Scripture Series: He That Blotteth Out Pop-Up Box Card---Time for Another Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday...

Hello there, friends!  Hope you are having a wonderful week with lots of time to create wonderful things.  We are starting another Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW) today.  As always, we are featuring a brand new Scripture Word Art that you can download for free at the WAW site and it comes from Isaiah 43:25 which says, "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."

Wow, what a comforting verse we have in our midst today.  What humanity doesn't understand or fully acknowledge is that our GOD is a HOLY GOD! In Him, there is no blemish, darkness nor imperfection.  He is eternally perfect, radiant, pure, righteous and unchanging.  He is also all-knowing (Omniscient) which means He knows each of His creation's ending from their beginning before He even created them.  Genesis 1:26 tells us, "Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." We may get caught up in the second part of this verse where God gave gave us "rulership" but miss the first part which speaks about us, being created after God's image and likeness.  Prior to the Fall of Man, we have no imperfections---we are righteous before His sight!   We are in complete and total communion with Him.  He gave us the earth to rule like He would rule the heavens.  Though He knew mankind would sin (rebel) against His love and goodness, He still created us.  Yet He would not allow mankind to live forever in that condition for He already came up with the Perfect Solution to bring mankind back to Himself.  JESUS CHRIST, the perfect embodiment of His love came in the flesh,  gave up His life (untainted and holy) as payment for all of our sin (past present and future).  His blood shed on the Cross destroyed the yoke of Satan (his Sin Nature---the source of all "acts of sin." and Death) for everyone that will receive Him.  Since mankind's fall, every human that is born to this world, were tainted by Adam's rebellion.  We are eternally hopeless to attain God's righteousness (right standing with God).  But JESUS made a way for everyone who would acknowledge their SIN and place their FAITH (trust, believe, rely, cling, adhere) in what He accomplished at the Cross.  By having a personal relationship Him, we are transformed from the kingdom of darkness (ruled by Satan) to the Kingdom of God's One and Only Son!  If you are looking for a tangible evidence of this transformation, you will fail.  Hebrews 11:6 clearly says, "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."  Faith is our only connection to God and this same faith causes us to see the transformation that took place in the spiritual to manifest in the physical realm as we continue to depend upon His finished work at the Cross.  Apart from this, there is no other way man can be saved.  Only the blood of Jesus shed at the Cross can wash us white as snow.  For we were born with the Sin Nature and will die with the same unless we surrender it all to the Cross of Jesus Christ before we leave this world.  No amount of good works, acts of kindness or religion will change humanity's fate.  Everyone is destined for Hell (temporary prison) and the Lake of Fire (eternal prison) unless we allow the finished work of Jesus Christ at the Cross to change our destiny.  

If Jesus had to die for mankind's Sin, then we can conclude that Almighty God does not take Sin lightly.  Don't believe the deception that seeks to destroy everyone making us believe that since God is so loving,  He will overlook our transgressions.  That is a twisted and an utter lie from Satan that seeks to devour mankind. From beginning to end, the Bible reveals God's dealing with mankind's Sin.  Everyone that mocks God's Word and denies or perverts/twist God's instructions to suit their lifestyle is set for a rude awakening.  Once they face the reality of death (physical), they will realize the abominable life they lived and thus the words of the Lord becomes a reality to them in Luke 13:28, “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers! “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out."  As much as He is a God of Love, He is also a Just God.  Sin calls for punishment and that is why there is Hell and a Lake of Fire.  Jesus paid all of mankind's Sin and those that accepted what He has done have become beneficiaries of this gift by way of faith (alone).  Their Sin (with all its by-products ) had been washed clean like it never existed. Our good works (own effort) didn't make that possible, it solely by the grace of God through Jesus Christ.  It's like this:  For everyone that believes, We are made clean by the blood and are in Christ!  He is holy, righteous and victorious and being one with Him (in Him), so are we!  When God Almighty looks at us, He sees in us His Son, Jesus Christ!  He sees victory and holiness like no other.  When I'm Born- again (John 3:3), I am righteous in the eyes of the Lord irregardless of my situation (circumstances) and condition (emotionally).  Jesus is in me and I in Him.  I need to live my life in that reality no matter what situation/condition I face daily.  I should never ever depart from the power of the Cross at any given moment.  That is the blessing!  That is the power of every believer!  I would like to share with you the promises of God to every believer that received Him...

