A Royal Invitation - Emmanuel

A Royal Invitation

 

Jesus, King of Highest Heaven, King Eternal, God’s own Son,

Gives a royal invitation, “come to Me,” the Holy One.

 

Jesus, kind, so full of mercy, praised, adored in Heav’n on high,

Gives a royal invitation, for your sins He came to die.

 

 He, the Splendor of the heavens, Shelter, Tower, Risen King,

Gives a royal invitation, “come, be healed beneath My wing.”

 

 Jesus, refuge, strong defender, God, Creator, Majesty

 Gives a royal invitation, “come to Me,” salvation’s free

 

He's the way, the truth forever, Savior, born on Christmas morn,

 Worshiped in a humble stable, shepherds knew God’s Son was born.

 

With great joy He left His glory; all for love, Emmanuel,

Praise Him for salvation’s story—God, made man, in hearts to dwell.

 

Jesus, miracle from Heaven, God’s only Son, for love He came,

Gives a royal invitation, “Come to Me,” O praise His name.

 

Honored ‘neath the starry wonder, kings adored with pure delight

As God’s royal gift so holy, glory to the Prince of Light.

 

Come to Jesus come tonight!

 Vivian May Edwards

(Janis’ Sister, who is now celebrating in Heaven)

 

 Have a Joyous Christmas! 

Staying on the Ancient Path- Hospitality

"Use hospitality one to another without grudging."

1 Peter 4:9

Hospitality is one of the characteristics every Christian should have, especially church leaders. In this video we explore what true hospitality is and it's meaning.  We'll  look at an ancient story from 1 Kings 17, about a widow, who, during a time of great famine, provided hospitality to the prophet Elijah and how the Lord blessed her for it. 

Follow as I also make an art journal page, using collage, paint and ink to make a welcoming entrance.

Staying on the ancient path- Faith

 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6

Definition of faith:  Noun: 1. Complete trust or confidence in someone or something. 2.  Strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof.

The Bible's definition: 

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  Hebrews 11: 1

     There's a popular praise song by Josh Boldwin called,"Evidence", in which the chorus goes like this, "I see the evidence of your goodness, all over my life,  all over my life."  And, as I look  back on my life, following Jesus and in ministry, I can really see how He has helped us through so many trials and also has blessed us in so many ways.  Below, is the video with a devotional, looking at some of the heros of the faith and being encouraged by their lives.

  

     We also add another art journal page to our "Staying on the ancient Path" art journal with this theme.

     The Bible has a lot to say about Faith!  We are just touching the surface here. 

      Another great verse says,

"So then faith cometh  by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17

     If you want to have more faith, then you need to go to church and sit and listen to great sermons on the Word of God (the Bible).  If the sermons you are listening to are not from God's Word, then you need to search out a Bible believing church that teaches directly from the Bible.

     I pray this will encourage you today.

Staying on the Ancient Path - Prayer

John 15:7 "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."

There are 3 factors, here in this verse, that involve prayer.

The first one is Abiding.  The second one is Asking. and  the third one is Answering.

Abiding:   John 15 :4-5 "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Our walk with the Lord is pictured here like a vine.  It holds the branches which produce the fruit.  Just like it could not produce fruit if the branches were not abiding in the vine. But, as the branches bear fruit, they are going to be abiding in the vine.  If they weren't attached to the vine, the fruit would go dry or it won't even produce anything.  It will die.  We as the branches need to abide in Christ who is the vine.  Christians are united by Christ to the faith.  One way is through communion.  We must have fellowship with Christ and draw upon His life and His power.  We are to keep in fellowship with Christ through the Word of God, worship and obedience. 

Asking:   When you spend time in the Word, God talks to you.  And when we pray, we talk to God.  And through this talking, we would be making requests to God.  But prayer is much more then just asking.  It involves many other things.  It involves praising God, giving thanks, worshipping Him and surrendering to Him.  God hears our cry.  We have a rite to be heard by God, because we are His children.  When my children come to me, I stop everything, and I listen to what they want to say.  God does the same thing.  God has invited us to pray. He wants us to pray to Him. 

Answering:   And, then, of course, He will answer those prayers just like you answer requests from your children.  God knows when and how to answer.  

Start with abiding-.  Let God's word purify your heart.  Then ask what is in your heart.  And, leave the matter with Him to answer in His way and His time.  

We are cleansed by the Word.  So, as we abide in Him and are cleansed by His word.  We're not going to be asking for things that He is not pleased with, because we will know what He is pleased with.  And we depend on Him.  If we keep Jesus' commandments, we will abide in His love.  From verse 12.  It says, "This is my (Jesus) commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you."  So, His main commandment to us is to love one another.  Don't be fighting.  Don't be bickering.  Don't be complaining.  But to love and take care of each other. 

We didn't choose Jesus, but He choose us.  One of the reasons He choose us was because He wants us to bear fruit and spread His word here, while we are on earth.  As we abide in Christ, we should be bearing fruit.  And, some of the fruit is listed in Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law"

So, we should be bearing fruit and walking in His path.

