Scripture Series: Every Good Gift Card---Check Out This Week's Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello there, fellas!  Just want to greet y'all A BLESSED AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  I know that most of us are so busy today preparing for the family get-together tomorrow and I am just so glad I don't have to do any of that as my brother in law will do all the cooking---Yippee!  We are asked to bring some pies and even that was purchased---LOL.  Now, if I can only help myself from eating the Pecan pie till tomorrow comes---hmmm!  Anyway, we have new Scripture Word Art that you can download for free at our Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  It's found in James 1:17 which says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."  As one who had been washed clean (Born-Again, John 3:3) by the precious blood of Jesus Christ and a recipient of His grace, forgiveness and boundless love,  I can appreciate every wonderful gifts I receive everyday.  Not only for the physical and material gifts but especially the gifts that are of the Spirit.  Among them are wisdom, understanding, faith, hope, love and compassion.  In today's twisted world, we need all the blessings, gifts and covering of the Holy Spirit to survive the insanity happening all around us.  It baffles me how people's minds have become so sick that they are no longer able to differentiate between sane and insane, good and evil, Truth and lies!  I hear others saying, "What were they thinking?" and I am overtaken by sadness knowing that the path that these people are taking and is passed on to our children is the way to destruction---both in this life and the eternal life!  I often find myself so overwhelmed and asking, "God, what can one person like me do to change the course of this nation and our world?"  People have become worst than animals in their thinking and their love for themselves and their worldly pleasures have given them over to depravity where they not only flaunt their sins and are proud of it but also encourages others to do the same.  In moments like these, the Holy Spirit of God never fails to comfort and provide me with answers and revelations.  I can see God in everything that surrounds me and He provides me with vital teachings in both simple and complicated occurrences of life.  Hey, I've learned vital lessons from the falling and dried leaves on the ground!  In the wonderful, dancing lights we see during Christmas season as well as the love and kisses I give/receive from my son.  God does speak!  The question is whether we are willing to listen or are way too busy to even bother.  He impressed upon my heart the need to follow His lead in all circumstances remembering that "my life is no longer my own."  No task is too big or small in His eyes.  All He requires is a heart that obeys.  I hold the scripture in Galatians 2:20 very dear to my heart and it says, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."  As God has given me many gifts to equip me for the challenges that lies ahead, it is imperative that I only move towards His leading.  God didn't want me to accomplish things all on my own but more importantly, He wants me to completely rely on Him for my next and every move.  Yes, I am responsible for the wonderful and perfect gifts God has given me and He wants me to use them as I go through every doors He will open to bring a person, community, nation and the world to His saving grace.  As I freely received---I should freely give!  I am blessed and so, I am to be a blessing to others!  And that to the Lord is PERFECT!   God is our Light Source and in Him there is no darkness at all.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever and those that have placed their trust in Him have placed their feet on the immovable Rock of all Ages!  Here are some verses we can meditate on.  I must say,  God is awesome!

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."  (1 Peter 4:10-11)

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.  For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.  Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,  so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."  (Romans 12:1-5) 

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.  But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin." (1 John 3:1-5)

For this Card, I used an image from one of my fave companies, Bugaboo Stamps, called "Scarlette  Presents" which I colored with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  I also used an image from one of our sponsors this week, Robyn's Fetish, called "Ornate Frame" and paper-pieced it with a DP from my scraps.  The base card is a white CS measuring 5-5 inches square.  I applied some glitters (Stickles-Crystal) to parts of the images and incorporated some pink brads from Recollections. Lastly, I stitched all over this card.   I usually don't leave lots of empty space in my project but this one feels great the way it is with all the colors pooping up from the white base.  It brings focus on the Scripture Word Art...I love it!

