Scripture Series: I Will Go Before Thee Card---It's Inspirational...It's Anything Goes at Word Art Wednesday!

It's Wednesday once again, Crafty Peeps!  We just finished a couple of weeks looking at stunning and wonderful entries at the Word Art Wednesday (WAW) Blog and each of the them were wonderful and a blessing to us in the Design Team.  Today, we are bringing you another bi-weekly Challenge as we feature a new Scripture Word Art (free to download at the WAW site) and it comes from Isaiah 45:2 which tells us, "I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron."  It is important to know the context of this Scripture for it will give us a clearer understanding on how God's plan work.  I would like to share what I gathered from my Life Application Bible in regards to  this prophecy delivered by Isaiah before the intended recipient (Cyrus II of Persia or Cyrus the Great) even existed.  Here's what we need to know about him:  "Isaiah, who prophesied from 740-681 B.C., called Cyrus by name almost 150 years before he ruled (559-530 B.C.)!  Later historians said that Cyrus read this prophecy and was so moved that he carried it out.  Isaiah also predicted that Jerusalem would fall more than 100 years before it happened (586 B.C.) and that the temple would be rebuilt about 200 years before it happened.  It is clear these prophecies came from a God who knows the future.  Isaiah 45:1-8 is found to be the only place in the Bible where a Gentile (not a Jew, seen as pagans) ruler is said to be "anointed."  God is the power over all powers, and He anoints whom He chooses for His special task.  Cyrus' kingdom spread across 2,000 miles (the largest of any empire then known), including the territories of both the Assyrian and the Babylonian empires.  Why did God anoint Cyrus?  Because God had a special task for him to do for Israel.  Cyrus would allow God's city, Jerusalem, to be rebuilt, and he would set the exiles free without expecting anything in return.  Few kings of Israel or Judah had done as much for God's people as Cyrus did."  

Given this backdrop, we begin to realize that the God of Creation, the Great I am, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the One and Only (True) God.  He knows the end from the beginning and His infinite wisdom and understanding are beyond anyone of us (finite beings) can understand.  He has a plan for the world and the people He created! Though He gave us the free will  to choose, none of our choices  (good or bad) can thwart His ultimate plan.  We also need to acknowledge the fact that if God's people (believers) does not step up to carry out God's plan, He can literally use anybody...We need to ask ourselves, do we want to be an obstruction to God's plan or acknowledge His move and cooperate with Him?  Proverbs 19:20-21 says, "Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.  Many are the plans in a person’s heart but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails."  We all know how difficult it is to swim against the current yet that is what we put ourselves into when we go against the Will of God.  In order to know His Will, we need to be familiar with His Word (God's written revelation).  That unveils to us Who God is and reveals to us Jesus Christ (God's personal revelation).  Through His Son, we get a personal experience of the God Whom we serve.   If God Almighty can use Cyrus (a pagan ruler) to facilitate His plan, how much more can He not use every man and woman who has given their lives to the Lordship of His Son and in whom Jesus gave up His life to redeem?  Therefore, every heart in whom God established His throne can lay claim to the promises spoken to Cyrus by God Himself.  When He said "I will go before thee and make the crooked places straight,"  He is telling us that His protection is upon us and He has made a way for us even in the darkest of situations.  He will shine His light and that we will not have to fear the terrors that come at night.  His provision is leading us that no evil plan set up for us will prosper.  In fact, they will be annihilated and destroyed in accordance to His great plan.   He also promised, "I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron."  There's literally nothing that will hinder us from taking one territory to another.  No matter what the plots are, though it be protected with the thickest wall of stone, the strongest kinds of humanity's brass and iron, it will hold no power against the One True God and His people.  If we only know the power within us (when we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior and became a child of God)---fear will have no place among us.  One of my favorite verses summarizes what this post is all about.  It's in Romans 8:31-34 which says, "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."  I pray that we be sensitive to the work of God in our lives as well as His leading to our country---America, and the rest of the world!  Let us call upon Him daily and recognize whom He has sent to represent Him and rid of all our fleshly/worldly preference.  We have a choice to vote Godly or ungodly in our future election.  All I can tell you is that God has heard the cry of His people in this nation and He shall execute His plan mightily to save America!  I am happy to have seen and heard many others that were given the same revelation.  If you say you are a child of God, do not be an opposition to the work of the Lord!  Pray and seek His face, know His Word and you will not find yourself swimming against the current of God's divine plan!
 
