Scripture Series: In the Day of Christ Center Step Card---Join Us for Anything Goes/Inspirational 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 Philippians 2:16 which tells us, "Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. "Wow, I just posted several days ago how negative thoughts both from the world and among believers of Christ truly affect our spiritual well being. So, I didn't plan for the same topic but based on what I felt God wanted me to share, this would be part two...LOL  (If you wish to see my first post, go HERE).

The world's obsession with cosmetic surgery, other than the ones medically necessary,  is something I couldn't endure watching because it shows the utter discontent by some over their physical appearance as they try to compare themselves with others.  They pay top notch dollars to achieve their shallow and perverted idea of beauty.  At its core, it shows how dissatisfied they are with how they were created and honestly, an insult to the very One Who created them.  Though I haven't met anyone in the Church (in all the years I came to know Christ) that is obsessed with cosmetic surgery, however, there's a lot of complaining about life, status, career,  relationships, etc. that makes me wonder if they have truly known God.  I'm not talking about the momentary feeling of hopelessness that we all experience due to momentary circumstances.  What I'm highlighting here is a lifestyle of negativity and passivity.  These are people who refuses to testify of  God's blessings in their lives yet always finds a way to discuss the negative in themselves and others.  I submit to you that there were times I asked people at the end of a Church service (when the Spirit of God moved mightily in the midst of the congregation) how they were doing?  I'd occasionally encounter someone responding this way, "Oh, I am having such a difficult time financially and feel sick all the time.  I feel like nothings is going right in my life and everything is just hard." 

You see, I'm the type of person that appreciates people's honesty and would like to encourage fellow believers by praying with them, giving them the encouragement of the Word of God or even offer help and support when necessary. I am also very aware that believers are on different levels of faith and we all need a deep understanding of God's Word in order to apply them to our unique situations.   And although we heard the same Word from the pulpit, not everyone receives the full benefits of what was taught because we all hear and see differently in the spirit (which is based on our exposure and study of the Word of God).  Like in the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-23 when Jesus was questioned by his disciples why He spoke to the large crowd in parables, Jesus said, "that in their seeing, they don't really see and in their hearing, they truly don't hear nor understand."  For our hearts are likened into a type of soil that the seed (Word of God) is planted on.  There are many kinds of soil but only a good soil brings forth good fruits and multiply.   As the daughter of the Most High God, I am to live and breathe God's Word.  I may be worried or caught up with negative thoughts at certain situations but once the Word comes into my heart, I yield to the hope God's Word imparts.  My situations may linger but inside me is a battle to drown the negative thoughts with the assurance and the power of God's promises. God's Word is always my default.  I find it hard to help and encourage anyone that  don't value the Word of God and wants to dwell on the negative.  For even Jesus didn't do many miracles in His hometown of Nazareth because of people's UNBELIEF (Matthew 13:53-58).  For every believer that comes to the saving knowledge of JESUS CHRIST approaches God by FAITH.  His finished work at the Cross (His death, burial and resurrection) saved us from the power of Sin and Death that plagued Creation since the Fall of Man.  Salvation is GOD'S FREE GIFT to mankind.  Unless we operate by FAITH (trust, adhere, cling, rely, depend) in what HE accomplished and believe that His grace is sufficient to save us, we will NOT benefit from God's free gift.  Be aware that faith is the currency of heaven and though God's power is not dependent upon our unbelief, He honors our free will to believe or not.  Hebrews 11:6 clearly states, "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." Read and study Hebrews 11 if you want to know what FAITH is all about.

So dear friends, the reason why it's unbearable to hang out with negative and complaining people is because they constantly attack FAITH.  One day, I remember myself declaring that our family trip would be blessed with such a wonderful weather and immediately, my hubby said, "Oh, the news said that there's going to be heavy rains where were going with possible flooding later on in the day!"  So, I responded, "I don't care what the news said, "I believe that the Lord is blessing us with a wonderful weather and a safe trip!" Not that I was not aware of the weather but I actually chose to set my faith above what my physical eyes could see knowing that my God was able!  And I tell you, I have seen so many miracles happened just because I chose to believe.  And in those few times where negative things happened, God still provided a way to show He's very present in our lives.  Know that our words have profound effect in our daily lives.  We must breathe, live and speak God's Word into our circumstances daily.  Always remember that although we are in this world, we are not of  this world.  We should be operating in the truth of God's kingdom where abundance, joy, peace and hope dwells.  Yes, many would think we're out of touch or even crazy but we are here to please God, not people!

