In the Palm of His Hands

One of the most comforting things when going through a storm in your life, is knowing that God is in control.
Psalms 95
Gods hand is in the deepest places of the earth, He created it all.
You are in the palm of his hand!
Sometimes we may feel like a tiny little boat in a huge swelling storm but remember that you and that storm are sitting in God's hands.

I thank God for being with me and taking care of me in the good and bad times.

Time Flies

Our lives are short so why do we live as if we have millions of years here on earth?! 

I'm guilty. Of waisting precious days. Are you? 

Ephesians 5:15-17 

See then that Ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be Ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of The Lord is. 

We need to go through life with responsibility, knowing our purpose, seeking Gods will! 

But this verse shouldn't just apply to seeking God and being responsible, we should also spend as much time with family and friends, especially your loved ones! 

Do you ever find you and your spouse/ family all sitting on the couch each on your phone or IPad watching tv not even enjoying the tv show together? Or worse. All in separate rooms? 

Don't take advantage of the short time we have with our loved ones! 

Psalms 90:12 So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. 

Faith Moves Mountains

Matthew 17:20
With faith in God we can do anything. We can move Mountains.
We each have our own mountains, some may be harder than others. Maybe it's a mountain of laundry,  a stack of papers at work or, a new journey in life.
As Christians, thankfully we know of 2 very important things that can get us through tough times. God and our Faith in God!
Not much may happen if you don't have that second part.
Luke 1:37 says with God nothing is impossible!

Look Up

Colossians 3:2 set your affection on things above, not on the things on the earth. 

Are you looking up? Usually when we are in need, we are thinking of God praying to God and hopefully looking up! But what about when everything seems to be going perfectly? I wouldn't ever go as far to say my life is perfect. Ever. Not even close. I love my life and all the things in it, but spiritually I need a lot of work, I'm sure I always will. I still have times though that everything seems to go just right, I'm happy and good things are coming my way, but. Those are the most dangerous times, don't get caught off guard and find yourself focusing on all your earthly treasures. Focus on things above. 

No matter what circumstances we are in we need to LOOK UP! Remember what Jesus did for us, and most of all pray that you're staying in Gods will for you. 

Committed Like Ruth

Ruth Chapter 1 

Ruth made a big commitment to her mother-in-law after both of their husbands had passed. A commitment to stay with Naomi and to trust in her God. The world we live in now is much different than back then but we still have many commitments. 

Ruth stayed true to her commitments, have we stayed as true to ours? 

Make a list of all your commitments and promises -- in all areas of life.

Now go through and check all the ones you have 100% stayed true to.

If I'm being completely honest I don't feel like I'm 100% committed to everything on my list. It's not easy to be completely committed to things, but no one said it would be! 

Ruth never questioned her mother-in-law, she did everything she asked of her, because of that they were both blessed. Ruth was able to provide food for both of them, she soon got married and had a son, whom became the grandfather of Judah's greatest King, David!

Keep your list with you and do your best to stay true! 

Less Anxiety, More Peace!

Psalms 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace and sleep: for thou O Lord only makest me dwell in safety. 

Does anyone else lay your head down to sleep, exhausted, yet instead of falling peacefully to sleep, your mind is going crazy thinking of all the things to do tomorrow or even days into the future.

I can't just tell my brain to shut off, It's not like I need my brain to be anxiously thinking of what needs to be done, because guess what I can't do it til tomorrow! 

I struggle with this every night, sometimes I don't even realize I'm doing it!

This verse may be a lot more about safety but I like that it begins with peace, and that's what I need! 

When you go to bed, start with saying this prayer, don't just repeat it or say it as habit, really pray to God in your own way! If after your prayer and talking with God you still can't stop thinking about tomorrow, count your blessings! Maybe we can fall asleep thinking about all the good things rather than our To Do list. 

Colossians 3:2 set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth! 

Philippians 4:8 Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS. 

Clothed in Strength & Honor

In Proverbs 31 we learn a lot about the "virtuous woman". All the characteristics she has are things we need to being doing as women of God! I've been wanting to watercolor these dresses for a while now and thought this verse was fitting for it. 

Strength and honor are her clothing, in an earlier verse we learn about her actual clothing but here we look at her inner clothes. She is strong and highly respected by others and completing Gods will for her she can rejoice in the future. 

Let your inner clothes be as beautiful as your real clothing! 

