"In the Morning" Hymnal Journaling

 

In the morning when I rise / In the morning when I rise

In the morning when I rise / Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus / Give me Jesus

You can have all this world / But give me Jesus

And when I am alone / Oh, when I am alone

And when I am alone / Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus / Give me Jesus

You can have all this world / But give me Jesus

And when I come to die / Oh, when I come to die

And when I come to die / Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus / Give me Jesus

You can have all this world / But give me Jesus

Isn't that a beautiful hymn?  Give me Jesus! Yes! The first printing of this song dates back to 1845 in a Methodist hymnal. However, the 1867 compilation Slave Songs of the United States includes this spiritual as a favorite among former slaves in South Carolina. I can easily understand the powerful words to this song strengthening and encouraging anyone going through a difficult time. When we seek Jesus first, in the morning, we'll be victorious over anything and everything we encounter throughout the rest of the day.

I knew I wanted to journal this hymnal page, but my first attempt was a FAIL!  Well, nothing created in heartfelt worship is really a fail, but I was definitely not happy with the results. I didn't like how the lightly stamped words didn't stand out enough against the watercolor background. Nor did I like the placement of the words and image. So I set it aside for a day, and came back to it the next evening. Here's a photo of the first attempt.

First Page Attempt

I pulled out some white, yellow, orange, and red acrylic paint, because I knew that medium was heavy enough to cover up what I had previously done, but light enough to allow me to still see the score of the music.  

Second Attempt

 

I created an ombre effect with the colors, and then, using the Good Morning stamp set, I stamped the words and images over the background.  I added some paint to the sunrise image, and used a white gel pen to highlight the words and the sun's rays.  I added white, orange, and red splatters, which made me think of droplets of sunlight. I added a tab made from washi tape and the phrase "Not today Satan" from the Faith Wordfetti stamp set.  I finished it off with the some black and white washi (to help balance out all the color) and an orange puffy clip, which reminds me of the sun. 

 

I am much happier with the second attempt. I love its brightness and image placement, and the splashes of sunlight! Which is your preference?  

Faith Wordfetti Stamp Set

Good Morning Stamp Set

Thanks for stopping by.  You can follow me on Instagram @julesk.jewels

 or my YouTube channel Jules Jewels 

Christmas Hymnal Journaling

How about a little Christmas hymnal journaling to kick off your week?! 😉 I put up my Christmas tree this weekend and have been listening to non-stop Christmas music. I'm usually a "not until after Thanksgiving" girl, but 2020 broke me.🤣

This page was fun, but super easy to put together. I used my VersaMagic Chalk Inks to blend the background, and then used the Jesus is Born Silhouettes, All Your Heart, and Teeny Alpha stamp sets to create the silhouette and title. I used a white gelly roll pen to add the white accents and shadowing. 

O Come, All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful,

Joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem,

Come and behold Him,

Born the King of Angels!

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

Not all journaling needs to be in a Bible or art journal. I love hymnal art journaling! I do most of my journaling to music, and there is just something about capturing my thoughts and feelings in conjunction with the old, rich, beautiful hymns. Give it a try and tell me how you like it!

Lots of love, 

Janelle

@journalingjoy

Guess what? Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is turning 13 this month and having sales all month long! This week's featured sale is 20% off all Creative Worship and Background Stamps 👏 (It's a great time to stock up on those Alpha and Texture Tiles stamp sets - my personal faves 😉)

 

 

Hynmal Inserts

Affiliate links to stamps used in this project are below!

Hello everyone!
I'm thankful for this day.  I am.  I feel like these days come graciously in which I'm able to share a bit more about the Lord and His mercies!
There's a lot to share here, so I hope you'll bear with me as I present yet ANOTHER set of journaling cards.  This time I've called them "hymnal inserts." :D
These cards are stamped with sets from 2 different designers on the Sweet n Sassy Stamps team, and both of them are hymn related.  They're both full and beautiful sets, which is why I loved using them so, so much, and it's why I chose them to work with today.