For this Card, I used an image I got for free from Digital Two for Tuesday Blog a while back and I colored it with my ProMarker/Prismacolor/Spectrum Noir markers.  I also did some inking on the skyline using Distress Inks (Tumbled Glass and Faded Jeans).  The base is a Kraft pre-cut A7 size card that comes with an envelope.  I attached some brown brads from Recollections for added dimension.  Lastly, I stitched all over this project.  I was more than happy with the result.

                                                 I WILL GO BEFORE THEE CARD

                                            I WILL GO BEFORE THEE CARD LAYERS

                                             I WILL GO BEFORE THEE CARD INSIDE

                                      I WILL GO BEFORE THEE CARD WITH ENVELOPE

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Wonderful Wednesday---ATG
Our Crafty Corner---ATG
Love to Scrap---ATG
Lemon Shortbread---ATG
Inky Chicks---ATG
Creative Moments---ATG
Digitally Sweet---Colour Palette (Digi Image from Digital Two Tuesday)
Inspiration Destination---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Crafty Friends---ATG
Scrappers' Delights---ATG
Pencil Case---Kraft/Black
Craft for the Craic---January Blues
Crafting with Friends---ATG
Simply Papercraft---ATG
DoubleClick---ATG
Fresh Brewed---Fave Season (I love Spring! Not too hot nor too cold)
Crafty Addicts---ATG/Elegance
Digi Choosday---Stitching
Retarte---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.  Lots of prizes to be won from our two wonderful sponsors---The Stamps for Life (Stamp of Choice) and The Cutting Cafe (Cutting/Digi Files).  So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, cheer up and let the joy of the Lord overtake you today while being sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  Pray and keep on praying.  The Lord is going to do great and mighty things to our nation.

Live Laugh Love Moments Card---Join the Fun at 613 Avenue Create for Another Anything Goes Challenge!

Hello there, friends!  I trust the Lord that you are doing great and blessed with every good thing.  As I was meditating on what to share with y'all in this post, God impressed upon my heart HIS POWER and HIS PLAN.  It is sad that when we look everywhere around us these days, we see social and economic decay. We are faced daily with the tandem of Government and Media that promotes liberal agenda, all kinds of divisions while shoving to our throats political correctness, tolerance and denial of God---all in an attempt to slowly but surely whisk us away from the knowledge of God.  Their aim is to deny and rid us of the Godly foundations/principles this country stands for (and made us a great nation).  They are here to convince us there's no God or if there is, He already abandoned this country because of its wicked/rebellious ways.

The awesome Truth is, GOD IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL!  Even in our unfaithfulness, He remains true to His promises!  Though the wicked occupy the highest office of our nation and every pillar of our society seemed to be thoroughly saturated with them, the future of this nation does not depend upon them.  The Word of God tells us in Psalm 34:15-16, "The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth."  Who are the righteous people that God pays attention to?  I love to share a portion of the article I read at Gotquestions.org regarding the "righteousness of God" and it says, "The bad news is that true and perfect righteousness is not possible for man to attain on his own; the standard is simply too high. The good news is that true righteousness is possible for mankind, but only through the cleansing of sin by Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We have no ability to achieve righteousness in and of ourselves. But Christians possess the righteousness of Christ, because “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is an amazing truth. On the Cross, Jesus exchanged our sin for His perfect righteousness so that we can one day stand before God and He will see not our sin, but the holy righteousness of the Lord Jesus."

It is therefore a fact that those who placed their faith in Christ (Born-again, John 3:3) have a God-given privilege to come to the throne of God and intercede in behalf of our nation through the power of the finished work of Jesus at the Cross.  Our Father cannot deny His Son the benefits/rewards of Jesus' selfless act at the Cross and those who are in Christ have a blessed assurance that all our petitions (in accordance to His will) is accomplished.   Yes, every true believer of Christ are "world changers!"  Despite the darkness hovering this nation, we know that victory is ours! Instead of feeling sorry or caving to the evil declarations pronounced in this country nowadays, we are to BOLDLY proclaim the POWER OF GOD and use the authority that JESUS won for us at the Cross (Great Commission).  God wants us to rebuke, renounce and destroy every ungodly word/statement spoken against America.  The enemies of God will say all kinds of things to put this country down but that should not come from God's children.  Matthew 12:35-37 tells us, "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”  I call unto those who love the Lord and loves this country to destroy the works of the enemy.  We can do this by constantly proclaiming the power and plan of God for this country.  Refuse intimidation, declare the heritage of the Lord in this nation and carry out the glorious will of God every chance we get in writing, in words and in deeds.  Recently, I encountered someone who called me out for writing a prayer in one of the social trends regarding Defunding Planned Parenthood.  She seemed to use the scripture that prayer should be done in secret and that I was being a hypocrite wanting to impress people with my prayer. What was strange to me was that this person focused on the method yet didn't see the contents of the prayer that upheld the life of the unborn. So, should I be offended?  First and foremost, there are different kinds and methods of prayers which obviously someone who does not really know God and thinks like a Pharisee would not have a real clue.  I was reminded of Luke 13:10-17 when the Lord healed a woman crippled for 18 years on the Sabbath and the Pharisees came to him and rebuked Him for healing someone on a rest day.  They got an epic rebuke from Jesus, I tell 'ya!  

