Thank God for Easter by Sharon King

A few months ago I received a gift from a fellow bible journaler, Mandy Lockey. Mandy runs the Time to Sow website and endeavours to provide materials for Christian crafters.

The gift I received was a set of rubber stamps that Many felt would be useful in Bible journaling, and asked a few of us to experiment with the stamps and basically enjoy ourselves and that is what I did.

I thought that I would show you what I created and how I achieved the final result.

Firstly, using the Forgiven stamp, I stamped the words in the shape of a cross, then heat embossed with gold embossing powder.

I then used some Tim Holtz distress inks and using blending brushes inked and blended over the words.

These are the brushes I used

This is after I used the distress inks

Finally I used the words from the hymn, "There is a Green Hill Far Away - Ransomed, healed, restored forgiven". Then I added the verse of a Salvation Army Chorus by Commissioner Keith Banks: "Thank you God for your gift beyond words, Thank you God for your gift beyond words. We thank you for giving us Jesus, Thank you God for your gift beyond words."

Throughout Lent I have been participating in the Rethink Church Photo a day challenge and I used this illustrate my thoughts which I share with you now.

#rethinkchurch #40days

THANKS

I THANK God that He constantly forgives me and allows me a fresh start.

I love the text from 2 Corinthians 9:15 Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words

Commissioner Keith Banks paraphrased these words beautifully in a chorus he wrote

THANK you God for your gift beyond words

THANK you God for your gift beyond words

We THANK you for giving us Jesus

THANK you God for you gift beyond words.

May you know the blessing of Easter and the power of His resurrection.

He is Risen Indeed!

Sharing some of the pages from our bible art journaling facebook group that reflect the truths from this Easter time, when we particularly remember God's amazing love for us:

Claire G

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16 NIV UK

"It wasn't the nails that held Jesus to the cross, 

it was His love for the world"

Jane B

"Leave some room in your heart

for the unimaginable"

Jane B

"Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 .. He was buried, .. He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,"

1 Corinthians 15: 3-4

Deborah

 "Thank you for the cross Lord

Thank you for the price You paid

Bearing all my sin and shame

In love You came and gave amazing grace

"Thank you for the cross"

Lisa

Thank you for this love Lord

Thank you for the nail pierced hands

Washed me in Your cleansing flow

Now all I know Your forgiveness and embrace

Worthy is the Lamb

Seated on the throne

Crown You now with many crowns

You reign victorious

High and lifted up

Jesus, Son of God

The Darling of Heaven crucified

Worthy is the Lamb

Worthy is the Lamb"

- Hillsong

"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 

"You are looking for the living one in a cemetery.  He is not here,

but raised up"

Sharon

While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: “The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”’ Then they remembered his words."

Luke 24: 1-8

"In letters of crimson, God wrote His love.

On the hillside so long, long ago,

For you and me Jesuas died

And Love's greatest story was told

Down through the ages God wrote His love with the 

same hands that suffered and bled

Giving all that He had to give, 

A message so easily read"

Sharon

Gill S

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead"

1 Peter 1:3-4

Happy Easter!  May you know God's love, joy and peace xxx

My Journey into God with Colour - by Evelyn Murphy

Hi everyone, my name is Evelyn. When Deborah asked me to share on the blog I was amazed at how Awesome our God is. Finding Art recently has helped me so much.


I can also show how the Scripture has affected me personally, using colour, during my study time. I love grabbing my Bible, Windsor and Newton watercolours and water brush and play with colour. I never knew colour could excite me so much. 

I have been on a journey recently, finding out who Jesus really is and I am also finding out who I really am. This is an amazing time in my life. I am spending time with Jesus. Wow...the Prince Charming that I had dreamt of years ago doesn't even come close. I know you know what I am talking about!

How lucky are we that Jesus wants to spend time with us. He will never lie, cheat, steal or let you down in any way. No, He will LOVE you! 

He will always be romantic, no more forgotten birthdays. He is better than perfect. He protects us and He is so strong. You can't even begin to imagine the life that He has planned ahead of you. I am excited about life, all my hope is truly in Him.

I am looking forward to sharing my Art with you and get to know you all along the way. xoxo

How to Make a New Cover for your Journaling Bible - by Sarah Anderson

Sadly my journaling bible had been bugging me for a while.  I don't think it's that full but its hardcover was so hard that it sat very open (as you can see from the image above) and just felt 'clunky' and uncomfortable in my hands.  So I decided to be very brave and do something about it!

I managed to remember to take a couple of photos of the process but then got carried away and forgot so please bear with me with the explanations.

I carefully peeled the front inside page away from the hardcover as I had notes on it that I didn't want to lose.  The back page was too tricky to peel off so I used a knife to slice the inner pages away.

I then used the old cover as a template to cut out a piece of leather.  My son loves making things with leather (he's made me a gorgeous little coin bag) and so I raided his stash (with his permission!).  I also cut the leather slightly longer than the original hardcover.