For this Card, I used an image from Sugar Pea Designs called "A Bushel and a Peck" that I colored using my Hobby Colour and Prismacolor markers.  The base is a white CD, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches center step design.  I used several border dies from Lawn Fawn to create the background an ink them with Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  I used my own cloud stencil, stamped addtional images from Stampabilities, added some glitter from Stickles (Crystal) and embellished with butterflies from Recollections.  I opted to skip my usual stitching to highlight the inking.  So happy with the end result. 

 IN THE DAY OF CHRIST CENTER STEP CARD

 IN THE DAY OF CHRIST CENTER STEP CARD LAYERS

 IN THE DAY OF CHRIST CENTER STEP CARD SIDE VIEW

IN THE DAY OF CHRIST CENTER STEP CARD INSIDE

IN THE DAY OF CHRIST CENTER STEP CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

A2Z---Sparkle and Shine
A Bit More Time to Craft---ATG
A Perfect Time to Craft---ATG
Ching Chou---Make Your Own Background
Classic DT---ATG
Craft-Dee Bowz---ATG
Craft Galore Encore---ATG
Creatalicious---ATG/Bright and Fun
Createful Heart---ATG
Creative Craft Cottage---Summer
Digi Doodle---Summer/Hancolored Image
Fabrika Fantasy---Summer
Happy Craft---ATG
Happy Little Stamper---Dies
LeAnn's---ATG
Mix It Up---ATG/Foiling
Morgan's Artworld---ATG
Not Just Cards---ATG
Papercraft---ATG
Pearly Sparkles---ATG
Scribbles Designs---A Slice of Summer
Sweet Stampers---Summer
Creative Crafters---ATG
Tinker Dream---ATG
Worldwide DT---ATG
YSBP---ATG
Brown Sugar---ATG
Colour Crazy---ATG/Coloring image
Colourific---ATG
Crafty Catz---ATG
Creative Fingers---ATG
QKR Stampede---ATG
Simply Create Too---ATG/Patterned Paper

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 is  Paper Smooches, giving away a $25 GC.  So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, cheer up and let the joy of the Lord overtake you today.  If you are trusting in Jesus, you are blessed beyond measure.

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CAS Series: Sunshine and Happiness Birthday Card---Join Us at 613 Avenue Create for another Anything Goes, Monthly Challenge!

Hello everyone.  We have a new Challenge for this month at 613 Avenue Create that started a couple of days ago.  As always, it's Anything Goes with an optional twist, "Use Your Country's Flag Colors." Since we have a  few DT's that used the American flag colors, I opted for the Anything Goes.

Last night, I stumbled upon a TV program that had to do with cosmetic surgery and the different reasons and motive each client present to the doctors to accomplish what they want.  Some had facial deformities from birth that caused limited movement or breathing as well as emotional pain from being bullied due to their physical appearance.  While I saw the necessity for others to have such a procedure to improve their way of living  and boost confidence, there were also many whose main purpose in life is to be physically attractive which clearly showed how self centered they were to the point of self worship.  I don't usually enjoy these programs but I was preoccupied with organizing some stuff that the program played from one episode to the next.  I heard and saw bits and pieces of the episodes until I couldn't take it anymore.  The truth is after some time, I felt tired listening/watching the discontent and the vanity by most of the people in the show.   I felt spiritually irritated  by the negative spirit the program reflected.  Personally, I would compare the feeling I experienced last night to how I felt when I hanged out with people who had nothing positive to say.  Gotquestions.org says, "Negative people tend to focus on others’ faults (or their own faults). They may regularly point out shortcomings with their comments, attitudes, and frowns. Negative people will approach situations from a pessimistic viewpoint, assuming the worst in any given situation. Sometimes negative people disguise their negativity by using humor or sarcasm, but it still ultimately results in someone being or feeling put down."

