Like a Shepherd

Shepherds, there are a lot of references in the Bible to these people. We are shepherds for the people of God, but God is our shepherd too. Today I want to look at the passage in Isaiah 40; where God will guide his people like a shepherd, He will gather the lambs with his arm, carry them and gently lead them.

And while the grass withers and the flower fades, the word of our God stands forever. This is a part of the same chapter. I think it’s a very soothing thought that God will lead His people and that we can trust Him with that. His word stands forever… forever, so it was true back then but it’s still true now. And while this part is written for the people of Israel, we know He will lead us too. He will carry us and gently lead us.

I really love this image from the shepherd holding the lamb in his arms with so much love.
I used the Good Shepherd stamp set and acrylics to create this page.

 - Lucinde

Genesis 37

{jane bosi}  Happy Wednesday, Sweet Friends!  Today I am sharing a layout I completed recently, working in Genesis 37.

This is has been a true work of heart!  My kiddos just concluded the Central Wisconsin Children's Theater production of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat--it was an amazing production, I'm so proud of them.  As part of our post production depression (it happens with every show), we've been singing the songs and looking at pictures.  I also chose to journal:

I went to each show--I almost feel like I was part of it!  It was my littlest ones first show and I was very curious to see how she would hold up--like a champ.  Mid way through the three day run, I decided I wanted to journal the story.  Partly because the music is so wonderful, partly to honor my kids, but mostly because it's such an amazing story of perseverance and the power of trusting in God. 

The story of Joseph tells the tale of his humiliation and struggle, as well as his exultation and blessing.  I can certainly relate in the sense that I've endured valleys and enjoyed mountains, myself.  The piece of the story that really strikes me, however, is Joseph's faithfulness to the author of his dreams.  The Word tells us we will be given the desires of our hearts.  First, however, I believe God authors those dreams for His purpose.  Sometimes, we are willing to follow His dream for us, sometimes, it takes us awhile....(I know this to be true for me!)

Joseph trusted God.  What his brothers intended as evil, God used for good; and Joseph trusted.  We could all learn from Joe ;)

To create my layout,I used a variety of stamp sets from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps' Creative Worship line.  Specifically, I used Outline Alphabet to spell out "Go, Go, Go, Joseph" and "dreams".  I started with white cardstock that I applied various distress inks, in a rainbow pattern, directly to the paper. I trimmed each letter with scissors and an exact-o blade.

I created my "bookmark" using the Awesome Thoughts stamp set.  I love the style of this set and used it quite a bit in the entire layout. 

Joseph is from a coloring page I found online.  I simply traced the image and then colored it using various distress inks and an aqua brush.

Other stamp sets used:  Choose Faith, Classy Script Alphabet, His Book, Seek Him and Note This.

That's all--Be Awesome, Jane

Be still...and think awesome thoughts

Hello!

It's Tifany here from Ink Blots by TRD and I've got three Bible pages to share with you today (once again playing with some paint and stamps).

For the first page (Psalm 46), I used the Classy Script Alpha and Seek Him stamp sets from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps:

For this one I did a "plaid" look similar to a page I did previously, but this time I used paint instead of ink. After my plaid background was ready, I added my stamping and a few accents with a white paint pen.

While I had the Classy Script Alpha stamp set out, I stamped the words "burning bush" on this page:

The rest of the page is hand drawing layered with paint.

For my last page, I used the Awesome Thoughts stamp set. As soon as I saw it, the words "think awesome thoughts" just jumped out at me - so I knew I had to stamp them in my Bible. I added in some tone-on-tone stamping in the background with some stamps from the Fill Me Up set.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

{Philippians 4:8, NIV}

Have a great day!

As always, you can find a full supply list and all my posts pertaining to Bible art or journaling here.

Be Ewe-nique!

Sometimes it's good to take a break from your usual routine & that's what I did here! It's not often that I make a card, but spend a lot more time doing creative worship or scrapbooking. It felt so good doing something different!! Every time I looked at Krista Hamrick's new Good Shepherd set I pictured all kinds of different sheep in a pasture. This card was born of that idea!

I repeatedly stamped the large sheep and colored one teal. It's hard to capture in a photo, but I also added a touch of glitter with a Wink of Stella glitter brush pen. The tiny sheep shows up in the sentiment, where I embossed "ewe" using our new Classy Script. Simple patterned paper & cardstock layering completes my project. Hope you have a chance to break away from your usual routine and be EWE-nique this week!

XOXOXO
Rebecca

Faith, Hope and Joy!

{jane bosi}  Happy Tuesday, Sweet Friends!  I'm always looking for ways to speak my faith in my workplace.  It can be a tricky thing in secular organizations.  Especially, when you work with kids.

Recently, I've had the opportunity to move to a new position in my organization and it's afforded me the huge privilege of having my own office.  I wanted to create a space that would be warm and inviting; where the kids would feel safe and want to come.  I wanted it to reflect my personality and feel homey. So, what better way to accomplish all that than to decorate with my own art pieces?

I completely adore this worshiping girl from I Am Loved and always think that is how my Heavenly Father sees me.  With her as my focal image, I created this 3 x 3 canvas--I love how it turned out!

I really wanted to use the sentiment from I Am Loved, "Holy Spirit, you are welcome here" but the sizing wasn't right.  As I applied layers of paint, stencil, gesso and modge podge, the answer became clear.  With faith, I have hope and because I have hope, I experience joy!  Choose Faith!

My subtle message to "my kids" who come to visit in my office is all about planting a seed.  Maybe they'll ask, maybe they'll wonder, maybe they'll hope......

Maybe, just maybe......Jane

I got crafty with:

Good Shepherd

Hello Bible Journaling friends!  By now you have probably seen the new Good Shepherd stamp set designed by Krista Hamrick and released in the Creative Worship line of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  I'm sure that all of you have at one time or another been comforted by the 23rd Psalm.  This Psalm has been a favorite for many down through the ages and no doubt has been committed to memory at a very young age by many of you.  Good Shepherd is perfect for illustrating this Psalm as well as many other scriptures about our good Shepherd.  After seeing an illustrated version of the 23rd Psalm on Pinterest, I was inspired to create my own page.

The page was prepped with two coats of Dina Wakley Clear Gesso and stamped with the images from Good Shepherd.  The rest of the scene was lightly sketched to include the green pastures, still waters, and paths of righteousness.  Kuretake water colors were used to color the page with accents being filled in with KaiserColor Gel Pens and a white Sharpie paint pen.

The whole time I was working on this page, I was able to reflect on the fact that we have such a loving and ever present Savior who promises to walk with us at all times and to carry us as we walk through dark valleys…what a Good Shepherd we have in Jesus!

Here are the stamp sets from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps that were used to create this page:

I hope this post has been a blessing to you!  If you are walking on the mountaintop, bask in the presence of the Lord, and if you are in the valley, allow the Good Shepherd to carry you.

Thanks so much for stopping by…have a wonderful day, a blessed weekend, and a happy Father's Day!

Hugs,

Cathy

Fill my cup

Hello everyone! For the page I'm sharing today I was inspired by the 'Fill me Up' stamp set. I love the 'Fill up my cup' phrase and the little checklist with words. I used the words 'Holy Spirit' from 'His name' to match this stamp set and to complete my page.

I prepared my page with clear gesso and stamped the images and words onto my page. After I stamped everything I colored the background with red and orange acrylic paints. I painted the coffeecup with acrylics too.