Scripture: House Built by Wisdom Card---Join our Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello there, Crafty Peeps!  Here's another project I made for our Anything Goes/Inspirational Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  As you all know, we always highlight a Scripture Word Art (you can download for free at the WAW site) in all of our Challenges.  For our two week Challenge, we bring you Proverbs 24:3-4 which says, "Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches."  These verses shows us the importance of wisdom and understanding to a man's life.  Anyone who builds things without wisdom may think  they are succeeding but the end result is always a failure.  So what exactly is wisdom?  How does it compare to knowledge?  I would like to share what I found at gotquestions.org that clearly explains the difference and correlation between the two.  Here it is:
  
"Wisdom and knowledge, both recurring themes in the Bible, are related but not synonymous. The dictionary defines wisdom as “the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting.” Knowledge, on the other hand, is “information gained through experience, reasoning, or acquaintance.” Knowledge can exist without wisdom, but not the other way around. One can be knowledgeable without being wise. Knowledge is knowing how to use a gun; wisdom is knowing when to use it and when to keep it holstered. God wants us to have knowledge of Him and what He expects of us. In order to obey Him, we have to have knowledge of the commands. But as equally important as having knowledge is having wisdom. Knowing facts about God and the Bible is not all there is to wisdom. Wisdom is a gift from God. James 1:5 states, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” God blesses us with wisdom in order for us to glorify Him and use the knowledge we have of Him. The book of Proverbs is perhaps the best place in the Bible to learn of biblical wisdom. Proverbs 1:7 speaks of both biblical knowledge and wisdom: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, / but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” To fear the Lord is to start on the path to knowledge, and God can then begin to provide us with wisdom through Christ, who the Bible says is wisdom itself: “It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Knowledge is what is gathered over time through study of the Scriptures. It can be said that wisdom, in turn, acts properly upon that knowledge. Wisdom is the fitting application of knowledge. Knowledge understands the light has turned red; wisdom applies the brakes. Knowledge sees the quicksand; wisdom walks around it. Knowledge memorizes the Ten Commandments; wisdom obeys them. Knowledge learns of God; wisdom loves Him."

Oh wow!  I don't know about you but this article truly blessed me...You see, perfect knowledge (both temporary and eternal) can only be found in the pages of God's Word.  As our Creator,  He left us a blue print and a road map to navigate this world that we may live in accordance to His will and purpose.  Countless men and women (from past to present) witnessed His goodness  and shared what God has done, therefore, not one of us has a valid excuse to ignore and deny Him.  When we seek God through His Word, we are nourishing ourselves with spiritual sustenance that produces faith (trust, believe, adhere).  Romans 10:17 says, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ."  Our obedience to the Word of God we know and our faith in His divine plan causes us to act in wisdom as we face the daily challenges of life.  Without faith in God and His word, though there may be knowledge, man cannot act in wisdom.  Many have come and gone in this world and a good portion of them made it big when it comes to material possessions, fame, power, etc.  But these things have no value in the eternal.  Matthew 16:26 tells us, "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" God wants us to be spiritually wise---one whose not content with knowledge but desires and pursues wisdom.  The same wisdom calls us to be spiritually discerning nowadays.  We are to share God's Word to as many who will listen that the wisdom the Lord gifted us may be imparted to them also.  We are to build houses (build lives) using gold, silver and precious stones that will last through eternity.  The Scripture is full of precious stones that we can use not only to build our personal home (personal life) but treasures entrusted to us that are instrumental in the construction of other people's lives.  In today's world where many are building upon the foundations of wood, hay or straw (easily burned), let us be grateful to the Holy Spirit that keeps us firmly standing in the solid foundation laid by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  Let me conclude this post by sharing what Apostle Paul told believers (Born-again, John 3:3) in 1 Corinthians about the precious treasures we have in our Lord.

"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” ; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.  (1 Corinthians 3:10-23)

For this Card, I used an image from Stampendous called "Family Home" and colored it with my newest Touch Five markers set (80 colors and comes with a case/bag).  I absolutely love the quality and affordability of this set. Awesome, awesome!  Anyway, for my card base,  I used a white CS, cut and scored to 5.5 inches square.  I used my MS Punch for the left and right border, the DP's from American Crafts and the nail head gems from Imaginisce.  I hand-cut the layers of hills in the background as many of the border dies out in the market are out of my budget...LOL.  I absolutely love the clouds in the background.  I made a couple of template and inked them with Tumbled Glad Distress Ink.  I also added some glitters (Stickles-Crystal) and ran it through my sewing machine for some fancy stitching. 

 HOUSE BUILT BY WISDOM CARD

 HOUSE BUILT BY WISDOM CARD LAYERS

 HOUSE BUILT BY WISDOM CARD SIDE VIEW

 HOUSE BUILT BY WISDOM CARD INSIDE

HOUSE BUILT BY WISDOM CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafting by Designs---ATG
Crafty Creations---Words/Letters on Background
Creative Moments---ATG
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Simon Says---Make for the Border
Sisterhood of Crafters---Close to Nature
Crafty Addicts---ATG/Die-Cuts
Wonderful Wednesday---ATG
Digi Choosday---ATG
Lemon Shortbread---ATG
Retarte---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Tuesday Throwdown---ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Craft Your Passion---ATG
Love to Scrap---ATG
Paper Nest Dolls---ATG
A Bit More Time to Craft---ATG
Country View---Hot Summer Days
Crafter's Cafe---Bling
Crafts and Me---ATG
Creatalicious---ATG with Optional Theme
Cute as a Button---ATG
Digistamps4Joy---ATG with Optional Twist
Emerald Faeries---Make It Sparkle
Not Just Cards---ATG
Paradise of Stamps---ATG
Sparkles---Lots of Layers
Stempelsonne---ATG
Sunsational Stamps---ATG
Your Scrapbook Place---ATG


I hope you'd take the time to join us at our WAW Challenge.  Our sponsors this week are Classy Cards 'n Such (special prize package), Frantic Stamper (die-cut) My Artistic Adventures (Digi Images).  I can't wait to see your projects this week and leave you some lovin' on your Blogs.  Have a blessed day and I pray that you thirst and hunger for God's Word. That you may know the glorious future that only faith in Jesus Christ can provide.  His Name be praised forever!