Blessed Justice...

Hi friends,

I've been thinking a lot about justice lately, particularly in the light of events going on in the world at the moment, with many people being treated unjustly because of skin colour. I did a search for the word 'justice' in the Bible and there are so many scriptures that show God's heart for justice.

One of the verses I found was in Psalm 106:3, which says 'Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times.' God is just and he desires that his children are just in all their actions. There are so many scriptures that demonstrate God's heart for justice. Over and over again God tells his people to look after the orphan, the widow and the stranger, and to do justice for the oppressed.

Psalm 89:14 and Psalm 97:2 say that righteousness and justice are the foundation of God's throne. These qualities and related actions are the foundation of God's rule and as his children, they should be the foundation of how we live our lives on earth in relation to those around us. Psalm 106:3 emphasises the 'all times' nature of this way of living - this is not something we can dip in and out of when convenient, but it how we should be desiring to live every day, in every decision. The only way we can do this is through the help of the Holy Spirit, who leads us in God's ways when we ask him for wisdom and yield to him in obedience.

I created this page in my Journaling Psalter using acrylic paints; stamping and embossing the clocks from Time Well Spent (June's Stamp of the Month) with white embossing powder. I added some stencilling with Nuvo embellishment mousse. The text was stamped using All of Me Alpha, Bold & Outline Caps Alpha, Armor of God and Typewriter Blocks Alpha. Here are the sets I used:

I pray that we would follow after God's heart for justice and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and the commands of Scripture to observe justice and do righteousness at all times.

Be blessed...

x Amy x

New Morning Mercy

I am not a morning person. In fact, 5am comes awfully early for me every day. And while I live in a dichotomy of enjoying the peace and quiet before my children rise and hating the early morning hours I have come to realize one thing: the course of my day is determined by my attitude in those first few waking moments. The first thoughts that I have at 5am often take the steering wheel for the rest of my day.   

A few weeks ago I came across an Instagram story that really hit home with me. It said that instead of dreading the day ahead or feeling overwhelmed by its pressure, we should view it as a new day to show God’s love to the world around us. In fact, the person that posted that said she even “named” her alarm in the morning to “a new day to show God’s love” so that as soon as her eyes opened, she was reminded of that truth. Wow! (and, yes, I totally copied her!)

Lamentations 3:22-23 says that, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.”

Every morning we are given a new chance from the Lord. No matter what happened yesterday, his overwhelming, steadfast love for us never ends and every morning He gives us new mercy. 

Did you have a bad attitude yesterday? 
Today has new mercy. 
Did you neglect to read your Bible or spend time talking to Jesus?
Today has new mercy.
Did you struggle with your thoughts or words yesterday?
Today has new mercy. 

My son is so sweet. Sometimes at the end of a bad day, he will write a note to me saying something along the lines of, “Mom, I’m sorry for (insert situation here). I promise tomorrow will be a better day. I love you.” About two weeks ago, I wrote him back and said, “We all have bad days. But the greatest thing is, today is a new day. Today is a new chance to make it better. And, I think you’re a pretty great kid!” 

God gives us new mercy every day. Despite our failures, his love never changes. We all have bad days. But even in the midst of those, He thinks we’re pretty great kids. 

If others reject you today?
Show mercy.
If your children drive you to insanity?
Show grace.
If someone hurts you to the point of being unwilling to forgive them?
Love them and forgive them anyway.
When the world argues and fights about the truth of the Word?
Stand up for what you believe and extend the mercy, grace and love you were shown. 

The change in our world happens when the truth of the gospel is LIVED OUT among believers. From the time your eyes open in the morning decide that despite yesterday’s failures, you will accept His new mercy and show it to the world. Every day is a new day.

Crafty Details
I started this page by printing the Happy Flowers digital stamp on clear sticker paper and placing it behind the page that I wanted to paint so I could see the outline. I messily watercolored where the flowers and leaves would be and once dry, placed the sticker on top of the colors. I stamped the first few words of the phrase with Teeny Alpha and then the words “Mercy, Grace” and “Love” with Bold and Outline Alpha. I finished the page with some brackets around the scripture and washi strips on the top and bottom.

