Scripture Series: Our Sufficiency is of God Card---Join Us for our Anything Goes/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 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 which says, "And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God."  The Church of Corinth was plagued not only by sexual immorality but great division.  In this verse, the Apostle Paul was dealing with many false teachers that created division and poisoned the minds of God's people.  They presented fake letters of recommendations to authenticate their authority as ministers of God to deceive people from the Truth.  Yet true men and women of God were proven by the work they've done in the lives of others as a result of their obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Not that they did the work of converting the hearts of this people through their own efforts but had been willing instruments of the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of every individual God placed in their care.  Therefore, no servant of the Lord could take credit for converting individuals.  We deliver the Good News (death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ) to whom God sends us to and it's the sole work of the Holy Spirit to implant this Good News in a person's heart and cause it to flourish. I love what my Life Application Bible says about our highlighted verses and would like to share it with you.  It says, "Paul was not boasting; he gave God the credit for all his accomplishments.  While the false teachers boasted of their own power and prestige, Paul expressed his humility before God.  No one can claim to be adequate without God's help.  No one is competent to carry out the responsibilities of God's calling in his or her own strength.  Without the Holy Spirit's enabling, our natural talent can carry us only so far.  As Christ's witnesses, we need the character and special strength that only God gives."

At this day and time where individualism and materialism are often encouraged, let us not forget that our life here is temporary and we should resist any temptation of glorifying ourselves/other people based on our/their talents and achievements.  While it is normal to see this world caught up in the web of deception and utter selfishness, every true follower of Jesus Christ need to be grounded in the truth of the Word of God to avoid being deceived.  Isn't it interesting that many of the famous talents of our time came from a Christian upbringing?   Yet they pursued fame and fortune and used the talent God gave them to serve their own interests till they no longer recognize the One that gave them such talent in the first place.  They not only rebel but have encouraged others to follow the same path of deception.  It is very easy for anyone to say they are Christians but the genuine believers of Jesus Christ are distinguished from the fake by their fruits.  Jesus said in Matthew 7:15-17, "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit."  I have to share a portion of an article from Gotquestions.org regarding these latter verses that truly opened my eyes to the importance of discernment.  It says, "In our lives, every word and every action is fruit from our hearts. Sinners sin because that’s what is in their hearts. Thieves steal, rapists attack, and adulterers cheat because those sins are the fruit being produced from an evil heart. Bad hearts produce bad fruit. When Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruit” concerning false teachers, He was giving us a guide for identifying them. False prophets, speakers of lies, will have actions that correspond to their errant message. Just as their message is anti-God, so will be their works. They will stray from the path of righteousness.  When we repent of our sin and receive Jesus as Lord of our lives (John 1:12; Acts 2:38), He changes our hearts (2 Corinthians 5:17). Now the fruit that is produced is good fruit. Galatians 5:22 lists some of the fruit produced by a heart in tune with God. Our attitudes, actions, words, and perspectives change as we walk in fellowship with the Holy Spirit (1 John 1:6–7). When our hearts change, our fruit changes.  Many false prophets have come and gone, and many of them lived in blatant sin while preaching their message.  Jim Jones openly engaged in adultery, drug use, and profanity.  David Koresh had child “wives” as young as 11. False teachers might display the “fruit” of sexual immorality, greed, materialism, gluttony, and other sins while justifying their behavior and lifting themselves up as something holy. Unfortunately, many people through the years have been duped into following such characters and joining them in justifying the sin. If only they had heeded Jesus’ warning that “you will know them by their fruit.” No matter how good or convincing someone sounds, if he is bearing bad fruit, his message should be avoided. 

Godly teachers will display good “fruit” such as making disciples (Matthew 28:19), using their gifts to benefit others (Romans 12:4–8), leading lost people to Jesus (James 5:20), loving their fellow believers (1 John 3:14), and seeking humble ways to do good everywhere (Jeremiah 29:7). All of these things are indications of a good heart. Often, people profess faith in Jesus as Savior, but it is a mere profession with no real faith. Some religious groups encourage baptism, confirmation, or other religious rites that are supposed to ensure one’s future in heaven. But as time goes on, the fruit being produced in such a life looks nothing like what is clearly prescribed in the Bible (1 Peter 1:16). Some attend church services but spend the rest of their time living entirely for themselves. Some may rise to prominence, even teaching or preaching, writing books, or dominating the media, but the fruit of their lives belies their words (Matthew 24:24). Greed, deception, immorality, pride, or dishonesty defines them, making them false prophets by Jesus’ standards (2 Peter 2:1–3). While we can never know anyone else’s heart, we can make wise assessments about other people by observing the regular fruit of their lives. All of us stumble from time to time, and we may go through seasons of bearing little fruit (1 John 1:8). But 1 John 3:4–10 makes it clear that those who know God will not continue a lifestyle of bearing bad fruit. We have been transformed, and the fruit of our lives is evidence of that transformation. Apple trees don’t produce bananas, and strawberry plants don’t produce figs. This fact of nature is also true in the spiritual realm. We can identify those whose hearts have been redeemed by the fruit we see in their lives." 

For this Card, I used an image from Art Impressions called "Road Trip" that I watercolored with Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  The base is a white A7 pre-cut card from Paper Studio.  I originally planned colorful background using fancy DP's but the watercolor is highlighted wonderfully using a white backdrop.  To add more interest to this card, I just included some washi tape from Tape Works and some white nail head gems from Imaginisce.  I also scribbled "Jesus" on the arrow.  Lastly, I stitched on the card panels and walah, a card I truly love. 

 OUR SUFFICIENCY IS OF GOD CARD

 OUR SUFFICIENCY IS OF GOD CARD LAYERS

OUR SUFFICIENCY IS OF GOD CARD INSIDE

OUR SUFFICIENCY IS OF GOD CARD WITH ENVELOPE

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

2 Sisters on the Blog---Transport
A Bit More Time to Craft---ATG
A Perfect Time to Craft---ATG
Classic DT---ATG
Craft Dee Bowz---ATG
Creatalicious---ATG
Color Create Show It Off---ATG
CCC---Summer
Daisy Chain---Summer
Fabrika Fantasy---ATG
Happy Craft---ATG
LeAnn's---ATG
Let's Craft and Create---ATG/Entwined
Love to Craft---ATG
Morgan's Artworld---ATG
Not Just Cards---ATG
Papercraft Business---ATG/Circle
Pearly Sparkles---Something starting with a "B" (Besties)
Scribbles Designs---Include a Sentiment
Sognando---Travels/Holidays
Tales from the Craft Room---Summer Fun
Creative Crafters---ATG
Tinker-Dream---Sentiment
Worldwide Open DT---ATG
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.  You can win wonderful goodies from our awesome sponsor 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 as you continue to serve the Lord, bearing good fruits.

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