{SCRLLC14} Scripture Lesson #22, A Hallelujah Christmas

I decided to share one last Christmas song as we end our year. But just because we are ending our 2014 study year does not mean we end our studies. Be sure to go to the bottom of this post for the details of my 2015 study! Anyway, our Christmas song I am sharing today is called "A Hallelujah Christmas" by Cloverton. Click here to listen to this song. And here are the lyrics:

"I've heard about this baby boy
Who's come to earth to bring us joy
And I just want to sing this song to you
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
With every breath I'm singing Hallelujah 
Hallelujah

A couple came to Bethlehem
Expecting child, they searched the inn
To find a place for You were coming soon
There was no room for them to stay
So in a manger filled with hay 
God's only Son was born, oh Hallelujah
Hallelujah

The shepherds left their flocks by night
To see this baby wrapped in light
A host of angels led them all to You 
It was just as the angels said
You'll find Him in a manger bed
Immanuel and Savior,
Hallelujah Hallelujah

A star shown bright up in the east
To Bethlehem, the wisemen three
Came many miles and journeyed long for You
And to the place at which You were
Their frankincense and gold and myrrh
They gave to You and cried out Hallelujah 
Hallelujah

I know You came to rescue me
This baby boy would grow to be
A man and one day die for me and you
My sins would drive the nails in You
That rugged cross was my cross, too
Still every breath You drew was Hallelujah 
Hallelujah"

I think the lyrics of this song and the verses below speak for themselves. God humbled Himself and left His throne to come to earth as a man. He was tempted in every way, He suffered, yet He chose to die for my sins and for your sins so that we might spend eternity in heaven with Him.

Matthew 1:23 "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means 'God with us')."

Matthew 2:11 "On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."

John 8:24 "I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am He, you will indeed die in your sins."

Galatians 1:3-5 "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Colossians 1:13-14 "For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Colossians 2:13-14 "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross."

1 Peter 2:24 "He Himself bore our sins” in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by His wounds you have been healed."

We are born into darkness and must become children of light on our own by personal belief in Jesus Christ. Without accepting His saving grace, we remain in darkness. Jesus came to this earth and died for our sins to free us to love for God, a permanent home with Him, and to serve in His kingdom. We only have freedom in the Son. The power of sin is not greater than the power of Jesus and His forgiveness! He hung my sin and your sin on that cross! We can choose light, life, and freedom in Him or remain in darkness, bondage, and experience death. Will you make your home in Him? For those of you that have accepted Him, what sin are you holding onto? What sin are you comfortable with? Will you release it to Him and part with it? His grace enables us not to sin. Ask Him to extend that grace so you can completely resist the temptation to sin. And praise God for His grace and amazing love for us!

Today I decided to do a Journaling Bible page to highlight Colossians 2:13-14. I just love that He has nailed my sins to the cross. The quote I used is from one of Charles Spurgeon's sermons. I stamped the words 'done', 'forever', and the cross onto newsprint paper. I used an old sheet of newsprint paper that I had cleaned my stencils on so the color and designs were already there. That is how I chose my color scheme for this page. I then used my sewing machine to stitch through the word 'done' because our debt has been cancelled forever. I just love that.

Do you want to know more about a life with Christ? Do you want to know Him intimately and learn to apply His word to your life? Then join me in 2015 for my {Glory Art} Scripture Challenge. Please click here to read all of the details. I hope you will join me, and be sure to join the Facebook page too. We begin January 11, 2015! :)

Thank you so much for joining me this year. And I want to give a special shout out to Anne-Marie who has joined me faithfully every year for the past 6 years. She is amazing, her creations are wonderful, and I am always blessed by her words and support over the years. Thank you Anne-Marie for being a faithful sister in Christ. I know you are a light to everyone around you! Blessings to each of you, and I look forward to our journey together in 2015!

Product List (click product tags for more info)

View blog post for supplies

{SCRLLC14} Scripture Lesson #21, Mary Did You Know

Today's song is called "Mary Did You Know?" by Mark Lowry. Most of you have probably heard this song as it has been around for years and has been performed by countless people. I thought this would be a great choice for today's study as we think about the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I have chosen this YouTube video of Jeremy Camp singing this song to share with you. If you want to hear other performances, just search on the song title, and many artists will come up. Now, I want to look at each verse and share the scripture that goes along with these song verses.

Verse 1

"Mary did you know that your baby boy will some day walk on water?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you."

Matthew 14:25-27 "Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. 'It’s a ghost,' they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: 'Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.'"

Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

John 1:12-13 "Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God."

Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

God is all powerful, and there is no other name in which we can be saved. His blood was shed to cover your sins and mine. When we depart this earth and stand in the presence of God, He will not see my sins because they are covered in the precious blood of Christ. Are your sins also covered by the blood of Christ? Have you been made new? If not, will you ask Him to make you new today? And if you are a believer in Christ, how do your actions show that you are a new creation of the King? You will probably be surrounded by various friends and family this Christmas season, will they see you as His new creation?

Verse 2

"Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God."

Matthew 12:22 "Then they brought Him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see."

Matthew 8:23-26 "Then He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!' He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm."

1 John 5:20 "We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him who is true by being in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."

Jesus' actions always cause a response. The winds and the waves even respond to Him. And not only can He calm the storm but He can calm our hearts and the storms in our life and give us His peace. He existed before this earth, and He humbled himself to come to this earth as man to suffer, to know what it is to be tempted, and to be able to truly identify with us. When you think no one understands your situation, remember that God does. He is there for you! He loves you and has lavished His love on you.

1 John 3:1a "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

Verse 3

"Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? 

Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations? 

Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb? 

This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am"

John 1:1-3 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made."

Psalm 22:28 "For dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations."

John 1:29 "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'"

Exodus 3:14 "God said to Moses, 'I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I Am has sent me to you.'"

In the John 1:1-3 verse above, the word "was" shows us the eternal status of Jesus. Because Jesus is God, man can intimately know God. Billy Graham writes "The virgin-born baby was God in human form. He humbled Himself, He took the form of a servant, He was made in your likeness and mine, He identified Himself with the problems of the human race. And thus it was that the apostle John wrote, The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, as of the only begotten of the Father.) John 1:14"

During this Christmas season, will you focus on Jesus Christ who came as a baby to save you? Will you share this true meaning of Christmas not only with your words but with your actions? Share with someone who may not know of His great love for them. Let them see Jesus in you! And if you are looking for a great book to read and keep you focused, I highly recommend "The Cross, the Cradle, and the Crown" by Billy Graham. It is only $1.99 for the Kindle edition, and $2.99 for the paperback on amazon.com.

For my creation today, I again chose to make Scripture Art Cards. I really love that I can use several verses, and they just look so pretty in my book. :) I kept the colors of these cards a little darker and added burgundy and green for the Christmas season. The scriptures I chose were 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 1:1-2, and Acts 4:12. I really wanted to use the 1 John 3:1 verse because I love how He has lavished His love on us. But I am going to do a separate art journaling page just for that verse because it is one of my favorites. :)

I love to create these cards, and they are so easy to do. In our Glory Art 2015 study, I will share tips on how I create these and other tips throughout the year. If you have not signed up or joined our Facebook page, please see complete details in my post by clicking here.

Remember to use Keyword SCRLLC14 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous studies, please see this post here. Thanks for joining me, and may you have a blessed and joyous Christmas!

Product List (click product tags for more info)

View blog post for supplies

{SCRLLC14} Scripture Lesson #20, He Knows My Name

The first time I heard this song on the radio, I cried. And if I am honest with you, I cry almost every time I listen to this song. Our song today is by Francesca Battistelli, and it's called "He Knows My Name." First, I encourage you to listen to Francesca sing this live by clicking here. Now here is the Chorus:

"True to who You are
You saw my heart
And made something out of nothing, so

I don't need my name in lights
I'm famous in my Father's eyes
Make no mistake
He knows my name
I'm not living for applause
I'm already so adored
It's all His stage
He knows my name
He knows my name"

To read all of the words to this song, please click here. How awesome is it to know that God created you, and He created you perfectly. He knows you not only by your name but He knows you intimately. He adores you. Read that again—He adores you! He is intimately familiar with the details of your life, and He cares about your life. Who else on this earth knows you that intimately and adores you as He does? No one! I pray that fills your heart with such joy and peace. It should also motivate you to want to know Him more. God is pleased when our greatest desire is to know Him more. Will you seek Him and ask Him to reveal more and more of Himself to you? Don't you want to know Him more?

Exodus 33:17 "And the Lord said to Moses, 'I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.'"

Psalm 139:1-3 "You have searched me, Lord, and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways."

Psalm 139:13 "For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb."

John 10:14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and My sheep know Me."

And as the song says, we shouldn't be "living for applause." We are already famous in His eyes. Remember, He adores you! But we are to make Him known and famous! How are you doing that? Do you live so that others desire Him? I love giving God glory through my art. It's my passion. And you will soon learn more about that when I share our 2015 study with you in the next couple of weeks. Our ministries, our sharing, our lives are nothing without God. He needs to be leading our lives—leading everything. Commit every part of yourself to Him. Our love for Him should spill out, and we are to give Him all the credit.

1 Chronicles 16:8 "Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done."

Isaiah 42:12 "Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim His praise in the islands."

Isaiah 43:7 "Everyone who is called by My name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made.”

