Come Messy

For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect was tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Hi Friends!

We live in an edited world, don't we? Practically every aspect of our lives is edited in some way- our thoughts, our actions, our words. Now sometimes, editing ourselves can be a good thing. But so often, what we're doing when we edit is just putting on an appearance to others, an appearance that is better than what we truly are. For instance, all these photos we share on social media, most of them are edited or filtered. We take out the imperfections. We fix the lighting. We adjust it to how we think the world wants to see us. Even in our relationships, we edit. How often, as my family scrambled to get ready for church, harsh words were spoken, hurtful actions committed. But man, when we got out of the car and went into church, you would have thought we were the perfect family, loving and glorifying God. Can you relate? The bad news is that we are a mess! We are broken and sinful.

But, I have good news, friends! We don't have to edit ourselves for Jesus. Jesus loves us anyway. He knows who we are- the good and the bad. And He loves us. Jesus loves us so much that He was willing to become man and to live as a man. Because of His earthly life, He knows what we go through. Hebrews 4:15 tells us He sympathizes with our weaknesses; and that He was tempted just as we are. He knows, friends. He died for us knowing all our problems, issues, and sins. And knowing all this, He still invites us to come to Him. Hebrews 4:16 tells us, "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and grace to help in time of need." 

Thank You, Lord, for loving us just as we are. Thank You for becoming Man to relate to us in a new way. Thank You for Your invitation to come to you in our brokenness, in our mess- unedited & unfiltered.

Page details: I used the following Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps sets: Joyful Alpha, Marker Alpha, Playful Alpha, Walk Humbly, All Your Heart, and Just Be. I started by applying acrylic paint to the page with a baby wipe. I then glued a hymnal page onto the page. I stamped the words. I stamped the girls on sticker paper and drew the photo frames with a Micron pen. I colored the girls with watercolor crayons.

Come, humble sinner, in whose breast,

A thousand thoughts revolve,

Come, with your guilt and fear oppressed,

And make this last resolve.

Come to Him, friends. He's waiting.

Have a blessed week! Andrea

Purer in Heart

Purer in heart, O God, help me to be.

Hi Friends!
I have an old hymnal in which I've been journaling. As I was flipping through it, I came across this hymn- Purer in Heart, O God. It really spoke to me. It's a prayer that God help us be purer in heart- that's the first line and it's repeated in each hymn verse. Here are some of the characteristics this hymnal prayer asks God to help with:

• Whole devotion to God in our lives
• That God watch  and guide our wayward feet
• That God teach us to do His will
• That He be our Friend and Guide
• That we abide with Him
• That He keep us from sin
• That He reign in our souls

Wow! I want all of that. And those characteristics are what being pure in heart is all about. In Matthew 5:8, Jesus tells us, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." Do you want to see God? I sure do! Being pure in heart means that we are focused on God and desire to please Him throughout our lives. And the only way we can truly be pure in heart is through Jesus. Only He can cleanse us. Psalm 51:10 tells us, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." God is the one who makes our hearts pure. We can't do it ourselves. And that's what this hymn is all about- asking God to help us day in and day out devote ourselves to Him. O that I may be purer in heart, Lord!

Page Details:

I used the following Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps sets for this page: Set Apart, All Your Heart, Walk Humbly, and Love Your Neighbor. I used watercolor crayons and a white pen as well.

Have a blessed week! Andrea

Use Your Gifts

Now King Solomon sent and called Huram out of Tyre. He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre who worked in bronze, and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill to make all sorts of items in bronze. So he came to King Solomon and performed all his work. 1 Kings 7:13-14

Friends-

I hope you had a blessed day yesterday celebrating our dear Savior's resurrection. Jesus is alive! He is worthy of our praise and devotion. Part of that devotion is using our talents for His purpose. After all, He gave us those talents. In 1 Kings 7 we are told of a man named Huram. He was from the tribe of Naphtali. He had lost his father at some point; but before his father's death, he had taught Huram what he knew in bronze work. God had gifted both these men in the working of bronze. And Huram used his gift for God's purpose by making many of the bronze furnishings for the temple.

God has gifted each one of us with talents. What if we used them to further His purpose? Think of the impact we could have in this world. It could be as simple as Bible journaling and sharing what you learn as you study and journal on social media. That's why I share on social media. It's not to get likes or to be told my art is pretty. God gave me some arting abilities. So, this is one way I can use them for His purpose. I pray that the pages and thoughts I share bring Him glory, that they draw others nearer to Him. And that's just one small way. Of course, our talents can be used for Him in every part of our lives- at home, at our jobs, with the people we come in contact with daily. Let's use our gifts for God!

Page details: I used the following Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps sets: Walk Humbly, All in All, Typewriter Blocks Alpha, Teeny Alpha, Girl Power, and Home for the Holidays. I used the tiny flower from Girl Power to decorate the skirt. I used watercolor crayons as well.

 Have a blessed week! Andrea