Focus on Jesus

O our God, will You not execute judgment on them? 

For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. 

We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You. 2 Chronicles 20:12

Hi Friends!
Today we are in 2 Chronicles 20 where Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, was told that the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites had declared war on him. And he got scared. Wouldn't you too? But his response wasn't to focus on the enemy and his circumstances. No, instead he immediately went straight to God. He also asked the people of Judah to fast. So nationwide, they sought the Lord. Incredible! How amazing to have a leader that led people directly to God in difficult times.

Jehoshaphat prayed before the people. He cried out to God with all of Judah and asked God to help them. And he ended the prayer with a thought I can SO relate to, "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You." Oh man, I can relate to Jehoshaphat's fear and not knowing what to do regarding big, scary things in life. I've read this chapter before, more than once. But in this reading, this sentence really stopped me. Maybe it's because of what's going on in America and the world right now. I don't know, but it so resonated with me. This reminds me to keep my focus on Him, to do what Jehoshaphat did. So, I'm adopting this sentence as a little prayer that I can send up anytime fear or worry starts to set in. I don't know what to do, Lord, but my eyes are on You. Yes and amen, y'all! Do you want to know how the story ends? They didn't even have to fight the battle! God, through Jahaziel, told them to march out against the army, but to just "stand still and watch the Lord's victory." (2 Chron 20:17) God caused the enemy armies to fight among themselves, not one of them escaped. Don't we have an awesome God? If He could do that for Jehoshaphat and Judah, just think how worthy He is to entrust with the circumstances of your life. Focus on Him, sweet friends, not your circumstances.

For the page, I used the following Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps sets: Capture This Moment, Healer of My Heart, Girl Power, and Your Story. I painted the back ground with acrylic paint. While that dried, I stamped the camera image on some sticker paper and then again on a post-it note to make a mask. Before I cut the mask out, I drew hands and arms so the girl could hold the camera. (They're a little wonky, I know. That's why I love stamps so much so I don't have to depend on my drawing skills!) Then I cut out the mask. I use post-it notes so it will stick where I want it and not move. Once the mask was placed, I stamped the girl, removed the mask, and drew in the hands/arms to match the masked area. I drew the frame freehand. I colored the image with alcohol markers, then cut it out to place it on the Bible page. I wrote my prayer out, and finished the page with a stencil and more acrylic paint.

Our hope is in Him, and no one else. Have a blessed week! Andrea

Do Others See Jesus?

If someone were to be constantly taking random snapshots of our lives, then lay them out as an album of our story, what would they see?  Would they consistently see Jesus through our lives?  What story would your life tell? 

A few years ago a woman came up to me in a church parking lot following a Bible study.  I'd taught Bible studies there for many years.  She was talking specifically about my teaching and was being very gracious and encouraging.  Then she told me something that really made me think. She recounted that she'd been under my teaching a number of times, and loved our studies together.  But something I'd said to her years ago was what really stuck in her head.  We were having a casual conversation apart from any church activity at all.  She was experiencing some difficult life experiences at the time.  She relayed something that I'd told her in that earlier conversation and she said she'd never forget it.  She'd forgotten some of the critical lessons of our Bible studies, but she would never forget what I'd said to her in a casual conversation.  She told me that it caused her to see herself in a whole new light, the light of Jesus.  She said for the first time in her life she could let go of who she'd been and embrace who she was.  THANKFULLY, I'd said something encouraging to her.  But our conversation in the church parking lot shook me a bit because I was riveted on how well, how clearly she remembered some casual, personal, one-on-one conversation from years earlier.  

That time, she saw Jesus in me.  But I got thinking about all the thousands of other conversations I had, interactions with others...family and friends...strangers...and I wondered if every conversation could be described the same.  I fear not.  Sometimes I think me least "seasoned" conversations might be with family.  Just think...our family members more than likely see the REAL album of our lives, not the church one.  It's a constant challenge to put Jesus before us rather than behind us when we are being the most real with those we know the best.

I certainly want other to see Jesus in every aspect of my life.  But having the character traits of Jesus requires measured discipline, and constantly having our witness and testimony on our minds.  It's not
a burden; reflecting Christ should be a joy, a privilege.  It's easier and better to extend grace than to be bitter.  It's more peaceful to be self-controlled than it is to be in a rage.  When we are faithful, we know that pleases God and that make us feel better.

I hope this post will be an exciting challenge...to live your life in such a way that others always see Jesus.  To think before speaking, to pray before acting...and to pay attention to the Spirit of God in us as we live out our lives.

I used the Sweet 'n Sassy stamps showcased below for this two-page spread.  The photo shots are stamped on designer paper then cut out and the words are just written on the page underneath.

 Capture This Moment and The Good News

Living Word and Exclamations

 

dianesdaydreamdesigns.blogspot.com

His Word Brightens My Day!

