Doodle tutorial

“I’ve Pitched My Tent In The Land Of Hope”

| suecarroll1

A friend of mine, asked me to help lend a visual for a tent. After studying Acts 2:26 in Women’s Bible Study, it’s what comes to my mind whenever I think of, or see a tent:)

Acts 2:26

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest in hope (NIV)

This same verse is written like this in The Message

“I’m glad from the inside out, ecstatic; I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope.”

Thinking about tents a little further, I created a list of ”attributes”

  • Temporary Home
  • Shelter, Protection
  • Supported by an organized structure (The Church)
  • Held up by it’s frame (Truth)
  • Tied or “rooted” to the ground (Faith)

Abraham left all He had known to obey the Lord’s command and follow Him to a place that was foreign, and for a time, temporary. He lived in tents, and looked forward to the “city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

While we dwell here on earth, in our temporary home, let us “pitch our tent, in the land of hope!” For we can rest in the promise, that we will one day live in “a city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God!”

Revelation 21: Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bridebeautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

doodle-101-tent-1-226-acts-Download
doodle-101-tent2-226-acts-Download

Doodle 101 “Pocket Full Of Sunshine”

| suecarroll1

Happy Thursday!

I’ll admit, I’m a bit of an Emma Stone Fangirl. She makes me laugh:) She was in a movie that I wouldn’t recommend (due to it’s content/theme) however, there is a scene in the beginning of the movie that keeps this song on repeat for me when I think of her:)

When I listen to this song….I think of JESUS. …my Pocket Full Of Sunshine:)

I like what Billy Graham has to say about sharing your pocket full of SONshine…below is an article from

Billygraham.org

So how exactly do you shine?

Do not be conformed to this world … —Romans 12:2a, ESV

“Being a light” sounds great, doesn’t it? But it’s also a little abstract. How exactly do you become this brilliant beacon to people around you? Here are 4 practical tips:

  • Be careful what you say. The Bible calls the tongue “a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). Yikes! That’s pretty serious. And that’s how we should take our speech—seriously. Maybe a parent once told you, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” It’s not bad advice, even as an adult. Words are powerful and can be used for good or bad. You might even post this verse somewhere as a reminder: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29). Read How to Tame the Tongue.
  • Consider your entertainment. Where do you go for fun? What shows or movies do you watch? What kind of music do you listen to? Would you go to the same places, watch the same things or listen to the same music if Jesus were sitting next to you? Or would you be embarrassed? It might sound silly, but asking those questions is a good way to keep yourself in check, whether you’re alone or with others.
  • Use social media wisely. People are watching what you post, whether they interact with your posts or not. Think about the things you’ve posted recently—articles, comments, photos and so on. Could they be seen as prideful? Self-centered? Rude? What’s your motive? To put others down or make them jealous? Hopefully not. Aim to make informed, respectful posts that represent the One you claim as Lord.
  • Think of others. Consider other people’s needs and help meet them. Encourage instead of criticize. Be patient. Give others the benefit of the doubt. If you hear gossip, distance yourself from it or change the subject. When you encounter a difficult person, remember that they were made and are loved by God. Above all, “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you” (Luke 6:31).

Point 2 is something that I’ve personally learned the hard way! It critical what you “put in.” I’ve heard this argument from my kids as long as I can remember… “Watching gory movies, won’t make me a slasher Mom.” Well… It does change your heart over time. It subtly shifts the way you see yourself, others, and even God. You become numb to things, and the line between right and wrong becomes blurred…God’s voice gets more distant, and you walk further and further away from Him and the Love, protection and provision He provides. This is the journey we often take towards the mess we can make of our lives. I’ve made plenty of messes. Every point on this list hits home for me, and it’s important to be reminded of them….especially in the culture and climate of today.

“Draw near to the Lord, and He will draw near to you.” -James 4:8

The rest of this verse goes like this… “Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

We don’t like to admit that we’re double-minded. The Holy Spirit keeps our thoughts clear on this.

”You can’t ride two horses with one ass sugar bean”

We can’t ride 2 horses…

Stay close to the light, and you’ll have enough Sunshine in your pocket to share:)

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Checking in with a few Doodles:)

| suecarroll1

Hello!

