Rest

And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. Isaiah 32:17-18

Hello Sweet Friends,

Do you pray for a world of peace? of security? of rest? I know I do! This world we live in just makes me shake my head. I mean, let's be honest, there are so many things going on that just don't make sense. And I firmly believe that Satan is at work. But of course, we know that God is at work too. And who is stronger, my friends? Never forget that our God is greater than any other. It may seem like Satan is winning, but God is in control. And He's working everything- hear me, EVERYTHING, for His good purpose.

So, take a breath, and rest in Him. In Isaiah 32, we read of a beautiful future for Israel. Israel will be restored. God's Spirit will be poured out and His justice and righteousness will prevail. While this chapter is a prophecy for Israel, we know through Revelation and other New Testament books, that ultimately we will all see God's restoration of creation. Jesus will reign as King on earth! And with His righteousness will come peace and security and rest. Oh, how I look forward to that day! But we can have that peace and that security and that rest NOW. Yes, we must only focus on HIM. Remember Peter? When he jumped out of the boat to walk on water to Jesus, he only began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus. (Matt 14:22-33) When he focused on the wind and the storm, that's when he sank. So, friends, let's not focus on the storms of this world. Let's focus on our great Savior, Jesus. Let's keep our eyes on Him. And in Him, we will find peace, security, and rest.

Page details: I used the following Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps supplies: Quilt Stencil and Faith Phrases. 

To make the colorful quilt using the stencil, I laid the stencil down on the page and covered each square with a sticky note. Then I used yellow distress oxide for the borders. Next I used 3 sticky notes to outline one of the triangles on the outside of the square and taped them together. All the triangles in the corners are the same size, so I used the mask for the corner triangles and the orange triangles. 

Since I had done the borders first, I could pick up the stencil and do all the triangles first by lining the stencil up with the borders and triangles as I colored them in. Finally, I masked off one square- completely masking the triangles and borders with a sticky note I cut up and washi tape- only the diamonds showed. 

It was a little more difficult to line up the squares as everything was masked, but I was able to get it close. I used 2 more small sticky notes so that only one diamond showed as I colored around it in alternating colors. 

I hope the photos help explain the process. It's not pretty, but it got the job done! LOL

Have a blessed week! Andrea

Rest on His Promises

The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as He had sworn to their ancestors...

Not one of all the Lord's good promises to Israel failed;

every one was fulfilled. Joshua 21:44-45

Hi Friends!

Today we are in Joshua 21 which ends with 2 verses about God's rest and His fulfilled promises. Let's take the promises first. God had promised land to Abraham and his descendants. That land was a very long time in coming. And, the Israelites had to fight for it. It took patience and work, but God kept His promises. Every. Single. One. Our great God is a Promise Keeper. What He says He will do, He does. Not just sometimes, but every time. The Israelites could count on that; and we can too. Now, let's talk about the rest. The following comes from the SheReadsTruth devotion: The foundation for any true rest is built on the fulfilled promises of God. God promised and delivered rest to His people. Although man threw away perfect rest and peace in the garden, God faithfully and continually rescued His people from slavery and unrest of their own folly, and brought them to a land of rest that He had prepared for them. The promise is for us also. One day, the chasing and straining of this world will cease, and we will find perfect rest and peace in Him forever.

Trust our Promise Keeper, my friends. And rest in Him.

Page details: I used the following Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps sets: Count Your Rainbows, Prayer Time, Way Maker, Faith Phrases, Sweet & Simple Alpha, All in All, In His Image, and Faith Wordfetti. Whew! That's a lot of sets! But I love combining sets on my pages, bringing words and images from different sets together. No special techniques on this page, I just did basic stamping. I outlines the heart in the rainbow with a Micron pen. I stamped the pencil on sticker paper and only partially adhered it to the page so I can lift it to read the Scripture underneath. I used Prismacolor pencils to color the pencil.

Have a blessed week! Andrea

Delight in the Lord

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Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."  Is this verse promising that God will give me what ever I really want?  What if I really want a brand new car, or more clothes, or more craft items (I always do!)?  Will God give them to me because I REALLY want them?  If it really is a desire of my heart?  

I do not believe that's what Psalm 34:7 verse means. We have to remember the first part of the verse:  "Delight yourself in the Lord..." I did some verse mapping of this passage to try to understand it more fully.

Here is what I found:

• Psalm 34 was written by David, a "man after God's own heart"
• Delight yourself - to be soft or pliable; to be luxurious or lavish
• give - bestow, add, or commit
• desires - requests, petitions
• heart - innermost feelings, will, and intellect

Basically, if I lavish myself in His luxurious love, and bend my will to His will, character, and Word, then my desires--what my heart and mind and will truly desire--will become more in tune and more aligned with God's desires and will. He will gladly commit to these desires.  God does not refuse us things in accordance with His will.

This also means that, as long as I have been seeking God's will and character, then the things upon my heart are worthy to be brought to God.  I can boldly come before Him and trust Him to answer my prayers and petitions.  

I made a faithdex card to illustrate and document this verse and my study.  I used the some Distress Oxide Inks in Spun Sugar, Ripe Persimmon, and Wild Honey to blend a background.  Then I stamped in those same colors the Floral Background stamp.  I also stamped this image on cardstock in Versafine Onxy Black ink and fussy cut a few out.  I colored these with those same inks using my aquabrush.  Then I stamped "Delight in the Lord" from the Faith Phrases stamp set.   I added some ribbon and a tab punch, and the typed verse and title.  

On the back, I wrote out the verse and its mapping.  

Then I decided that I wanted to journal this in the pages of my Bible, so made a quick entry using the same inks and stamps. 

I wrote my reflection of the verse mapping in the margins of the page.  

What a powerful study and reminder to stay in tune with God.  Spend time with Him.  Enjoy His Presence.  Delight yourself in Him.  THEN He will give you the desires or your heart, because they will also be the desires of HIS heart!

Produce Links

(some are affiliate links - thank you!)

Floral Background

Faith Phrases

Encouragement Cards

 

Today's project is a little different than my usual journaling projects, but every bit as fun and encouraging (see what I did there 😉). Today's project is encouragement cards using watercolor paper, watercolors, and stamps. 

"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." - Philippians 4:4

Encouragement cards are easy to make and nice to have on hand to brighten someone's day. I simply write a short note or Bible verse on the back and add to a card, or hand out directly to someone who has been on my mind.

I used 9"x12" watercolor paper, which cuts up nicely into six 4.5"x3 cards. First, I created a watercolor background using a couple layers of watercolor paint and some paint splatters. Once the paint was dry, I cut the paper down into six identical size cards, and got out my stamps. I knew I wanted to use the new Faith Phrases stamp set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps for these cards along with the new Texture Tiles 10 stamp set, but wasn't sure how I was going to use them until I made the cards. I then decided to use lighter colors to stamp the Texture Tiles in the background to add just a bit more dimension to the cards. Plus, rainbows, stars, and clouds are perfect for a fun, uplifting background 😉 I used black Versafine ink to stamp the Faith Phrases and extra design elements, then rounded the corners of the cards to give them a more finished look. 

I plan to give these cards out to some of the teenage girls in my son's school. Who do you know who could use a little extra encouragement this week? Take 20 minutes, enjoy a bit of creative time, and whip up a few encouragement cards to bless someone this week. 😊

Stamp Sets Used

 

  

Have a blessed week!

Janelle

@journalingjoy