by tascha |
I have had a few requests via comments and private messages {on facebook} asking how I do this “Bible Journaling” so I thought I would do a blog post about it. [I may break it into a couple of posts, but I’ll post them quickly 🙂 ]
First of all, I must get this out of the way. I have not ever been an artist. I drew a few things {like lighthouses and fences, which have straight lines for which I could use a ruler! lol and I loved drawing big swirly flowers on cards} as a kid. It was fun, but I never felt like an artist and it did not really extend past my high school years. College years were not conducive to being very artistic with drawing, though I did make mini bulletin boards for a teaching class…
anyway…. All of that to say, this is a VERY new venture for me–as in, less than a month. There are bloggers and instagramers {find me here!} out there that have been doing this for much longer.
So, I was first introduced to this concept via TimeWarpWife Share and her blog post: I’m Writing a Legacy Letter, But It’s Not What You Think.
I read it as soon as it was published, as I subscribe to her blog; but I just let it kinda sit in my heart for a while. Then I started talking to my husband about what I thinking: I wanted to do this!
It was not really that I wanted to leave a book for my kids one day {though that could be a wonderful benefit}, but I wanted to create a memory with my kids. And I wanted to have a journal [maybe, possibly, a Bible one day] that would be very personal to me, that my kids could also glean a glimpse into the heart of there mom one day.
My very first sketch was … experimental.
I was on style-overload 🙂 having watched youtube videos and scoured blogs of other journalers.
Then I tried some color and an actual picture.
I was having fun!
Then I made a facebook album of a few pictures I and my kids had drawn {I want them to enjoy the Bible!} and a few people were encouraging. But I’d already caught the bug, so to speak. 🙂
Before this, I would read my Bible. I would pray that certain things God spoke to me would… stick… in my heart. And He has been changing me over the years.
But this type of journaling has opened up an avenue that just brings out some creative juices that were lying dormant [apparently]. And it simply makes my heart happy. Now, I know that Bible study is not necessarily for creating “happiness” but through studying Leviticus at Prayer Meetings at church has shown what true happiness is! –it’s becoming Holy, like HIM… and that is the purpose of Bible study anyway. 🙂
After a few random verses that I love, I decided to work my way through Proverbs during the month of July {2015}… I do not do it on Sundays and while I do read every day, if I do not get to the journaling part, it’s OK! I had to tell myself that upfront–or I would obsess about it. 😉
More on my process… soon!
IMPORTANT! Please remember that this… Bible Journaling… is an expression of your joy and love in studying God and His Word. Comparison is a joy robber! I look at my pictures and find all the flaws… then others look at them and see the beauty in the colors and words that touched my heart. This is about our hearts, not our artistry.
And you might enjoy reading this post by Time-Warp Wife…
by tascha |
A little bit more from James 1:
[you can read about the first few verses Here]
5~If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6~But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7~For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8~A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Wisdom is one of the most valuable things we can possess … but godly wisdom ONLY comes from God. [the book of Proverbs 🙂 ]
Wisdom: the discernment to make the right {Biblical} choice, before acting in haste {in emotion}
I cannot rely on my experiences in life to give me God’s view of a matter.
Thus: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God…
He WILL give to us… liberally: simply and openly. [Proverbs 2:1-6]
And He upbraideth not: He will not reproach or cast us down for asking!
BUT, we must ask in faith, nothing wavering: not doubting {like Peter: Matthew 14:25-33}
If we waver, we are like the sea–being driven and tossed to and fro. We will not be stable in our wisdom.
Because we also learn that: A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
And a man that wavers cannot: think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Ask God for His wisdom
Be confident that He will lead you.
Continue in this direction with faith!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m also on Instagram!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
and I’m on Twitter!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
by tascha
On to the next few verses…
As believers, we’ve learned that trials work patience in our life.
There are some basics in our Christian life: having Joy ~ facing trials ~ learning patience
…back to having Joy.
It’s a cycle.
And we’ve learned that we must be single minded and
Ask God for His wisdom ~ Be confident that He will lead us ~ Continue in this direction with faith!
