"Older, Teach the Younger"

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This is a piece that was inspired from the following Scriptures and a smaller version I created for my faith planner at the beginning of the month.

It was intentional that it have a very childlike quality about it, though it certainly applies to every stage of our life.  God is looking for the pure and innocent, filled with His Holy Spirit, to speak the wisdom of God into the young, the old and everyone in between.

I pray we would continually press into the Lord, with teachable spirits, ever gaining His wisdom, growing in His love, and ready to receive and share the same. 

Scripture Meditation:

Titus 2:1-10 - But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.  Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.  Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. 

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 - And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. 

Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Ephesians 6:4 - And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Hebrews 12:5-6 - “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”

"Create & Inspire"

 
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It is the living God, the Creator of all things who lives in His redeemed.  And so, when I hear someone say they have no creative ability, I have to disagree.  And, by the way, I used to say the same thing.  

It wasn't until many years ago as the Lord led me into a position that I never imagined I'd be in and doing things I felt quite ill-equipped to take on, not to mention be successful at, that I began to explore and discover to a greater degree what the Lord had placed in me.

There, He stretched me.  Beginning with small steps, I began to take an interest in new things as they related to my job, and, just for fun!  I was hungry for learning and as excited as a child to venture out into new territory.

We are not without responsibility in the process of our growth.  It's not some instantaneous manifestation but a process as we seek Him out and bravely and obediently follow the Lord that we can be all He has created us to be.  He refines us and the works of our hands that in all humility we may pursue the very dreams He has inspired in us.

I think sometimes we can have misconceptions as to what being creative looks like.  Creativity takes on many different forms.  Our gifts may not be the same as another, and the Lord may use you to express yourself differently than your brother or sister, but nevertheless, you have been designed with the ability to create and inspire and praise the name of the Lord!

Since we have been created in the very image of God we are meant to be His reflection that as the world looks at us it's Him they see and are drawn to.  

May the wide array of the colors of Christ explode in us and through us to create the masterpiece born from His beating heart; the heart that brings hope, healing, encouragement, salvation, and all we need from a beautiful, loving God through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Create, and inspire
and praise the name of the Lord
For we are Heaven's poetry
life in Christ to be born.
The colors of the Spirit
upon hearts to be poured
Speaking to touch souls
raised up to soar.
Artisans, arise
to make what God commands
Filled with skill and wisdom
guided by His hand.
For His glory shall be seen
throughout all the earth
And what God has conceived
He brings forth to birth.
We present our lives to Jesus
all done in His name
Giving thanks to God our Father
as in us He rules and reigns.
Coming short in no gift
we suffer no lack
Enriched by Him in everything
blessed to impact
This, and future generations
declaring Christ, the King
Work in us to worship
my God, as we would sing.

Scripture Meditation:

Exodus 35:10 - All who are gifted artisans among you shall come and make all that the Lord has commanded...

Ephesians 2:10  (The Voice) - ...we are the product of His hand, heaven’s poetry etched on lives...
1 Corinthians 1:4-9 -  I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

"Every Good & Perfect Gift"

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Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].  1 Peter 4:10 (AMP)   

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.  Colossians 3:17

There is a story in the Book of Luke of the parable of the minas that tells of a nobleman who gave to his servants money to invest until he returned.  Two of the three servants were faithful, invested wisely, and realized a good return.  In return, they were given increase and authority over more.  The last servant buried his talent for fear, and because of it, lost the little he had.

I want to be that good and faithful servant, not like the one who hides his gifts away.  Gifts serve no purpose if they only sit in unopened, pretty boxes.  But we are meant to be bright and shining lights in this world that all may see our good works and praise our Father in Heaven.  The Lord has entrusted us with good things, good gifts to use as the Holy Spirit leads.

The Father has uniquely designed each one of us with varying gifts, talents, personalities, abilities and desires to help make up the body of Christ as we contribute to the part that is lacking.  There are no small or big gifts, but all are of great value in the eyes of God that He may create unity among us and bring us to maturity.

May each of us seek out to discover, unwrap, cultivate and exercise the gifts the Lord has given, wisely investing them in things of eternal value to yield His increase and everlasting rewards, as we walk in obedience to Him. 

I pray we stir up the gifts of God that are in us, shaking off feelings of inadequacy, fear, jealousy, comparisons, disappointments and all the regret of past failures.  For today is a new day!  

So may we hear and boldly answer the call of the Spirit that is speaking, "Arise, shine; for your light has come!  And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made and have come to the kingdom for such a time as this."

Scripture Meditation:  
Luke 19:11-27
James 1:17
Matthew 5:13-16
Romans 12:3-8
1 Corinthians 12
Ephesians 4:7-16
1 Peter 4:10
2 Timothy 1:6-7
Isaiah 60:1 
Psalm 139:14
Esther 4:14
Colossians 3:17
   

"My Heart LEAPS for Joy!"

I had previously created a different page using this same Scripture quite sometime ago, but recently found myself meditating upon this verse again.  It seems frogs were popping up everywhere, and since this is one of my favorite verses of Scripture, I was inspired to create another design.  I love frogs, and both journaling pages have featured these happy, little green guys and gals. 

I hope this piece makes you smile, and reminds and reassures you that the Lord is there to strengthen, defend, and help you in whatever you have need of as you place your trust in Him.  May you be filled with songs of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, coming from a heart overflowing and leaping with joy in the presence of Almighty God through Christ Jesus!

Scripture Meditation:
Psalm 28:7 - The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.
1 Peter 1:8 - Although you have never seen Christ, you love him. You don’t see him now, but you believe in him.  You are extremely happy with joy and praise that can hardly be expressed in words.
1 Chronicles 16:8-11 - Oh, give thanks to the Lord!  Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!  Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works!  Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!  Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore!
Psalm 18:1-3 -  I will love You, O Lord, my strength.  The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.
Nehemiah 8:10 - The Joy of the Lord is your strength.