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!