Today we’re talking through James 1:9-12
9 ~Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
10 ~But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
11 ~For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
12 ~Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
I must admit, I do not recall ever having heard these verses taught, outside of the last one. It’s easy to want to talk about receiving a crown! 🙂
But the poor should rejoice in being exalted and the rich should rejoice in being made low… and the reason for this upside-down-thinking is that we are each going to fade away from this life, as the grass withereth and the flower falleth.
Since James is speaking to believers about trials and patience and asking for wisdom, I tend to think that James is telling us to realize we are all equal before God.
No matter our social or economic positions on this earth {which can change quickly, God see us each, equally, as His child [those of us who are believers]. Just as we, as moms [since I mostly write from my mom-perspective], love each of our children with all of our being, God loves each of us equally.
Of course, sometimes one child or another will be worthy of a blessing whereas another will be in need of gentle correction and guidance back to the right path… so it is in our Spiritual Lives.
There are days when I feel that prod from the Lord that I am not where I need to be… and I’ve had a few days where I felt very close to Him and know that certain situations were a direct blessing from my obedience.
In the end, we will ALL fade away from this life and enter into His Presence on equal ground. No amount of poverty or riches from this life will influence our rewards in Heaven.
Through faith-trials, Patience works her Perfect Work in each of us.
And God offers His Wisdom to anyone who will ask it of Him… with a steadfast faith.
And when we endure the temptations, we will be blessed. We can receive a Crown of Life… which is promised to those that love the Lord and endure through the tribulation {even being faithful unto death [Revelations 2:9-11]}.
I do believe there is so much more we could learn just from verse 12 and the cross-reference mentioned about trials and patience and faithfulness and our testimonies; but this is a blog post, not a book 🙂
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m also on Instagram!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
and I’m on Twitter!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
by tascha
when life hands you {crazy}
Right about one year ago I wrote this post… but it never got published. It was raw. It was typed out in frustration.
But when I came across it yesterday, all I could see was that it was REAL… authentic feelings that I now know many moms feel.
And it’s not a sin to BE frustrated-only to allow it to control you.
The ages and such are a little different now, but the truth still applies… a whole year later:
…when life hands you crazy:
I know many families with more than 4 children who seem to really have it all together.
And I know families with less than 4 children who seem to, well, NOT have it all together.
Me? OH! Our family has 4 children… and definitely do NOT have it all together!
{but together, we have it all :)}
But, on occasion, we give the illusion that it’s all dandy. [hehe]
I have found that life just dishes out crazy… like there’s not tomorrow! {and there may not be}
So what’s a girl to do when the crazy just keeps coming?
The answer might sound difficult, but it’s really just a mindset:
EMBRACE IT.
Welcome crazy to just come and have a seat right next to you!
Crazy comes
and your baby has an outfit-dirtying-blowout 5 minutes before you are supposed to leave for school… go ahead and cry. We’ve all been there!
Crazy comes
and your already-trained-toddler wets herself in the bathroom… at church…
Crazy comes
and your 3rd grader reminds you of her project that was not finished but is due… today.
Apologize after you loose it, and take a few moments to remind her of her own responsibility… and that childhood is the time to learn it.
Crazy comes
when your baby breaks out in hives caused by an allergic reaction to his meds…
…and your 5 year old breaks out in something… caused by a-still-unknown-source…
…and your husband’s asthma [which has been very mild for years] starts acting up daily and your heart is terrified of the struggle to breathe…
…and you have friends and far-away-family struggling with things that make a soul yearn for the Lord to just return and take us all away…
And then you remember there are those who are not yet ready for that.
And so, crazy strikes yet again and you realize that life is going on… for now… and HOW DO YOU LIVE WITH CRAZY?
oh, right… EMBRACE it.
The days I handle the crazy the best are the days I wake up and struggle to get out of bed... And my 5 year old gets up in a grumpy-funk, and I snap at her at 6:35 am…..
and I see the hurt in her face, in the face of her older sister sitting there listening to it…
I realize crazy has come yet another day into my home.
I stop.
I hug that 5 year old squirming her grumps away.
And I whisper a prayer that sounds something like… “oh God, please help me!”
I speak an apology to my babies and coax some laughter out of their little bodies.
because those are the days I am forced to keep muttering… “Lord, make me love with your love and make me speak with your words and make me touch with your embrace…” all day long.
Right about one year ago I wrote this post… but it never got published. It was raw. It was typed out in frustration.