Seek the One that is Seeking You

Seek the Lord while He may be found; call to Him while He is near.

Isaiah 55:6

In these turbulent and uncertain times, does the Lord feel closer or further away to you?  It seems like I hear Him more than ever before.  I feel like He is pleading for lost souls to turn to Him.  Like He's asking for His flock to tell the world about Him and the redeeming power found in the blood of Christ.  

We need to seek Him while He's crying out to us.  He is near.  He wants to be found.  

Page details:

I created the background for this page using Distress paints, then stamping with Texture Tiles 1 and Psalm 23 Background and stenciling with Distress Oxide inks.  I stamped my title with several alphabets from Sweet 'n Sassy, including  Bold & Outline Caps Alpha, Typewriter Block Alpha and School Days Alpha.  I added some art marks and paint splatters.  Then I couldn't resist adding these peonies from the Peony Cluster set.  

Sets I used:

Until next time, catch up with me on Instagram & Facebook @simplyjilljourney.

XOXO,

Jill 

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Hi Friends!
Today, we're in Ecclesiastes 3. When I was studying this passage, I came across an explanation of verses 1-8 that I'd like to share with you. The source is gotquestions.org.(https://www.gotquestions.org/time-for-everything.html) It says:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 is a well-known passage that deals with the balanced, cyclical nature of life and says that there is a proper time for everything.In this passage, the Preacher (Solomon) says that there is a time for every matter in life. He illustrates this truth by juxtaposing opposites: fourteen pairs of contrasting activities as examples of how life is comprised of various seasons. A straightforward reading of the passage reveals several concepts:

First, the timing of our activities is important. Killing someone (Ecclesiastes 3:8) is generally considered evil and a crime, but that may change during a time of war, when defending one’s country can be considered a noble act. Dancing (verse 4) may be appropriate during a time of celebration, but it would not be appropriate for a funeral. Both our actions and the timing of our actions are important to God.

Second, these seasons in which certain pursuits are proper are appointed by God. His plan for life involves a variety of experiences and activities. Weeping may be part of life, but life is not all weeping; laughter has a place, too (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Construction is good in its time, but sometimes deconstruction is necessary (verse 3).

A key to this passage is found a few verses later: “He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). The proper activity at the right time, bringing about God’s purposes, is a beautiful part of God’s overall plan. A tapestry, viewed from the back, seems a chaotic and unlovely work; but the maker of the tapestry has a wise purpose for the placement of each thread.
Third, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 serves as a bridge between the first two chapters and the section that follows. People are to accept each day as a gift from the hand of God (2:24–26). Why? Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 explains it is because God has a reason and a time for all things. People may be ignorant of God’s timing (3:9–11), but they are called to enjoy life in the present (3:12–13) and trust in God’s sovereignty (3:14–15).

God offers much wisdom in the saying, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” God is sovereign. Our activity in this world is meaningful as we rely on His wisdom, His timing, and His goodness.

Page Details:

I used the following Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps sets: Time Well Spent, Bold &Outline Caps, Consider the Wildflowers, Wood Backgrounds, Messy Stamped Alpha, With Love Alpha, and Sweet & Simple Alpha. Time Well Spent has clock hands; so you can make a clock out of anything! So cool! Time Well Spent is the June Stamp of the Month. You can get it for FREE with a $75 order. I used the wood background and painted the center with black acrylic paint. I embossed the numbers, and then stamped the clock hands in silver. I love SNSS alphas! If you don't like your own handlettering, or just want something different, alpha stamps are a great option. The new Bold & Outline alpha is great because you really get 2 alphas in one. You can use the solid or outline images alone, intermingled (as I did on this page), or outline the solid letters with the outline ones. It's such a versatile set as you can get so many different looks from it.

Have a blessed week! Andrea

Iron sharpens iron

"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." 

Proverbs 27:17

Seems self-explanatory right?

Maybe not.

As Christians we are to be mindful of our speech and our actions. Are we saying things that will build up our brothers and sisters in Christ? Or are our words tearing them apart?

Are we pointing people to the gospel of Christ or are we leading them down a path of self-destruction?  

This verse reminds us to use our words and conversations to build wisdom and push each other to be better.

