Fun/Humor Series: Cats and Potato Chips Center Step Card---This was Fun to Make!

Hello there!  Hope you have a wonderful weekend.  I know, it's been a week and a half since my last post.  Did anybody miss me? I hope so because I did miss the Blogging world.  But I am not having a down time, I tell you! I had several cards that I needed to finish and send off and just the other day, it was done.  So thankful for the strength, ability and inspiration the Lord has given me to do what I love and at the same time, inspire people to get to know the Source---The God who made everything!

Today, I just thought about all the terror that evil men  are spreading by unmercifully killing anyone who does not believe in their (false!) god.  Have you noticed that they don't kill just anybody but  specifically targets people who bears the name of Christ!  I have not seen their disgusting videos in full length but have seen enough of their purely demonic way of executing Christians. On the other hand, have you ever wondered what goes in the mind of every Christian as they were held and taken to the place where their lives will be cut short in the most inhumane/torturous way?  Did they even consider getting out of that misery by denouncing their faith in Christ and embracing their captors false religion to save their lives?  I remember the story of Daniel who was thrown in the den of lions (Daniel 6) because he would not cease praying to the One True God despite the threats to his life upon violation of the king's decree (law).  I love how the Scripture detailed the conversation between the king and Daniel after the latter spent the night with the hungry lions. Daniel 6:20-27 which says, " When he (the king) came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?" Daniel answered, "O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king. The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: "May you prosper greatly! "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. "For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.  He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."  Daniel didn't change his mind in the midst of the peril and held on to what he knew was true---that the God He was serving is an everlasting God Who does not only hold the past and the present but his eternal existence in the palm of His hands.  There are many stories of Christians that were saved from sure death or those that find safety after being tortured in the enemy's camp yet there are those who perished.  The bottom line is we should hold fast to the promises that Almighty God revealed in our lives through the finished work (death, burial and resurrection) of Jesus Christ!   In trials and testing (both physical and spiritual), we should have far more than our own strength and abilities to carry us through.  It is not enough to just know Jesus through what others say about him.  It is a must that we "personally" know HIM---Who He is, His ways, His ultimate sacrifice for mankind, the depth of His love for each of us  and what He has in store for them that responded to His call.   He dwells inside every believer who has accepted Him as Lord and Savior (Born-Again, John 3:3) and that He feels, sees and understands our every pain.  He is the Firm and Immovable Rock in Whom we stand and He is our Life,  Source and Strength.  

You see, people are dying nowadays (tortured, beaten, burned, beheaded) because they would not give up their relationship with Christ.  I submit to you that there is far more at stake in upholding the name of Jesus that is worth dying for.  Our life here on earth is nothing in comparison to the everlasting life we are to receive when we come face to face with our Savior.  Time and distance will no longer be  factors and the overwhelming love and light that comes from the Source of it all---Our Father Almighty shall sustain us forevermore!  Yet, we should know the horrors that await those who wouldn't receive Christ' gift of salvation in their lives.  They may seem to have power while on earth but they will spend forever weeping and gnashing their teeth outside of the presence of God (no good thing is ever present) forever.  So, I pray that we entrust our lives fully to the Lord Jesus Christ and refuse to be slaves to the fear of death so as not to be enslaved by Satan.  It's an understatement to say to every believer of the Lord,  "We have a bright future!"  There are no words that will describe  the beauty, peace and joy that awaits us in God's presence.  Like the rest of our brethren who have gone home to be with the Lord and those who were killed because of their love for God, we must hold steadfast to what Christ taught us and consider carefully what Jesus uttered in Mark 8:34-38--- "Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." I pray for God's grace to be able to lift up His name without apology or compromise in the gathering of men---free from fear, no matter what!

Anyway, on the lighter side of things,  I have finally made another card from one of the stamps in my Art Impressions clear stamp collection.  I just love this adorable image and had fun coloring it with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  The base card is white, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches center step card.  A couple of the DP's are from American Crafts and some are from my scraps.  I used my Nestabilities and Cuttlebug to die-cut the lacy oval, added several plastic bead by Bead Design and for the final touch---lots and lots of stitching.  Hope you enjoy this too.

CATS AND POTATO CHIPS CENTER STEP CARD:

CATS AND POTATO CHIPS CENTER STEP CARD LAYERS:

CATS AND POTATO CHIPS CENTER STEP CARD SIDE VIEW:

CATS AND POTATO CHIPS CENTER STEP CARD INSIDE:

CATS AND POTATO CHIPS CENTER STEP CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Art by Miran---ATG
Bunny Zoe---For the Girls
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Love to Scrap---ATG
Loves Rubberstamps---Let it Sparkle (Slipper and earrings have glitters)
One Sweet Challenge---All About Love
Deep Ocean---Love is all Around
Stamp and Create---All You Need is Love
Oddball Stamps---Love
Little Claire's---Love
Crafty Calendar---ATG
Di's Digi---Lots of Embellishments
Digi Galore---ATG
Crafty Catz---For a Special Lady
QKR Stampede---Critters
Simply Create Too---ATG
Sister Act---ATG
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Creative Moments---ATG/Paper Piecing
Girl Who Crafts---ATG
Sisters of Craft---ATG
Crafts Galore---Use a Stamp/Digi
Scrapper's Delights---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Cards and Scrap---ATG
Digistamps4Joy---Valentine's/Love
Creative Fingers---ATG
Melonheadz Friends---Die Cuts
Fan-Tastic Tuesday---ATG with Twist: Die
Not Just Cards---ATG
Crafting for all Seasons---Dies and/or Punches
Stamping Sensations---ATG
Fresh Brewed---Animals

Okay friends, this is all for this post!   I hope you will join me in praying for every Christian that fights the good fight of faith daily in this evil times.  Many prophecies in the scriptures are being fulfilled in our day and they all point to the second coming of Christ.  Jesus is coming first for His Bride---the Church (comprised of everyone who trusted in Him) and we will be taken away (Rapture of the Church) together with them who were dead in Christ!  And so we shall forever be with the Lord!  Let us not tire of sharing the hope we have so that more people can be saved from the horrors that would befall the ungodly soon and very soon.  Hugs and blessings!