But when I came across it yesterday, all I could see was that it was REAL… authentic feelings that I now know many moms feel.
And it’s not a sin to BE frustrated-only to allow it to control you.
The ages and such are a little different now, but the truth still applies… a whole year later:
…when life hands you crazy:
I know many families with more than 4 children who seem to really have it all together.
And I know families with less than 4 children who seem to, well, NOT have it all together.
Me? OH! Our family has 4 children… and definitely do NOT have it all together!
{but together, we have it all :)}
But, on occasion, we give the illusion that it’s all dandy. [hehe]
I have found that life just dishes out crazy… like there’s not tomorrow! {and there may not be}
So what’s a girl to do when the crazy just keeps coming?
The answer might sound difficult, but it’s really just a mindset:
EMBRACE IT.
Welcome crazy to just come and have a seat right next to you!
Crazy comes
and your baby has an outfit-dirtying-blowout 5 minutes before you are supposed to leave for school… go ahead and cry. We’ve all been there!
Crazy comes
and your already-trained-toddler wets herself in the bathroom… at church…
Crazy comes
and your 3rd grader reminds you of her project that was not finished but is due… today.
Apologize after you loose it, and take a few moments to remind her of her own responsibility… and that childhood is the time to learn it.
Crazy comes
when your baby breaks out in hives caused by an allergic reaction to his meds…
…and your 5 year old breaks out in something… caused by a-still-unknown-source…
…and your husband’s asthma [which has been very mild for years] starts acting up daily and your heart is terrified of the struggle to breathe…
…and you have friends and far-away-family struggling with things that make a soul yearn for the Lord to just return and take us all away…
And then you remember there are those who are not yet ready for that.
And so, crazy strikes yet again and you realize that life is going on… for now… and HOW DO YOU LIVE WITH CRAZY?
oh, right… EMBRACE it.
The days I handle the crazy the best are the days I wake up and struggle to get out of bed... And my 5 year old gets up in a grumpy-funk, and I snap at her at 6:35 am…..
and I see the hurt in her face, in the face of her older sister sitting there listening to it…
I realize crazy has come yet another day into my home.
I stop.
I hug that 5 year old squirming her grumps away.
And I whisper a prayer that sounds something like… “oh God, please help me!”
I speak an apology to my babies and coax some laughter out of their little bodies.
because those are the days I am forced to keep muttering… “Lord, make me love with your love and make me speak with your words and make me touch with your embrace…” all day long.
by tascha |
Some days, I just feel kinda lost. I don’t know how to get a certain principle across to my children, or I am unsure how to respond to something unkind a supposed friend said.
And some days, I just feel like any good I try to do means nothing.
And then I read encouraging words from God’s Word:
Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. Proverbs 16:3
Each day I have the opportunity and privilege to intentionally commit my day and all its works unto the Lord– only then can it really have any meaning anyway.
And when I do this {you see, I don’t first thing every day… hence those lost thoughts that happen}, the Lord establishes my thoughts for me.
He directs my mind to think the way I need to.
He gives me wisdom to instruct my children with the proper attitude and the appropriate words.
He gives me the strength to be hurt and yet forgive without being asked for it.
He gives me the discretion to understand that, while my “good deeds” are filthy rags, when I ask Him to do the works through me… His goodness is mine. And I can rejoice in that!
I am not well today. I had to cancel plans with a dear lady… and that made me sad. But my thoughts can still be right and good when I commit the works I am able to accomplish today to Him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m also on Instagram!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
and I’m on Twitter!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
by tascha |
Today is my youngest daughter’s 4th birthday.
this picture is a couple months old — and now a couple of years!
She is HOOT… and a whirlwind.
She has the energy of my entire life in her pinky. [still!]
And today, while reading the Proverb, I came to this verse:
Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. Proverbs 17:6
And it made me stop and think {as it has before} that MY children… are my parent’s “children’s children.”
with my grandparents <3
And I want them to be a “crown” to their grandfathers, and to their great-grand-parents!
And of course, I was reminded of another Proverb: Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
And that reminded me of a post I read [link is broken] yesterday… about “the way.”
Jesus is “the way.”
So, while rules give boundaries that are necessary, and we should expect rules to be obeyed, our main focus should be on pleasing Jesus… making Him our life.