Ultimately, all you hear from Negative people are complaints day and night.  Now, we have many people like that in the world but there are some of them who professed to be Christians too. Though they heard the encouraging Truth of God's Word, they find ways to justify their "Poor Me" attitude.  Not that I don't care nor love these brethren in the faith, but at some point, I had to consciously distance myself from them for they negatively affect the spiritual state of my being. Constant complaining is toxic that fuels unbelief.  It teaches us to doubt the promises of God!  I would like to share another article from Gotquestions.org that would make my point clearer.  It says, " The Greek word translated “complainer” means literally “one who is discontented with his lot in life.” It is akin to the word grumbler. Complaining is certainly not a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and, in fact, is detrimental to the peace, joy, and patience that come from the Spirit. For the Christian, complaining is destructive and debilitating personally and only serves to make our witness to the world more difficult. Who, for instance, would be attracted to a religion whose adherents are dissatisfied with life and who continually grumble and complain? The first complainer was Adam who, after he and Eve disobeyed, complained to God that “the woman you put here with me – she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it” (Genesis 3:12). The son of Adam, called Cain, also complained, although undoubtedly within himself (Genesis 4:6). We also know of the complaints made by Moses, when he met God at the burning bush (Exodus 3–4). Also, Moses cried to the Lord repeatedly for deliverance from the Israelites’ grumbling and idolatry (Exodus 17:4; 32:31-32). We also know of the complaints that David offered up to the Lord in the Psalms (Psalm 2:1; 12:1-2; 22:1) and the complaints made by the prophets concerning the idolatry of the Jewish nation. However, the book of Job offers the most in the way of complaints toward God, and yet Job did not sin (Job 1:22, 2:10). That is not to say that the aforementioned people never sinned in voicing their complaints to God, but Job was a man who was able to sanctify his complaints, and that took humility. Clearly, as believers we are challenged not to grumble or complain (Philippians 2:14-15; 1 Peter 4:9); rather, we are to love one another deeply so that we may become “blameless and pure” in God’s eyes. If we grumble and complain, it shows how worldly we still are (James 4:1-3). A complaining spirit leads to fighting and quarrelling because complaints come from unfulfilled desires, which lead to envy and strife. Was that not at the root of the problem with the sons of Israel, when they chose to dispose of their brother Joseph, because of his dream (Genesis 37:3)?  Finally, while it is not wrong to complain to God, it is wrong to complain about God. Those that did so met the anger of the Lord, as was the case of Moses’ sister Miriam (Numbers 12) and Korah and Dathan (Numbers 16). But note that they spoke against God’s servant and, in doing so, spoke against God Himself. If we must complain, let it be to Him about our own sinfulness so that He will forgive and cleanse us (1 John 1:9) and put within us a new heart, one that rejoices rather than complains." 

Let us live our lives full of gratitude for everything the Lord provided us---big and small.  Thank Him each day for the finished work of Jesus Christ at the Cross that provided us victory over Sin and Death.  Be grateful for His Holy Spirit living inside every believer that anchors us to His promises in Christ now and forever.  For in the Lord, our gloomy days can turn into sunshine and our sadness, can turn into joy and happiness.

For this Card, I used an image from Heidi Grace Stamps and stamped/colored them with my Marvy Uchida markers.  The base is an A2 pre-cut card with envelope from the Paper Studio.  This is a very simple, no fuzz card that I truly love.

 SUNSHINE AND HAPPINESS BIRTHDAY CARD

 SUNSHINE AND HAPPINESS BIRTHDAY CARD INSIDE

SUNSHINE AND HAPPINESS BIRTHDAY CARD WITH ENVELOPE

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

A Perfect Time to Craft---ATG
Classic DT---ATG
Craft-Dee Bowz---ATG
Craft Galore Encore---ATG
Creative Craft Cottage---Summer
Digi Doodle---Summer/Hancolored Image
DL Art---Summer
Fabrika Fantasy---Summer
Happy Craft---ATG
LeAnn's---ATG
Mix It Up---ATG/Foiling
Morgan's Artworld---ATG
Papercraft---ATG
Sognando---Summer
Sweet Stampers---Summer
YSBP---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, take on the Optional Twist.  But there's really no reason for you to miss it. Can't wait to see what you create. Remember to trust the Lord Jesus Christ always!

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Scripture Series: Walk in Liberty Card---Join Us for Another Bi-Weekly Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello everyone,  I'm here to share another card that I made featuring our Scripture Word Art for our Word Art Wednesday (WAW) current Challenge.  Like always, you can download it for free at the WAW site if you want to use it for your projects.  It comes from Psalm 119:45 which says, "And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts." 

