Project Update

Lately I have been enjoying actually being present (or at least trying to be) with my family and living life outside of the internet and it has been very refreshing. I have been working on several projects though and decided it was a good time to post an update.

I have been exploring the resources and projects on the Visual Faith Ministry website (https://www.visualfaithmin.org/) and loved the idea of a Rolodex- style book (or “Book of Graces”) that is shared on the Visual Faith Ministry Project page: https://www.visualfaithmin.org/book-of-graces.

Here is one of my first attempts at this project:

I used a journal that a friend had given to me as a birthday gift a few years ago and folded the pages in half starting in the middle and then continued out until all the pages were folded in half. I decided to use this one to keep some of my inspirational cards and notes, pretty scraps of paper, etc.

I also have been enjoying working on my counting gifts and monthly prayer journal (https://www.visualfaithmin.org/prayers-by-the-month). Just having a space to color and pray has helped me focus more during my prayer time and also has helped me visually process and sketch out ideas and prayers as well.

And one more “realitygram” photo. I like this photo because it shows me working on all my projects in the midst of my “piles” which I hope to be rid of someday…

I’m still enjoying working through the activities in “Writing in the Margins,” by Lisa Nichols Hickman, and sketching out my ideas and distractions has helped me begin to try to be a little bit more focused in prayer.

Thank you so much for joining me on my journey.

~Diane

“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

Praying without ceasing…

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances…”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)

It has been a while since I have posted, partially since I am new to the blogging world, but also because I have been doing some thinking about the reasons why I am creating this blog. I have been trying to find the balance between spending too much time on my phone and computer with the call I feel that God has given me to be “in the world but not of the world” by having a creative and encouraging Christian presence online.

I have recently started my involvement with the Visual Faith Ministry (https://www.visualfaithmin.org/) which has led me to the book, “Writing in the Margins”, by Lisa Nichols Hickman.(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)

I was a bit hesitant to begin reading more “Bible Journaling” books, as I consider myself to be a very creative person and thought that I didn’t need any additional instructions or techniques on how to be creative in my Bible.

As I began reading, “Writing in the Margins,” I realized that this book was so different than what I was expecting. I am already being challenged in many new ways to interact with the Scripture as the living, breathing, alive and active Word of God. I have always been a “journaler” but am still finding myself hesitant to journal specific thoughts and prayers in my Bible- as it is so different than the visual images that I am used to creating. I had to remind myself today that my style of creating visual images is my own way of prayer as well and that it does not have to look a certain way to be “right” or “perfect” but the important thing is that I am praying and interacting with the scripture. It is a hope, prayer and goal of mine to visually and creatively pray on a daily basis and “without ceasing.”

I have not gone “in order” as far as reading the book and chapters straight through, but I feel like the Lord has led me to the pages in this book that he wants me to focus on right now. This morning I was reading the section entitled, “Pray Without Ceasing.” The quote, “Praying without ceasing takes creativity” really spoke to me. I did some journaling reflecting on this quote in the margins of my book- and also in my journaling Bible. I was hesitant to write out an actual prayer in my Journaling Bible, as I mainly create visual images on its pages but I decided to give it a try.

The vellum tip-in and sticker page markers I used are from the book, “Complete Guide to Bible Journaling” by Joanne Fink and Regina Yoder.(https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Bible-Journaling-Translucent/dp/1497202728/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=17UUWI7K4VS1J&keywords=complete+guide+to+bible+journaling&qid=1562603145&s=gateway&sprefix=Complete+Guide+to+Bible+J%2Caps%2C233&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1) I love the vine-y leafy pattern of the vellum and how it blended in with my own artwork on this page.

Thank you for joining me on my visual faith prayer journey. I hope you are inspired to pray and interact with the Scripture more creatively today.

~Diane

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

“Complete Guide to Bible Journaling”:
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Bible-Journaling-Translucent/dp/1497202728/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=17UUWI7K4VS1J&keywords=complete+guide+to+bible+journaling&qid=1562603145&s=gateway&sprefix=Complete+Guide+to+Bible+J%2Caps%2C233&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

Grace

“But he said to me,”My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

I was feeling discouraged this morning and just felt like I needed some grace today- especially to have grace towards myself instead of turning to negative thinking and worrying if I’m doing things “right” or good enough (especially in regards to being a mom).

I was reminded of this familiar verse about grace in 2 Corinthians- and noticed that I had already journaled an entry for this verse. I decided to include the necklace I put on today in my photo as it was also a special physical reminder of grace for me. The cross “grace” charm was recently gifted to me by a dear friend and my husband gave me the owl a few days after my daughter was born and told me what an amazing job I was doing being a mom.

I am so thankful for His grace and the physical reminders that the Lord shows me when I need encouragement. The bottom photo is a strawberry plant I received as a Mother’s Day gift. We thought it was pretty much dead after I forgot to water it for a few days (oops!) but after not giving up on it- it has finally sprouted some new green leaves again.

This reminded me of how I can still be growing in the middle of my discouragement and I’m so thankful that God has grace for me and that His grace (not my grace) is enough.

Apart from Me you can do nothing

I haven’t Bible journaled for a while since we have had family in town visiting and have been trying to recover from all of the excitement.

I have been feeling a little overwhelmed with mess and things just piling up in general and not feeling very inspired or creative. I was asking God to show me a verse and the words from John 15 came to mind:

“For apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

I was reminded that in the middle of all of my piles that God is going to be the only true motivation to help me get through them and not my own strength or desire.

On this page I experimented with gelatos for the first time in my journaling Bible. It was nice to just “play” and be creative after not doing any journaling for a while.

Shake yourself from the dust and arise

I journaled another “Arise” entry this morning. One of my favorite things to do in my Bible journaling is to add to an earlier entry that I have previously created.

“Shake yourself from the dust and arise; be seated, O Jerusalem; loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion.” Isaiah 52:2

I have also really been enjoying creating leaves, or wreaths in a circular shape and used that again today in my entry. I wanted the vine to look dusty and dry and transforming into green leaves as it grows and rises or “arises”.

I also had some company in my journaling time this morning 🧡

Pour out your heart like water before the Lord’s presence…

I am in a Facebook group that is working through their “word of the year” together. My word is “Arise.” Lately I have been looking up different verses with this word and doing some Bible journaling entries. This entry is from Lamentations 2:19.

I was imagining my heart as a vessel pouring out to the Lord as is mentioned in the passage. As I was sketching out the design I was thinking of the Kintsugi pottery that is created by repairing broken pieces with gold.

I love how God uses every aspect of our lives to bring glory to Him and even and especially through our brokenness. I think I need this reminder often to help me change my perspective and not dwell on the broken pieces or frustrations of situations but how God can use and redeem them and work through them instead.

Beside His still waters

“…He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:2

Yesterday we had the opportunity to explore a new park with a beautiful walking trail alongside a river. As I walked with one baby in a carrier and the other in the stroller I couldn’t help thinking of the words in Psalm 23- and I realized that the Lord had literally brought me “beside still waters”. It was still fairly early in the morning and there was a cool breeze and the air smelled so clean and fresh. The park was located next to the road so I could hear the loud cars and trucks driving past but we were sheltered enough behind the trees that it almost felt like we were hidden away in a special place. The whole time we were walking I kept thinking about the words of Psalm 23 and I truly did feel that the Lord was restoring my soul at that very moment. It was such an encouraging reminder to me that in the midst of carrying kids around and being surrounded by traffic noise (and all of the craziness and busyness of life) that I can still find a quiet place to rest and be renewed.

My Small Beginning…

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” Zechariah 4:10 NLT

Today is the beginning- after many attempts and slowly putting it together- I am finally sharing my brand new blog! I will be sharing encouragement from my Bible Journaling, lessons from my Creative Discipleship Training School, and many other creative projects I have been working on or plan to start (and finish!)

I hope that you will check it out and join me on my creative journey.

~Diane