Today I decided to create four Scripture Art cards. I loved so many of the scriptures and I loved the chorus to this song. So by creating these four cards, I was able to journal more than by just doing a scrapbook page. I store these art cards in the BCW 4-Pocket Mini Album Trading Card Pages which can be purchased from Amazon, eBay, and youratcstore. These pages fit perfectly in a Basic Grey Journaling Binder or any 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" binder. They hold regular ATC cards, playing cards, or any 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" card that you make. I generally make several at once as I have my supplies out. You can even just create one art journaling page, and cut out four cards to fit the pockets.

For the background, I used the collage paper that I shared with you in a download in my art journaling post the other day. If you missed that post or would like to have my free download, please click here. The scriptures I used were Psalm 139:13, Isaiah 43:7, and John 10:14. I also used part of the chorus of the song. I thought it was just so perfect! It's not about me; it's about Him who knows me and adores me.

Remember to use Keyword SCRLLC14 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous studies, please see this post here. Thanks for joining me today, and remember God adores you!

Product List (click product tags for more info)

View blog post for supplies

{SCRLLC14} Scripture Lesson #19, Something in the Water

Today's song may seem like a different choice but when reading the words and understanding the song, then I think it is quite fitting for today. This song is beautiful, and I recommend reading the words first before listening to the song. Our song today is Carrie Underwood's new song called "Something in the Water." Let's first look at the lyrics.

"He said, 'I've been where you've been before.
Down every hallway's a slamming door.
No way out, no one to come and save me.
Wasting a life that the Good Lord gave me.

Then somebody said what I'm saying to you,
Opened my eyes and told me the truth.'
They said, 'Just a little faith, it'll all get better.'
So I followed that preacher man down to the river and now I'm changed
And now I'm stronger

Chorus
There must've been something in the water
Oh, there must've been something in the water

Well, I heard what he said and I went on my way
Didn't think about it for a couple of days
Then it hit me like a lightning late one night
I was all out of hope and all out of fight

Couldn't fight back the tears so I fell on my knees
Saying, 'God, if you're there come and rescue me.'
Felt love pouring down from above
Got washed in the water, washed in the blood and now I'm changed
And now I'm stronger

Chorus

And now I'm singing along to amazing grace
Can't nobody wipe this smile off my face
Got joy in my heart, angels on my side
Thank God almighty, I saw the light
Gonna look ahead, no turning back
Live every day, give it all that I have
Trust in someone bigger than me
Ever since the day that I believed I am changed
And now I'm stronger

There must be something in the water (amazing grace)
Oh, there must be something in the water (how sweet the sound)
Oh, there must be something in the water (that saved a wretch)
Oh, there must be something in the water (like me)
Oh, yeah I am changed (I once was lost)
Stronger (but now I'm found) (was blind but now I see)"

And to listen to the song, click here. I absolutely love the words of this song. God uses people to open our eyes to His truth. Then once we come to accept that truth, we are changed. We are rescued from the wages of sin which is death and eternal separation from God. But if we trust in Him, repent of our sin, and accept His gift of grace through the death of His Son Jesus Christ, we can spend eternal life with Him. Being filled with Him puts a smile on our face even during times of difficulty. He puts joy in our hearts, and fills us with the hope that only comes from Him. So, the question is:

Have You Been Changed?

Truly there is only one choice that ultimately matters in life, and that is accepting or rejecting Christ. What is your choice? Have you received Christ as your Lord and Savior or rejected Him? If you have received Him, are you being transformed as you study His word? Jesus can transform our lives if we give our lives to Him. It's not so we can be better people but so that He can be glorified. If we don't allow Him to transform us, we can't lead others. God uses our daily circumstances to transform us into people of faith who will glorify Him.

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 12:2 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will."

It is God's grace that saves us. Thank Him for His grace. None of us can know Him without His grace. How have you been changed since coming to know Christ? 

Psalm 9:10 "Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you."

Acts 16:31 "They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.'"

Ephesians 1:6-8 "To the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us."

Ephesians 2:8 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—"

What About the Water?

So, what about the water? Is there something in the water? Baptism means identification. Water baptism is a symbolic identification with Christ. It is not the ceremony that saves us but faith in Christ's death and resurrection. Baptism symbolizes a believer's transformation.

1 Corinthians 12:13 "For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."

Galatians 3:27 "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."

How Will They Know?

If your choice was to accept Jesus, do your remember who opened your eyes to God's truth? Who did God use to most effectively change your life? Are you willing to share so that others can hear His truth? How will others know unless they hear? How will you compassionately lead others to Christ? God uses ordinary people to share the extraordinary good news of His salvation. Look for the good in people not the bad. That might be the very thing that can lead us to share Him with others. And sometimes it's just best to say nothing and trust Jesus. We affect others a little by what we say but a lot by what we do. Does your life affect those around you positively?

