12 Jan 2016

Doodling the Word

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doodling the word

Everyone has gone through phases in their spiritual journey where focus and energy and excitement about the Word has been less than enthusiastic.  I remember hearing a great word from the woman in my life who loves and knows the Word the best and it went something like this :

even when you don’t feel like it – keep doing it – be faithful – God will bring fruit and excitement

That is so true.

One of the ways that I stay focused in my time in the Word (both during studies, classes, services, and personal devotions) is doodling.  Most people might read that and say that I’m not focusing or I’m tuning out – but on the contrary.  Doing something with my hands engages my mind and actually helps me listen and engage more (internally, as I’ve gotten less apt to speak aloud in a class).  Doodling helps me focus on certain words in the Word or in the book or from a sermon or class that is being taught – or maybe its a lyric from a hymn.  Doodling helps me remember what I’m learning.  And isn’t that the point of Psalm 119: to get the Word in you so the Spirit can help you remember it when you need it – which is always?!

So, I thought I would share some tips – if you want to start doodling, or drawing, or lettering, or anything:

  1.  The focus of doodling is not you – but it is engaging the Word into your mind.  An example: as I was lettering Jeremiah 29:11 this morning, and as I prayed it for a pray names art I did for a sweet little boy in Virginia for a Christmas present – I was thinking of the words wholeness and know that are in that verse.  I was thinking of the verses after it.  I was thinking that these verses are especially popular for kids and teenagers, but how true are they still today when I’m a wife and a momma of two little boys and we don’t feel settled in life and don’t know what is next.  Even then – even this morning – I need to know the truth of that verse. How sweet the Word is to my soul!
  2. Grab a pencil or any writing instrument you want.  I use micron pens a lot, I love pencils, I love Staedtler pens and Le Pens too.  Whatever you want to write or doodle with.  Just grab it.  It doesn’t have to be name brand or cost much of anything.  You can grab dollar store pens and have them on hand for all that doodling.
  3. Start doodling.  The good thing with doodling is it doesn’t have to be perfect.  And its your doodles.  I doodle words mostly because I’m not a good artist.  I love lettering – always have.  I’ve always loved writing, journaling, writing out prayers, etc.  And experiment.  If you really like some lettering you’ve seen – try it out.  You’ll never know unless you try. Pinterest and Instagram are great places to start if you want to find some new fonts to try out and practice.

That’s all there is to it.  Happy doodling.  And I pray that your doodling is fruitful in helping you understand and meditate on the Word!  And this is a great summary of Don Whitney’s thoughts on meditating on Scripture.  You can do a lot of this by doodling – not just thinking.

9 Oct 2015

31 Days : The God Who is Just

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The God Who is Just

In our world, I don’t know if there are many things that are out there that really help us capture what true justice is.  There are ministries out there who are helping recapture what justice is – fighting for the lowly, the outcast, the hurting.

Our great God has great justice for those.  He is also JUST.  He is right.  He is perfect.  Everything He does is perfectly set in that truth.  There is no injustice in Him.

That is why King David knows that no matter what the Lord says in response to David’s sin, confession, and praise – God is completely right in any response He would give – even if that was no response at all.

This is absolutely helpful to know in our world brimming with injustice.  Every time we watch the news, get on social media, discipline our children (that’s not fair), we are faced with injustice.  Isn’t it time we look to God and know his complete perfectness and rest in that?  We can come to him with all the injustice that we see and know that He is working.  He is working in the world.  He is working in our lives to root out injustice and entitlement in us.  He is working to see His justice in the world.

Psalm 51.4

6 Oct 2015

31 Days: The Who Takes Care of My Rebellion and Helplessness

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The Lamb of God

The mister and I were talking last night about this series I’m studying and writing.  I told him about yesterday’s post on generosity and how that’s one of the traits I desire to see in both of our boys and also how I want it to define our lives as well.

Then, almost as a discouragement, I said “this side of heaven we’ll never be generous with completely pure motives.”  I’m often aware of the yucky motives that fill my head and heart.  There are times when these motives surprise me and discourage me – apart from Christ.  I know that Christ has redeemed me and the Spirit is working to sanctify all of me.  It is such a long journey.

I doubt David – when he was in the fields with the sheep – thought to himself “I’m going to be a murderer and an adulterer when I grow up.”  But, that is the deceitfulness of sin.  Sin settles in on every part of our lives.  No part is left unaffected.  David had sin in his heart and blatantly stepped over the boundaries that God had set for sexual purity and protecting life.

David also would have been familiar with the sacrificial system of the Jewish religion.  HE knew of the blood that was given during the sacrifices.  He knew the stained alters and the stained hands.  He also know that only one person could cleanse those stains.

And he believed in One who would later come from his family who would fulfill the forever requirements of the sacrificial system and take away every rebellious act and every way our lives are scarred by the affects of the Fall.

Psalm 51:1-2

Further reading: John 1:29, Exodus 29:38-46

 

27 Sep 2015

Teaching Your Child the Discipline and Joy of Reading the Bible

by | posted in: Bible, Books, illustrated faith, Kids r Readers 2, parenting, Shepherding Children | 2
Illustrated Faith 1-2-3
Illustrated Faith 1-2-3

 

When our children are small, we teach them many important things to do: tie their shoes, brush their teeth, look both ways before crossing the street.  We teach them how to go to the potty, drink from a cup, and use a fork.  We teach them how to do so many things that are crucial for life.

