sue carroll

Doodle 101 / Back To School/ Wooing Through Distress

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My daughter has 3 children, 2 school age and one very active toddler. She is a teacher by trade, so homeschooling during this Covid confusion might be easier for her, right? As I watched her breakdown in tears after walking her kindergartener through his first day of “virtual school” I realized that her pain over the loss of going to a classroom for the first time, meeting a new teacher, making new friends, and experiencing the joys she once had, run deep. It was heartbreaking. We want good things for our children (& Grandchildren!) We want the BEST for them. I want GOD’S best for them:)

I know from my own trial and (much) error, that the only way forward is through…and the only way to make it to the other side with joy and hope is by clinging to the Lord for every step. Is it easier? No, not really…BUT, in times like these, the Lord is so good to provide what we need if we dare to believe.

Getting used to a new normal, will never feel normal, if we are stuck in the past. It is so challenging to remember that this in NOT our home, and it will never feel normal. Here, we will always long for the garden. Each day we are required to choose. Do we choose to believe this is it or do we trust that our home is being prepared for us by our Groom. Our good Father gives us a new day….EVERYDAY, and this is our best hope! Our discomfort is the blessing and vehicle God uses to woo is bride…

I encourage you to read all of Job Chapter 36.

We are held down by our misunderstanding of restriction, when we view our world with the limitations of man. God has so much more for us if only we would look up. In the hope of a new day, there is always the blessing of a better way. One that we cannot find for ourselves. We must abide… pray continually…rely on God to order each step.

King Solomon knew that if He prayed according to God’s will, the Lord would answer…Solomon prayed for wisdom to better love and serve God’s people. Yahweh honored that prayer because it was motivated by love for both Himself and others. The Lord made Solomon the wisest King on earth.

Modeling this kind of prayer changed my life. No longer do I limit my requests to what my human mind can imagine, but trust that God has so much MORE than I could EVER imagine, when I am motivated by LOVE. (Ephesians 3:20)

I found an article by John Piper that explains Job Chapter 36 in great depth. With the link below, you can read or listen to this insightful teaching:)

https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/job-rebuked-in-suffering

For those of you who are in the midst of much “hard” know you are NOT alone. There are so many facing trials of all kinds. Each of us desperately needs God’s wisdom to evaluate each step we are to take. HIS WAY, is always the BEST WAY. <—— If you’re not sure this is true, keep track of your steps. You’ll see, over time, that when you are in the driver’s seat, the road you are on does not lead to the place of your dreams:)

Again, I encourage you to read Job 36…the whole chapter. I believe Elihu’s words to Job give us hope for the circumstances of “our day.”

PRAY PRAY PRAY for God’s wisdom, it will be given to you, and your steps will then lead to contentment…and life. Your suffering draws you closer to God, and is meant to refine, not destroy.

I am praying for you all, especially for my daughter, and Mom’s like her…who strive to honor their call to train up their children in the way that they should go. It’s not an easy road, but the Lord has given us His BEST GPS…We simply need to turn it on, and follow. We will arrive in God’s timing, to eternity.

Click on the image above for the printable.

Much love,

Free Image Downloads for Phomemo

| suecarroll1

I have recently purchased a new little toy that many of you may have seen out there in the Big Wide Creative Net. Maybe you have one yourself! If so, this is the post for you!

The Phomemo is a tiny little portable thermal printer, that creates stickers and labels on the spot from your iPhone, Android, Ipad or Computer.

What does it print? Graphics, Photos, Lists, Calendars, Labels and more!

The model I have is the MO2. There is a MO2S available for about $20 more, but I am still unclear as to the difference between the two? (I am awaiting a reply to this question from the manufacturer) One roll of paper comes with the printer, but you must purchase paper/sticker paper separately. There is DEFINITELY a BIG difference between the papers available including plain white paper, white sticker paper and transparent sticker paper. NOTE: each paper has a specific duration for ink clarity. Some paper states the prints only last 2 years. Look carefully before you buy; my advise is to purchase the “longer life” paper that promises 20+ years.

If you are printing temporary mailing labels, notes, etc., the 2 yr paper is fine:)

You will also need to download the free Phomemo App to your device. In this App, there are lots of free printable graphics, & labels, along with a banner function and “Notes” section. If you want to add text to an image, you will need to save the image and download it to the “NOTES” section and there you can add text. Here you can also adjust the size of your image.

This is an example of the Transparent Sticker Paper.

I think the Transparent Sticker Paper is my favorite for use with my Bullet Journal or Bible Journaling. If you fussy cut the design, you can add simple color to the page with markers or watercolor, and then place the clear sticker image on top. Below are some examples that I created this way.