Romans 10:14-15 "How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'"

For my page today, I decided to do a Journaling Bible page. One of my favorite scriptures is the one just listed above (Romans 10:14-15). So, that is the scripture I chose to use today. How will they know if they do not hear? 

This page uses a variety of stamps, stickers, paints, etc. I did stamp the word 'gospel' onto deli paper. The stamps that say 'here's the story' and 'love this' were both stamped onto newspaper print, cut out, and then added to my page. If you missed my blog post on using deli paper for your Journaling Bible pages, be sure to look at this post here. I use newspaper print in almost the same way. I just don't put any gesso down first. :)

Remember to use Keyword SCRLLC14 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous studies, please see this post here. Also, my 2015 study will be announced in a few weeks. Be watching, and if you are not a current subscriber to my blog, be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss the exciting details! Have a blessed week ahead! 

Product List (click product tags for more info)

View blog post for supplies

{SCRLLC14} Scripture Lesson #18, Strong Tower

As my daughter faces her upcoming back surgery, I thought we would look at this song this week—"Strong Tower" by Kutless. Let's begin by looking at a few of the words.

Chorus
I go running to Your mountain
Where Your mercy sets me free
You are my strong tower, shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty everlasting King
You are my strong tower, fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
And Your face is all I see

In the middle of all my darkness
In the midst of all my fear
You're my refuge and my hope
When the storm of life is raging
And the thunders all I hear
You speak softly to my soul

To see the rest of the lyrics to this song, click here. And you can listen to this song here.

This song talks about God being our strong tower, our shelter, and our everlasting King. It makes me think of one of the prayers my daughter has requested for her surgery—"I would greatly appreciate prayers for My King to give me peace." She has asked for other prayers too for the surgeon, the staff, her recovery, etc., but I love how she knows where her refuge and her hope is during this storm in her life. She has even requested that she not be given any Versed (a medication to relax and feel sleepy before surgery) because she wants to be alert when we pray with her before they take her back to the OR. Would I be that strong? Would my fear overtake my desire to hold strong to the One who will be with me, who will comfort me, and give me peace? I pray I would be as strong as she is being.

Psalm 61:3 "For You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe."

Proverbs 18:10 "The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."

She is running to Him. She knows where she feels safe. I praise God for her amazing faith! So who do you run to when you are scared, uncertain, lost, etc.? My prayer is that you would run to Him for everything. He is always dependable, and He is always faithful.

Deuteronomy 32:4 "He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He."

Psalm 71:5 "For You have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth."

All of Psalm 71 talks of God's constant help through our entire lives. I encourage you to read it and study it this week. I love what the commentary in the Life Application Bible says "We realize He is our constant help. We must never despair, but keep on expecting His help no matter how severe our limitations. Hope in Him helps us to keep going."

Does your hope in Him keep you going? Oh, how I pray it does. If it doesn't, go to Him in prayer. Ask Him to give you His strength for whatever lies ahead.

Today I decided to create a Bible journaling page. My daughter loves the Psalm 71:5 verse so I wanted to document this into my Bible. We need to remember this difficult time in her life and how God has remained her hope.

I used my washi scraps to punch three hearts for this page. If you missed my washi scraps tutorial, click here. I always have lots of fun scraps to choose from and use. I also used a quote from Dr. Henrietta Mears that says "Faith puts God between us and circumstances." I felt it was perfect!

Remember to use Keyword SCRLLC14 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous studies, please see this post here. Have a blessed week ahead!

{SCRLLC14} Scripture Lesson #17, He Knows

These past couple of weeks, God has been talking to me about burdens. First, as I was listening to KLOVE driving to an appointment, I heard Lisa TerKeurst say, "Don't miss the blessings because you are focusing on the burdens." I immediately called my daughter and asked her to write it down for me so I would not forget. Such a beautiful quote that I needed to hear. Then my second daughter calls me from college, and she asked me if I have heard of the new song by Jeremy Camp called "He Knows." I told her I had not, and she told me that I needed to listen to it. So, off I went to search for the song. It is a new release so it's a bit hard to find but if you click here, you can listen to it. Look what the chorus says:

Chorus

He knows, He knows

Every hurt and every sting

He has walked the suffering

He knows, He knows

Let your burdens come undone

Lift your eyes up to the One

Who knows, He knows

To read all of the lyrics, click here. I encourage you to read them because they are very powerful.

And did you notice that word again—burdens? Moses in Numbers 11:14 cries out to God "I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me."

Notice how Moses turns to God with his burdens. Are your burdens pushing you towards the Lord to seek Him and trust Him more? Or are you heavy on complaining? Our reactions to our burdens and trials reveal our true spiritual maturity. We need to trust Him, depend on Him, and glorify Him. When we truly rely on Him, we are not shaken by the burdens and chaos among us. He gives us purpose in our trials. His love and peace are abounding! If you feel like you are burdened and your load is too heavy, remember the Lord is there to help you. Will you trust Him?

