Scripture Series: Beautiful are the Feet of Them Easel Encouragement Drawer---Come and Join our Bi-Weekly Challenge Happening at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello there, Crafty Peeps!  We started another Bi-Weekly Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW) a few days ago and as always, we feature a Scripture Word Art that is free for you to download from the WAW site.  It comes from Romans 10:15 which says, "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

Wow, such a wonderful verse that emphasizes how important for us that tasted God's grace, mercy and goodness to share to others the free gift He has given us through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  I want to impart to you what my Life Application Bible shared surrounding our featured verse as it truly blessed me.  It says, "Have you ever been asked, "How do I become a Christian?"  Romans 10:8-15 gives you the beautiful answer---salvation is as close as your own mouth and heart.  People think it must be a complicated process, but it is not.  if we believe in our hearts and say with our mouths that Christ is the risen Lord, we will be saved.  In telling others about Christ, an effective witness must include more than being a good example.  Eventually, we will have  to explain the content, the what and the how of the gospel.  Modeling the Christian life is important, but we will need to connect the mind of the unbeliever and the message of the gospel.  There should never be a debate between those who favor lifestyle evangelism (one's living proclaims the gospel) and confrontational evangelism (declaring the message).  Both should be used together in promoting the gospel. We must take God's great message of salvation to others so that they can respond to the Good News.  How will your loved ones and neighbors hear it unless someone tells them? Is God calling you to take a part in making His message known in your community?  Think of one person who needs to hear the Good News, and think of something you can do to help him or her hear it.  Then take that step as soon as possible. 

It was only a few days ago when my family talked about what is truly important in this life.  In all honesty, I told them that the material things are no longer the focus of my life.  I learned to be thankful for everything God provided us.  We pray for a home of our own, windows of opportunity for work to pay our obligations and put food on our table and to be ready for every opportunity that God would lead us to do. It amazes me how flashy things and self-promotion no longer appeals to me.  We were in a restaurant and was reflecting on what we observed many people are too consumed for in this life. Many of them are too concerned with things that only matters in this world.  I've known a couple who owns a Chinese restaurant for many years and they were there daily from 9 am till 10 pm.  The restaurant was their entire life!  On few occasions, I had the chance to talk with the wife and found out that their two daughters were both on their way to becoming doctors.  I was truly impressed and was glad that their hard work paid off in the lives/careers of their children.  But I also found out that they didn't enjoy a lot of quality time together, not even a time to go out as a family or to enjoy a date night as a couple because they were literally in their restaurant daily.  I sensed that she was sad that they didn't have the time to bond as a family---years that can never be regained.  They have all the luxury money can buy, their whole world revolved around their business and nothing else. Sad to say but many of us live that way just trying to make our family and ourselves better in our own little bubble.  And I said to myself, if a person dies in that state, none of the treasures they stored here will ever be good in the next life.  

And my heart felt the burden for the youth of our generation---the supposed to be hope of tomorrow!  Many are addicted to gaming, partying, drinking, experimenting on harmful stuff and all kinds of addiction.  And some are chasing fame and are willing to trade their souls for notoriety. They have allowed themselves to be enslaved by a worldly mindset that deceived them to the point of self-destruction and rebellion.  If the Body of Christ (Church) refuse to open our mouths to introduce these lost souls to JESUS---the Only Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6), how would they escape the eternal death (eternal separation)  that awaits those who rejected God's gift of salvation?  Yes, they may call us names or mock us for sharing the Gospel (death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ).  They may even hurt us physically or unfriend us along the way because we  carry the name of our Lord.  But I beseech you to never tire of sharing the Gospel and interceding for the lost sheep that God placed in our lives.  Let us be sensitive to the prodding of the Holy Spirit when He wants us to say or do something.  Not everyone are called to preach on the street or approach total strangers to share the Gospel but we can also share the hope we have in us through relationships---our conduct, demeanor and what comes out of our mouths.  Are thanksgiving, grace, the love of/for God part of  your daily existence?  Do you have a treasure of God's Word and promises in your heart that you can freely give when situations call for it?  When you truly love God, you can't help but share that love to others---planned or unplanned!  And if you truly love people, you will not allow them to live in darkness when you can show them the light.  Here are some Scripture passages that will encourage us to continue sharing the Gospel...