 EVERY GOOD GIFT CARD:

 EVERY GOOD GIFT CARD LAYERS:

 EVERY GOOD GIFT CARD INSIDE:

EVERY GOOD GIFT CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Catch the Bug---Photo Inspiration
Creative Moments---ATG/Make It Sparkle
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Paper Shelter--Metal Somewhere
Penny's Paper-Crafty---ATG
Ruby's Rainbow---Just Because
Scrapper's Delights---ATG/Traditional Christmas
Simon Says---ATG
Wonderful Wednesday---ATG
Mema's Crafts---ATG
My Craft Creations---ATG
Not Just Cards---ATG
Little Miss Muffet---CAS  (Image from Bugaboo)
A Crafty Mess---ATG
Creative Romance---Something Old (The image and the DP are quite old)
Get Creative---ATG/Add Glitter
TTCRD---ATG
Scrapbook Stamp Society---ATG/Glitter

Make sure you join us at WAW Challenge.  You can use the free Word Art in your creation and link it to our Challenge but is not a requirement.  As long as it's family-friendly, uplifting and inspirational, you can enter up to 5 times this week.  Lots of prizes to be won from our two wonderful sponsors---My Craft Spot ($10 GC) and Robyn's Fetish (3 Digi Images).  So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, cheer up and let the joy of the Lord overtake you today while being sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  I serve a good and faithful God---Jesus Christ! 

All Kinds of Hello Card---It's Another Fun-filled Challenge "Anything Goes" Challenge at 613 Avenue Create!

Happy Sunday, everyone!   It's quite rainy in here the past few weeks and I have never seen as much rain here in years than what I have seen this month.  I remember we were constantly praying for rain and it sure came as a blessing as God allowed it to pour continuously the past few days.  I've seen the many people that were battling with severe cold and snow all over the nation and I can only imagine what they were going through.  I sure love to get into some snow (I've only seen it one time when we were in Las Vegas years ago and we all had fun making snowballs and throwing them at each other).  Today, I can surely appreciate the fact that I didn't have to go through the hassles of driving  into and shoveling snow when it gets out of hand. 

Anyway, these past few weeks had been stressful for me not only because of the amount of work and projects I had to do but because of the growing lawlessness, deception and immorality in our nation.  You turn on the TV and our Constitution and our freedoms are under attack 24/7.  There are evil men and women outside of our country who because of their twisted and blind obedience to their religion wants to harm and kill people who are not bowing down to their gods.  But what is more disgusting than that are the people from within who were not grateful for the freedoms they have as American citizens but have betrayed their own country and people for a religion that would enslave them.  Sad to say but many  who would not recognize the One True God have become foolish in their thoughts and so dumb to tell between right and wrong.  This is precisely what happens when people leave the wisdom of Almighty God and follow their own evil thoughts and desires.  Though they know the Truth, they twist every single one of them in order to justify their immoral and evil acts.  The elected leader of this country and all his co-horts had long been deceiving people and driving this country to the pits of hell. They have no regards to the Constitution of this country and deliberately refused to listen to the voice of its citizen.  Ungodly laws are being created---promoted by morally bankrupt media and is forced down the throats of every God-fearing citizen of this nation.  They promoted death to the unborn, rewarding the illegals, supporting sodomy in every shape and form, funding and nursing terrorists outside and within just to name few.   All of these reminds me of God's Word in Book of Romans.  God knows what evil leaders and people are capable of starting with the moral degradation of our nation.  He who have ears, listen to what the Spirit of God says:

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.  For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools  and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.  Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.  Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.  Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.  They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,  slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;  they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.  Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." (Romans 1:18-32) 

GOD DOES NOT CHANGE! What He said was an abomination before is still an abomination today.  We must learn to differentiate between loving and consenting.  True love exposes the Truth to save one's life from Eternal Hell.  While they may not believe there is such a place, it does not mean it does not exist!   Aside from the eternal flames, what do we really know about Hell?  Hell is a place where every good thing does not exist.  To be there is to be eternally separated from God---the Source of all good things.  We must realize that life here is temporary but our "real" (true) life is never ending.  What  people do on earth has eternal ramifications to their eternal destination.  Our Heavenly Father revealed to us through His Word the future of every person that didn't accept the sacrifice (accomplished on our behalf) by Jesus Christ.  No man will escape Hell---no matter how good or bad they live this life unless, they come to the "saving knowledge" of Christ---NOBODY!  JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY!  It is not anyone's religion, beliefs, set of rules to live by, money, fame, power or people they know.  It does not matter how many times you bow down to your statues  and idols of every form (and I mean all forms---human, animals, nature).  I watch people offer flowers, prayers, money---kneeling before their man-made idols and my heart bleeds for them.  They have been so blinded by their religion and culture so as not to see that what they are doing does not have eternal value---instead it hurts the heart of God and  insults His Glory!   Let me be very clear---God didn't mandate any human being (including the virgin Mary or any of the apostles) to replace the role of Jesus as Mediator between God and mankind!  God didn't establish bureaucracy in His kingdom.  No other man died on the Cross and whose sacrifice pleased the sight of God except that of Christ.  He alone can do that work and going through different channels is certainly an ignorance of God's Word.  Jesus is the answer to man's every need---past, present, future, forever.  The Scripture says in 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus." So, what are we to do in these evil days?

