Bible Art Journaling Fans
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October 4, World Ballet Day
It’s a theme of this blog, and it’s a reminder of my past. Ballet. Tuesday October 4, is World Ballet Day. If you have ever been a dancer, or just love dance, this event is one not to be missed.
Dancing. It has always been one of the most colorful, beautiful things in the world to me. And though I can’t quite participate like I used to, I just love watching these classes from some of the world’s best companies and I’m dancing right along with them.
Psalm 149:3-4 (NKJV)
3 Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
Rejection: We’ve All Been There
“Rejection steals the best of who I am by reinforcing the worst of what’s been said to me.” @LysaTerKeurst #UninvitedBook
“Relationships don’t come in packages of perfection; relationships come in packages of potential.” @LysaTerKeurst #UninvitedBook
Stay tuned for future reviews on the latest from one of my favorite authors, and pre-order your book today! Sign up now open for the next OBS (Online Bible Study) from Proverbs 31 Ministries. Details here!
Follow-up: There is an awful lot to take in with this latest book from Lysa TerKeurst. I found myself looking at past rejections in light of who God says I am. Her concept, He has set me apart while others may have set me aside, rings true to me.
The book is big on her life experiences, and as a writer you can just imagine the rejection she has endured. You will find something to identify with, to improve on for yourself, or to share with others. You will also find some quotes to remind yourself of her concepts, and that is something you may or may not like.
If you are a student of the Bible, the book is not short on Bible verses and stories from the lives of Bible characters are often used to demonstrate her points. I would suggest further study of those stories, to get the full details. I know her ideas are Biblical, but for myself I need to dig deeper to gather the concepts out of the Bible that may back up some of these ideas on rejection.
The most you can do for yourself if you are experiencing the wounds of rejection, is to know that God has made a plan to accept you just the way you are. His love is unending, His sacrifice on the Cross is undeniable. Please visit the side bar if you are unsure of how to come to know Him. He is the reason this blog is here, and He will not reject you. Accept His love today. Feel free to post any comments or questions…….
Romans 5:5-8 (NASB77)
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
The Hope of Easter
Matthew 28:1-9 (NLT)
1 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.
2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it.
3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.
4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.
5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.
7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”
8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message.
9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him.
It’s empty. He is risen. But not before dying an unimaginable death for you and for me. If you don’t know Him this Easter, if this is unclear or confusing or simply something you have never heard about please read the page on Steps to Knowing God. You’ll find it in the right sidebar. Don’t build your Easter on anything less than Christ the solid rock. This is serious business. The greatest sacrifice ever made for anyone, was made for you and me. As always, if you have any questions please post them. If you simply want to express how thankful you are to Him, please do. In this day of instability and world terrorism threats, #Brussels and beyond, we need the hope of that empty tomb. We need to know, our Savior lives. And one day, He will return for us. Again, if you need this hope, this security in your own life, remember the tomb is empty. Don’t live another day, another moment, without surrendering your life to the One who surrendered His life for you.
Have a blessed Resurrection Day. He is risen indeed.
Are You Walking in Faith?
Walking in faith. It’s the other half of this blog’s title, but last doesn’t make it least. It is the key. It’s the missing part of the equation. It’s the piece of the puzzle that you may struggle to place. When it is placed correctly though, you see the whole picture as it was meant to be.
Faith is inexplicable, but without it, it’s impossible to please God.
Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Faith requires you to step out. It requires you to walk forward when you cannot see exactly where you are going.
Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
You may have faith that a chair is going to hold you up. Do you have faith that God is going to do the same? You may have faith in the love of a parent, friend, child, or spouse. Do you have that confidence in the one who died for you? Maybe your faith is in a weekly paycheck, your health, even your location. What if those things crumble?
Hebrews 11:13-16 (NKJV)
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
If you need to know more, please visit my page Steps to Knowing God (click on the sidebar). Read Hebrews 11 for a glimpse into the heroes of the faith.
In addition, if you want some help on the journey, Proverbs 31 ministries is currently registering women for the next OBS (Online Bible Study). All you need is a book, and your internet connection. You decide how many activities you want to participate in, and it’s all free of charge (except for the book.) Did you notice the title of the book?
Note: They have registration open now for the study’s conference call series (available for a small cost) and Facebook small groups. The groups may be full, but they do keep a waiting list. I’ll see you over there when the study begins. Visit the OBS link for all the latest news and registration. #WalkInFaith #P31OBS
Keep walking in faith. And as always, I welcome your questions and comments.
Quick note: It was a great study. There are archives available, all you need is a book to follow along. This quote from Lysa really moved me:
However distant your dreams may seem, God is working things out & today is an important part of that process.
Lesson Learned: there is a place between now and my dreams. A place of growth. The waiting is often long, but the now moments need to be utilized, nurtured and not wasted. Between here and the dream there is much to do and accomplish.
Sprinkled Hearts
Hebrews 10:19-23 (NKJV)
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
21 and having a High Priest over the house of God,
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Calling Christian Crafty folks! (Writers too!)
![dreamstimefree_187386[1]](http://dancingwithsimplicity.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/dreamstimefree_1873861.jpg)
Within the framework of my simple living theme, there lies a huge desire to incorporate crafts into this blog. I have things planned for the future but for now I want to call your attention to a new community I found online for Christian crafty folk!
