“When I create art, my mind wanders and more of my heart and what I am feeling are revealed. When I slow down and do something that is just for me, magic happens. I am the most honest with myself in the quiet of my studio when paint is on my hands and my apron has another layer of color on it. As I create, what always shows up in my art, are words. Words buried below the layers of paper and paints. Words spilled across the canvas. Words dripping along the edges and always the final act of any piece.” source

I’m not gonna lie … I’m kinda obsessed with Instagram over here! It’s been my new source of social media. It’s tweets and statuses all wrapped up in an image and I love it! I’m also connecting with all kinds of people and that’s nothing but an added bonus in my book!

One of the people I’ve connected with does beautiful … like gorgeous-beautiful … creative journaling and I’ve been enthralled and inspired to give it a try. I’ve never been a fan of my handwriting and have never been very “cutesy” with my doodling. So truthfully, it was a little intimidating to just let go and give it a try. Something else that became very evident is how shaky my hands have been become {MS related}.

But the feeling I got when I just let go and created … using truths from the Word of God … was kinda refreshing, calming, joy-filled, and peaceful!

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. Romans 12:6 NLT

God’s instilled a need for creativity within me … but I never quite realized it until I stopped creating and felt a small void in my life. I believe when we’re not using the gifts and passions we’ve been given, we start to feel a void within.

This type of journaling is a small way to fill my creative void, but the result I feel inside is huge.

Discussion: Is there something you do just for you? What gift or passion fills a void and brings joy into your life? And do you take the time to stay engaged and active in what you’ve been called to do?

As Terrie and I were talking last week, we spoke of the ninth chapter in John, where Jesus heals a man born blind.

The scripture says, “His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?’”

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

Huge sigh. Literally.

Discussion: If you’re walking a difficult season of life right now and simply can. not. figure out why … could you rest in the fact that God may be using you to encourage others?

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We rise early. In jammies. Grab coffee. Bibles. Notebooks. Highlighters and pens.

We pray.

We study.

We absorb.

Then we grab our computers and share with each other what life-giving truth we glean each morning.

Via email.

‘Cuz we live as far apart as South Dakota to Florida!

I’ve found it’s so important to have an accountability partner, or group to keep me in the Word each day. I know when I step away from my study … even for a few days, or weeks {ahem}, it begins to show in my attitude and character.

But having someone to check in with, to pray with, to learn and grow with … it keeps me accountable for being in the Word of God.

And as awesome as it is to have this accountability group of amazing women … even more {yes more!} awesomeness abounds when a larger “umbrella” group is found that encourages women to gather and hold each other up in the Word.

There are two of those groups I’d like to recommend; the first is Good Morning Girls and the second is Hello Mornings Challenge.

Both are basically groups of women that put together different studies, set a time frame to complete them {usually 12 weeks}, and encourage women to sign up and join in!

With either of these groups, you can join in the study they’ve picked out, or you can do your own study, but just chime in on the accountability part of it.

I participate in both Good Morning Girls and Hello Mornings … they’re different for different reasons, and I enjoy them both. I really encourage you to take a few minutes and explore each of them.

Right now with Hello Mornings, we’re doing a study called, “Love Like Him … Learn to Love Like Jesus.” We’re studying through 1 Corinthians 13 … and I think I’m even going to memorize it!

Anyway … I feel like I’m rambling. My purpose is just to encourage you to be sure you’re spending time in God’s Word … in His life-giving truth. And to encourage you to grab a friend {or two} and think about joining in one of the challenges above. If you decide not to join an organized study, at least grab a friend and make a commitment to be accountable to each other for being in God’s Word every day.

I promise … time in His Word is one thing you’ll never regret!

{Dear Mothers}

Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with {your children} in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace …

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

{Because dear mothers} it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. {So mothers} do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.

~ Ephesians 4:2-3, Ephesians 5:1-2 & Philippians 2:13-15

{A dear friend wanted me to be encouraged this Mother’s Day and sent these words along with a handmade necklace. Thank you Jess, you have definitely encouraged me!}

Happy Mother’s Day dear friends! Praying you are spoiled & blessed!

Hunter was with me in the church bookstore last Wednesday night, when she fell in love with a bible and begged asked to have it.  As you can see in the photo I gave in bought it for her.  But seriously, can you really turn your child down when they’re asking for a bible?

Anyway.

She proceeded to walk around church for the next 20 minutes “reading” her new bible.  And when she so-very-excitedly told me she “found the red words!” my heart went to mush.  I asked if she knew what the red words were and she replied “they’re God’s words.”  The red words in the bible are indeed the words that Jesus spoke while on earth.  Be-still-my-heart.

Sometimes I so worry that I’m not sharing enough, I’m not being intentional enough, we’re not in scripture enough, we’re not doing devotions enough, I’m not teaching enough.  Do you ever feel the same?

And then they surprise you with something you had no idea they understood … “the red words.”

Recently, we had a long drive in the car and the girls brought Apples to Apples {bible edition} along.  The girls would get to bigger words “prodigal, martyr, obedience” and they’d ask me questions about them.  We talked about the Red Sea, Passover and the story of the Prodigal Son … I was amazed as I would start to tell the story or meaning, they’d excitedly take over and finish the story.

All this to say, if we can stay steadfast in our teachings and talkings and bringing them to church … these words, stories and their meanings will grow deep into the hearts of our children.  And then into their children’s children …

From the author:

You may be thinking you don’t have time to dig into the Bible the way you want to—or the way you think you should. You may think that a deep study of scripture is only for the pastor, the seminary student, or the uber-spiritual.

You’re wrong—the “ordinary” Christian can learn to to study the Bible on his own.

The every-day believer can train her eye to discover the life-changing truths held in scripture.

