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Saturday, January 22, 2022

Scripture Series: Full of His Glory Card---It's Anything/Inspirational Goes Challenge Happening at Word Art Wednesday!

It's been a couple of days since we started a new Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW) Blog.  I'm just now highlighting the project I posted there that featured our  Scripture Word Art (free to download at the WAW site) and it comes from Isaiah 6:3b which tells us, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."  
 
Gotquestions.org explains to us who the "seraphim" are in the context of Isaiah 6. It says, "The seraphim (fiery, burning ones) are angelic beings associated with the prophet Isaiah’s vision of God in the Temple when God called him to his prophetic ministry (Isaiah 6:1-7). Isaiah 6:2-4 records, “Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’ At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.” Seraphs are angels who worship God continually. Isaiah chapter 6 is the only place in the Bible that specifically mentions the seraphim. Each seraph had six wings. They used two to fly, two to cover their feet, and two to cover their faces (Isaiah 6:2). The seraphim flew about the throne on which God was seated, singing His praises as they called special attention to God’s glory and majesty. These beings apparently also served as agents of purification for Isaiah as he began his prophetic ministry. One placed a hot coal against Isaiah’s lips with the words, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for” (Isaiah 6:7). Similar to the other types of holy angels, the seraphim are perfectly obedient to God. Similar to the cherubim, the seraphim are particularly focused on worshiping God."
 
God's Word tells us in James 1:7, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." Through this passage, we can understand that God is the Source of everything that is good and perfect in this world.  Love, grace, compassion/mercy and forgiveness are just a few of God's attribute that we saw in action after the Fall of Man.  Right after Adam's betrayal of God, He clothed them with animal skin (Genesis 3:21).  He gave them hope by promising a Savior (Genesis 3:15).  Burnt animal sacrifices were offered as temporary covering for iniquities till the promised Savior redeems mankind from Sin and Death, once and for all!  Though it's for the Sin of all human kind, only those that would fully placed their faith (trust, depend, cling, believe) in the finished work of Jesus Christ at the Cross for the forgiveness of their sins (past, present and future) will enjoy its benefits which is to dwell in the presence of our Lord forever.
 
So, the next logical question that comes to mind would be, "Why would a loving and merciful God who already atoned for mankind's Sin through Christ cannot just forego of His wrath over humankind especially the rebellious, proud and idolatrous people who wanted to be left alone with their Sinful nature? Surely, he can impute mercy and forgiveness to save them from hell too," many would say. Even some well renowned Christian ministers have turned apostate by denying the existence of hell.  Well, that is why so many are deceived and ignorant about God, His attributes and His Word!  Many have followed false teachers who would literally pick and choose God's attributes that they could pervert and abuse to justify their rebellious attitude, their love for immorality, power, riches, and their desire to control their own lives.  They have neglected the very fact that God is also true, just, righteous, all powerful and holy.  That means His Word is absolute, His judgment unbiased, His righteousness proves He's always right, all powerful and without blemish.  He that created us is without Sin and is therefore blameless!  
 
Because God is holy, everyone who decides to follow Him desires holiness.  This is not possible through our own human effort.  Jesus had to die in order to show us how God and Sin could not co-exist and because He loved us so much that He provided a way for us to be free from Sin.  His love cannot be used as an excuse to keep sinning.  Rejecting Jesus' sacrifice at the Cross to their final breath is one's personal declaration where he/she would like to spend eternity--- that is with Satan in the Lake of Fire!  People's darkened, selfish and idolatrous hearts caused  them to be blind (lack of perception) regarding God's Kingdom (Born-again, John 3:3). You see, we have to spiritually die from our horrendous ties with Adam in order to be brought back to life in Christ. By accepting the redemptive work of Christ at the Cross, we begin to experience God's unmerited love, mercy and forgiveness.  Jesus showed us the importance of holiness (for wages of Sin must be paid) and His selfless love for mankind (Jesus paid the price with His precious blood). Though God can forgive the sins of a "repentant" criminal under death row by coming to the saving knowledge of Christ, his earthly sentence may remain.  But when he dies, He will enjoy the benefits of his faith in Jesus as he is welcomed in God's kingdom in the presence of Jesus Himself. That is God's promise to everyone who placed their trust in Him. However, this truth remains, everything that we do that deviates from God's holy ways is a sin---the by-product of Sin Nature.  But as followers of Jesus Christ whose Sin was forgiven, though we may fall to temptation at times, we can come to Him and confess of our sins. He promised forgiveness and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). For at the Cross, we can always find  mercy and grace!
 
