Jesus Paid it All

This is a journaling card made with Faber Castell Pitt brush pens & inserted into a compact Bible that will be given away.

"He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us.  He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross." (Col. 2:14)

Hello again, Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday, sweet creatives!
The weeks go by so fast, don't they?  Feels like I was just here to share a bit of what the Lord has laid on my heart for ministry, and poof! Here I am again! 

Seems like there's always a lot going on, but for a moment, I just want you to look at the simple lyric above.  "Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe."
The sweet melody that accompanies this does nothing compared to the truth that is set in front of us here in Colossians.  But, before I get ahead of myself...

I have had a weekend full of everything from downright discouragement to complete joy.  I have had a weekend full of one surrender after another, giving what is rightfully God's and laying it at His feet.  I have a hard time explaining how sorrow and joy can coexist, but I will do my best.

Jesus paid it all, friends.
What do I mean by that?  What does the BIBLE mean about that?
What is the explanation behind joy in sorrow; behind contentedness through suffering?

The position the Bible takes on "Jesus paid it all," lays heavily into the aspect of "all."
All is all.
All means all.

All has large implications and has no exclusions.
I've been convicted in this department as I've held on to a bit of my past that I didn't know I hadn't trusted Christ to pay for.
In my attempts to be as simplistic yet realistic as possible, Jesus stretched His arms out ALL the way.
His death was not untimely; it was planned.
His sacrifice was not unwarranted; rather, necessary.

His life was not in vain; rather, perfect.

Colossians 2:13-14

When you see something like, "Jesus paid it all," I wonder how many of us do not believe the full extent of this gospel header.  I wonder if we are harboring a sliver of shame, guilt, weight, that was perfectly accounted for as the Father nailed it to the cross in the ultimate act of Love.
I learned this past weekend, in the Revive Out Hearts conference 2019, baggage comes at a great cost- not just at the airport - but as the figurative weight of a decision to carry something that is not ours to carry.   A burden not ours to bear.
As a Christian, my life is hid in Christ.  All sins that created the "crimson stain" in my soul are washed clean and I am white as snow.  Knowing the Savior I know, my heart has been changed and my life renewed.  But what I also found out is I am unable to receive grace because of un-confessed sin in my life.

The Word of God is clear about salvation.  It says in Romans 10:9,
"...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." 

It is clear that confessing sins is not part of obtaining salvation.  However, when it comes to obtaining a clear conscience and blessed stance of closeness with our Lord, confessing sins is a necessary part of receiving the gospel; the magnificent gospel of grace in time of need.
Jesus is our Advocate to the Father, constantly interceding on our behalf.  We have been granted an Intercessor as part of our journey in Christ!  It is not for salvation that we bring our heavy-laden hearts to the Father; it is for sanctification!  And the more we practice this posture of need, bringing our brokenness before the Throne, the more we see the over and abundant grace that is sufficient for us!
Friends, Jesus paid it all.
All to Him we owe.
We need not harbor the weight of what Jesus bled and died for.  If we "confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  (1 John 1:9)  We are washed white as snow, to be sure, but are also commanded to stay in step with the Holy Spirit.  Part of daily drawing nearer to Almighty God is by way of confession.  Again, not to be saved, for that has happened upon the moment of belief!  But rather, for the growth of the "new man" who is saved and being prepared for the eternal glory ahead.

I am not in the habit of doing this.  I am not in a regular cycle in my prayer time of confessing my anger, my bitterness, my resentment, my envy, my jealousy... my so much more.
But I will tell you, without a doubt in my soul, that upon confession of these things, the barriers that lie between me and my precious Savior fall.  The vertical relationship is freed up for further intimacy; the horizontal relationships, likewise. Oh, beautiful grace!

This tiny bloom is part of the set called, "Succulents" by Rebecca Rios.

Oh praise the One who paid my debt,
who raise this life up from the dead!
JESUS!

Much love,

Deeds

PS - Only sneak peeks of the October release for now.  Full release for October will be available next week.  Keep your eyes on the lookout! :D
PPS - Please use my affiliate link here to shop at the Sweet n Sassy Stamps Store!  

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

Journaling Cards

Hey guys,

I'm thrilled to be sharing this blog with you as it involves the making of something that has become a huge help to me in my Bible journaling:  journaling cards.

There are many ways to use these.  I love being able to put them in my Bible as a tip-in and such, but I've seen many use this similar idea for card making, planning, and just basic paper crafting!  It's such a fun technique.  I'm using a couple of April release stamp sets from Sweet n Sassy Stamps today, the affiliate link is right here to get your own!
Additionally, if you check out my Youtube channel, you'll see the full process video of how, what, and why I made these colorful additions to my repertoire. 

 

As in everything "Bible Journaling," the thing to remember about the creative process is that it's your own.  It's whatever you make it, it's however you achieve it, it's between you and your Maker, and ultimately about bringing Him glory with your creation!  

I want to share a bit about making journaling cards, and why it is that I made an entire tutorial on how you could mass produce them. 
You may want to use these a number of ways.  I use these types of cards in journaling often, whether in my own journaling or otherwise.  More specifically, I've started to make them to give them. 

A while back, I began a different way of creatively worshiping by way of something called "The Loved Bible Project," which in short, is the idea of "loving" a Bible ( usually compact bible - something small and easily toted from one place to another) through journaling notes, prayers, small devotions, and inspirations on a card, then fastening it in some form or fashion to a Bible page.  I've seen page after page of this concept executed in such beautiful ways!  Some use devotionals and some use their own Bible study time to guide their entries, much like any other form of Bible journaling. 
For me, it encourages growth in prayer and study, and the fruit of those things goes into this little Bible that God has led me to give!  I love it! 
I've been led to give it to a young lady who will be graduating from high school soon and will be venturing out on her very own for the very first time as she begins her college career. 
My hope is that she will look at this as a gift and love offering from me, but more importantly as a reference and tool to aid her in her walk with God in this new life!

I've been enjoying the entirety of this process!  From the paper prepping to the implementation of it, I've been able to work through my own struggles in creativity, my own lack of confidence in artistry, to come out on the other side a little more developed!  God is certainly a Master Creator, giving us each a piece of Himself as we learn how He's gifted us!  He's so good!

If you're interested in finding out more about The Loved Bible Project, I've provided several links below wherein you'll find the explanations of how "loving a Bible" works, as well as AMPLE inspirational pages, and what YOU could do to participate in this journey!

Much love,

Deeds
IG: mercies_journaled
Facebook: Deirdre Cason
Youtube: Mercies Journaled

Stamps used: "Cheerful Hexies" & "Surrounded in Prayer"

Loved Bible Project
IG: @thelovedbibleproject

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLovedBibleProject/
   Also: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1790436421192713/