Rest and Remember God

"And Moses said to the people, 'Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, 

which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, 

you shall never see again.  The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.'"  

Exodus 14:13-14

Hello, Sweet n Sassy Creatives!!
Journaling a bit in Exodus today.  I was surprised to find that I hadn't yet journaled on this page, or anywhere near it.  I better go back over it, yes? :D

Hmmm…"you have only to be silent."  At this moment in time, Moses is desperately trying to calm a nation who feels they're on the verge of utter annihilation.  The Eygyptians are closing in behind them, and they have nothing but a vast sea full of doubt in front!  They begin to cry out in agony over the impending capture - or slaughter - by Pharoah's army.  I cannot imagine the sound of torturous cries from millions of people; I cannot imagine what Moses must have thought as the forces of hysteria and panic moved in. 

Moses strains with resolve to be heard among the complaints, and with it pleas with the Israelites to continue to believe and be still!  I don't think Moses did what any kindergarten teacher would do in a room full of 30+ rowdy 5 year olds.  *finger to his lips* "Ok, people hush now.  Hush, please.  Ssshh, people of Israel.  Let's use our indoor voices; we don't need to worry about big, bad army." 

Nah. 

The context would suggest that his voice and righteous indignation had to be carried over a crowd of wailing and mourning.  "PEOPLE!  The Egyptians have nothing on our God!  Watch and see that He has already gone before you!  He will save us, so SHUT IT!" 

My thoughts for this journaling page were just to create something that looked like a body of water.  I used distress ink oxides to achieve the look of water and reflections, then used the "Texture Tile 2" stamp set to bring out some highlights in the water.  It helped to have the "Beach Blessings" printables, by our very own, Diane Noble - I had an enormous supply of water critters to choose from: starfish, shells, nets, birds, anchors, etc.  This time, the starfish at the bottom of the sea (which is where the Egyptian army ended up), were used.  I printed them on Avery sticker paper so they're see-through. 

After that, I created a tip down with one of the printable journaling cards from the set, with a simple sentiment: Rest, and remember God. 

Moses wasn't trying to cheer a nation of cry-babies up; he was reaffirming the confidence they once had in God Almighty to work in THIS situation, too.  God had proven His power among idolatrous Egypt.  He'd gone far beyond ANYTHING the "magicians" could do.  And He'd showed Himself worthy of praise and trust when He calmly ushered all millions of Hebrews out the city gates. 

Rest, and remember God.  I know I'm not alone in this; I know that I'm not the only one who has struggled to keep my cool when things heat up.  I know I'm in "good company" when I share that I've misplaced my trust in the One who has brought me out of my bondage to sin.  Let me tell you right now, God is not surprised by ANY SINGLE ONE of our hissy fits or lack-luster outbursts.  Unfortunately, however, it's the hard lessons that teach us, so if we have to go through a time of heartbreak and uncertainty, God will allow it if it means we get closer to Him.  And at first we may tantrum and complain, but when we realize that He's GOD ALMIGHTY, we'll see waters part and Egyptians drown right before our eyes. 

We can rest and remember that God has delivered and rescued us before - He plans on doing it again.  Both in the here and now, and for eternity future!

We can rest and remember that whatever God is working in our circumstances, there's much more going on in our heart - a greater growth and mutation for His glory is happening that really cannot be seen!  Praise His holy name!

We can rest and remember that though it seems the chaos swarms like angry hornets around us, God is preparing and shaping us for at Eternity of peace and harmony.  "We need only be silent."  We need only to wait.  We need only to trust. 

The Israelites learned some valuable lessons - besides humility - there at the Red Sea.  God does not operate by man's rules and expectations.  His love goes so far beyond what we can imagine and He will do everything in HIS power and in HIS will to show us His glory that we may praise and trust Him.  Oh, that I could trust Him more!

Much love,

Deeds

Mercies & Mustard

I am not a morning person.

Not even close. 

A few months ago I was aboard a long early morning flight - very early - and I had the opportunity to see the sun rise. I have probably seen only a handful of sunrises, and generally only will volunteer to get up that early if I am going to Disneyland. But let me tell you, seeing a sunrise from an airplane is an incredible sight. Being able to see a very looong horizon lit up in a rainbow of colors is seriously awe-some. As I was looking at the morning sky, I saw a full rainbow (ROYGBIV) stretched across the entire length of the horizon. As I saw it, I started thinking about how God covers the earth with rainbows constantly...morning and night...day after day...reminding us that he is covering us with His protection, peace, and love. 

His mercies are new every morning.

I added this art in my Bible in Lamentations 3:22-23, where it says (ESV):

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

His mercies never come to an end;

They are new every morning;

Great is your faithfulness. 

(Lamentations is previously un-journaled for me, so this is a perfect fit for the current journaling challenge in the Creative Worship Bible Journaling group on Facebook.)

You may have seen this one in progress over on my Instagram feed. After I put down the initial color background, I added some washi tape, stamping, and hand lettering. The stamps I used are from the Cold Coffee Alphabet set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.


Since I had the paints out, I decided to do a little painting in my other journaling Bible. I also used the same Cold Coffee Alphabet stamp set for the word "mustard" here.

I have seen where people will add a mustard seed to their Bible pages, but didn't have mustard seeds, so I went with a mustard-ish paint color and a tiny mustard-seed-size dot with my Sharpie marker.

I added a few details with a white (extra fine) Sharpie Paint Pen including some tiny polka dots on the stamped letters.

Thanks for stopping by today!

As always, you can find all my posts pertaining to Bible art or journaling (and a full list of supplies that I have used) on my blog here.

King of kings

Hello!