These journaling cards have become a favorite of mine, and I believe I've found a niche when I sit down to create some.  They go, tucked away safely, into a Bible that I work through primarily to give away.  I've mentioned my passion at one time over this thing called "The Loved Bible Project."  As I dig deeper into the heart of this "ministry," I'm overwhelmed by the stories I hear revolving around precious truths in the lives of the lost.
On my Youtube channel, I have another video on how I made these sweet inserts, and the reason I continue to make so many.  I love them, but I also "love" Bibles with them. 
I've mentioned the "Loved Bible Project" before today, and I will have links to the website and Facebook page on this post, as well as in the description for my process video.  Please feel free to reach out and ask questions; I had to! 
I didn't know exactly how to wrap my brain around creating in a Bible, marking it up, tabbing it, underlining it, highlighting it, and then giving it away!  Giving it away??  But I've put so much time and creativity, thought and heart into this container of color and journaling!  How can I just give that away?
Good question.  It's one that each person needs to think through and process on her/his own.  Loving a Bible is something special; a unique opportunity and challenge to spread the Gospel to those to whom the Lord leads you.  If it makes you feel any better, I grappled, struggled and whined over this very thing until it became clear that this method of journaling has amazing potential and prosperity! 
God can use anything to further His gospel, and if He can use a Bible with notes of grace from Deeds, so be it!  I'd rather do what would bring souls to Him, and glory to His name, Amen!

I'll be honest, sometimes it's hard to know what to share on these bits of paper, but as I said before, it's because of the hymnal lyrics that I used those stamp sets!  Hymns are chalk-full of scripture doctrine, hard-pressed with statements derived from the Word of God!  It doesn't take much to even google the lyrics to find their origin and related scriptures.  Actually, I found it so much more enlightening and simple to use hymnal lyrics to express the Love and Hope of Christ on these cards. 

Statements like, "You can have this whole world, but give me Jesus," can be supported by verse like Matthew 16:16, Matthew 19:21, Matthew 6:19 and so forth.
For the phrase, "Those who trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true," are helped by verses like, Philippians 4:7, Jeremiah 17:7, or Psalm 40:4.

Truth from scripture is key. 
Being willing to journal hope from the Lord on a piece of paper can go farther than you think.  Using God's Word to win souls to Christ has a much higher productivity rate that anything I can muster!

I hope this was helpful and hopeful. 
I pray you'll let me know what you think,
and I pray that you'll try these out in a "loved" Bible of your own!
Who knows?  Only God!  And He is trustworthy!

Much love,
Deeds
IG: @mercies_journaled

Whimsy Bouquet

Timeless Hymns

Hymn Word Art



So many thanks to my friend, Korin Sutherland, for allowing me to use her gorgeous stamps and this platform to share in the mercies of God's being!  I love you sister!




The Loved Bible Project Website
The Loved Bible Project Facebook page
The Loved Bible Project Facebook group

Holy Holy Holy!

Hello lovelies! It's May and I am very excited to share this months new stamp sets with you all! You are totally going to want to run on over to the shop and preorder/order these new stamps in the shop HERE. Today I am sharing a page from my hymnal ...

I normally never prep pages using gesso because... well I am lazy! However in this very old vintage hymnal I decided to use a very thin coat of clear gesso so the inks and stamping didn't bleed through. I used the 'Holy' stamp from the Joint Heirs stamp set and stamped it using my Distress inks in evergreen bough, picked raspberry, mustard seed and mowed lawn. I used a stencil with the same inks to create the floral image on the page. I really find great joy and satisfaction in using up the supplies I have laying around from past kits or projects, which is why I pulled out this praise tip in from an old Illustrated Faith kit as well as some stickers and cut outs. I stamped the, earth and of, His from the Joint Heirs set in StazOn black and mowed lawn. The word glory came from the All in All set and I first stamped it in StazOn black then offset it with the mustard seed. Now lets dig into the deeper meaning...

This hymn is probably familiar to many of you reading this. Our mouths have probably uttered the words Holy a time or two am I right? We may even say it and no longer elicit any deep emotion as we say them. Which got me thinking .... what does "holy" mean, and why is it repeated three times? Isaiah 6:1-3 "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above Him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" Wow can you just imagine! Holy means something or someone is exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness. The word "holy' dates back to the 11th century with an old English word halig derived from the word hal meaning 'whole' and is used to mean "uninjured, sound, healthy, entire and complete." So when the seraphim are singing holy, holy, holy they are proclaiming He is the uninjured, spotless lamb of God who is to be exalted as the one who took away the sins of the world. Ok, now onto why holy is said three times...it was a number of completion or perfection, as we see through the trinity, and in the book of Revelation 4:6,8. The holiness of God is indescribable in human language; therefore, the heavens proclaimed and provided the revelation of the eternal. This beautiful hymn allows us to use our voices to surrender our hearts to experience God's mercy and love as well as enable us to proclaim God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to the world.

Thanks so much for stopping by I hope you leave feeling a sense of awe of our holy Father God. I encourage you to slow down and really listen and study the words you are singing; meditate on the merciful, loving God we serve.

Love and prayers,
Jenn @creativegurl85

In The Garden

You may not know it by the condition of my houseplants, but I’m a flower child at heart. I even got my degree in horticulture and worked as a florist for many years.

