Scripture Series: I Have Replenished Easel Card---It's Anything/Inspirational Goes at Word Art Wednesday! Join our Challenge...

Hi everyone!  Last Wednesday, we started another bi-weekly Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  As always, you can join us with an inspirational project or use our Scripture Word Art (you can download for free at the WAW site) and let it inspire you to create---just like I did in the card sample below.  Our Scripture Word Art for this Challenge comes from Jeremiah 31:25 which says, "For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul."

There's so many things to be grateful about in this life.  The reality that the presence of God (His Holy Spirit) lives inside of me provides me comfort and security not only here on earth but in the eternal life promised by my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  The very reason why we're still waking up each morning with hearts beating 24/7 is because God's not done with His purpose for us here on earth.  As a believer of Jesus Christ (Born again, John 3:3), I am not exempted from the emotional roller coaster of life when we are faced with many challenges not only from our family but also the effects of political, economic and social environment we live in.  If we hear of wars and calamities happening in other countries, we feel sad but when it happens closer to home, we are so emotionally invested knowing that such calamities and unrest may personally knock on our doors.  That's why it is so hard for me to understand how privileged American youth of this generation can participate in terrorism, arson, looting and destruction and have allowed themselves to be radically charged to the  point that they made it their personal goal to destroy their own country, state, cities and even their families for the sake of insane/failed ideals.  How did our youth come to this point of utterly sanctioning their own destruction?  I am unsure whether they understand that they're  the ones inheriting this country and that they will have to suffer the horrible consequence of their savagery and rebellion.  The only CURE to this social upheaval is to bring back the Word of God in our schools, the Bible study and prayer meetings too and Churches need to preach the Truth of the Scripture boldly and bravely no matter what. 

Everyday, we wake up to Fake News that makes people bow to FEAR.  The social media's emphasis on the negative is conditioning people's minds to go lock themselves up and hide.  And why it's an easy sell?  Because people are afraid of DEATH.  And though everyone knows that we all have to face it one day (unless RAPTURE comes first for the Body of Christ), people are trying to do everything in their power to delay the inevitable.  But some who professed to know God have allowed themselves to be paralyzed by fear too.  Sad but true!  Psalm 139:15-16 tells us, "My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body;  all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."  Proper understanding of the Word is important to counteract deceptive mandates that seeks to immobilized us with fear.  The antidote to fear is FAITH and when you know that everything that happens to you is under the watchful eye of the Father and that He holds you in the palm of His hand in every situation, fear will no longer dominate your life.  You are able to live in the JOY and PEACE that comes from the Lord.  Personally, I have turned over my life wholly to JESUS that whether I live or die, I know I have the victory.  When we are afflicted with all kinds of sicknesses and diseases, pain is present in different degrees and honestly, some felt unbearable.  God has seen me in my weakest and strongest moments.  He is the One I call to when words can't describe the pain (physical, emotional and even spiritual) that I deal with inside.  I encountered depression many times in my life and though I was not physically incapacitated, it took away my zest for life.  Truly a different kind of pain!  I needed God to snap me out of it everytime.  Imagine suffering from debilitating sickness, inundated with physical pain and depression, we need so much  more than our human abilities to pull us from such turmoil.  When the load seemed overwhelming, I'm reminded that I need not carry it all  on my own.  Matthew 11:28-30 says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” My Life Application Bible provided a wonderful explanation for these verses that I needed to share with you.  It says, "A yoke is a heavy wooden harness that  fits over the shoulders of an ox or oxen.  It is attached to a piece of equipment the oxen are to pull.  A person may be carrying heavy burdens of (1) sin, (2) excessive demands of religious leaders (Matthew 23:4, Acts 15:10), (3) oppression and persecution, or (4) weariness in the search for God.  Jesus frees people from all these burdens.  The "rest" that Jesus promises is love, healing and peace with God, not the end of all labor.  A relationship with God changes meaningless, wearisome toil into spiritual productivity and purpose.  In what sense was Jesus yoke easy?  The yoke emphasizes the challenges, work and difficulties of partnering with Christ in life. Responsibilities weigh us down, even the effort of staying true to God.  But Jesus yoke remains easy compared to the crushing alternative.  Jesus does not offer a life of luxurious ease---the yoke is still an oxen's tool for working hard.  But it's a shared yoke, with weight falling on bigger shoulders than yours.  Someone with more pulling power is up front helping.  Suddenly you are participating in life's responsibilities with a great Partner---and now that frown can turn into a smile and that gripe into a song."

For this Card, I used an image that I got from "Wish" site a few months ago and watercolored it using my Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  I also layered some Prima flowers and added brads from Recollections.  I also added some Washi tapes and stamped heart border from Stampendous and the inside sentiment is from Studio G.  Lastly, I stitched all over this card for added dimension. 