It's Tifany here from Ink Blots by TRD and I'm back today with another Bible art/journaling page to share. The "art" part of this one I have been wanting to do for quite awhile - a plaid effect. Usually when I do my pages, my art ties in with the theme...but sometimes I just want a colorful background to stick some words on. (This was one of those times.)

For the plaid technique, I took a few different colors of ink and swiped them onto my page (which had been prepped with matte multi medium) using jumbo sponge daubers. I let each color dry before adding the next so that the colors would blend and not just get wiped away. Coming back to a page over and over again to add layers was great - it kept me thinking about the theme for several days. 

For the wording on this page, I mainly used the His Name stamp set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. I added in the ampersand (and those decorative 'x' marks on the background) using stamps from the Fill Me Up set. 

"God, the blessed and only Ruler,

the King of kings and Lord of lords,

who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light,

whom no one has seen or can see.

To him be honor and might forever.

Amen."

{1 Timothy 6: 15b-16}

As always, you can find my full supply list and all of my other Bible art & journaling posts here.

Fill Me With Peace

Good Morning- or should I say Good Afternoon!

(I wrote this sipping on my Sunday morning cup of coffee- cheers!)

This week I have been spending quite a bit of time licking my wounds and feeling a bit sorry for myself.  Unfortunately, I did not get the job I had my hopes set on.  I really felt like this was THE JOB I had been waiting for and was meant for me.  Keep in mind, I found this out a week ago Friday and I spent my entire week allowing this to bring me down and spiraled from there.  

With the spiraling not only did depression set in and questions of why I am not good enough? What could I have done differently?  So came into question- "what is God's Will for me?".  Did I not pray enough? Do I not say the right things when I pray?  Am I praying for my wants versus His will for me?  All of these questions tend to stir doubt in my soul.  In my heart I know He has a plan and the bible tells me this plan is much bigger than my own.  I just question whether or not I am worthy enough to be privy to this information anytime soon.  I get it- everything happens in His time.  When will His timing and His will be in sync with my own?  I guess I just don't understand what God wants from me. 

In all of this self pity and wallowing, I ran across a post yesterday that questioned whether the sadness we allow ourselves to sit in, is a result of (simply) a bad moment that we've allowed ourselves to "milk" into an extended amount of time.  Is this a bad day or a bad life- so to speak?  Am I bummed because I didn't get the job or is this really depression that I'm allowing to take over?  I find that I tend to do this.  Rather than picking myself up and dusting myself off, I tend to wallow in the mud.  I also find myself losing faith.

The page I did this week is a reminder to myself that prayer is powerful.  On this journey of faith that I am on, I am learning to trust and have faith- (I wish this was something that came to me easily).  Why does it seem God quiets when I feel I need to hear him the loudest?  All of these questions, I am taking to prayer with me.  I pray that Jesus will fill me up with peace, faith, trust and hope.  That he does in fact hear me and helps to open my heart to allow me to hear him during the silence.

Micha 7:7
"But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me."

 To complete this page I used "Fill Me Up" by Rebecca Rios stamp set.

Peace, love & blessings to you all,

Jamie

My Cup Overflows

Hello! 

It's Tifany from Ink Blots by TRD and I am back today sharing a Bible art & journaling page - this one comes from Psalm 23:

When I first saw the new Fill Me Up stamp set from Sweet n' Sassy Stamps I just couldn't help but think of Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd,

I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths 

for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, 

I will fear no evil, 

for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, 

they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me 

in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; 

my cup overflows. 

Surely your goodness and love will follow me 

all the days of my life, 

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord 

forever.

(Psalm 23, NIV)

It is such a beautiful, peaceful, comforting Psalm. For the past little while (or maybe more like a year) it seems like things have just not slowed down. In a way that is such a blessing...and in other ways I feel a bit like I am drowning. Either way, we are so blessed and my cup truly is overflowing. 

Praise God!

As always, you can find my full supply list and all of my other Bible art & journaling posts here.

Rise and Shine!

Since it's my day to post here on the Creative Worship blog, I thought I'd post a second page I finished today even if I'd posted earlier too.  If you're like me you can't get enough of seeing other peoples' ideas and samples.

The light of the righteous shines brightly,
    but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

Proverbs 13:9

Have you met people who exuded the joy of Jesus in their heart that their countenance glowed?  I have and I really want to be that kind of person.  I want to wake up each morning with a fresh look on my life, my purpose and all my blessings.  I want to be so in love with Jesus that it is contagious.  

The new set in Sweet 'n Sassy stamps is perfect for bringing on a "rise and shine" attitude in life.  I'm a coffee lover anyway, so I knew this set would be mine the minute I put eyes on it.  And I love it.  It has the most fun sayings and two adorable cups with accessories.  I decided to paper piece my cup and the band.   

I doodled a sun and used both sponging and Distress crayons to color the sun and the rays.  If we walk in the righteousness of Christ, we cannot hide that light under the cover of indifference.  We have to let the light out and share Christ with everyone we know.  

Here's a close up of the paper pieced cup.  Fun, fun.  I love paper piecing.  See that fun chunky glitter?  That came in the mail from a lady who is in a "happy mail" Facebook group with me.  I was working on this project when hubby brought the mail to me.  She also sent the Washi tape at the bottom of the page.  Perfect colors for the project.  The two images from above are from the set, Fill Me Up.  The rest is hand-lettered and hand-doodling. 

I wanted to make my page as bright and happy as I feel in my heart. I love my Jesus and I love talking about Him.  He has done so much to prove His love again and again.  How could I not share that? Him?  Hope this brought a smile to your heart too and that you will think of someone's life who needs a little light.  Go share Jesus with them!

 Fill Me Up by talented Rebecca Rios