My usual style for Bible art-journaling leans toward softer colors, subtle designs.  I'm not too bold in my artwork.  I wanted to challenge myself to move out of my comfort zone and try some new background techniques. And I wanted to go BRIGHT.  I love the fact that you can never run out of new things to learn in the art form.  Plus, being in the Word of God to create is a delight as well.  I have two submissions to share for the post today.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 

 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

Hebrews 12:1-2 

I love this little passage in Hebrews 12 that provides so much encouragement for our Christian walk.  Sometimes we all struggle with our faith.  The promise implied in this verse that it is Jesus who grows our faith.  He initiates faith within the heart of the believer at conversion and He is the one who will see us through the trials and temptations of life.  Our responsibility is not to grow our faith, but to keep our eyes on Jesus...to stay focused on Him.

I decided to have fun with this page, go bold, and try some new things with watercolor paints.  I just started splashing swashes of paint across the page.  The I stamped on top of the paint when it had thoroughly dried.

I had to get even more brave for this second submission, but I used some techniques I'd used with my mixed media.

Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand. 

You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will take me into glory. 

 Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 

 My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart
    and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:23-26

I was inspired to do this verse when listening to a CD I recently purchased.  In short, it simply says that God is everything I need.  When I fail, when I am weak He is the strength of my heart, and He is sufficient for every need.  When this life is over, I will be taken to glory to be with Him and THAT fact is an encouragement for certain!

I scraped on acrylic paints thinned down a little with water.  I wanted the paint to remain transparent enough that I could still read the scripture through it.  I did all of the background first, then used heavy-bodies acrylic paint over a stencil to get the raised dots.  The heart is hand-drawn, and the flowers and butterflies are rub-ons.  While the page is typically not my style I really like it.  It makes me happy to see it in my Bible. 

Here's a list of the stamp sets I used for the pages shown:

 God is Good (left) and Capture This Moment (right). 

 All Your Heart

 Give Praise (left) and My Comforter (right)

His Name

 

**Smile**……..CLICK!

Hello, Creative Worshipers!  Hope you are enjoying the beautiful fall weather we have been having…and the beautiful colors of autumn.  What a masterful creator our God is!

I hope you have also had a chance to check out two of Rebecca's adorable new stamp sets, Capture This Moment and Living Water.  I just love her whimsical style and the fact that these sets can be used for card making as well as for Bible Journaling.

This card was made with some happy fall colors of distress ink, some washi tape by Illustrated Faith, and Capture This Moment, Mini Critters, and the Hearts & Stars Scallop Border Die Set.   Doesn't it just make you want to SMILE! 

The Living Water stamp set is perfect for illustrating so many verses of scripture and know that I will be reaching for this set over and over again, but the verse I chose to illustrate for today is in Exodus 14 where God parted the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to pass over on dry land in order to protect them from Pharaoh.

Sometimes, out of fear, we stay camped out in the same familiar place…afraid to move ahead.  It is very easy for me to want to remain comfortable.  As we take a step of faith and move forward, God goes with us!  

My pastor preached from this verse of scripture not long ago so a tip in was created and added to this page to remember some of his main points.

We must not allow the enemy of our soul keep us in 

~the camp of bitterness

~the camp of unforgiveness

~the camp of depression

~the camp of lethargy

~the camp of easy street!

What has God been asking you to do?

Move forward in order to reach the Promised Land, and remember…you will not be alone!

The stamp sets used to create this page include Living Water, Classy Script Alpha, All of Me Alpha, and What's Up?

Be sure to check out these stamp sets and others at the 

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store.

Until next time…get into the word, and let the word get into you!

Have a wonderful, leaf crunching fall day!

Hugs,

Cathy

Focus on Jesus

"...He (Jesus) came to them, walking on the sea." 

Matthew 14:25 (parenthesis added by me)

"...And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus." Matthew 14:29

Happy Thursday, Sweet 'n Sassy Friends!

Can you imagine what it must have been like to see Jesus walking on water coming towards you? Scripture tells us in Matthew that the disciples were terrified. I bet that would have been my response too! Jesus immediately reassured them that it was Him and that they shouldn't be afraid. And then, Peter spoke up. Ya gotta love Peter! He wanted to walk on water too! Jesus told him to come, and he did- he walked on water...until he took his eyes off Jesus. Matthew 14:30 says, "But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" (Emphasis added by me.) While Peter was focused on Jesus, he could walk on water. When he took his eyes off Jesus, he began to sink. So that's a lesson for us too!

Walking on water for us can be anything we're uncomfortable doing, anything that seems impossible, anything we've never done before. It can be a little thing or a big thing. But we can do it by focusing on Him and relying on His strength. And you know what? If we do take our eyes off Him and start to sink, He's there to keep us afloat just like He kept Peter from sinking.

The stamps primarily used for this page are being featured tomorrow! (And one of the stamps used is from a set being featured next week.) It's fun to get a sneak peek! The set is called Living Water. I love this set! There are so many verses and passages it is appropriate for. 

Focus on Him, my friends. Have a blessed week! Andrea