 I HAVE REPLENISHED EASEL CARD

 I HAVE REPLENISHED EASEL CARD LAYERS WHEN CLOSED

 I HAVE REPLENISHED EASEL CARD WITH MESSAGE SPACE

I HAVE REPLENISHED EASEL CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafty Creations---ATG
Creative Moments---ATG
Fab n Funky---Use Real Stamp (No Digis)
House that Stamps Built---ATG
Little Red Wagon---Spots and/or Stripes
Paper Shelter---Summer
Paper Funday---ATG and the Great Outdoors
A Place to Start---Flowers
Colouring in Scrapland---ATG/Summer
Crafting Happiness---ATG/Summer
Incy Wincy---Summer Colors
Jan's Digi Stamps---ATG
PIP---ATG
Use Your Stuff---Summer Fun
Digi Choosday---ATG
Everybody Art---Summer Girl
Lemon Shortbread---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Angie's Digi Stamps---ATG
Dragonfly Dreams---No Patterned Paper
Penny Black---In the Garden
Corrosive---ATG


Hope you enjoyed my featured project today at WAW...I am looking forward to see your projects linked to our Challenge.  You can include the free Word Art in your projects to link,  but not a requirement.  You can submit any inspirational, uplifting, family friendly creations (up to 5 each week) for more chances to win our prize from our sponsor this week---CAS-ual Fridays Stamps ($20 GC). Okay guys, let us remember to count all our blessings and give glory to the Lord always in season and out of season. He is worthy to be praised!

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Scripture Series: Called Unto Liberty Card---Join Our Anything Goes/Inspirational Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hi there, everyone!  A week ago, 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 Galatians 5:13 which says, "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."

The other night, I remember telling my hubby how wonderful it is to live in the United States where the laws are founded under the Judeo-Christian standards and the Word of God is weaved in our culture and way of life through the framework of our Constitution.  Yet today, the very same freedom it guarantees are being used diabolically by the demonic entities that seeks to destroy our country.  They've used money, power and influence to turn our system against us and lies are spread everywhere through fake and demon-possessed media to convince the gullible to join their despicable agenda.  The globalist-elitist who are running this country will stop at nothing to realize their One World Government and though the Bible tells of the reality of such time, I believe the Lord has given America a window of opportunity to complete His work when He chose a leader who would stand up against the wiles and whims of these global puppeteers.  Unless people are adept in the Word of God, many will be blind to the destruction of our country.  These deceived people will speak in favor of the sugar coated issues laced with poison; parroting their twisted social media sites that packaged issues based on humanitarian lies and fake concern.  In reality, the globalists aims to stab every God and freedom loving citizens of this country behind our backs and strip us of every freedom we have left.  Isaiah 5:20-23 tells us, "What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever. What sorrow for those who are heroes at drinking wine and boast about all the alcohol they can hold. They take bribes to let the wicked go free, and they punish the innocent."  The only way we can  effectively discern from the issues of our time is to be very familiar with God's Word.  Do not believe everything the media presents to you (no matter how convincing it is) but gather facts and then run everything through the principles of God's Word.  Lay down every personal opinions and emotions and aim to extract Truth using the holy Word of God.  Hebrews 4:12 tells us, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  I would like to share what my Life Application Bible said about the verse in Isaiah 5:20 which tells us, "When people do no carefully observe the distinction between good and evil, destruction soon follows.  It is easy for people to say, "No one can decide for anyone else what is right or wrong." They may think getting drunk can't hurt them, extramarital sex isn't really wrong, or money doesn't control them.  But when we make excuses for our actions, we break down the distinction between right and wrong.  If we do not take God's Word, the Bible, as our standard, soon all moral choices will appear fuzzy.  Without God, we are headed for a breakdown and much suffering.  The people suffered because they rejected God's law.  It is sad to see so many people today searching for meaning in life while spurning God's Word.  We can avoid the error of Israel and Judah by making not only reading the Bible, but also understanding and obeying it, a high priority  in our lives."

For this Card, I used an image from "From the Heart Stamps" called "Rainy Day Birdbrains" that I colored using my Hobby Colour markers.  The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square center step style card.  The DP's are from American Crafts, the die cut leaves by Fiskars, the brads from Stampabilities, the washi tape from Tape Works and the fence border by Martha Stewart punch.  I also layered some Prima flowers and added some glitters with Stickles (Crystal).