"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." (Romans 1:16-20)

"My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,  let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."  (James 5:19-20)

For this Easel Card/Drawer, I used an image from Stamping Bella called "Uptown Girl Sunny is Stylish" which I watercolored using my Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  The base are Kraft CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 x 6 inches easel design.  The DP's are from Paper Studiom, the flowers and brads from Recollections, the button  from Heidi Grace and the ribbon from my stash.  The border punched used is from MS Punch, the lacy oval die is from Nestabilities, the leaves punched with Fiskars punch and the glitters added from Stickles (Crystal).  I stamped all the other verses in the drawer using Stamp Simply Clear Stamps from the set called, "Farmhouse Scriptural Thoughs"  and placed a Velcro  at the back of each panel so they can be interchanged.  Lastly, I stitched all over this creation for added dimension.  So happy with the way this turned out.

 BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THEM EASEL DRAWER

 BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THEM EASEL DRAWER WHEN CLOSED

 BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THEM EASEL DRAWER SIDE VIEW

 BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THEM EASEL DRAWER WITH POST-IT AND VERSES

BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THEM EASEL DRAWER 

WITH INTERCHANGEABLE VERSES

This Project is entered into the following Challenges:

A Perfect Time to Craft---ATG
Classic DT---ATG
Crafts Galore Encore---ATG
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Happy Craft---ATG
HLS---ATG with Dies
LeAnn's---ATG
Let's Craft and Create---ATG/Colors of Fall
Color Create Show It Off---ATG
Love to Craft---ATG
MIU---ATG/Open Technique (Easel)
Score-Pal---More than One Score/ATG/Fall
Morgan's Artworld---ATG
Not Just Cards---ATG
YSBP---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 ten times in two weeks.  A great prize awaits our winner from our wonderful sponsor---Stamp Simply Store (Clear Stamps and/or Die Cuts) .  So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, meditate on the goodness of the Lord and share the hope you have to someone whom God placed in your path/heart before it's too late.

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CAS Series: The Sweet Life Birthday Card---Join our Anything Goes Challenge this October at 613 Avenue Create!

Hi there, everyone!  We have a brand new Challenge happening this entire month at 613 Avenue Create!  As always, it's Anything Goes with optional theme of  "Spotlight Technique."

Life has never been this busy for me.  Because of this, I definitely have less time to go on social media sites like I used to.  But on the few hours I am able to, I just can't find anything positive to read from the headlines featured by these popular social media sites.  Google, Facebook, Yahoo among others, have denied media bias yet every time I stumbled upon their featured stories, they are 99% full of news that maligns our 45th President while promoting  everyone that is against him.  It is rather obvious that the Democratic party with their politicians  couldn't accept their defeat in the 2016 election and did nothing to improve the lives of the people they serve and are bent on removing Trump from office for nearly three years now.  I thank God for each time they tried, they failed miserably.   They became a burden to this country and instigators of everything they professed they were fighting against.  Sorry to be blunt but the Democratic Party had become the party of death (Abortion), division, hatred, intolerance, immorality, lawlessness and ungodliness.  In saying this, I'm not excusing the Republican Party.  I'm just saying that between the two, the Dems are one and united into bringing this country to destruction both physically and spiritually. Therefore, if I want to find a balance news reporting, I have to dig deeper and refuse to feed on what these giant social media sites feed me.  I have to double check their sources and wait for credible facts to come out first before reacting or sharing it to other people. This is what it takes today to be socially responsible.