As a child of God, I pray everywhere as God leads---silent, loud, speaking in tongues, cries and at times just groans (unspoken prayer).  I am not bound by the method---I am however bound by God's Will.  God looks at the heart and our motives in everything we do...As long as I'm doing God's will---I am in no way allowing any man to dictate nor put me down.  I implore all of you that loves the Lord to proclaim blessings to America (for those living outside to do the same thing to your nation).  Do not allow your mouth to declare doom and gloom to the nation God blessed you with.  Instead,  rebuke evil and declare blessings to your country.  Tucked in with every oppressive circumstances we deal with daily are evil spirits (rulers, powers and authorities) in the heavenly places.  As a child of God, we have been given authority over all of them through Christ. Let us use that supernatural  power to rid our nation of Satan's demonic agenda and usher in the perfect plan and power of God.  God is not done with America!  He is sending men and women (and even children) who knows their place in God's Kingdom to boldly (unapologetic) speak and carry out His Truth. The question is, are you one of them?   I would like to further encourage you with the following passages to continue the good fight of faith knowing that all our efforts in the Lord is not in vain.

"Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,  keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.  For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.  For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.  After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him."  (1 Peter 3:13-22)

Anyway, here's my featured project for our Anything Goes Challenge with an Optional Twist (Stylish and Elegant) at 613 Avenue Create.  For this Card, I used an image from Art Impressions Girlfriends Stamps called "Picture Perfect"  that I colored with ProMarker/Prismacolor/Spectrum Noir markers and paper-pieced. The base is a white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square.  All the DP's, die-cut layered flowers and button came from Paper Studio, the nail head gems from Imaginisce and the jute bow from my stash.  The main sentiment was stamped from Dina Wakley Clear Stamps and the secondary sentiment was stamped with Will n Way Clear Creative Stamps.  And for a final touch, I stitched all over this card.  I just love how this card came together with one of my fave images.

                                                    LIVE LAUGH LOVE MOMENTS

                                            LIVE LAUGH LOVE MOMENTS LAYERS

                                           LIVE LAUGH LOVE MOMENTS SIDE VIEW

                                            LIVE LAUGH LOVE MOMENTS INSIDE

                                 LIVE LAUGH LOVE MOMENTS WITHE ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafting with an Attitude---ATG
Cute Card Thursday---A Bit of Fun
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Jade's Sparkling---ATG/Bright and Beautiful
Simon Says---Ombre
Star Stampz---New To You (New Image)
Pile It On---Your First Initial (J for Jute)
Morgan's Artworld---ATG
Deep Ocean---Something New
Lemon Shortbread---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Crafty Gals---Buttons and Bows
Decorate to Celebrate---ATG
Little Miss Muffet---ATG
Our Crafty Corner---ATG
Inky Chicks---ATG
One Crazy Stamper---ATG
Penny Black---One for the Girls
Crafty Friends---ATG
Crafty Calendar---Something new (Image)
Scrappers' Delights---ATG
Crafting with Friends---ATG
Simply Papercraft---ATG
Retarte---ATG 


 There you have it, folks!  Don't miss the opportunity to join our Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  There's wonderful prizes awaiting the winners from our lovely sponsors for this week---The Fantasy Art by Nikki Burnett and Beccy's Place .  Can't wait to see what fabulous projects you're going to link with us.  I hope you have a wonderful week and know that through faith in what Jesus accomplished through the Cross, we can take back our nation.   

