Scripture Series: My Lips Shall Praise Thee Card---Come and Join Us for Another Inspirational Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hi there, Crafty Peeps!  We are having another Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge happening at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  Our Scripture Word Art (you can download for free at the WAW site) comes from Psalm 63:3 which says, "Because thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee." This verse was probably written when David was seeking shelter from Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 15-18).  Being hunted by his own son and hiding from his enemies in the barren desert of Judah, David had longed for a friend---somebody whom he could trust and would ease his loneliness.  When you cannot even trust your own family, having turned their backs against you, those who know the Lord would call and seek refuge in Him. David was in such emotional distraught that he cried out, "O God, my soul thirst for you...in a dry and weary land." (Psalm 63:1)  God alone can satisfy our deepest longings and can meet our deepest needs.  David knew God and had seen His power and glory displayed in his life.  He had such a personal relationship with God that he knew God's love for him transcends his lifetime.

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt so alone and no one seemed to understand what's happening inside of you?  Outside, you put on a facade that looks like things are going well but the truth is, you go on day to day feeling empty---with  no real meaning and purpose in your life.  Folks, before I came to know the Lord, I was in that very situation.  Everyone thought of me as a very strong person! I wouldn't blame them as I tried to look and sound strong around people.  But the sadness and frustration was tearing me up inside!  I can tell you that it is only by the grace of God that I didn't turn to destructive/harmful  ways to numb the pain I was experiencing.  I know many Christians out there went through addiction, lawlessness, incarceration, abuse and a combination of many other things that led them to prison or even suicidal attempts having dealt with many trials and pain they inflicted on themselves or others while some were caused by the people whom they trusted and loved.  I listened to many of them and they all have powerful testimonies on how they came to know and received God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  But you see, unlike them, I played by the rules most of my life.  I walked a pretty straight line veering out of trouble.  I had a plan and made great in school---determined to do what's necessary to achieve a decent life without stepping on others.  But like everyone else,  I wasn't exempted from family troubles and didn't make wise decisions all the time.  And though I didn't mean to hurt anyone, I brought emotional pain to my family in my desperation and rebellion.  People saw me as loud and outspoken, yet I kept everything that truly matters inside and hid how I truly felt.  I felt sad, betrayed and abandoned by people I loved.  Though they were there, it just seemed  like they were mentally and emotionally out of my reach.  I was alone feeling hopeless with no purpose to live.  It was my rock bottom!

So why am I sharing my testimony to all of you in this Blog?  My point is this: That  I didn't have to be a murderer, an addict, an alcoholic, homeless a drunkard or steep into sexual immorality in order to realize my dire need for God.  Nearly three decades ago, God met me at my rock bottom!  No, he didn't come with a magic wand and changed my circumstances at that instant.  What he did was reached out to me and changed my heart through the power of His Holy Spirit.  With a seed (God's Word) that He planted in my heart a few years back, He took that tiny seed of faith and made it come alive.  He showed me one name to call---JESUS!  That moment, like King David, I cried to the Lord and asked Him to come into my life and be my Lord and Savior.  I told him to rid me of my loneliness and exchanged it with his love, peace and joy.  That time I confessed Him as my Lord, I immediately became His daughter and everything around me changed.  Though physically things looked the same,  but in the spirit---all things became new.  My past may not be as colorful as other believers  but I am a living testimony of the grace, power and glory of God just the same.  Like King David, I will never run out of reasons to praise Jesus with everything that is within me.  Let us forever  exalt His Holy Name!  Whatever your situation is at this moment, nothing is too small or too big for God.  Call Him and allow Him to reveal your true purpose which He created you for before the foundations of the world.  Don't wait.  Do yourself a favor and do it now.   Open your heart, believe and confess your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Let this prayer be your guide:

"Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door when I hear you knocking. By faith I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior. Amen."

For this Card, I used an image from Mo Manning Digi Stamps called "So Jazzed" that I colored using my Touch Five/Prismacolor markers. The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  I also used a a blue CS for matting, a variety of Washi Tapes from Recollections, glitters from Stickles (Crystal) and some white nail head gems from Imaginisce.  Finally, I stitched all over this card.  I love how the colors made this card come alive.   

