Challenge #113 - Anything Goes!

Welcome back to Word Art Wednesday.  It's a new year, and time for fun challenges, new sponsors with amazing prizes (see our sidebar for this year's sponsors), and lots of wonderful blessings from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We're so grateful to have you all participate in our challenges as we begin another great year creating art with the talents God has given to each of us.  Design Team Member, Diane Noble is sharing the following devotion with us this week based on our word art/scripture for this week which is from Job 38:7, and we hope it's a blessing to you!

The Book of Job, though nestled near the middle of the Old Testament, is the oldest book in our God-inspired Bible.  It's a must-read if you've never done so.  There are five principle personalities--Job, his three "friends", and of course, God.  One must take care when referencing Job; because the not-so-accurate advice rendered by Job's friends sounds right, but God steps in several times to refute their explanations for Job's intense suffering.  We are safe with our challenge verse, however.  God is speaking.  I love the thundering command with which God establishes the truth of the entire matter.  His monologue begins with a series of rhetorical questions to Job....

 

"Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm.  He said:
"Who is this that obscured my plans with words without knowledge? 
Brace yourself like a man; I will question you and you shall answer me.
Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?  Tell me if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions?  Surely you know.
Who stretched a measuring line across it?  Or where were its footings set?
Or who laid its cornerstone?
--while the morning stars sang together,
and the angels shouted for joy?"

Job 38:1-7 NIV

 

This is actually a reprimand to Job for his attempts to justify God's actions toward him.  He needed to learn that God needs no justification.  He doesn't require that we try to explain Him.  He requires that we surrender to Him, that we become devoted to Him, and that we love and serve Him regardless of life's circumstances.  But dig a little deeper.  There is spiritual food enough in this passage for numerous challenges.  I offer only one.  The picture God gives of sovereignty in creation is magnificent.  Look what happened as creation was taking place...the morning stars sand together, and the angels shouted for joy.  Many scholars believe that morning stars here refer to the angelic host.  My point here, not being a scholar, is that when God did an amazing new work - creation - all of heaven rejoiced.

 

Here we stand on the precipice of a new year - God will do something new in your life this year.  But since we don't know His mind, we can't project what that might be.  Eventually, Job humbles himself and bows to the sovereignty of God.  How will WE surrender this year?  Will we surrender while sulking?  Or will we rejoice, and sing like the angels and shine like the stars as we glorify Christ in all that we do?

 

Some of the most powerful testimonies ever shared come from God's children who have surrendered joyfully in the midst of trial and suffering.  God had to pull Job through a knot-hole backwards before he genuinely and thoroughly surrendered to God's sovereignty and wisdom.  I've often heard people say, "God will not give us more than we can bear".  This is so not true.  There is no place in scripture that even hints at that.  The Bible does tell us, however, that God will not allow us to be tempted without giving us an escape route (1 Corinthians 10:13).  But we are often overwhelmed by the circumstances of life.  Job came to a point of complete despair, wanting to die because of his condition.  Looks to me like he had more than he could bear!  So, if that statement is not true, what about God IS true?  What is evident when we read His Word?  God often allows us to come to the end of our endurance, like Job; and depend on His sovereignty, grace, mercy, help, comfort, and correction.  It is only when we come to the end of ourselves that we can fully surrender to God.  And when we do, we will shine like stars, sing like the heavenlies, and rejoice like the angels - for we know our God loves us faithfully, and will never let go of us!

As always, you are welcome to save this week's free scripture/word art file to your computer, but are not required to use it in order to play along in our challenges.   We welcome you share your art with us; remembering that Anything Goes as long as it's family-friendly, and uses an encouraging or uplifting sentiment. This includes any type of art (not just limited to cards).  You may link up to 5 projects each week. The more you enter, the more you increase your odds of winning.  It is our desire that God's Word will be a blessing and encouragement to you each week. If you have any questions about the rules, be sure to read the complete list of rules under our page tab for "Challenge Rules".  Because our ultimate goal is to honor God, we have no other choice but to delete any entries that do not adhere to these guidelines.  Let us know if you have any questions, and thanks for your understanding and participation!

Here are this week's beautiful scripture/word art files.

They are both from the lovely Daydream Designs

This week's awesome sponsors are:

One of our brand new sponsors for 2014 is
the ADORABLE Loves Rubber Stamps, and
you will LOVE their darling stamps.  One lucky
winner will receive a $10 Gift Certificate to
spend in their WONDERFUL shop!
AND

The super fun digi shop Milk Coffee Stamps
is offering anther lucky winner
five (5) of their ADORABLY SWEET images.

AND NOW, Here are last week's winners!

The winner of a $10 Gift Certificate to
the ADORABLE V's Sweet Ideas
is Entry #62 - NanaConnie

AND

The winner of 3 digital collections
from the AWESOME Daydream Designs
is Lucky Entry #27 - Elizabeth (Alshandra)
 

May God bless all our amazing sponsors.
We appreciate them all SO very much!

Here's some inspiration from our Design Team
 Our January Guest Designer, Jill Tiffany Dien
Using Scripture and Image from Daydream Designs

Our Fill-In Designer, Monica Taylor

Diane Noble

Lori Ulrich
No Art This Week

 Carole Robb Bisson

Laura Lunsford

Jo Ann Atterbury

Karen Letchworth
Card Using Scripture from Daydream Designs

Tag Using Sentiment from Daydream Designs