by tascha |
I have thoroughly been enjoying my Bible Journaling through Proverbs. Even though I’ve not blogged about very many of the verses, I have shared most of them in Instagram .
Through Facebook and Instagram, and even a few in person, I have been asked if I have my drawings available to purchase for printing.
The first time, I thought-oh, how sweet and encouraging… If I have time, maybe I’ll try to upload 1 or 2 for downloading…
Then it happened again, and again. I received this as a comment or question from several people on various social media, including private message. But I was unsure of charging people for something that I was just… having so much joy in doing!
But after much prayer and consulting with my husband, I have decided to offer them in this way.
As an introductory price,
whatever I am able to get coded during the month of August 2015 will be available for $2.
In September [2015], the price will go to $5, and I will continue to add as I draw them and have time to go through the process of loading them for selling.
While I do still struggle a little with charging money for these things that I am doing for my own personal benefit, it does take time for me to even be able to offer them as a download.
They are formatted to print in a 5×7 inch format, for easy printing,
and I am adding a very small ©designing31.com to the side.
Working on the honor system:
I do ask that they are not altered without permission and that the files themselves are not shared…
but please feel free to share my page with anyone! 🙂
A minimum of fifteen percent [15%] of all monies that come from your purchases
will go towards Mission work in local & foreign fields.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m also on Instagram!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
by tascha
As I was contemplating my next study, James was one book I kept coming back to… or being recommended.
I saw it referenced many places; and when I turned to it in my Bible, I noticed a note I’d written… sometime in the past 15 years:
Maturing Spiritually
Yep, I think I need this- {over and over again!} 🙂
I have no idea how often I will post, but if you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, I will post any Journaling I do there first.
by tascha |
And a free download at the end…
In my last post, I alluded to a relationship between Psalm 15 and the book of James…
Verse 1 of Psalm 15 asks a very interesting question: Lord, who shall abide in they tabernacle…?
We begin to see the answer with verse 2: He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
I like to break sentences apart and examine individual phrases (did I ever mention I was an English major in college?) as well as define words to their most basic meaning in order to understand.
So this verse tells me that if I am to dwell in God’s Holy Hill (His tabernacle, now ME)…
I must:
walk uprightly
to walk means to go the way of, a manner of life, traverse.
uprightly means whole & entire, sound or perfect, in accord {agreement} with truth and fact, with integrity, wholesome and innocent.
work righteousness
work means to make or commit or do.
righteousness is justness of law; what is right; proper weights & measures [balance]; ethically right.
speak truth in my heart
truth is the state of being true, something accurate based on reality {in this instance, I would suggest that Scripture is our only truth… feelings and emotions will lead us astray every time. We must line up with Scripture}
in my heart… my own heart. I must not try to deceive myself. I must be so in-tune with Scripture that I recognize a lie, whether I try to tell it to myself or another is trying to sway me.
Is my manner of life whole and full of integrity?
Do I walk in agreement with the Truth of Scripture?
Do my works commit justice of law? Are they ethical?
Are my deeds properly weighted or balanced?
Is my mind and heart so saturated with hearing and learning and mediating on truths from Scripture that I recognize a lie when the deceiver brings one to me?
These are all weighty questions I am asking myself… and I am trying not to deceive my own heart.
Because, as Jeremiah writes in chapter 17: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
…and when I do NOT do these things… my Spirit {God’s Spirit IN me} is troubled and there is no peace in God’s Tabernacle!
FREE DOWNLOAD BELOW
- Right Click the image and select Save Image As to download
This was my first attempt as using watercolor pencils.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m also on Instagram!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
and I’m on Twitter!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
by tascha
The last post broke down verse 2… in answering the question from verse 1: LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
If you missed it, there were some weighty questions I asked myself at the end.
And the thoughts are continued in the next few verses….
3~He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4~In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5~He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
I would like to just say up front, these are not easy or very comfortable points to talk about…
Becoming a mature Christian is not an easy path, but God does have a few promises that I would like to point out before I continue:
…lo, I [Jesus] am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Matthew 28:20
Paul often ended his letters with:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. 1 Thessalonians 5:28
The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16
The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:22
Grace be with you all. Amen. Titus 3:15
from Peter:
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 1 Peter 5:10
and a few promises from the OT that apply:
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. Psalm 31:24
My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. Psalm 119:28
…the joy of the Lord is my strength. Nehemiah 8:10
Our God WILL be with us; He will strengthen us; and He will fill us with His grace… as we meditate on His Word and place our hope in HIM.
…and these are only a bare scratching of the surface of the promises of God’s help for us when we trust in Him and study and apply His Words.
