Rejoice & Thrive

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

The Fruit of Joy

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

Abide in Love

Last week (actually the week before March 29th! This draft didn’t publish when it was set to.) I did painting of another kind—my living room*, and it turned out great. Even though it’s hard to wrap my head around the different. But now I’m back to working in my Greatest of These is Love journal—where I’m nearing the end of blank spreads in my journal to work on and inspiration sessions. It’s almost time to move on to the next creative project. (And if you’ve followed my posts for the last 3 months since this was supposed to be posted,… Continue reading

Masculine Card Bonanza

It’s my birthday month! 🎉 But more than that I have 7 masculine cards to make within less than a month for family members. That’s a lot of testosterone! So many of us find making men’s cards challenging. You too? Read on for a wide variety of inspiration. I missed photos of a couple, and included a couple other cards for males I’ve made this spring. I love this recent make with the Tim Holtz Gentleman die. That background (which the photo doesn’t do justice to) is the most yummy thing around.🤩 I’ll include another, better pic of just it,… Continue reading

Lay Your Burdens Down

The Power of the Cross not only washes away our sins at conversion, but is there for all that Jesus offers for our lives after that. The inspiration for this page, by Natasha Lee, focused on the cross, and as I created, I was worshipping with the song *The Power of the Cross* by Keith & Kristen Getty. As I meditated on this powerful work Jesus the Christ accomplished on the cross, the picture in my mind was from Pilgrims Progress, on Christian’s burden being lifted at the foot of the cross. Jesus’ lifting of our burdens isn’t just that one… Continue reading

Dry Bones

When YHWH set Ezekiel down in the valley full of very dry bones, The Spirit asked him, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekiel replied, “Lord YHWH, only you know.” Dry bones, hear the word of YHWH, “I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live.” The Encounters in Colour Christian art journaling retreat session by Jen Alward focused on this passage, in Ezekiel 37. As I meditated on it and how I wanted to make my faith art page for it, I remembered a time several years ago when I was walking through a valley of… Continue reading

Stones of Remembrance

Great is God’s Faithfulness! In Joshua’s 4:6, he commands, as YHWH has directed him, that stones of remembrance be placed. Today’s Mixed Media Meditation is a short one, with a much quicker creative make. My stacked stones represent things in my life that either I’ve lost and God has gotten me through, or other things He’s provided that give me His Abundant Life in the midst of chaos and loss. All of them are things that I look back on and remember His faithfulness. 💖 I encourage you to seek your heart for “stones of remembrance” in your life, when… Continue reading

Shalom Shalom

Does your mind always stay in perfect peace? Mine neither. How’s that peace even possible? Isaiah 26:3 tells us it is. By keeping our mind focused on God and trusting Him—in every circumstance. Having peace in our souls as the storms of life rage around us. This isn’t something we can do in our flesh. It only happens by God’s Spirit at work in our spirits. I’ve been mediating on Psalm 23 recently, for a new creative course I’ll be releasing later this summer. So that influenced my thoughts on this passage also. We’ll dig deep into those Psalms 23… Continue reading

Shine Bright

Hide it under a basket? No! I’m gonna let it shine! I’m still meditating on Matthew 5:14-16, (see April 26th and May 4th posts) and coming up with new ways to Bible Journal it through mixed media Faith art. Thank you to Kim Pepper’s FaithFest 2025 for inspiration. As soon as I started meditating on verse 15 in a visual way, I knew I wanted to incorporate a woven “basket” into the design of a layout. I also knew I wanted a lamp stand of some sort. And to incorporate my beloved multi-mediums background. The background for this page started… Continue reading

Retro Birthday Card

Do you like a retro look in your creations? I love this Tim Holtz retro television die, and have been waiting so long for it to be available as a thin die. I’m so happy it came out as a Vault release, with the Atomic retro dies. So many fun cards to make—with so much variety possible. And good thing, because I have 7 more male birthday cards, plus a baby boy card, to make in the next month. This die set will probably make another appearance or two, or…. There’s not a lot of process or technique to describe… Continue reading