Here it is---We ought to study the Word of God so as not to be taken by any false teachings/information.  We are to pray at all times (whenever and wherever) for God to touch the heart of many all over the world.  Third and most importantly---ACT on our faith!  We are to be the "Salt (preserver) and Light (cast out darkness and exposing deception)" of this world.  This is not a job for the cowards.  God is counting on men and women whose trust is solely established in His Son, whose empowered by His Holy Spirit to speak Truth in every darkened places.  Those who are not afraid of any threats knowing his/her eternal destination and inheritance in God's Kingdom.  By writing this Blog, I am exposing the Truth without apologies.  For those that are washed by the blood of Christ, this is the time to say "NO" to ungodly laws---loud and clear!  Those who are cowards will do what they've done all along---HIDE IN FEAR!  I know it's a tough post but I refuse to drink the Kool-aid being forced in my throat!  It's better to die fighting than to die balling in fear.  God is with me and I have nothing to be afraid of! 

Back on the lighter side of things,  we have another Anything Goes Challenge with an optional Theme (Subway Art) at 613 Avenue Create.  I used an image called "Zilpha's Love Note" for my card which was graciously provided by one of our sponsors this week, Beansie Doodles.  I colored it with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers and did the same with the stamped flower from Ditto stamps.  I added some glitters (Stickles-Crystal), a brad (Recollections) and some die-cut leaves punch from Martha Stewart. The card is measured at 5 x 6.5 inches using a white CS.  The "subway art style" sentiment is a freebie from Create with TLC (Thanks a lot, Paulette!) and is perfect for the optional theme (Subway Art) of our Challenge.  The base panel was embossed with one of my newly purchased embossing folder from Darice.  I'm surprised I didn't have to insist on using a DP just to make this project work but I did try to find some but didn't find one that I like at least on the few stacks I went through before I ran out of energy to keep looking...LOL.

ALL KINDS OF HELLO CARD:

ALL KINDS OF HELLO CARD LAYERS:

 ALL KINDS OF HELLO CARD INSIDE:

ALL KINDS OF HELLO CARD WITH ENVELOPE:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafter's Cafe---ATG
Penny's Paper Crafty---ATG
Art by Miran---ATG
Creative Moments---ATG/Make it Sparkle
Dream Valley---ATG
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Allsorts---No Designer Paper
Little Red Wagon---Layer It Up!
Perfectly Rustics---Embossing
Crafting with Dragonflies---ATG/Farewell or Goodbye
Scrapper's Delights---ATG/Traditional Christmas
Addicted to Stamps---Lots of Layers
Crafting When We Can---CAS
Lauralcraft---Let's Be Girly (Use Die Cut or Punch)
Eclectic Ellapu---Purple Team: Leaves and Foliage
Robyn's Fetish---Use a Digi
Scrappy Hands---Textures
Scribble and Scrap---ATG
That Craft Place---ATG
Treasured Times---ATG
Vandicrafts---ATG
Crafty Mess---ATG
A Creative Romance---Something Old (The Flower image stamp is old)
Bloggers---Friendship
Creative Fingers---ATG
Daring Cardmakers---Something Old (flower stamp), Something New (Subway Word Art)
QKR Stampede---Bling It On
Sister Act---ATG
Wags 'n Whiskers---Add Some Leaves

 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---Beansie Doodles Digi Stamps and Lacy Sunshine Stamps .  Can't wait to see what fabulous projects you're going to highlight this week.  I hope you have a wonderful week and know that through faith in what Jesus accomplished through the Cross, we have complete victory!  

