren't we guilty of committing the same thing every now and then when it comes to our faith in God Almighty?  Have we not said once or twice, "God, I am going to serve you if you prosper my business and help me achieve my dreams."  Some have said, "God I will start serving you after I have cleaned up my act so that I can be worthy of your presence!"  Many of us have placed conditions upon the God of heaven and earth in exchange for believing (trusting) in Him.  The fact is, God is Truth whether we believe in Him or not.  It does not diminish His omnipresence and omnipotence when people choose not to put their faith in Him.  On the other hand, man without God is a tragedy!  Everything in our life as well as "life itself" is dependent upon the grace and love of God.  Though some people confess they don't need God yet their very existence tells us they are believing a lie.  How do we know?  For they will be unable to sustain their own life once we try and take the oxygen they preciously take in and is regulated to perfection by God Almighty.  In spite of all their money or the lack thereof, they don't know when they'll die and how to prevent death from happening.  They cannot even command calamities from ever coming to their doorstep.  It is merely the love of God that sustains them while they are biting the same hands that carries them to safety each day.  But like the ark of the covenant, this period of grace (the New Covenant---salvation through faith in Christ) is going to shut its door and what is left is the pouring of God's wrath.  As God is love, He is also a God of justice and it will be wise for anyone to come to His presence while the door of grace is still open.  You see, Jesus died for all of mankind's sin. Under the New Covenant, we are saved by grace through faith in Christ yet only those who recognizes that covering will reap the benefits of Jesus'  sacrifice.  A gift, though free, is only good for those that would accept it!  Though the disciples lived with Jesus for years and have witnessed His many great miracles, Jesus had to show them His pierced hands for them to believe it was Him.  It is unfortunate what He had to tell Thomas in John 20:29,  "Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  

Yes, I believe in God even though I have not seen Him physically!  I know He is there because His Spirit lives inside of me (Born Again---John 3:3) and directs my path and tells me daily about the love of God through what Jesus sacrificed for me.  Through His goodness, I can sense and feel His presence as I'm sharing His love to anyone who would lend their ears.  He supplies every word I am able to share in this Blog.  I can write something because He placed His love for perishing souls in my heart.  He is there in the people I meet each day, in the love of my husband, son and family. In the favors and the trials, He is in me and will forever stay with me.  As I look on the beauty of God's creation, I can see His presence.  If we only let go of hatred, rebellion and unbelief in our hearts and give Him a chance to love on us, we'll see Him for Who He truly is---A loving God Who rejoices in the love of His children!  And so all of these starts with FAITH...It is the only doorway by which we can enter into the vastness of God's Kingdom in Christ!

For this Card, I used an image provided by one of our sponsors this week and one of my favorite source of images---Bugaboo Stamps.  I chose "Knobby Knees Girl Bugs" and colored it with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  I used a pre-cut  A7 Kraft CS for my base and all DP's from Recollections.  I added flowers from Prima that I layered and added Stickles glitter on.  The center of the flowers were also glittered and the main flower had a small button for added dimension.  Finally, I stitched all over this card.   I am very happy with the result.  

 

THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK CARD:

 THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK CARD LAYERS:

 THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK CARD INSIDE:

THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK CARD WITH ENVELOPE:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Dazzling Diva---Fall Colors/ATG
Creative Moments---ATG/3 Layers
Divas by Design---Glitter
DoubleClick---ATG
Inky Impressions---ATG
Nutcrafters---Anything but Square
Ruby's Rainbow---ATG
Scrapper's Delights---ATG/No DP
Simon Says Stamp---ATG
Sisterhood of Crafters---Lots of Layers
Wonderful Wednesday---ATG
Pile It On---Shiny
Ladybug Crafts---ATG
Crafty Girls---ATG
Sweet Stamps---Favorite Embellishment (Prima Flowers and glitters)
TTCRD---ATG
Crafts Galore Encore---Make a Card
Sisters of Craft---ATG
Artistic Inspirations---ATG/Pink for Breast Cancer
Crafty Bloggers Network---ATG
Crafty Boots---ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Sister Act---ATG
Inky Chicks---ATG
Top Tip Tuesday---Kids (Top Tip:  Make simple flowers special by adding glitters)

Hope you enjoyed my featured project today at WAW...I am looking forward to see your projects linked to our Challenge.  You can include the free Word Art in your projects to link,  but not a requirement.  You can submit any inspirational, uplifting, family friendly creations (up to 5) for more chances to win our prize from our sponsors this week---Bugaboo Stamps (3 digi images) and The Flying Unicorn ($25 GC) .  I'll be back this weekend to highlight another project for our neighborhood---613 Avenue Create!  Always remember to call on Jesus 24/7 if you need someone to talk with.  He is always willing to listen and is able to meet everyone whose heart is seeking after Him.