And that in-between relationship… I know my husband {and I do too!} desires to live such a life that his children would see his heritage/legacy as a thing of glory, as something to desire to pass on to their own children one day.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m also on Instagram!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
and I’m on Twitter!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
by tascha |
At the end of today’s Proverb is the verse [24]: A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
my girls
One part of what this blog is about my learning to be the right kind of friend – even to YOU, whom I may never know on this earth.
I strive to show myself friendly. I do not come by this naturally. I am not a “people-person.” I do not really enjoy crowds. But I do try to be pleasant when spoken to and not completely ignore the people around me. This takes a conscious effort.
I also make an effort to show how Jesus is the friend that sticketh closer than a brother in my own life.
And because He loves me unconditionally, I can love others – even those I have never met.
But what happens if I utterly ignore the fact that not every person I speak to {even through this blog} is a Christian or is possibly only a babe in Christ?
And what if I disregard the possibility not everyone who attends my church regularly is a born-again believer and that not everyone grows the same. Even some people in full-time ministry positions come out as older adults and admit to not really knowing they are saved.
Earlier in the chapter is a verse that often saddens me [19]: A brother [friend or relation] offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Well, a brother [friend] can be offended… by what I’ve said, implied, worn, done, etc.
And the fact that he is harder to be won than a strong city seems to imply that I should try to win a friend back. If the friendship was broken over something offensive I did or said, etc., I should care when a friendship is broken or hindered.
Which leads me to also think that possibly, I should at least strive to not be offensive in the first place.
Of course, truth divides. There is no denying that.
But it should be the TRUTH that is dividing. Because getting a friend back is harder than storming a castle!
I often ask God to put a filter on my words so that I may not come across as offensive to those who may be weaker than I am.
I also ask for Him to help my heart accept rebuke when it is shown to me that I may have been offensive–to whomever.
And while I do not wish to ostracize the world from hearing what I have to say, I realize that some will not appreciate the words I speak or type.
But my prayer is that the truth pushes them away, not the manner in which I speak it.
So, today, I pray that you find a friend when you come here.
I pray that none of what I speak is offensive to those looking for encouragement in living Godly lives.
And I pray that those who know me, you know-in real life, could say that my life’s attitude matched the kindness I strive to show forth here.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m also on Instagram!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
and I’m on Twitter!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
by tascha
Busy day yesterday!
In my Proverbs reading yesterday the verses that really stuck out were the first few: When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: and out a knife to thy throat if thou be a man given to appetite… [verses 1 & 2]
In context, the verses go on to speak about not being envious of what others, particularly those with more, have that I do not. And I have often heard contentment when I read this passage.
But today, I saw something a little different… though in relation to contentment.
I saw self-control… or temperance.
We must have control over our appetite. Here it speaks directly of food, but we all have appetites for many things: food, books, friends, travel, money… it is all just stuff.
I have a less consuming desire for “stuff” when I am desiring the Spirit’s control.
And here my thoughts traveled….
Temperance is a part of the Fruit that the Spirit produces our lives when we allow Him to work. [Galatians 5:22,23]
And I must exercise {allow God’s Spirit to teach me!} control in my life in areas and situations that cause tension or stress. {from appetite control… hm}
Many times as a mother… my children bring tension {stress} through myriad of situations. Maybe I am in a hurry because of a lack of proper planning, and they are just pokin’ along. That brings some stress! Or one of them has a melt-down for whatever reason, and I “lose” my control.
How can my children learn what temperance is if Mommy’s life doesn’t have it!?
When I know that I will be a “single mom” [in no way implying I have any idea what single moms really feel!] for a few days… I get a little stressed. I have grown to rely on my husband as the better half of my brain, the more controlled disciplinarian, the more patient teacher, a part of me/us!
We are a team, and we work well together. {These times also give me a burden to pray more for my single parent friends!}
And while that is wonderful and in God’s design for husband and wife to become knit together like that, I must never loose sight of God’s working and growing my own life as an individual… and that as an individual, I must learn temperance.
I must allow the Spirit to bring control and calm into my life, not my husband.
So, my thoughts took an interesting route to get here, but yesterday {and today! and probably many tomorrows…} I am desiring the Spirit to produce a control in my life that can only come from Him!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m also on Instagram!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
and I’m on Twitter!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
