Scripture Series: Raised Us Up Together Card---It's Time for Another Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hi there, friends!  It's time for another bi-weekly Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  This time, we are using a Scripture Word Art that comes from Ephesians 2:6 which tells us, "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
  
If we take this verse without investigating the "context" (the circumstances that surrounds an event, statement or idea that gives us the full meaning) for which it was written, we will miss the exceeding hope, peace and joy that is tucked in this verse.  To fully understand, we should first know the condition we were in before Adam fell into Sin and the curse that befall mankind after he disobeyed God (Read Genesis 1-3). The decay we see in nature as well as in our moral and spiritual condition as a whole or in part, including how we react to daily circumstances is influenced by our fallen Adamic nature. There's no way any of us (born under Adam) can appease the wrath (justice) of God through our own effort/merit/good works.  By virtue of the blood flowing in our veins, we are Adam's offspring.  We are all tainted by his disobedience and his alliance with Satan (high-treason) against the very God that created us.  The punishment---DEATH (spiritual, physical and eternal deaths)!  No one is exempted---NO, NOT ONE!  The moment you are born into this world, you are born a SINNER!  No one had to teach you to lie, to hate, to be selfish, to rebel.  For the Sin Nature you inherited from Adam (came originally from the heart of Lucifer/Satan) enslaved your human nature causing you to helplessly commit "acts of sin."  You need proof?  Okay, take a good look at those we claim innocent among us---toddlers and young children.  No matter how cute and behaved you think they are, the words, "Me, Mine, Give me" are among the early words you'll hear them say.  And do we teach them how to lie?  Not if you are a decent parent!  Yet at a very young age, they already exhibit signs of rebellion.  And once they grow up with all the worldly influences surrounding them, it just progressively gets worst.  We should all be familiar with these.  None of us (in our right mind and in all honesty) can dispute this Truth.  The Scripture agrees in 1 John 1:8 when it said, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

Once we realized the true state of our existence, a wise man would ask, "Who then can save me from the curse of Sin and Death?  Who will pay the ransom/penalty for my Sin and how can I be reconciled to my Father in heaven?" My friends, this is why the Good News (death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ) truly brings good news to those who repent of their sins and admit their need of a Savior.  Romans 6:23 states, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Only God is pure and holy!  He is untainted by the Sin that infected mankind.  He alone was qualified to pay the ransom to release us from our bondage with Satan.  Here's Truth---the greatest demonstration of love by our Creator to His creation is written in John 3:16 and it says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  Jesus willingly gave His life for our freedom! At the Cross, He took all the punishment intended for us, fully redeeming us from the claws of Satan, his Sin nature and the three-fold nature of Death.  He made a mockery of Satan when He conquered  death by His resurrection.  And everyone who accepts this free gift of salvation by placing their faith (trust, believing, adhering, relying, depending)  on the finished work of Jesus Christ at Cross received a brand new lease in life, having the righteousness of God credited unto them.  It's simple---In Adam, we all die!  In Jesus, we live!  This is the very reason why a true believer denounces/reviles the idea that "there are many ways to God." Anyone who falls for this lie is absolutely deceived and if they die in that belief even after they were presented of the Truth about Jesus Christ, they will reap the due punishment for rejecting the One and Only Savior of the world!

Having laid out the Truth of Christ and placing our faith upon His victory at the Cross, we can now have a greater understanding on who we are and what we have in Him.  Because we are in Christ, we are also co-heirs with Him.  As His followers,  what happened to Jesus also happens to us.  We share His victory yet we'll also be part of His suffering.  Though for a little while we'd have to withstand persecution of many kinds (even to the point of death) for we uphold and deliver the teachings of Jesus Christ and proclaim the Good News of salvation to this fallen world. Through our suffering,  we carry in us the hope of glory  promised to those who faithfully endure.  Even though we are surrounded by utter darkness in this present day and age, the light of the Spirit of God inside every believer shines even brighter till this period of grace/mercy closes and the judgment of God (Tribulation Period/The Day of the Lord) pours out to them that rejected Christ.  Believers, have no fear for He will spare us from the days of His wrath snatching us out of this world (Rapture of the Church/First Resurrection) to His glorious presence.  And when He sets up His righteous kingdom for a thousand years (Millennial Reign of Christ), we will be back to this earth to rule with Him.  One day, we will see the fullness of the glory of God and in His holy perfection, we will eternally dwell.  JESUS CHRIST IS MY VICTORY!
 
