Be Steadfast

Hi! It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week we're focusing on 1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable; always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." In this verse, Paul is encouraging his fellow believers to remain true to the Lord and to keep working for Him. So often, when we are trying to serve the Lord, whether in formal ministry or just in day-to-day life, it's easy to get discouraged. Maybe we don't see any obvious results or maybe we are being criticized or even persecuted for what we are doing. When we are not seeing results, we need to remember that it's our job to be faithful and the results are up to the Lord. If we are being criticized or persecuted, that's a time to be like the Early Church leaders who rejoiced "that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." (Acts 5:41)

Our focus verse this week ends with a great encouragement, "that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." Our Lord keeps meticulous records. He knows everything we do (good or bad) down to the smallest detail. If we are serving Him, even when no one else notices or appreciates it, God does see it. Our labor for Him is never in vain. So let's be encouraged and remain steadfast and unmovable and keep working for Him.

One of our great sponsors this week is Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  I used the Peaceful Swans Digi Set on my card today.  This week's card is my take on an old Mojo Monday Sketch from last December (MOJO377). As usual, I changed it up a little to make it mine but I really like taking inspiration from a good sketch.

 The swan and her surroundings were colored with Copics. After die cutting the image, the water was "colored" with a Versamarker and covered with clear embossing powder. This gives the water a shiny appearance. I like using the Versamarker because it allows such a controlled way to apply the embossing ink.

The swan image is popped up off the card with foam squares.  The entire front panel is popped up off the card base by a large piece of craft foam.  The interior has a large die cut for the writing spot.

Tip for Top Tip Tuesday: When trying to stretch your supplies by using scraps, don't be afraid to cut smaller mats out of the middle of larger ones.  The layers on top will cover where you cut out the pieces and those supplies will last longer.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (teal)
Patterned Paper: Recollections (Aqua Dot, Teal Paisley)
Digi Stamps: WORDart by Karen (1 Corinthians 15:58); Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Peaceful Swans)
Copics: N0, 1, 3; BG000, 01, 05; B000, Colorless Blender
Tools/Embellishments: VersaMarker, Stampin' Up embossing powder (Crystal Clear), Creative Memories journaling marker (black), My Favorite Things Die-namics (Blueprints 1), Spellbinders dies (Classic Squares Large and Samll, Petite Scalloped Circles Large, Standard Circles Large), ribbon (Offray), rhinestones (The Paper Studio), ribbon slide and metal corner accent are from a prize pack I received so I'm unsure of the brand

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #211 - What do you do to relax (I love to sit by a lake and watch the birds on the water - stress seems to melt away)
Inky Chicks Challenge #54 - Use a metal embellishment (my corner piece and the ribbon slide are metal)
Top Tip Tuesday - Bingo Challenge (I chose the middle column - heat embossing on the water, sentiment and a total of 6 dies were used)
Crop Stop Linky Party #6 - Use something found in the Crop Stop Store (VersaMarker)
Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes
Mod Squad Challenge - Use a winged creature on your card
Work it Wednesday - Use Die Cuts (I have 6 on my card)

I hope you'll be able to visit the Word Art Wednesday blog to see the projects from the rest of the Design Team and to get your free digi. Thanks so much for spending some time with me today.