Psalm 68:19 "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens."

Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You."

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Galatians 6:2 "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

1 John 5:3-4 "In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."

I decided to do an 8 1/2 x 11 page today. I printed some black and white images of the things that are going on in our family now—spinal problems, canine epilepsy, Chiari Malformation, etc., etc., etc. If I focused on these things instead of the Lord, I would be utterly overwhelmed, miserable, and defeated. Do I struggle each day? Yes, but I must remember to make Him the focus knowing He has a plan and that we need to glorify Him through it. I trust that, and it's what keeps me going.

I used black and white photos because these 'things' needn't be my focus. The colorful paper with the scripture is what should be my focus. I need to cling to Him and His Word! I also used a sketch that I have had pinned for a while. You can see the sketch by clicking here.  And finally, I used the new Blue Fern Studios paper line called Montage and the chipboard pieces Circle Code and Adore, Love, Cherish.

Papers: Blue Fern Studios Montage Wisdom and Invitation, Paper Trey Ink cs 
Stamp: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 7 
Stamp Ink: Versa Fine onyx black, Tim Holtz Distress Ink black soot 
Blue Fern Studios chipboard: Circle Code (painted w/Adirondack Dabber lemonade and Jenni Bowlin Dabber malted milk), Adore, Love, Cherish (painted w/black gesso and Glossy Accents)
Embellishments: Wild Orchid Crafts flowers, Prima Bistro Blooms Nugget and Soubrette orange flower, Prima packaging, Bella Blvd. washi tape, misc. cheesecloth, sewing machine

Remember to use Keyword SCRLLC14 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous studies, please see this post here. Blessings, and I pray that you allow Him to carry your burdens!

{SCRLLC14} Scripture Lesson #16, His Strength is Perfect

This is a new song to me; maybe it will be new for some of you too. It is called "His Strength is Perfect" by Steven Curtis Chapman and Jerry Salley. It was written in 1988 and has been published in some Baptist Hymnals since 2008. This song talks about assurance, security, confidence, rest, and shares some attributes of God. You can listen to the song by clicking here. The video is a live performance of Steven Curtis Chapman singing this song. The person filming this has trouble holding onto their camera; however, I really love this live performance by him. It is more incredible and touching to me to watch him sing it live. I hope it doesn't bother you too much. And here are the lyrics:

"I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength
But sometimes I wonder what He can do through me 
No great success to show 
No glory on my own 
Yet in my weakness 
He is there to let me know 

Chorus
His strength is perfect when our strength is gone 
He'll carry us when we can't carry on 
Raised in His power, the weak become strong 
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect 

We can only know 
The power that He holds 
When we truly see how deep our weakness goes 
His strength in us begins 
Where ours comes to an end 
He hears our humble cry and proves again 

Chorus repeat"

I found this song by doing a search on the word 'peace'. I was looking for peace and strength particularly for my daughter this week as she had a spinal nerve root block on Thursday. She is normally extremely anxious in these situations but instead as the day arrived, she was completely covered in His peace. So many people were praying for her. For me as an "observer," I was in awe watching Him work in her. I know how she normally handles these things, and the only explanation for what I saw Thursday was that God was holding her hand, He will filling her with His peace, and giving her His strength. His strength is perfect!

1 Chronicles 16:11 "Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always."

Psalm 28:7 "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him."

Psalm 37:24 "Though He may stumble, He will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand."

Proverbs 18:10 "The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all this through Him who gives me strength."

1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

Isaiah 40:29-31 says "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." 

I love that passage! When we are weary, He gives us His strength, and He gives us His power. God is greater than our most impossible task. What are you facing this week, this month, this year? Turn to the Lord. He will strengthen you for anything you face now, tomorrow, and forever. So when you are faced with a trial, a difficult situation, a weak moment, etc., will you remember that His strength alone is perfect?

Mark the above verses in your Bible, share them with someone that may need them this week, post them on the mirrors around your house because remember—His strength is perfect!

Instead of doing a 6x6 page this week, I chose to document it in my journaling Bible because of a verse God gave to me Thursday morning before we left for her procedure. I really love Psalm 28:7 but God gave me Psalm 37:24. When we moved in 2012 and we were looking for a new church home, the pastor of a church we visited shared Psalm 37:24 and said— 

"God is in charge of everything. He orders our steps and holds our hand."

I was able to share that with my daughter along with the scripture and tell her that God was holding her hand. He would get her through the procedure. He was there with her, and He certainly was in a mighty way!