If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:15-21) 

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  (Romans 8:37-39)

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

For this Card, I used an image from Magnolia called "On the Road Tilda" that I colored using my Prismacolor/Touch Five markers.  All the flowers are from WPlus9 "Doodle Buds" Clear Stamps and I inked them with Distress Inks.  The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5 x 5.5 inches card.  After all the decorating, it end up 6 x 7 inches.  The DP's are from Heidi Grace and  DCWV, the glitters from Stickles (Crystal) and the the white dots from Liquid Pearls.  I didn't use any die-cut to cut the box and I altered the measurements that I saw on YouTube videos to the card I have in mind.  It's a lot of work but so happy with the result.

 HE THAT BLOTTETH OUT POP-UP BOX CARD

 HE THAT BLOTTETH OUT POP-UP BOX CARD TOP VIEW

 HE THAT BLOTTETH OUT POP-UP BOX CARD WHEN FLATTENED

 HE THAT BLOTTETH OUT POP-UP BOX CARD MESSAGE SPACE

HE THAT BLOTTETH OUT POP-UP BOX CARD WITH ENVELOPE BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafty Creations---ATG
Mod Squad---Layered Florals
Crafty Addicts---ATG/Something Humorous
Wonderful Wednesday---ATG
A Bit More Time to Craft---ATG
A Perfect Time to Craft---ATG
Create with TLC---ATG
Card Mania---Summer Fun
Classic DT---ATG
Crafty Awesomeness---ATG
Crafty Girls Creations---ATG
Crafty Girlz---ATG
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Crea Chicky---ATG
Create and Inspire---ATG
Creative Ladybirds---ATG
Daisy Chain---Floral


Hope you join the fun at our WAW Challenge.  There's wonderful prize awaiting our blessed winner from our awesome sponsor this Challenge, Simon Says Stamp ($25 GC).  You can choose to incorporate the free Word Art (sentiment) you see in my card for projects you wish to make and link with us though it's not mandatory.  You can submit up to 5 projects (Anything Goes) each week as long as it's family friendly, inspirational or uplifting.  Can't wait to see what you come up with. Have a blessed week and always remember to share unto others the hope you have in Christ.  Hugs! 

Scripture Series: The Works of the Lord Card---Join Us for Another Inpsirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello everyone!  Two weeks came by so fast and now, we are beginning another Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  Today's Scripture Word Art (free to download at the WAW site) comes from Psalm 118:17 which says, "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord."  

Though the  Psalmist in our highlighted verse lived before the time of Jesus Christ, there was a sure trust (confidence) in God in the life of this person.  When we look at all the things God created and the system that runs them, it is truly beyond human comprehension.  Sure Science can explain how some things work but even that little knowledge comes from the Lord Almighty.  Deuteronomy 29:29 tells us, "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law."  If God does not reveal anything to mankind, it does  not matter how intellectual a person is, he/she will search in vain.  For even the capacity to think and learn is of the Lord.  Everything He reveals to us is to be used to gain wisdom and understanding on who God is, His ways and His divine will, purpose and plan for His creation.  As created beings,  we are to align ourselves with our Creator to live life to our full potential.  I love the exhortation that my Life Application Bible shared about this latter verse:  It says, "There are some secrets God has chosen not to reveal to us, possibly for the following reasons: (1) our finite minds cannot fully understand the infinite aspects of God's nature and the universe (Ecclesiastes 3:11); (2)  some things are unnecessary for us to know until we are more mature; (3) God is infinite and all-knowing, and we do not have the capacity to know everything He does.  This verse shows that although God has not told us everything there is to know about obeying Him, He has told us enough.  Thus disobedience comes from an act of the will, not a lack of knowledge.  Through God's Word we know enough about Him to be saved by faith and to serve Him.  We must not use the limitation of our knowledge as an excuse to reject His claim on our life."

As a New Testament believer who personally experienced the enormous grace of God through what Christ did at the Cross, I have everything I need to live my life wholly trusting/depending upon Him.  Jesus laid out His plan in my life as a member of His Body (The Church) in His written Word (The Bible).  The very existence of the Church and it's role in our time for the salvation of all mankind was hidden to many in the past.  But by the power of the Holy Spirit, not anymore! I have a a bright future as a citizen of His Kingdom both now and forever.  Jesus had a talk with Martha in John 11:25-26,  "Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”  Though this physical body dies (unless the Rapture of the Church takes place beforehand), our soul and spirit lives forever in the presence of God.  This is absolutely true for us who placed our trust in Jesus Christ while here on earth.  We are spirit beings inside a physical shell!   The physical shell is destroyed but our spirits live on.  Whoever is in Christ (Born-again, John 3:3) shall never see death (eternal death).  We are destined to rule and reign with Christ.  Knowing this Truth, I am very passionate to share such wonderful hope to others in order to declare God's glory through His love and mercy.  I truly serve an incredible, awesome and amazing God!