Before attaching the leather cover to the pages I trimmed a long, thin length of leather to create a cord.  I then made a hole in what would be the back cover, looped the thin leather through it then stitched up and down over the hole using my sewing machine.

I adore hydrangeas and these fabric ones were part of an unfinished project I didn't like so I stitched them to what would be the front cover, again using my sewing machine; this time dropping the feed dog and free machining.  I also added a button for the looped leather to hook around.  I forgot to take a photo of this stage but hopefully the above image gives an idea of placement.

I then spread UHU glue on the front and back of the text block, wrapped the leather around it and left it to dry with a heavy weight on top.

My journaling bible is now an absolute pleasure to use.  Just holding it in my hands makes me smile and I love the way it sits when open now.  It's also much more of a reflection of my creativity on the outside.

Is there something that's bugging you and that, by stepping out courageously you could make a change?  This might be something practical, but it might be something at work, within a friendship, at home...

How to Get Unstuck! by Deborah J Gregg

Hi everyone, it's Deborah again with a quick post today about what to do when you sit down to do some Bible Art Journaling, but you feel a bit stuck....

I'm sure I'm not the only one who suffers with occasional lack of inspiration. Where the blank, white page stares back at me, daring me to come up with something beautiful.

When my art supplies surround me, and yet I just can't settle on whether to use pencils, pens, gelatos, watercolours, etc.

Where I've finished my tea and biscuits and haven't even made a mark.

Here's my top tips for 'How to Get UnStuck':

1. Pray! Take a moment to commit it all to God. To thank Him for all His goodness. To praise Him for His great love for you.

2. Read the Bible! Re-read the passage you are led to, prayerfully, asking God to reveal His Word to you and to inspire you to respond creatively as you read. Maybe try reading a Psalm if you haven't read one already - it may help put you in a different mindset of thanksgiving and praise.

Gone green for this one! Horizontal stripes are great and make it easy to line up your words

When you've settled on a verse or passage you feel you'd like to journal:

3. Pick a colour - any! Your go-to favourite colour, or maybe try using something different for a change! Or if you are now feeling more inspired, pick two colours that either complement or contrast! Add the colour to the page to create a background, using whatever medium you want to...pencils, gelatos, paints, collage papers, etc. Make it as simple or complicated as you like. Use plain colour, or add dabs, stripes, patterns or doodles.

I love this verse! Acrylic paint background in blue & toned down with some white, added words with Sharpies and metallic marker to highlight

4. While the page is drying take some scrap paper and practice writing out your words, playing with the arrangements of the letters, size, font etc.

5. Take a black (or coloured) pen and add your words on your page. Embellish if you want to with doodles, stamps, metallic or glitter pens etc.

6. Sit back and breathe.... Pray again and enjoy looking at the verse you have just journaled. Take a moment to allow it to sink in and wash over you.

It's so important to enjoy the process, and I pray that this simple approach may help you as you soak in God's Word and unlock your creativity.

Of course, if you happen to get stuck while journaling with others, you can take a moment to pray together, and it's really great to share ideas and tips. 

And don't forget, we have such a lovely community in our Facebook group and we love to support and encourage one another. If you do get stuck, you can always give us a shout and we are here to help! :-)

Added diagonal stripes using watercolour paints. Added words filling in between diagonal pencil lines. 

I don't often use pink, but it's good to try different colours now and then! 

Indescribable God! by Anne Tell

I have always enjoyed a walk in the country, along the coast, or up a mountain (using cable cars I hasten to add!). While doing this I also enjoy time with God marvelling at all He has created, that is on show for us to see and take pleasure from. 

Has it ever occurred to you that we only ever see a fraction of what God created both here on earth or the heavens above?

God didn't just create a bird He created hundreds of birds (No, I haven't counted them all so I could have underestimated that!). He also created many different animals, fish, stars, galaxies and so on. 

Look at the colours you have in your paint box, colouring pencils, pastels etc. We don't just have green, blue, red we have many shades and tones not to mention the colours we can't see at the ultra and infra ends of the spectrum.

When I turn my eyes to the heavens, and look to the stars (I just love the winter skies for this) I realise I am long sighted, as are we all, I just have no idea how far we are looking to see them.

Do a search on Google for 'how big is God?' Be prepared to have your mind blown, as distances can have upward of 15 zeros after the number! In the colouring below I set out to make each bird different. There are only 11 but I was beginning to struggle!

No snowflake is the same, I have no idea how many fall in one snow fall! 

Our finger prints are different as is our DNA. 

All this and God wants to know us; we have His Word, Creation, and so on (Ps 139) you can add your own favourite verse or passage to this. 

This is God, interested in the big and the small, including us 😀. 

Want to know more? I recommend you get hold of the DVD 'Indescribable' and watch that (Louis Gigglio and Matt Redman) and/or read 'I Am Not but I Know I Am' (Louis Gigglio). 

As you create your next interpretation just remember/contemplate how our God enjoys interacting with us.