How Good is this Friday? Christmas Challenge/Friday smiles

 Sharing today a card challenge - at Scrappy Mo's here - Christmas card time, open till 31st. 
Firstly however - How good is this Friday??
Simple answer – very, very good! or to use another verse:"He hath made everything beautiful in His time:.." Eccles. 3:11a 
Why is it Good ?         We often associate with good, that it is something pleasant too, but it is not always! This is THE main exception to the rule. 
On Good friday the greatest Gift was given (see post here):

The blood of Jesus Christ cleanesth us from all sin. I John 1:9b .. this text hangs in our lounge room

 

 1 Peter2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Both these verses are pictured in the communion service as we remember His body given for us (in fulfillment of Psalm 34:20
"He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.", see image below) not a bone of his body was broken, his bones weren't broken but his body was.. it was pierced, by nails & sword.. only scars in heaven!

Amazing miracle of God's WORD and His Faithfulness - over 30 Old Testament prophecies fulfilled when Jesus died upon the cross on this day, so many years ago! (Image from Chick tract - Creator or Liar here)

 On the cross the LORD Jesus spoke seven times .. and after His death miracles occurred (sharing them on Resurrection Day - Sunday).

The Gospels record these things, The four gospels if read in parallel, you can see different writers shared different aspects through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 
(eg Luke looks at Jesus' humanity as I will share below, so differing viewpoints recorded).

I have copied this from Wikipedia here ... but have included the passages completely in the relevant gospel sections below this post for your perusal.

"Luke 23:34: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

Luke 23:43: Verily, I say unto you, today you will be with me in paradise.

John 19:26–27: Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother. 

Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34 My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?

John 19:28: I thirst.

John 19:30: It is finished. (From the Greek "Tetelestai" which is also translated "It is accomplished", or "It is complete".)-It is Finished. 

Luke 23:46: Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit.

Traditionally, these seven sayings are called words of 1. Forgiveness, 2. Salvation, 3. Relationship, 4. Abandonment, 5. Distress, 6. Triumph and 7. Reunion."

Cards for Mo's challenge - Tree Die is a CCD, top Embossing folder is Spellbinders, one on second card is Ultimate crafts. CCD also used on both Digital bible verses. 
It shares the promise of Christmas fulfilled on Good Friday .. of a newborn  Son, Jesus .. He shall save His people from their sins..

 Now to Annie's Friday Smiles.. see over here - your Aussie shots for today. Top one taken on icecream drive, poor quality shot, but lovely time was enjoyed, loved the seagulls swarming on sand, or just flying away for no apparent reason, in large groups.
Shot below was taken on late afternoon walk, daylight saving ends tomorrow so they will be earlier each day..

Thanks to all of you who pop over so faithfully for a peek and chat.
I pray this post might bless your heart as richly or even more so than it did mine.
We are so blessed in Him!
With love and prayer for God's richest blessing upon each of you, in Jesus' precious Name, above all Names,
Shaz in Oz.x  

Linking up to:
1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au/

 2. Simon says Wednesday challenge.. anything goes.   http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/     

 For further reflection: passages which look at the Lords seven sayings, in parallel.

Some people say the scriptures can be conflict, eg. the saying of the centurion. Three Gospels  say "Surely this was this Son of God!", when he saw the earthquake and other supernatural events.

But Luke says "Surely this was a righteous man." 
But both are right you see.. Jesus indeed was righteous and a man and also the Son of God.
I'm sure in those  hours of darkness to 3pm the centurion spoke more than once .. so why not both them. 
God's word is true .. it is man that confuses it! The theological term is evidence of the Hypostatic union - God/man. our Saviour.. 

He knew the frailty of human flesh .. hence "I thirst". 

He knew the desolation of separation hence:

 "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" 
... when He bore our sins .. the sins of all mankind upon the cruel tree.

Matthew 27:46,50 
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,
*** Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
[50] Jesus, when he had cried again with a **loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

Mark 15 :33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, ***Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
 

Luke 23:34,43,46 KJV
Then said Jesus,
*** Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
[43] And Jesus said unto him, ***Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
[46] And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said,
***Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

John 19:,l27-28,30 KJV
[27] Then saith he to the disciple,
***Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
[28] After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith,
***I thirst.
[30] When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, 

*** It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Butterfly Challenge - Twofer Challenge

Hi everyone, dont die of shock second post in less than four days - when was four weeks silence before that!
However, I must join up with two dear friends' challenges - *Mrs A at Butterfly challenge and *Darnell at the Twofer! Didn't manage either of last time, but these options are easier!

Here 'tis!

 Over at the Twofer it's blossoms, Butterfly it's as shown on wheel .. did all but lace!