For this Card, I used an image from Stampabilities called "Stick Family" that I colored using my Prismacolor markers.  The base is a white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  The DP's are from American Crafts and the white brad is from Recollections.   I also did some fancy stitching on this project.  The most difficult and time consuming part of this creation is stamping the stick people and fussy cutting them but worth the effort.  I love the result.

RAISED US UP TOGETHER CARD

 RAISED US UP TOGETHER CARD LAYERS

 RAISED US UP TOGETHER CARD SIDE VIEW

 RAISED US UP TOGETHER CARD INSIDE

RAISED US UP TOGETHER CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

As You Like It---Layers One or Many (I like Many layers because it looks and feels good)
Lemon Shortbread---ATG
Crafty Creations---ATG
Simon Says Stamp---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 submit up to 5 entries per week.  Our wonderful sponsor for this week The Project Bin ($15 GC). So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, cheer up and let the joy of the Lord overtake you today.  He truly loves and cares for you. 

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Scripture Series: God is Love Card---Take Part in our Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

A wonderful Wednesday, everyone!  Today, we started another Anything Goes/Inspirational Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW) as we feature another great Scripture Word Art (free for you to download at the WAW site).  It comes from 1 John 4:16 which tells us, "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."

Jesus Christ is the perfect embodiment of God's love for mankind.  God's holy, righteous and glorious ways  could not tolerate Sin in any shape or form.  The justice of God demanded punishment when Adam disobeyed the Father and committed high-treason in the Garden of Eden.  Every man born in this world came from the seed of Adam.  We are all tainted with his Sin---not one person is qualified to work on his own salvation.  Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  I  read an article about this at gotquestions.org and it says,"We are all sinners because Adam passed on his sinful condition that leads inevitably to our personal sin and death. All share Adam’s death sentence as an inherited condition (the “sin nature”) that is passed down to and through the human race and that every child brings into the world. Even before a child can be held accountable for personal sin, he or she is naturally prone to disobey, to tell lies, etc. Every child is born with a sin nature. “The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God” (Psalm 14:2). And what does the all-seeing God find? “All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one” (verse 3). In other words, all have sinned.

Jesus was the Only One who can take away the sin of all mankind.  Let this sink in---God's own Son had to come down from heaven, took on flesh and showed God and His ways, revealed His heart to us and saved us from sure death (spiritual, physical and eternal).  He demonstrated to us the impossible---the power of His kingdom.  Yet He also showed us what true love was willing to give to save the ones He loved.  Because God's righteousness and glory cannot be trampled on and the wrath of God demands justice be served---God's Only Son (holy and sinless) born as a Man (conceived not of Adam but by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin) had to willingly give His life so we can be free---that is, dead in Adam and alive in Christ.  Just as one Man (Adam) plunged us all to eternal damnation, it is also by the obedience and sacrifice of one Man (Jesus Christ) that brought us back  to the presence of God, our Father.  This gift of salvation is FREE for anyone who would place their FAITH (trust, believe, rely, depend, adhere, surrender) in  what Jesus Christ accomplished  at the Cross---His death, burial and resurrection. I am a believer and through Him, I am holy, righteous and loved by my Father in heaven. 

Oh yes!  Jesus embodies the perfect love of God.  He showed us how to live each day---to love our brothers and sisters in  the Lord and how to also love our neighbors.  But genuine love is only possible  if we love Jesus first.  Jesus showed us His love for the Father by making Him His priority---that is to commune with the Father and to carry out God's perfect will and purpose.  When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and received the free gift of salvation He won for us, His Holy Spirit lives inside of us.  The same Holy Spirit that enabled Jesus to carry out the plan of God in His earthly ministry,  His source of wisdom and strength, the same power that raised Him from the dead---is living inside every Born-again believer (John 3:3) today!  Remember this:  God is love!  God showed His perfect love through His Son---Jesus Christ.  All of us remaining in love wholeheartedly loves Jesus Christ and He lives inside of us through the Holy Spirit. It is He who enables us to love people---yes, even our enemies.   Do not be fooled by those who claim to love God but mocks the name of Jesus and deny Him publicly.  The true love of God does not rejoice in lies nor water down God's Word just to avoid offending others.  God's love tells the Truth in love (right motive) to bring people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  

For this Card, I used an image from Art Impressions Stamps called "Quilt Set" that I watercolored using Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  The base is Kraft CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  The DP's are from Paper Studio, the stamped flower from Ditto Stamps, the washi tape from Paper Studio and the gems from my stash.  I want a more natural look for my card so, I colored the image with mostly shades of brown and gray.  I'm pretty happy with the result.