Scripture Series: His Courts with Praise Card---Be Inspired by Another Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello there, Crafty peeps!  It's Wednesday and another day to share God's Word through Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  The verse I am highlighting today is available to download for free at the WAW site and is taken from Psalm 100:4 which says, "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." Have you ever experienced helping someone and bending over backwards to meet someone's needs at a given time?  Whether it's just opening the door for somebody, pulling their chair, helping them with their groceries, crossing the street or offering a seat?  In everyday life, we encounter several circumstances when we can provide some kind of assistance to other people.  I have instilled in the mind of my 9 year old boy ever since he was born that we have to be thankful for everything.  When somebody offers him something to eat or drink, gave him help in anyway or compliments him, he should say "Thank you" always.  I have seen how constantly reminding him of it paid off in a big way.  When he had birthday parties and he opened his birthday gifts, he was equally happy and grateful for the dollar gifts as with the pricey ones.  I remember talking to him many years ago telling him that the gifts are not what makes  Birthdays fun.  It is the fellowship with his friends that should be his focus on that day.  That every "gift" is freely given by people who really don't have the obligation to give to him.  Yet they do it out of their love for him.  And he got it!  He got the message big time.

You see, what prompted that conversation with my son was the several birthday parties I attended in the past seeing the kids open their gifts and exclaimed, "No money?!"  They forgot to show gratitude,  shoved certain gifts to the side while obviously looking for the bigger and more expensive gifts which seem to bring out more smiles to their faces.  It's heartbreaking so see ungratefulness in the kids nowadays and the parents that are supposed to educate them on common courtesy would just laugh at it or completely ignore it.  Some people think that it's totally cute for a kid to act that way, after-all they're just kids. But I say that if we don't train our kids to be thankful for every little thing they receive from us or others, how can they even be thankful to God whom they have not seen with their own eyes?  As believers of Jesus Christ (Born-again, John 3:3), we are God's representative to our children.  If they see us thankful to the Lord's blessings and have the right attitude of faith and reverence unto God even in trials, our kids would pick up on that attitude of thanksgiving.  Proverbs 22:6 tells us, "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." 

Now, if us human beings expects gratitude from each other, what can we expect from Almighty God?  He created, formed and equipped us together with everything here on earth and in the universe.  He provides us with the air to breathe and a body that can function.  But the greatest gift of all---He gave His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, to free us from the bondage and the penalty of sin and death so that we can live with Him now and forevermore.  GOD GAVE HIS BEST OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR US! It's not a tiny gift!  It's the ultimate gift---HIS LIFE!  I love this statement I read at Gotquestions.org site.  It says, "We should be thankful because God is worthy of our thanksgiving. It is only right to credit Him for “every good and perfect gift” He gives (James 1:17). When we are thankful, our focus moves off selfish desires and off the pain of current circumstances. Expressing thankfulness helps us remember that God is in control. Thankfulness, then, is not only appropriate; it is actually healthy and beneficial to us. It reminds us of the bigger picture, that we belong to God, and that we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). Truly, we have an abundant life (John 10:10), and gratefulness is fitting."  Here are some verses that will help us glory in what the Lord has done for us:

"Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."   (Isaiah 9:7)

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. "  (Hebrews 12:28)

"Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed." (Revelation 15:4)

For this Card, I used an image (retired) from Sassy Cheryl's Stamps which I colored with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  The base is white CS, the lacy circle from Nestabilities and the swirls are Sizzix dies run through my Cuttlebug.  I layered some flowers from Prima and place a brad in the center.  I added some glitters (Stickles-Crystal) to the swirls and the image.  I also adhered some white, nail head gems.  Lastly, I stitched all over this card.  I love the results.

 HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE CARD:

 HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE CARD LAYERS:

 HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE CARD INSIDE:

HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafty Mess---ATG
Party Time Tuesday---ATG
Clear It Out---ATG
Girl who Crafts---ATG
Crafts Galore Encore---ATG
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Lia Stampz---ATG
Mema's Crafts---ATG
Sisters of Craft---ATG
Creative Moments---ATG/Make it Sprakle
Papertake Weekly---So Girlie
Not Just Cards---ATG
Scrapping4Fun---ATG with Bling
Crafter's Cafe---ATG
Penny's Paper Crafty---ATG
Art by Miran---ATG
Dream Valley---ATG
Great Impressions---Thankful Thoughts
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Paper Pretties---Thanksgiving/Be Thankful
Scrap-Creations---Give Thanks
Simon Says---Thanksgiving
Chocolate, Coffee and Cards---Favorite Holiday (Thanksgiving)
Delightful Challenges---You're a Gem!
Little Red Wagon---Layer It Up!
Crafting with Dragonflies---ATG/Farewell or Goodbye
Fresh Brewed---Give Thanks
Scrapper's Delights---ATG/Traditional Christmas
Lauralcraft---Let's Be Girly (Use Die Cut or Punch) 
Treasured Times---ATG 

Make sure you join us at WAW Challenge.  You can use the free Word Art in your creation and link it to our Challenge but is not a requirement.  As long as it's family-friendly, uplifting and inspirational, you can enter up to 5 times this week.  Lots of prizes to be won from our two wonderful sponsors---V's Sweet Ideas ($10 GC at their shop) and Nicecrane Designs ($20 GC to their shop).  So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, cheer up and let the joy of the Lord overtake you today.  I serve a good and faithful God---Jesus Christ and I am forever grateful for all that He has done for me! God bless y'all!

Scripture Series: Giving Thanks Always Card---Be blessed, Be Inspired at our Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  It's another day for a Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW) and you can download a free Word Art at our WAW site like the ones featured on this project today.  Our scripture this week is taken from Ephesians 5:20 which tells us, "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."  With this verse, I remember two of the most important things I learned from taking a Bible class about the Gospel (death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ).  The first one points to the fact that JESUS CHRIST is the "Source" of all things we receive from God.  1 Corinthians 8:6 tells us, "Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."  When Adam fell into sin, our spirits became separated from God with no hopes of ever being reconciled.  God had to send His Only Son to redeem mankind.  Jesus---conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, is the Only One untainted by the sin of Adam.  He's the Only One qualified to save us from the penalty of sin and  death.  God didn't have to save mankind but because of His great love for us, He sent His Son.  Because He fulfilled the requirement of the law through His death, burial and resurrection---anyone who places their faith in His finished work reaps the harvest of freedom and victory from the bondage of sin not just in this lifetime but eternally.  We have been reconciled with God as if the breached never happened!  I don't know with you but that's why the Gospel is "good news." The next important thing I learned from my study is that "Jesus Christ is the means by which we receive things from God."  1 Timothy 2:5 clearly states, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time."  When I became Born-again (John 3:3), I didn't completely understand why when we pray, we have to seal each prayer by stating, "This we ask for, IN JESUS NAME!"  It didn't take a while when I realized the significance of what Christ has done for me and that I can now stand in the presence of a Holy God because Jesus washed me clean with His blood.  Because of His sacrifice, the Father declared me and all others whose faith rest upon Him,---righteous before His sight.  I am made whole because Jesus cared and loved me so much to pay for my  sins.  I love what Hebrews 9:15 tells us, "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first (in Adam) covenant."

This is why it is imperative to tell everyone about the hope we have in Christ!  It is not just a set of rules and beliefs.  God has given us a WAY OF LIFE---living each day by faith in Jesus Christ!  No one can come in the presence of Almighty God by any other means!  Many have spent their entire lives devoting their time, money and existence serving gods that have added more burdens to them.  They literally carry them everywhere even though they have feet yet they don't function, hands that could not reach and mouths but could not speak.  Others worship those that requires them sacrificing their lives to martyrdom if they take the lives of those that does not agree with them with a promise of unsure paradise. Then there are those that require good works (and lots of them!) in hopes of eternal glory which outside of Christ are all in vain.  No one is saved by efforts of man---NOBODY! There is only ONE WAY---JESUS CHRIST!  Because He has shown me grace and unveiled to me the depths of His love through the redemptive work of Christ, I will always give thanks to my dear Father in Heaven for everything I am and for all that I have.  His great love demonstrated through Jesus allowed me to see clearly my value in His Kingdom.  Christ lives inside of me---I am safe in His care!  James 1:17-18 says, ": Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." We ought to be grateful no matter what situation we are in for the One that lives inside of us will never leave us nor forsake us...