For this Card, I used an image from the Golden Oldies Collection of Art Impressions.  I watercolored it with Distress Inks and fussy cut.  The base is a pre-cut A7 white CS from Paper Studio, the patterned wooden frame is from Recollections and added some glitters from Stickles (Crystal).  Finally, some fancy stitching all over this creation.  Simply cute, I love it!

 THE WORKS OF THE LORD CARD

 THE WORKS OF THE LORD CARD LAYERS

 THE WORKS OF THE LORD CARD INSIDE

THE WORKS OF THE LORD CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

AAA---Words Take Center Stage
Angie's---ATG/Red White Blue
Dare2BArtzy---Bright Colors
Dragonfly Dreams---ATG
Fashionable Stamping---Feminine
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends---ATG
Artistic Inspirations---ATG/Make it Funny
Aurora Wings---ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Lost Coast---ATG
Paper Next Dolls---ATG
Crafting by Designs---ATG
Crafty Creations---ATG
Crafty Gals---ATG
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Crafty Addicts---ATG/Something Humorous
Wonderful Wednesday---ATG
A Bit More Time to Craft---ATG
A Perfect Time to Craft---ATG
Classic DT---ATG
Crafts Galore----ATG
Crafty Awesomeness---ATG
Crafty Girls---ATG
Crazy Ladybirds---ATG
Love to Craft---ATG
Love to Scrap---ATG


I hope you'd take the time to join us at our WAW Challenge.  It's Anything Goes as long as it's family friendly with uplifting and inspirational messages, you can link up to 5 projects.  Our sponsors this week are Bossy Joscie Crafty Goods ($25 GC to their shop), Dies to Die For (15 pound GC) and Imagine That (Digi Images).  I can't wait to see your projects  and leave you some encouragement on your Blogs.  Though the world seem darkened nowadays, let your faith in God shine like a beacon on a hill.  Pray without ceasing and believe that God can do the impossible! My trust in only in Him... 

CAS Series: Two Occasional and One Thinking of You Cards...It's Time for Another Monthly Challenge at 613 Avenue Create!

Hello there, Crafty Peeps!  We have another Challenge that started yesterday at 613 Avenue Create.  As always, it's Anything Goes  with "Monochrome" as  an optional theme.  I decided to go for the Anything Goes and highlight three of the CAS cards I made recently.  Anyway, my apologies for late post as I didn't have the time (busy Sunday) to get this published on time.

Anyway, we are going through the series on "Why we believe the Bible" at our Church.  While other religions have some elements of the Bible in their doctrines yet they have either added their own (man-made) or twisted the Biblical teachings they have adapted.  As a child of God (Born-again, John 3:3), I solely rely on the accuracy of Scripture to navigate me in this journey called LIFE---physically and spiritually, temporal and eternal. The 66 books of the the Old and New Testament which comprises the Bible is given by God to warn, lead and arm us with knowledge, wisdom and power to the narrow path He prepared us to take.  The Old Testament is the foreshadowing of the Person of Jesus Christ Who is fully revealed in the New Testament.   He is our only hope of re-connection with Almighty God after Adam led all of humanity to the path of rebellion (Fall of Man).  No other book can point us to the Truth other than the Holy Bible, authored by the Holy Spirit, using several men of God that lived many years apart.  It brings us to the conclusion that though many were used to pen the Scripture, it truly has One Author and this fact is proven by the accuracy and cohesiveness of the writings.  2 Peter 1:20-21 tells us, "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."  Gotquestions.org in the question "Who were the authors of the Books of the Bible?" answered, "Ultimately, above the human authors, the Bible was written by God. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that the Bible was “breathed out” by God. God superintended the human authors of the Bible so that, while using their own writing styles and personalities, they still recorded exactly what God intended. The Bible was not dictated by God, but it was perfectly guided and entirely inspired by Him. Humanly speaking, the Bible was written by approximately 40 men of diverse backgrounds over the course of 1500 years. Isaiah was a prophet, Ezra was a priest, Matthew was a tax-collector, John was a fisherman, Paul was a tentmaker, Moses was a shepherd, Luke was a physician. Despite being penned by different authors over 15 centuries, the Bible does not contradict itself and does not contain any errors. The authors all present different perspectives, but they all proclaim the same one true God, and the same one way of salvation—Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