GOD IS LOVE CARD

 GOD IS LOVE CARD LAYERS

 GOD IS LOVE CARD INSIDE

GOD IS LOVE CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Art Impressions---Stripes and/or Circles
Crafting by Designs---Love is in the Air
Crafty Creations---ATG
Crafty Gals---Love is in the Air (Add a Heart)
Creative Moments---ATG/Romance
House Stamps Built---Tic Tac Toe (Love/Embossing/Patterned Paper)
Moo-Mania---Love is in the Air
Paper Shelter---Letters and/or Numbers
Crafty Addicts---ATG/Valentine Colors
a2z---Mood Board (The Love Theme is what inspired me)
A Perfect Time to Craft---ATG
Artistic Stamper---ATG (use rubber stamp)
CCK---Valentine/Love/Heart/For Someone Special
Classic DT---ATG
Craft Galore Encore---ATG
Crafty Hazelnut's---ATG with Patterned Paper
CCC---Valentine/Love
Daisy Chain---Have a Heart
Digi Doodle---All About Love
Fabrika Fantasy---ATG/Love
Happy Craft---ATG
LeAnn's World---ATG
Let's Craft and Create---ATG/From the Heart
LTCCB---ATG
Love to Scrap---ATG/Monochrome
Papercraft---ATG/Valentine/Love
Tales from the Craft Room---Love
YSP---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.  A wonderful prize awaits our winner from our lovely sponsor for this Challenge---Waffle Flower Store  ($15 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.  Be thankful for His love always!

Sit Shake Rollover Card---Come and Join our Fun Challenge at 613 Avenue Create!

Hi there, Crafty Peeps!  A couple of days ago, we started our monthly Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create with the optional theme of "Use a Critter."  I would like to show you the Birthday card that I  made for our Challenge but first, to the most important issue of our day.

By now, I know that most of you are already aware and have heard the news about the despicable move of several other states following New York that declared an all out war against the unborn.  They've replaced every Pro-life laws by laws that would allow just about anyone the right to murder babies up to the time of birth.  As a follower of Jesus Christ, I'm appalled and enraged!  My spirit cries foul, seeking justice for these innocent lives.  I cannot just sit and watch while the ungodly uses their governmental power to murder our children.  I may not have worldly influence/position but I know my God-given position in the Kingdom of God.  I an aware of the unlimited power that Christ entrusted me.  I can engage in this spiritual warfare against abortion through faith, prayer and declaration while taking the necessary action as a citizen to destroy this abomination of Abortion in this country.  I may be one person but with God's power working in me, I can certainly make a difference.  If you feel the same way,  let us use every window of opportunity to unite and use anything at our disposal to make a noise---a very LOUD and POWERFUL NOISE to condemn this barbaric and horrendous act of murder in our time.  If  mainstream media wouldn't air our cause, let us CREATE OUR OWN MEDIA and get the real and life giving news out there while we still can.  DO NOT BE SILENT.  SEEK JUSTICE.  BE THE VOICE FOR THE UNBORN!

Whether you believe it or not, this war against the unborn are connected with modern day demonic worship.  Yes---your educated, decent, modern and progressive politicians along with the rich and powerful of our time are all working together under the hands of a demonic international group that is vowed to take control of all the world to pave the way for the demonic leadership of the anti-Christ.  If you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and you reject the wisdom that comes from reading God's Word (the Bible), you will laugh at this and think I'm totally crazy.  But I wouldn't be surprised!  For the spirit of blindness/deception engulfs the ungodly and the perishing.  However, hear my plea.  If something is stirred inside of you and you see Truth in this message, ask JESUS to reveal Himself to you! I believe He will allow His Spirit of understanding to come upon  you---opening both your physical and spiritual eyes (and ears) to the Truth that in Christ.  However,  if you choose to reject Him, you will never ever see the light!  I want to share with you this article from gotquestions.org on "What does the Bible say about child sacrifice?"  If you have eyes to see and ears to hear, let them see/hear what the Spirit of God is saying:

"The horrific practice of child sacrifice has been committed throughout the world for thousands of years. Generally, the sacrifice of a child was intertwined with the worship of a pagan deity, often a fertility god. Worshipers sought to obtain a blessing from their god(s) or to confirm or complete a vow taken in the name of the god. Ancient Aztecs, Incas, and a few other peoples in South and Central America practiced child sacrifice. The same for the Druids of Europe. The city of Carthage in North Africa contains evidence of child sacrifice related to the worship of Ba’al Hammon, a god imported from Phoenicia. Many Roman writers refer to this barbaric act in Carthage. The Bible contains the heart-breaking tale of child sacrifice practiced in the name of Molech (also spelled Moloch or Molek), a god of the Ammonites. Molech worship was practiced by the Ammonites and Canaanites, who revered Molech as a protecting father figure. Images of Molech were made of bronze, and their outstretched arms were heated red-hot. Living children were then placed into the idol’s hands and died there or were rolled into a fire pit below. Some sources indicate a child might also be “passed through the fire” prior to the actual sacrifice in order to purify or baptize the child. Molech worship occurred in the Hinnom Valley near Jerusalem. Because of this, the valley became associated with the idea of Tophet, or hell (Isaiah 30:33; Jeremiah 19:12; Mark 9:45).

God prohibited Israel from child sacrifice in general and Molech worship in particular. Leviticus 20:2-5 states, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing in Israel who sacrifices any of his children to Molek is to be put to death. The members of the community are to stone him. I myself will set my face against him and will cut him off from his people; for by sacrificing his children to Molek, he has defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name. If the members of the community close their eyes when that man sacrifices one of his children to Molek and if they fail to put him to death, I myself will set my face against him and his family and will cut them off from their people together with all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molek.’” Many other Old Testament passages affirm God’s zero-tolerance for child sacrifice. Sadly, King Solomon became involved in this horrendous practice, as recorded in 1 Kings 11:4-11, “As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD. . . . On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. . . . The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command.” Later, the evil king Manassah offered his own son as a sacrifice (2 Kings 21:6), as did King Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:1-4). The people of Judah participated in this crime against their own sons—a sin so “detestable” that God said it had never even crossed His mind (Jeremiah 32:35). Child sacrifice was one reason for the Babylonian captivity (verse 36). Some critics of the Bible point to the story of Abraham, who laid his son Isaac on an altar and prepared to sacrifice him as directed by God (Genesis 22:1-14). However, in this case, God was testing the obedience and faith of Abraham. God stopped him from actually following through and provided a ram as a substitute sacrifice.

Today, child sacrifice is practiced throughout the world. There has been a resurgence of child sacrifice in Uganda. Witch doctors have been implicated in the mutilation and death of children who were killed in an effort to bring good fortune and wealth to those willing to pay for it. There is also a correlation between child sacrifice and modern-day abortion. Unprecedented numbers of children have been “sacrificed” at the hands of abortionists for the sake of convenience, immorality, or pride. Hundreds of thousands of babies have been killed so that their parents can maintain a certain lifestyle. God hates “hands that shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:17), and we can be sure that God will judge this horrendous sin."

For this Card, I used an image from Paper Studio which I had for many years now but haven't used.  I colored it using my Prismacolor markers.  The base is an A2, pre-cut card from Paper Studio and the banner is from Basic Grey.  The inside sentiment is from Studio 112.  I love this fun card.

 SIT SHAKE ROLLOVER CARD

 SIT SHAKE ROLLOVER CARD INSIDE

SIT SHAKE ROLLOVER CARD WITH ENVELOPE

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

CAS in Friday---ATG (CAS)
Crafting with Friends---ATG
Crafty Catz---ATG
Jo's Scrap Shack---ATG
QKR---ATG
Simply Create Too---ATG/Hearts
2 Crafty Critter---ATG (with Critters)
Classic DT---ATG
Crafty Animal---ATG (with animals)
Let's Craft and Create---ATG/From the Heart
LTCCB---ATG
Love to Scrap---ATG/Monochrome



There you have it, folks!  Don't miss the opportunity to join our Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  Can't wait to see what fabulous projects you're going to link with us.  I hope you have a great week and know that through faith in what Jesus accomplished at the Cross, we have complete victory over the works and schemes of the enemy!  Let us share this hope to countless others in the world.