Scripture Series - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Card - Join Us for Another Family Friendly Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hi there, friends!  Here to highlight my very first Scripture Word Art project for 2016 and like always, it is for our Family Friendly Challenge at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  There's so many wonderful changes happening there so, make sure to check the post so that you can be updated.  One of the wonderful things happening this year is our Challenge going from weekly to bi-weekly.  That means you can get more projects done and link with us within a Challenge period and will also give me and my fellow DT's much needed time  to work on other projects.  I have tons!...LOL    The other great news is we have a primary sponsor for one of two (or three) challenges each month which will provide the winner with $25 GC from their shop and is an absolute blessing to our Challenge this year---Simon Says Stamp. They have all the latest products in paper crafting and stamping at a great price.  Along with our faithful sponsors for many years, they will help us provide greater excitement for those that link with us.  Hmm, should I quit the DT so I can join and possibly have a chance to win these great prizes?  I thought of that but nah---I'll leave it to you, guys!...LOL

Anyway, our Scripture Word Art for this week came from Psalm 139:14 which says, "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."  This is one of the verses that spoke a lot into my heart and the very reason why I can look at things and appreciate what they are regardless of how they look like or their incapacity.  When I posted some of my portrait pics in social media, I remembered using this caption more often---"fearfully and wonderfully made by God."  You see, the world has its own definition of beauty and they usually depend on physical attributes or capabilities of a person.  So, when the world encounters someone born or with physical defects (out of the normal) many look at them as ugly.  But even if people are born without physical defects, others still find things to notice or laugh about---big ears, flat nose, crooked teeth, large forehead, you name it!  When we criticize others, we are usually comparing them to our own physical attributes or to someone we consider beautiful according to our standards of what 'beautiful" looks like.  I remember one day when my son was about four years old and he and I were crossing the street and came across a gentlemen that was missing a leg (amputee). My son asked in a fairly loud manner, "Why does that man only have one leg, Mommy?"   I had to ask him to be quiet and answered his question shortly. I told him that we don't know how that man lost his leg but though he's missing one, it does not mean that he was not beautifully made by God.  We covered many other things that day down to the race and skin color which many people deem so important.  I made sure that he got the message---none of God's creation was made by Him ugly or inferior.  As my son grows, I often asked him questions to test how he sees true beauty based on Biblical perspective and so far, he passes with flying colors.  Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

The key to seeing true beauty apart from worldly standards is to know our Creator.  When your worldview of creation is based on the likes of the "Theory of Evolution" which suggests that we evolve from apes contrary to the Biblical Truth of being made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27), what you believed will affect how you see yourself and others.  Each of us, no matter how we appear are made in the image and likeness of our Creator.  God does not make mistakes!  I love what I saw online from Gotquestions.org which expands on this:  "God makes no mistakes. His perfection and greatness disallow mistakes: “Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” (Psalm 145:3). In the original language, the word translated “fathom” incorporates the thought of “possible to find out or enumerate.” In other words, God’s greatness is infinite. This statement cannot refer to a fallible person, for, with even one mistake, his greatness would be quantifiable and finite.  God has made no mistakes in His creation of the world. God’s infinite wisdom, infinite power, and infinite goodness combined to produce a perfect world. At the end of six days of creation, God surveyed all He had made and pronounced it “very good” (Genesis 1:31). There was no exception or qualification or disappointment. Just the statement “very good.” We are part of God's creation and no other creation came to life the same way we did.  God Himself breathing into man's nostrils the breath of life which made us a living soul (Genesis 2:7).  All other created things came about by God's spoken Word.  So yes, we are very special...In fact, we are His masterpiece!  If you look at everything through the eyes of the God that created us, you will never see imperfection---just PURE BEAUTY!  I would like to share what my Life Application Bible shared about our featured scripture as it's worth conveying.  It says, "God's character goes into the creation of every person. When you feel worthless or even begin to hate yourself,  remember that God's Spirit is ready and willing to work within you.  We should have as much respect for ourselves as our Maker has for us."  Isn't that amazing?  Glory be to the Most High God!

For this Card, I used an image from Bugaboo Digi Stamps called "AKV Dance Trio" that I colored using my ProMarker/Prismacolor/Spectrum Noir markers.  The base is a pre-cut A7 Kraft card from Paper Studio.  The DP's are also from Paper Sutdio, the layers flowers from Prima, the brads from Recollections and the glitters from Stickles (Crystal).  The die-cut frames are from Nestabilities, the panel edges were shaped using MS Punch and the leaves were die-cuts using Fiskars Punch.   I was extremely tired (sleepy and cranky) when I was working on this project and I am thankful to the Lord as He never fails to make a great and inspiring finish despite my limitations.  I tell you, it's all God!

