Scripture Series: God Shall Wipe Away Easel Card---Come and Join the Fun and Inspiration at the Word Art Wednesday Challenge!

Hi there, friends!  Today, we are bringing you another Scripture Word Art for our brand new Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  As always, the DT's each made a card to highlight the same God's Word in our projects.  Today's verse comes from Revelation 21:4 and it says, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

Throughout history, God worked in what we call "Dispensation" of time.  Dispensationalism is a method of interpreting history that divides God’s work and purposes toward mankind into different periods of time.  You can read more about it HERE.  Today, we live under the Dispensation of Grace.  Gotquestions.org says, "It began with the New Covenant in Christ’s blood (Luke 22:20). This “Age of Grace” or “Church Age” occurs between the 69th and 70th week of Daniel 9:24. It starts with the coming of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost and ends with the Rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4). This dispensation is worldwide and includes both Jews and the Gentiles. Man’s responsibility during the Dispensation of Grace is to believe in Jesus, the Son of God (John 3:18). In this dispensation the Holy Spirit indwells believers as the Comforter (John 14:16-26). This dispensation has lasted for over 2,000 years, and no one knows when it will end. We do know that it will end with the Rapture of all born-again believers from the earth to go to heaven with Christ. Following the Rapture will be the judgments of God lasting for seven years (Period of Tribulation).

From what God revealed to us in the Scripture that began with Creation, we were made aware of the sinfulness of humanity when Man fell into Sin (Fall of Man) and the Sin Nature (originated from the heart of Lucifer) entered all of humanity due to Adam's disobedience.  Since then, the perfect creation of Almighty God had been marred with a curse as the devil wreaks havoc to steal, kill and destroy everything that God established.  Sin and Death have plagued humanity as selfishness and idolatry darkened the hearts of man.  The devil continues to deceive everyone by turning them away from the knowledge of God therefore, causing each and everyone to do his bid---for us to destroy one another.  We were headed to the sure path of eternal destruction (one we are powerless to escape) until Jesus Christ came into the scene.  He gave His life as payment once and for all, to unchain us from the bondage of Satan (which only Christ is qualified to do being untainted by Adam's lineage).   In His death, burial and resurrection, we are completely redeemed.  Anyone who places their faith in Him (Born-again, John 3:3) and in what He accomplished at the Cross shall witness far greater promises which God assured us, His children, in our eternal future.   And the good news is, it has nothing to do with our own effort (good works).  It's a "free gift" that we must received by faith and faith alone.  I have this thought right now and I want to share it with you.  "If we looked around us and admired the wonderful and awesome creation we've seen daily (which reflected the glorious nature of the One who created it) even being in its fallen state, how much more beautiful and magnificent God's creation is once we arrived at the time when His Majesty unveils to us the New Heaven and the New Earth?"  Romans 8:18-25 says, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.  For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."  Though we are still awaiting many of God's promises and have to endure for a while longer the sufferings of this present time which is bent to destroy the Truth about salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, we focus our eyes to the the eternal future promised by our Father---a place where Sin, Death, Suffering and Pain no longer exist.  And there is always so much more to what we see  as I believe God only gives what is necessary for us to know in order to carry out the purpose He has given us in this present life.  As a creative person, I always come up with wonderful things...What more can I expect from the God Who is the Source of all creativity?  If the believer's future is that bright, how can we be discouraged by anything in this temporary moment of time? Consider what Apostle Paul said In Philippians 1:20-21 which says, "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."  Need I say more?

For this Card, I used an image from Mo Manning called "Swing High" that I paper-pieced and colored using my Prismacolor and Touch Five markers.  The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches Easel card.  The DP's came from Paper Studio and Recollections, the layered flowers from Prima and the brads are from Recollections.  I had to use my I-Top Brad maker to customize the huge brad in the center.  I also used Nestabilities for the Octagon panel, Sizzix die for the swirl, and added some glitters (Stickles-Crystal) for a wonderful sparkle. The inside sentiment is from CDS stamps.  Finally, I used my sewing machine to stitch all over this creation.  I  am very happy with the final result.

 GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY EASEL CARD

 GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY EASEL CARD WHEN CLOSED

 GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY EASEL CARD SIDE VIEW

 GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY EASEL CARD WITH MESSAGE SPACE

GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY EASEL CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

DP2 Challenge---Anything Mo Goes
Chocolate Baroque---Color Challenge
Crafty Creations---ATG
Creative Moments---ATG
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Moo-Mania---Time (The Scripture featured is a promise of God in time)
Crafty Addicts---ATG/CAS
Wonderful Wednesday---ATG
City Crafter---Spring
Crafty Sentiment---Any Shape
Deep Ocean---Dots and/or Stripes
Digi Choosday---ATG
Everybody Art---Diamond/Glitters
Inky Chicks---Flowers
Lemon Shortbread---ATG
PINspirational---Photo Inspiration
Retarte---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Artistic Inspirations---ATG
Color Inspiration Monday---ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
OLLCB---Spring is in the Air
Pammie's Inky Pinkies---ATG
Path to Positivity---Birth/New Beginnings (The Scripture here tells of the time when everyone who placed their faith in Jesus shall be forever with Him and Sin and Death no longer exist). A new era indeed!
Paper Nest Dolls---ATG
Whoopsi Daisy---Going Round in Circles


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.  Great prize to be won from our wonderful sponsor---Simon Says Stamp ($25 GC).  So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, cheer up and let the peace of the Lord overtake you today.  In Christ, we have a very bright and joyful (literally) future!  

Cricut Baby Shower Invite Set and Crochet Baby Carrier Cover---Join us for Anything Goes/Monthly Challenge at 613 Avenue Create!

Hello there!  It's the first Sunday of the month and we are bringing you another monthly challenge from the Backporch gang of 613 Avenue Create.  As always, it's Anything Goes with an optional twist (Use Rubber Stamps---No Digis).

Before anything else, I would like to share the following verses in Hebrews 6:13-20 (Amplified version) to encourage every Born-again believer to rely constantly in the promises of God written in His Word.  It says, "For when God made the promise to Abraham, He swore [an oath] by Himself, since He had no one greater by whom to swear,  saying, “I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.” And so, having patiently waited, he realized the promise [in the miraculous birth of Isaac, as a pledge of what was to come from God]. Indeed men swear [an oath] by one greater than themselves, and with them [in all disputes] the oath serves as confirmation [of what has been said] and is an end of the dispute.  In the same way God, in His desire to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable nature of His purpose, intervened and guaranteed it with an oath,  so that by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge would have strong encouragement and indwelling strength to hold tightly to the hope set before us.  This hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it]—a safe and steadfast hope that enters within the veil [of the heavenly temple, that most Holy Place in which the very presence of God dwells], where Jesus has entered [in advance] as a forerunner for us, having become a High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." 

The Lord gave me the aforementioned verses after I asked Him what He would like me to share in this post.  What He impressed upon my heart was this:  "I have kept and will always keep my promises."  You see, everything the Lord revealed and promised us (as it is written in His Word) is Truth (reality in God's perspective).  They are not subject to change by any human being nor any worldly and spiritual powers on earth.  From the time of creation to the end of all things, His Word shall stand.  Matthew 24:35 made this clear to us when Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." I believe the Lord wanted me to remind every believer that we are not to compromise His Word for anything.  Though the world consider the Scripture as an outdated set of rules with primitive ways of living and how they've chosen to exchange the holy ways of God to go after every despicable lifestyle full of idolatry, selfishness, lasciviousness and depravity of epic proportions, those of us who know the Truth and received grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Born-again, John 3:3) must hold on firmly to what is RIGHT.  Everyday, there is always an ungodly agenda being forced upon us, the Body of Christ!  Many issues are twisted to make it appear like something else---under the banner of women's rights, civil rights, race, equality and so on.  In case you don't know, the unbelievers are not the target of these agenda. Why not? Because anyone without Christ is already in bondage with Satan and he can manipulate them (whenever/wherever he wants) to do his work.  That is why we marvel at the blindness of people.  It's truly mind-boggling! They are like walking zombies---living but brainless.  As they have rejected the Cross of Christ, they became willing servants and worshiper of their father, the devil. 

Therefore, I submit to you that the Body of Christ (believers) is the real target of all these ungodly agenda!  Through treats and persecution, manipulation,  and the twisting of God's Word,  they prey on believers whose roots are shallow.  They attack our FAITH (the only connection we have with God---Romans 1:17) by using false teachers (many of them are popular with huge following) that exchanged the Truth of God for money, fame and power.  They have diluted/perverted God's Word by spreading demonic doctrines filled with lies to satisfy the itching ears of their congregation, therefore putting money in their pockets.  They are so deceived and believed they would get away with it.  But I tell you, God Almighty knows all their deeds.  He also knows their innermost thoughts.  Unless they repent and go back to the way of the Lord Jesus, they will suffer every judgment intended upon the enemies of God.  So, how are we going to avoid the deception that have captured many in our time?  We are to silence the noise of the world by spending time with the Lord Jesus (prayer) and studying His Word under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  We cannot identify (discern) the fake if we're not familiar with the genuine.  Always remember that no matter how much time has passed and how modern and industrialized this world has become, the ways and promises of the Lord shall always prevail.  As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are to live in accordance to the ways of the Kingdom (higher calling) and refuse to be entangled by the worthless deeds of this world.  God's promises are worth living and fighting for.  In every issues confronting me daily, I always declare, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)