God really knew that we were going to need this reminder when I made this page a few weeks ago. Let us stand for what is right and remember to always point back to scripture. 

Have a wonderful, and safe weekend!

Amanda <3 

What is God Teaching Us?....

Psalm 139:16

"Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there was none of them. "

Our preacher has really been amazing during this pandemic even though church doors were closed. With so much fear and anxiety floating around everywhere, I look forward to turning on my tv and watching our preacher every Sunday! Even though we are sitting in our living room and watching a screen, I get up filling so refreshing and my heart at ease. 

After he finished a few sermons on Faith Over Fear, he spoke about the things he thought God wanted us to learn during this Covid-19 pandemic. Though this is an uncertain and scary time, there are some positive things we can also learn during this season as well. Below I am sharing my pastor's list he shared with us last month. Though there are soooo many more things we can learn right now, this is a list of seven. Seven is the number of completion so he rounded it out there. 

     

7 Things God Is Teaching Us Durning Covid-19

1. Life is so very fragile.     James 4:14

This virus has taught us very quickly that we should not take life for granted. We have lost some very healthy people that we otherwise would have thought would have been just fine! Sadly we have even lost poor children. True, we lose people to the flu every year. But this virus has been different because it was new and we didn't know how to fight it. So we have clung tightly to those we love. Whether it's in our homes or from a safe distance. Life is indeed a fragile and precious thing. 

2. Church community is so very valuable.

A lot of us may have taken for granted being able to gather with church members every week. Sometimes we stress trying to get everyone dressed and out of the house on time making for a stressful morning. And then, when church doors are closed, we realized just how much we needed that fellowship with church family.

3. We are all equal and we are all connected.   Ephesians 2:16

Seeing this virus sweep through our country and the world has been scary. And it has made it clear that it does not discriminate. It doesn't care what your age is, what race you are or where you live. We are all equally susceptible to it. Being that we are all in the same exact situation at the same time, it really helped bond us all together, as one group of people. 

4. We need to slow down and treasure family.

Our normal everyday lives are very fast paced and each day seems to go by in a flash. We are so busy checking off our list of To-Do's that quality time with family tends to fall by the weigh side. This time we have spent at home with our families with literally nowhere to go, has in a way forced us to slow down and enjoy time with family. We have made so many unique memories trying to be creative and pass the time, it will be something to really look back on and treasure. 

5. We should always remember to care for the elderly.

Sadly, sometimes our elderly population seems to get forgotten about. This virus has been terrible on our grandparents and older loved ones. It has really caused us to pause and take extra special care of them. They deserve our unconditional love and protection. We should honor them for all they have done for us. Some people argue about wearing a mask or not. I personally wear my mask to protect the loved ones around me and those I come in to contact with. 

6. Putting our trust in the things of this world is flimsy, fickle and unstable.

Watching the whole country suddenly shut down and close was really surreal. It was so eye opening to see everything just stop while trying to figure out how to still function day to day without the certain "luxuries" we've become so accustomed to. It has helped show me the things that we don't really "need". But luckily, my trust was not in any of those things to begin with. I have been fine without going out to restaurants, movies and various things. I already know that all of those things are temporary and are not important. Our faith and trust should be in God and God alone!

7. We can either be patient or we can panic.   Isaiah 40:31

And lastly, we can choose how we react to this. It is a basic human instinct to go from fear to sarcasm to worst case scenario. Instead of panicking, we need to be still and make good choices. No one makes good decisions when they panic. We have to put our faith in God and He will see us through this. God is sovereign over Covid-19! 

xoxo,

Stephanie Gammon

@faith.and.creativity

Safe With God Printable 

Everything God Does Lasts Forever

Happy Tuesday, creative worshipers!
I like June.  I just do. 
For many reasons.
It's marked by colors, warm winds, bird symphonies, and a whole lot more.  It's a hopeful month.  It's a happy month.  It's a time of the year that I wish could stay around forever.  Literally, forever.
I enjoy when thunderstorms make their entrance. 
I love when my annuals bloom.

I love the happy laughter that comes from kids who have made it through the winter's anticipation of Spring!
I love open windows full of fresh air.
I love the puffiness of the clouds in a sky that closely resembles a painting.

