Scripture Rocks

There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside you: neither is there any rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:2

I bought a huge bag of small stones the other day.  I can probably get a bazillion craft projects done with it.  I just LOVE rocks. 

I decided to take some of these rocks…..the smoothest and flattest ones….and write some of my favorite scripture verses on them.

I know, I know.  I don’t have the coolest handwriting ever.  But I like them anyway.

I took a few of them with me when I went out the other day.  I put one next to the peanut butter at the grocery store.  I left one on the counter at the post office.  A third one I dropped into my friend’s purse while she was looking away.  I wonder who will find them or when?

For now, I put the others in a little glass jar so I can take a few out as needed.  I may stick a magnet on some of them too.  Little reminders to keep my faith firmly on the Rock each day.

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2

Let's Put Away Resentment

Resentment.  I know that everyone has to deal with it.  But doesn’t it sometimes seem as wives and mothers that we are just swimming in it?  Why doesn’t my husband ever have to scrub the bathtub?  Why can’t the kids just feed themselves a nutritious meal for once?  Why don’t others put in as much time and effort volunteering for our community as I do?

I don’t know about you, but sometimes the resentment is so deep, I actually start drowning in it.

(Source: On Scene Magazine: Fall 2006 (page 14))

The bible uses many words to help describe resentment.  Pride, anger, and bitterness are just a few.  If you want to get really fancy you can even use wrath or vexation.  Recently, I have been so vexed by the fact that no one else in my family can take out the recycling, I am about to just go dump it into their beds.

So what does a Godly woman do about resentment?  You might feel like moping around the house trying to get someone to pay extra attention to you.  You may flat out yell at your children because SERIOUSLY?  Can they put their dirty clothes in the hamper already?  Or if you are like me, you may make a snide, underhanded remark about how your husband never does anything around the house, as he is walking out the door for a 10 hour work day.  (Hey baby…..I know that isn’t true and I am sorry.)  Obviously, none of these scenarios are very God-like.

Ephesians 4:31 says, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with malice.”  I purposely bolded the words “be put away from you”, because these are some words we all should concentrate on when surrounding yourself in a sea of resentment.

(Image Source : imagekind for purchase)

As sinners, we dive right into the resentment sea thinking that our time, our motivations, and our accomplishments, are better or more important compared to everyone else.  Then, we quickly feel the effects of this self-centered mind set of resentment through, anger, jealousy, bitterness, and disappointment.   Job 5:2 warns us that when we are in a constant state of anger and jealousy, we will suffer.  “Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.”

As women of God we must put resentment far far away from us.  First we need to confess our sin of resentment and ask the Lord to forgive us.  We must then ask Him to constantly show us when the bitterness and anger that accompanies resentment, is present in our lives.  We all know that love is patient and kind from 1 Corinthians 13, but do you remember that love is also “not irritable or resentful”?  We need to ask God to put resentment away from us, and replace it with His love.

I encourage you to place the happiness sucking, relationship destroying, suffocating sea of resentment, into the hands of God.  He is big enough, He is strong enough, and he will always be there to guide you if you fall back in.

(Image Source: Diviant Art by XPI August 23, 2011)

Linking up with:

Pages of Faith

I have always been addicted to making lists, jotting down quotes, and sketching doodles.  I collect little notebooks and journals and fill them up with my goals and things I must do…..all handwritten with something like colorful gel pens, of course.

Beyond the grocery and bucket lists however, came a unique way for me to become closer to God.  One day I bought the prettiest notebook, hundreds of stickers, and a set of fine tipped Sharpie markers.  I began to write in this notebook……favorite bible verses, thoughts on God, prayers, and simply what was on my heart……and then I  began to decorate it with colorful stickers and Sharpie doodles.

I call it my Faith Notebook.  I love it.  As I thumb through the pages I realize it has changed my life.  It makes me laugh and uplifts my spirit.  I can vividly see prayers that have been answered and how my faith has grown.  Best of all, my girlies look through it and want to make one of their own.   I am hoping if I show you how, you will want to make one too. 

What you need:

·        A notebook or journal

·        Colorful things to write with

·        Stickers

Okay, really all you need is a notebook.  But gel pens and stickers will make you happy!  I bought a fancy spiral hardback notebook, splurged on the package of 80 fine tipped markers, and loaded up on hundreds of stickers.  Shhhhh.  Don’t tell my husband.

Getting Started:  You can write about anything you want in your Faith Notebook, but mine mainly consists of my favorite Bible verses.

Often times, I would write notes to myself about the verses or write down why they meant something to me, during a bible study.  The point is, to collect your thoughts so you can go back and remember what you have learned.

Making It Personal:  It would take eons to fill in a large notebook with just bible verses and although they are the main portion of a Faith Notebook, I just love how I made my notebook mine.  Here are some ideas that I used that will make your notebook uniquely yours.

*Be Creative*  Draw something.  Color it.  Use these illustrations to draw analogies about the Bible verses you have written down, or to explain what you are studying.

*Ask Yourself Questions* As you look back on your notebook you will be able to re-ask yourself the questions that you wrote down, and if you are anything like me, they will be questions that you need to ask yourself over and over. 

*Give Thanks*  Thank you Oprah, this is just like a gratitude journal.  Your journal can be a great reminder of what you have to be thankful for, no matter what situation you are facing.

*Pray* 1 Thessalonians 5:17 reminds us to “Pray without ceasing.”  Praying is an open line of communication between you and God.  When you write your prayers down, you will actually be able to see that they have been answered when you look back on them.  It is AMAZING!

*Talk To Yourself*  In my notebook I am always bossing myself around.  I use my name.  Like, “Hey Lynnie!  Listen to this!” or “Lynn, you gotta remember that….”.   It’s like giving yourself a little pep talk during the messy game of life.

*Use Song Lyrics*  The words from a favorite praise song or hymn are a great way to add to your journal.  I sometimes get a little crazy and take lyrics from any old love song and give those words a “God” theme.  I think any song will work as long as you focus on Him.

*Repeat Yourself*  Many times I have written a Bible verse or special quote more than once in my journal.  Sometimes what I have written is applied differently to whatever situation I am struggling with at the time, compared to when I wrote it down the first time.   Sometimes it is simply a part of God’s word that I hold fast to over and over.  Either way, don’t God’s words and promises bear repeating again and again?

*Be Funny*  When I watch my girls reading through my journal I love to see them laughing about my silly drawings and analogies.  Being happy in your faith is a life altering experience.  Nothing will make you happier in life than an ongoing relationship with God.  Write about it and laugh!

So there it is, my Faith Notebook.  I have been working on it for over two years!  I am about half way through it now and it is one of my goals to finish this year. (Goal #65 of 101 Goals in 2012)  It is something I plan on continuing for the rest of my life and hopefully it will inspire someone to start one too.  Get ready…..your faith is about to grow!

Linking with:

Women In the Word Wednesdays