God's Foundation

"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2 Timothy 2:19)

Today is the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.  Who doesn't remember those exact moments when you heard about the terrorist attacks, or the planes crashing into the Towers or the Pentagon, or when the Towers fell to the ground, or the plane crashing in the field in Pennsylvania?  I was shopping at Wal-Mart at the time, and I first heard about it at the checkout.  People were gathered around in the electronics section watching the news on the TVs.  I hurried home with my three year old and six month old boys, and remained glued to the TV for most of the day--as much as I could while trying to shield my little ones from my emotions and the chaotic scenes on the television.

How our world was forever changed on that dreadful day.  Lives were lost, reality was upended, and for many, it was a time of reflection on what was truly important in our lives.  The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center came crashing down upon themselves, revealing not only weaknesses in building design, but vulnerabilities in security.  The towers' frame could not hold the flaming infernos, so the buildings and their very foundations gave way.  As two towers of dust and smoke replaced the once gleaming towers of steel, our own social, cultural and emotional foundations gave way as well.  We each realized our weakness.  We each realized our mortality.

The tragedy of that day will forever be burned in our minds and hearts.  But to the believer, and to many who began searching for answers, the tragedy caused us to grasp the truth of God's sure foundation.  Money and power will fail, but God's security is firm and forever.  He has redeemed us by the blood of Christ, and we are sealed and secure.  We can choose to remain in Him, and to depart from iniquity (sin); or we can choose to depart from Him, and remain in iniquity.  

We have a firm and sure foundation in Christ, one that will never falter.  On that truth we can build our lives.  

For this entry, I began by spritzing some Shimmerz Vibez ("Don't Rain on My Parade") and then spreading it around with a wet paint brush.  I dried that with my heat tool, and then stamped the words and tower from the Mighty Fortress stamp set.  I added some texture to the tower's blocks by painting with my aquabrush and more of that Vibez spritz.  I then splattered some of the Vibez and some black paint around the page.  I stamped a little bit of brick texture with a stamp from Texture Tiles 2.  I added some washi tape, a tab and a bow, and some journaling to complete the page.  

I pray that you find your firm and strong foundation in Jesus today, rather than in the things of this world.  Build your life, your future, your eternity, on His sure foundation!

--Julie

Where is your Hiding Place?

Hi friends,

When I received the amazing new Mighty Fortress stamp set, I knew I wanted to create a page using the theme of 'hiding place.' I love the song You are my hiding place and as I was preparing this page in Psalm 119:114 I began to think about all the different 'hiding places' we run to when times get tough...

A hiding place is a place we run to when thinsg get too much, when we are wounded, angry, overwhelmed, exhausted or afraid. Some people hide in alcohol, some in television, some in relationships, some in food, some in exercise, some in career achievement... Where, or who do you run to?

The writer of Psalm 119 declares that God is his/her hiding place and shield. When life gets rough, he/she runs to God. What a beautiful example for us to meditate upon and imitate! Instead of running to things that give us immediate comfort or distraction, let us run to our Almighty God, who comforts, protects and hides us in the shadow of his wings. The comfort he gives is far greater and longer lasting than chocolate or alcohol, the protection he gives is far stronger than any human can give, and he is a far better, nurturing, healing hiding place than television (or anything else!).

I created this page in my ESV Journaling Psalter, which has a blank page next to every page of printed text, which is great for Bible journaling. The lovely poinsettia flowers from Christmas Poinsettia were stamped one at a time, masking one stamped image then stamping the next one slightly overlapping, so there is the effect of having some flower behind others. This stamp set is Sweet 'n Sassy's Stamp of the Month during September, which means you can get it for free with a purchase of $75 or more! The images were coloured with watercolours. I also used Girl Power, and the new Armor of God and Mighty Fortress to stamp the text.

Can I encourage you to examine the hiding places you run to in your life? If, like me, you discover you've been hiding in the wrong places, I want to invite you to run to the BEST hiding place in heaven or earth: God. His love and salvation are your shield no matter storms may be brewing around you.

x Amy x

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. 

Joy and Peace in my Home

I tend to have themes running through my life. I guess we all do where God is really trying to speak truth into our lives and we start noticing it everywhere. Or even take a Christmas set and turn into a message about my home.

You see home life can be hard. I stay at home with my kids. I homeschool them. They sleep in our room often. We travel together. Honestly it's been pretty amazing. We like each other and we love to be near each other, like even early morning coffee breath type of close. Ha ha. We are always together...

So back to the hard part, I'm not very patient. I get frustrated. I speak quickly and harshly. I care more about being right or boss momma, than I do about their heart breaking over my words. My son just gets angry back. He acts like he doesnt care. Hes such a minnie me. My daughter is sensitive. She cries and I break a little and try to recover.