So, my friend, let us be STRENGTHENED by our God
for this task of maturing spiritually 🙂
Psalm 139:9,10
We will delve into the actual verses in the next post…
I would love for you to share a favorite promise in the comments.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m also on Instagram!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
and I’m on Twitter!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
by tascha
Last post I tried to prepare myself for the difficulty of what these next verses mean… There is a reason there are so many promises for God’s strength and grace for us in Scripture. 🙂
Diving right into it:
in answering the question from verse 1: LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
3~He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4~In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5~He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
So these verses continue with how am able to dwell in God’s Holy Hill (His tabernacle, now ME)…
I must NOT:
backbite:
slander or spy out against
do evil to my neighbour
be disagreeable, vicious, unkind or unethical towards ALL MEN [“who is my neighbour?” ~Luke 10:27-37]
take up a reproach against [anyone]
taunt or scorn or disgrace–my neighbor [anyone].
{{Is this convicting anyone else?}}
still NOT:
put out money in usury
to be honest, this sounds as though we are not to make investments… and I cannot say that it is not saying that, though I doubt it; but I do know positively that in the OT, God warns us against lending money to a friend and charging a usury [interest fee] but encourages rather that we GIVE graciously to a friend in need… and only expect back the exact of what we lent [if anything].
take a reward against the innocent
a reward against would be a bribe… against the innocent. Do not let yourself be bought. If you have a price, someone will ‘buy you.’
They will buy your silence “if you want to keep your job” … buy your loyalty “if you want the connections”…, etc. We must stand for right and NOT “have a price.”
{{ouch… seriously, is anyone else even still reading this?}}
and a few things we MUST DO:
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned
This one is hard, difficult… our eyes must find vileness contemptible. And not just that, but the person becomes loathsome to us. I think, this is difficult because as a society, we are so “into God’s Grace” and often tend to ignore His Justice.
BUT this is NOT a license to treat people with disdain or to think of ourselves a better person. We ALL have the capacity to become a vile person. If you feel differently about yourself, I would send you to Jeremiah in chapter 17: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
This IS having discernment. We must not allow ourselves to become calloused to recognizing wickedness. And we must recognize when a person is habitually vile. And we must realize that these people should not be our regular companions… [Psalm 1]
honoureth them that fear the LORD
We must give honor to, make weighty or heavy [the testimony of] people who fear the Lord… and prove it with their actions. These people deserve our respect and, to an extent, our emulation [1 Corinthiasn 11:1]… as they continue following Christ. [Many Proverbs, 1 Corinthians 11:1…]
sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not
We must keep our promises, even when it causes discomfort to ourselves… and not let it change who we are. This is difficult. This is one reason I try to give great thought to anything even remotely like a “promise.” We are bound by our word, whether we actually carry it through or not. God knows.
If you’re still here… thank you for sticking it out.
As I mentioned before: Becoming a mature Christian is not an easy path, but God does promise to help us.
Please share your thoughts on these verses in the comments! I enjoy different perspectives.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m also on Instagram!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
by tascha
I am not lightning quick when I study through a book. I would say a snail’s pace describes me. 🙂
But, I am going to attempt to review a a thought or 2 from a few verses at a time… and there will be several references for looking up, if you choose.
The best way to explain Scripture is with other Scripture!
James 1:1-12
¶ 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
¶ 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James is speaking to Jews. But he is also writing to CHRISTIANS… of which I am one. I pray you are also!
And he is starting with the basics… having Joy ~ facing trials ~ learning patience. {It’s a circle of events in my own life. 🙂 }
As a believer, my joy will not come from the circumstances around me.
It will not come from the people around me.
It will not even come –from inside me.
My joy will come from following God
–into and through the storms that rage.
And when I follow Him, there will arise temptations [1 Corinthians 10:13].
…count it all joy when ye fall… Count: to see the end of a matter. We must look ahead and… | when: KNOW it WILL happen
We will have need to rebuke one who desires to devour our very soul [1 Peter 5:8 & 9 | James 4:6-8].
…into divers temptations… diverse: various types- the devourer knows our weaknesses
We will have a fight on our hands…but God did not leave us defenseless! [Ephesians 6:10-18]
But it will be a JOY to us to have these temptations, these tempestuous times, because they work PATIENCE in us.
And Patience wishes to have HER way with us,
in completing a perfect work,
that will make us whole.
The devil wishes to devour our testimony so that we may not [or so we choose not to] serve GOD. Satan desires that we serve him. Satan uses our mistakes and folly to make us think we are no good for the Work of God.
But Patience… oh, sweet Patience, she wants to bring about perfectness in our hearts so that we lack nothing we need, thus bringing perfect Glory to our Savior.
My friends… rejoice in the difficulties that come... even when they arise from our own foolishness, because Patience works.
And God can cause ANYTHING bring Himself Glory, when we are following His call. [Romans 8:26-28 & 31]
[EDIT: if you click over here, I have this drawing available as a coloring page.]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m also on Instagram!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
and I’m on Twitter!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
