Scripture Series---The Lord Will Be With Thee Card---Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hi there, friends!  Here to bring you another Scripture Word Art for our two-week Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  It comes from Deuteronomy 31:8 which tells us, "And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed."  This is the Word of God spoken through Moses unto Joshua as he appointed him to take over the leadership as he prepared God's people for his departure (death).  We all know how Moses was used by God to free them from their bondage/slavery in Egypt.  The people cried out to the Lord due to the pain, suffering and injustice they experienced and God heard them and answered their call by sending a man who would carry out His purpose to free His people.  Before their freedom was realized, the Lord demonstrated to His people His power and might as He brought ten plagues one after another to the Egyptian land as the Pharaoh continued to harden his heart and refused to free God's people.    After the tenth plague (death of every Egyptian first born), they were set free and began their journey of trusting God and his chosen servant (Moses) to lead them to the Promised Land (land flowing with milk and honey).  Miracles upon miracles were witnessed by them since that day.  They, along with Moses saw the presence of God follow them (cloud by day, fire by night) as they go through the wilderness for many years. 

But like any challenge that goes with leading people, Moses encountered those that complained about everything.  They were never content and spread their discontent to others. These people are like cancer that destroys the healthy cells till they take over the entire body.  Their goal is to turn man against God by giving in to the desires of their flesh and pursuing their own ways instead  of following the path their Creator laid out for them since the beginning.   If you look around us, the very same spirit is continuously at work in our society.  These people don't want remedy for their spiritual cancer.  In fact, they are campaigning day and night to inflict others with their disease.  Let's take idolatry, fornication, sodomy, murder, abortion among the lengthy list of abominations in the sight of the Lord.  Don't we see them being promoted non-stop in all pillars of our society with the help of Hollywood and social media?  Today, we have a remnant of people that allows themselves to be used by God (like Moses and Joshua) that still upholds the tenets of God.  They are those  who had been washed clean by the blood of Jesus (Born-again, John 3:3), that became citizens of God's kingdom while still living on this earth.  Having been rescued from the same fleshly mindset and transformed by the Gospel (death, burial and resurrection) of Jesus Christ, we are appointed as Ambassadors of God to this fallen world.  

Now, I can tell you, it is very challenging for Noah (who was appointed by God to build an Ark) to tell people about a flood that would destroy the entire earth since given the fact that they have not even seen rain that time.  The same challenge we face with people who does not acknowledge that the Sin Nature inside of them that propels their lifestyle choices and rejection/rebellion of God would reserved them a space in the Lake of Fire forever. They've heard people talk about it but have not seen its reality yet.  The sad Truth is, by the time they see the error of their ways, it will be too late as they suffer the same eternal death of those who ignored and ridiculed the message of the Ark!  It is FAITH (trusting, adhering, depending, believing) in what the Lord said in His Word that connects us with our Father.  Though we don't physically see Him, we know He's present.  It is by FAITH that we come the Lordship of Jesus Christ by hearing the Word of God...And our transformation from glory to glory is also by FAITH through the indwelling power and  leading of the Holy Spirit.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."  Hebrews 11:6 speaks of this Truth when it said, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

Though it's a lot of work (often accompanied by pain and suffering) to lead people to the ways of God, everyone who had been transformed by the Cross of Christ  should ask God for the courage and strength to firmly stand for the Truth.  Our loveones, neighbors and friends are worth fighting for!  We do it not for temporary nor earthly benefits, we do it because without Christ in their lives, they'd be lost for eternity.  Just like Moses assured Joshua that God is with him and therefore, he should not fear or be discouraged by the everyday challenges and troubles he would be facing---God is telling us to fight the good fight of faith and refuse to bow down to the schemes of man who wants to spread the cancer of lies and rebellion they have acquired to others.  As God is with His servants before, He is still with us today---living inside every heart submitted and ruled by Christ.  In conclusion, I would like to share with you two responses I shared on social media recently regarding the spiritual deception/blindness of this age and how important it is to have an ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE as we face the evils of our time:

Why we see many so-called Christians make very unwise/ungodly choices/decisions nowadays?

Because many who says they are Christians are phony while some have no bearings in the Word of God so, they have given themselves  up to deception of Satan beyond belief.  They are idolaters as they turn away from the tenets of God and have pledged their allegiance on themselves and their emotions instead of carrying out God's Will as laid out in the Scripture.  Because of that, the Truth can be under their noses but they will not see nor discern.  They have made up their minds that they are "little gods" who can exist without God's guidance.  Though it pleases them to bully those who still speak the Truth, those who keep God's Word must pray for them as it gives emphasis on why Jesus spoke, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34).  Those who can still see, be very grateful as the Holy Spirit enables us to see His path!  Let us commit in prayer, declare the victory of God and shout the Truth without apologies.

Importance of ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE in dealing with today's chaos:

The very fact that God already revealed how it would end for this present world in His Word, our faith in the finished work of Christ at the Cross should continue to encourage us in the midst of horrors and chaos of this age.  I always tell my ten year old son that we are just living the pages of The Book that had long been written and the ending had long been established---that is joy beyond imagination for them that Jesus declared righteous!  Let us therefore walk in faithfulness to Him who is able to carry us through life to our final breath on this earth.  Know that there are great rewards waiting for them that finish the race under the banner of Christ!

For this Card, I used an image from Bugaboo Digi Stamps called "Guy-car" and colored it with my ProMarker/Prismacolor markers.  The base is a pre-cut A7 card from Paper Studio.  The DP's are from Recollections, the brads from Paper Studio and the nail head gems from Imaginisce.  I made those clouds by inking a stencil from Hero Arts by Distress Ink (Tumbled Glass), fussy cutting and scribbling an outline to them.  The Word Art Panel is also inked with Distress Ink (Walnut Stain).  For added dimension, I stitched all over this project.  Very pleased with the result.

                                           THE LORD WILL BE WITH THEE CARD:

                                       THE LORD WILL BE WITH THEE CARD LAYERS:

                                       THE LORD WILL BE WITH THEE CARD INSIDE:

 

                               THE LORD WILL BE WITH THEE CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafting with an Attitude---ATG
Crafty Girls Creations---ATG
Digital Delights---ATG
DRS---Bling It On
Hanna and Friends---ATG
Little Miss Muffet---ATG
Crafting by Designs---ATG
Crafting for all Seasons---ATG
Crafty Creations---Sentiment as a Focal Point
Crafty Gals---All About the Boys
Creative Moments---ATG
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Simon Says Stamp---Touchy Feely
Crafty Addicts---ATG
Whimsy Inspiration---ATG
Wonderful Wednesday---ATG
Cards 4 Guyz---Create Own Background
Lemon Shortbread---ATG
Retarte---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Tuesday Throwdown---Frame It
2 Creative Chicks---ATG
A Bit More Time---ATG
Cards Galore---Make a Card
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Doodle Pantry---ATG
Oddball---Add a Sentiment
Petal Lu---ATG
Scrap N Challenge---ATG
Scrapping Everyday Miracles---Lay-out/Sketch/Scripture Inspiration
Sparkles---Something for Male
Sisters of Craft---ATG
World Wide Open DT---ATG
Your Scrapbook Place---ATG
Catch the Bug---Stella Says Sketch


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---Newton's Nook ($20 GC) and All Dressed Up Stamps (3 Digi Images).  So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, meditate on the goodness of the Lord and rely on His promises.  Expect only wonderful things from Him each day.  We serve a good and faithful God who never leave us nor forsake us!