For today's Card, I used an image from Stamping Bella called "Vienna and her Vespa" which I colored with my ProMarker/Prismacolor/Bic markers.  The base card is a white CS measuring 5 x 6.5 inches.  All the DP's are from a wonderful collection called "Bramble" from My Mind's Eye.  I used my Cuttlebug to die-cut some shapes (Lacy Oval from Nestabilities and the border houses from Sizzix).  The layered flowers are from Prima with a brad at the center and die-cut leaves using EK Success punch.  I applied some glitter to the image using Stickles-Crystal.  To complete the design, I did some stiching all over this project.

GIVING THANKS ALWAYS CARD:

GIVING THANKS ALWAYS CARD LAYERS:

GIVING THANKS ALWAYS CARD INSIDE:

GIVING THANKS ALWAYS CARD WITH ENVELOPE:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Pile It On---Special Occasion
Craft Your Passion---Something Beginning with "B" (Brad)
Creative Moments---Celebration
Crafting by Designs---Giving Thanks
Loves Rubberstamps---Cool Colors
Papertake Weekly---2 or 4 Legs
Party Time Tuesday---ATG
Scrapper's Delights---ATG/Paper Piecing
TTCRD---ATG
Whoopsi Daisy---Lots of Layers
Sisters of Craft---ATG
Not Just Cards---ATG
Crafting by Designs---ATG
A Crafty Mess---ATG
Crafts Galore Encore---ATG
Scrap-Creations---Make It Sparkle
Great Impressions---Thankful Thoughts
Jellypark---Festive
Lacy Sunshine---Harvest/Thanksgiving
Scribble and Scrap---ATG
That Craft Place---ATG
Corrosive---Girly
Artistic Inspirations---ATG/Stars
Craft Hoarders---For All You Do, Thank You!
Crafty Boots---Remembrance
Fitztown---Glitz and Glamour
Love to Scrap---Bling (Glitters)
Melonheadz Friends---Add a Sentiment
My Craft Creations---ATG
Path of Positivity---Gratitude
Perfectly Rustics---Stitching
Scrapbook Stamp Society---ATG
The Crazy Challenge---Favorite Technique (Fussy Cutting)
The Paper Nest Dolls---ATG

Don't forget to join us at the WAW Challenge.  You can use the free Word Art this week to make a project and link it to our Challenge although it's not mandatory.  You can also link other projects (up to 5) as long as it has uplifting/inspirational messages.  Our sponsors this week are  Flying Unicorn Store ($25 GC) and Yours or Mine Paper Crafts ($10 GC).  Have a blessed day and remember to always be grateful as hold on to the promises of God in your life no matter what.  Let the Holy Spirit comfort you with God's Word and empower you daily.

Totally Cool Card---It's Anything Goes with an Optional Twist in your neighborhood, 613 Avenue Create! Come and Join the Fun...

Hello there, everyone!  So sorry to post this card a day late.  How I wish I have more time in the day but these last few months have been very hectic for many of us.  Aside from my family, the next best thing that gets my time is my work in the Body of Christ.  Being involved in the Music Ministry, we have rehearsals weekly as well as meetings and outreaches from time to time.  We have a midweek service and gatherings inside and outside the walls of the Church to equip us with the Word of God as well as some fun and fellowship among believers.  Christianity is not a label but more so---a LIFESTYLE! It's that belonging to a large family unit where everyone is expected to bring their talents, abilities and resources to advance God's Kingdom here on earth.  Romans 12:3-9 says, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."  CHRIST is our Head and WE are His Body!  Everyone who comes to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ has been equipped by the Lord with a purpose. This is not confined in the Church building because everywhere we go, we bring Christ in/with us!  This is contrary to what many believed that only prominent people of the Church are being used by God in His Ministry. 

