Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Grow in Grace {Bible Art}

Bible Art 2Peter 3-18 Grow in grace

2 Peter 3:18: "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."

As my mother used to say, “That’s a tall order.” To grow in grace, and to grow in knowledge of Christ…yep, tough challenge, but most certainly a worthwhile life goal.

I sketched the flowers and then painted with watercolor (InkTense Blocks). My Art Journaling Bible is from www.localchurchbiblepublishers.com and is the 400 Midsize Notetakers Bible (KJV, black leather binding).

#BibleArtJournaling #GrowinGrace #FaithArt #ScriptureArt #CreativeWorship #BibleArt #IllustratedFaith #InktenseBlocks

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Sunshine {Gratitude52 Art Journal}

G52 Prompt12 Sunshine

The Gratitude 52 Journal Prompt 12 is “Sunshine.” In the mood for simplicity, I used Distress Inks to depict a sunrise.

I am posting this on Easter Sunday, so today this reminds me of the many Easter Sunrise Services I attended through the years. I often think of Resurrection Sunday morning when I think of a spectacular sunrise.

These last few weeks in the Pacific Northwest have been so rainy. This afternoon, even after a very rainy Easter morning, there is bright sunshine. So, I’m very thankful for the sunshine today!

Another thought comes to mind today, when I see this image. My sister and I learned a song when we were in the children’s missions organization of our church:

“Jesus wants me for a sunbeam;
to shine for Him each day.
In every way try to please HIm,
at home, at school, at play.
A sunbeam, a sunbeam,
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.
A sunbeam, a sunbeam.
I’ll be a sunbeam for Him.”

Good life goal, actually!

#GratitudeJournal #G52Prompt12 #DistressInk #Sunshine #Easter #Sunbeam #FaithArt

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

He Cares for Me {Bible Art}

Bible Art 1 Peter 5-7 He Cares

1 Peter 5:7 - "Casting all your cares on him; for he careth for you."

When this verse comes to mind, I can almost feel a physical relaxing, a lessening of stress, and a general feeling of well-being. The image that comes to my mind, to accompany this thought, is a puppy or a teddy bear (I know, I’m strange). I can’t draw a puppy, so this little teddy bear is a reminder of how I feel cared for when I think of the promise of this verse. The passage also reminds me that because He cares for me, I should cast all my cares on Him.

#IllustratedFaith #BibleArtJournaling #FaithArt #CreativeWorship #ScriptureArt #BibleArt #teddybears #HeCaresForMe

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Surely Goodness and Mercy {Bible Art}

Bible Art Surely Goodness and Mercy

There are so many wonderful concepts found within the 23rd Psalm. For my Bible page, I decided to focus on a word in the last verse of the passage: mercy.

What a wonderful promise there, that goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever, because “the Lord is my Shepherd.” Looking up the definition of “mercy,” I found this: “compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.”

So, yeah… for me to receive God’s compassion or forgiveness, when it is within His power to punish me…that’s mercy, and I love that promise.

Bible Art Surely Goodness and Mercy

#BibleArtJournaling #IllustratedFaith #FaithArt #ScriptureArt #watercolor #mercy #Psalm23

Monday, March 21, 2016

Winter is Past-Flowers Appear (Gratitude52 Art Journal} {BibleArt}

Gratitude52 Prompt 11 Spring Flowers

The prompt for my Gratitude52 Art Journal Challenge, Week 11: Sketch or illustrate your appreciation for spring flowers. I sketched and painted (NeoColor II Watercolor Crayons) the above piece. The next day I found a verse in Song of Solomon that I do not remember reading before (I have read it before, because I have read through the Bible more than once). It struck me as a page that I would like to illustrate in my Journaling Bible.

Bible Art Sol 2-11&12

So, I used the idea from my Gratitude52 journal to do this page of Bible Art.

In the Pacific Northwest right now, I sure am looking forward to that promise of the rains being gone! But here are the spring flowers! Song of Solomon 2:11-12: "See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land."

For me, the different seasons are so clearly from God. It’s like I need fresh reminders of His creation. I am particularly fond of spring. (Well, okay, I also love the fall.)

#BibleArtJournaling #spring #flowers #NeoColorIICrayons #sketchandpaint #Gratitude52ArtJournal #G52Prompt11 #BibleMarginalia #IllustratedFaith #ScriptureArt #FaithArt

Thursday, March 17, 2016

More Than I Can Imagine {FaithArt}

FaithArt Eph 3-20 Imagine

Sometimes, even though my head and my heart know better, I feel like I have things to ask of God that are just too big. I almost think I should apologize for asking. This verse reminds me that God is able to do way more than anything I could even imagine, because HIS power is at work in me.  Nothing is too big for God. (I think I can hear Him saying, “So, ask away!”)