Bow of an Enemy

God loves us so much, he sent his son to die for our sins! But what about before Jesus walked the earth before he was even born? God handled sin a little differently back then. In Lamentations, chapter one Jerusalem is suffering from their sin, they have had a huge downfall, started worshiping false gods and idols and committing adultery, at the end of the chapter is a cry for sympathy, from Jeremiah, he feels Sorrowful for his people who have fallen to a dark lost place. In chapter 2 we read about Gods anger, " The Lord was an enemy he hath swallowed up Israel " 

God was so angry it was as if he were now Jerusalems enemy

He hath bent his bow as an enemy! 

Next was the cry for mercy, and God did have mercy on them as we last read in Lamentations chapter 3 ( my previous blog post ) 

Gods faithfulness is so great there are new mercies every morning! 

Because Jesus died for our sins, we are covered in his blood, have you ever heard/sang the hymn "washed in the blood by Jesus" we'll it's the truth! When we are saved and we still sin God sees we are washed in the blood and has mercy on us, he forgives us, but as we read in 3:19-21 we still remember the things we did to help not bring us back,and to have hope in The Lord! 

Just remember there are NEW MERCY EVERY MORNING. 

If you have trouble studying the bible and taking time to read it, you should definitely try out bible journaling, even if you can't paint or draw, you can use scrapbook stuff and clip art instead. From my experience, I used to have trouble really focusing on what I was reading until I started water coloring illustrations about what I was learning, it has completely changed my study method, and I have really learned so much! JUST TRY IT! 

New Mercies Every Morning

Have you ever done something so awful, that even though you know the people you hurt, including God have forgiven you, you just can't seem to let it go? I'm sure at some point in our lives we've all done something like that.

Lamentations 3:19-23 gives us comfort for those times, or just when you have had a terrible day you can read that and be at peace for the next day.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions  fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

I looked up consumed online and got these words:
》devour
》destroy
》overwhelm
》raging
》powerful

These are things we say we go through all the time, more specifically being overwhelmed by our day. This verse though tells us we are not consumed because of the Lord's love, and that we have tomorrow to look forward to because his mercies are new everyday!

Excited for Christ

Acts chapter 9 starting in verse 18, Saul becomes a new man. He treated Christians horribly and yet God wanted to use him to spread Gods word. Saul went from persecuting and imprisoning Christians, to being saved, baptized, and excited for Christ.
He didn't just go about normal everyday life after being saved, he was beyond happy.
He wanted to go out and share the truth about Jesus to everyone!
So why don't I do that? I was raised in church, have been saved since I was very young. Shouldn't I be excited about telling others the truth about Jesus?!?
It's our job to help spread the word of God, do it with joy!

My journaling page is done with water color, the gold lettering is a paint marker.

Refuge Under His Wings

>> Read Psalm 91

The more I read this chapter the more it became one of my favorites, I read it 3 times before I started this blog  entry, it wasn't till that third time that I truly realized the amazing-ness ( real word??) of Psalm 91! 

This entire chapter is all about GODS REFUGE. If you trust in God, he will be there with you protecting you. " He will cover you with his feathers, under his wings shalt thou trust " 

You have no reason to be afraid or anxious, God is always watching over. 

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee In all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in there hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 

How incredible are those last to verses ( 11,12) God sets angels over us, even for something as silly as stubbing  your toe!! How precious we must be in God's eyes to have such protection. 

Don't however, misunderstand this chapter, yes God is always watching over you but that does not mean harm will never come to you. Sometimes, a lot of times, it's in Gods will for you to Go through trials and tribulations. Hard times. But what this chapter assures you is that even in those times God is with you to help you through it.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder, the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 

If you are ever afraid of stepping into something new God has for you, this is the perfect chapter to remember. 

Blameless, harmless Light of the World

These verses really spoke to me today, I tend to lose my patience and complain about things and argue with people.
My husband and I ordered soup from a restaurant,  to go, after church one night. We didn't ask any questions, who would expect a couple of cups of to go soup to take long, we went to Walmart and back in 15 minutes to pick up our order.
45 minutes later we leave with our soup. The waitress failed to mention that they had to cook a whole new pot of soup. Sometimes I'm more patient but that night I had a headache and wasn't feeling up to dealing with this. I complained the whole time, sent my husband in to complain and then when I finally pulled up to the drive through window I wasn't exactly nice to her. Sure I put on a fake smile and said thanks. But after reading this verse I'm sure that I looked like a sharp prickly cactus to her.
To be a light to the world you can't hide your flame under a cactus.
Be a bright shining light to the world, without murmuring and disputing!

