Needing More and More of Jesus

Delight yourself in the Lord

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4 (ESV)

What is the highest desire of your heart?  Sometimes our best desires get covered over with our busy, hectic lives and we neglect our greatest need.  As women, we spend so much time nurturing others that we often forget that we need nurturing too.  We've all longed for a day at the spa...where we are totally pampered.  I remember years ago, spending way too much money (I thought) on a massage...and the relaxation lasted until I drove in the traffic again on my way home.  So much of what we do to delight ourselves simply doesn't last.  Life hits full force and we are drained all too soon. 

There is a delight that lasts.  Our delight in the Lord never ceases because who he is never changes, never wanes, never disappears.  As we come into his presence for the refreshment he renews our minds, bodies and spirits and that energy lasts.  Even we life drains us, we find within us a reserve that is supernatural.  He comes from the resurrection power that resides inside our spirit.  

I have a great need of Jesus.  My life, my joy depend on him.  I love that God even puts that desire for him within us. "For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose." (Philippians 2:13)  Isn't that incredible.  I have to confess that I have remarked to my husband at times, "I love you forever, but I'm not liking you very much right now."  Am I the only one?  Feelings are fickle.  But the desire that we have for God come from him...so it will always be in our hearts.  Circumstances may fuel our desire to be in the Lord's presence but that desire will always be there because God has deposited it...and what God does in and through us cannot be altered.  

What's even more amazing is that God delights over us!  I loved the thought in the 100 Days of Bible Promises journal by Illustrated Faith underlined on this page. "As you give Him your heart, He sings back to yours."  Oh, believer....let that beautiful picture soak into your spirit.  The God of the universe delights to sing over you.   I think that is why I need him so much.  I need his unconditional love, his strength...I need his forgiveness, mercy, grace and compassion.  He is everything I need, he is all I need to live.  

All I need is Jesus...because he is the only one who can truly satisfy this heart of mine.  He crafted my heart and he knows exactly what I need, what delights me.  I'm so very grateful that he designed me to want more and more of him!

Design Details:

This was an incredibly simple page to create.  I used the Girl Power printable as a sticker for the girl image.  The rest is stamped...flowers and words.  All the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps sets are listed below.  I used acrylic paint and dipped the end of a pencil eraser in the paint to make the painted confetti.  

Bitty Blossoms

Bitty Minnie Alpha

 Skinny Minnie Alpha

 Cold Coffee Alpha

Holy Spirit Power

"...he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according  to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:5-7

When I receive my new stamps in the mail I first begin by looking to my Bible for key words or phrases that fit each set. The new Holy Spirit stamp this month is one that really got me digging into my Bible a little deeper and reading passages that I have seemingly overlooked. I love this passage from Titus it is a beautiful description of how our lives become transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

To create this page in my Bible I used the Holy Spirit stamp and those adorable Girl Power printables. I first began by enlarging the girl that closely resembles myself then I traced the image onto the Bible page. I finished it by inking and watercoloring the girl to make my own personal image that represents me. For the design on my girls shirt I used washi tape, alternating patterns to create the striped affect. I also traced the sentiment 'My girl power comes from the Lord' in the same way I traced the girl. I love how both these printables and stamp totally fit and work together. I stamped the Holy Spirit stamp towards the top in my favorite Staz On black ink, added a tab, washi and a few floral stickers to tie the whole page together.

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading my post I can't wait to share with you again next month!

Love and prayers,

Jenn (Creativegurl85)

Not a Mean Girl!

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 

1 Peter 2:1

Friends,

Mean girls are all around us. In fact, if I'm honest, I used to be one (and sometimes, still am one!) But God calls us to be better than that. He calls us to stop getting mired down in jealousy and anger and gossip and hypocrisy and comparing, and instead rise up and act in a way that draws others to Him. To shine His Light. We can't do this in our own strength, but only in His. So let's make an intentional effort every morning to be God's Light in this hurting world. Pray that He will work through us, even in spite of us, each day. We may not be able to fix the world, but we can impact where we live. We can be the kind girls. And that's pretty cool!

Now for page details, Sweet n Sassy Stamps released the Girl Power printables which I have fallen in love with! I loved the look of seeing the Scripture through the printables, but as a personal choice, I don't like to cover Scripture where I can't read it. So, I copied the Bible page I wanted to journal onto white card stock. I then placed the girls on top of the copy and cut around them to make a tip-in. I matched the words on the copy up with the words on the Bible page and used washi tape to adhere the tip in to the page. I got the look I wanted, but can fold the tip-in down so that I can still read the Scripture! Win-win!