Transparent Sticker Paper / Fussy Cut/ Applied to top of watercolor
Transparent Sticker Paper applied to watercolor heart
Transparent Sticker Paper applied to watercolor background/tank
Transparent Sticker Paper (with all black print option) applied to gold watercolor background
This is cute little bird image is printed on long lasting white paper, with color added after printing, then glued to the page.

I have not experimented with all the paper available. There are lots more options, including blue ink print and gold, just to name a few.

I’d like to share these images with to try! If you don’t have a Phomemo, you can print these images on 8.5 x 11 transparent label/sticker paper:) The download file is linked below.

Below is a link to these images. These images were illustrated by me, and are for Personal use only please! Art copyrighted by 1Arthouse.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e8gi9f4ziuyepfw/AAAwE6GYuUXSaHB8TOB4bqSTa?dl=0

Happy Journaling and Creating!

Xo,

The Virtue Of Contentment Week 4

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A Spring Bible Study Session that includes Bullet Journaling

WEEK 4 / The Virtue Of Contentment 

Small Group Discussion Outline

Philippians 4:4-9 

Final Exhortations

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 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. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

BIG IDEA

Rejoice in the Lord always because He is near. Replace anxiety and fear with grateful prayer in every situation and the peace of God will be yours. His peace will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. To live “right” you must replace “wrong” thinking. Focus your thoughts on righteous things. (Noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellen, praiseworthy) PRACTICE what you the Lord has taught you.

Philippians 3:12-16 

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus

BIG IDEA

Commit and take hold of the purpose you have in Christ, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. Keep moving toward the Lord, for He is the “prize” …and our goal is becoming like Christ for eternity.  

Discussion Outline

Philippians 4:4-9

PG 76 

-In what areas of your life do you find it hard to experience 

  joy? —-> roots? (Fear, worry, anxiety, pain)

PG 77

2 Timothy 1:7 

  • Do you access God’s power in your life?
  • Why or why not?
  • Do you lack peace? Could lack of peace (relating to lack of joy) be a measure of God’s power in your life?
  • How can you operate (day to day) in God’s power? (Practical application)

(“Do not be anxious about anything, in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” )

– Phil 4:6,7

–What do you think Paul means when he says: “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”?

-Why do our hearts and minds need guarding?

Above all else, guard your heart for everything you do flows from it. -Proverbs 4:23

“Our voluntary thoughts not only reveal what we are, they predict what we will become. All conscious behavior is preceded by and arises out of our thoughts. THE WILL CAN BECOME A SERVANT OF THE THE THOUGHTS AND TO A LARGE DEGREE, OUR EMOTIONS FOLLOW OUR THINKING.” (Insights from Tozer)

–Can you explain wrong thinking vs. righteous thinking? 

  (Limited human thoughts vs. thinking with a mind like Christ)

(Wrong thinking leads to wrong action which leads to conflict and distortion of truth)

READ: 2 Corinthians 10:5 

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

–How can we actively take every thought captive?

-Were you able to focus on your thoughts this week? (Whatever is true, noble, etc.)

PGS. 82,83

Philippians 3:12-16

-What does Paul mean when he says “not that I have obtained all this”

  (Achieved perfection, still growing…)

WE ARE A WORK IN PROGRESS, NEVER ARRIVING AT THE FINAL GOAL UNTIL THE “DAY OF COMPLETION. 

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” -Philippians 1:6

Phil 3: 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

–Do you tend to look back or dwell on the past?

-How can this be avoided?

You don’t drive by looking in the mirror. You drive by looking ahead out of the windshield. But it’s helpful to take occasional glances in your mirror and use the information to make decisions about how to drive safely in the present and future. But if you spend too much time looking in your mirror, you’ll probably crash because you’re not paying attention to the present. 

In the same way, we need to take periodic glances backward, but we also need to put the past (good and bad) behind us, accept God’s grace which enables us for the present…moving on with what He is calling us to do now

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” -Ephesians 2:10

-Were you able to spend some time prayerfully processing your gifts and  purpose? (Bullet Journal exerice) Did God give you insight this week? 

-Do you live a purposeful life?  It is something you think about or talk to God about?

Below are some images of the Dutch door pages we used this week to record prayerful consideration of our purpose.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. -Paul

Our ultimate goal is to move forward each day —>becoming more like Christ…operating in the good purpose God has called us each to, as we utilize the gifts He has blessed us with for our unique calling.


Below is a second Dutch door layout to stay intentional with our thoughts leaning into what Paul instructed in Philippians 4:4-9 

AND…to stay aware of our daily goal to keep moving towards God and not away from Him.

The bottom daily “Digital Detox” area is to focus on putting down our phones so that we can be present!