For this Card Set, I used my Cricut (it's been a while since I last used it) with the Wildcard Cartridge to cut my card shape, the layers and the baby.  I stamped a face on the baby die cut using Peachy Keen Stamps.  I printed the details of the shower in a separate sheet and adhered it to the inside of the card.  I stamped the sentiment on the card using Clearly Wordsworth.  The theme of the shower is the owl so, I incorporated that in the envelope using Studio G stamps and I stamped the envelope sentiment using Recollections.  It took quite a bit of time but so happy with the result.

 CRICUT BABY SHOWER INVITATIONS

CRICUT BABY SHOWER INVITATIONS COMPLETE SET

When it came time for the Baby Shower, I decided to crochet a Baby Carrier Cover as a gift to the future parents. It's my first time to make one and is well worth the time I spent for several days.  I really wanted to take a photo of it before gift wrapping it so, I went to a nearby Walmart and took this photo on one of their baby carrier displays.   Phew!  Things we would do to take a wonderful picture....LOL  By the way, the Mommy-to-be loved it!  So glad and thankful to the Lord for  the inspiration in every stitch.

CROCHET CAR SEAT CARRIER COVER

The Card Set is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafting by Designs---ATG
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Crafty Addicts---ATG/CAS
Wonderful Wednesday---For Boys/Men
A Bit More Time to Craft---ATG
A Perfect Time to Craft---ATG
Classic DT---ATG
Crafty Awesomeness---ATG
Craftyhazelnuts---Patterned Paper
Creatalicious---ATG /Lots of Green
Digistamps4Joy---ATG with Optional Twist
Love to Scrap---ATG
One Crazy Stamper---ATG
Sweet Stampers---Add a Sentiment
World Wide Open DT---ATG


This is it for now, guys.  Make sure to join our Anything Goes Challenge at our neighborhood---613 Avenue Create.  If you prefer to be challenged, take on the Optional Twist.  Don't miss all the fun.  Can't wait to see what you create. Let us continue to lift up the lives of our kids unto the Lord by imparting God's Word, prayer and leading by example.  

Scripture Series: Rejoice Evermore Center Step Card---Time for Another Anything Goes/Family- Friendly Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello there, friends!  Wow, February is done and we are now  on the third month of the year.  Days are passing by too fast and so, we are bringing you another inspirational Challenge from Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  As always, we are highlighting a Scripture Word Art (you can download for free at the WAW site) coming from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 which tells us, "Rejoice evermore.  Pray without ceasing."

As I looked into the context of Paul's letter in 1 Thessalonians, it centers on the message of encouragement and preparedness as we live in the last of the Last Days.  The Church in Thessalonica was comprised of new believers and needed to be taught and reminded of the tenets of their faith in Christ.  It was vital for their maturity---to avoid being deceived (falling into all sorts of temptation given their pagan culture) and discouraged by persecution.  Paul needed to empower them with hope and warn them about the "Day of the Lord."  In order to understand the significance of our featured verses, we need to examine what this "Day" is about encouraging us to rejoice and to continue in prayer.  

My Life Application Bible defines the The "Day of the Lord " as a future time when God will intervene directly and dramatically in world affairs.  Predicted and discussed often in the Old Testament (Isaiah 13:6-12,  Joel 2:28-32, Zephaniah 1:14-18) the Day of the Lord will include both punishment and blessing .  Christ will judge sin and set up His eternal kingdom.  I also found another article pertaining to the "Day of the Lord"  at Gotquestions.org and it says, "The New Testament calls it a day of “wrath,” a day of “visitation,” and the “great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14) and refers to a still future fulfillment when God’s wrath is poured out on unbelieving Israel (Isaiah 22; Jeremiah 30:1-17; Joel 1-2; Amos 5; Zephaniah 1) and on the unbelieving world (Ezekiel 38–39; Zechariah 14). The Scriptures indicate that “The Day of the Lord” will come quickly, like a thief in the night (Zephaniah 1:14-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:2), and therefore Christians must be watchful and ready for the coming of Christ at any moment. Besides being a time of judgment, it will also be a time of salvation as God will deliver the remnant of Israel, fulfilling His promise that “all of Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26), forgiving their sins and restoring His chosen people to the land He promised to Abraham (Isaiah 10:27; Jeremiah 30:19-31, 40; Micah 4; Zechariah 13). The final outcome of the Day of the Lord will be that “the arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day” (Isaiah 2:17). The ultimate or final fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the Day of the Lord will come at the end of history when God, with wondrous power, will punish evil and fulfill all His promises."  