This verse  is packed with Truth which emphasizes the importance of God's Word as we navigate in this world.  It is our "blueprint" to the Kingdom of God that shows us how to operate under His  purpose, favor and rule not only in this temporary world but most importantly, the eternal.  To deviate from the precepts/statutes (a law or decree) made by the Sovereign God constitutes rebellion and betrayal to the very One who created everything.  HE is the very SOURCE of our being and His "breath of life in us" is why we are even alive in the first place.   Truth of the matter is, we are under the Lordship of the Very One Who created us.  Without Him, there's no life!  The illusion that we are the masters of ourselves and our destiny is incomprehensible and is so far from the Truth.  Once we're faced with life and death situations, we quickly realize how we are never in control. No amount of wealth, power and strength can save you from the claws of death other than the mercy and favor of our Creator through Jesus Christ.  He gave us life and He is the Only One who can take it away.   Every time we decide to leave God out of the equation, we are putting ourselves in physical and spiritual danger.  For if we convinced ourselves that we are accountable to nobody and we are not going to reap the consequences of everything we did in our lifetime (good or bad), we are in for a rude awakening.  God is love and His love brought Him from His glorious throne to suffer God's wrath at the Cross of Calvary so that the punishment of Man's rebellion was paid for and wholly satisfied.  God's holiness cannot tolerate unrighteousness of any kind.  Therefore, God's love had to come down and quench the wrath of God that mankind deserved.  So that by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, everyone who placed their trust in His finished work at the Cross would be saved.  But many chose to harden their hearts and boast of their rebellion.  Romans 2:5-12 is crystal  on this when it says, "But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism. All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares."

In order to protect ourselves from the spiritual blindness that is devouring this world, we are to commit to seek the Word of God and consider what He has to say every time we make decisions.  It is in our best interest to obey God's statutes or we are not going to reap the rewards and blessings  His promises carry.  Often times, we don't get recognition for faithfully obeying God but it should not discourage us for we know that nothing is hidden in God's sight.  He will reward everything we do for His kingdom.  There is absolute freedom (even in persecution) when we follow Christ!  The reason why there's so much war on Christianity nowadays is because  true believers cannot be placed  in a box.  When Socialism arises and government controls the masses and fails to deliver their unrealistic promises, the people are plunged into chaos due to starvation and hopelessness.  Yet true Christians calls upon the Lord in the midst of their dreadful situation and find hope even in need.  Psalm 37:23-25 says, "The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, for the LORD is holding his hand. I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread."

Big government wants to be the "god" of the people but we come against them and declare, "You are not God and we are not bowing down to you. The Lord has power over all and He will come to our rescue."  Now, with just this few illustrations, you can see how Christians can hinder this Satanic agenda of governmental take over.  God's people are refusing to submit to their One World, tyrannical ruling.  Therefore, the enemies of our faith are looking for ways to eliminate or instill fear to the children of God so that we are not to rise up and take our lawful place in shining God's light in this darkened world.  Yet in the midst of dangers and persecution, we know that true liberty (freedom) is enjoyed by those who serve the One True God.  For if we perish serving the Lord in this lifetime, we know that eternity awaits us in the radiant glory in Jesus Christ prepared for the faithful.  When we know who we are in Christ and are operating under His purpose and plans, we are UNSTOPPABLE!  So while we are given by God this window of opportunity to share the Gospel and participate in our governmental affairs, let us boldly represent God without apologies.  

For this Card, I used an image from WPlus9 called "Doodle Buds" which I paper-pieced and fussy-cut.  The base is a white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  The DP's are from my stash and I added some glitters from Stickles (Crystal).  Lastly, I added some fancy and regular stitching. 

 WALK AT LIBERTY CARD

 WALK AT LIBERTY CARD LAYERS

 WALK AT LIBERTY CARD INSIDE

WALK AT LIBERTY CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

A2Z---Sparkle and Shine
A Perfect Time to Craft---ATG
Ching Chou---Make Your Own Background
Classic DT---ATG
Craft-Dee Bowz---ATG
Craft Galore Encore---ATG
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Colour Create and Show It Off---ATG
Daisy Chain---Flowers
Fabrika Fantasy---Summer
Happy Craft---ATG
LeAnn's---ATG
Mix It Up---ATG/Foiling
Morgan's Artworld---ATG
Papercraft---ATG
Pearly Sparkles---ATG
Sognando---Summer
YSBP---ATG


There you have it, folks!  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.  Wonderful prizes to be won from our wonderful sponsor---Stamp Simply Clear Stamps (2 stamps sets or 1 stamp set and a die-cut).  So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, cheer up and let the joy of the Lord overtake you today.  Exalt His Name wherever you go!

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