Daydream Designs by Diane: In Grace We Stand

Romans 5:1-2 is one of those brief passages that I've read many, many times but one small treasure gleamed and caught my eye on another reading. I've just focused on other parts of the verse. But look at this..."Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

What struck me this time was the essence of grace in the life of the believer. Grace isn't just something God dispenses as we repent. We STAND IN GRACE. Grace is a position we hold as a child of God. Grace will not be withheld from the believer. We are IN it...forever. That is why His grace is sufficient. His grace has covered everything necessary for our salvation. I saw this as such a powerful part of the verse. In grace we can stand and seize all God's treasures--life with Him forever, peace now in life and with God. We don't have to come begging like a pauper. We are already completely covered by His grace and that gives us the power to stand as victors! I love it when Bible/Art journaling offers those beautiful moments when scripture comes alive all over again.

This is how my page started. I used my new jars of Distress Paints. Oh, my! They are like melted butter. LOVE them. Then I did a little stenciling to add some texture. Then I got out my Sweet 'n Sassy stash to see what I could find to help me share this amazing passage of scripture.

The verse is expressed in both stamped words/letters and hand-lettering. All the stamps I used are listed below.

I had a blast going back to some of my mixed media techiques to do this girl. She is all from cut papers. I didn't sketch it out...just started cutting so I'd get this totally casual artsy look to her. Her hair is painted as is some of the light shading on her skin. I used a Prisma pen to outline her last. The papers for her clothes are some from my stash. Her flowers are stamped on painted paper then cut out. The white outlining is the white sharpie paint pen also available through SNSS.

I can remember my preacher-daddy being so incredulous that people would actually resist God's grace. My whole family soaked it up like a sponge and often needed more. We caught a glimpse of how needy we were, how lost--were it not for grace. When we say "YES" to His amazing grace, we are at peace with God, reconciled and secure. And that fact gives us peace in the here and now.

I hope this little nugget in scripture has given you a fresh look at grace and I hope my mixed media antics will give you some fun inspiration to try in your own art journals or Bibles.

Stamp sets from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps: