Many Are The Plans in a man’s heart

There are many plans in a man’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that will prevail.

Proverbs 19:21 EHV

“Mommy! Some of the cherry tree blossoms fell to the ground, they are delightful!”

I brought my laptop outside to work on some things while the kids were playing, and the first thing my daughter did was to run up to me with a handful of cherry blossoms that she had picked up off of the ground. “They are delightful!” she exclaimed. “Yes they are,” I thought to myself.

I miss the days where delighting in simple things were more of what I focused on. Now in the midst of being a responsible adult and attempting to be the “perfect” mother, the simple things are too often overlooked in order to quickly begin work on the responsibilities and tasks of the day.

I have been thinking a lot lately about how to be “in the world but not of the world” regarding being influential through my blog and other online platforms, but not to let that be my main focus over having a deep and meaningful relationship with Jesus, honoring my husband as well as raising and teaching my children God’s truth amidst the overabundance of deception and lies in this world.

I have always wanted to be a “planner” person. I bought this beautiful binder with the intention of it being a daily planner, but of course being the creative person that I am, I have decided to use it for something else.

The other day, I hand-lettered Proverbs 19:21 (EHV) on my former “planner” binder, which has now become my prayer binder. I have saved several clippings of artwork, church bulletins, kids drawings, and several other things that have special meaning to me, or things that help me visualize what I want to be in prayer for.

Even though I had planned for this binder to be used for one thing, God had directed and prompted me to use it for something else. I hope that I can continue to remind myself that the Lord’s purpose and plan will prevail even if I have different plans or desires in my heart that are not aligned with His plans.

He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you,

and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.”

Joshua 24:23 ESV

Blessed Is . . .

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river . . . Jeremiah 17:7 & 8 KJV

Many of the illustrations in my book, Arise Beautiful, were inspired by entries in my journaling Bible. Below is an example:

This entry was created in 2014 on Psalm 1. Below is the illustration in my book that was inspired by my original Bible journaling entry.

Each illustration holds deep and purposeful meaning for myself, and I pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to each person who is able to use, “Arise Beautiful” as a journal or place to reflect and help quiet their spirit and enter into a time of resting in the Lord.

The Lord bless you and keep you; 

the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26 ESV

Prayers and Blessings ~ Diane

Arise Beautiful

As you can see it has been a while since my last post, but it is also very meaningful timing.  In my previous post I mentioned being published in Stampington and Company’s Art Journaling magazine and in the In Her Studio magazine list of art goals for the new year (in 2021).

“In January of 2021 I was honored to be featured in the “In Her Studio” magazine’s list of art goals for 2021. This devotional book project is something I have been working on very slowly and steadily since then (March 2021).“

I am now overjoyed to say that I have completed my devotional book, and it has been officially published!

I am so excited to be able to finally share my book with all of you! Thank you all for your encouragement and prayer. Arise Beautiful is available at the following links:

https://www.westbowpress.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/857422-arise-beautiful

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arise-beautiful-diane-ford/1144752678?ean=9798385016006

https://www.amazon.com/Arise-Beautiful-Illustrated-Devotional-journaling/dp/B0CTK4TT5S/ref=sr_1_1?crid=31W2ROD7CUK8Z&keywords=diane+ford+arise+beautiful&qid=1706827329&sprefix=diane+ford+arise+beautif%2Caps%2C503&sr=8-1

“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 KJV

More updates and inspiration to come soon!

~Diane

“Lots of grace along the way…”

In January of 2021 I was honored to be featured in the “In Her Studio” magazine’s list of art goals for 2021. This devotional book project is something I have been working on very slowly and steadily since then.

Today I was reminded of this “lots of grace along the way” and I feel like there have been many times where I have not given myself grace or had grace towards others. I have experienced other times where I have embraced it and really learned to extend more grace to myself and others in certain areas of my life.

I’ve been working slowly and steadily on some art and life projects that have been dreams in my heart for as long as I can remember.

