Scripture Series: God Hath Raised up the Lord Card---It's Anything/Inspirational Goes at Word Art Wednesday! Join Us.

Hi there, Crafty friends! We have a new Challenge happening at Word Art Wednesday (WAW). As always, we feature a Scripture Word Art that you can download for free at the WAW site. Our highlighted verse today comes from 1 Corinthians 6:14 which says, "And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power."

Before anything else. I would like to say  HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY, EVERYONE!   A few months ago, we remember and celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ.   The next most important celebration for believers happens during the Holy Week when we acknowledge the finished work of Jesus Christ at the Cross and His glorious victory over death.  He told His disciples that He would rise again on the third day and He did.  You see, only the Giver of Life has the power to raise the dead back to life.  The same God who created the heavens and the earth and everything seen and unseen is in control of all His creation.  Nothing escapes Him.  Everything that happens is in accordance to His plan, His will and purpose.  God created Man according to His image and likeness.  He had a perfect relationship with God!   Man's need for salvation began when the first man, Adam, fell into Sin and that very nature of Sin enslaved him and was inherited by every man born to this world.  Man was doomed to die (physically) and though he would live forever spiritually, it would be in absolute torment---outside of the presence of God (absence of everything good).  Even if he wanted to, there's nothing he could do on his own effort to change that reality.  For the ransom for humanity's freedom against the Sin Nature and Death could only be paid by the One whose without Sin.  John 3:16 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."  The Father sent His Son (Jesus) to be ransom for our Sin! Born of a virgin (no physical seed from man) and conceived by the Holy Spirit (untainted and pure) to carry the sins of the world and nail them to the Cross.  Complete and total victory came when He rose again on the third day, demonstrating to all of us (who believed and received Christ) an absolute freedom over death.  When we give our lives to Him, we become one with Him.  Everything that happens to our Lord happens to us.  True, there will be many pains, trials and sacrifices but when we walk in obedience to God, we have complete victory both now and forever.  

Many people nowadays are filled with fear and uncertainty.  For nearly a month now, the Covid-19 pandemic have killed many each day all over the world.  Because this enemy is unseen, human knowledge and efforts are challenged for preventive measures to contain it.  Many people die daily of many other diseases. But the thought of falling prey to this unseen enemy is also challenging the quality of our faith on the God we claim to know.  Do you serve an all powerful God or the ones that couldn't even walk nor see?   Do you know that "fear not" (do not fear) appeared in the Bible 365 times?  God showed us many examples and stories in His Word to encourage us to stand and be brave knowing that we are not alone in the battle.  If you are a child of the One True God, He is always with you in the battle ground---every season, in whatever situation.  None of us want to die prematurely so we do what we can to act in wisdom, making sure we take care of God's Temple (our body).  But we should not be paralyzed by fear.  Nothing the enemy can do unless the Lord allows it (See Job 1:6-22)! Whatever happens, in sickness or in health, in weakness or in strength, in life or in death---God is for us both now and forever!  Jesus Christ lives and so shall we whose faith is grounded in Him!

Finally, I would like to share with you a part of this article from Gotquestions.org with the question, "Why is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ important to a believer (Born-again, John 3:16)?  Here's the latter part of the article which says:  "The Word of God guarantees the believer’s resurrection at the coming of Jesus Christ for His church at the rapture. Such assurance results in a great song of triumph as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:55, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (cf. Hosea 13:14).  The importance of the resurrection of Christ has an impact on our service to the Lord now. Paul ends his discourse on resurrection with these words: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Because we know we will be resurrected to new life, we can endure persecution and danger for Christ’s sake (verses 30–32), just as our Lord did. Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, thousands of Christian martyrs through history have willingly traded their earthly lives for everlasting life and the promise of resurrection.  The resurrection is the triumphant and glorious victory for every believer. Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). And He is coming again! The dead in Christ will be raised up, and those who are alive at His coming will be changed and receive new, glorified bodies (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18). Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ important? It proves who Jesus is. It demonstrates that God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. It shows that God has the power to raise us from the dead. It guarantees that the bodies of those who believe in Christ will not remain dead but will be resurrected unto eternal life."

For this Card, I used an image from Mo Manning Digi Stamps  called "Big Shoes" that I colored using Gamsol and Prismacolor pencils.  The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  I used my Corner Chomper to shape two opposite corners.  The layered flowers are  from Prima, the brad from Recollections, the leaves were punched using Fiskars leaf punch, the white nail head gems from Imaginisce and the glitters from Stickles (Crystal).  For added dimension, I stitched all over this project.

 GOD HATH RAISED UP THE LORD

 GOD HATH RAISED UP THE LORD LAYERS

 GOD HATH RAISED UP THE LORD INSIDE

GOD HATH RAISED UP THE LORD

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

A Perfect Time---ATG
Classic Design---ATG
Craft-Dee-BowZ---ATG
Craft Galore Encore---ATG
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Creative Craft Cottage---CAS/Fully Loaded
CCC---Add Flower/s
Digi Doodle---Easter/Spring
DL Art---ATG
LeAnn's---ATG
Let's Craft and Create---ATG/Through a Wndow
Love to Craft---ATG
MIUCB---ATG/Fancy Folds
Morgan's Artworld---ATG
Besties International---ATG
Papercraft Business---Easter
Not Just Cards---ATG
Sognando---Easter
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 submit up to 5 entries per week.  Our wonderful sponsor for this week is  Gina K Designs ($40 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, fear can't move you.

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