Hear & Practice...

Hi friends,

I don't know if anyone else went to Sunday School when they were young and sang "The wise man built his house upon the rock..." which leads to "and the rain came tumbling down." (Apologies if you now have that song on repeat in your head for a while!) 

Having sung the song many times and heard the story told, I assumed that to build your house on the rock meant to build your life on Jesus. That sounds right, doesn't it? But that's not exactly what this passage of Scripture says. In Matthew 7:24 Jesus says, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of wine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Then in verse 26 he goes on to say, "But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand." Notice that in both of these scenarios, the men heard the words of Jesus? But it isn't enough just to hear them - they must be put into practice.

As a piano teacher, I have for many years encouraged my students to practice regularly - after all, that is the only way they are to grow in their proficiency on the instrument. When I read these words of Jesus, I think about what 'practice' should look like in the life of a person who wishes to build their house on the rock. I think it looks like taking Jesus' words seriously and prayerfully asking the Holy Spirit to show us where and how they apply to our lives right now, then acting upon these words... repeatedly. After all, practice is a repeated thing, not a once-off action. We can't claim to be building our lives on the rock if we obeyed Jesus' words once, 10 years ago, but haven't since! 

I'm personally convicted about how easy it is for a gap to appear between my reading/hearing or Jesus' words (which really include Scripture as a whole, as it is God-breathed) and the practical ways it is applied in my life. I need to be more intentional about identifying how my daily actions are being shaped, challenged and changed by listening to Jesus' words. 

I used the Welcome Home set on this page to stamp the houses and their roofs in different colours, then added some shading with coloured pencil. The rock and sand were painted with acrylic paints, and the sky was created using gelatos and a bit of stencilling using Versafine ink. The text was stamped using a combination of Loop da Loop Alpha, Mini Grunge Type Alpha and Old Fashioned Alpha. Here are the sets I used:

Let's be people to not only hear the words of Jesus, but actively put them into practice in our daily lives.

Be blessed...

x Amy x

Comforting Others Is a Gift

 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Unfortunate things and hard time happen to all of us, just as God said it would...

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

God knew we would have suffering in our lives, and his gift to us is peace. The peace he gives to us surpasses all understanding. And what a gift it is! Trials in our lives can leave us completely and utterly drained and exhausted. I know personally there are times that I've cried so many tears I think I completely ran out of them! 

But other than the gift of peace, we also gain the gift of experience that we can then share with others and use to comfort them in return. I know it sounds like it kind of sucks. "Hey, I don't want to suffer just so I can comfort others! That's no fun!" But, it's really just a silver lining, a precious gift. A way we can turn a negative situation into a positive. 

The apostle Paul was a man who endured many tribulations in his lifetime. In the letters he wrote to the church he describes all the hard times he faced and how God helped him through each of them. His letters have become instrumental in the lives of those he knew and to the generations of people that have read them in the bible since then.

On a personal note, losing my dad almost 2 years ago (wow I can't believe its already been that long!) was the most traumatic thing I have experienced in my life so far. It was a real struggle that first year but it has gotten easier to deal with over time. But, I have come to learn personally that from that experience, I have in turn been able to give pieces of advice to others going through similar situations. People find a lot of comfort in the simple fact of knowing they aren't alone in a dark time.

The reason I painted Reese's peanut butter cups on my page is because are one of my favorite types of chocolate. Chocolate is ALWAYS a physical comfort to me. If I'm sad, hurt, stressed, mad, so many emotions seem to feel better with chocolate! So that's my little physical comfort that I seek in those moments. 

But, when my heart is heavy, stressed and not at peace, God is ALWAYS my first go-to source for comfort. And he never disappoints! 

xoxo,

Stephanie Gammon

IG: @faith.and.creativity

Mini Grunge Type Alpha 

Bold & Outline Alpha 

Bitty Minnie Alpha 

Grunge Elements 2

Is Not My Word Like Fire?

Hey friends!  I want to talk about fire this week and how God's Word is like fire, just as He says here in Jeremiah 23:29.

“Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord,

“And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?"

