Living an ART filled life…“Creativity is a God-given ability to take something ordinary and make it into something special. It is an openness to doing old things new ways…The creative spirit is part of our heritage as children of the One who created all things. And nurturing our creativity is part of our responsibility as stewards of God’s good gifts.” – Emilie Barnes, The Spirit of Loveline
It’s good to have a chance to sit down and write. I may not have long, so I will try to be brief!
I am in the stage of life where I often alternate between taking care of my aging parent (91) and my precious grandchildren. (Ages soon to be born-9 yrs.) When my first granddaughter was born, I felt stronger. I was of course, almost 10 years younger! Back then, it was my Mom who I cared for…now that she is gone, it is my Dad.
It’s hard to see your parents slowly lose their identity. This is especially true for those who do not have a close relationship with our Lord. Those who seek their identity in people and things. This was/is both of my parents. For my Mom, she curled up with the resentment of a lifetime of hurt, for my Dad, he still reaches to find acceptance from others.
I see myself in them both, they are in my genes, and influenced my youth. I am eternally grateful that my loving Father in heaven, rescued me from these things. They would have been my destruction. I chose to look up, and He pulled me out of the pit.
Many of us grow old (if we are given the time here) and must face the symptoms of aging. If we cling to God, He will continue to give us purpose, and provide what we need to accomplish it. I’ve always looked at aging as God’s mercy. For many, a lifetime is lived pursuing self. We get to the end of our rope, and we find that we can’t muster up what we really need. What we’ve been looking for all our lives. Our Savior.
So, in God’s loving mercy, He slowly strips away our reliance of self. This is when we might finally realize He is with us, and then take His hand.
I find this verse in Isaiah so comforting.
I’m so weary of the demands, and even the wounds of the past…but, I know that if I continue to look up, God will provide for me the compassion, perseverance, patience, wisdom and strength needed to be the daughter He calls me to be.
Click on the image above to print 🙂
Many hugs to those of you out there caring for the aging. It is hard, but we might each be there one day. I try to remember that, and love (with God’s help!) even when my flesh wants to run.
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
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:)
We’ve all been stuck in a boat that is caught in a storm. I’ve been in quite a few…some of my own doing. I STEPPED WILLINGLY INTO THE STORM.
I have a dear friend who has been in the boat such a long time. The thing is, her kids are in the boat with her. Their storm is a very physical one. Medical issues that are unrelenting.
Unrelenting
adjective
not yielding in strength, severity, or determination.
My heart aches with her…Her kids are fighting a storm of health issues that are NOT YIELDING IN STRENGTH OR SEVERITY…DAILY. If you are a Mom, you can probably relate to the deep pain you experience, watching your children suffer in ways you cannot relieve…if you could, you’d gladly take this pain from them…but lack the power to do so.
These are the circumstances when we have NO CHOICE but to completely LET GO OF OUR GRIP …we must let go of the stern to take hold of Jesus hand. (Mark 4)
“Mortal words” never make a dent in the wall of suffering some endure…
What has gradually changed my perspective on my life, my child, and my family’s struggles is that it’s never been about me. When I believe that life is all about my happiness, when I think that I could do more if I didn’t have this hardship or that I am missing out on what life could have been, I get discontent, anxious, and downcast. But when, by God’s grace, I trust that nothing happens apart from his will and sovereign plan, I am encouraged and strengthened, knowing he is working in and through even my darkest days, to make me more like him. It is in the midst of our darkness that his light shines most brightly to those around us.
As much as we would like answers and help for the painful, confusing, overwhelming circumstances, we must remember that Christ himself is the answer that we need in both an earthly and spiritual sense. He knows each member of our family intimately and is working out his good purposes in each of our lives (including the children he calls home and those living with disability or illness), often in ways we never would have expected. As we learn to trust Christ in our grief, despite what seems hopeless, we can begin to grasp more deeply the profound hope of the gospel.
If you have been entrusted with a road that has been marked by loss in your parenting and are struggling to see beyond the pain, I pray that you will be strengthened by remembering that your family has been divinely chosen to display God’s glorious redemption story. Although we aren’t promised healing (physical or mental) on this earth, we are promised that Christ will not waste one tear we shed over the painful effects of sin and brokenness within our world. You are not hopeless, you are not alone, and your losses will not have the final word.
