Rest, You're in Good Hands

How lovely is your dwelling place,

O LORD Almighty.

I long, yes, I faint with longing

to enter the courts of the LORD.

with my whole being, body and soul,

I will shout joyfully to the living God.

Even the sparrow finds home there,

and the swallow builds her nest

and raises her young----

at a place near your alter,

O LORD Almighty, my King and my God!

How happy are those who can live in your house,

always singing your praises.

Psalm 84:1-4 NLT

 

I love the imagery these verses painted in my head.  The Psalmist longs to be in the house of the Lord, so much so that he envies the sparrows and swallows that built their nests in the eves of the tabernacle.  These birds have found safety to raise their young in God's house, more-so than in the wilderness. 

How wise we would be, if we followed the example of the birds who build their homes and raise their young near the alter of God.  We can find peace and comfort when we nestle in close to the Father.  We can find rest in the nail-scarred hands of Jesus. 

Page Details:

 I started this page by masking off the limb and stamping one of the birds on the page from the Beautiful Birds set.  I found a photograph of a hand online and printed it the size I thought it needed to be to hold my little bird.  I added some line detail to the hand picture and placed it behind my bible page and adjusted the placement, until I was happy with it.  Then I traced the lines I had made on the picture on to my bible page.  I added a nest for the bird to sit in and used watercolor to color in the image. I decided I wanted to add color to the back ground, so I used watercolor to smoosh all over the page.  I really, REALLY over-wet this paper!  I added color, then dried and added more...several times.  I stamped the title using the Art Deco Alpha and words from the Bitty Mini Alpha and Women of Praise sets.  When I finished that, I felt like my page needed something on the right.  I remembered seeing Amy White, who is also on the design team, do this nifty trick of stamping on vellum and using it to create reverse images of your stamps.  So, I could have the same bird stamp facing the opposite way!  Yay!  Thank you, Amy!  So I stamped out the image and colored it and glued it on to my page.  

I love how it came out and it's such a lovely reminder to seek and find rest in the hands of the Lord.

Until next time, catch up with me on Instagram @simplyjillsjourney.

Jill 

 

 

More Valuable than Birds

Hey Friends!

How's everyone doing?  I pray you are all safe and well.  I know so many people who have been consumed with anxiety and fear over the past several weeks.  I admit, I have had times when fear has crept in to my mind as well.  Many of our lives have been completely transformed by impacts from the coronavirus.  We are concerned about our health and the health of our loved ones, about our jobs and finances, and we are all adjusting to the new normal of social distancing.  Many people are stockpiling supplies and food and we are encouraged to wear masks and gloves when we go out of the house.

The times we are living in is surreal and uncertain, but the Bible tells us over and over again, to "fear not".  Jesus addresses anxiety and worry in this way to his disciples:

 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For there is more to life than food, and more to the body than clothing. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds! And which of you by worrying can add an hour to his life? So if you cannot do such a very little thing as this, why do you worry about the rest?"

Luke 12:22-26 

When you feel anxious, turn to the Word of God for comfort.  God holds us all in the palm of His hand and knows the outcome of this pandemic before it began.  He will use this for His glory.  I am praying you all find peace and rest in the Father's presence and in the knowledge that if he looks after the birds, he will certainly look after you.

Page Details:
I did a simple watercolor background for my page.  I stamped out this lovely bird from the new Beautiful Birds set on watercolor paper, colored it in and adhered it to the page.  I stamped my title using Print Blocks Alpha, Bitty Mini Alpha, and Skinny Mini Alpha. 

Until next time, catch up with me on Instagram @simplyjillsjourney.

XOXO,

Jill