MY LIPS SHALL PRAISE THEE CARD

MY LIPS SHALL PRAISE THEE CARD LAYERS

MY LIPS SHALL PRAISE THEE CARD INSIDE

MY LIPS SHALL PRAISE THEE CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafty Gals---ATG
Inspiration Destination---ATG/Embossing
Crafty Addicts---ATG/Winter Blues
2 Crafty Critter Crazies---ATG with Critter
A Bit More Time to Craft---ATG
The Crafter's Cafe---Lots of Bling
Crafts Galore Encore---ATG
Crafty Animals---ATG
Crafty Awesomeness---ATG
Crafty Girls---ATG
Creatalicious---ATG/Cute
Create and Inspire---ATG
Createful Heart---ATG
CCC---ATG
Daisy Chain---Something New (Used the image for the first time)
Love to Scrap---ATG
Not Just Cards---ATG
Paper Creator's Crafts---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 each week.  You can win wonderful goodies from our awesome sponsors this week---Bossy Joscie ($25 GC) and The Cutting Cafe (Digi Images).  So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, cheer up and let the joy of the Lord overtake you as you find true beauty in yourself and others through the eyes of our Maker. 

A House is Made Card---Join Our First Challenge for 2018 at 613 Avenue Create!

Hello there, Crafty friends!  I would like to invite all of you to join our very first Challenge this year at 613 Avenue Create.  We had lots of wonderful entries last year and we're always grateful for participating and making our Challenge such a wonderful place to get some crafting inspiration.  Like our previous Challenges, you have a whole month to link your projects with us and meet some wonderful friends along the way.  It's always Anything Goes but if you're up for some challenge, take on our optional theme, "Something New" (House, Baby, Tools, Technique etc.).

Anyway, my inspiration card today is one I've given to a friend that had a house warming recently.  It's their first time to buy a home and in the midst of the celebration, they shared with us some of the struggles they had to face starting and growing their business that paved the way for this milestone investment.  In their story, it's undeniable that a big part of their dream becoming a reality is their faith in God.  We can plan many great things in this life but only God can make them possible. Proverbs 19:21 tells us, "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand."  As believers (Born-again, John 3:3) and members of the Body of Christ, we understand that Jesus is the One and Only Source of everything we receive from God.  Every blessing and windows of opportunities comes  to us by way of Jesus' finished work at the Cross (His death, burial and resurrection).  The Holy Spirit living inside of us reminds us daily of our inheritance in Him and leads us to His purpose. He gave us abilities and talents we can use to access not only the physical/temporal treasures of this world but more importantly, the spiritual and eternal treasures..  As we come under the knowledge of Christ and learn of His Word/Truth, we come to the realization that nothing in this world is more satisfying than knowing the treasures waiting for us in the eternal presence of our Father in heaven.  Everything we receive here is merely an extension of God's goodness which He had given to us in Christ before the foundations of the world. New cars, new homes, great job/career are only rewarding when we acknowledge the hand of God upon our lives.  And because we are His, we can expect great and wonderful things from our Father. I would like to leave you with the inspiration of God's Word in the following passages:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."  (Ephesians 1:3-14)

For this Card, I used an image from Heidi Grace that I colored with my Touch Five markers.  The flower is an Martha Stewart clear stamp image and the sentiments (both in the card and envelope) are from Stampendous (Family Home Set).  I embossed the front panel using a Paper Studio embossing folder, punched some leaves with my Fiskars punch and added a dot of liquid pearl to the center of the flower for added dimension. 

 A HOUSE IS MADE CARD

 A HOUSE IS MADE CARD LAYERS

A HOUSE IS MADE CARD WITH ENVELOPE

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

a2z Scrapbooking---New to Me (use an older stamp never used before)
A Bit More Time to Craft---ATG
A Perfect Time to Craft---ATG
Artistic Stamper---ATG
Classic DT---ATG
Country View---ATG
Crafts Galore Encore---ATG
Crafty Awesomeness---ATG
Crafty Girls---ATG
CCC---ATG
Daisy Chain---Something New (New Home)
Fabrika Fantasy---New Beginning (New Home)
HLS---CAS
Lets Craft and Create---ATG/Love
Love to Craft---ATG
Love to Scrap---ATG


This it for now, guys.  Make sure to join us at our neighborhood---613 Avenue Create---for an Anything Goes Challenge.  If you want to be challenged (like I was), take on the Optional Twist.  But there's really no reason for you to miss it. Can't wait to see what you create. The Lord is with you every step of the way so, be at peace that you have Someone you can trust and have your back always. 

Scripture Series: He Shall Fight for You Card---Join Us for our First Challenge in 2018 at Word Art Wednesday!