Hope you are well! Those of you who follow my blog, know that I have stepped away a bit to dig into what God has placed before me…His people.

I continue to study and Doodle, and work through the Bible in a Year. (See previous post here.)

Today I am posting a few Doodle 101’s from more recent days! (They reflect what I’m studying right now! “Finding I Am” by Lysa TerKeurst)

 

 

Much love to you,

Get Out Of Your Camp

| suecarroll1

Good day!

I am enjoying my last few days in CO, a place where I always feel closer to God. The beauty of His Glory is undeniable, and causes me to pause with such gratitude!

Below are a few photos from our Monarch Lake Hike:)

My husband & I are spending more and more time here, and we were finally able to visit a local church here in town.

It was a Spirit filled service grounded in sound Biblical teaching. It was so refreshing to study scripture together as a congregation…verse by verse. Above all else, we are to look to God’s Word for life. Pastor Doug Toller, Senior Pastor at Winter Park Christian Church has been leading this flock for 30 years. Like my church back home, the Holy Spirit was welcomed and present ❤

Pastor Toller finished up a series he has been teaching on Leadership. As we studied Acts, Numbers 11, Titus, 1 & 1 Peter we learned that Leadership (overseers of God’s church) have a supernatural responsibility to their church. Elders are to be Spiritually mature men who are trustworthy & respected by others. They are to be chosen through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and are to lead through His power. There are Holy qualifications to be met by the Elders, only possible through the supernatural help of the Spirit. They are to hold firm to the Word above all else, standing on the WHOLE council of God.

He concluded his message in Hebrews.

11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.”  -Hebrews 13: 11-14

To Lead like Jesus. This is direction for us all. We are to serve, often suffering, as Jesus served. We are to get out of our “comfortable” CAMP, to reach those outside the gate. Our Savior, set aside His deity, stepping outside His “camp” to lay down His life for us.

“Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.”

Like Jesus, we are called to a rescue mission…one that is uncomfortable and requires that we step outside the safety of the walls we build up for ourselves. Let us ask God  for an increased desire to “share with others” the hope that is found beyond these earthly borders; that He would give us His heart & perspective to see the lost, willing to put others before ourselves. 

This is pleasing to God.

What is outside “your camp?” How can we each answer this call? I don’t know about you, but I spend way more time inside the bubble of “the church” and personally needed to be reminded to DAILY ASK the Lord to send me to those who are in need and ready to hear the good news.

Thank you Pastor Toller and the body of Christ you serve here in Grand County. We felt welcomed, loved and accepted, and heard sound teaching from the Word of God ❤

CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE FOR THE PDF

 

Bless you!

 

 

Ecclesiastes / Read the Bible in a Year with the READ SCRIPTURE APP

| suecarroll1

Good Day!

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by!

For a few days, we are in the book of Ecclesiastes.

If you’ve just joined me, I am participating in my home Church’s journey to read the Bible in one year using the READ SCRIPTURE APP. 

Below is the opening video for the book of Ecclesiastes.

THE PURPOSE: Is life really worth living? Can I possibly find peace and purpose in this life? The author of Ecclesiastes attempts to answer these questions by proving that satisfaction in life can only be found by looking beyond this world. Ecclesiastes gives an analysis of negative themes but it also develops the positive theme of overcoming the vanities (hevel / meaningless / fleeting nature)of life by fearing a God who is good, just, and sovereign (12:13-14).

THE THEME: The fear of God leads to a meaningful life.

(This summary structure was adapted and revised from Bruce Wilkinson & Kenneth Boa, The Wilkinson & Boa Handbook @ bible.org)

All that we seek of the world will pass away like a vapor ———> “HEVEL, HEVEL, HEVEL”

But, our God is everlasting.

”Full of Splendor & Majesty is His work. His righteousness endures forever” (Psalm 111:3) His glory is seen everywhere!

Each day is a gift. Each gift has purpose. In our quest for meaning it is our human desire to be known by the world which leads us away from the gift of our God given purpose. It is knowing the Lord that fulfills our hearts and will keep us “occupied with joy!” I love that phrase!

“Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment  in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. 19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.” Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

It is right to enjoy what God has placed before us…each breath is a gift.

 

 

 

May we each be occupied with joy as we count each day as a blessing, whatever our lot, experiencing the presence of God in each moment as we seek Him with our whole heart. Lord help us…hear our prayer ❤

This clip from Bart Millard is so encouraging and inspiring. I had to share it with you today:)

 

Be encouraged!

God Bless you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking Truth in Love ❤️

| suecarroll1

Hello!

I want to share the process of speaking truth in love in a personal way with you today.

This is something I talk about often, especially with women in my close circles. As a wife and mother, I have learned this lesson MANY times over the years. The receiver will have closed ears if they hear even the hint of anything other than LOVE. (Anger, frustration, condemnation, etc.) Motivation to speak “truth” often comes from these places of frustration, anger, etc. and changing this natural human response could only happen once I acknowledged my own need for correction, and…that without the power of the Holy Spirit, I would not be able to deliver truth IN LOVE. (The message would always be slighlty tainted by “my flesh.”)

Correction is important to our growth, but until it is motivated by love and tempered with that love the recipient will not “hear” a “hard” truth. NONE of us like to hear or “see” our own faults and stumblings.

“And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” -Hebrews 12:5,6

In order to speak truth and have it be heard, we must first develop trust within the relationship. It is only through time that we can develop a “track record” of loving responses that will enable the other person to see our true motivation is a matter of the heart.

I love the example Jason Weimer from CRU shares about this topic

What Makes Talking With You Taste Good?

Consider salt. Yes, salt.

In the ancient world salt did more than just make French fries tasty. Before refrigeration, salt preserved meat to keep it from spoiling. These dual purposes – flavoring and preserving – offer context to verses like Colossians 4:6 – “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

Asking questions, listening, and seeking to understand is a great start to this. We can also encourage people with Scripture blended with snapshots of how we experience it personally.

We can give people a taste of Jesus.

My wife experienced this firsthand recently. We had just bought four chickens and put a coop in the back corner of our property. Our neighbor’s dog became obsessed with them, feverishly sniffing along the fence and refusing to do his other backyard business.

A few days later my neighbor saw my wife in our yard, stormed over, and confronted her.

“I’m not okay with the chickens,” he said.

My wife was taken aback, but she took a breath and whispered a prayer before responding.

“Can you tell me what’s bothering you?” she said. “Maybe we can work something out that would be good for both of us.”

His demeanor immediately changed, as he was expecting defensiveness. It was like my wife had disarmed a bomb, and through peaceful conversation they were able to agree to a solution.

This salt-seasoned interaction with my wife warmed him and our relationship has grown ever since.

So, back to the my personal story:)

Yesterday, I created a post and Doodle 101 regarding Wisdom. Below is the original image I created.

Later that day, a sweet online friend and Sister in Christ sent me a message that was salty, BUT tasted good:) In her message, she tempered truth with such love. She began by encouraging & supporting me, and in a gentle way, asked me about the modesty of the image of “wisdom” above.

She said…”Somehow wisdom with a hint of immodesty don’t seem to go together.”

In all honesty, I hadn’t given it a thought! Often, when I create a drawing tutorial, I consider what will be the most simple and direct way to the end goal. When I drew lady wisdom above, I wanted to draw a simple top, using minimal lines. I also wanted to convey a hint of grace and a posture of “knowing.” I instinctively drew what I would call a “ballet scoop neck” without even thinking about her slightly bare shoulders.

I have to agree with my friend, any form of immodesty and wisdom do not go together! Thank you Sister, for taking the time to not only encourage me, but to also speak truth in a loving way!

I especially liked something else she said that further “tempered” this truth she delivered…

“I totally mean it with gentleness and love, one sister speaking with her sister to maybe help her to see something that she may have missed. Kind of like I would say to a friend that may have some broccoli stuck in her teeth. :)”

What a beautiful example of speaking truth in love.

Here is my new drawing for Wisdom:)

 

 

AS ALWAYS, CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR THE PDF

IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE,