Note Cards to Share

I created a sweet little set of scripture cards for Visual Faith Ministry. You can download my set (and look for the other lovely sets as well!) free to print at home. The set is available in both black and white as well as full color.

I colored my set with colored pencils.

Print them out onto cardstock and write an encouraging message on the back. Or mount them on colored paper and create a folding card. Whatever you do, I hope they encourage both you and the recipient with the truth of God's Word!

Get your cards here at Visual Faith Ministry.

Sermon Notes - Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled

Our Pastor’s recent sermon (you can listen here: https://www.oursavior-lcms.org/recorded-sermons) focused on John 14, particularly verse 27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” The Greek verb “tarasso” is the word for troubled here and its definition is “to cause inward commotion and distress; to take away calmness of mind.” We all experience troubled hearts now and then, and Jesus knows this. He himself experienced a troubled heart in the garden (Matthew 26:37 says that Jesus was “sorrowful and troubled”) before His arrest and ultimately His suffering and death. The verb used here is slightly different and infers a very heavy burden of distress that Jesus was experiencing as He began to take on the sins of the world.  But even so, Jesus knows and can empathize with our troubled hearts. When Jesus tells His disciples (and us) to let not your hearts be troubled (see also John 14:1, Mark 6:50, Luke 24:38), He simply reminds us to focus on Him, not our troubles. He reminds us that He is our peace. “Believe in God, Believe also in Me,” He says in John 14:1. “Take heart, it is I,” He tells the disciples in Mark 6:30. In yesterday’s sermon Pastor said, “The remedy for our troubled hearts and anxiety is Jesus Himself.” Sometimes, the answer is simple, but it’s not always easy to implement the cure. We need to be deliberate about it. We need to be disciplined about it. We need to work with the Holy Spirit and ask for the Spirit’s power to focus our eyes and our hearts on Jesus Himself. In Him we find true peace, rest, and joy for living.

When your heart is troubled, what’s your go-to scripture or spiritual discipline that helps re-focus you?

Faith Planner

Do you keep a planner? I do, but it's not for keeping dates and appointments.

I'm talking about how I use my planner to journal scripture lessons, reflections, and prayers over at The Holy Mess blog.

Come join me!

Using A Bible Journaling Page as a Card

Part of the process for me as I Bible journal is prayer. Oftentimes I have specific people in mind as I reflect on scripture and use the Word I am reflecting on as part of my prayers. That was true as I reflected on Psalm 18 and prayed for a friend who was battling cancer. After my prayer and Bible journaling time, I wanted to send a note to my friend to encourage her and let her know I was praying for her. I decided to use my Bible journaling page to create a card.

For my page, I used the spear-like arrow stamp on the Walk By Faith stamp set. I think it's the perfect visual for verse 39 "For you equipped me with strength for the battle." I colored in my sketch with ColorIn Watercolor Twists.

The process is very simple. I scanned my page (you could also take a photo) and imported the file into a word processing document so that I could resize it and print it on my color printer. After that, it was simply layering cardstock on top of a 5x7 card base.

Watch this quick video to see it all come together.

Bible Bubbles Journaling Page

The new Bible Bubbles faith stamp set is so cute and perfect for faith planners, cards, quick notes, and the margins of your Bible.  After putting down a thin layer of acrylic paint for some background color, I used several of the stamps on this page in the book of Joel. Mirroring the stamps, I then drew a larger bubble for my journaling.

I really like how they look clustered together on my page.

The crosses featured on the page are from another new set called Bread of Life.

Watch this process video to see more of these stamps and how this page came together for me.

For this project, I used the following SRM products:

Bread of Life stamp set | Bible Bubbles stamp set | Scripture Notes stamp set | Marvy Uchida LePlume Markers

Lent 2018

This year, Lent began on February 14th - Ash Wednesday (and of course Valentine's Day). Once again I am committing my mornings to the spiritual discipline of journaling the Word. I'll be following the daily devotional, "Silent Witness" offered by Lutheran Hour Ministries. I've created a set of travelers notebooks to contain my journaling.
Here's a bit more...

Bible Journaling Worship & Praise

One of the main reason I Bible journal is because it gives me the time to meditate on specific words of scripture. While I am coloring or painting or stamping, I am repeating scripture in my mind and contemplating the meaning of these precious words. The creative process draws me in and allows me to linger longer in the Word. My page today gave me the chance to target specific words and think about the many reasons to worship and praise our amazing God.

Psalm 29 is a psalm of worship and praise. It wasn't difficult to find many of the words used in this psalm in stamp form on SRM's two "wordfetti-style" faith stamp sets - Daily Devotion and Scripture Notes. These two sets contain multiple words that can be used in a variety of ways. 

After lettering "worship" and coloring it in with marker and watercolor twists, I added several word stamps to emphasize some of the words in the Psalm. I also added a star stamp from another set, Child of God. I created the background using the watercolor twists and a water brush. Then, I added a few highlights with my white pen. I really like how this page turned out and am grateful for the time to worship and praise God through Bible journaling. Be blessed!

For this project I used:

Marvy Uchida LePlume markers | Watercolor Twist Pencils | Water Brush | White Gel Pen | Child of God stamp set | Daily Devotion stamp set | Scripture Notes stamp set

Bible Background Stamps

Today I'm sharing several ways I utilized SRM's Bible Background stamp set this week. My favorite technique is using the "amen" Bible background to dress up plain white letters. 

After cutting the letters in my die cut machine (or use stickers), I randomly stamped on top of them before removing them from the cutting mat. I also added a bit of marker wash to give them colors that coordinated with my faith planner layout for the week. 

To watch me complete this technique and for a few more ideas using Bible background stamps, watch my process video below!

For this project I used:

Bible Background stamps | Sermon Notes stamps | Marvy Uchida LePlume markers

Shout! Bible Journaling Page

We attended our church's Vacation Bible School recently and this story in Joshua was the focus for one of the day's activities. Through the power and might of God alone, Joshua and the Israelites took the city of Jericho. God showed his mighy power as He caused the walls of the city to fall flat. "Shout, for the Lord has given you the city." -Joshua 6:16. 

For more details on how I created this Bible journaling page, visit the SRM Creative Blog.

Memory Verse Magnetic Holder

Memorizing scripture is important in our home. To keep track of the verses we've memorized this summer, I created a magnetic holder using a small clear box from SRM. It's a perfect size for holding 3x4 cards. It was super easy to create with some scrap paper and SRM's faith stamps and stickers.

For the step-by-step process, check out the video below.

For this project I used:

Child of God Clear Stamps | School Days Planner Stamps | Sticker Stitches Halloween | We've Got Your Border Pastel | Clear Mini Box

Bible Journaling the Lord's Prayer

It's often difficult to know the exact words to pray. In Matthew 6, Jesus gives us some advice.

"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Pray then like this..." Here then Jesus introduces the Lord's Prayer. (Matthew 6:7-15) 

This summer, my daughter and I will be spending some time learning more about the Lord's Prayer and the meanings of the words. The Big Trinity stamp set from SRM is perfect for our summer devotions. We've started with the introduction. "Our Father in Heaven..." With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that will all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father. (explanation from Luther's Small Catechism)

For the background of this page, I used acylic paints and applied them lightly with a sponge. After drying I stamped the words, crosses, border dots, and heart. I used a white pen to highlight the stamps and help them stand out more on my page. 

For this page I used:

BIG Trinity Clear Faith Stamps | I Am Clear Faith Stamps | In Jesus' Name Clear Faith Stamps | White Gel Pen | Black LePen

Fear Not Bible Journaling Page

Isaiah 40:10 reminds us that our God is with us and helping us. We find renewed strength and courage when we listen to His Word. On this page in my Bible journal, I used a baby wipe to spread soft (acrylic paint) colors across the page. This is a quick and easy way to add lovely color to your background. Watch my process video for instructions on how to create this look.

After my background dried, I boldly lettered "fear not" with black pen (my LePlume II dual-tipped marker worked great here) and added additional stamped details.

You can see in the background that I also added a few pen marks - black dots and a light pink crosses.

Products used for this Bible Journaling page:

LePlume Markers | Clear Faith Stamps Child of God | Clear Faith Stamps I Am

By His Wounds...

As we approach Easter, I wanted to have a visual reminder to help us focus on the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf. This verse in the Old Testament, which points to Christ, came to mind. 

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

I wanted to keep it simple and meaningful, so I just grabbed a few supplies. I started with some simple lettering using my black LePen on a sheet of watercolor paper. I lightly drew a few guide lines to keep my lettering straight. These were erased before applying any color.

I started with bit of light purple shading over the lettering with my LePlume marker and then added some stamped borders. Then I decided to add more color with my markers using a plastic baggie, markers, water, and this "smooshing" techniqe (see video tutorial here). 