My love for flowers and nature started when I was young and would spend time with my grandmother. Her house was surrounded by gorgeous flower beds and her front porch was adorned with hanging baskets. That love of flowers and plants rubbed off on me. 

As I grew up, I always helped Daddy in the garden and with the flower beds around the house. He wanted the flowers to be nice, so Momma could look out the front windows and see all the blooms. We had a rose garden and a large gladiolus bed. Because I loved my Mam-ma’s hanging baskets, our front porch was lined with hanging baskets of every sort as well.

Living in the south, it would be too hot to work in the flowers mid day, so I often would get up early and work in the flowers. Something about getting up early and spending time in God’s glorious creation, always made my heart sing His praises.

Looking at the delicate petals of the flowers and seeing all the intricate, colorful parts, and watching the bees buzz from bloom to bloom....ahhh...it was just heavenly. Not to mention, the roses had sweetest of fragrances.

Just as those flower gardens beckoned me each and every morning, the Lord beckons now. Every day, if my heart is listening, I can hear Him say “Gayle, come walk and talk with me. Come and abide with me.”

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15:5, 9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

On many occasions in the New Testament, we are told that Jesus went off to pray. (Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12) If Jesus needed time to abide with His Father, how much more so for me!

These last few months, as I have shared before with you, I have sensed the Lord drawing me back very close to His side. Calling me to truly abide with Him. He is whispering ever so sweetly to be “in the garden” with Him. To meet Him while the “dew is still on the roses.”

When I choose to meet Him there “the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing.”

Are you listening for His whisper? Are you longing to abide with Him?

If not, you can ask Him to help you hunger for Him. You can call out to Him and He will meet you “in the garden.”

The joy you “share as you tarry there, none other has ever known.”

Art behind the art:

Spring is springing here in Mississippi and the daffodils are popping everywhere.  The page was started with a light watercolor wash.  Using the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps daffodil stamp from Spring Blossoms was perfect on the In the Garden page in my hymnal.  The butterfly from Made New  was stamped on vellum, colored, fussy cut and then adhered on foam tape.  I added the word "abide" with the Typewriter Alpha stamps.  Lastly, I added some visual interest with Texture Tiles 1 and Texture Tiles 2.

I encourage you to take some time and walk in the garden with Him.


Until next time,

Gayle
Patio Ponderings

Editor's Note:

In The Garden Lyrics by Charles Austin Miles (1912)
Source:  HymnLyrics.org

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
Refrain

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

Refrain

I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

Refrain


Words: Charles Austin Miles (1912)

He Did it First

"WE LOVE BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US." 1 John 4:19

Hello friends!

We're right around the corner of one of the biggest and romantic holidays ever!  VALENTINE'S DAY!

I have to admit, this one may be my favorite of the holidays that don't necessarily focus on the Life of Jesus.  I love to think that it does though, because in a very real way, the very life and death of Jesus are the "heart and soul" behind our ability to love at all!

Did you know?

In the Bible it says that we are only able to love because God FIRST and FOREMOST loved us.  (Jn 4:19) 

In the beginning - the very beginning of humanity - He wrote His image on every person.  On every soul of mankind, there is "DNA" of a Master Creator, the One by whom we are loved.  This gives us unique access to a relationship with a Maker full and complete in truth and power.  The One that created the universe, spoke stars into sparkle, dug oceans into deep, also created me.  He created you.  So uniquely.  So wonderfully.  So intricately and purposefully.  (Psalm 139)

That was just the beginning.

The fall came.  The curse placed.  Man would still bear the image of God, God would still love His specially made creature.  But something happened that required immediate attention and exquisite care.  Not to mention, unfathomable Love.

As much as God shunned the evil that abounded, He even more passionately instituted the "Way" through which the curse would be lifted, and sin washed away.  Before Eve even thought to defy her loving Lord and Master, God Himself set into motion a plan that would save her, her husband and the rest of their children (us) from what we truly deserve.
Hell.
Wrath.
Punishment.
Separation.

In the stead of a curse, God, who is love (1 Jn. 4:7), condescended to the form of man in the person of Jesus the Messiah, and took all of that… all of the hell.  All of the wrath.  All of the punishment.  All of the separation.  This allowed for the guilty (us) to be blameless as He (Jesus).  What manner of love the Father has given us!  (1Jn 3:1) 
Does anyone love you like this? 
Do you love anyone like this?