First, fire purifies and cleanses.  Wildfires clean out the dead and decaying underbrush and trees in forest, allowing for new, healthy plants to take root and grow.  Much the same way, God's word clears the decay out of our lives and makes room for fresh starts and new growth.  Psalm 119:9 says "How can a young man cleanse his way?  By taking heed according to Your word" and in John 15:3, Jesus says, "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you."

Fire also provides light.  Before electricity, homes were lit by candle light and oil lamps.  God's word also lights our paths and drives out darkness. The Bible points us to salvation, which God wants for us all.  Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path."

Fire can also burn.  God's word touches our conscience and burns our hearts when we behave in ways that are displeasing to the Lord.  It allows us to feel what grieves Him.  Does your conscience burn when you read Matthew 5:43-48?  Mine does!  

One of my favorite attributes about fire is that it warms us when we are cold!  There's nothing better than coming in from the cold and being able to warm up by a crackling fire.  God's word does that for us as well.  It encourages us when we are down, it melts our cold hearts when this fallen world attempts to harden them and it warms our souls.  Psalm 34:10 says, "...But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing."

I wanted to do a stained glass look for this page, so I found an image of one online that I liked and used Procreate to roughly trace it, changing up the shape of the flames in several places.  I printed it and traced it in my Illustrating Bible.  I stamped my title and heat embossed the lettering using black embossing powder.  Then I used an embossing pen to trace my lines and used black embossing powder on my image as well.  I colored it in with watercolor and added a white outline to my lettering.  I used a new set, called Old Fashioned Alpha and my favorite, All of Me Alpha to create my title.

Thank you for checking out my post & until next time, catch up with me on Instagram & Facebook @simplyjillsjourney.

Jill

For This Purpose

But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you My power and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Exodus 9:16

Hi Friends!

Many people put their hope in government. That the government will make their lives better or fix the problems that we have in this world. But no human leader or government can give us what we're looking for. Only the one true King can. And in Him, my friends, is where we should place our hope.

I'm talking about governments today because in Exodus 9, we find Moses in the middle of his back and forth with Pharaoh, in the midst of plagues. And one of the things God said to Pharaoh through Moses really caught my attention. Verse 16 tells us 3 things:

1. God put the man who was Pharaoh at that time in that position. Pharaoh may have thought he was Pharaoh because he was a god, but he was mistaken. The one and only God put him there. 
2. God placed Pharaoh in that position of leadership so that He could show Pharaoh His power. God was revealing Himself to Pharaoh.
3. God also placed Pharaoh in that position of leadership so that His name would be proclaimed in all the earth. God was glorified through what took place between Moses and Pharaoh and the freeing of the Israelites.

So what does that mean for us? It means that God reigns supreme. No matter what the political parties are doing, no matter who is president, no matter what countries are world powers, God is in control. He is the One who puts people in positions of leadership. And no matter what they do in that position, good or bad, He will use it to reveal Himself and for His glory.

We have an election coming up here in America. But I'm not putting my hope in any political party or candidate. My hope is in my Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the one true King. And regardless of what happens in the election, He reigns. And that, my friends, is good news. May His name be glorified around the world!

Page Details: I used the following Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps sets: Welcome Home, Old Fashioned Alpha, Marker Alpha, and Bitty Minnie Alpha. For the background, I used acrylic paint. I spritzed my page with water first so that the paint would move on the page more easily and blend well. I stamped the ground, and then used a black marker to fill it in to the bottom of the page. To draw the word bubble, I used a Micron pen. The Welcome Home set is great to make silhouette images like I did on this page, but using colors with the set also makes really cute houses and scenes.

Praying that you place your hope in Him. Have a blessed week! Andrea

Holy & Godly Lives

Hi friends,

In 2 Peter, the writer to the church undergoing persecution gives a number of warnings and encouragements. Toward the end of this short letter he comes to an important question in the midst of all the struggle and difficulty: 'What kind of people ought you to be?' (2 Peter 3:11) The answer is that they should live holy and godly lives as they await the return of the Lord.