                                        FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE CARD:

                                    FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE CARD LAYERS:

                                 FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE CARD SIDE VIEW:

                                    FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE CARD INSIDE:

                            FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Crafting by Designs---ATG
Crafty Gals---ATG
Creative Moments---ATG
DoubleClick---Use a Flower
Fab n Funky---Something New (Image is new)
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Moo-Mania---ATG
The Paper Shelter---Punches and/or Dies
Simon Says Stamp---Something New (New Image)
Stampavie and More---Something New (New Image)
Crafty Addicts---ATG/Celebration
Wonderful Wednesday---ATG
Crafty Sentiments---ATG
Cuttlebug Mania---New (New Image, also used Cuttlebug to die-cut Nesties)
Deep Ocean---ATG
Everybody Art---ATG
Lemon Shortbread---ATG
ODBD---Something New, Something Old (New: Digi Stamp, Old: Papers)
TTCRD---ATG
Try It On Tuesday---Letters and Numbers (Verse has both)
Artistic Inspirations---ATG/Winter Blues
Bunny Zoe's---Sparkle
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Craft Your Passion---ATG
Crafty Boots---Something Old, Something New (New: Image Old: Papers)
Fun Cuts---G is for Gratitude
Not Just Cards---ATG
OLLCB---Girlie
Our Crafty Corner---ATG
Simon Says---Something New (Image is New)
Paper Nest Dolls---ATG
Where the Heart Is---ATG
Whoopsi Daisy---New To You (Image is New)
Lacy Sunshine---ATG
Come and Get It---Something New (Image is New)
Glitter n Sparkle---ATG
Robyn's Fetish---ATG
Stamping Sensations---ATG with a Die/s
Catch the Bug---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.  You can win wonderful goodies (worth $25 GC) from our awesome sponsor this week---Simon Says Stamp.  So excited to see what you come up with.  Anyway, cheer up and let the joy of the Lord overtake you as you find true beauty in yourself and others through the eyes of our Maker.

CAS Series: Crazy Bird Birthday Card---Join Us for Another Wonderfu Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create!

Hello there, Crafty Friends!  It's my first post for the New Year and I am hoping that you are having a wonderful start of 2016 as well.   Like always, I had so many things to do so, I am a day behind posting this.  Anyway, a lot of people have set some goals to accomplish early this year commonly known as "New Year's Resolutions." Although I am familiar with the practice, I don't remember making a list whatsoever even before I came to know Christ.  Now that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the more I realize I don't need any resolutions.  I do have long-term goals that are more spiritually oriented.  Among them are spending more time in studying the Word and to faithfully pray, to share the hope I have in Christ to as many who will listen and to have the strength, patience and boldness to proclaim God's Truth no matter what.  To faithfully execute the task the Lord has given me as watchman unto God's people making sure that the Word of God is delivered and administered accurately in all Churches---in my community, my city, my state, my country and the world.  From the Garden of Eden to this day, false teachings/doctrines remains to be the poison that sickens our society which hinders many from knowing the Truth and have led those who once in the Truth astray.  It is very important that we hold leaders, pastors, teachers, elders of our Church accountable to the infallibility of the Scriptures along with all the members of the Body.  Nobody is above the Word of God! 

Anyway, a New Year's Resolution is not at all negative but nowadays, they are mostly effort by men to better themselves for their own merit. Without the presence of the Holy Spirit in one's life (Born-Again, John 3:3), all of men's efforts are without lasting effect.  It is God's Spirit that empowers us to do supernatural endeavors not for our own merit but for the glory of the God who created us and it always starts by surrendering our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and accepting the gift His finished work at the Cross made available for us.  I would like to share with you what I read online from Gotquestions.org pertaining to the origin of New Year's Resolutions and how Christians should approach this practice.  I hope you'd be blessed.  Here's the article:

"The practice of making New Year’s resolutions goes back over 3,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a new year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31 and January 1. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?

Common New Year’s resolutions are commitments to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money more wisely, and to spend more time with family. By far, the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating more healthily. These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.

Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals. However, these New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?

Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5 declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year’s resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God’s Word, we will not receive God’s help in fulfilling the resolution.