Whether we admit it or not, each one of us react on the issues of life on the basis of our "world view." According to Gotquestions.org, "A “worldview” refers to a comprehensive conception of the world from a specific standpoint. A “Christian worldview,” then, is a comprehensive conception of the world from a Christian standpoint. An individual’s worldview is his “big picture,” a harmony of all his beliefs about the world. It is his way of understanding reality. One’s worldview is the basis for making daily decisions and is therefore extremely important."   Before  I came to know Christ, I based my world view from what my parents and school taught me,  how my environment affected me and what I learned from other people and of course, my own experience.  Religion, culture and traditions also shaped our conduct and usually follows us wherever we go.  But that changed when I came under the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and His Word (Scripture/Bible) became the Source of all my Truths.  All of a sudden, I understand why I believe what I believe and rid of the many lies I thought were true.  The Ten Commandments I heard growing up are not just simply a set of rules but have shown me the holy and higher ways of God that none of us (on our own merit) would be able to follow for we are guilty of violating them through our motives and thoughts. For as descendants of Adam (by birth), we are spiritually cut-off from God---doomed from His presence for all eternity. If you think for a moment on  how big and powerful God truly is,  you will realize that there's no way you can fully comprehend the infinity of God using your finite mind.  And unless you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, whom God sent to redeem humanity from sure death and receive a new spirit (Born-again, John 3:3), there is no way any of us can understand things that truly matter beyond our natural and physical world.  Truth be told, God's kingdom (the rule of God) is invisible to our naked eyes and blessed are those whose spiritual eyes were opened that they would see.  John 4:23-24 clearly states, "But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are saved!  Galatians 2:16 says, "Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”  And through His Word (Scripture),  I have a blueprint of God's plan and purpose for all that trusted in Him. 2 Timothy 3:14-17 says, "But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."

So as a child of God that relies solely on the infallible Word of God, I deal with the affairs of our time on their spiritual standpoint (benefits and ramifications) versus feelings and emotions (driven by our natural senses).  God allows believers to see beyond the issue (which can easily be faked/staged) and the Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom to pursue Truth, pray about it and take the proper action.  We can filter from the many issues of our day  and not be easily swayed by people's false and perverted definition of love and compassion meant to stir people's emotions to fulfill their selfish cause.  Honestly, I don't hate people that disagrees with me!    And I would be willing to explain, through meaningful conversations,, where I'm coming from and listen to other's point of view while respect is maintained.  But as per my experience, the hostile and combative people are those watching fake  news/mainstream media and spending day and night reading articles from the social media giants that spread nothing but hatred and lies to sway this country to their ungodly/globalists/socialists/communists agenda. As a member of the the Body of Christ (Church), we are to broadcast the Truth of God's Word to our sphere of influence (using everything available at our disposal) boldly and refuse to be intimidated by the bullies of this world. Every issue we encounter in a personal, national or global scale should be placed under the guiding light of God's Word. God's Truth is offensive for those who live a lie and it is not our obligation to make everyone comfortable.  It is after all brokenness that leads people to repentance!

For this Card, I used stamps from Hampton Art called Footlongs for their set called "Cupcakes."  This was one of my oldest stamps and so glad to highlight it on this project.  I colored it using my Prismacolor markers and to shade the edges of the panel, I used Distress Ink.  I also used a Recollections Washi Tape and the Ranger Liquid Pearls to spotlight on the middle cupcake.  I love the simplicity of this card.

 THE SWEET LIFE BIRTHDAY CARD

 THE SWEET LIFE BIRTHDAY CARD INSIDE

THE SWEET LIFE BIRTHDAY CARD WITH ENVELOPE

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

A Perfect Time to Craft---ATG
Classic DT---ATG
Crafts Galore Encore---ATG
Happy Craft---ATG
LeAnn's---ATG
Let's Craft and Create---ATG/Colors of Fall
Color Create Show It Off---ATG
Love to Craft---ATG
MIU---ATG/Open Technique (CAS)
Morgan's Artworld---ATG
Not Just Cards---ATG
YSBP---ATG


This is it for now, guys.  Make sure to join us at our neighborhood---613 Avenue Create---for an Anything Goes Challenge with optional theme, "Spotlight Technique."  If you want to be challenged more, take on our Optional Twist.  But there's really no reason for you to miss it. Can't wait to see what you create. The Word of God is not just an ordinary book.  Read it and you will find every answer to all questions of life, here and beyond!


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