Aw, Man...I Journaled That Page Already!

"You are surrounded! Come out with your hands up!" This was the sermon message from our pastor this weekend. It was based on Psalm 8 and I could hardly wait to journal in my bible with this Psalm and theme. When I opened my bible, I saw that the page was already completed by me - but that's no stopping how God wanted to get this message out, into my heart, and onto the pages of my bible. Even when a page has been "completed" this doesn't mean that you can't revisit your page, add to it, change it up, add a tip in or continue the lesson on another page.
This Psalm emphasizes how majestic our Lord is and how tiny we are in comparison to His great works. "...what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" verse 4 asks. When we look at the majesty of God's creation, we can easily feel small. I had previously journaled this page after a visit to the mountains where I did feel tiny compared to the majesty of God's creation in which I found myself. Funny, but we just enjoyed another trip to the mountains on Saturday and then woke up Sunday to this Psalm and sermon. As I looked at my watercolor mountains in my Bible while I listened to the sermon, I immediately thought to put a little tiny figure on the side of the mountain with hands raised in praise. How can we look at the wonderous works around us and not come out with our hands up?

Even though we may feel small, we are assured throughout scripture that we are part of God's creation - a super special part! Later at home I decided to continue the mountain scene onto the next page of my bible and add the ideas and lessons from the sermon to that page. Not only are we surrounded by this great visual beauty, but our pastor talked about being completely surrounded by God's love and presence.  He walks with us through all of life's ups and downs. There is nowhere we can go to escape His love. WE ARE SURROUNDED! And how wondrous the thought!

PUT YOUR HANDS UP!  

To praise Him. To give thanks. To surrender yourself to Him. 

To receive the blessings He wants to shower you with.

Choose This Day! Bible Journaling

This past weekend my family was out and about and we attended a new (to us) LCMS church. It was warm and inviting and a wonderful worship experience. The pastor preached on Joshua 24 when Joshua pressed the Israelites to make an open declaration, with clear hearts and minds, about whom they serve. He challenged them, as the pastor did to us, to make a heart examination and get rid of any idols that may threaten to take God's place in our hearts. Journaling that text this morning, I emphasized verse 15 "choose this day" and found a perfect little stamp from Heidi Swapp "has my heart" to which I added the "who" and turned it into a question.  I love this page as it reminds me to daily examine my heart and daily place our God as priority #1 in my heart.  It's a daily, ongoing struggle, but God promises to give us grace for each day and strength for each battle.
So, who (or what) has your heart today?

He(art) Notes: I did prep my page a bit with matte gel medium, then added the watercolor background. My verse is hand-lettered with my micron pens. Heidi Swapp "has my heart" stamp and arrow stamp from Illustrated Faith, outlined in gold sharpie.

Here are some additional pages that I completed last week:

A Week of Bible Journaling - Wrap-Up!

I journaled a lot this week! Praising God for being an ever-present source of wisdom, comfort, inspiration, reflection!!!

Monday John 6 - acrylic paint, gold paint pen, stickers

Tuesday Galatians 5:16-25 - acrylic paint, colored pencil, micron pen, stickers, stamps

Wednesday Exodus 16 - colored pencil, micron pen, traced a Cricut die cut, alpha stickers

Thursday - Ephesians 1:7-8 - distress ink, micron pen, alpha stickers, washi tape

Friday 1 Corinthians 55:58 - acrylic paint, micron pen, white Signo pen, colored pencils

Saturday Luke 22 - tip-in card, stickers, washi tape

Bible Journaling Wrap Up

Here is some of my Bible art from the last couple of weeks. I love paging through my Bible to look at all the art, but find myself stopping to read the words, too. I also find that I am able to bring forth the verses I've worked on much easier in my mind. This Bible Journaling has helped sink God's Word into my heart and I am excited and grateful for that. 

Acts 17:28 watercolor, stickers, white pen

This is one of my favorites! Psalm 42 Watercolors, micron pen, stamp

2 Corinthians 5:17 Acrylic paints, stickers, micron pen

Mark 6:50-51 Boat Tip In/Page Flap - micron pen, water colors

inside of tip in - poem by Martin Luther

A little challenge for myself to draw this whale across the two pages of Jonah. Micron pen, watercolor pencils, white pen

Amos 5 acrylic paint and washi background; altered stamps, micron pen, gold sharpie

Sunday Sermon Bible Journaling - The Bread of Life

Sunday's gospel reading was from the book of John, Chapter 6.  

"Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life..." 6:27

"Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven,

but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven." 6:32

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger,

and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." 6:35

Journaling supplies - acrylic paint, gold paint pen, tab and stars from Simple Stories "I Am" collection, letter stickers, micron pen.