Though I share several attributes of God in here, the highlight is on God's holy ways.  I pray that His holiness will inspire all of us to steer clear of the filthy things of this world.  As believers, we were bought with a price---the holy/precious blood of Jesus, our Savior!  No man can achieve holiness on his/her own effort.  It is only possible through the new birth where the Spirit of God lives inside of us and changes us from within.  From then, we go through the process of sanctification (set apart) the rest of our earthly life till we see Jesus face to face.  But here's the Good News---we may be far from perfect by human standards but in the eyes of our Father in heaven, we already are holy and righteous by being in Christ Jesus!  So, let us join the seraphim in giving glory, honor, worship and adoration to the Holy One that sits on the throne.
 
For this Card, I used an image from Hero Arts Stamps called "Colored Layering Village" that I watercolored using Distress Inks.  The base is a white CS, cut and score to make a 5.5 inches square.  The DP came from My Mind's Eye, a black CS was used for matting and finished it up with regular stitching.  I'm pretty happy with the result. 
 
 
FULL OF HIS GLORY CARD 


FULL OF HIS GLORY CARD CLOSE-UP
 

FULL OF HIS GLORY CARD INSIDE
 

FULL OF HIS GLORY CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

 
This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Clever Dexter---Something New (Stamps are New)
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Creatalicious---ATG/Winter
DL Art---ATG
Let's Craft and Create---ATG/Something New (Stamps are New)
MIUCB---ATG/Foiling
Rabisco---ATG
Sognando---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.  Great prize to be won from our wonderful sponsor---The Stamps for Life ($25 GC).  So excited to see what you come up with. Though we encounter negative news around the world daily, let us continue to honor and praise God.  For true believers are no longer citizens of this world, we are citizens of heaven sent here with a mission.  Stay faithful to our God and King!

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Thursday, January 6, 2022

Scripture Series: Praises Unto My God Card---Join Us for our First Challenge in 2022, Inspirational/Anything Goes at Word Art Wednesday!

Hi there, Crafty friends! HAVE A BLESSED AND GLORIOUS NEW YEAR TO ALL! 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.  So, our inspiration Scripture for this Challenge that I featured in my card below comes from Psalm 146:2 which says, "While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

"While I am still alive, I will sing praises unto my God." This is what resonated with me as I read our highlighted verse and the whole chapter of Psalm 146.  Praise is defined as "the expression of approval or admiration for someone or something."  By this, we can say that Biblical praise takes place when Christians (Born-again, John 3:3) express gratitude and respect (reverence) towards God, most commonly in a song. Gotquestions.org shared this article on the importance of praising God.  It says, "When we consider the reasons why we should praise God, we find a list of His attributes. He is full of glory (Psalm 138:5), great (Psalm 145:3), wise and powerful (Daniel 2:20), good (Psalm 107:8), merciful and faithful (Psalm 89:1), and much more. This list of attributes is complemented by a list of His wonderful works. He is the One who saves us (Psalm 18:46), keeps His promises (1 Kings 8:56), pardons sin (Psalm 103:1-3), and gives us our daily food (Psalm 136:25). To try to list all the things God has done is impossible, but it is a wonderful exercise because it turns our hearts back to Him and keeps us mindful of how much we owe to Him. Psalm 148:1-10 tells us that all of creation is commanded to give praise to God. Praise is a vital part of a life surrendered to God, and it gives credit where credit is due. “O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (Psalm 107:8)"

The Scripture told us in Genesis 2:7 how God made man into His image and likeness and even went to the extent of breathing unto us the breath of life.  Revelation 4:11 says, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Other things were created through God's spoken word.  But we were different!  He formed us from the dust with His own hands and gave us a portion of Himself---His breath, His life! We're His masterpiece! He wanted us to walk with Him, rely upon Him in a love relationship between a Father and His children as He entrusted us with authority to rule the earth (with all the animals and plants in it) like He ruled the heavens. We are to follow God's order and example.  But everything changed when mankind fell into Sin.  People became greedy and rebellious and their evil hearts desired to dominate not only the things of this world but each other too which gave birth to war, chaos and all sorts of unrighteousness.  We no longer seek to worship God as our hearts succumb to deception and spiritual blindness which led us to worship things God created than He who created it all!