Scripture Series: He First Loved Us Card---Don't Miss Our Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge Ongoing at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello Crafty pals!  I'm back to post the second card I featured in our bi-weekly Challenge going on at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  Like always, you can enter as much as five entries per week as long as it's inspirational and family friendly.  If you want to see the first card I posted which highlights our Scripture Word Art at WAW, click HERE.  In this post, I am going to use the Scripture (digi stamp) from our sponsor, Stamp Simply Clear Stamps, which is included in the set called "Farmhouse Scriptural Quotes." It's in 1 John 4:19 which tells us, "We love because he first loved us."

Have you ever heard the statement, "You cannot give what you do not have"? Many have tried to use this statement pertaining to health, wealth, religion and many other things.  But I like to use it in relation to God's love.  For everything that we are and everything that we have comes from Almighty God.  Genesis 1:26-27 reveals, "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." So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." In these verses, God spoke about creating mankind patterned after Him,  in male and female gender and would rule over God's creation.  Genesis 2:7 says, "Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."  Here, we can see that He gave them a body and breathed unto them "life."  This breath of life is the "life and power of God" (Zoe in Greek which means God kind of life).  Humans are more than physical bodies because in us flows the life and spirit of the living God.  We are an animated, breathing, conscious, and living beings/souls.  Until God breathed His life unto us, we are nothing but dust.  Now, built upon that "Zoe life" is the immeasurable love of God! 

I want to share this article from gotquestions.org that says, "So, what does it mean that God is love? Love is an attribute of God. Love is a core aspect of God’s character, His Person. God’s love is in no sense in conflict with His holiness, righteousness, justice, or even His wrath. All of God’s attributes are in perfect harmony. Everything God does is loving, just as everything He does is just and right. God is the perfect example of true love. Amazingly, God has given those who receive His Son Jesus as their personal Savior the ability to love as He does, through the power of the Holy Spirit." Therefore, the very reason why we can love God and share that love to others is because God first imparted and demonstrated His love to us.  When Man fell into Sin, our understanding of love had been marred and reduced to merely physical and selfish love.  We become lovers of ourselves---our spirits darkened with no way of reuniting with God  till Jesus came to redeem us by way of the Cross.  God's agape (self-sacrificing/unselfish) love is best described to us in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  Until we come under the Lordship and saving knowledge of Jesus Christ (Born-again, John 3:3), we are incapable of reuniting with God---our Source of both life and love.  I am so grateful that my Father in heaven loved me so much that He rescued and gave me the faith to believe in Jesus, His Son. The Holy Spirit lives inside me that I will never run out of life and love to share with others.  Glory be to God!
 
For this Card, I used several images from WPlus9 in the gorgeous set called "Doodlebuds."  Like the first card I made for this Challenge  I want to make something simple, with minimal coloring yet totally captivating.  So, I used a big background stamp (with scribbles on it) from Heidi Grace to make a decorative paper where I stamped the flower and fussy-cut them.  Then I added a very cute  Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps image from the "Squishy Hugs" Stamp Set and colored it with gray hues for a more vintage look (although it appears greenish in these pics).  The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  I also attached several white nail head gems from Imaginisce.  Lastly, I stitched all over this card.  I totally love it!

HE FIRST LOVED US CARD

 HE FIRST LOVED US CARD LAYERS

 HE FIRST LOVED US CARD INSIDE

HE FIRST LOVED US CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Brown Sugar---Love/Valentine
Colour Crazy---ATG (With Colored image)
Crafting with Friends---ATG
Crafty Catz---ATG
Jo's Scrap Shack---ATG
Pattie's Creations---ATG
QKR---ATG
Simply Create Too---ATG/Hearts
2 Crafty Critter---ATG (with Critters)
A Perfect Time to Craft---ATG
Artistic Stamper---ATG (use rubber stamp)
CCK---Valentine/Love/Heart/For Someone Special
Classic DT---ATG
Craft Galore Encore---ATG
Crafty Animal---ATG (with animals)
Digi Doodle---All About Love
Fabrika Fantasy---ATG/Love
Happy Craft---ATG
LTCCB---ATG
Love to Scrap---ATG/Monochrome
Papercraft---ATG/Valentine/Love
YSP---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 per week.  I can't wait to see your projects  and leave some encouragement on your Blogs.  Though the world is surrounded by darkness, let your faith in Jesus Christ shine like a beacon on a hill. Demonstrate the love of God to everyone you meet.  Pray without ceasing and believe that God can do the impossible!

Scripture Series: Cast Thy Burden Card---Join Us for our Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello everyone!  We have another bi-weekly Challenge that just started at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  Like always, you can enter as much as five entries per week as long as it's inspirational and family friendly.  I am posting a couple of cards for our Challenge and this is the first of the two and it highlights our featured Scripture Word Art (you can download for free at the WAW site) which comes from Psalm 55:22 which says, "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."
  
As a child of the Most High God, we encounter many oppositions to our calling as we continue to be living witnesses to the Good News (death, burial and resurrection) of Jesus Christ.  We follow the footsteps of our Lord and Savior and carry out the mission He entrusted us.  Luke 4:18-19 says, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."  We are able to do what Jesus did because His Holy Spirit dwells in us and gives us the power to trample over the works of the enemy and free people from the power of Sin and Death (spiritual, physical and eternal deaths). But just as Jesus was also persecuted, rejected and sentenced to death in His time, the same is true in our day.  When we side with the Truth that is Jesus Christ, we are also ridiculed, persecuted, condemned and even tortured to death for following Christ.  You see, Truth is despised by many who wants to stay in the dark for they fear that their lies and wickedness will be exposed.  When they continue to live in darkness, they no longer seek for the light, their hearts calloused and everything they do results in death and destruction.  They are incapable of distinguishing right from wrong.  Take for example what we see happening in our country today.  You would think, "How on earth could people sanction murder of the unborn/innocent just before birth with celebration and applause like we've seen in the state of New York?   How can one party allow enemies of our nation and murderers of our people to freely enter our country when their job is to protect the citizens of this nation and our way of life?  In essence, we are paying the murderers to kill both us and our children when the government uses our tax dollars to support such evil endeavors. Friends, when the government laws, rules and regulations deviate from the very Word of God, we are to stand against them through prayer and action.  My heart aches daily for the barbarism and utter rebellion that sits in the heart of man of our time. What comforts me is knowing our Heavenly Father is in control. And so I pray and cast this heavy burden upon Him so I can live and fight another day for His glory.  He did tell us to cast our burdens upon Him for He truly cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).  When we meditate on the Word of God (His promises) we are standing on a strong foundation that no force in heaven, on earth and beneath the earth can destroy.  No matter what happens around us, we know there is peace and safety in the presence of our Savior.  Whether it be a personal burden (family, finances, relationships) or a spiritual burden (fighting for justice, life and truth) for our country and the world in particular, God is the Only Solution and we can run to Him for comfort.  He is also our peace even in the time of war.  The God we serve is sovereign and His plan cannot be thwarted.  His is the victory forever!  I would like to leave you with the following verses to encourage you to rest your cares upon the Lord...

"A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.  You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;  I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:7-16)

For this Card, I used several images from WPlus9 from the gorgeous set called "Doodlebuds" which I can say is my ultimate favorite stamp set.  I want to make something simple, without much coloring yet totally captivating.  So, I used a big background stamp (with scribbles on it) from Heidi Grace to make a decorative paper where I stamped the flower and fussy-cut them.  The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  The stamp I used for the border is from Glitz Design and I also attached several white nail head gems from Imaginisce.  Lastly, I stitched all over this card.  I really love the result.

 CAST THY BURDEN CARD

 CAST THY BURDEN CARD LAYERS

 CAST THY BURDEN CARD INSIDE

CAST THY BURDEN CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafting with Friends---ATG
Crafty Catz---ATG
Jo's Scrap Shack---ATG
QKR---ATG
Simply Create Too---ATG/Hearts 
A Perfect Time to Craft---ATG
Classic DT---ATG
Craft Galore Encore---ATG
Fabrika Fantasy---ATG/Love
Happy Craft---ATG
LTCCB---ATG
Love to Scrap---ATG/Monochrome
Papercraft---ATG/Valentine/Love
YSP---ATG


This is it for this post!  Please make sure to visit us at WAW and link up the projects you make out of our free Word Art although not mandatory.  You can link up any inspiring, uplifting, family-friendly projects, up to 5 each week.  Our wonderful sponsor this week is Stamps Simply Clear Stamps  with dies and/or clear stamps to give away. So, head over to WAW and show us your wonderful projects.  Enjoy your week.  Always remember that God is with those whose trust is in Him!