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Sunday, August 28, 2022

Scripture Series: But It Shall Accomplish Card---There Still Time to Join our Anything/Inspirational Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello there, guys!  So, we began another Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW) over a week ago featuring another Scripture Word Art which you can download for free at the WAW site.  It comes from Isaiah 55:11 which says, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

For the first twenty years of my life, I was part of the "world" simply because I didn't have a personal relationship with my now Lord and Savior---Jesus Christ!  I subscribed to a bit of religion, ever relying to what others say and think about God or Jesus.  I remembered reading briefly the first few chapters of the Book of Matthew after receiving a pocket-size Gideon New Testament Bible distributed for free at my elementary school.  But I quickly lost the motivation to continue as reading was not my favorite pastime. It took several years before my next encounter with God's Word and it happened when my best friend asked me and another friend to go with her to a home bible study in our neighborhood. She told us that her school friend invited her so many times in the past and that this time, she couldn't think of any excuse to decline the invitation so she wanted us to go with her for support.  Not knowing what to expect, I ended up jotting down every verse the preacher shared.  My mission was to check the validity and accuracy of the Bible verses they quoted.  The three of us declined the invitation to come to the Lord, repent of our sins and invite Jesus to be our Lord and Savior that night because my friends and I agreed not to do so before we arrived at the Bible study.  But when I arrived home, in the privacy of my room, I hunted for another Gideon Bible (both Old and New Testament) that I received many years ago from the same school and started to see  the truth that was hidden from me by my religion.  The verses were crystal clear about Idolatry and how abominable it is in the sight of God.  From that day on, I haven't looked at the idols (images and statues) in our home or outside with Godly fear and reverence.  I believed that God planted something special in my heart that time.
 
It took several years more before I came to surrender my life fully to the Lord.  Things happened here and there till the moment I felt hopeless and life seemed meaningless. I could say it was my "rock bottom." There's truly a void in a man's heart (which we heard many talked about) that nothing/nobody can ever fill!  That void can only be filled by God!  It's hard to explain but for them who haven't given their lives to Jesus Christ, it is a reality!  We heard of many famous personalities who reached the pinnacle of success yet so unhappy that they decided to end their own lives.  As created beings, something in us longs for that perfect/untainted relationship with our Creator in the Garden of Eden before the Fall of man happened.  It was such a glorious time when we can freely commune with our infinite, powerful and loving God.  We messed that up and there was no hope of redemption from eternal damnation. God's ultimate solution was for Jesus, His One and Only Son, to carry the sins of the world and nail it on the Cross. Jesus came and accomplished everything He had to do to save us from our bondage to Sin. 1 Peter 2:24 tells us, "and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed." Then Jesus rose from the grave and sealed our victory over Sin and Death that whoever believes in Him is no longer condemned but have life everlasting in the presence of God.  For His victory is our victory! Ever since I embraced and trusted God's Word, the void in my being no longer exist.  Trials come and go but I never felt alone and hopeless.  The world may turn away from me but I will always have a loving Father through Jesus Christ and the guidance and empowerment of His Spirit inside of me.  
 
So you see, even before I knew Him, He already chose me. He drew me to Himself and allowed me to respond to His love.  Romans 8:29-30 says, "For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified."  Thank you, Lord!  Looking back, I saw how God planted His Word in my heart and though it took some time, His Word sprouted and grew to bear much fruit in accordance to His purpose in my life.  Our Father will surely use all of us believers (Born Again, John 3:3) to plant His Word to those who are still in the world. While we may feel discouraged not seeing growth where we planted (people we care and love), we have to keep going! Some may take weeks, some months, some years but when we plant the Word of God, it shall always bring forth a harvest.  For the Word of God is trustworthy, now and forever!
 
