Scripture Series: He Counted Me Faithful Card---Get Creative and Link Your Inspirational/ Anything Goes Projects at our Word Art Wednesday Challenge!

Hello everyone. Back again to highlight another card I made for our bi-weekly Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  As always, it is Anything Goes as long as it's inspirational.  We are also incorporating a Scripture Word Art (all the DT's used) you can download for free at the WAW site.  It comes from 1 Timothy 1:12 which says, "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry."

We are living in the times where deception is rampant in our society.  How do we spot deception?  When people use their knowledge, experiences and way of thinking to rationalize and support an issue that goes against God's Word.  I can site many examples but will focus on one for the sake of time.  One prominent example in our day is the case of Sodomy (Homosexuality) in our nation denying it as a "SIN."  We have many prominent so-called "preachers" making money and filling their stadiums perverting the Word of God (false teachings).  Well known politicians and powerful personalities have polluted the minds of the weak by ranking homosexuality among the protected clause along with race, color or nationality.   As a babies in our mother's womb, we don't have an input which country to be born from---much less the color of our skin. Furthermore, God's Word tells us in Genesis 1:27, "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."  We are one or the other based on the biological make-up our Creator assigned for us.  Homosexuality on the other hand is something a man/woman could struggle with after he/she is born and growing up.  Like any other sin, it is a product of the Sin Nature (originated and implanted in us by Lucifer after the Fall of Man that causes us to hate and rebel against God).  No doubt each one of us are affected by the quality of the upbringing we encounter in life and the worldly influences we expose ourselves into.  Abuse (verbal, physical or sexual) as well as the lack of strong and Godly parenting/leadership accounts to most of the struggles we see and hear.  Many homosexuals responded and surrendered their lives to the Lord Jesus.  They turned away from homosexuality and are now fulfilling God's purpose in their lives.  However, we don't see/hear their testimonies on a worldwide platform because they are persecuted, threatened and suppressed by a demonic (leftist) agenda.  This evil group of deceived individuals don't want people to hear the truth---that homosexuality is a sin and the One and Only cure is JESUS!  Their strategy?  They use God's love (out of context/perverted) to silence God's people.   The truth of the matter is, God's love (Agape) doesn't rejoice in anyone dwelling in Sin for Sin eternally separates us from God's very presence.  This is why Jesus died on the Cross.  That in His sacrifice, we can be free to be with Him forever.  

I guess my question is:  How many times did somebody (really deceived) intimidate you from sharing the Truth of God's Word using (in their defense) Matthew 7:1 which says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged."?  Did they succeed?  I hope not!  But if so, you have to go back to your study table, wipe the dust off your Bible, and seek the Truth of God's Word.  Why?  Because you need to know the basics of your faith in order to effectively share with others their need for salvation.  Our response to their false argument?  Because when we came to know the Lord, we acknowledged all of our sins.  We asked for forgiveness and confessed Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  His finished work at the Cross (death, burial and resurrection) washed us clean, justified (made us right in His Sight) and sanctified us (set us apart for His purpose) and gave us the power to proclaim the Gospel to people who are without hope.  Remembering that we were once slaves to the Sin Nature but are now in Christ.  Sure none of us is perfect (yet) but we are no longer slaves to the will of the enemy.  We now have a choice to say "No" to Sin and "Yes" to God.  Jesus told us in Matthew 7:3, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."  By acknowledging our sins and surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ,  we essentially removed the plank in our own eyes first which enabled us to see the speck of sawdust in our brother's eye.  We obeyed God's Word by virtue of our relationship with Jesus Christ and the working of the Holy Spirit inside of us.  Hence, we are qualified Ambassadors of God to this dying world.  

You see, God brought us out from our slavery to Sin to be a part of the Church (Ekklesia---The Called Out Ones).  Many of us came from horrible backgrounds and have committed heinous crimes.  Whatever God saved us from the past along with our daily battles and victories, we are to use our individual testimony to proclaim the hope we have in Christ.  No believer is exempted from this.  Someone out there will benefit from our redemptive story.  I am truly grateful to the Lord for using me in His ministry (service) in big and small ways.  I would like to share something I read in my Life Application Bible that would encourage us to be grateful and faithful to the ministry God entrusted to us.  It says, "Paul was not nearly as interested in creating an image as he was in being an example.  He did not hesitate to share his past, because he knew his failures would allow others to have hope.  At times we hesitate to share our past struggles with others because we are afraid it will tarnish our image.  Paul demonstrated that lowering our guard can be an important step in communicating the gospel.  People will not believe the gospel is important if they can't see that it is crucial in their life.  How has Christ shown patience with you?  Did He stayed with you when you doubted and rebelled?  Did He remain faithful when you ignored His prior claim on your life?  Did He love you when you disregarded His Word and His Church?  Remember that His patience is unlimited for those who love Him.  Don't be afraid to let others know what God has done for you."

For this Card, I used an image from Tiddly Inks called "Lily Bean - Cup of Love" which I colored using my Touch Five/Prismacolor markers and paper -pieced with DP's from my scraps.  The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5  inches square card.  I created the border using an MS Punch, added some glitters (Stickles-Crystal) as well as white nail head gems from Imaginisce.  And finally, I stitched all over this card.  Simply beautiful.

HE COUNTED ME FAITHFUL CARD

 HE COUNTED ME FAITHFUL CARD LAYERS

HE COUNTED ME FAITHFUL CARD INSIDE

HE COUNTED ME FAITHFUL CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafty Creations---ATG
Crafty Gals---ATG
Creative Moments---ATG
House that Stamps Built---ATG
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Pause Dream Enjoy---ATG
Simon Says---ATG
Sisterhood of Crafters---Spots
Wonderful Wednesday---ATG
4 Crafty Chicks---Polka Dots
As You Like It---People or Animal (I prefer people as they give more life to my Scripture Cards)
Little Miss Muffet---ATG
Artistic Inspirations---ATG
Color Inspiration Monthly---ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Pammie's Inky---ATG
Scrapbook Stamp Society---ATG
Paper Nest Dolls---ATG
Snowflakes Promise---ATG
Crafty Sentiments---ATG
Creates and Makes---ATG
Digi Choosday---ATG
Lemon Shortbread---ATG
Retarte---ATG
TTCRD---ATG

Hope you enjoyed my featured project today at WAW...I am looking forward to see your projects linked to our Challenge.  You can include the free Word Art in your projects to link,  but not a requirement.  You can submit any inspirational, uplifting, family friendly creations (up to 5 each week) for more chances to win our prize from our sponsors this week---Craftin' Desert Divas (Sequins) and All Dressed Up Stamps (Digi Stamps). Everything we hear and see should always be brought to the approval and/or correction of the infallible Word of God.  This is the only way we can be sane in this insane world.