Introduction & Testimony

Good Morning!  My name is Jamie McNamara and WOW what a humbling experience this has been, being asked by Korin to guest create for Creative Worship.  I am truly honored.  A little bit about me- I am a stay at home mom of 3 kiddos, Regan is 14 a freshman and a swimmer, Brenna is 11 and a competitive cheerleader and my son Everett is 10 plays competitive soccer and LOVES yo yo's!  My husband and I just celebrated our 15 year anniversary!!! Praise God!

My Bible journaling journey began in August 2015 when I committed to an organized Bible study.  I had recently been through one of the lowest points in my life and was coming up on the year anniversary of hitting rock bottom.  I suffer from severe depression and anxiety and in Sept. 2014,  I was hospitalized for wanting to take my own life.  Fast forward to August 2015, the Bible study I finally said YES to had been recommended by a friend 2 previous times/ years prior, this was the 3rd.  I believe in all my heart this was God reaching out to me & I was finally listening!  To familiarize myself with the Bible, I started looking into Bible journaling.  This has been the greatest gift God has given me, on this journey of faith.  Bible journaling has strengthened my faith & brought me closer to God than I ever have been.

I recently met a member of this community, she happens to live here in Denver, we got together to journal.  She strongly felt I should get my story out there and share- I now believe God speaks to us in ways we may not understand but we need to LISTEN.  I am listening and putting it all out there!!!

The two pages I am posting today were completed using Creative Worship stamp sets: His Book & Perfect Faith (also pieces of Amazing God & Decorative Banners). 

I am at a point in my life that I want to follow God blindly in faith and truly accept that His plan is infinitely bigger than mine could ever be. That being said- this journey I am on is a new one and I have A LOT to learn! Who better to teach me than the Lord himself? This page started out COMPLETELY different than how it turned out- this was such a frustrating page for me. What I learned is when in doubt: use acrylics to cover up mistakes 😊 I also learned that perfection is impossible, sometimes you have to go to plan B and even though this isn't my favorite page I can still find things I love about it! The tab is my fave! So with all of that said- I believe God lead me & taught me a thing or two.
His Book

When you're examining your conscious it can be a pretty fearful place to be.  During this time of Lent it is what I am doing- the thing is, I shouldn't be afraid.  Fear takes us to places that God does not want us to be.  God wants us to know we are loved unconditionally and forgiven- even when we have a hard time forgiving ourselves.  My depression and anxiety is the scariest place for me to be, I carry a lot of guilt with it and I can get sucked in and feel trapped.  When you've suffered for so long it's easy to let fear take over.  It is during these times I have learned to look to scripture.  How wonderful is it that God has our back and that we can trust that our Faith can be bigger than our fear?
Perfect Faith

If this post speaks to one of you, and touches you in a way to inspire & uplift you- I am doing God's will.  Much peace and love be with you all!

Love,
Jamie