After a bit more color, a dotted border stamp, and a quick trim, I simply attached it onto a clipboard for display. It reminds us that Jesus loved us so much that He willingly suffered on our behalf to make the full payment for our sins. By His wounds we are healed! On Easter Sunday we will celebrate His victory over sin, death, and Satan. 

A blessed Easter to each of you.

For this project I used:

watercolor paper | Marvy Uchida LePlume II markers | Marvy Uchida LePen in Black | The Lord is My Light Clear Faith Stamps | BIG Trinity Clear Faith Stamps

Bible Journaling With Karen

Hello friends! Today I'm sharing a recent Bible journaling entry I created using some of the new Faith stamps. I'm finding lots of inspiration in these new sets and enjoying fitting them together to emphasize scripture verses and tell a story or lesson learned. 

Today my entry is in Genesis 50. Many of you may know the story of Joseph, whose brothers sold him into slavery because they were jealous of the attention and gifts he received. Joseph's life was turned upside down and he didn't understand why all this was happening to him. But God knew how to take this bad and use it for good. After many years, Joseph was able to fully forgive his brothers and said to them in verse 20, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good...."

I created a dusty background with acrylic paints, symbolizing that we do not always see clearly. I started with the Walk by Faith set and added a few words from other sets to complete my entry. I really like the "spear-like" quality of this large arrow and the mini arrow cross found on the In Jesus' Name set. To finish off the page, I used a black pen to box in the main sentiments and added dots and highlighting with gold and white gel pens. Then I added my own prayer.
We don't always understand why bad things happen, but we can continue to step out in faith, trusting in the Lord who sees all, knows all, and will do what is good and right for us. 

For this project I used:

Walk by Faith Clear Stamps | In Jesus' Name Clear Stamps | Trust in the Lord Clear Stamps | Child of God Clear Stamps | Gel Pen

Let the Sea Resound Bible Journaling Page

Psalm 99 is an amazing song of praise to the Lord. In verse 7 we read, "Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!"
With that powerful imagery in mind, I created a powerful wave on my Bible page with acrylic paints, a LePen fine point black pen and the new Marvy Reminisce white gel pen.

The stamp set Heaven & Earth provided a few more details - the jumping fish and sentiment.

To fit the sentiment in my Bible margin, I snipped it into two pieces and then stamped it in the middle of the wave. Pefect fit!

The Amen stamp is from another new set, In Jesus' Name.

I love how this page turned out and that I can shout my praises to the Lord and use my creativity to do it!

For this page, I used:

Heaven & Earth Faith Stamps | In Jesus' Name Faith Stamps | LePen Fine Point Black | Marvy Reminisce White Gel Pen

Week 3 Lenten Journal Wrap-Up

During Lent, I'm primarily working in a journal (see here for journal set-up) as I read and reflect on the daily devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries Lenten Devotion booklet, (free to print, HERE). The theme is From the Cradle to the Empty Tomb and the entries follow Jesus as He makes His way towards His death on the cross. The devotions are mainly from the book of Luke, which is another great advantage for recording my visual faith entries in a journal, rather than the pages of my Bible. 

This week I missed one day of journaling. Here is the rest of the week's wrap-up of my entries.

Lenten Journaling Week 2

During Lent, I'm primarily working in a journal (see here for journal set-up) as I read and reflect on the daily devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries Lenten Devotion booklet, (free to print, HERE). The theme is From the Cradle to the Empty Tomb and the entries follow Jesus as He makes His way towards His death on the cross. The devotions are mainly from the book of Luke, which is another great advantage for recording my visual faith entries in a journal, rather than the pages of my Bible. 

Here is this week's wrap-up of my entries for days 8-15.

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for daily posts. Be blessed!

Lenten Journal - Week 1 Wrap-Up

During Lent, I'm primarily working in a journal (see here for journal set-up) as I read and reflect on the daily devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries Lenten Devotion booklet, (free to print, HERE). The theme is From the Cradle to the Empty Tomb and the entries follow Jesus as He makes His way towards His death on the cross. The devotions are mainly from the book of Luke, which is another great advantage for recording my visual faith entries in a journal, rather than the pages of my Bible. 

Here is this week's wrap-up of my entries for days 1-7.

Day 1 | Ash Wednesday

Day 2

Day 3

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 Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7