Surrender to Hope

 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope. Lamentations 3:21

Hi Friends,

I don't know where you find yourself today- if you're having a good day or a bad day; but today, I want to talk about hope. We could all use a little! Hope is not found in this world and its messiness. Hope is not found in power or privilege. Hope is not found in worldly identities. Hope is not found in trying to control things. Hope is found by letting all the worldly stuff go, by surrendering to Jesus. After all, Jesus is Hope. 

In Lamentations 3:1-20, Jeremiah speaks of his afflictions. But then is verse 21, he says this: "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope." In the midst of all his afflictions, in the midst of difficulty, he has hope. And he spends the rest of the chapter telling us what he remembers that gives him hope. And here it is:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.

His mercies never come to an end.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

"The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I hope in Him." Lam 3:22-24

For the Lord will not cast off forever,

But though He cause grief, He will have compassion according to the abundance of His steadfast love;

For He does not afflict from His heart or grieve the children of men. Lam 3:31-33

Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!

Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven. Lam 3:40-41

You see, Jeremiah had hope because he knew God and was surrendered to Him. He knew the Lord's love was unconditional, that He was merciful and faithful, and compassionate. The Lord was more than enough for Jeremiah. Well, God doesn't change. Jesus is God, so He doesn't change. Jeremiah may not have known Jesus like we do, but he knew Jesus because he knew God. And he surrendered himself to Hope. We can do the same.

Page details: I used the following Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps sets: God is Sovereign, Landscape Silhouettes, Nature Silhouettes, and Texture Tiles 3. I started by painting the background with watercolor crayons. When using watercolor crayons, I usually get my brush super wet and dab color from the tip of the crayon. Then I dab the color onto the page. I dab the paint rather than brushing the paint across the page because I like how the dabbing looks dry. Then I stamped the horizon, then the flowers in the forefront. I used a texture stamp to make the water look more like water. And lastly, I stamped the words.

Have a blessed week! Surrender to Hope. Andrea

Stay Afloat

Psalm 121:1-8

I lift up my eyes to the mountains---

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD, 

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip ---

he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Isreal

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you ---

the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm ---

he will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore. 

I recently watched a sermon from Joel Osteen. I always enjoy his sermons because they are so easy to relate to and understand. The page I journaled here is from a sermon he preached back in April of this year. In April, we were still newly entering into and trying to navigate the coronavirus shutdowns happening across the country. Stress and anxiety levels were high. We were being beaten over the head with news and questions. Conflicting information and concerns at every corner, not knowing who or what to believe. Heck, we still don't know who or what to believe, and it's now mid June! 

Joel Osteen started preaching about the current time and situation we find ourselves in. He reminded us that God is not surprised by anything! God knows everything that is going to happen to us before it even begins to happen.  We need to stay at peace because God is always in control. He has always been guarding our souls since the beginning, and he will continue to guard us even if sickness does come. 

With all of the media and information that is swirling around us on television, social media, radio.....everywhere...... it's way too easy to get overwhelmed by all the information and all the negativity. I loved the visual Joel Osteen gave in his sermon. He explained it as this:

"It's not the water around a ship that causes it to sink, but when you let what's outside in!"

If all you do is watch the news constantly, the negativity will seep in and cause you to sink. The negativity will fill in any little holes of doubt you may have. Instead, stay informed but then turn off the news. Only feed yourself with God's word and positivity. That will keep your boat afloat and your head above water! 

We need to announce to the enemy that it can't control us! Sickness or sadness may come, but it doesn't have to stay! Don't make it welcome. You don't have to accept it in your mind and make it a permanent place to stay. You have to have faith that it is only temporary. Convincing yourself that its only temporary will help you to move through it till we reach the end. The enemy means for this to harm us,  but if we keep the faith until it passes, God will bring you out stronger than ever before.

xoxo,

Stephanie Gammon

@faith.and.creativity

Bold & Outline Caps Alpha 

Landscape Silhouettes 

Let's Do This 

Protected By God's Grace

Hey guys! Stephanie here, sharing one of our new stamp sets called Grace So Amazing. 

"The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot protect you." I'm sure you've probably heard that statement a time or two. Is it a verse in the bible? No. I think some people think it is, but it's actually not. 

It is however, very true and a general concept repeated throughout the bible.  

2 Corinthians 12:9

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

1 Corinthians 10:13

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

And he also reassures us all throughout the bible that no matter where we may be, not matter what we may be facing, he is always with us and will never forsake us! 

Deuteronomy 31:6

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you, he will never leave nor forsake you."

Joshua 1:5

"No one will be able to stand against you, all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you, I will never leave nor forsake you."

1 Chronicles 28:20

"David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished."

When I think about this concept, I envision being sent somewhere away from home and away from anything that makes you comfortable. Like being out in the wilderness at night. A feeling of being scared and alone. But, looking up at the night sky you would see all the wonder that God created and know that you are NOT alone after all. Now, this is obviously a bit dramatic. You don't have to be in the middle of the woods at night to apply this concept. You could simply be wondering: is this new job opportunity for me, even though it seems out of my reach? Traveling to a different country to do missionary work is really scary!  So many different times in life where you can wonder if everything will be ok. But trust in God. He has only good things planned for you when you follow his will. It will be ok if you trust in Him!

xoxo,

Stephanie Gammon

@faith.and.creativity

Grace So Amazing 

Scene Silhouettes Trees

Landscape Silhouettes