Hi there, friends!  A VERY BLESSED AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO Y'ALL! This is our very first Challenge for 2018 at Word Art Wednesday (WAW) and we have wonderful sponsors lined-up not only for this Challenge but the entire year so we encourage you to join us with your inspirational projects, learn/share God's Word, meet new friends and get a chance to win fabulous prizes.

Today's Scripture Word Art (you can download for free at the WAW site) comes from Deuteronomy 3:22 which says, "Ye shall not fear them: for the Lord your God he shall fight for you."  On their journey to the promised land, Moses reminded Joshua of what the Lord has done on their behalf to defeat two kings namely Sihon, king of Heshbon and Og, king of Bashan.  By worldly standard, the Israelites have no capability on their own to intimidate their enemies.  Yet, they were known by many as warriors because God was on their side and fought for them.  Since Moses was forbidden by God to enter the promised land and was only allowed to see it, God commanded him instead to commission Joshua---to encourage and strengthen him to lead God's people in crossing the Jordan River to the promised land. Our featured verse was Joshua's assurance that God would lead him to victory over the enemies he would face along the way as he continues to trust in Him. It is clear that without the Lord's favor resting upon His chosen people, from the leadership of Moses to Joshua, they would not be able to conquer their enemies to possess the promised land.  I would like to share what my Life Application Bible shared about our highlighted verse.  It says, "What encouraging news for Joshua, who was to lead  his men against the persistent forces of evil in the promised land!  Since God promised to help him win every battle, he had nothing to fear.  Our battles may not be against godless armies, but they are just as real as Joshua's.  Whether we are resisting temptation or battling fear, God has promised to fight with and for us as we place our hope and confidence in Him."

Shortly after we rang in the New Year,  I had to battle a persistent tummy ache which kept me awake for a couple of nights.  I was feeling weak and dehydrated.  Then yesterday, a neighbor knocked on our door and told us that he noticed a damaged on our parked vehicle which appeared to have been  rear-ended by another vehicle in our apartment community sometime in the morning.  He didn't see who did it and we really don't have a clue who the culprit is. We spent several hours contacting police, our insurance, the Body shop and booking for a rental car.  With money coming out of our pockets for deductibles and possible raised premiums, I should have been really stressed!  But an overwhelming peace came upon me.  I know the Lord is the healer of my body (Psalm 103:2-3) and He also provides solutions to all my other concerns (Psalm 84:11-12). He knows who did the terrible thing to our vehicle and He is dealing with them.  Today, I'm happy to say that my tummy feels better, gained much of my strength and eagerly anticipating the wonderful things God will do in the coming days.  I'm so glad I have the Lord Jesus Christ living inside of me for He comforts and reminds me of His peace, joy and love towards me.  Like God's assurance to Joshua,  I can face all the problems in this life for I am not alone.  Jesus is my victory.  If you don't know Jesus Christ personally, you can get to know Him now.  Invite Him into your heart as your Lord and Savior, repent from your sins, begin to read His Word and live victoriously in all circumstances.

For this Card, I used an image from Stamper's Anonymous called "Crazy Cats/Birds" as well as "Crazy Things" that I brought to life by watercoloring using my Stabilo 68 markers.  I found an inspiration for this card from Scrapbook.com after googling for some ideas.  The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card. The little hearts border punch was from Martha Stewart.  I inked around the image using Ranger Distress Inks (Weathered Wood and Brushed Corduroy).  The inside and envelope sentiment came from Fiskars clear stamps.  Lastly, I stitched all over this card.  What a simple card to start my year.

 HE SHALL FIGHT FOR YOU CARD

 HE SHALL FIGHT FOR YOU CARD LAYERS

 HE SHALL FIGHT FOR YOU CARD INSIDE

HE SHALL FIGHT FOR YOU CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

2 Crafty Critter---ATG with Critter
a2z Scrapbooking---New to Me (use an older stamp never used before)
A Bit More Time to Craft---ATG
A Perfect Time to Craft---ATG
Artistic Stamper---ATG
Classic DT---ATG 
Crafts Galore Encore---ATG
Crafty Animals---ATG
Crafty Awesomeness---ATG
Crafty Girls---ATG
CCC---ATG
HLS---ATG using Watercolor
Love to Craft---ATG
Love to Scrap---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 each week.  Great prizes to be won from our wonderful sponsors---Paper Smooches ($25 GC) and Wild Orchid Crafts (15 UK pound worth).  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!