For this page, I used a piece of Blue Fern Studios chipboard. Do you see it? It's the royal blue leaves to the left of the tag that says "remember." That is a portion of the chipboard piece called "Leafy Bough" which is a beautiful piece and can be used in so many different ways. I peeled off one thin layer of the chipboard, painted it, and used a glue stick to put it in my Bible. The thickness of the chipboard would normally be too much for a Bible but there is always a way to separate it and make it thinner to use in my Bible. Love that!

I also journaled the date of the sermon back in 2012 and the date God gave me this verse again and how He used it. I felt it was important to also journal that for the generations to come and for my daughter to remember how His strength got her through.

Paper: Kabnet Wax deli paper
Stamps: Technique Tuesday Scrapbook It, Our Daily Bread Designs God's Hands, Hero Arts Painted Circle, Heidi Swapp date stamp
Stamp Ink: Archival Manganese Blue, Archival jet black
Blue Fern Studios chipboard: Leafy Bough (painted with Adirondack Dabber sail boat blue)
Embellishments: Chic Tags, Sn@p! sticker letters, October Afternoon sticky keys peacock blue stickers, Cosmo Cricket tiny type stickers, sewing machine

Remember to use Keyword SCRLLC14 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous studies, please see this post here. Blessings, and I pray this week that you will rely on His strength in all situations!

{SCRLLC14} Scripture Lesson #15, Thrive

Today's song is called "Thrive" by Casting Crowns. You can listen and read the lyrics here. I have also put the lyrics below if you just want to read them.

"Here in this worn and weary land
Where many a dream has died
Like a tree planted by the water
We never will run dry
So living water flowing through
God, we thirst for more of You
Fill our hearts and flood our souls with one desire

Just to know You and to make You known
We lift Your name on high
Shine like the sun, make darkness run and hide
We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
It's time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive

Into Your word, we're digging deep
To know our Father's heart
Into the world, we're reaching out
To show them who You are

Joy unspeakable, faith unsinkable
Love unstoppable, anything is possible"

Jesus makes this invitation in John 7:38, and it is universal. It is open to anyone who is thirsty.

John 7:38 "Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."

Are you thirsty? Or do feel you have everything you need? Are you looking for something but you don't know what it is? Do you feel like there is a void in your life? Jesus is the one who satisfies and provides. We won't wonder why we are never satisfied if we truly believe in Him. Do you know Jesus as the well-spring of life? Are you satisfied in Him? His word tells us how to live and how to know Him better; it's not just a story. As it says in the song "Into Your Word, we're digging deep to know our Father's heart." It is a manual for abundant life—a satisfied and purposeful life! As a believer, do you thirst more for Him?

My favorite part of this song is where it says "Fill our hearts and flood our souls with one desire,  Just to know You and to make You known. We lift Your name on high." That is our purpose—to know Him, to glorify Him, and to make Him known. What is your one true heart's desire?

Psalm 63:4 "I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands."

And we were not just make to survive here on earth but thrive! With God, we can thrive! Are you thriving or just getting through each day? Will you ask God His desire for you and to help you thrive in Him?

For my 6x6 page, I used the new Heidi Swapp Favorite Things papers along with two different pieces of Blue Fern Studios chipboard—Circle Group Panel and Chunky Words (for the title). I used gelatos and paints to color the Circle Group Panel and black gesso to paint the title. I thought the title "lifetime" was perfect as I want to know Him, to glorify Him, and to make Him known my entire lifetime. I also chose to use Psalm 63:4 from above. And notice the little heart embellishment. I made that using my washi scraps tutorial I shared back in May. If you missed that tutorial, click here.

Papers: Heidi Swapp Favorite Things 
Stamp ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink black soot 
Blue Fern Studios chipboard: Circle Group Panel (painted with gesso, Faber-Castell gelatos, and Dina Wakley acrylic paints), Chunky Words (painted with black gesso) 
Embellishments: Prima Solitare Meadow flower, Wild Orchid Crafts flowers, Making Memories tiny alpha stickers, handmade washi embellished heart, sewing machine

Remember to use Keyword SCRLLC14 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous studies, please see this post here. Blessings, and I pray this week that you will thrive on Him!

{SCRLLC14} Scripture Lesson #14, You Are God Alone

This week I have really needed to worship God for who He is. This song says it all. Listen and read the lyrics by clicking here. Then let's look at some of the verses from this song and read scripture and application to our lives.

Song Verse: "You are not a God created by human hands."

Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

Application: He was there in the beginning. Everything has a beginning and an end. But our God has no beginning or end. He is infinite. He is not limited by time or place, and He has worked and will continue to work His good purpose through the ages. He has control over everything though we still have free will, and we are responsible for the choices we make.

J. I. Packer said “Created things have a beginning and an ending, but not so their Creator. The answer to the child’s question ‘Who made God?’ is simply that God did not need to be made, for He was always there. He exists forever, and He is always the same.”

*********************************

Song Verse: "You are not a God in need of anything we can give."

Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?”

Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus."

Application: We cannot give Him anything. He has no needs, and He does not need our help though at times I think He needs my help. How about you? He gives us everything including giving us His own Son so that we might have eternal life with Him. We should be looking to God and trusting Him for His provision. He not only provides the physical things but He also provides for our emotional and spiritual needs too.

*********************************

Song Verse: "By Your plan that just the way it is."

Psalm 40:5 "Many, Lord my God, are the wonders You have done, the things You planned for us. None can compare with You; were I to speak and tell of Your deeds, they would be too many to declare."

Application: His plans and ways are perfect. We can choose to follow His ways or we can choose to ignore them but we must remember that we will pay the consequences for going our own way. But when we follow His plan for our lives, the blessings are too many to count!

*********************************

Song Verse: "You were on Your throne." "You're the only God whose power, none can contend."

Psalm 47:8 "God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne."

1 Chronicles 29:11-12 "Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things. In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all."

Application: Everything in heaven and on earth are His, and He reigns over all. Do you live as though God is the King of your life? Does your attitude reflect that you belong to His Kingdom? We are to allow Him to extend His Kingdom through us instead of being caught up in self. And in today’s world, selfishness seems to reign. Will you allow His power to work through your daily life this week?

*********************************

Song Verse: "You are God alone Unchangeable"

1 Samuel 15:29 “He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.”

Malachi 3:6 “I the LORD do not change.”

Psalm 102:27 “. . .You remain the same and Your years will never end.”

Application: It is important to remember that while we are to change and grow in Him, our God does not change, and He does not change His mind.  We can rest in Him knowing that nothing about Him ever changes.

For my 6x6 page today, I used the Psalm 102:27 verse from above. I also used the new Blue Fern Studios Birds on a Wire chipboard. My page seems a little plain to me today but I decided to quit playing with it so I could get it posted for you. LOL! I hope you find some inspiration anyway.

Papers: Amy Tangerine Sketchbook 

Blue Fern Studios chipboard: Birds on a Wire 

Embellishments: Petaloo botanica minis, Wild Orchid Crafts flowers, Flying Unicorn Love Trinkets, May Arts twine, My Mind's Eye Heirloom ephemera pack, washi, misc. tag, sewing machine

Remember to use Keyword SCRLLC14 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous studies, please see this post here. Blessings,

{SCRLLC14} Scripture Lesson #13, King of My Heart

Some of you may remember my "Faith" art journaling page from the other day. If you missed it, click here. Anyway, I have really had to hold strong to God and my faith while my daughter was on her 8 week ministry trip. So many difficult things happened along the way with the last difficulty being this past week when she got a very bad staph infection on her arm. We still do not know if it is MRSA but we are hoping to find out by tomorrow. She ran into many difficulties trying to get to a doctor and trying to get her prescribed medications. As a mom, I was beside myself for two days. I did a lot of praying. I had to keep reminding myself that God was with her; I was 9 hours away. He knew what was going on and would take care of her. This song truly was a comfort this week reminding me that He is bigger than any battle I am facing. He is bigger than any battle you are facing. He is strong when we are weak. He is there to help us, and His love is deeper than any ocean!

The words to our song "King of My Heart" by Love and the Outcome are below. I think they are very strong and comforting words. To watch the official music video, click here.

"I'm in a war every minute
I know for sure I'll never win it
I am David up against Goliath
And it's a fight for my attention
I'm being pulled every direction
This world tells me trust what I can see
Lord, won't You help me
Believe what I believe

CHORUS
‘Cause You are 
Bigger than any battle I'm facing 
You are 
Better than anything I've been chasing 
Savior and Royalty 
The only hope for me Jesus, You are, You are 
The King of my heart, heart 
The King of my heart, heart 

All by myself I fall to pieces 
But You are strong when I am weakest 
I feel Your Kingdom come alive in me 
My feet are bruised but they'll follow 
Where You lead 

CHORUS 

Your love is deeper than the ocean 
You wash away my brokenness 
Your arms are always open 
Come and rule in me 
Come and be my King 

CHORUS 

You're the King of my heart, heart 
The King of my heart, heart 
You're the King of my heart, heart"

Psalm 5:1-2 "Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray."

Psalm 18:32 "It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure."

Psalm 59:17 "You are my strength, I sing praise to You; You, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely."

Psalm 95:6-7 "Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care."

Jeremiah 10:10a "But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God, the eternal King."

2 Corinthians 12:10 "That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

1 Timothy 1:17 "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."

For my 6x6 page today, I used the Psalm 95:6-7 verse from above. I love the thought of being under His constant care! And during this difficult week, it was a great reminder that my daughter was also under His constant care! I also used Blue Fern Studios papers and a chipboard piece called Jeweled Trinkets.