Anyone who placed their faith in Jesus Christ and living in accordance to His Word would agree that we are living in a world that is hostile to Christianity.  The persecutions are not just something we read about.  We heard of our brothers and sisters being slaughtered---beheaded or burned in many countries by radical Islamic terrorists whose ideology thrives on killing people who don't share their insanity to their false doctrines and their false god.  Though there are many other false religions/teachings in  this world and are deceiving many, none of them is brutally and literally killing people (physically) in keeping with their belief system.  Our country have allowed them to creep in  our society by not enforcing our laws on Immigration and borders under the false claim of compassion to push a one world agenda.  As a result, we are literally welcoming, supporting  and feeding these savages to kill us.  Some may say, this is harsh but I am merely stating the Truth. Islam and it's minions have made clear their intentions to destroy, take over and enslave every country and to abuse our women and children in tons of video you can find in social media.  Make no mistake about it, we are seeing that everywhere in the countries that embraced them amidst these countries government and media cover-up.  Therefore, we must support every  effort or our newly elected President, Donald Trump, to annihilate ISIS and their supporters from the face of the earth.  Those who are radicalized (citizens or non-citizens) who expressed their support for this savage group should be kicked out (stripped off their citizenship), monitored and should be treated as enemies of our country.  In the President's address to Congress yesterday, we are to take a good look at the men and women representatives of our cities and states and see who were those who didn't support the President's statement to get rid of ISIS for good.  These people are no longer wolves  in sheep's clothing.  They have come as wolves and it's for all the world to see.  Only the blindest of the blinds will take this lightly.  

But for us who are still operating with wisdom and discernment, we thank God for it is in Him that we are able to see clearly the deception that has succumb many.  As we see the Day of the Lord unfolding, we should not dwell on the chaos but in the hope of what it means in the timeline of God.  We need to rejoice as we focus upon our future in Christ for behind the chaos is the fulfillment of our eternal existence in the presence of the Lord where victory and eternal bliss is certain.  No Sin, Death and Darkness shall exist in that period.  True joy, true peace and true love shall be the order of the kingdom with our King, Jesus Christ.  Though for a while, we have to painfully endure the product of people's ungodliness (lawlessness/rebellion), we need to pray continuously for the salvation of souls and for the good of our nation and the entire world.  While the Holy Spirit is working in the Church (Born-again believers, John 3:3) in this period of grace, we are to continue to bring the Gospel (Good News---death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ) to every nation at all cost.  There are still many of them out there who would come to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ for it there's none, this world should have long been destroyed.  I love God's instruction to us in Ephesians 5:15-20 and it says, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,  speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

For this Card, I used a couple of Stamp and Die Combos (Happy New Home and Pocketful of Sunshine) from our wonderful sponsor this week, Taylored Expressions.  I colored the images with my Touchfive Markers.  I used the coordinated dies to cut the images while others were fussy-cut.  The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches center step design.  The DP's are from Recollections, the white nail head gems from Imaginisce and the glitters from Stickles (Crystal and Gold). There's some inking to create the clouds using Distress Ink (Tumbled Glass) and die-cut the circle and scalloped circle using Nestablities.  Lastly, I ran it through my sewing machine for some wonderful stitching.  I'm very happy with the result. 

 REJOICE EVERMORE CENTER STEP CARD

REJOICE EVERMORE CENTER STEP CARD LAYERS

 REJOICE EVERMORE CENTER STEP CARD SIDE VIEW

 REJOICE EVERMORE CENTER STEP CARD INSIDE

REJOICE EVERMORE CENTER STEP CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafting by Designs---ATG
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Crafty Addicts---ATG/CAS
A Bit More Time to Craft---ATG
A Perfect Time to Craft---ATG
Create with TLC---ATG
Classic DT---ATG
Crafts and Me---Springtime
Crafty Awesomeness---ATG
Craftyhazelnuts---Patterned Paper
Creatalicious---ATG /Lots of Green
Digistamps4Joy---ATG with Optional Twist
Eclectic Ellapu---Spring
Love to Scrap---ATG
Not Just Cards---Spring
One Crazy Stamper---ATG
Paradise of Stamps---Spring
Rubber Dance---Color Challenge
Sweet Stampers---Add a Sentiment
World Wide Open DT---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 several times in two weeks.  A great prize awaits our winner from our wonderful sponsor---Taylored Expressions ($25 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.  We serve a good and faithful God who never leave us nor forsake us!