I have a friend who told me many times how frustrated she was because she does not know where God is going to use her.  She goes on the highs and lows spiritually because she was waiting for some supernatural revelation that God will place in her lap to make her feel relevant each day.  It is wonderful to pray for direction on a daily basis but when you don't hear anything, it simply means that the Lord wants you to go about your daily life with the understanding and preparedness that He can use you anytime whatever you are doing and wherever you are.  A true believer does not need the watchful eyes of a Supervisor or anyone in particular to do an excellent job.  Colossians 3:23-24 states. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."  Whether you are an Executive,  Homemaker, House Cleaner and many others---do everything with excellence unto the Lord!  Take each day as an opportunity to be used by God to  help someone come into the knowledge of Christ or to encourage and lift up one another in every situation.  I'll end by sharing one experience in my journey as a believer.  One day, I was sitting in my Church like any other Sunday service.  I heard an announcement about a Bible class that was coming up about the "Life of the Apostle Paul."  Suddenly, something inside me wanted me to go so I enrolled with the intention of attending just the 10 weeks (1 day a week) of that course.  I thought I was not really trying to pursue a degree in Biblical Theology but just some in-depth understanding of God's Word!--- I am ecstatic to tell you that it's been 6 years since then and I never stopped attending the different courses offered after that.  At some point I wondered what was God's purpose for all this revelation in my life?  His answer was clear---He would use me to share His redeeming love to every people that I come in contact with in person, through social media and most especially---THIS BLOG!  All this spiritual writings were not a part of my plan---they are GOD"S PLAN!  He supplies every Word and His Holy Spirit uses me as a vessel to convey His extraordinary message.  Some people ask me what I do for work?  I say--- I'm a SAHM with a job to take care of my family and I'm also employed by the Lord to share His Word online through Crafting.  Salary? God takes care of me! It's not as easy as many would think... I lose many hours sleep at times due to  pressures and deadlines.   But I know my Source!  Because of Him, I can do all things!  Here are verses to help us to accomplish with excellence the work that God has called us to do:

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.  For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." (Romans 12:1-3) 

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." ((1 Peter 4:10-11)

"Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45)

So, I am here to highlight the Card I made for your inspiration at our Anything Goes Challenge with a Twist (RAK projects) at 613 Avenue Create.  I used an image provided by one of our sponsors this week, Time for Tea Digi Stamps, called "Hi There 2!" which I paper-pieced and colored with  ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  The base card is a white CS measuring 5 x 6.5 inches.  The DP's are all from American Crafts, the  layered flowers from Prima and made to sparkle with some glitters (Stickles-Crystal), the buttons from Paper Studio and the swirls I stamped using Inque Clear stamps.  The wonderful sentiment is a freebie from Paulette of Create with TLC. Lastly, I stitched all over this Card for a defined look.  I love how cheerful and colorful this project came out to be.

TOTALLY COOL CARD:

TOTALLY COOL CARD LAYERS:

TOTALLY COOL CARD SIDE VIEW:

TOTALLY COOL CARD LAYERS:

TOTALLY COOL CARD WITH ENVELOPE:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Craft Your Passion---Something Beginning with "B" (Buttons, Banners)
Whoopsi Daisy---Lots of Layers
Sisters of Craft---ATG
Not Just Cards---ATG
Crafting by Designs---ATG
A Crafty Mess---ATG
Crafts Galore Encore---ATG
Scrap-Creations---Make It Sparkle
Jellypark---Festive
Scribble and Scrap---ATG
That Craft Place---ATG
Corrosive---Girly
Artistic Inspirations---ATG/Stars
Fitztown---Glitz and Glamour
Love to Scrap---Bling (Glitters)
Melonheadz Friends---Add a Sentiment
My Craft Creations---ATG
Perfectly Rustics---Stitching
Scrapbook Stamp Society---ATG
The Crazy Challenge---Favorite Technique (Fussy Cutting)
The Paper Nest Dolls---ATG 

There you have it, friends!  Make sure to visit our Challenge Blog---613 Avenue Create to join us for our "Anything Goes" Challenge with an optional Twist (Projects for RAK).  If you are like me who loves to layer, then, this  Challenge is an easy peasy for you.  But even if you have a simple card, you are still invited to join.  That's what I love about our Challenge.  You can do whatever you fancy with your projects and have a chance to win fabulous prizes from our four sponsors this week.  Let us all come together and honor the Lord with everything He has given us.  God bless, y'all! 