I’ve included a few Doodle 101 handouts I gave to my class this week 🙂

https://1arthouse.wordpress.com/doodle_101_class_instruction-1/
https://1arthouse.wordpress.com/59248847-f6bb-45ad-abd6-b354b2b28baa/




A photo of our class project is below. We used Acrylic paint on water color paper, black microns, white uni-ball signo, stencils and stamps for background:)

I am so grateful that Jesus came for this lost sheep. I choose to look ahead and move in the direction He is calling me to go. He is in the drivers seat:)

Hope my post today is a help to you on your Spiritual Journey with the Lord! Next week, I will post a few more Bullet Journal spreads as well as a review of our study The Virtue of Contentment.

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

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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!

 

 

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

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Hello!!

Writing to you from CO. In awe of my surroundings and the abundance of blessings the Lord provides!! I feel like I walk around repeating…wow!  Wow…wow… GLORY all around!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

That last little “bundle” is my brand new grandson…Charlie:) Poopah and Mimi have the other two so Mom & Dad can catch their breath!

Currently, we are in Ezekiel, as this journey continues with reading the Bible in a year.

Each Biblical Prophet had the same underlying message: return to God. The Israelites suffered from the same disease we see today…me, me, me. God who? It’s all about what I want, what I can get. I WILL find my own “happiness”  😫There is nothing good that comes from this…just a lack of “fruit.”

Like Israel, we choose to align our hearts with the world in self focus without giving the One who created us a thought. This is our natural response…we are rooted in pride.

-In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.” Psalm 10:4

It is just too easy to get caught up in the me, me, me. To see beyond ourselves, we must be engaged with the Holy Spirit. Only He can give us a greater perspective! With my limited view, I will always be disappointed.

I want to look in the mirror and NOT see myself, but Christ in me. As I gaze at my own reflection, I am caught up in the not good enoughs & the need mores…instead of my true identity, which is whole and complete in Christ.

Oh, Lord, give me your eyes to see beyond myself and a heart to love You and others first.

 

CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE FOR THE PDF

 

Blessings to you,

The Jesus Mission

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Hello!

Yesterday, a Pastor at my church was scheduled to give a sermon, but could not speak due to illness. The decision was made to show a video of a previous guest Pastor’s sermon. Our sermon series this month is called PREACH IT, which is designed to rotate guest speakers while our lead Pastor takes a summer study break. <—great idea & need for all Pastors! ❤

The video shown was a 2016 message from Dan Southerland, Pastor at Westside Family Church in Kansas City.

“Dan is a Kingdom-minded, Kingdom-expanding pastor who has planted 19 churches in the Greater KC area and over 200 house churches overseas.  He has a passion to continue mentoring and consulting with pastors and church planters.  He has a colossal vision and has truly been willing to become all things to all men that he might by all some means save some.  Everyone who sits down with Dan for any amount of time leaves impressed, encouraged, and emboldened with a fresh perspective of what they need to be doing in their own ministry setting.” -BRKC

It can sometimes feel a bit disappointing to watch a video or live feed, when you are expecting to see a Pastor preach “live.”  Dan Southerland was NO disappointment!!!

His message was about the “JESUS MISSION” to SAVE ———-> the lost.

Dan declared that the church is to “plunder hell and populate Heaven” here on earth…that our primary purpose is to join Jesus in saving the lost. Anything else is self serving.

He encouraged us (as the Church) to do this in three ways.

MISSIONAL LIVING:

“Get up in the morning and report for duty!” Ask Jesus what He has planned for you today, and follow orders:) Dan shared that he prays this prayer in the shower every morning “Lord, here I am.  I’m reporting for duty. Put someone in my path today that you have prepared to receive Jesus, so I can speak of Him!.” “I gotta find someone to snatch out of hell!” <———love that:)

MISSIONAL GIVING:

“If you give ALL of YOU, Jesus will give you ALL of Him.”  “I will Be rich in my next generation.” Dan reminded us of the woman who offered her last 2 mites. She gave ALL she had and is rembered to this day for her sacrifice. God sees what man overlooks.

MISSIONAL REPRODUCING:

Jesus cursed the fig tree. (Matthew 21:18-19; 20-22 and Mark 11:12-14; 20-25.) Cursing the fig tree was Jesus’s way of saying that the whole nation had become spiritually barren before the Lord. They had the form of religion but not the reality. They knew the right words to say, but their hearts were far from God. They had no fruit. We are to produce fruit, this happens when we abide in Christ.  (John 15:4 ) We are called to ——->  

“go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28: 19-20

Dan said there are “good churches, great churches, & GOD churches.

He said that our heart should beat for the lost…

”Jesus wants His kids to find their way home”(Dan Southerland) the church needs to want this too. We are the church ❤️

 

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW FOR THE PFD

 

I missed Dan the first time around…I’m so glad I was able to hear this great message!

Lord, draw us to yourself so that we might love with your heart, eager to report for duty…because someone’s life depends on it.

Bless you!