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us… – Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)

#FaithArt #ScriptureArt #Ephesians #imagine #PowerOfGod #InktenseBlocks

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

GOD Created the Earth {Bible Art}

Bible Art Genesis 1-1

I am passionate about the truth that the heaven and the earth, and all that dwell therein, were all the intentional creation of God, and that it happened exactly as described in the first book of the Bible.

My passion is fueled by the passion of my son/pastor, who one time preached a message full of details about how everything in the Bible rests on the foundational truth of Genesis 1:1.

So, I enjoyed doing Bible Art on this first page of the Bible.

Bible Art Genesis 1-1

#BibleArtJournaling #FaithArt #ScriptureArt #IllustratedFaith #BibleArt

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Study God’s Word {Bible Art}

Bible Art 2Tim2-15

Just a quick and simple illustration focusing on one of my favorite verses (since I love to study and learn), 2 Timothy 2:15:

Bible Art 2Tim2-15

#BibleArtJournaling #BibleArt #ScriptureArt #FaithArt #StudytheWord #IllustratedFaith #sketchandpaint #watercolor

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Thankful for Clean Water {Gratitude52 Art Journal}

G52 Prompt 10 Clean Water

Just a quick post because the Type-A side of me requires that I do every single Gratitude 52 Journal challenge and that I post every single one. This one I opted to keep simple and basic, in keeping with the topic.

It is perhaps a reflection of how incredibly blessed I am that I rarely even think about being thankful for clean water. I think about being grateful for warmth, for shelter, for good food. But I have always been so far removed from having to worry about clean water that it simply does not enter my mind. So, I am glad that Jenny chose this as the Gratitude 52 challenge for this week. Clean water is a basic need and thankfully one I have never been without, but I do realize that this is not true for so many people.

Thanks for the reminder, Jenny, and I AM thankful for clean water. And as is true for every single blessing that is mine, I thank my Heavenly Father for it.

#Gratitude52Journal #GratitudeJournal #sketch #CleanWater #ArtJournal #SketchBook #Blessing

Monday, March 7, 2016

Passing Through {Bible Art}

Bible Art Passing Through

I’m a temporary resident here!

“This world is not my home; I’m just passing through.” 
Jim Reeves

For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.Hebrews 13:14 (NLT)

#IllustratedFaith #ScriptureArt #FaithArt #BibleArtJournaling #BibleArt #watercolor #sketchandpaint #VintageCampers

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Beautiful Feet {Gratitude52 Art Journal}

G52Prompt9 Shoes on Your Feet

This week’s prompt (#9) for the Gratitude 52 Art Journal Challenge is “Shoes on Your Feet.” I veered off topic a bit, because the first thing that came to my mnd was the passage in Isaiah 52:7 that describes the “beautiful feet” of “those who bring good news.”

This popped into my mind with the prompt about “feet” because my granddaughter is at this very moment in a gathering of select young people who are called to carry the Gospel to other countries, as they are beginning their preparation for international mission service.

So, rather than illustrating my gratitude for shoes on my feet, I illustrated my gratitude for my granddaughter’s willingnesss to use her “feet” to take the Good News to unreached people.

#Gratitude52Journal #G52Prompt9 #sketchandpaint #watercolor #BeautifulFeet #GoodNews #FaithArt #ScriptureArt

Friday, March 4, 2016

Recognizing God’s Voice-and Answering {Bible Art}

Bible Art 1 Sam 3

I love this story in the Old Testament about a young man who had been dedicated to God and was spending his growing-up years in the temple, with his mentor Eli. I am struck that Samuel is described as “ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli.” Here was a young man whose heart desired to serve God.

When God first called out to Samuel, it wasn’t clear to the young man that it was God’s voice. He ran to Eli and answered, “Here I am,” thinking the call was from Eli. When Eli realized that Samuel was actually hearing God’s voice (even though “the word of the Lord was rare in those days”), the wise old man told the young man that it was the Lord calling and to answer Him the next time He called . So, then when the Lord called again, Samuel answered, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.”

I just think it would be awesome if my heart would always be in the “state” of desiring to serve God, so much so that I would always recognize His voice and would always answer, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”

1 Samuel 3:4-10 (ESV)
4 Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.

6 And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”

#BibleArtJournaling #FaithArt #ScriptureArt #watercolor

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

No Worries {Faith Art}

Consider the lilies

I am so ready for spring! Around the beginning of March, I start thinking about daffodils, one of my favorite signs of spring. They remind me of the Bible passage that tells me not to worry, because God takes care of the birds and the flowers, so how much more will He take care of me, His child!

Matthew 6:25-33
Do Not Be Anxious

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

#FaithArt #ScriptureArt #faith #DoNotWorry #sketchandpaint #watercolor #daffodils #ConsiderTheLilies