Why do you think God despises idolatry?  Because it is framed upon a lie! Isaiah 42:8-9 says, “I am the Lord; that is my name!  I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.” Giving honor and glory to something that would not exist without its Source---a Designer I should say, is like being lost in the beauty of a painting without recognizing the artist.  So those worshiping the beauty of nature with its sun, moon and stars and admonishing these (created) things to be responsible for a good harvest or your existence is an abomination in the sight of the Lord.  A successful businessman attributing his success primarily to his own talents and abilities is a travesty. We have to recognize that it is God who sustains us (supplies our every need) and that without Him, we would not exist. The world and everything in it answers only to God, who designed everything solely for His purpose.  It is by Him, through Him and for Him alone that they function!  As much as we desire to receive all the credit for our labor, we don't have the right to do so.  God is Truth, He is Holy and Righteous!  He wouldn't tolerate anyone/anything that would like to take the glory that only belongs to Him. Psalm 29:2 clearly says, "Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; Worship the LORD in the beauty and majesty of His holiness [as the creator and source of holiness]."

As a child of the Most High God, I am so grateful for the gift of salvation that Jesus Christ imputed on me.  Because I completely trusted in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross,  I no longer identify with man's fallen nature as the Father received me (justification by faith) and set me apart (sanctification by faith) for His purpose as if the Fall of Man never happened.  Since then, I recognized the Only One that deserves all of the glory, all of the honor and all of the praise---He is Jesus Christ, my Savior!  He has done so many great things in my life that I could sing praises for His glory not only here on earth but throughout eternity.  I would like to share what My Life Application Bible wrote about Psalms 146 to 150 as it truly blessed me.  It says, "These last five psalms overflow with praise.  Each begins and ends with "Praise the Lord." They show us where, why and how to praise God.  What does praise do?  (1) Praise takes our minds of our problems and shortcomings, and focuses them on God. (2) Praise leads us from individual meditation to corporate worship. (3) Praise causes us to consider and appreciate God's character.  (4) Praise  lifts our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly. (5) Praise prepares our hearts to receive God's love and the power of the Holy Spirit."  Wow, just wow!  Whose ready to praise the Lord with me?  See VIDEO at the end.

For this Card, I used an image from Mo Manning called "She Still Got It" that I colored using Hobby Colour and Prismacolor markers.  The base is white CS, cut and score to make a 5.t inches square card.  The DP is from Paper Studio, the flowers that I layered are from Prima with the white brad from Recollections. I punched leaves using MS Punch and the regular and lacy oblongs were cut using Nestabilities dies. I incorporated some regular and fancy stitching for added dimension.  I truly love the vibrant colors in the background and the over-all look of this project.  As a music minister in our Church, I can say how grateful I am to the Lord for the privilege to escort His Body to His presence every change I get.  The Lord truly delights in the praises of His people. 


PRAISES UNTO MY GOD CARD


PRAISES UNTO MY GOD CARD LAYERS


PRAISES UNTO MY GOD CARD INSIDE


PRAISES UNTO MY GOD CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX
 
The winner of my Blog Hop prize last Challenge is...

This is what she wrote in her comment that truly blessed me...
 
"Beautiful card!! I love the papers you used and how you combined them (this is the perfect way to use up some scraps!). And your image is fabulous; LOVE how you did her scarf and mittens!! I love that WAW is committed to be a challenge for cards including uplifting sentiments. And the devotional always speaks the gospel message in a very direct way. THANK YOU!!
 
Thanks to all who participated and left comments.  You are all a blessing to us. Please check the WAW site to see if you won the other DT's prize pack. 
 
This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Cardz 4 Galz---In with the New Year/New Stash (New Paper,  New Image)
CRAFT---New (New Paper/New Image)
Craft Rocket---Use Dies
Krafty Chicks---Stamp Act
MAWTT---Lady/Girl
Time Out---New (New Paper,  New Image)
Ellibelle's Corner---Something New (New Paper,  New Image)
Simon Says Stamp---Something New (New Paper,  New Image)
Paper Funday---ATG/Winter Landscapes
Ike's World---ATG/Add Sentiment
TTCRD---ATG
Unicorn---Lots of Layers
Ching-Chou Kuik---ATG/Something New (New Paper,  New Image)
Country View---Sparkle and Shine
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Creatalicious---ATG/Something New (New Paper,  New Image)
Die-Cut Divas---Flowers
DL Art---ATG
Happy Little Stampers---ATG with Dies
Let's Craft and Create---ATG/Something New (New Paper,  New Image)
Die-Cut Divas---Flowers
MIUCB---ATG/Foiling
Rabisco---ATG/Vintage
Sognando---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.  Great prize to be won from our wonderful sponsor---Topflight Stamps ($25 GC).  Always remember that every believer is important to the Body of Christ and none of us are without talents and gifts to contribute to the Body. We are to give God all the glory and praise for all the wonderful things God has done for us. He is worthy of all our praise.

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JOIN ME IN PRAISING AND WORSHIPING CHRIST
Video starts promptly 1 minute from the beginning