Scripture Series: In Everything, Give Thanks Center Step Card---Another Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday again, everyone!  Here to feature another free Word Art for our Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  It's taken from 1 Thessalonians 5:18 which says, "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."  It's interesting how God told us to give thanks for EVERYTHING!  How about the times when things are not going so well for us?  When we are sick, in a financial bind, in emotional struggles with our marriage, problem with our kids and many other situations that brings us down.  Are we supposed to give thanks?  The answer is YES!  God did say---EVERYTHING!  For those that have not received Jesus as their Lord and Savior, it's even harder to comprehend why we need to have an attitude of "Thankfulness" when things are not going our way.  Our sinful nature always wants what is for our own benefit and is predominantly selfish!  When things are great, we credit ourselves for everything we gained without understanding that it is because of God's grace that we are here in this world.  And so, we do everything we want and what's right in our own eyes and when we are faced with the consequences of our actions, we then remember God and blame Him for what were going through.  God said in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  This is a significant message that applies not for everyone but for those that have answered and will answer to God's call for repentance by placing their faith on the finished work of Jesus Christ upon the Cross.  It is only by complete and total surrender of our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ will we be able to understand why we need to be thankful for all things.  God allows trials and storms in our lives to develop our character.   Jesus lives inside every believer and when we meditate on the promises of His Word, we have the assurance that He knows what we are going through and that we are never alone in the fight!  We have to lay claim to all of His promises and believe that He will come through for us in His perfect time.  It's not easy to wait and honestly, patience is one of the virtues God is working constantly in me.  Yet I realized that without Him, I cannot do anything!  As a Christian whose trust is in Jesus Christ, there's nothing I can do but to "trust in the goodness of God."  Matthew 6:26-27 clearly tells us, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"  He Who came to this world to sacrifice His life as ransom for all of mankind will not withhold the good things from His children.  Before I came to know Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior, I lived my life the way I pleased and boy, did I get myself into a lot of trouble.  Those were painful experiences that I can now look back with joy because in the midst of the pain, I came to know the Healer!  Sometimes, when we could not see the reason for the storm and chaos in our lives, trust that God is able to turn them into something beautiful one day.  In Christ, there is always hope and nothing ever comes to us that the Father has not filtered.  Yes, give thanks and hang in there no matter what your situation maybe.  He will always provide a way out!  Here are some scripture that tells us to give thanks to our wonderful God.

"Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.  Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand." (1 Chronicles 29-12-14)

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ"  (Colossians 2:6-8)

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

Now, for my inspiration Card today, I used an image from Stamping Bella called "Bench Buddies" which I paper-pieced and colored with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  The base is Kraft, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches center step card.  The DP's are all from American Crafts, the washi tape from Paper Studio, butterflies from Recollections and glitters using Stickles-Crystal.  Lastly, I stitched all over this card!  I'm pretty happy with the results. 

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS CENTER STEP CARD:

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS CENTER STEP CARD LAYERS:

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS CENTER STEP CARD SIDE VIEW:

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS CENTER STEP CARD INSIDE:

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS CENTER STEP CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafting by Designs---ATG
Creative Moments---ATG/Celebration
Digistamps4Joy---ATG
Hambo Hoedown---Thank You
House that Stamps Built---Give Thanks
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Little Red Wagon---Home is where your heart is (My Home is with the presence of God)
Paper Pretties---Give Thanks
Scrapper's Delights---ATG/Paper-Piecing
Wonderful Wednesdays---ATG
Crafty Sentiments---Make It Sparkle
Digi Choosday---Thank You/Winter Colors
Scrap-Creations---Make It Sparkle
Loves Rubberstamps---ATG
ODBD---Holiday
Papertake Weekly---ATG
Party Time Tuesday---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Top Tip Tuesday---Chevrons (Top Tip:  To make your card fun, slant some elements of your project)
Tuesday Throwdown---Shaped Cards
Great Impressions---Thankful Thoughts
Jellypark---Festive
Craft Hoarders---For All You Do, Thank You!
Love to Scrap---Bling (Glitters)
Path of Positivity---Gratitude 
Perfectly Rustics---Stitching 

Make sure you join us at WAW Challenge.  You can use the free Word Art in your creation and link it to our Challenge but is not a requirement.  As long as it's family-friendly, uplifting and inspirational, you can submit up to 5 entries.  Our wonderful sponsors for this week are Daydream Designs ($20 GC to their shop) and Heart and Soul Rubber Stamp Co. (2 Mounted/4 Unmounted Rubber Stamps of choice to their store).  So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, cheer up and let the joy of the Lord overtake you today.  He truly loves and cares for you.