Entrusted with this pain? How can we ever wrap our human mind around this truth? How did Job do it?
In a recent post, I shared a story Tony Evans told about the Shoe Cobbler.
“I work down here, but I LIVE UP THERE.”
I only know of ONE WAY to reconcile the storms of life we find ourselves in… “THIS IS NOT OUR HOME, and GOD IS GOOD AND ONLY HAS GOOD FOR US.” <—- ok, maybe that’s two ways:)
ONLY the Lord can give us peace in the storm…hope, in the storm, power, in the storm. He promises these things to His children. We either believe Him or we don’t. If we do believe, then the next VERY DIFFICULT STEP is to let go of the stern and trust Him for everything we need to keep moving forward… cause let’s be honest, there are days when taking another step feels absolutely impossible. Our head know that ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH CHRIST, but our heart has a bit of trouble with this.
Most days, all I can do is lovingly listen to my friend…then pray. There are no “words.”
I know that there are times when we have weathered a storm so long, that we stop asking for help. Do you know what I mean? We think that others are bored with our struggles and needs…but this is not where a TRUE friend resides.
I’m posting this Bullet Journal spread for those who are participating in the study with me. (Live at my home church) These pages are meant to be used to prayerfully process and record what you have been learning the last 4 weeks!
For those of you following along online, please feel free to create these on your own. If you have any questions about the material, contact me anytime!
If you’re not following along with the study guides, I’m hoping you’ll gain some inspiration, to use however you feel led!
Happy Thursday!
Our Bible Study meets on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, so these pages start with Wednesday:)
The above “Tracker” is designed to create space and encourage the practice of paying attention to our emotions IN THE MOMENT…to PAUSE…and then PRAY… asking God to reveal what has triggered them (often something from our past). This will give us victory over them. Instead of allowing emotions to RULE us, we can invite God to reveal the truth, giving us power over them to move forward with HIS perspective.
In our workbook this week, we dug into our daily emotions to uncover some deeper roots. Emotional triggers that might be linked to the past…things that have been said or done to us that have left us with a distorted view of ourselves, others and even God.
Emotional responses often set you on a course that can lead away from God and towards sin…which then ignites a chain reaction with the people around you…a snowball affect that started with something that might not even be true.
With practice, we can learn to stop this chain reaction, by ABIDING. Stopping in the moments of a day to lean in, to ASK and to LISTEN for the HELP of the Holy Spirit.
Bible Entry for Week 1 (traceable margin printable below)(NOTE: this isn’t placed in my Bible in the right location. I wanted to show how to tape in the margin behind then trace on the next page)Click on this image for printable https://1arthouse.wordpress.com/untitled_artwork-10/pdf
I haven’t been present here on my blog for sometime. The main reason is something that I’ve mentioned before…The Lord has called me to be more intentional with relationships and discipleship, which limits my time online.
If anyone out there is still following, I thought you might be interested in seeing some of the content from my latest Bible Journaling Study I am teaching at my church.
In this study, I am incorporating both Bible Journal entries along with weekly bullet journal layouts. The Bible Journal entries become a memorial to the Lord, the time spent with Him, and a record of what He is revealing to our hearts. The Bullet Journal spreads are designed to focus on the action of practicing His presence…taking tangible steps to abiding…inviting the Lord to be apart of every moment. Stopping, Pausing, Asking, & listening before we take the next step. Anything we want to excel in takes PRACTICE 😬 It is UP TO US to choose what we find important.
The content for this study comes from a workbook I wrote entitled The Virtue Of Contentment. It is a lesson I have learned through the process of transformation, which started over 20 years ago when the Lord pulled me out of my pit. I began my journey with the Lord at age 15, but lived as the poster child for discontentment for years, due to the fact that I had no idea what it looked like to walk with the Lord daily…really relying on Him for my every need.
BIG IDEA (WEEK 1)
We can learn to be content in ANY situation if we are relying in and connected to our God, through Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 4:12-13
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Contentment is not found in circumstances but in the person of Jesus Christ.
