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Wednesday, July 22, 2020

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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20 comments:

  1. Jo Ann that is so true - the media accentuate the negative, and so many 'buy' into it as they have no hope, and trust the media to tell the truth - sad fact is, they are only there to make $$$.
    Love your exposition of the Word.
    Your card is delightful, and I love the way you have decorated the base part too :)
    Stay safe
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  2. A pretty floral creation, many thanks for joining in with our 'In the Garden' theme at Penny Black and More challenge.

    B x

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  3. I like your watercolor background. Thanks for playing along with us at PIP Challenges.

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  4. Thank you so much for sharing this whimsical card.. I love it . It just makes me smile.

    Thank you for sharing

    Melanie Culbertson
    Paper Funday Challenge.

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  5. This is so sweet!! What an adorable image and beautiful colors! Love that pretty flower that you used as your "stop" on the inside!! Thanks for playing with The House That Stamps Built.

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  6. Beautiful summery card Jo Ann. I like that you carried the floral theme through to the lower part of the easel. Thank you for joining in the Summer Colours Challenge at Incy Wincy Designs.

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  7. Fab card! I love that it's an easel card...you don't see those as much anymore. Loving the bright colours too. Thanks for joining us at Little Red Wagon.

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  8. Really cute! Thanks for sharing your project at Crafting Happiness Challenges.
    :) Janis, Challenge Blog Owner

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  9. Such a beautiful card. Thanks for joining us at the Dragonfly Dreams Challenge.
    Big hugs Ilonka DT

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  10. Lovely bright summer colours. Thanks for joining us at Incy Wincy Designs, CarolG

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  11. Such a colourful creation

    Thank you for sharing with us at 'A Place To Start' this month
    Hugs Shell xx

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  12. Gorgeous, sunny card. Thanks for joining us at Fab'n'Funky. Pat K xx

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  13. A bright and pretty easel card! Thank you so much for joining us in the garden at the Penny Black And More Challenge.
    Linda

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  14. This is such a great card! And awesome coloring! Thanks so much for joining us at Jan's Digistamps Challenges...hope you are a winner!

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  15. How gorgeous! Such a sweet image, stunning coloring and beautiful detailing too.
    Thanks for playing along with us this month.
    Regina DT-Member of Paper Funday Challenge

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  16. Wow what a pretty project! I really love it.

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  17. What a great project! So cute! Thanks for sharing with us at Digi Choosday good luck and hope to see you again!

    Jennifer, DT
    You can also find me on Instagram!

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  18. This is delightful Jo Ann! I love the banners, clever concept! As usual, your coloring in spot on! Thanks so much for such a fun and lovely submission to our challenge at A Place To Start!
    Hugz,
    Chana Malkah, Owner

    PS: Stay safe!

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  19. Congratulations, You were selected as a Rising Star at A Place To Start for the week of July 27-August 2, 2020. Thanks so much for your beautiful and inspiring project! Please stop by and grab your badge.
    https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com

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  20. Pretty sunny card!
    You got a new follower ;)

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