It has been extremely challenging to take small, (what most days feels like minuscule steps on these heart dreams/ life projects) as my children, family and community seem to be speeding past me at an alarming rate.

Having these projects that are not necessary related to raising children and homeschooling (although I have been enjoying learning and growing in these things as well) have helped me learn to not give up through changing seasons and what seems like so many character building challenges one after the other- whether it is related to the big wide overwhelming world or just in my everyday thoughts, heart ponderings and daily routines.

One of my goals is to balance posting more frequent updates to my blog with also living and enjoying my life outside of social media.

Thank you for reading and joining me on my journey venturing into the social media world once again.

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

Galatians 6:9 NLT

Blessings

~Diane

March Musings

“Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB

Earlier this week I was untangling this necklace and the words of Hebrews 12 kept going through my mind,

“the sin which so easily entangles us.”

This made me think about how I memorized scripture in high school and it was such a sweet reminder to me that Gods words truly are hidden in my heart and he brought them to my mind at just the right time. It also is prompting me to get back into the practice and discipline of memorizing scripture and teaching my children to do so as well.

I decided to make use of some almost dried up oranges before I threw them away. My kids had fun with them too!

I did eventually get the necklace untangled, but ended up taking it apart to add a few of the beads to my word of the year journal. One for my husband, each child, and myself. Tiny special reminders of my greatest treasures. I am truly blessed.

“Do it Later”

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Ephesians 5:15-17 ESV

I didn’t realize how often I say to myself:

“Do it Later.”

Its mostly regarding small everyday occurrences: washing the the dishes after a meal, cleaning up toys after playing outside with the kids or scattering my art supplies all over the kitchen counter.

My “do it laters” almost always become piled up at the end of the day and more often than not remain unfinished until (very) much later.

I have become especially reflective and almost hyper-aware of the physical changing of seasons and mentally moving out of one generation of my life and transitioning to the next. I’ve found myself saying very often in conversations with family and friends “I am or ‘we are’ the ‘old people’ now.”

I am proud to be part of the last generation to grow up before computers and without cell phones. Before it became the cultural norm to share very specific and intimate details about our lives on social media.

As I embark on a new season in life I hope to replace my “do it later” attitude with “do it now” opportunities and prioritize the most important areas in my life and where I should be investing my time, thoughts and energy.

As the time continues to speed along I am doing my best to share my artwork as often as I can while learning to balance and figure out which rhythms and routines are best to help me take care of my children and family.

“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.” Proverbs 16:31 ESV

Joy Thoughts

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11

I created this mini-collage in the front of my word of the year journal for 2020. As this year comes to a close I am thankful for the many blessings and joys that the Lord has given to me and my family throughout this challenging year.

I am excited to share that one of my art journals is featured in the January 2021 issue of Art Journaling Magazine!

https://stampington.com/Art-Journaling-Winter-2021/

I also plan to have a word of the year journal in 2021. I will be following along with Valerie Sjodin’s “Plan with Me” videos on her blog:

https://www.valeriesjodin.com/blog/plan-with-me-in-2021

I am looking forward to sharing more ideas and inspiration with all of you here on my blog in 2021.

Happy New Year!

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her.” Luke 1:45

Word of the year update

This year I have chosen the word “Joy” to focus on in a word of the year journal. I have been following along with the Living your word of the year 2020 Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/livingyourwordoftheyear/

Below are some glimpses of my monthly calendar pages and some of my favorite entries in my word of the year journal:

I’ve also been noticing and taking in lots of little moments and joys lately to help me get through these crazy and challenging days.

Sidewalk chalk with my kids. My son copied my “J”in “joy” in the smaller orange heart 🧡

Blueberries from our backyard.

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22 ESV

For Such a Time as This

I haven’t been writing many blog posts lately- but I have received so much encouragement from friends both in person and online after recently posting a Bible journaling entry after taking a bit of a break from it for quite some time. 

