I Am the Good Shepherd

I was able to spend and a little time art journaling in my Bible yesterday. 

I wanted to capture John 10:14-15-- “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep."

Being wife to a pastor has provided first hand lessons about sheep. My husband has a gift for shepherding and all that calling entails. He is compassionate and merciful, and a very good leader. He is loyal to a flock. He loves his sheep. Some sheep follow, some stray. Still he will shepherd as long as someone wants a good shepherd. I've seen him sacrifice a great deal just to lead a flock of sheep.

This verse talks about the Good Shepherd--Jesus, and how much He loves His sheep. He knows His sheep--thoroughly, deeply, perfectly. He knows their hearts and what they are thinking before they think it. And He guides with His rod and staff prodding His sheep to green pastures. I know sheep can be difficult, stubborn. Jesus never gives up on His sheep...never abandons them, and always protects the flock. Those who are truly His sheep will listen to His voice and they will follow Him.

I love the analogy of the Good Shepherd. It reminds me that I am constantly watched and that I'm being guided by someone who really knows me. I want to be a good listener. I want to know and be able to hear His voice above the din of all other voices. I know in my heart and my head that He sacrificed His life so that I may always abide in His flock and find safety in His good and green pastures. I might need a little prodding with His staff now and then, but I trust He will continue to guide me. Nothing nor no one can snatch me out of that flock. I'm His and He is mine.

One of the most powerful verses in the larger passage here also says, "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." (John 10:17-18)  Jesus was never a victim.  He willingly submitted to a torturous death on our behalf...because He loved us.  He had ultimate authority OVER all that happened to Him.  Satan had no victory...ever.  Not even for one second.  Jesus was in complete control as He submitted to His father's will and to the hands of evil people. 

I've used acrylic paints, water-based ink, and several Sweet n Sassy stamps for my stamped words. Other lettering and the sheep are hand-drawn.  The sheep were actually images from my store, Daydream Designs, when it was open. So I'm glad I can find ways to keep using them.

I love the Creative Worship sets from SNSS because you can mix and match words for so many scriptures. I used: Perfect Faith, God is Good, and Words of Life 2. I have several sets and David said he would sit with me and brainstorm as many verses as we can with all the sets from SNSS I have....and more are coming!!!

I'll be posting on the Creative Worship blog next week. Hope you come and visit while I'm there. 

God is Maker of Heaven and Earth

I'm so glad some of you are coming back to visit me.  I almost cried when I saw people stopping in.  You haven't left me!  How nice to have a few of you leave comments too.  That means so much!  I'll be peeking in on each of you soon. 

I'm expecting a call any day...any hour that our youngest son and daughter-in-love are expecting baby Lukas.   So I wanted to get another post up about my Bible art-journaling before I was called away for a few days to help.

This is my second attempt at art journaling.  I'm really liking the size of my Bible and the margins.  At first I thought they would be too small, but they are just right and don't require a ton of images to feel like the space is filled and balanced.  The stamped images are from Sweet n Sassy Stamps, "God is Good.

God is Good

Sweet n Sassy Stamps

You can see it has tons of possibilities. I'll be designing a few more pages soon using it and more from the stash I recently purchased there.  She also sells Bible Journaling Kits each month, but you have to grab them right when they are released TODAY, because they sell like hotcakes...and I'm not kidding.  Last month's sold in a day.  So run, don't walk, if you are interested in getting some of her goodies.

February Creative Worship Kit

Sweet n Sassy Stamps

If you go to Sweet n Sassy Stamps, you'll find lovely samples and a fantastic stash of Bible Journaling images.  

Here are a few more views of my page...

One of the reasons I started in Genesis 1:1 is that it establishes God as Creator and supreme authority over all created things.  We can easily get discouraged when we see what man has done with the gift of fellowship with God.  Our world makes us believe all is hopeless.  But God still reigns, and He will make a new heaven and a new earth and it will all be good again. 

I used colored pencils (Prismacolor soft core), Spica glitter pens, and metallic watercolors to achieve sparkle and shine.   Korin's stamps make journaling easy and fast, so for a beginner they are especially helpful.  

It's easy to stamp right in the margin (or on the page) then embellish to make it your own. I used Korin's white Sharpie paint pen to make the little dots on the lettering.  

The text part of the page is sponged.  I used several colors of Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  All my Stampin' Up! ink pads would work just as well.  I'm just experimenting with lots of things from my craft room. 

Here's the little guy we're waiting on.  I've looked at that face a million times and have praised God each time for the miracle of life.  We can't wait to meet him in real life, to hold him and to start early telling him of our wonderful God who formed him right here...establishing a plan for his life.  We will tell him of Jesus and His love for him and the great sacrifice He made.  I've already prayed again and again for the soul of this baby...that God will claim his heart early and that we will see God working in great and mighty ways through Lukas. The Creator of the universe, our world and everything in it wove this sweet baby into His marvelous and miraculous plan.  Lukas...his name means LIGHT.  My prayer is that Lukas will see the Light of Christ in his heart at a young age, that he will embrace that light, and become a reflection of the Savior.  Little Lukas...come to us soon and start shining your light, boy!  

Thank you so much for popping in.  If you leave a comment I'll come peek in on you too...unless I'm at the hospital cheering on Lukas' entrance into the world!