Scripture says that no one loves as the Father has loved.  No one so high, mighty, lifted up, honored and adored by angels, has EVER lifted a finger to save mankind as this High and Holy God.  No one. 
This was done by One.  Only One could do it.  Jesus Christ is the lover of our souls.  He made possible the return to that sweet fellowship with God the Master.  The Great I AM is forever satisfied by this "once and for all" act of inexpressible love, that is, the death on the cross for me.  For you. 

The life and death of Jesus were both wondrous representations and expressions of the deepest, most unadulterated Love. Ever.  Forever. 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes on Him will not perish but have everlasting life." That apostle John really knew his stuff! (John 3:16)

And so, now we are able to say, "I love you." 

I love you…

Deeds

Stamps sets used: "His Love," "Texture Tile 1,"Teeny Alpha," and "Classy Script Alpha."
Other supplies: acrylic paint, pigment inkpad, watercolor.

Enjoy a small section of the amazing words to the beautiful (and one of my favorites) hymn below!

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me

Underneath me, all around me
Is the current of your love
Leading onward, leading homeward
To your glorious rest above!

The First Noel

HELLO FRIENDS!

As I steep in the warm feelings of Fall, I become very excited about what is to come.  

Snow.  

Cold.  

Christmas…

It's a blessed thing to remind ourselves - even as we baste in Fall flavoring - that something incredible happened on a cold, miserable night a very, very long time ago. 

It's a wonderful story: young couple seeks shelter in busyness and mayhem of a city fraught with the oblivious and unknowing.  Said young couple is resigned to a "suite" weighted down in the stenches of old animal feed, animal dung and dust. 

Holding on by sheer will power, as the pain grows and persists, Mary breathes the dusty air and exhales hope made possible by the Spirit that fills her.  She is cold.  She is scared.  She is brave.  She is strong.  She bears down, and within moments becomes the mother of the Light of the world. 

This Light interrupts the darkness of the stable.  This Baby replaces thoughts of fear with His first human cry, loud and strong.  His presence ushers in an unfamiliar but welcomed peace, while His tiny body is swaddled for protection.

There was no night like this.  No night like this Noel.

Nuvo drops helped me get a more 3-dimensional affect
for the stars in the sky.

Colors used are shown above.

When we read the account of Jesus' birth,  we forget that He entered humanity and lived humanity.  He did this to present humanity fully before God as His first love and vow.  This birth was beyond anything Mary or Joseph would experience.  It was far more spectacular than anything the Shepherds had witnessed as lowly and forgotten as they may have been.  It was far more anticipated than the Magi ever knew as they traveled long, hard hours to behold a prophesied King.  This Noel was Jesus' Noel.  His timely birth became the catalyst through which God would Redeem His people.  The Messiah had come, and the world could not comprehend.

We're not given to gratitude, but I think even the most grateful of people could not quite come close to the thankfulness due to the Lord for His act of loving-kindness.  Jesus is His tender mercy to us; our one and only Hope for eternity with the Father.  In His birth, Jesus fulfills God's promise of a coming Savior.  By his Life, Jesus demonstrates His grace, mercy and compassion for the world.  By His death, Jesus satisfies the wrath of God making it possible for this crumby, undeserving world to know and receive Him.  Oh, that First Noel!

That First Noel - Jesus' transition from glory to lowly - is remarkable, beautiful and definitely worthy of song!

Embossing powder aided my attempt to make the snowflakes and deer
stand out above the darker areas.

God bless, and much love,

Deeds

My Rock and Fortress Forever

Hey guys!  

Deeds here, with a bit of journaling in my "Christian Life Hymnal!!" 

Let me tell you how timely the Lord is in His mercies and favor!  JUST RECENTLY (like yesterday and today, recently) I've been touched and moved by the surrounding forces of His might and power.  His promise is to never leave; to never forsake.  BUT, my friend, He does more than just stand by our side - He's in the every decision, every situation, every rise and fall, every dark and darker. 
 

Can I share with you about "dark?" 
There is a piece of home - my home - where darkness grows up along the walls.  It's damp.  It's dangerous.  It's terrifying. 

Yesterday, my heart sank into a whirlwind of thoughts - estranged from faith as they may be - of what could happen in this situation.  There's something vicious about mold; something unforgiving; something treacherous.  And as I looked on it, I truly believed it to transcend to my heart, blackening it; suffocating it.  Does the phrase, "impending doom," ring a bell?

So what am I talking about??  "Surrounding forces of God's might and power??" 

Oh, fellow struggling, hurting, broken friends…

The joy of the Lord is not in the comforts and ease of life - it's in the holes and broken pieces of our minds; even in the snares set out for us by the enemy of our soul. 
We are not fully capable of understanding the joy of the Lord without first experiencing grief.
We don't get the gamut of victory without first fighting the battles.