I love early sunrises and late sunsets.

I really do - I wish this month could last forever.

Stamps used: Time Well Spent, 

All of Me Alpha, Chunky Alpha, 

Messy Stamped Alpha, 

Consider the Wildflowers.

But, obviously that's not reality.

I get to watch warm and forgiving winds give way to Summer heat that burns my freshly cut grass.  I get to see full blossoms cower at July's roar.  By August, it's difficult to know whether or not that gorgeous fuscia once existed!  Dear, sweet, Rosalias, you may fade in a couple of weeks, but I will always await your timely return. 
The Bible speaks the concept of coming and going.  It lends a persuasion to the finite-ness of our fallen world, here; right here in Ecclesiastes.    Now, please don't be depressed; my goal today is to purposely draw out the underlying grace of God in this book.  Because even though it seems like a difficult piece of antique literature, ALL of God's Word is His inspiration to us.  ALL means ALL.  Ecclesiastes is written in its own unique fashion, yet remains worthy of note, and full of purpose. I'm still studying to figure this stuff out!

As we peek into this "weird" and seemingly misplaced piece of Scripture called "Ecclesiastes," one thing we pull away is a "teacher's" lessons on life, particularly relating to time and death.  Boy, sounds like a valuable class!  "Come hear lectures about the speed at which time passes, and the length of your life which is like a breath."  Hmmm...where do I sign up?

There's more.  He describes life as a striving - a grasping for something unattainable like smoke or wind.  You cannot hold it.  You have no control over it.  It looks solid in nature, but when you reach to take it in your hands, you come up short. 
This is Ecclesiastes in a nutshell.
There's more. 
The Bible is divided into sections.  Ecclesiastes is a part of the "wisdom" section.  With the scholarly help of theologians before us and even of our time, understanding of this book's puzzling content is available.  I got my help from the website, bibleproject.com.  Now I can better see how Ecclesiastes fits into the divine narrative of the whole Bible!  God is giving us as clear view as possible into the mind of man and what we are made for; how we live in this world as workers with greater purpose and an eternal perspective.
What a good God! 
The following passage of Scripture aids in helping us to see why this book is not just about the mortality of man, and the finality of our endeavors.  It's about God.  It's about God as the central entity and focus of who we are.  It's about His being the reason for life, the reason to work, the reason to enjoy life, the reason to enjoy work, the reason for joy, the reason for hope.  The list goes on. 

"I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. " (Eccles. 3:14 ESV)


Life, indeed, is a complex summation of situations and responses.  To make matters more complex, we have motives and intent.  We think about and emote throughout it all.  As Ecclesiastes educates us on the futility of our work, or the vanity of our constructions, it also brings about the overall and overarching point of life: God.  God is the point of life. 
The reason why we become disappointed, the teacher says, is based on our living life apart from the will of God.

The very reason we become seriously vexed by dashed expectations, according to our professor, is based on our striving to make more of ourselves, and less about our Creator. 
Our friend, the "teacher," is making us aware of the infinitely more worthy and glorious Being, and His being the focus of our endeavors in life. 
Life IS a vapor.  It is a timed sprint.  It's a fast and furious couch-to-5k, for all you running junkies out there.  From dust we were born and to dust we'll go.  We don't know what time frame we're given to walk the Earth.  The Bible even tells us to learn how to "number our days" (Psalm 90).  But the questions is not if we will die.  The question is not even when will we die. 
The sweet grace of this Scripture above gives the answer to life's ultimate question: why am I here?
Why are on Earth are we here on Earth?
What are we supposed to be doing?
What is this life all about?

God.
It's God. 
Because what God does is perfect (Psalm 18:30).
Because what God does is abundantly good (Psalm 31:19).
Because what God does is higher (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Because what God does lasts forever (Ecclesiastes 3:14).

Our lives, according to God, are valuable and useful.  We are made to work.  We are made to worship.  And we're made to do both at the same time.  Life, though a vapor, is not wasted we are focused on the central Character of Scripture; it's enriched.

Much love,
Deeds
IG: mercies_journaled
aff. link: www.sweetnsassystamps.com/?aff=7