Until we arrive at this truth, we can spend a lifetime looking for fulfillment in what we THINK we can obtain or earn for ourselves. Our loving Father has all that we need to live a life of true contentment …..if we look to Him to meet ALL our needs.
In our workbook this week, we dug into our daily emotions to uncover some deeper roots. Emotional triggers that might be linked to the past…things that have been said or done to us that have left us with a distorted view of ourselves, others and even God.
Emotional responses often set you on a course that can lead away from God and towards sin…which then ignites a chain reaction with the people around you…a snowball affect that started with something that might not even be true.
When I was first married, I brought with me a very distorted view. I learned growing up, that if someone hurt your feelings, they did so because they don’t love you. My poor husband never knew where all my emotional reactions were coming from. He would do things, unintentionally “hurting my feelings” and I would put it all in my unloved bank account. Boy, did this lead to a big snowball that rolled out of control!
With practice, we can learn to stop this chain reaction, by ABIDING. Stopping in the moments of a day to lean in, to ASK and to LISTEN for the HELP of the Holy Spirit.
This is what Jesus told His disciples would be even BETTER than remaining with them Himself …but rather, he provided the Holy Spirit that would be within them…accessible at ANY time.
Contentment is a “SECRET we can learn” if we lean into listen.
This is a spread used to track our emotions. Becoming more aware of specific emotions, what triggers them, and how the truth can lift us above our circumstance to see with God’s perspective.This is a hard bound bullet journal I am also using. The page weight of this one is a bit heavier, so less bleeding through.
I recently found a SWEET resource for “HOUSING” several journals at once
Chic Sparrow is a company that creates beautiful leather products, including journal binders.
This is what the inside looks like. It has pockets, and 3 elastics to hold 3 separate journals
It is so much more beautiful in person!
This is another spread that includes some personal journaling. Childhood memories, and a verse that speaks to my heart as I think about serving others and my city:)
We find contentment in God’s presence as He meets us in our obedience. We can experience great joy as we operate in the purpose He has created us for:)
I will continue to post about this class in the 5 weeks to follow!
Today’s post comes from Dr. Pastor Tony Evans message “Why God Wants to Bless Us” in his series The Key to Spiritual Victory.
I encourage you to listen! I’m ALWAYS inspired and challenged by Tony Evans! I’ve attached the audio below
The story comes from Luke 5:1-11.
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
5 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
Jesus’ took the Bible study out on the water. He taught spiritual truth from the boat.
When the sermon is over (vs 4) Jesus has moved from a generic sermon to the multitudes…
from a sermon to everybody … to an instruction for somebody …Peter. (Simon Peter)
It’s One thing to come to church and hear a generic message for everybody…
It’s a another, when you get a message with your name on it. Jesus spoke truth then gave Peter something specific to do. It was a contradiction to everything Peter knew.
He obeyed (though it came from a place of doubt) and a miracle occurred…the greatest catch.
Peter responded by “falling to his knees” in recognition of who HE was, and WHO JESUS IS.
God tells us “My ways are not your ways” (Isaiah 55:8) He confirms this through His blessing.
“God Blesses you
so that you can…
see how much He knows vs what you know
see how Holy He is Vs. how sinful you (we) are
He wants to bless you so that you can be a blessing as you follow Him.” -Tony Evans
Tony describes blessing below:
Blessing: enjoying experiencing and transferring the goodness of God in your life.
If there is no transferring than you have prostituted the blessing.
The Lord desires for us to use His blessing as a mechanism of transfer.
He Blesses you so that you can then follow Him to the next step He has for you…to transfer the blessing to others.
Has God’s blessing caused you to follow Him, or has His blessing caused you to count fish? Are you spending so much time counting fish that you forgot the one who knew where they were located? OR are you so busy looking for what you desire to miss the blessing God has provided?
I love the conclusion of Tony’s talk. He addresses the fish. He asks the question WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE FISH? “THEY LEFT EVERYTHING AND FOLLOWED HIM.” (Vs 11)
HINT: God Funds His purposes through the blessing.
LISTEN to the audio to hear the end of this powerful sermon!
May the Lord cause us to recognize His blessing that we might better understand WHO we are, and WHOSE we are. May He cause our hearts to be grateful, so that we can’t help but transfer His blessing to others.
1Arthouse 