I think it's not hard to see some similarities in application to our lives today. We are going through some pretty rough times, with a global pandemic, political ugliness and uncertainty, many not being able to meet in churches as they are used to, rising unemployment and many other challenges. It is easy to despair or hide away or lose faith and focus on Jesus. But these words from 2 Peter give us a needed encouragement and challenge. In the midst of everything going on, we are to live holy and godly lives.

What does it mean to live holy and godly though? Well, to be holy doesn't mean 'holier than thou' where we look down our moralistic noses at others and think we are better than them. It doesn't mean perfect either. It means to be set apart, to be different, to be consecrated for special use (think about the holy items in the tabernacle). We need to realise that this is our identity as the people of God. We are not to be like the world, to blend in, to become like everyone else. No, we are to stand out as a consecrated people who are a habitation for God's holy presence. And what does it mean to be godly? I think it means that we live in a way that imitates Christ and points to our heavenly Father. We should live lives that reflect the character of God, not the character of the world around us. This is a high and holy calling, but one that we do not have to attempt in our own strength. God has given us his Holy Spirit and his Word to help us as we seek to follow and obey him.

On this page I created a background with acrylic paints (I had to use quite a few layers as I had pretty bad bleed-through from the other side!). The text was stamped with a combination of sets: Playful Alpha, Bitty Minnie Alpha, Joint Heirs and Set Apart. The flowers from Encouraging Peonies were stamped on clear sticker paper with Stazon ink, cut out, stuck to the page and coloured with Derwent Lightfast pencils. Here are the sets I used:

Let's heed Scripture's exhortation to live holy and godly lives in these challenging times we are facing.

Be blessed...

x Amy x

I AM Has Spoken - Zephaniah 3

by Deeds: IG: mercies_journaled 
Sweet n Sassy Stamps shop: https://bit.ly/34rC53N
Stamps Used: Encouraging Peonies, Old Fashioned Alpha, 

Skinny Caps Alpha, Mini Grunge Type Alpha
Visit our October Release sets here: https://bit.ly/3iCv5WK

"For then I will restore

pure lips to the peoples,

that all may call upon the name of the LORD

and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

10From beyond the rivers of Cush

My worshipers, My scattered people,

will bring Me an offering.

11On that day you will not be put to shame

for any of the deeds

by which you have transgressed against Me.

For then I will remove from among you

those who rejoice in their pride,

and you will never again be haughty

on My holy mountain.

12But I will leave within you a meek and humble people,

and they will trust in the name of the LORD.

13The remnant of Israel

will no longer do wrong or speak lies,

nor will a deceitful tongue

be found in their mouths.

But they will feed and lie down,

with no one to make them tremble.”

Israel’s Restoration

14Sing for joy, O Daughter of Zion;

shout aloud, O Israel!

Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,

O Daughter of Jerusalem!

15The LORD has taken away your punishment;

He has turned back your enemy.

Israel’s King, the LORD, is among you;

no longer will you fear any harm.

16On that day they will say to Jerusalem:

“Do not fear, O Zion;

do not let your hands fall limp.

17The LORD your God is among you;

He is mighty to save.

He will rejoice over you with gladness;

He will quiet you with His love;

He will rejoice over you with singing.”

18“I will gather those among you who grieve

over the appointed feasts,

so that you will no longer suffer reproach.

19Behold, at that time,

I will deal with all who afflict you.

I will save the lame

and gather the scattered;

and I will appoint praise and fame

for the disgraced throughout the earth.

20At that time I will bring you in;

yes, at that time I will gather you.

For I will give you fame and praise

among all the peoples of the earth

when I restore your captives

before your very eyes." Yahweh has spoken.

Happy Tuesday, Friends!
This passage is from Zephaniah 3, starting in verse 9 and tracking all the way to the end. 
All the bolding and highlights above are mine.  Sometimes, this is how I Bible Journal in my study Bible.  Leaning in to any section, I look for repetition, similes, Christophanies, etc. So something like seeing the name of God (e.g. LORD, God) urges me toward simple highlighting, which then helps me to better track references to His person - His heart. 

Now...
It's in our character to grab verses (like these highlighted in pink) and keep them for our very own, holding tightly to dispersed promises throughout.  I know, because I did that, and do it still, from time to time. The Old Testament is interwoven with instances where - even through their rebellion - the Israelite nation is given blessings, or promises of a specific blessing, promise, future, etc.
Now...