I dont get why this is such a hard cycle to break. I want peace in my home. I want to be patient. I want to be gentle. I want peace.

Read the verse below

"Justice will rule in the wilderness and righteousness in the fertile field. And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in safety, quietly at home. They will be at rest."
Isaiah 32:16‭-‬18 NLT

I don't want self righteousness, not my doing or proving. I want His righteousness to flow through me, to being that peace. To find rest and quietness. To be changed by Him.

So here it is my public cry, God work in and change me!!!

ART TALK
Used Prima Watercolors for background. Stamped Home for the Holidays. Then Added the Outline Alpha Stamp and colored in with Inktense Pencils

Blessings,
Colleen

Your Heart...and the Door

...The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all

your soul and with all your strength.

These commandments that I give you today are to 

be upon your hearts.

Impress them upon your children. ...

Write them on the doorframes of your houses...

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Doors are significant and symbolize the entrance to a more intimate place.  When you put a welcome sign on your door, you are giving people permission to engage with your family, with your lives.  Jesus referenced himself as the door for his followers, (John 10:7).  Relationship with Christ is invitational and intimate.  He welcomes those who believe into the inner places of his person that we may abide there with him.  

It is not surprising then that we have a foreshadowing of Jesus as the door.  God commanded the Israelites, his people of the Old Testament, to write the commands he gave them upon their hearts and upon the doorposts....the area surrounding the door...the entryway.  To enter into relationship with God in the OT, faith was tied to keeping the law, God's commandments.  Perhaps that's why symbolically, the commandments were to be written near the entry point to their personal spaces.  It was a tangible reminder that to be in close relationship to God, there were to obey God's commands out of love and devotion to him. 

God always wants more than outward appearances of our devotion to him.  So His commands were to also be written on their hearts, loved, treasured, remembered.  

For believers today, our relationship to the Father comes by way of the Son, the Door for his sheep.  We know that we are free from the Law...not that we don't obey God and all his precepts, but our obedience is not what establishes relationship.  Our relationship comes through our believe and faith in Christ.  We will obey because we love him and want to please him.  But our obedience is not enough to gain access into the inner parts of the Kingdom.  Praise God, Jesus opens the way for us!

I love the symbolism of this particular door image to illustrate this passage.  Because everything in the OT is a foreshadowing of the New, what could be more appropriate for the door Christ represents than a red door?  Our entrance to an abiding relationship with our Savior comes through his shed blood, and through that gift we are given everlasting life...thus the evergreen wreath.  May we still tie his word, his truth to our hearts!

-----

Design Details:  I used the new Christmas Joy Printable for this page printing the door on clear sticker paper and adhering to the page.  I sponged more color to get the yellow glow of light and some Distress Inks for the antiquing looks.  I used a script stencil for the smudge "commandments." 

Christmas Joy Printable

5-pages including 4 sheets of colored images

scripture prompts

interactive devotional

and JPEG/PNG digital images to create you own custom printed images

He Is My Fortress

" The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge ,

my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

Psalm 18:2 

We all have to admit, the world we live in today is crazy! When I think back to the way things were when I was growing up, there are so many things we have to worry about today that was never even a thought when back then. I could make a long list of all the things that have changed since then, but I don't want to focus on the negative. I want to focus on the positive. The shining beacon of light that we all have to hold on to when life seems scary. 

When life is uncertain and scary, we can turn to the Lord! God is our rock, our fortress, our salvation and our stronghold. We can take refuge in Him and only Him when the world we live in seems crazy and sometimes hopeless. And knowing this place is not our final home, is so comforting. He looks out for us each and everyday and I thank him every day for keeping my family safe!

xoxo,

Stephanie Gammon

Mighty Fortress

Sunshine Girl Alpha 

Bitty Minnie Alpha

Our Shield

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

Dear Friends,
Happy Labor Day! Whether you work or get the day off, I hope you can rest in the Lord. Take a close look at this verse. God is everything we need. 

• The Lord is my rock: He is solid and strong and unchangeable. We can depend on Him. 
• The Lord is my fortress: He is an impenetrable shelter. 
• The Lord is my deliverer: He sees us through times of trouble. 
• The Lord is my refuge: Again, He shelters us. We can find rest in Him. 
• The Lord is my shield: He defends and protects us from Satan and his attacks. 
• The Lord is my salvation: Salvation is only found in Jesus. This salvation is strong, triumphant, and powerful. 
• The Lord is my stronghold: He is our fortified place, the center of our Christian walk. 

We have no reason to fear or worry. God’s got whatever “this” is!

Sweet n Sassy Stamps released some great new sets this month! For this page, I used Armor of God, Mighty Fortress. Both these sets can be pre-ordered NOW! You can even get both as a bundle at a discounted price! I also used Girl Power and Scribble Flowers. I used watercolor crayons too. 

Have a blessed week! Andrea