We cannot fathom safety, refuge, protection and provision without having first gone through dangers, toils, snares, and want.

Psalm 46:7 says, "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Fortress!"

God has given me meaning and value in my present circumstances, so I hope to be as clearly and authentically bold for His name: HE IS MY ROCK and FORTRESS!

When the earth shakes and quakes, the waters flood and frighten, the fires rage and threaten - when mold rears its taunting face - He's my Rock. 
When it feels that the darkness prevails and the enemy is gaining ground on my "untroubled" turf, He's my Fortress. 

He is high and lifted up, and as a child of the One True King, I am lifted with Him.  I am able to see the battles rage from His perspective, His vantage point. And though I be engrossed in mildew and moss in my soul, He guards my heart and preserves me for His name's sake.

I'm not above problems; but, God is. 

I'm not immune to emotional, irrational, fearful behavior; but, God knows that.

In areas of life where we are most vulnerable and (sadly) susceptible to falling, failing in faith, the enemy WILL strike.  He will strike, and he will strike hard.  But, "get excited," as my friend, Korin would put it.   It's in these areas of attack where God is using even the enemy's "blows" to make us stronger. 

We are not born strong and able; God makes us so.

We are not inherently bold and brave; God makes us so.

We are not innately trusting and faithful; God makes us so.

And this makes the enemy powerless.  HALLELUJAH!

I pray that today, you have found God as your Rock and Fortress.  Forever He is with us.  Forever He is faithful.  Forever He is strong.  Forever.

Much love,

Deeds

**Process is done using watercolor crayons from Lyra, and "Mighty Fortress" stamps from Sweet 'n' Sassy Stamps. 

HIGHER GROUND | Hymnal Art Journaling with Julie

"The Sovereign Lord is my strength!  He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights." (Habakkuk 3:19 NLT)

Meet Larry and Lulu.  Lulu is the llama lying down, and Larry is the one standing up.  These are the two llamas in the "Llama Love" stamp set, part of the August Release.  This set is great for card making, scrapbooking, and yes, even faith art journaling.  Here I am journaling with Lulu and Larry in my hymnal the song "Higher Ground," a traditional hymn published in 1892.  

"Llama" just say, I'm a major clutz!  (Ok, I just had to add that pun 😁)  Seriously, I am clumsy, and I have been all my life.  I have broken both of my feet twice, simply from stupid falls and trips, and at least three different toes, from walking into tables or chairs, etc.  Surefooted I am not!  I would love to hike and climb mountains, but even walking on a sidewalk is dangerous for me.  Therefore, I love to read Habakkuk 3:19, where it talks about how God makes my feet sure as the deer, and enables me to tread upon my high places.  

This promise for me means that God is my support, my strength, my guide, my security.  Just like the sturdy llama, with its surefooted ability to scale the Andes Mountains, God empowers me to accomplish His great tasks for Him! The more I walk in His way and follow His path, seeking and surrendering to Him daily, I continue to scale greater and greater heights through and for Him.  By faith, He plants my feet on higher and higher ground, until I've reached that highest "tableland" named Heaven!  Incidentally, we sang this hymn at church this past weekend, which gave me the idea for journaling this page.  Afterwards, my son asked me what a "tableland" was.  It's a high plateau.  Heaven is the highest of plateaus, where we will spend eternity with God.  

For this page, I stamped and masked Larry and Lulu with the mountains. I show how to mask in the video linked below. I then painted each little scene with Dots and Dust watercolors. Wanting to keep some of the text visible, I masked those off with washi tape, and then created the background using Distress Oxide Inks in Wilted Violet and Broken China.  I stamped my title with the new Chunky Lowercase Alpha set and one of my favorite alphas, Mini Grunge Type.  My white Signo Uniball gel pen was perfect for adding detailing to the broad letters.  There are two border stamps in the Llama Love set, so I used one to box out the text.  Next, I added texture with the stones stamp from Texture Tiles 2.  Finally, I wrote Hab. 3:19 in an empty spot, and added a tab, washi tape and bow to complete the page.  

I've been amazed at the ways I've been able to use these llamas in my Bible and faith art.  If you missed the Facebook Live release where I showcased this set, you can still catch it here.  You will have to request to join the group if you aren't already a member, but don't worry, it's a fun place to hang out!  In this live video, I share some additional ideas of ways to use the llama set in your Bible journaling, and I created a page for Matthew 11:29.  I also invite you to follow my Instagram account where you can see my other pages and projects I create with this set.

LLAMA LOVE

CHUNKY LOWERCASE ALPHA

MINI GRUNGE TYPE ALPHA

TEXTURE TILES 2