CALLED UNTO LIBERTY CARD

CALLED UNTO LIBERTY CARD LAYERS

CALLED UNTO LIBERTY CARD INSIDE

CALLED UNTO LIBERTY CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

2 Crafty Crazies---ATG with Critter/s
Perfect Time---ATG
Ching-Chou Kuik---ATG with Die-Cuts and/or Punches
Classic Design---ATG
Country View---Do What Makes You Happy
Crafty Animals---ATG with Animals
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Creative Craft Cottage---Add Flower/s
DL Art---ATG
Dream Factory---Aquaman (I have rain)
LeAnn's---ATG
Let's Craft and Create---ATG/Stars and Stripes
Love to Craft---ATG
Love to Scrap---ATG
MIUCB---ATG/Open Technique (I used Clean and Simple)
Scor-Pal---ATG/Summertime/Patriotic
Morgan's Artworld---ATG
QKR---ATG
Sognando---ATG/Fave Color (Pastels)
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---Lawn Fawn ($25 GC).  So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, be very vigilant, pray always and practice your God given rights.  As long as God is seated on the throne, we are never without hope.  We are part of His plan in this world.

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CAS Series: Sentiment Cards---Join Our Monthly Challenge at 613 Avenue Create with Anything Goes!

Hello everyone.  We have a new Challenge for this month at 613 Avenue Create that started a few days ago.  As always, it's Anything Goes with an optional twist, "Make Sentiment the Focal Point"  You will find some wonderful ideas on our optional theme with the projects made by my fellow DTs at our Challenge site as well as the featured cards I have in here.

Anyway, I would like to share God's Word in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 which says," Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."  Have you felt so weary both physically and spiritually the past few months?   The Lord knows I've had my moments.  You see, I love Truth and Justice.  When both are under attack and perverted daily by where the "wrong" is justified by influential yet demonic spheres of our society while the "right" is vilified, you would hope for justice to kick in based on the governing laws of our nation.  But when justice is taken over by Godless and perverted minds, they no longer protect the lawful citizens but the thugs and the mobs.  I know that this fight between good and evil is first spiritual in nature and nothing happens in the physical without a spiritual origin.  I thank God for the presence of the Holy Spirit that comforts, encourages and guides me in wisdom because the physical, mental and emotional stress that we are encountering daily can be too much for many of us to bear.  Each day, we are given a toxic amount of "fear" to take in  and without a strong spiritual foundation to anchor us as we depend solely on our physical strength, it's easy to slip into hopelessness. 

I would like to share this wonderful exaltation from my Life Application Bible regarding the verses I shared at the beginning of this post.  It carries the message I want to emphasized to every true brothers and sisters in Christ and that is to "NEVER GIVE UP TRUSTING GOD NO MATTER WHAT!"  Here's what is says: "Paul has faced sufferings, trials and distress as He preached the Good News.  But he knew that they would one day be over, and he would obtain God's rest and rewards.  As we face great troubles, it's easy to focus on the pain rather than our ultimate goal. Just as athletes concentrate on the finish line and ignore their discomfort, we too must focus on the reward for our faith and the joy  that lasts forever.  No matter what happens to us in this life, we have the assurance of eternal life, when all suffering will end and all sorrow will flee away (Isaiah 35:10).   It is easy to lose heart and quit.  We all have faced problems in our relationships or in our work that have caused us to want to think about laying down the tools and walking away.  Rather than giving up when persecution wore him down, Paul concentrated on experiencing the inner strength from the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16).  Don't let fatigue, pain or criticism force you off the job.  Renew your commitment to serving Christ.  Don't forsake your eternal reward because of the intensity of today's pain.  Your very weakness allows the resurrection power of Christ to strengthen you moment by moment.  Our troubles should not diminish our faith or disillusion us.  We should realize that there is a purpose for our suffering.  Problems and human limitations have several benefits: (1) they remind us of Christ's suffering for us; (2) they keep us from pride; (3) they cause us to look beyond this brief life; (4) they prove our faith to others; and (5) they give God the opportunity to demonstrate His power.  See your troubles as opportunities!  Our ultimate hope when we are experiencing terrible illness, persecution, or pain is the realization that this life is not all there is---there is life after death!  Knowing we will live forever with God in a place without sin and suffering can help us live above the pain that we face in this life."

For this Cards, I used sentiments from Cloud 9 Design.  The base is and A2 size white, CS and the DP's are from Paper Studio.  The sentiment and image used for the coordinated envelope came from Hero Arts.

 CAS SENTIMENT CARDS

 CAS SENTIMENT CARD 1  WITH ENVELOPE

CAS SENTIMENT CARD 2 WITH ENVELOPE

This Card Set is entered into the following Challenges:

Perfect Time---ATG
Classic Design---ATG
Country View---Do What Makes You Happy
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
LeAnn's---ATG
Let's Craft and Create---ATG/Stars and Stripes
Love to Craft---ATG
Love to Scrap---ATG
MIUCB---ATG/Open Technique (Center Step Style Card)
Morgan's Artworld---ATG
QKR---ATG
Sognando---ATG/Fave Color (Pastels)
YSP---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, "Sentiment as Focal Point."  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.  Anyway, the works of the enemy is apparent in our day and time and just like Jesus, we are to use the Word of God to battle with the works of the enemy.  We are to study and arm ourselves with the Truth in order to discern the works of Satan and act with wisdom and power.

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