Philippians 2:14-15

Friday Introductuons: My Anxiety

I suppose it's time I introduce myself to those that don't know who I am. As you know from my "About Me" section I'm 23, married and have an adorable sheltie. I attend an amazing family like church, Sand Springs Baptist Church, at that church I teach 3rd and 4th grade girls, I absolutely love it, I learn as much from them as I hope they do from me!
At times I'm known to be very quiet, sometimes that's because I just really enjoy listening to others, but a lot of times it's because I have anxiety problems! Everything I do in the back of my mind I'm constantly wondering what the people around me are thinking, I used to be afraid to do things because my mind was telling me people are thinking certain things about me. I've gotten better, sometimes I still think that way but I DON'T LET IT GET TO ME!
Jeremiah 17:5-8 tells me that I don't need to trust in other people, meaning I also don't need to be anxious and worried of those people, I need to trust in the lord.
Be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, & shall not see when heat cometh but her leaf shall be green, and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Trust in the Lord, dig into the truth, and you should have no reason to be anxious!

Fishers of Men

When Jesus called the disciples to follow Him, they dropped everything to go with Him, they went everywhere with him and even after Jesus rose and went to heaven they kept spreading Gods word everywhere they went. 

We should be that way too! It's not just up to the preachers and leaders of our churches to spread the light it's up to ALL of us in everything we do. We need to be the light of the world!  

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 

                                                 Mathew 5:14

God puts us in places he knows we can do something for him. 

He gives us each special talents, we all have different ways we can spread Gods word, God wants us to use those talents FOR HIS GOOD WILL, not to just hide and blend in with the world, we are to be fishers of men. 

SUPPLIES : For "fishers of men " I used,  acrylic paints, "precision pen" , stickers. 

For "light of the world" I used water colors. 

Submissive to Gods Will

 I've been reading Beth Moore's, Jesus the One and Only, I am only just finishing chapter 2. (Im a slow reader, as in I don't always take the time to read instead of watching TV!) Anyway, so far I am enjoying her book, I love ALL of her stuff.

I just finished reading about the angel, Gabriel, approaching Mary and telling her all that was about to happen to her. Only at first Mary is surprised by how highly he spoke of her but then she seems to understand; she only asks one question and that is how is this possible? Once the angel tells her how its possible with God, she is FULLY submissive!

 First off, if an Angel approached me, Id be a bit freaked out, and then to tell me I would do something SO  INCREDIBLE, I would be SCARED.  So this lesson reminded me how God asks me to do stuff all the time, Im sure there are times I don't listen and sometimes I say to God " I don't think I'm ready for that yet".

Do you think that God would tell you to do something if He didn't think you were ready for it?!

NO

We should be submissive to Gods will, its okay to ask a question now and then, but its not okay to question Gods judgment!

Isaiah 55:8-9

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

So the next time God tells you to do something and your afraid or just think your not ready, remember:

How I did My Journaling

The black handwriting is with prisma color pencils. 

The silver handwriting is a paint sharpie. 

Stickers for the G and W, I think came from wal-mart. 

The angel wings is a stamp from Hobby Lobby. 

The night sky and the river are with different types of paint ( just whatever I have on hand ) 

And glitter on the angel wings!! 

TIP: I majorly messed up on the bottom, I drew something that ended up just looking terrible and it took me a while to decide how to Fix it! I was so upset! 

Luckily I found a tip from www.sweetpapertreats.wordpress.com

I painted over my mess up with white paint and once that dried did the blue and green, I painted that part with my finger because I didn't have a paint brush big enough. 

The Flower Fades

This is BY FAR one of my favorite verses! Isaiah 40:7-8 it's also some what repeated in 1 Peter 1:23-25
The world, the people, and the things in it are frail and fading away over time, but the word of our God will last forever!
Without God we are lost, withering and fading with the earth! But with God we will have eternal life!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Are you a Proverbs 31 Woman?

  In honour of Mothers day this subject felt appropriate. Though I am not a mother yet, and may be a few years before I am, I think Proverbs 31 is meant for all woman, young women included! 
  It's not like we get married, have kids, and THEN become the Christ like mother and wife we should be. It's something we need to be working towards our whole life.
  If we are a godly woman first, we can be a godly mother and wife when the time comes.  Read proverbs 31 and underline or take note of all the characteristics of the Proverbs 31 Woman, keep them with you at all times and think about them as you go through your daily routines.
Are you a Proverbs 31 Woman?

Favour is decietful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30

Life is useless without God!

Psalm 127

Life would be useless without God!
Unless we have God's blessing, our hardwork is pointless. We can still get plenty of things accomplished but if we don't pray to God and involve him in our life, then those things are not done purposefully and with eternal value.

I have trouble applying this to my life, I even had to pause in the midst of this devotion to pray and involve God, because I had already forgotten.
I challenge myself and anyone who reads this to pray and involve God in all your decisions!