You can dig into the Bible and find truths for yourself-all it takes is fifteen focused minutes.

In Focused15, I’ll show you how to look at scripture through a different lens each day. We’ll use tools already at our fingertips, with methods proven through history, with a structure that is easy to follow…

…all in fifteen minutes day.

If you are ready to take your personal Bible study to the next level, but not sure how, Focused15 is for you.

Trust me! I know you’ll love it! Focus15 is available for Kindle and Nook and you can purchase the PDF download from the Focused15 website. Let me know what you think …

{care to have each tsj photography post delivered
right to your inbox? click here to have it happen!}

So I decided to dig a little deeper …

Bible poverty is a big deal! And I want to do something about it. Not only have I committed to having five verses translated each month, but I’ve also signed up with the OneVerse blogging team to help spread awareness to end Bible poverty.

What does it take to translate the Bible? There are six steps:

1. First draft: translators analyze what a passage says and produce a first draft.
2. Team Check: translators check each verse for accuracy and clarity.
3. Community Testing: translators share drafted Scripture with community members to test how well it communicates.
4. Back Translation: translators translate the draft “back” into a major language for a non-native consultant.
5. Consultant Check: a consultant checks the translation with the team to make sure expected standards are met.
6. Proofread: translators rigorously proofread the final draft for errors before publication.

Here’s a note we received from one of the translators:

“They are very happy now days reading their language. This is how the Word of God
works in them. Let all of us enjoy the good work, for serving the people.

There are some churches who are reading it aloud.  Many Vidunda people have
received copies of the portions of Mark and John and are using it.
Even school children are happy to receive copies because
they have been given out at some schools.”

I think about some of my favorite scriptures. The scriptures my girls memorize each week. Their yearly verses. Their life verses. The promises of God’s Word that I can share with them when they’re worried, anxious, fearful, or upset.

I can look up a scripture on my computer, my phone, my ipad, or the 15-plus Bibles I have at home. My girls get a piece of candy at Sunday school when they bring their Bibles into church.

Yet millions … millions of people … children and adults alike … don’t have access to a single verse!

People are dying each day without Jesus and the promises of God’s Word. But you have the power to change that! For just $26/month you can sponsor the translation of a verse. You’ll even get a monthly notice of which verse you helped translate.

Can I ask you to pray about this? Talk it over with your family … your spouses, your children. Let God stir your hearts for these people. Don’t you believe everyone has a right to read God’s Word?

I’m linking up with this incredible community of OneVerse bloggers committed to spreading awareness of the millions of people in the world without a Bible in their language … because we are not okay with that!

Wikipedia defines these words as The Golden Rule.  But do you know …

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“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Luke 6:31 {NIV}

Jesus spoke those words while on earth?

I don’t know ’bout you, but I think it’s cooler-than-cool that something Jesus said. on earth. in scripture. is classified on Wikipedia as “The Golden Rule.”  #justsayin

As we’re moving into the Christmas {and giving} season, this week I’ll be celebrating here on the blog … with gifts, blessings, giveaways and love.  Today let’s walk a journey of love.  God’s love.

Since September, I’ve been studying 1 John with my Good Morning Girls group.  So much truth.  Well … I mean, all of God’s Word is truth … but as we’re dissecting it verse by verse, it all comes alive!

If you have a few minutes and can dive into just a few verses, I urge you to read 1 John 4:7-21.  For the purpose of this post, let’s look at:

Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters,
are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen,
cannot love God whom they have not seen.
The commandment we have from him is this: those who love
God must love their brothers and sisters also.
1 John 4:20-21 {NRSV}

Those some strong words right there!  Take a moment to digest them.  Pretty much, “how in the world can you claim to love God … know God … if you have hatred for someone else.”

Oswald Chambers says, “If what we call love doesn’t take us beyond ourselves, it is not really love.”

Love, forgiveness, grace … for me, it all goes hand-in-hand.  But what I’d like to share with you is my personal experience of having God’s love, overflow … to love someone else.  Someone I didn’t think … someone many still don’t think … deserves any kind of love.  Let alone a love filled with grace and forgiveness.

There I was.  Filled with anger and hate.  Anger.  And hate.  Ready for a divorce.  And the very next hour … literally … after prayer with my pastor and receiving an indwelling, overflow of God’s love … I was able to love.  Not only did I not want a divorce … but I was able to forgive and to love.

I need to make it abundantly clear … it wasn’t … and dare I say, most times still isn’t … my love.  I’m human.  I hurt, I feel, I anger … and I even hate.

But Jesus.  Jesus changed all that.

Jesus laid down His life for us.  He hung on a cross so that I might be loved … and forgiven.  I take freely of this gift … every. single. day.

The Bible also tells us it’s better to give than to receive {Act 20:35}.  Not easier.  When it come to love and forgiveness … definitely not easier.  But if I can so freely receive His gift of forgiveness and love, then isn’t it my responsibility … haven’t I been commanded … to give it?

In January of 1951, C.S. Lewis {in reference to Luke 6:27-31} wrote in a letter … “In praying for people one dislikes I find it helpful to remember what one is joining in His prayer for them.”

God is love.  He always was.  Always is.  And always will be.

I love God.  I want to honor Him.  I want to make Him proud of me.

In Matthew 7:13, we’re told to “enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.”

Oswald Chambers asks this, “Have you ever created what Mary of Bethany created in the heart of the Lord Jesus?  “She has done a good work for me.”  In The Message it reads this way, “She has just done something wonderfully significant for me.” {Mark 14:6}

I want to live my life … Jesus wants us to live our lives … following, always following The Golden Rule.

We need to get off our high horses … believers and non-believers alike … humble ourselves, see outside of ourselves, and start treating other people the way we want to be treated.  The way we’ve been commanded to treat each other.

#thereisaidit

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