Yesterday was an exceptionally challenging kid day.  After my youngest finally calmed down after putting her to bed, I was flipping through my journaling Bible and came across this entry I started in Deuteronomy:

“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.” Deuteronomy 11:18-21 (ESV)

This entry was inspired by one of the reflective prompts from the book “Writing in The Margins” by Lisa Nichols Hickman, about making a “pledge to God for the way you might teach a child in your life about scripture.” And I chose to do a Bible Journaling entry declaring this as a promise for my children.

In the midst of my messy kitchen and countertop covered in kid activities, I have slowly tried to incorporate some of my visual faith/visual prayer projects, but usually that ends up in my children getting their hands on them (which I am finding out is not always a bad thing!)

This entry in Esther was the one I mentioned above at the beginning of this post as my most recent Bible journaling entry after taking an “unintentional break” by being consumed in the activities of daily life.  

I have come to Esther 4:14  several different times in my life, but now I feel like it is speaking to me as a mom, and as a creative person in general. 

“…And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 (ESV)

God has given me my exact children at the perfect time and He has given me the creative abilities to raise and teach them, even if I do not always feel qualified.  It also encourages me to not give up on my artistic dreams and project ideas, and that God will still give me time and space to work on them in the midst of the busyness of life and continual process of learning how to be the best mom that I can be.

Thanks so much for reading!

~Diane

Open my heart, illumine me…

Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit Divine

~Clara H. Scott

I have been loving reading and working through some of the questions at the end of each chapter in “Writing in The Margins” by Lisa Nichols Hickman as part of my introduction to being involved with the Visual Faith Ministry (https://www.visualfaithmin.org/).

The chapter I read this week, “Marginal Writing In A Digital Age” focused on the importance of the Bible as a sacred text, especially in this digital age. I appreciated how there was also a recognition of different methods of note-taking and mark making in “digital margins”. Although I thought it was interesting to learn about these digital methods of margin writing, I must admit I am a fan of the pen/paper non-digital form of mark making.

As I was reflecting on the word “Illumine” from one of the prompts at the end of the chapter, the words “Open my heart, illumine me, spirit divine” kept going through my head, so I looked up the lyrics online to see what the name of the hymn was:

Open My Eyes, That I May See

Clara H. Scott, 1895

Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my ears, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Open my mind, that I may read
More of Thy love in word and deed;
What shall I fear while yet Thou dost lead?
Only for light from Thee I plead.

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my mind, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Open my mouth, and let me bear,
Gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my heart, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

(https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Open_My_Eyes_That_I_May_See/)

As I read the words of this hymn, I was reminded of when my parents occasionally brought us to church on Sunday evenings when we were younger. It wasn’t every Sunday evening, but once a month or so they had a special evening service that was just for singing hymns. Even though I considered myself a fairly obedient child, I remember times when I did not want to go to church on a Sunday evening. However; I am so glad my parents brought us there as it is now one of my most cherished memories.

I can still close my eyes and picture an elderly woman raising her hand high and “shouting” out “number 253!” (or whatever number it was) and listening to the old piano keys plinking out the notes to the hymns- and the elderly woman’s crackly voice singing loudly above the others.

It was beautiful- and I am convinced that is partly why I could remember this line from the hymn just now- and the more I think about it this may be the exact hymn I am remembering from that Sunday evening.

Remembering this experience was such a special moment for me, and I was almost brought to tears even as I was typing this post. I am so thankful for the legacy that my parents helped bring to us when I was a child and now I am so blessed to see them bring it to my children (their grandchildren). It makes me want to make sure to purposefully bring legacy moments into my children’s lives that they will recall even as adults years later as I did this week.

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my heart, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Visual Faith Ministry:
https://www.visualfaithmin.org/

“Writing in the Margins”:
https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Margins-Connecting-Pages-Bible/dp/1426767501/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=writing+in+the+margins&qid=1562603037&s=gateway&sr=8-1

“Open My Eyes, That I May See”: https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Open_My_Eyes_That_I_May_See/