I open up many of my journal pages to you, to come alongside you as a helper of your joy. Showing you that imperfect art is worthwhile to create, and should bring no shame—only joy and healing in the moment and making. And to bring you confidence that you too can do this. You were created to create! I’d love to help you learn how. Continue reading
Isaiah 6:8 has been on my heart this past week or so. I’ve spent nearly my entire adult life in Christian ministry. But betrayal trauma nearly silenced my voice, and the years of healing from it practically put a pause in my outreach ministry. Although my personal relationship with God didn’t waiver, the level of my bold outward witness no doubt lessened. “Here am I, Lord. Send me.” “Here am I, YHWH. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8 I’ve been playing catch up back at home this week, after being gone to Convention all the last week. Still continuing to create a… Continue reading
How Mixed Media Ruined My Art… But brought healing to my soul. Perhaps you can relate in some way. Are you being held back from creating because you think you can’t do it? Won’t be any good at it? Don’t have any natural talent for it? Can’t take the time to do it if it doesn’t turn out great? Were you driven to perfectionism as a child? Or did an abuser shame you into it as an adult? Were you an overachiever? Put that pressure on yourself? What holds you back? My Journey Creating with a goal of perfection came… Continue reading
It seems there’s a plethora of “journaling” types out there these days. Junk journaling. Art journaling. Bible journaling. Mixed Media journaling. Faith journaling. Hymn journaling. Collaging. Neurographic Art journaling. And the list goes on and on…. (Not to mention the way Planners have become so artistic. And I won’t mention them, (in this article.) It can be a confusing mess—like my image below. What’s it all mean? Let’s see if we can sort it out—like in my image below. 😊 The Many Faces of Journaling Recently, I was part of a junk journal video collaboration. But I rarely create what… Continue reading
The Psalms were my manna as I was going through The Valley of the Shadow of Death, after discovering x’s adultery and waking up to the destructiveness of the entire marriage, and necessity of me getting a life-saving divorce. This post is a Throwback Thursday for a Bible Art Tutorial on Psalm 26:11, from October 29, 2022. I posted the video of this Tutorial on YouTube back then, but never got this web post finished and posted. (Which happens more often than you’d think.) 😊 When I Bible Art Journaled this verse, made and posted the video—and started this post,… Continue reading
Psalm 23 is known throughout place and time as a song of God’s comfort in times of trouble. For thousands of years, God’s people have turned to it as they go through trials of life and seek God’s presence, love, and trustworthiness to get them through. These words are still there, serving the same purpose for His followers today. Giving the same hope, the same comfort, because we serve the same Sovereign, loving, caring, Almighty God! He Restores My Soul—a transformative journey through Psalm 23! He Restores My Soul is my new online course, Summer 2025. Through this Faith+Art Course… Continue reading
As we’ve looked at rejoicing through trials and suffering this week, and how that is possible only through being connected to and full of Jesus and His Spirit, looking through faith with hope at what is before us, we come now to Paul’s words “Rejoice always.” Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Paul is closing his letter to the church of the Thessalonians, with some closing exhortations and blessings. I love that the word he uses here, χαίρω—Chairo, is a salutation, a greeting. It’s translated as godspeed,… Continue reading
Day 12 — Hebrews 12:2 How can we have joy during trials? By keeping our eyes on Jesus! He’s the Source and Completer of our faith, as well as our example—“He endured the cross for the joy to come,” which was the finished work, our salvation. …keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 This page continues my work* in my Exploring Joy Journal for #faithjournaljuly2025 The Guest Creator for… Continue reading
This weekend, I’m spending some time working on more of the art part of Exploring Joy #faithjournaljuly2025. I’m mainly keeping the pages fairly simple, because I want to finish this project, since I have my new course launching next month.* Today’s page is Day 8 of the study, on Matthew 13:44. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.” Jesus, my Treasure! There’s no way to depict all that He is in, even in just that… Continue reading
Today we’re looking at the fruit of the Spirit, in Galatians 5:22-23.Fruit can’t be rushed, nor does it come from striving and trying harder. It grows as the natural result of being connected to the source/vine/tree and being watered and fed through that source. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25 This… Continue reading