So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make? Here are some suggestions: (1) pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead, allow them to motivate you further; (6) don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6 says, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

Anyway, I created a CAS project to highlight our Anything Goes Challenge with an Optional Twist at 613 Avenue Create.  For this Card, I used an image from Stampers Anonymous featuring Tim Holtz Bird Crazy and Crazy Things Stamps.  The base is an A2-size cream card that comes with an envelope.  The image was stamped in a watercolor paper and colored with my General's Kimberley Watercolor pencils.  I've had it for a long time and I am glad I was able to use it again as it made coloring easy.  The birthday sentiment is from Stampendous and the border stamp is from Heidi Grace.  The inside sentiment I got online which I wrote down using my EK Tools Journaling Pen.  I love it!

                                                 CRAZY BIRD BIRTHDAY CARD:

                                              CRAZY BIRD BIRTHDAY CARD INSIDE:

                                       CRAZY BIRD BIRTHDAY CARD WITH ENVELOPE:


This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Deep Ocean---ATG
Artistic Inspirations---ATG/Winter Blues
Aurora Wings---Warm and Fuzzy
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Craft Your Passion---ATG
Crafty Boots---Something Old, Something New (Old: Base Card, New: Image)
Eureka---Birthday Cards
Fun Cuts---G is for Gratitude
Lost Coast---CAS
Not Just Cards---ATG
Our Crafty Corner---ATG
Simon Says---Something New (Image is New)
Crazy Challenge---Celebrations
Paper Nest Dolls---ATG
Where the Heart Is---ATG
Amusing---New (New Image)
Lacy Sunshine---ATG
Come and Get It---Something New (Image is New)
Dragonfly Journeys---They Say It's Your Birthday
Glitter n Sparkle---ATG
Quirky Crafts---Let's Quirky Celebrate
Robyn's Fetish---ATG
Catch the Bug---ATG

This it for now, guys.  Make sure to join us at our neighborhood---613 Avenue Create---for an Anything Goes Challenge.  Our sponsors---Eureka Stamps, Melonheadz Illustrating and The Stamping Boutique are giving away some fabulous prizes.  Can't wait to see what you create. The Lord is with you every step of the way so, don't be afraid of the what the future holds---we are safe in the arms of Christ always.  Remember to dedicate every plans to Him and to faithfully give Him all the glory!

Scripture Series: Bought with a Price Card---Our Final Challenge in 2015...Join Us for More Inspirational Challenge at Word Art Wednesday in 2016!

Hello there, Crafty Friends!  First of all, I would like to greet you all a BLESSED AND WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!  So many things have happened this 2015 that I am so grateful for but there's also lots of situations that didn't turn out so well.  That goes for both my personal life and the other---the state  of our nation and the world.  Many people are just concerned with their own lives that they neglect/choose to ignore what's going on around them.  Yet everything that happens to us on a personal level are/can be affected by someone's decision.  Whether we like it or not, we are a part of a whole.  So my prayer for the year 2016 is for everyone who profess the name of Christ and are part of His Body (Church/Ekklesia---Called-out Ones) to strongly unite towards one common goal.  That is to fulfill the purposes of God in their lives by standing firmly on the Word of God.   Each of us have different opinions on issues but to silence everyone to unity, we need to submit to what the Lord says in His Word.  We need to allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with God's divine wisdom and to give us a teachable spirit.  I pray also for those that have been deceived by the doctrines of this world to be awakened and get back to the Way of Truth.  As we await the coming of our Lord Jesus to establish His divine rule on earth, let us continue to spread the Gospel of Christ (His death, burial and resurrection) even in the midst of growing opposition and insanity.  There's still a lot of people out there who are waiting to hear what the Cross of Christ has done for them.  That also means we have to share the Truth of God to our families and friends without compromise.  Tolerance and political correctness are disguised as "love" nowadays but "TRUE LOVE" willingly corrects and points someone to the Truth in order to gain an everlasting reward for both the sinner and the saint.  Among  our biggest reward would be to see our love ones/friends escape the "lake of fire" forever and to be eternally saved  in the presence of God along with many others that believed.  There's only ONE WAY to God's presence---JESUS CHRIST!  No man-made religion can bring anyone to Him.  Only a personal relationship (Born-again, John 3:3) through faith in what Jesus Christ accomplished at the Cross  will take you down that narrow path engineered by no other than God, Himself!  If you want to know God, seek His Word! Jeremiah 33:3 tells us what God wants us to do when we need answers to life's questions, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Anyway, we started our final challenge for this year yesterday at Word Art Wednesday (WAW).  We have some wonderful news and changes coming up for 2016 so, all of you that have been joining and leaving us encouraging comments about our work for the Lord will be so blessed as well.  You'll hear of them by next week.  Today's featured Scripture Word Art (you can download for free at the WAW site) came from 1 Corinthians 6:20 which tells us, "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."  The context of this verse has to do with fleeing from "sexual immorality. "  Outside of marriage exclusively between one man and one woman, all kinds of sexual desires and actions fall under this category.  I encourage you to read the entire chapter to obtain clarity and therefore find Truth.  I love how my Life Application Bible explained this verse and the couple of other verses that came before it.  I just want to share it with you as it's awesome. It states, "Christians are free to be all they can be for God, but they are not free from God.  God created sex to be a beautiful and essential ingredient of marriage, but sexual sin (sex outside the marriage relationship) always hurts someone.  It hurts God because it shows that we prefer following our own desires instead of the leading of the Holy Spirit.  It hurts others because it violates the commitment so necessary to a relationship.  It often brings disease to our bodies.  And it deeply affects our personalities, which respond in anguish when we harm ourselves physically and spiritually.  What did Paul mean when he said that our bodies belong to God?  Many people say they have the right to do whatever they want with their own bodies.  Although they think that this is freedom, they are really enslaved by their own desires.  When we become Christians, the Holy Spirit fills and lives in us.  Therefore, we no longer own our bodies.  "Bought at a price" refers to slaves purchased at auction.  Christ's death freed us from sin, but also obligates us to His service.  If you live in a building owned by someone else, you try not to violate the building's rules.  Because your body belongs to God, you must not violate His standards for living."  