I was on my Facebook page one day when I was attracted to a group on Bible Art Journaling. Immediately I was amazed at the talent and the desire members had to study the Word, meditate on it and then craft away in their Bibles. You can access the group Journaling Bible Community, on Facebook. If you are from that group and found your way here, please introduce yourself. I would love to post some of your work! The idea of adding art to your Bible may be a little unusual to some. I do believe however, you will see the heart of these men and women in the Scriptural pages they design.
If you are like me and don’t quite feel like an artist (though I have a huge desire to study and learn), don’t fret. You can still do this. You’ll find many in the group who simply are trying their best and learning as they go. You’ll find others whose work probably belongs in a gallery. Awesome stuff!
From that group, I ended up in another online community known as His Kingdom Come . Within the group are two study groups for 2015, and many smaller groups built around different forms of crafts and art. There is also a Facebook group for this community under HKC-Take Me Deeper 2015. Logos365 and Take Me Deeper, are the two study groups. With one focusing on choosing your word for the year, and the other focusing on weekly devotionals, both offer a chance to join with a sub group to create something based on Scriptural prompts.
Ok, if I have not lost you, visit the link to His Kingdom (see the sidebar for direct access) and check out the site video. There are so many wonderful videos, and tutorials (paid and unpaid) within the community you may be overwhelmed. Take your time and look around, and feel free to ask them or me for help. Check out the two Facebook groups as well. I want so much for this blog to reflect the arts, and crafts community. I feel God has created artists, and employed them in this world. More to come on that later. Have fun looking at the sites! By the grace of God, I’ll be attempting to create something most weeks of the Take Me Deeper study…
Warning: Faith Art, Bible Journaling or any other craft in which you work from Biblical prompts, can be life changing. If nothing else, I can say that participating in the art community and focusing on the prompts, has caused me to meditate on the Word. And isn’t that what we are supposed to be doing?
What Are You Seeking in 2015?
Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
There is no greater goal, no greater resolution than to seek God more in 2015. The world is obviously a little bit stressed out lately. 2014 saw a whole bunch of chaos. No matter what your political views, there’s no denying the chaos was and is there even on this last day of the year.
You may have had a wonderful year, or one filled with struggles. In any event, the new year brings a new opportunity to set some goals and work toward some changes. Now you probably know from the past that most of these changes just do not get done. It’s like decluttering your house. How many times have you vowed to do it, and how many times have you failed? That’s what I thought…me too!
The only thing I can guarantee you and myself, is that seeking God first is the real solution for everything. Check out the following:
Matthew 6:25-34 (HCSB)
25 “This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?
27 Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying?
28 And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread.
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these!
30 If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you—you of little faith?
31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’
32 For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Notice how the seeking part, is buried in the worry and the stress? Matthew has it smack dab in the middle of the mess. Why? Because it works. The emphasis though, is on what to seek first. In the middle of 2014 and 2015, lies the chance to do some serious seeking. One day at a time. It may be a little late to recover the time from 2014, but tomorrow is just a few hours away. Start now, seeking Him in prayer as you offer Him your new year.
If you don’t know how to seek Him, or what it means to have a true relationship with Him, visit the Knowing God page on this blog. Feel free to research and discuss what it means to seek both His kingdom and His righteousness.
If Christmas taught you anything, it’s that all the stuff you may have been seeking either didn’t show up under the tree, or it didn’t make you happy. I write from reality and I can tell you you will always have struggles and chaos in the midst of peaceful days. Happiness is never lasting. The choice though, is to seek Him through every year you have on the earth. There is no other way. Seek Him first. Not Facebook friends, not alcohol, not drugs, not money. Seek Him first. Not status, not the perfect career, not toys and the fastest greatest car. Him. First. Above all. Right now before you land in the middle of a new year. And for the record, can you believe another year has come and gone already? Start now!
Ephesians 3:20-21 (HCSB)
20 Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—
21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Struggling with Prayer?
I’m a bit behind in my study of Max Lucado’s new book. Proverbs 31 Ministries has been doing the study in the online Bible study (OBS) format, and it has been a real blessing. Lucado offers a very concise prayer model, that you can utilize and modify for your daily prayers. I wanted to make you aware of a different site, so you don’t feel like you have to fit the time frame of the OBS study. This is the last week of that study, but these resources have no time schedule. Take a look, read the book and let me know what you think. I find Lucado’s style to be very warm and encouraging, and I think his model prayer is a great place to start, or continue your prayer life from. Just as he suggests, his pocket prayer will provide you with something to focus on the minute you get out of bed in the morning. Instead of running to tune in to the news, take time to pray
Visit the site for more information and sign up for a four week prayer challenge. While there, take advantage of the free sample chapter, free worship song download, and sample video.
Simply Thankful, 2014, 2015
If you have spent any time in the Bible at all, you know you don’t have to look far to find reasons to be thankful. The Word itself is overflowing with reasons to give thanks to the Lord. I’ve heard various authors declare that if we would just list a few things to be thankful for, we won’t stay in a sad state of mind for very long. What are you thankful for this year? Has He been your strength and shield? Has he delivered you from addictions, financial woes, illness, dangers of any kind? Has He blessed your home and family this year? Maybe things have not gone so well, but you can still find glimpses of the miraculous in your life. Make a list this year, and share it with your family around the table. Have your children make their own lists to share. Do a word study on any Biblical passages referring to giving thanks.
Recognize His work in your life. Reflect on it on this special day. Respond, by giving back to Him and to others who might just need some encouragment.
Psalm 28:6-7 (NASB77)
6 Blessed be the LORD, Because He has heard the voice of my supplication.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.
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