History has proven the accuracy of God's Law and the Prophetic Words that came and are coming to pass.  Even as I speak, the prophetic clock is active.  Jesus is the completion of the Law (Torah) and  the object of every prophecy.  He told us in Matthew 5:17-18, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."  Jesus in His coming, ministry and finished work at the Cross validates the Bible.  God's Word does not discriminate on status, race, color or anything this divisive world is using to create factions.  It has no gray area!  Everyone goes through the Only Way, Only Truth and Only Life revealed by God in the person of Jesus Christ.  Therefore, no one has an excuse!  The Holy Bible is the single and most reliable book that reveals the infinite God we have no way of knowing on our own.  His Holy Spirit (living in us) interprets God's Truth so that we may fully understand His ways.  Speaking to the believers, Paul told us 1 Corinthians 2:6-14, "We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit."  Everyone who accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior received the Holy Spirit and He dwells inside them.  Without Him,  people live in darkness---having no knowledge, wisdom nor understanding on their spiritual condition.  Thus, we see the widespread hatred of God in our day giving birth to gross immorality led by depraved hearts and minds.  Anyone who sincerely consults God's Word for Truth will be led by the Holy Spirit.  I am so grateful to God's Word for lighting up my path now and forever.  (Please scroll down for a VIDEO that will surely bless you regarding the validity of the Bible).

For this first card, I used an image from Sassy Cheryl Digi Stamps called "Little Girl Graduation"  and colored it using my Touch Five markers. I stamped the sprig in the background using Penny Black clear stamps.  I also adhered some Washi Tape from Tape Works and added Liquid Pearls (Silver Pearl).  The base is an A2 pre-cut card that comes with an envelope (The same size used for all cards here).  With some fussy cutting, this card came out awesome.

 WISHING YOU ALL OF LIFE'S BEST CARD

 WISHING YOU ALL OF LIFE'S BEST CARD INSIDE

 WISHING YOU ALL OF LIFE'S BEST CARD WITH ENVELOPE

For my second card,  I used clear stamps from two Stampendous sets (image and sentiment).  I also colored the image using my Touch Five markers, inked the clouds using Tumbled Glass Distress Ink and the cloud stencil I created and adhered some Washi Tape from Recollections.

 CHANGITO PIRATE BIRTHDAY CARD

 CHANGITO PIRATE BIRTHDAY CARD INSIDE

 CHANGITO PIRATE BIRTHDAY CARD WITH ENVELOPE

For my third and final card for this post, I used an image from Fiskars Clear Stamps and the sentiment is from Stampendous. I stamped using several colors from Stampabilities mini inks for such a colorful and vibrant effect.  I also incorporates some Liquid Pearls (White Opal) for added dimension.  It sure turned out lovely. 

 THOUGHTS OF YOU FLUTTER BY CARD

 THOUGHTS OF YOU FLUTTER BY CARD INSIDE

THOUGHTS OF YOU FLUTTER BY CARD WITH ENVELOPE

These Card are entered into the following Challenges:

Addicted to Stamps---Summer/Beaches
Angie's---ATG/Red White Blue
Dare2BArtzy---Bright Colors
Dragonfly Dreams---ATG
Fashionable Stamping---Feminine
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends---ATG
Penny Black---For the Boys
Artistic Inspirations---ATG/Make it Funny
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Lost Coast---ATG
Crazy Challenge---Animals
Crafting by Designs---ATG
Inspiration Destination---ATG
2 Crafty Critter---ATG with Critter
2 Sisters---Beach
A Bit More Time to Craft---ATG
A Perfect Time to Craft---ATG
Classic DT---ATG
Country View---Things with Wings
Crafts Galore----ATG
Crafty Animals---ATG
Crafty Awesomeness---ATG
Crafty Girls---ATG
Crazy Ladybirds---ATG
Delicious Doodles---Beside the Sea
Love to Craft---ATG
Love to Scrap---ATG


There you have it, folks!  Don't miss the fun by joining our Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.   Can't wait to see what fabulous projects you're going to highlight this week. I hope you have a great start of the year and know that through faith in what Jesus accomplished through the Cross as revealed by the Written Wordf, we have complete victory that we can effectively share with others!


WHY THE BIBLE?
I also would like to share the video of one of my favorite Christian apologist, Bro. Ravi Zacharias when he was asked by a young man in the University of Illinois, "Why we should believe the Bible as the Word of God?."  This was taken many years ago in one of his speaking engagement.  I learned so much.  Watch and be blessed!