Glory {Art} Scripture Challenge #20, Truth for Living

The Study

Today's study is a continuation of our truth study we did back on February 8th. To see that study, click here. I came across some other things that I felt God wanted me to share so we will discuss this topic a bit further.

Two of my daughters began studying a book called "Truth. Seeing black and white in a gray world" by Matthew P. Kinne and Patrician R. Mitchell. I began reading the introduction which says:

Truth is true--even if no one knows it.

Truth is true--even if no one admits it.

Truth is true--even if no one agrees with it.

Truth is true--even if no one follows it.

Truth is true--even if no one but God grasps it fully.

I just loved that, and this is what caused me to think we needed to continue this study. The statements above are so powerful and true! Do you agree with the statements above? Let's break it down.

Truth is true--even if no one knows it or admits it.

Do you believe everything you read, hear, or see on TV? I hope not. Do you believe what people say? Sometimes it is definitely easier to believe what the world says and go along with the world than it is to follow what God says. The world will let you down. The One truth we can always trust and believe in is God's truth. He is not like us. He does not lie or change His mind. People may not know that or admit that but it is truth!

Numbers 23:19 "God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?"

Truth is true--even if no one follows it.

His Word and His truth tell us how we are to live. His truth gives us instructions for everything in our lives. It is not just a story. Will you follow Him? Will you allow Him to guide you and teach you daily instead of the world?

Psalm 25:5 "Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long."

Proverbs 4:5 "Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget My words or turn away from them."

His Word is truth and changes lives. We need to study His word so we know the truth, we believe the truth, we live by the truth, and are changed by the truth. But each person alone must start by first accepting that truth.

John 14:6 "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'"

2 Thessalonians 2:13 "But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.'"

What we or others think about Jesus doesn't change the truth of who He is or what He accomplished.

Truth is true--even if no one but God grasps it fully.

How do you handle the truth of Jesus even the parts you don't understand? What difference does His truth make in your life?

Isaiah 40:28 "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom."

Isaiah 55:8-9 "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.'"

Is His truth your plumb line for your behavior and daily living?

The Art

This week, I have created a Journaling Bible page. Some art notes about this page are:

• The butterflies are stamped onto coffee filter sheets that I first painted and then cut out after stamping.
• The background was done using the same technique I used in this post.
• The black splatters are done with watered down Golden black gesso. I keep it in a Mini mister, shake, and then unscrew the lid. I splatter whatever is on the tube. Makes it easier to splatter than actually misting.

Feel free to join us on the Facebook page where some people will be sharing their creations. We also have some discussions that will be going on there too about the study. If you don't use Facebook and want to share your creation here, do so below by using Inlinkz! To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous studies and art tips, please see this post here. I pray you will go out each day being molded by His truth.

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Exciting News!

Wow, I have been up since 3:30 a.m. not feeling very well today. But that turned around when I got news from Canvas Corp. Brands that I was selected as a 2016 Creative Crew Member. I couldn't believe I read my name and even asked my husband to make sure it was me. I am so excited about this new opportunity. You can see all of the news and other crew members in this post here. Thanks for joining me in my excitement, and thanks to CCB for this opportunity!

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Glory {Art} Scripture Challenge #19, Disputable Matters

The Study

As I was going back through some of my old Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) notes, I came across the words "disputable matters." It then reminded me of a discussion our pastor had with our new members class several years ago on this same issue. I thought it would be something good for us to look at today.

Do you ever look at someone and think "Are they really a Christian? If she does that or believes in that, how can she be a Christian?" Or maybe you give another Christian a hard time because they do or do not celebrate Halloween. Or maybe you think all Christians should homeschool. I could share lots of examples, and I am sure you have thought of some of your own. Here is an example that Paul gives in Romans.

Romans 14:2-4a "One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?"

We live in a real world and sometimes people that profess to be a Christian irritate us. Shouldn't they be exactly like us if they are a Christian? We need to handle our differences with acceptance and love. We are accepted by God by belief in Jesus Christ. We are not to tell other believers how to behave on disputable matters.

Romans 14:1 "Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters."

We are to love each other and work together for God's glory. So what are the disputable matters? Our pastor shared an illustration that had four circles like a bullseye. Here you can see my very rough drawing of the circles.

I will try to describe each circle from the center out. First, we have the indisputable matters which are the core of our faith. These are not open to dispute. These are essential to the Christian faith.

Essentials/Indisputable Matters (protect the core of the faith; essentials of the faith)

• innermost circle (teal): Jesus. He is the core!
• second circle (green): Confession and everything in the Apostle's Creed.

Next we have the disputable matters which are debatable. In disputable matters, we are to disagree agreeably. They are not a test of a person's saving faith.

Non-Essentials/Disputable Matters (not a test of a person's saving faith)

• convictions (pink): things that Christians argue about and sometimes divide the church—Sabbath, gays, war, how you are baptized, etc.
• conscience (peach): things the Bible isn't clear about we will disagree and that's okay.

So, where are you passing judgment on other Christians? Are you judging them on the disputable matters? Only God will be the judge. That's His job! I urge you to love them instead of possibly being a stumbling block that may stop another believer from growing in Christ. The obstacles we put up can cause another believer to feel trapped. If in doubt, don't do it.

Romans 14:13 "Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister."

1 Corinthians 8:9 "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak."

The NIV Life Application Bible says this about Romans 14:13, "Paul wants his readers to be both strong in the faith and sensitive to others needs." So remember, don't destroy other believers or God's church. Lift them up. Encourage them instead of focusing on the disputable matters.

The Art

Today I have created Scripture Art Cards using the same background technique I used on Friday's art journaling page. If you missed that post, click here. I chose to use bright colors since it makes me think of being positive and happy not confrontational. I also chose to use butterflies as I think of being a new creation in Christ. I do not want to be a stumbling block to any other new creation in Christ.

Feel free to join us on the Facebook page where some people will be sharing their creations. We also have some discussions that will be going on there too about the study. If you don't use Facebook and want to share your creation here, do so below by using Inlinkz! To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous studies and art tips, please see this post here. Have a blessed week!

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An {Art Journaling} Challenge

The Challenge

Are you ready to paint and have fun? Well, then join me on the 2Peas Refugees forum for an {Art Journaling} Challenge! It begins now and runs through Sunday, November 15, 2015, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. For all of the details and to join in, click here.

My Art

To begin my page, I used a background tutorial by Dina Wakley. You can view that tutorial by clicking here. I really liked the tutorial, and it was a new and different way for me to create a background. Here is how my background turned out (on the right):

To clean my brushes, I wiped them onto a piece of book paper. I knew I was going to use that on my final page so the book paper also has the same paint colors on it. I also chose to use a lot of ingredients from the recipe I provide in the challenge.

So what ingredients will you use on your page? I hope you will join in the fun with me. Can't wait to see what you create!

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