Encouragement Series: Take a Deep Breath Card---It's Our First Challenge of the Year 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, "Use Watercolor."

The New Year started with some health challenges for me (which I talked about in my previous post). But like all the other years since I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior, I knew that I was never alone and that no matter what happens, I am assured of God's best interest for me.  It's not easy but a big part of our walk with God is choosing to believe (faith) in God's Word (His promises) even when your body and senses tell you otherwise.   Since our ONLY connection to God is FAITH (in what Christ accomplished at the Cross), it is imperative that we live each day relying upon God's Word and not the dictates  of our bodies.  Until the time we are given new bodies (not subject to time and space), we are fighting against the fleshly cravings/dictates of our present bodies that causes us to go against God's Word.  Galatians 5:17 says, "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want."  Not only does our flesh enticed us to sin but it also discourages us from believing God's Word by convincing us to rely on how/what we feel.  I get it!  Physical and emotional pain are not easy to deal with.  Many times I called unto the Lord and asked Him to take away the pain for they were too hard to bear.  But it's also in these times that I'm reminded of what Jesus had to go through at the Cross to redeem mankind from our bondage to Sin and Death.  Everyone who places their trust in Jesus Christ and His finished work at the Cross will one day live in a place where there's no more pain and suffering.  Jesus endured all kinds of pain so that He can reconcile us back to Himself.  For in Him we shall experience love, joy and peace for all eternity.   In the midst of physical and emotional pain, I meditate on these things.  I take a deep breath, surrender and rest in the arms of Jesus Christ!  When we are tired and weary,  Jesus told us in Matthew 11:28-30,  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” In His Word, I find hope and peace that surpasses all understanding daily.  His Holy Spirit assures me of His presence and empowers me to hold on to His promises no matter what life may bring. I would like to share with you the promises of God to them whose faith rested in Jesus Christ.  We have an eternal dwelling place especially prepared for us.  Be encouraged!

"Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. So while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life. And God has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come. Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we aspire to please Him, whether we are here in this body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:1-10)

For this Card, I used an image from Illustrated Faith that I watercolored using my Stabilo 68 markers.  The base is an A7, pre-cut card from Paper Studio.  The DP is from K and Company and Paper Studio, the washi tapes are from Recollections and the glitters from Stickles (Crystal).  And finally,  I stitched all over this card using my sewing machine.  Simply fabulous.  

 TAKE A DEEP BREATH CARD

 TAKE A DEEP BREATH CARD LAYERS

 TAKE A DEEP BREATH CARD INSIDE

TAKE A DEEP BREATH CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafting by Designs---ATG
Crafty Addicts---ATG/Christmas
A2Z---ATG
A Bit More Time to Craft---ATG
Perfect Time to Craft---ATG
Classic DT---ATG
Crafts Galore Encore---ATG
Craftyhazelnut's---Designer Paper
Creatalicious---ATG/Something New
Colour Create Show---ATG
Daisy Chain---Add some Sparkle
Digistamps4Joy---ATG
Happy Craft---ATG
LeAnn's World---ATG
Lost Coast---ATG (Images from Illustrated Faith Clear stamps)
Love to Craft---ATG
Love to Scrap---ATG
Mix It Up---ATG
Morgan's Artworld---ATG
Not Just Cards---ATG
Scribbles Designs---ATG (Anything Goes selected)
Sweet Stampers---ATG
World Wide Open DT---ATG


This is 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 (Use Watercolor).  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.