It is well

Hey there! Happy June 1st! ...bet you know what that means...our new stamps launch today for preorder. We have some beauties this month including a new designer that just joined  the team. Hop on over to the SHOP and check out the new releases then come on back and I will share a page I created in my Bible using the Hymn blocks set.

I used distress inks to create a soft background using the colors salty ocean, peacock feathers and mustard seed. I stamped the amazing lettering design from Hymn word art using StazOn black ink. Towards the bottom of the page I pulled in the He is Risen stamp set and used the crown of thrones, crosses stamp and the word hallelujah. I stamped the crown using the distress inks...it bled really bad so if you don't love that I recommend putting gesso down on your page before you start. I colored in the rolling hills with a touch of watercolor, and added a couple tabs and pieces of washi to complete the page.

Colossians 2:13-15 "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him."

The hymn "It is well" was written by Horation Spafford, he was a very prominent and profitable Chicago lawyer who owned many properties and had a beautiful family four girls and one boy. His life was blessed! However, just as he was becoming more successful tragedy struck and his son passed away, then the Chicago fire destroyed nearly all his investments. A few years later he decided to treat his wife and daughters to a much-needed escape and sent them on a boat trip to Europe. He had plans to join them after he finished up his business. Just a few short days later he received a telegram from his wife "saved alone".  All four of his daughters had perished at sea. It was while crossing the same waters that stole away his daughters that he penned the hymn.

I loved learning more about the beautiful tragic story behind this hymn. It can be easy to love God and see the good when life is rosy and we are feeling blessed, but what comes out of our mouths when life turns upside down? Do we grumble? Do we lift our voices in praise and thanksgiving? That can be such a struggle! Are you in a pit, are you struggling? Lift up your eyes to our Father, He is still on the throne! Praise him for the gift of salvation and the hope of a future you have, then like Job watch what God does. I highly recommend sitting back and letting the words soak into your soul...It is Well

Thanks so much for popping in I hope you found this encouraging and uplifting!
Love and prayers!
Jenn @creativegurl85

He is Risen!

He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Matthew 28:6a

Hello Friends!

Our Savior is risen! And since we have the whole story in the Bible, we understand what happened. But, can you imagine what Jesus' friends and disciples were thinking as they experienced His death and resurrection? Yes, He had told them what was to come. But they didn't understand. They didn't have our hind-sight. And they had their own expectations and assumptions of what Jesus was there to do.

So imagine...imagine that the Man you had followed and learned from and loved, the Man you had dropped everything for and devoted your life to, was killed. He was arrested, beaten and whipped horribly, and then crucified- an awful death. And you saw it all. Can you imagine watching a loved one endure that? I can't. You're broken. You're desperately sad. You're disillusioned. You're alone. You really can't comprehend what just happened.

His body is taken down from the cross and prepared for burial. He was laid in the tomb and a huge stone was rolled against the entrance. It was over. Jesus was gone. You thought you'd never see Him again. Your expectations and assumptions of what and who Jesus was were dashed. Can you imagine?

After the Sabbath, early in the morning, you go to His tomb, and WHAT??!! The stone is rolled away and an angel is sitting on it? How do you respond to that? Can you imagine what those women were feeling and thinking?

And then the angel speaks. He tells you not to be afraid. He tells you that Jesus is risen. He tells you to tell the disciples and that you will see Jesus in Galilee. What does this all mean? Could it really be true? Can you imagine?

Our God is such a big God that He can do the unimaginable. It was true. Jesus rose from the dead. HE IS ALIVE! And because He is alive, we can have eternal life. Thank You, Lord! He is the Giver of life, the Forgiver of sins, the Redeemer of anyone who comes to Him. He is our glorious God. He, and only He, deserves all praise. Let us be grateful and joyous in this Easter season. He is alive!

Page details: I used a new set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps called He is Risen. I LOVE this set! I made the tomb mosaic by drawing different shapes with a Micron pen. I also used watercolor crayons and Prismacolor pencils.

Have a blessed week! Andrea

All the Time

"The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made." Psalm 145:9

Hi Sweet Friends,

The first time I saw the stamp set that I used for this set, the "all the time" stamp just stood out to me. It made me immediately think of the quote from "God's Not Dead", "God is good all the time; and all the time, God is good." That quote really stuck with me. But I had to ask myself if I truly believed it. Is God good ALL THE TIME? We often hear people ask, "If God is good, then why did (fill in the blank) happen?" I can't answer why bad things happen other than the fact that we live in a fallen world. But I can answer with a resounding YES! that God is good ALL THE TIME. Why can I say that? Because God IS goodness.

We live in a dark world. When we're told a family member has cancer...when we lose a job...when we're going through tough times and the enemy is trying to bring us down, that's when we have to reach deep down to what we know and declare that God is good no matter what. It's not about how we feel, it's about what we know. And we can KNOW it because....

• Psalm 34:8, "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him."
• Psalm 107:1, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."
• Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
• Isaiah 55:8-9, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the Lord, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."
• Psalm 119:68, "You are good, and what You do is good; teach me Your decrees."
• 2 Peter 1:3, "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness."

And these are just a few verses that speak to God's goodness! We can KNOW that God is good because the Bible tells us He is. The Bible is Truth, Absolute Truth. Our God is good. He is compassionate. He is our refuge...our shield....our Savior. God is good all the time; and all the time, God is good. Can I get an amen?

Page details: I used the following Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps sets: All in All, Send Me, & He is Risen. All in All and He is Risen are brand new sets released this month. They are both great sets. I've enjoyed using them both! I also used watercolor crayons.

Have a blessed week. Andrea

Jesus Paid it All

Hello lovlies! Is it beautiful sunny and spring like where you are? .... Not here in Iowa in fact just yesterday morning I looked out and saw snow. I am so ready for spring so today I am sharing a very spring like Bible journaling page using our beautiful new March stamp sets. We have so many beautiful sets in the shop this month hop on over and go have a look! I tried something new...I made my first video! I hope you enjoy it...it's a little rough but I promise to get better! If you enjoy seeing videos shoot me a comment and let me know and I will try to keep them coming.

Hugs and Prayers,
Jenn @creativegurl85

Stamp sets used:

All in All

He is Risen

Itty Bitty Blossoms

Teach me

When I saw the little praying girl from the ‘I am Loved’ set I knew I wanted to use her in my bible. I really love to combine it with ‘His Book’ another stamp set with a combination of lovely images and words. For this page I used both sets (and ‘He is Risen’ for the little heart swirl).

This page is based on John 5:44
How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

We have to seek the honor of God and not of men.

I added the praying girl and the bible from the stamp sets mentioned above and stamped them, the girl with grey ink and everything else with black ink. I colored the images and messages with colored pencils and made the background with distress inks. I left a little bit of white space at the top of the page to add some journaling later.

- Lucinde