Papers: Blue Fern Garden Picnic and In Bloom, Memory Box cs 
Stamp Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink old paper 
Blue Fern Studios chipboard: Jeweled Trinkets (painted with Shimmerz Texturez crushed coral)
Embellishments: Prima Lil Missy flower, Petaloo botanica minis, Flying Unicorn love trinkets, Zva Creative bling, May Arts twine, Hobby Lobby doily, sewing machine

Remember to use Keyword SCRLLC14 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous studies, please see this post here. Will you allow Him to be the King of your heart today and everyday ahead? Blessings,

{SCRLLC14} Scripture Lesson #12, Hello, My Name Is

Today I want to start off by asking you to read the words to today's song. Don't listen to the song yet, just read the words:

Hello, My Name Is by Matthew West

Hello, my name is regret
I'm pretty sure we have met
Every single day of your life
I'm the whisper inside
That won't let you forget

Hello, my name is defeat
I know you recognize me
Just when you think you can win
I'll drag you right back down again
‘Til you've lost all belief

These are the voices, these are the lies
And I have believed them, for the very last time

Hello, my name is child of the one true King
I've been saved, I've been changed,
And I have been set free
“Amazing Grace” is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King

I am no longer defined
By all the wreckage behind
The one who makes all things new 
Has proven it's true 
Just take a look at my life 

What love the Father has lavished upon us 
That we should be called His children 
I am a child of the one true King

And click here to listen to this song.

So, do you ever feel defeated? Do you ever regret something that you have done? Do you let that drag you down? If we are honest with ourselves, we all feel that way at some time. As Christians, we cannot let those lies drag us down or cause our faith to falter. In the Old Testament, the Israelites had to give a guilt offering to atone for their guilt and shame.

Leviticus 5:15-16 "When anyone is unfaithful to the Lord by sinning unintentionally in regard to any of the Lord’s holy things, they are to bring to the Lord as a penalty a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. It is a guilt offering. They must make restitution for what they have failed to do in regard to the holy things, pay an additional penalty of a fifth of its value and give it all to the priest. The priest will make atonement for them with the ram as a guilt offering, and they will be forgiven."

Death is a consequence of sin. So, prior to Christ's death on the cross for our sin, the Old Testament sacrifices were still in place. However, as Christians, we must remember, that Jesus went to the cross to take away the shame, the defeat, and the guilt. We are alive in Him and not defined by our past. But we must confess our sins daily so that we can receive forgiveness. In Him as we confess, we are forgiven!

Leviticus 5:5 "When anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned."

Romans 6:10-11 "The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."

Leave sin and guilt at the cross where Christ left it. We are forgiven, and we are not to doubt or hang onto guilt! Jesus broke sins' power over you and over me. Because I have a relationship with Christ, I need to look at sin differently. I need to confess it. I need to change my way and become more like Him, and I need to leave it behind once I am forgiven. I can't live in guilt and shame as I did before knowing Him. I am a new person. For instance, once I got married, I got a new name. I began a different life with my husband. I also have a new name and life in Christ, and I need to live differently than I did before. Do I leave the shame, defeat, and guilt behind? Not always but I should! Does this mean I no longer sin? Absolutely not! I sin daily! If I continue to live a life dominated by sin, that is devastating to a believer and dishonoring to God. I am His ambassador so I need to change and live in obedience to Him. I am a constant work-in-progress! He is molding me. How about you?

Isaiah 64:8 "Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand."

The fact that we are saved by grace does not give us the right to sin. It give us the freedom to obey! Jesus not only paid the penalty for sin but He broke it's power. So, leave the guilt, the shame, and defeat behind. You have heavenly characteristics! Which ones have you taken on? Which ones do you need to add?

Psalm 34:5 "Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame."

Romans 9:33 "As it is written: 'See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.'"

Romans 10:11 "As Scripture says, 'Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.'"

Hebrews 10:22 "Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water."

Let your life show that you are child of the one true King!!!!

For my 6x6 page today, I used Blue Fern Studios papers Blue Fern Garden papers and chipboard. See the supply list below the pictures for specific product names. And the scripture I chose was Hebrews 10:22. I just love that verse, and it goes so well with today's song.

Papers: Blue Fern Garden Picnic and In Bloom, Memory Box cs 
Stamps: Tim Holtz Ultimate Grunge 
Blue Fern Studios chipboard: Layering Stems (painted with gesso and 13arts Ayeeda matte raspberry paint), Blue Fern Bits (painted with gesso) 
Embellishments: Prima Lil Missy flower and crochet icon, Petaloo pistachio botanica minis, Wild Orchid Crafts flowers, Tim Holtz mini paper clip, misc. ticket, misc. washi, sewing machine

Remember to use Keyword SCRLLC14 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous studies, please see this post here. Blessings,