Scripture Series: Counsel of the Lord Card---Another Two-Week Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  Here to feature my inspiration card for our Two-Week, Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW) featuring the Scripture Word Art that you can download for free at the WAW site.  It comes from Psalm 33:11 which tells us, "The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations."  God, in all His Wisdom and Power created everything with a purpose---His purpose!  Each of us were created to work together and for each other using the resources that God entrusted to us for the glory of the One who made us.

The reason for which we exist in this world is to fulfill the counsel of the Lord---His plans and purpose! Because we were created in His image and likeness, He gave us free-will to choose right from wrong (discern Truth from error).  God's Word declares God's Truth!  The written Word of God (The Bible) fulfilled every Word which was spoken about the Son of God, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, Who came to redeem mankind from the bondage of Sin and Death.  Jesus became the Living Word of God and showed us how to triumph against the wiles of the enemy by simply standing in God's Word---God's Truth!  This is evident in this passage as Jesus prayed to the Father in behalf of His disciples in John 17:14-17 in which he spoke, "I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."

The counsel of the Lord is not hidden from us for He gave us His Word---the Written Word and the Word that was made flesh---Jesus Christ!  Man can make many plans for himself but the Lord has Lordship over every plan.   Take for example, a student who's set to graduate from a degree in College can make plans for the next 5 years but could not see in the future that a car accident would prevent such plans to be fulfilled.  Simply put, we are free to make plans but we are to rely on the Lord to bless those plans as we seek His counsel for it's fulfillment.  As a child of God (Born-again, John 3:3), I can plan ahead but I need to submit those plans to the Lord and be okay with it in case He wants to improve, change or even reject any or all of those plans.  I seek the Lord's guidance with even the simplest decisions I make each day such as which color or brand to buy.  How much more will I not place into His hands major decisions in life?  Plans of this nature have lifelong consequences and affects one generation to another.  It is extremely important that we seek the counsel of the Lord (His Word, His advice) in all our plans and endeavors...The Lord's plan is good and is valid and relevant no only to this life but for all eternity.  I want to encourage you to put your trust in the Lord and His Word.  Do not allow yourselves to be carried away by enticing words that promise worldly treasures yet spiritually empty and void.  Take heed the warnings of the One who created us and knows who we truly are, what were made of and what we are designed for in the following verses He spoke and that we can meditate upon:

"Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."  (Proverbs 19:20-21)

"Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do." (Isaiah 46:9-11)

"Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."  (Isaiah 55:7-11)


For this Card, I used the Inkadinkado Stamping Gear that I had for quite sometime now but haven't tried yet.  They are perfect for making your own background.  But since I used patterned papers most of the time, I forgot to use it.  Using the petal cling stamp I bought for this gear, I created this flower and watercolored with my Stabilo 68 markers.  Once dry, I ran it through the printer to incorporate our free Scripture Word Art for this week (download at WAW site).  I stamped the scallop sentiment, fussy cut it and adhered it in the middle of the flower.  I added some glitters (Stickles-Crystal) to the image and inked around the edges of the paper using Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Pumice Stone and Ground Expresso).  Finally, I ran it through my sewing machine for stitching.

                                                 COUNSEL OF THE LORD CARD

                                           COUNSEL OF THE LORD CARD CLOSE-UP

                                            COUNSEL OF THE LORD CARD INSIDE

                                       COUNSEL OF THE LORD CARD WITH ENVELOPE

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Inspiration Destination---ATG
Simon Says---Flowers
TTCRD---ATG
Crafting by Designs---Pinky and Girly
Creative Moments---ATG with Optional Twist
Sisterhood of Crafters---No Designer Paper
Crafty Addicts---ATG with Optional Sentiment
Creative Card Crew---ATG
Deep Ocean---Flowers Everywhere
Everybody Art---Flowers
Scrap-Creations---Spring/Flowers
Lemon Shortbread---ATG
Artistic Inspirations---ATG/Use Die-Cut
Cards in Envy---Just Us Girls
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Craft Your Passion---ATG
Let's Color Linky---ATG with Something Colored
Eureka---April Showers Bring May Flowers
Incy Wincy---CAS
Love to Scrap---Make it Girly
Melonheadz---Make It Sparkle
Our Crafty Corner---ATG
Paper Nest Dolls---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.  A wonderful prize awaits our winner from our lovely sponsor for this week---Freckled Fawn ($15 GC).  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.  Make wonderful plans in accordance to His Word and allow Him to direct you.  To God be the glory!