For this Card, I used an image from Stampendous called "Scenic Sampler" that I colored using my Paper Studio Brush markers and The Creative Expert Alcohol Markers. The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches center step design.  The DP's are from Paper Studio, the glitters from Stickles (Crystal) and the whit nail head gems are from Imaginisce.  I used Nestabilities to die cut the lacy circle and the circle layer after I printed the Scripture Word Art. I also stamped a sentiment on the envelope tag from the same stamp set where the images came from.  Lastly, I stitched all over this project. 
 
 
BUT IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH CENTER STEP CARD 


BUT IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH CENTER STEP CARD  LAYERS


BUT IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH CENTER STEP CARD INSIDE


BUT IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH CENTER STEP CARD ENVELOPE-BOX
 

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Dare2BArtzy---Shaped or Fun Fold Cards
Corrosive---ATG
Allsorts---ATG/Roses
Di's Digis---Add a Sentiment
Taylormadecards---ATG/Transportation
Creative Creases---ATG with Fun Fold
Aud Sentiments---Summer/Sentiment
Cards 4 Galz---Use 3 of Anything (3 nail head gems)
C.R.A.F.T.---Back to School/ATG
MAWTT---ATG
Krafty Chicks---All Occasions
Crafty Gals Corner---Lazy Days of Summer
Little Red Wagon---Day at the Beach
Paper Shelter---Frame It
Simon Says---Shimmer and Shine
Paper Funday---ATG/Friendship
2 Sisters on the Blog---Text as Focus
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Crafty Friends---Summer Colors
Creatalicious---ATG/Butterflies
Die-Cut Divas---Shaped Cards
Happy Little Stampers---ATG with Dies
Let's Craft and Create---ATG/Feeling Distressed
PINspirational---Inspiration Image
QKR---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 this week.  Great prize to be won from our wonderful sponsor---Pretty Little Studio (Special Prize).  So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, don't be weary in sharing the Good News of Salvation and what Jesus has done in your life.  The very reason we are still alive today is because there's still some planting of God's Word that needed to be done.  Let the Holy Spirit guide you and empower you.

Ready to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Find out how on the sidebar...

Saturday, August 13, 2022

Scripture Series: I Will Praise Thee Forever Card---Join the Fun of our Anything/Inspirational Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hi there, Crafty friends! How about joining the fun in our Challenge happening at Word Art Wednesday (WAW). There's a few days left before we start another one next Wednesday. 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 52:9 which says, "I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints."  
 
Psalm 52's main theme is about the judgment of God to the evildoer.  Now more than ever, we are experiencing what seemed to be the reign of godless (really demonic) individuals in every facet of our society, saturating key and powerful positions in national and world scene.  It is evident in the promulgation of fake news around the world, woke corporations, global, political and economic manipulations down to the eradication of family worth and values through demonic invasion of media and  our educational system.  These global elitists (whether they know it or not) had been advancing the world for the reign of the Antichrist which God's Word tell us will take place in the Tribulation Period. These are antichrist leaders that through crafty lies and perversion of local scenes and events have captured the minds and emotions of the gullible and convinced many to advance their evil agendas. 1 John 2:18 tells us, "Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour."
 
Most Bible prophecy/eschatology experts believe the Antichrist will be the ultimate embodiment of what it means to be against Christ. In the end times/last hour, a man will arise to oppose Christ and His followers (Body of Christ) more than anyone else in history. Likely claiming to be the true Messiah, the Antichrist will seek world domination and will attempt to destroy all followers of Jesus Christ and the nation of Israel. Gotquestions.org tells us, "The meaning of the term antichrist is simply “against Christ.” As the apostle John records in First and Second John, an antichrist denies the Father and the Son (1 John 2:22), does not acknowledge Jesus (1 John 4:3), and denies that Jesus came in the flesh (2 John 1:7). There have been many “antichrists,” as 1 John 2:18 states. But there is also coming the Antichrist. Other biblical references to the Antichrist include the following: The imposing, boastful king of Daniel 7 who oppresses the Jews and tries to “change the set times and the laws” (verse 25). The leader who establishes a 7-year covenant with Israel and then breaks it in Daniel 9. The king who sets up the abomination of desolation in Mark 13:14 (cf. Daniel 9:27). The man of lawlessness in 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12. The rider on a white horse (representing his claim to be a man of peace) in Revelation 6:2. The first beast—the one from the sea—in Revelation 13. This beast receives power from the dragon (Satan) and speaks “proud words and blasphemies” (verse 5) and wages war against the saints (verse 7). Thankfully, the Antichrist/beast, along with his false prophet, will be thrown into the lake of fire, where they will spend all eternity in torment (Revelation 19:20; 20:10).  
 