What an awesome exhortation.  I remembered when I came to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  I was so lost and desperate.  I have lost the will to live and was asking God to get me out of my meaningless existence.  On the outside, everyone thought I was strong and was doing great yet inside of me, I was so empty and broken.  I called on the One I barely knew and with a leap of faith, I humbled myself before Him and confessed my sins. I acknowledged what Jesus did for me at the Cross and accepted His gift of forgiveness and love.  I surrendered my life and welcomed Him as Lord and Savior.   It was that short yet sincere prayer that changed my life so radically and compelled me to share the hope I found in Him twenty-five years ago to this day.  I SURRENDERED MY LIFE AND INVITED HIM AS MY LORD!  That is the crystal clear Truth that guided my life today... I fully recognize that my life is no longer my own---it's under the authority of the One I gave my life to and He rules and  lives His life inside of me!  I would like to leave you with the following verses to encourage you to hold on to the promises of God no matter what life brings:

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." (1 Peter 1:18-19)

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.  For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."  (Philippians 1:20-21)

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."  (Romans 12:1-2)

For this Card, I stamped an image from Prima (Julie Nutting) called "Megan" and paper-pieced the clothes using most of my DP scraps.  The base is a white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  I rounded the edges using with my Corner Chomper.  I layered the flowers from Prima and added a pearl brad at its center.  I applied some glitters (Stickles-Crystal) to the clothing as well as the flowers.  Finally, I stitched all over this creation.  I would say---elegantly simple!

                                                 BOUGHT WITH A PRICE CARD:

                                           BOUGHT WITH A PRICE CARD LAYERS:

                                            BOUGHT WITH A PRICE CARD INSIDE:

                                    BOUGHT WITH A PRICE CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:


This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Creatalicious---Soemthing Old, Something New (Old: Flowers, New: Image)
Creative Craft---Add Some Sparkle
Lia Stampz---ATG
Sweet Stamps---ATG
2 Crafty Girls---Winter Blues/ATG
4 Crafty Chicks---Crazy Egg/ATG
As You Like It---ATG
CRAFT---ATG
Cut Card Thursday---ATG
Crafty Gals---ATG
Crafty Creations---ATG
Creative Moments---ATG
DoubleClick Skittles---ATG
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Moo-Mania---ATG
The Paper Shelter---ATG'
Crafty Addicts---ATG
Creative Card Crew---ATG
Deep Ocean---ATG
Lemon Shortbread---ATG
Retarte---ATG
TTCRD---ATG
Tuesday Throwdown---ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Love to Scrap---ATG
Our Crafty Corner---Winter/ATG


There you have it friends!  Hope you enjoyed browsing at the pics and reading this post.  Please don't forget to join us at this week's WAW Challenge by linking your "Anything Goes" projects.  You can use the free Word Art in your entry but it's not mandatory.  As long as your creation is family-friendly, inspirational and uplifting, you can enter up to 5 projects to have more chances of winning.  Our sponsors for this week are Verses Rubber Stamps ($20 GC) and Fresh Brewed Designs (3 digi images).  You don't want to miss out on these wonderful prizes so, make sure to join our Challenge.   Have a Great New Year and be safe, everyone!

