But God Gives Growth

I don't know about you, but when I get passionate about something, I want everyone around me to be just as excited as I am. It's in my voice, it's my choice of words. I'm going to shout it out and tell the world.  Relate to that?

Where I have gotten into trouble is when I think my calling is your calling. Or even my way is better than yours. When I think my convictions should be yours. When I have thought my way was best, and you are just wrong. The older I have gotten, the more I totally understand that we are different. We are meant to be different that God has uniquely gifted each one of us.

Now read these verses:

"After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building." 

1 Corinthians 3:5‭-‬9 NLT

I thought of these verses and how this may play into bible journaling for some of us. We often look to others and compare. We try to do it her way, their way, God's way. We may journal prayers, write subtitles, blog, pray, read, pull out the commentaries. We might share every word or never share a thing.

I'm here to say your way, is right. What God has laid on your heart, do it his way, your way. I've been in the place where I have read word for word every sentence on the page. Soaking it all in. I've also been in the place where opening His Word and meeting Him on those pages... was too much.

God is using you in this season. He is growing your ministry.  It looks different for all of us, but He is doing it. Pray. Trust Him. Follow what He is calling you to do in this season and be present with HIM.

ART TALK
Hello printables! This month's printables were gorgeous weren't they? I printed the outlines on white sticker paper and resized them to fit the page. Here is a pic after I printed them.                    

Then I watercolored the flowers, pot and watering can. I cut a slit in the pot so the stems of the flowers fot inside. I stuck those to the page and then watercolored the background. Stamped with new Skinny Minnie Alpha set. And can we talk about that texture? 😍 These texture stamps are amazing!!! They go on every page!!! This is how I love finishing my pages. A little bit makes such a big difference.

Click her to shop Sweet N Sassy Stamps

You can follow me on IG @ StirtheSOUL 

(You can watch a time lapse video on my IG account.)

Blessings,
Colleen 

His Family Banner

Love love love reading the Bible chronologically this year. It’s so fun to see the whole Bible as one great big story from beginning to end.

I just finished reading Numbers and loved the organization listed in this great book. God is such a God of order and detail.

“Then the Lord gave these instructions to Moses and Aaron: “When the Israelites set up camp, each tribe will be assigned its own area. The tribal divisions will camp beneath their family banners on all four sides of the Tabernacle, but at some distance from it.”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭2:1-2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It goes on to list all the tribes and their numbers and that they are to camp...under their banners...in specific places.

“In summary, the troops of Israel listed by their families totaled 603,550.”
‭‭Numbers‬ 2:32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

With over 600,000 people there had to be some order and structure!! Can you imagine them just wandering around with no idea what they were doing, or where they were going? Or who was leading whom?

Isn’t that often how we do, though? We just go about our business on our own little way, without a clue what we’re doing! Maybe that’s just me...I’m not sure.

But what I am sure of is this. God is a God of detail and instructions. He shows us how to live each day and we don’t have to wander around aimlessly doing our own thing.

I think it best if I stay under His family banner!!
Will you join me?

“So the people of Israel did everything as the Lord had commanded Moses. Each clan and family set up camp and marched under their banners exactly as the Lord had instructed them.”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭2:34 ‭NLT‬‬

___________________________________________________

The art behind the story:

When I read these passages, I could just envision a large banner posted at each “neighborhood” camp.

I hand drew the banner in pencil first. Next, I added various watercolors in the background. Using the new Sweet 'n Sassy Skinny Minnie Alpha stamps, I stamped the word “Judah” in the banner.

After that, I stamped the houses from Love Your Neighbor several times. I added color to the houses and letters with colored pencils. Lastly I outlined the banner with a marker and added watercolor spots to add some visual texture.

Thanks for stopping by today. If you’re reading the Bible chronologically this year, leave me a note here in the comments, or send me a message on Instagram. I’d love for us to be to encourage each other to finish strong!


Hugs,

Gayle (Patio Ponderings)

Bring Him Glory

Hello Friends! I have been looking up verses and passages that talk about sharing our story and bringing our Father glory. This passage in I Corinthians 10:31 says "whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." Seems simple right...but how many times do you find yourself grumbling about picking up dirty underwear, cooking meals when all the kids are complaining or wiping up mysterious spills you step in with your socks.....I am so guilty! I found myself feeling convicted to put more love and joy into my seemingly menial tasks, because I am not doing them for the praise of my children and husband...but for my heavenly Father who sees all I do.