So, it's really no surprise when we see evildoers nowadays eluding punishment no matter how corrupt and vile they are while on the other hand, true and honest citizens are demonized or made to look like criminals for baseless or invented accusations.  Just this week, we see what they have done to President Trump and the invasion/ransacking of his home at Mar-a-lago in Florida.  Surely, if they have done that to an influential personality as Trump, what makes you think they cannot do that to anyone?  We have seen the grievous crimes of Obama, Hillary Clinton and Hunter Biden (among others) but none of them had been treated like such.  In fact, the media kept their mouths shut totally. So, while we as the Body of Christ (Born-again, John 3:3) see this happening, many will feel discouraged and helpless, not having the spine to expose biblical truths for fear of backlash.  Just in case you are unaware, the government had been coming after the Church and  the many teachings of the Bible, subpoena pastors for their sermons and even tried to get rid of the Church by classifying it "non-essential" for pandemic's sake.  Yet, this is why it is important for all God-fearing Christians to know what God has for us in His Word.  Everything in this world is temporary.  God has revealed to us what is waiting for Satan and everyone who followed him---eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire!  So while they may look like they are winning these days, we fight the good fight of faith because we were revealed the ending to this earthly story---JESUS WON!  I don't wake up each day guessing what life or eternity is going to bring.  I just need to focus on JESUS and His promises and speak those promises into everyday situation.  While the Church is still on earth, there is still hope for this world! We are the Salt and Light of this world in that we preserve, enhance and light up this decaying and darkened world.  Let us not be intimidated by what looks like success of the wicked but be confident that they've already been defeated through Christ. Therefore, be bold and be strong always!  God's got our back, our victory is certain and we have nothing to fear.

For this Card, I used an image from Stamping Bella called "Tiny Townie Tire Swing" that I colored with Prismacolor markers.  The base is a white pre-cut A7 card from Paper Studio. After I printed the Scripture Word Art to a panel and stitched on it, I  attached the fuzzy cut image and decorated the inside (with stamped sentiment from the same set as the image) and worked on the envelope-box.  I love the simplicity of the design that gave more emphasis on the Scripture.

 
 I WILL PRAISE THEE FOR EVER CARD
 

I WILL PRAISE THEE FOR EVER CARD CLOSE-UP
 

I WILL PRAISE THEE FOR EVER CARD INSIDE
 

I WILL PRAISE THEE FOR EVER CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX


This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Allsorts---ATG/Create Your Own Background
Taylormadecards---ATG/Transportation
Alphabet---J is for Juvenile Young Person
Colour Crazy---ATG Coloring
Paper Dragonfly---Summertime Buzz
Aud Sentiments---Summer with Sentiment
C.R.A.F.T.---Summer
MAWTT---ATG
Crafty Gals Corner---Lazy Days of Summer
Paper Shelter---Summer Break
Simon Says---Summertime Blues
Paper Funday---ATG/Friendship
2 Sisters---Focus on Text
Crafty Friends---Summer Colors
Let's Craft and Create---ATG/Feeling Distressed
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 package to be won from our wonderful sponsor---CAS-ual Fridays Stamps ($20 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.  God placed us at this time when many have succumb to darkness and the hope and light of the Gospel is the only cure. Time is running out!

Ready to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Find out how on the sidebar...