Sometimes we forget to teach them important spiritual disciplines to help them get to know the God who created them.  The most important one we can teach them by both example and instruction is reading the Bible.  And what a better way to teach them how to read – then to read the Bible.

Why do we need to teach our children to read the Bible?

  1. The Bible is God’s voice to us today.  He breathed the Bible into life.  He used common sinners to record what the Spirit breathed.  This was written down and kept for us for all of forever.  This is by far the main way he chooses to communicate with his children today.  It is how they will know what is right and wrong.  It is how they will know what God is like.  Psalm 119 tells us so much about the importance of knowing the Word of God.
  2. The Bible tells them how they were created.  Even from a young age, our children will be bombarded with many deceptions about who they are.  God created them in His Image and it is crucial they understand that.  They were created beautifully and wonderfully: no matter the skin color or chromosome count, or their family status.  Psalm 139 and Genesis 1 tells us that.
  3. The Bible tells them why they were created.  All of creation exists for one reason: to bring glory to God.  God created human beings in his image so we could reflect the grand glory of God to the world.  Isaiah 43 clearly illustrates that truth.
  4. The Bible helps us get to know God.  There is no person we need to know better than God.  And we can know God by reading His Word.  We can know his actions, his character, and his truth.  We can know His plan for salvation.  Psalm 19 and the Gospels illustrate this.

These are just the simple basics of why we need to teach children the Word of God.  We need a book on teaching Spiritual Disciplines to our children – anyone know of one.  I guess I could write it if someone is willing to publish it.  Any takers?

Tommy Nelson just released a 365 Read Me a Bible Story for young school age children and gave me a copy to giveaway.  What a great way to get them in the habit of reading the Bible and learning God’s truth.  It has fun pictures, a Bible passage for each day of the year, and a short recap of that story.  What I would like to see is some follow-up questions that will help parents engage with their children during family discipleship time.

The most important thing to remember is that children are going to learn by your example.  If they see you reading your Bible, living it out, memorizing it, quoting it, then they will hopefully desire to know the Word as well.  We can pray that God would give them a heart like his – that desires to know God intimately through his Word.

If you would like to win a copy of this Bible story book from Tommy Nelson – tell me which of the 4 reasons listed above is the most important to you – and why and maybe how you are teaching your children that.

21 Jul 2015

My Favorite “Mommy” Verse

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God Daily Bears Us Up

Some people may think I’m a good Mommy, but my husband and few friends understand what a struggle it is for me every day of the week.  I thrive on quiet and peace and I’ve been given two toddlers who love to scream and they giggle really loud and they say “hi mommy” 50 times in a row.  I wouldn’t change them or trade them for anything.

So, here is what I say to myself often – and I need to say to myself more:

“Bless the Lord who daily bears us up.” Psalm 68.19

Bless – praise, thank, admire, worship

the Lord – Jesus, God – the one who created everything including you and your children

Who: he is the one who does it!

Bears – gives strength

Us – you, me, anyone who will call upon his name

Up – he keeps us from falling.

The rest of the verse goes on to say that God is our salvation.  God is more than just your provision (Jesus) out of hell.  But God is your salvation every single day!

So, if you are like me and struggle in your mommyhood role – know that crying out to the Lord is such a source of help.  He will bear you up because He is faithful at his word!

9 Apr 2015

Illustrated Faith: Getting Started & Supplies

by | posted in: Bible, illustrated faith | 0

Illustrated Faith Getting Started

There is a whole new movement called Illustrated Faith.  Just a group of people wanting to meditate on the Word of God by making their Bibles more colorful.  Really, my Bible has never been more colorful – but here are some real reasons I do it.

I can get easily bored with just reading the Word.  I’ve not found it helpful in retention to read on my iphone.  I read it there – but if I’m really wanting to study and read for retention it needs to be in a quiet place with a writing utensil in hand.

I love creativity.  Being a mom has really sparked new creativity in me.  I’ve always been a creative person, but the last 3 years has brought more of that out in new ways.  I still write and cook – but also doing art for people to get the Word in the homes is something I’m really enjoying.

Meditation on the Word is commanded and a joy.  Right now I’m writing out Deuteronomy in a Journibible (more on that soon) and then meditating on a portion or a truth found in those verses by drawing or cross-referencing (looking for other verses that speaks of the same thing).  Today’s reading sparked an obedience and boundary issue with me – and I wanted to search out the Scriptures to see why God set up the boundaries he did for us and why he demands obedience from his children.

How do you get started in Illustrated Faith.

1.  Get a Bible.  Any Bible will do – but I use a Journaling Bible from Crossway which has wide margins, perfect for journaling (whether writing or drawing).

2. Get a notebook or paper if you don’t want to colorize your Bible.  I understand that may not be your thing.

3.  That’s really all you need, but here are some fun extras: watercolor, markers, colored pencils, stickers, etc.  Its like high school art class all over again!  I didn’t love it much then but I love it now.

Read – think – pray – journal.

That’s all there is to it.  I always carry a pencil with me now.  As I take notes in church or Bible studies I think of ways to be creative.  It gets the Word in me – and isn’t that what the base of Psalm 119 is!  You can find a lot of my doodles on instagram but I might start putting some on the blog as well.

Go – learn the Word and be creative!  The point of doing this isn’t to see how creative you can be but how to bless your soul (and others you share what you learn with) by being in the Word!