I began this page using VersaFine ink and white embossing powder. I cut my 'Bring Him Glory' stamp in half and stamped, and embossed the image. Next I used my watercolors to create a background, making my white image leap off the page. To fill in the rest of my title I raided my scrapbook alpha stickers. This is a really simple page that only took me a few minutes but I can guarantee will remain in my heart for a very long time.

I pray that these simple thoughts remind you of the importance of everything you do. You were created to glorify, honor and worship God! So the next time you are picking up your children's toys, or stain treating grass and mud stains, remember you are glorifying your heavenly Father and He sees your heart! Be sure to hop (lol...like a bunny) over to the shop and pick up all the fantastic March stamp releases.

love you all,

Jenn (on Instagram @creativegurl85)

Jesus Paid It All

Good Morning everyone!

I hope everyone is off to a great start this week! As we continue to go through Lent and get closer to Easter I thought I would share an Easter page with you all. If you follow me on social media I recently did a bright and colorful Easter page with a cute little bunny and lamb. That page represented the fun and cheerful aspect of Easter. However, we all must not lose focus of the true meaning of Easter and that Jesus Christ died for our sins. The page I am sharing with you guys today is a little darker than most of my pages tend to be, but I hope you will find that its message resonates with you, as all of our bible journaling pages should! As that is the meaning behind bible journaling in the first place!

To me, Easter brings back a lot of memories of being in church, all dressed up, and singing the old hymns. So for this page I chose to journal on top of one of my favorite Easter hymns...

"Jesus Paid it All"

🎶🎶.....'Cause Jesus paid it all
All to him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain, 

he washed it white as snow..... 🎶🎶

Jesus sacrificed himself for all of us! For all of the mistakes/sins we have made or even will make! Can you imagine someone doing that in today's world? Someone tells you, "yes YOU are perfect and have made no mistakes, but everyone else in the world has sinned and committed terrible crimes. And, you need to sacrifice yourself (the truly innocent one) so that everyone else can live!"...... Can you imagine the look that person would have on their face?! Yet, Jesus knew that was his purpose and he willingly sacrificed himself for the sins of others! And because he sacrificed himself, we are forgiven!! Washed white as snow!!

Thinking about this, I pictured a list of all of our sins, like it was a bill that needed to be paid. And when Jesus sacrificed himself for us, it was stamped in red with a big 'ol stamp PAID IN FULL! We were no longer in debt because He paid it all! This page was a lot of reflection but also fun to do. I used Distress Oxide for the background and applied drops and drips of water to add the texture effect. For the "debt list", I stained a piece of watercolor paper with coffee, and stamped the text with the Mini Grunge Type Alpha and Texture Tiles 1. Then took a lighter to it and carefully burned it and added some scorch marks. To finish that piece I used two stamps from stamp set The Good News. I have listed all of the stamps used for this page below as well. 

I pray this page has helped you to reflect on the true meaning of Easter as we slowly approach this upcoming holiday! If you want to do some Easter bible journaling, be sure to visit the shop and pick up some of our great Easter related stamp sets!!

xoxo,

Stephanie Gammon

Mini Grunge Type Alpha

Texture Tiles 1 

The Good News

Classy Script Alpha

Trust Confidently

He is not afraid of bad news, his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112:7

Dear Friends,
This world is full of bad news. And it can certainly be frightening. But, this verse tells us that "he" is not afraid of bad news. Instead, "he" resolutely trusts the Lord. Huh. Why is that? Who is "he"? To find out, we have to go back to verse 1 where it tells us that "he" is "the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments." So, "he" can be any one of us! With God, we can face bad news, trusting in His plan, and knowing He will work it for the good of those who love Him and according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). That doesn't mean it won't be hard. It just means instead of being afraid, we can be hopeful...hopeful in and because of HIM. He is worthy of our trust. He is worthy of our hope. He is worthy.

