Something New; Visual journaling

An Afternoon at a Visual Journaling Workshop

Six women in a room filled with words, works of art, pictures, art supplies and a wonderful leader, Penny Bragg, who took us on a visual journaling workshop experience for those who have experienced loss and grief.  Who knew that for three and a half hours the Holy Spirit would show up and minister and encourage and begin a healing process? Some were just beginning the journey; some had been with Penny for a while. All will forever be grateful to this woman of God who gives out of her painful experience of grief, beauty for ashes.

One page in her examples of visual journaling resonated with me and reminded me of this previous post on my blog:


Just write on my tombstone, "She was a prisoner of Hope." Not a prisoner or her past or living another day would be much too hard. Not of a prisoner of her accomplishments as only the Lord Jesus can take credit for those, not a prisoner of her beautiful children, grandchildren, husband or family for they are what they are by God's grace and mercy. I am a prisoner of Hope in Jesus that He takes all things and works them to my good; He takes flawed things and makes them beautiful.

Joel Osteen says this:


"Return to your fortress, o prisoners of hope, even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you" (Zechariah 9:12, NIV) Zechariah 9:12 says that we should be prisoners of hope. It's easy to give up. It's easy to get discouraged. But God wants us to be so full of hope, so full of expectancy, that we just can't help believing for the best.

When you're a prisoner ...of something, it's like you're chained to it. You can't get away from it. I know people who are prisoners of fear, prisoners of worry, prisoners of doubt. You've heard them. "Nothing good ever happens to me." "It's never changing, Joel. It's just been too long."

They are chained to despair and discouragement. Break those chains. Become a prisoner of hope. No matter how long it takes, no matter how impossible it looks, your attitude should be: "I just can't help it. I know it will work out. I know I will overcome. It may be taking a long time, but I know this too shall pass. It may be difficult, but I know that means I'm close to my victory." Joel Osteen

The page I made has the word hope plastered all over it. Hope amidst words of scripture;  hope amidst words of pain, hope amidst  “already cleansed for His kingdom, hope amidst  “reconciliation” hope amidst “let your voice be heard” and hope amidst “make me laugh.” I am a prisoner of hope.

Music and More to lighten your day; don't miss the links and Billy Graham

Music will help you through the day and be a balm for your soul; a song and a prayer that the Lord will go before and stir up the gifts within you:)

He said, "I won't give you more than you can take, I might let you bend but I won't let your break." Don't miss this song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmi9IBP209s

 

Sunday, a day we dedicate to rest, peace and worship. Try all three, it will do your body good in more than one way:)

Remember if the enemy is trying to defeat you with thoughts of failure and fear that his day is coming and we know his end. Weeping may be for the night but joy comes in the morning. Your song and story are unique and the Lord is the final author. Feeling sad today? Give someone else a smile and it may lift your own spirits. Then there will come a day for Him to turn our mourning into dancing for Him. Hallelujah, what a Savior. I know of none other who can do that! And remember in eternity we are already all together in peace. Those who have gone ahead of us are with us, no more sorrows or pain.

A bonus of music from a band I just discovered today:

As seen on Huckabee this morning; a little bluegrass for the day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI1IWLv0Db4

Here they are at day of prayer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhWm6aAWofM

And a bonus:

This is my prayer; If you know me at all, even a little bit, if there is blood relation or any kindred spirit from our times on Facebook, that you will watch this gift of love from Billy Graham.
Favorite quote from the message; "Jesus lived the life I could not live and died the death I should've died."
I couldn't go see Beth Moore with the church ladies, but I can watch and share Billy Graham with y'all:)http://www.youtube.com/billygraham/?BA=3029&QR=168&SOURCE=BY13BVGYT&annotation_id=annotation_1870663097&feature=iv&src_vid=qfw_0VI_I4E&utm_campaign=MHANov&utm_medium=InStreamVideo&utm_source=Youtube

A Constant Image

 

I had a hard time wanting to post another blog as the “happy, happy happy,” of Duck Dynasty is so appealing to me. But because blogger is part of my “job description” I am putting a devotional I wrote on here until I can get really inspired to blog.

 

Sometimes the image in our minds of our past hold us back from the future. Sometimes it holds us in turmoil, holds us in pain and prevents us from pressing on to what the Lord’s true plan for our life or ministry. That is part of the enemy’s plan and he gets great pleasure from reminding us of our past, of causing great havoc and devastation in our families. For these things, though, we have Jesus. Let Him be the constant image in your mind.

A Constant Image

For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Galatians 6:14

The Message

"In the front of my mind

In the back of my mind,

 To the left and to the right,

There’s an image of a man on a cross."

 

These are the words to a song written by Dallas Holm that really moved my spirit. This is how I want to live my life, with the Lord in the front of my mind and in the back of my mind. As I go to the left or the right, may his image never leave me. May this picture in my mind help me to walk differently in the world I live in. I need to walk worthy of the calling God has put on me.  Let me walk in a way that would not shame the one who is my Lord and Master. Jesus was born in a stable---yet He is the King of Glory.

     He lived a simple life. He amazed His mother, confounded his neighborhood, (could anything good come from Nazareth?) called together a group of outcasts to disciple and write about His story.

     He carried a heavy cross on which He was crucified for my sins and yours, years before we were ever conceived. He knew what pain was like. He understood how it felt to be rejected by friends and family alike. He wept. He understood what it was like to lose a loved one. But for the joy set before Him, he endured the cross. That joy was giving life to us.

Prayer: Lord, please keep the picture of what You did on the cross for us, ever before us.

Thought for the Day: What I allow myself to think on may control my day for good.

Prayer Focus: The Cross of Christ and his compassion towards His body of believers.

I’m ending with a new favorite quote; I borrowed this quote from my daughter, Regina's page:

"She could never go back and make some of the details pretty. All she could do was move forward and make the whole beautiful." Terri St Cloud

If your past wasn’t pretty, join me in trying to move forward and make a beautiful life. Someone out there needs you.