Love Inspired Series: Once in a Lifetime Center Step Card---Join th Fun at our Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create and Higlighting Simon Says Stamp "You Have my Heart" New Release...

Hello Crafty Friends! It's another busy---soooo busy week for me so this is coming out a day late.  This is going to be a short and sweet post but want to take the opportunity to wish ya'll a BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!   I hope you join me in celebrating the true meaning of this season---the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  Though the exact day of His birth was not specifically revealed in His Word, we all know that He came to bear witness to the Truth (reality in God's perspective) as we see in John 1:18, "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known."  Because of God's great love for us, He had to send His Only Son to free us from the bondage of Sin and get us back into God's righteousness as stated in John 3:16, "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."  No amount of gifts or act of giving and commercialization of this season can come close to the Gift that our Father in Heaven gave us in the Person of His Son---JESUS CHRIST!  So, whatever you choose to do this season, as child of God and saved by His grace (Born-again, John 3:3), we are to share what Christ has done for us in every meeting and get together.  Along with our time with our families and friends across a wonderful meal and fellowship, let Him receive the glory!  Do not allow political correctness and tolerance to reduce our celebration to something worth absolutely nothing. Today, we have hope because the Messiah (Savior) came one faithful day---paid the price for our sins through the Cross and will one day come back to literally rule the world.  Everyone who placed their lives through faith in Him will take part in His rulership forever.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!  Leaving you with wonderful verses as to why we are to celebrate this wonderful season:

"We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."  (1 John 5:20)

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,  but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.  Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God." (1 Peter 1:18-21)

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,  who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory."  (Ephesians 1:13-14)

For our weekly Challenge at 613 Avenue Create, I used a wonderful image from one of our sponsors, Bugaboo Digi Stamps called "Puppy Girl" and colored it with my ProMarker/Prismacolors/Spectrum Noir markers.  The base is a white CS, cut and scored to make a 5. 5 inches center step design.  The DP's came from Recollections, the sparkly gems from Imaginisce, glitters from Stickles (Crystal), the awesome sentiment is from Stampabilities and for added dimension, I added some stitching.  The gorgeous "Heart Banner" is courtesy of Simon Says Stamp who sent me this beautiful wafer die to explore and make awesome projects.  I'm very impressed as it "cuts like butter" with the aid of my Cuttlebug.  All I did was to make 2 cuts using a burgundy CS and adhere them together for stability and strength and walah, an awesome banner for my girly girl card.  In the next few weeks, you will see more samples of this new release as highlighted by their DT's in their BLOG...I am grateful to be given the opportunity to try one.  God bless this wonderful company for their trust and generosity to share their products to avid Crafters like me.

                                           ONCE IN A LIFETIME CENTER STEP CARD:

                                      ONCE IN A LIFETIME CENTER STEP CARD LAYERS:

                                   ONCE IN A LIFETIME CENTER STEP CARD SIDE VIEW:

                                     ONCE IN A LIFETIME CENTER STEP CARD INSIDE:

                            ONCE IN A LIFETIME CENTER STEP CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:


This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Country View---Make a Scene
Crafts Galore---ATG
Crafting Musketeers---Use a Sentiment
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Crafty Time---ATG
Creative Craft---Add Sparkle
CCC---ATG
Digistamps4Joy---ATG
Doodle Pantry---ATG
Lia Stampz---ATG
Petal Lu---ATG
Your Scrapbook Place---ATG (I used a Bugaboo Image)
2 Crafty Girls---ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Love to Scrap---ATG
Not Just Cards---ATG
Our Crafty Corner---ATG/Winter
Paper Nest Dolls---ATG
Lacy Sunshine---ATG
Great Impressions---ATG
Allsorts---ATG but Christmas
Crafty Friends---ATG
Inkspirational---ATG but Christmas


There you have it, folks!  Don't miss the opportunity to join our Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  There's wonderful prizes awaiting the winners from our lovely sponsors for this week---Bugaboo Digi Stamps, Stamplorations and the Cutting Cafe.  Can't wait to see what fabulous projects you're going to highlight this week.  I hope you have a wonderful week and know that through faith in what Jesus accomplished through the Cross, we have complete victory always!