Live in your Bible

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Psalm 119:105

Well, it's a brand new year - 2022. Finally!

For most people, it's a time for reflection of all the experiences of the past year, as well as looking forward to plans for the upcoming year. If you are still setting your goals for the new year, can I just encourage you to make being in your Bible a top priority? And I don't just mean reading your Bible to check something off your to-do list. ✔ I mean soaking in the Word as a means to get to know your Lord in a personal, intimate relationship.

This quote from Charles Spurgeon is one of my favorites:

"Visit many good books, but live in the Bible."

A recent survey showed that only 11% of professing Christians read their Bible every day. Eleven percent! 

Devotionals wonderful, Christian books are wonderful, podcasts are wonderful - but none of those things are substitutes for God's Word in your heart. The Bible is God's Word to us, and the majority of Christians don't even read it! How sad. 

This year, make spending time with the Lord your top priority and see how it will change your heart and life. Whether your reading a good old-fashioned Bible, electronic Bible, or audio Bible, make it a point to get the Word in your heart every single day!

Page Details

I created this page using the new Let's Get Cozy stamp set, Delightfully Delicate stencil, colored pencils, and gelatos. I hand-lettered the Charles Spurgeon quote. One of my favorite things is to curl up in my armchair with a fuzzy blanket and my Bible. This page perfectly represents that, don't you think?! 😊

 

Have a very blessed New Year, friends!

Love in Christ, 

Janelle

IG: @journalingjoy

 

In The Morning

"In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus!"

Hello, sweet blogger friends!  ✋

Deeds here, ready to lay it on us!  Ready to bring it; gonna bring the Word!
As I sit here giggling at my feeble attempts to be funny, I just want to say that although the Word of God is a serious matter, I am still thankful that God gave us humor and the ability to laugh.
This has nothing to do with the topic for today, but I did want to let you know: this gal likes a good hearty laugh, and a good hearty laugh often!  It's good for the soul, amen?

Ok!  This is a bit different of a post as it brings something too close to home; close enough that I debated with God about even writing/sharing it. 
I'm not thrilled at my lack of discipline when it comes to three basic necessities of the Christian faith: prayer, study, and meditation.  But declaring a weakness - confessing sins to my siblings in Christ - is part of healing and repentance. 
I'm talking about spending time in the Word.
Spending time with God.

Spending time being with God in prayer.
Spending time - sacrificing time - to give your first and early moments of the day to God.

I used to sing that song, "Give Me Jesus," a lot.  I used to play it loudly from my car as I painfully navigated my divorce.  I used to cry the lyrics to the Lord in hopes that He would indeed meet me in that safe and sacred place, wherein I could behold my first Love and allow His embrace to erase my depression.
However, I didn't realize that the phrase, "in the morning, when I rise," was so key. 

Tip in created in my process video with the "'reverse smooshing technique." :D
(Neo-color crayons and "In the Morning," stamp)

Now, please don't misunderstand; ANY time in the Word of God and ANY time spent with Him is wonderful.  It's all good.  All fruitful.  All a blessing. 
But recently, I have been burdened by my humanity, understanding that if I DO NOT GET THOSE FIRST MOMENTS OF MY DAY WITH THE LORD, I cannot guarantee a good day.  I cannot be sure that I will perform well.  Goodness me, I cannot promise that I will look/sound/act like a Jesus lover. 
In fact, I can almost 100 percent count on a misplaced trajectory, and an unsaturated heart for the Lord.

Bookmark created with wet on wet technique (neocolor crayons & "In the Morning" stamp).

My hope is that by writing this very personal (and somewhat embarrassing) piece of blog, I will be held accountable, for one.  But also, that this will encourage you to do what I have tried to establish as a course of action every single day: in the morning, when I rise, be with Jesus. 
There's such a difference in all around behavior.
There's such a contrast between when I do and when I don't, it's unreal.
There's such a blessing for others around me when I've elected to sit down first thing and be with Jesus.

There are plenty of scriptures to help inspire us to praise and petition in the morning:

"Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you." Psalm 33:22
"They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord;" 1 Sam. 1:19

"O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch." Psalm 5:3
"But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress." Psalm 59:16

There's more of this on my Youtube process video!

Sing!
Rejoice!

Praise!
Pursue!

Get Jesus, and get Him in the morning!

Much love,

Deeds

"In the Morning" stamp available at the Sweet n Sassy Shop!
affiliate link: http://www.sweetnsassystamps.com?aff=7

Bind my Heart

Hello all! Did you know there is a HUGE sale going on right now in the shop? Many different sets are marked down and you can receive 18% off your entire order now through December 31st!

Today I am sharing my heart for 2019. You may have been noticing many people choosing a special word or phrase to help focus them in the new year #OLW (one little word). I have a word and a theme. This year my word is delight and my theme is closeness with my Father. I chose delight because I want to look up and take notice of my blessings and document all the little God winks throughout my days. My Bible page today is my heart for 2019.

I started this page by stamping the In Stitches alpha stamps on an adorable plaid scrapbook paper and fussy cutting them out. Next I cut out a heart from coordinating paper, pierced holes and hand stitched the heart to create lovely handspun texture. Next I pulled out my Sunshine girl alpha and stamped the word 'my' and for the word heart used a set of light pink thickers. I of course had to had a few little clusters of scrappy goodness using washi tape, die cuts, stickers, puffy hearts and string.

I love the hymn "Come Thou Fount" and often find myself humming the tune and singing the words. The lyrics are so timeless and true!

Come thou fount of every blessing,

tune my heart to sing thy grace;

Streams of mercy never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise.

...

Let thy goodness like a fetter,

Bind my wandering heart to thee.

Amazing words, but what is a fetter right? A fetter is leg cuff or shackle that fasteners around ones ankle and prevents one from running away. Robert Robinson felt so strongly about his relationship and closeness with God that he wanted to be securely fastened to our Father at all times. Do I have that same passion? Do you? The new year is quickly approaching and what better time to draw close and bind your heart to Him.

"With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!" 

Psalm 119:10

Father, Here's my heart, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above. I offer my heart to you. I want to hold tight and keep such a hold that my heart never wanders away! amen!

Hugs and prayers,
Jenn @creativegurl85

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