For the page, I used the following Sweet n Sassy Stamps sets: Garden of Grace Printable Bundle, Skinny Minnie Alpha, and Cold Coffee Alpha. The printable bundle includes 44 precolored images and 12 outline images in JPEG and PNG formats. It's brand new and the images can be sized to whatever size you need! Also newly released is the Skinny Minnie Alpha. I LOVE alpha sets. They are a great way to journal if you don't like your hand-lettering, or just want a different way to letter. I used a Micron pen to embellish the stamped letters and to hand-letter the others. I used watercolor crayons for the background too.

Trust in Him, friends. Don't be afraid. Be hopeful. Andrea

God Waters My Life

You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain,
    for so you have prepared it. You water its furrows abundantly,
    settling its ridges, softening it with showers,
    and blessing its growth.

Psalm 65: 9-10

God waters what He plants; He nourishes and feeds giving everything necessary not only for growth, but that His plantings flourish.  Earlier in this same chapter, verse 4 says, "Blessed is the one you choose and bring near to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house..."  God chooses those who will come to Him in faith and He brings us near to Him.  He completely satisfies as the God of our lives.  

I've certainly experienced times of spiritual dryness, but those were never because God did not supply my need.  Life can just be very taxing and can drain us.  That's why we need God!  We need to come to Him in prayer, to His Word to be constantly refreshed.  He will never disappoint...He is always there to pour upon me the treasures and goodness from His house...from the resources of heaven itself.  

I had so much fun with this page.  I wanted the visual impact of watering from heaven so I heavily watered the page.  Then I saturated my brush with paint and water and ran the brush along the top of the page.  When I lifted my Bible the water/paint mixture ran down the page.  I love the effect.  So glad it worked as I envisioned since I didn't practice first!  I mixed up some green and yellow paint to get a color that matched the green in the printables I used, and repeated the dripping process, only taking the mixture from the bottom of the page and tipping it from the bottom.  I'll definitely use this process again because I like the dripped look as a background.  

Garden of Grace Printable Bundle

with digital color and outline images JPEG/PNG files

All the cut-out elements for the page came from the just-released printable I designed for Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, Garden of Grace.  You get a ton of goodies for the money and this bundle is soooo versatile.  You get 3 pages of printables that are easily cut out on most cutting machines with a scan and cut feature or you can always just fussy cut them by hand as I do.  My devotional with an interactive page for deeper study is also included.  But the BEST part of our printables is that they come with digital versions to download.  You get the color images as JPEG and PNG files as well as a few of the images as outline files so you can do your own color scheme.  All the digital files can be sized for your needs too.  So you can personalize everything about this bundle.  

For the lettering I used another new release, Skinny Minnie Alpha designed by Rebecca Rios.  The smaller letters are from the set Mini Grunge Type Alpha...which I love because the letters are smaller. 

 Skinny Minnie Alpha Clear Stamp

Mini Grunge Type Alpha

 

Lessons from Leviticus...

Hi friends,

I've been reading through Leviticus in my Bible reading plan and have been really blessed and challenged by the truths revealed in this book. In the past I have found this part of Scripture difficult, and have often given up my quest to read the Bible through at this point, but this year has been different. I dug out some commentaries and Bible studies to help me and the Holy Spirit has been wonderfully dropping nuggets of truth into my heart as I read.

This first page was about not holding a grudge against people in your community - wow, this is a tough one. It is so easy to get offended with people in our communities, whether family, church or wider community. But God tells us clearly not to hold grudge against anyone, but to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. One of the striking features of this chapter (Leviticus 19) is the repeated phrases 'I am the Lord' and 'I am the Lord your God.' These commands about the way we are to live are rooted in who God is and His desire to dwell among us.

The very next page had this reminder that God has always been interested in the way His people treat those who are foreigners and strangers among them. We are not to treat them as less than us or different from us, but we are to welcome them among us and love them as we love ourselves. The heart of God hasn't changed since the time of the Israelites in the wilderness - God still wants us to be hospitable and loving to those from other lands who come and live alongside us.

For these pages I used the cute Love Your Neighbor set, as well as Mini Grunge Type Alpha:

 

 

I encourage you to dig into those parts of Scripture you may find more challenging, to ask God to reveal His truth to you, and to use some of the amazing resources available to help your study. God is always faithful to give us wisdom when we ask in faith.

 

Be blessed,

x Amy x