I used the following Sweet n Sassy Stamps sets: Girl Power Printables, Skinny Minnie Alpha, Mini Grunge Type Alpha, and Whimsy Bouquet.

Have fun being the kind girl! Andrea

Keep Each Other Believing!

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” 

that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  Hebrews 13:3

I listened to a small audio sermon today.  Dr. Vernon McGee sure doesn't mince words.  He comes straight to the point about most doctrinal issues and issues of the heart.
Well, today as he called me "friend" there on the old radio broadcast, my heart was broken.  Oi…I like when my heart is "touched" or "moved," but I rarely like to have it broken.  Who knew that an oldie like McGee could send convicting messages into the future!?
 

This portion of scripture is not just about being a "friend" to another.  It's not mainly about coming together as a church body and worshiping the Lord on a given Sunday.  It's not about visiting a local church every Easter and Christmas service.  It's not about attending a Ladies' Tea event once a year and coming away with a powerful sense of femininity.  These types of things are "touching," but something goes a bit deeper here: rest for the human soul.

Using distress inks to
add to the background

As a part of the team of Sweet 'n' Sassy Stamps, I am given this amazing chance to "vocalize" my love for Jesus, and speak of His movement in my life.  I get to use the blog as a platform to help others in their creative journey!  I love this; I feel this is a good part of my ministry!
As a part of the family of Christ, though, I'm given an even more amazing opportunity to help my sisters (and brothers, if they're reading) to encounter rest and joy in Jesus everyday, all day long! 

Prepping a background
with distress inks
and my stamping block

It's my turn to call you "friend."  And friend, as a Christian, if you are not able to find the "rest" as is promised to you once you find Jesus, the Bible says there's a heart issue of unbelief.  Unbelief of the good news that you have heard of Jesus' death and resurrection for you; unbelief of what God is capable of doing with you and for you in your life; unbelief that regardless of what you have done, Christ is your sin covering, your Mediator, your Redeemer.  Unbelief that now, as a follower of the One who died to bring you rest, you cannot live in sin. 

What does this mean for us?  Well, if you know someone who is living in sin (adultery, stealing, cheating, lying, etc.), you have a responsibility to "exhort" her/him to believe what God has done.  There is no way she/he can have a contented life or incur God's blessing while living a life of blatant disobedience.  Help them, friend!  Exhort this person - TODAY - to turn away from this hardness of heart that keeps her/him from entering the "promised land!"  

If you are the someone living in unbelief, and you are hiding in your sin, I want to exhort you, "while it is called 'today,'" to hear God's voice calling you out of your sinful lifestyle.  There is a reason why God provides the "body" of believers; we NEED others to help us, lift us up, pull us away, bring us back to the "belief" of Christ and the gospel!  Surround yourself with people that will help you pray, listen to God's voice, and be accountable! 

Today, I encourage you to face that sister-in-Christ about her sin problem.  Today, I encourage you to bless a sister-in-Christ with the chance to pray for you about your sin problem. We need to keep each other believing!  The bible says, "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."  Ecclesiastes 4:12

We are meant to help each other, defend each other, stand together!

Much Love,

Deeds

IG: @mrcfuldeeds2010
Youtube: mrcfuldeeds

This little bundle of goodness is a promo for upcoming "goodies" 

(stamps with all the ladies you see here!!).  YAY!!

Seek the Lord and Live

Seek the Lord and live. Amos 5:6

Friends,

Amos 5 repeatedly tells us to "seek God and live" (verses 4, 6, 14). Of course, when Amos wrote this, he was speaking to Israel. What he was telling them was to seek God, not in the false worship they were guilty of, but in humility and righteousness. That message is true for you and me too. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 to seek His kingdom first. How do we do that? We intentionally pursue God. How can we do that?

• Romans 12:2, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (How do we renew our minds?)
• Colossians 3:2, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." (What are the things above?)
• Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things."

When we seek Him, and give Him ourselves, we are given eternal life. So, seek Him and live. And, sisters, let's help each other seek Him. Let's build each other up in Him. Because...He. Is. Everything.

For the page, I was SO excited to get to use Sweet n Sassy Stamps' new Girl Power Printable. It has 10 (yes 10!!) adorable girls as well as words/phrases. When you buy the bundle, you get a PDF as well as the individual PNG files! And this printable is a hint of things to come!! I also used Teeny Alpha, one of the sets released this month, and an oldie but goodie- Scribble Flowers. The background was done by scraping acrylic paint across the page. And I used a Micron pen for the thought bubble.

Have a blessed week! Andrea