So did Lavender, Lemon, Light Blue, Layers, and Letters and of course Butterflies! On the Twofer, the items used on both cards were:
1. Blossoms from MB Lavish Branch (very tedious cutting them, in first card they're inside the butterflies) 2. CCD Stitched Flag Dies, 3. Butterfly Punch, 4. Corner rounder punch, 5. Bling same one on both  6. Snippets, except for two bases all else snippets (but playground shut at minute), 7. same DP was used on both, and two different occasions too!

 "Thanks" is from CB Olivia Alphabet set Disc. the "blessed to know you" set below is by MB. EF is Crafts Too.

To peek over at Twofer Challenge - see here ... and the Spin The Butterfly Challenge - see here!

 Now to the Aussie shots... it is pineapple time again. There were two pineapples ripening, I missed out on one as a bird ate it while I was away end of Feb, found top but that was it. Should've picked it before I went, but thought it wasn't ripe enough. This one was small, see my thonged toe on left lower corner, but oo-oooh so sweet, yummo! Best ever!
Centre leaf is lying on the ground, you test if pineapple is ripe by pulling centre leaf. If it comes out cleanly it is ready to eat. Still left it two or three days extra inside though.

Beach shot for those going through withdrawals!! yes, am swimming still though not in that big surf. I go where it is safe, that is too messy for me. Rips plus!

May God bless you in your day wherever you may be, and thanks so very much for all your kind encouragement.

Shaz in Oz.x 

Linking up to:
1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au/
2. At Simon Says Wednesday challenge - Floral Frenzy both qualify for that!   http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/    

Stampscapes Meets Black Ice Technique + WOYWW.

Well, very sorry indeed for lo-o-ooong silence from Downunder. Things have been incredibly busy thus far in 2018, it shows no sign of slowing. Still making cards, just not blogging! (Am sure 2018 is short-changed on its length of each day! Will probably do a whole lot of catch up eventually - so many unshared cards.)
(For WOYWW, as tis Wednesday, pop over to Julia’s Stamping Ground!)

This Black Ice technique I first heard about over in the playground, (See here!). Guest designer, Kathy of the Purple Princess Diaries shared her card with it and Kathy also linked to this Video here!

Anyways.. I just couldn’t start simple and use a single image, like most others! I mean easy-peasy!!! NO! I just had to jump into the deep end and do this slippery technique as a scene, inking up with Stampscapes. Now a scene with multiple stamps on on slippery sheet of silver is not for the faint-hearted. If I'd not had a cheap source of silver cardstock (bought in poster size sheets for few dollars from the newsagent or cheap shop) I would’ve quit. But thankfully I did have such a source here in Oz ... also this was a special card for my darling dad’s 89th!
So persevering was aim of game!

 Am happy with technique, finally... One thing puzzled me though - why nearly everyone did their cards in funereal colours, black, silver and grey?
Liked the combo, and could see its purpose, but very drab for dad’s birthday.

I was determined to try another colour slant... so took out some stencils, I dry embossed the stencil then inked it up with DI Oxides.
I do like them now, wasn’t sure at first. They’re great on stencils. Also I bought the Distress glaze to seal Oxides. **Unless you want waterproof work, don’t waste pennies. A good hairspray works just as well and to be honest with stencils you don’t get the chalk residue .. or I didn’t with these colours.
Also the glaze needs to be refrigerated if you’re in high temps with humidity like we have at present. I overdosed my piece, sadly, rather a waste. Just polish off excess. I had ordered it before had the hairspray brainwave (at night, as you do)! It’s an excellent sealant.

Inky colours on stencil were Faded Jeans, Blue China and Green Pistachio DI Oxides, mixed and blended. Stencil is Darkroom Door "Mesh", small one but I extended it as wasn’t deep wide enough. (Bugs me the way things are based around US sizes even for Australian product like Darkroom Door. Guess it’s market population.) Used DI sponge applicators, washed the foam out after use - that way you don’t need one for every Ink you own. Nice, VERY! but not practical nor economical.

The next card was for my uncle's 82nd Birthday so used the Penny Black Terraced Lane - one of scene ones. Stamped in Versafine. Used ink dusters + dye inks, happy birthday is again Lawn Fawn, stamped with Versafine.

The piece on the right is a small coke can, FIRST die cut with SB Deckled rectangle die, and then dot EF dry embossed, inked with various Alcohol inks.

Now to the Aussie shots .. not by me, by another very clever family photographer. All are up at Cathedral Rocks - see here!

A Skink above, one of Scale tale lizards. Below a Scarlet Robin.
Gorgeous ... God's creation is quite breathtaking to see!

Thanks so much for popping over for a peek, especially if you stay for a chat!

May God bless your day wherever you maybe!

Shaz in Oz.x 

Joining up with following challenges: 
http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com.au/2018/03/pixies-snippets-playground-challenge-322.html
Word Art Wednesday - anything goes    http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com.au  
PBSC March - Anything Goes...Optional Easter or Chocolate Brown - More Inspiration! 

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=11899   Road trip - second card - PB Terraced Lane.