I believe there's nothing wrong with using these scriptures for personal growth and intimacy with God.  Nothing.  God expects that when you read His Word, there will be areas that we need to wrestle with to better understand the entirety of the meta-narrative of Scripture, WITH the inherit blessing of growing and maturing in knowledge and grace. That's awesome!  Yielding to the Teacher to help us understand His inspired Word is the point of our Bibles: to come to know HIM.

So what do we do then with this? 

Why can't we look at passages like Zeph. 3 and directly apply these promises to ourselves as New Testament believers?  As post-resurrection, Spirit-filled saints?

I have a thought - a semblance of an answer - that may help.

The whole Bible is about God.

The Old Testament points to the New Testament in "shadows," and prophecies.  The New Testament picks up where the Old left off and carries some of these prophecies straight into fulfillent (e.g. the birth of the Messiah).  They work hand in hand, to be sure, and we shouldn't neglect study of and memory-commitment to either of them.  As said before, they work together to form the entire story of God.  HIS story.
Zephaniah is no different.  
God speaks through a prophet, foretelling future events of God, and God relations to Israel, much like other books of prophecy. And just like other books that proclaim the coming of something or someone, Zephaniah speaks a word inspired by God, about God, and about God's person.

When you read texts that are sweet, lovely to behold, soothing to ingest, peaceful to think on, you should take a quick step back and realize why it is that we are so drawn to - so driven to embrace - the things inspired for each and every reader.  

God.

It's God.

We're driven to God.

HE'S sweet.

HE'S lovely to behold.

HE'S soothing to ingest.

HE'S peaceful to think on.

Right?  Think about it for just a moment.  Is it possible that we were made to read scripture for more than a quick one-liner encouragement about what God can give us?  Is it possible that we were meant to read the Holy Bible - the Word - to actually get God Himself?
I submit with a hearty "yes!"  This was a difficult stance for me to take; I am guilty of passively turning to a place in scripture from which I could get the next "pick me up." 

Friends, the Bible is not about us, nor is it about the Israelites.  

It's about God.  The Bible is where we will gain the most definitive position of God's heart and mind toward all else - every person, every creature, every situation.  

Now read Zephaniah 3 again, knowing just this little bit more about the Word.
God is compassionate.

God is comforting.

God is protective.

God is kind.

God is faithful.

God is merciful.

God is loving.

God is strong.

God is just.

God is God.

And this all-knowing, all-present, all-understanding, all-seeing Protector - the I AM that has always been and will always be, has spoken.

Much love,

Deeds

IG: mercies_journaled

Sweet n Sassy Stamps shop: https://bit.ly/34rC53N

Background done with Faber Castell Gelatos

You are so loved

 

"But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." - Psalm 86:15

I just got back from my second Creative Worship retreat in beautiful Savannah, Georgia and my heart is overflowing! What a wonderful weekend with friends in Gods Word - painting and creating to my heart's content. 💜

My blog post today is a short one and just a quick reminder of this simple fact:

You are so loved.

You are so loved by the God of the universe, the One Who created you, Who knows everything about you and loves you just the same. I think we need that reminder every now and then, right? That we are loved, cherished, and adored by our Heavenly Father. 

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. 

Psalm 143:8

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 

1 John 4:16

We love because He first loved us. 

1 John 4:19

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things presetnt nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Romans 8:38-39

Yes, my friend, you are so deeply loved.

I created this little insert for a Loved Bible that slowly working on. It'll be a reminder to the recipient that she is loved by the One who made her. I trust it is a reminder for you as well. 

I stamped the beautiful Encouraging Peonies stamp set on cardstock paper, then colored in the flowers with my alcohol markers and fussy cut them out. I then attached the flower to some leftover background paper that was already pre-stamped using the Delightfully Delicate background stamp, stamped the "You are so loved." caption and taped it in my Bible. Very easy, but I think the finished card is beautiful. 😍

I hope you remember God's love for you as you go about your week this week. 

Much love in Christ, 

Janelle

@journalingjoy