Inspiration was taken from this book:

"The Bumps Are What You Climb On, Encouragement for Difficult Days", by Warren W. Wiersbe, Baker Books, 1980, pages 85-89

Staying on the Ancient Path- God Reigns

This is the next installment of my Artsy-devotional video series on Staying on the Ancient Path. Here we focus on how God Reigns.  

"And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth."  Revelation 19:6

We talk about 3 people who had "bumps" on their path. - Apostle John, Isaiah and the Apostle Paul.  All three found out that God is still on the Throne, no matter what happens.  He is still on the throne today!  We can have faith that God is still reigning today and He is still with us today and has all under control!  That should give us a lot of hope, strength and encouragement!

 

Devotional was inspired by the book:

 The Bumps Are What You Climb On, Encouragement for Difficult Days, by Warren W. Wiersbe, 1980, 2002 , Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI, page 16-19

Staying on the Ancient Path- Psalm 91

This is the next installment of  my Artsy-devotional video series on Staying on the Ancient Path. Here we explore the “bumps” that came on Abraham’s path as He followed God and how he overcame them.  Then we read and talk about the great inspirational Psalm of David, Psalm 91.

Staying on The Ancient Path- Psalm 27

This is the next installment of  my Artsy-devotional video series on Staying on the Ancient Path.  Here I share what has happened to me in the last 3 months and how it’s like a huge boulder that has dropped on my path. The boulder is called breast cancer! Your "boulder" might be called another name, but it's still a boulder! Although it's large, God puts opsticals like this in our path in order for us to climb them, grow and learn from Him. God said that the path will not always be easy, but He also said that He will always be with us, strengthen us and be a light for us through the troubled times.

The devotional is on Psalm 27 when King David was hunted by the Philistines and by King Saul. Although he had a lot of people wanting to kill him, he also had a lot of people who were with him and helped him. Most importantly, he had God on his side.  I used Psalm 27:1 as the inspiration and quote for the page.

     "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

As I started making the page, it was all impromptu. I really didn't know what to do. But, as I started, it all flowed out and I end up making a pocket and putting the verse on a bookmark type card to insert in the pocket to remind me that if I have God in my back pocket, I don't have to be afraid!

Staying on the Ancient Path -Love

Staying on the Ancient Path Devotional Art Journal - Using 2 Peter 1:5-8 to continue on the journey by adding the final ingredient to our faith - love. 

We are discussing the meaning of how much God loves us by personalizing John 3:16, ”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” and see that God loves us (each individual person) so much that He sent His only Son to take our place and make the payment for our sins so that we can have eternal life with Him through faith.

We also take a close look at 1 Corinthians 13 - the love chapter in the Bible where this Agape, self-sacrificing love is described to us so that we can understand how we can love others.

To make the journal page we collage a picture from a magazine and a vintage bird print with the verse 1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now abideth, faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity (Love).”

We collage and embellish it on a piece of one of my botanical gel prints. 

     We wrap up this study in 2 Peter with verse 8, where it says that if we add and practice these 8 ingredients to our faith, we will be fruitful, joyful and effective in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and our Christian walk.

 2 Peter 1:5-8 - “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Additional verses used:

Galatians 5:22-23-”But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

1 Corinthians 13:1-8- “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”

1 John 4:7-11-”Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”

Staying on The Ancient Path- Brotherly Love

Staying on the Ancient Path Devotional Art Journal - Using 2 Peter 1:5-8 to continue on the journey with adding brotherly kindness to our faith. Discussing how we can show brotherly kindness to people we know and especially to other believers.

To make the journal page we collage some of my botanical gel prints and 4 people holding each other arm in arm and walking down a wooded path in the early morning with the verse,

Galatians 6:10b “... let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

I also add stringed lights in the trees, use oil pastels to color it all in and ink to bring out the details.

Staying on the Ancient Path-Godliness

Staying on the Ancient Path Devotional Art Journal - Using 2 Peter 1:5-8

 

“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We continue on the journey with adding godliness to our faith.  Discussing how to live a godly life and getting to know God and His attributes. To make the journal page we draw/paint a beautiful tree by a stream/river of water, using Psalm 1:3 as our base.

“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

 The fruit of the tree are all the different attributes and characteristics of God.  

Staying on the Ancient Path- Patience

Staying on the Ancient Path Devotional Art Journal - Using 2 Peter 1:5-8 to continue on the journey with adding patience to our faith.  Discussing how to have patience with joy in our hearts during hard times.  We look at the life of David in 1 Samuel when King Saul was pursuing and hunting David because he was jealous of him. During this time, which lasted years, David remained faithful to God and had much patience for God to work it all out.

To make the journal page we use some of my botanical gel prints in the background, draw some beautiful pink roses and write out the verse, 

Psalm 27:14, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord

.” 

Staying on the Ancient Path- Temperance

2 Peter 1:5-8

 "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control [a]perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither [b]barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

We continue on the journey with adding temperance to our faith.  We discuss how knowledge will lead to action - sel-control.  Using some of my botanical gel prints to make the journal page.  

We use Psalm 119:11

”Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."

As the basis for the art journal page.

                

Staying on the Ancient Path- adding Knowledge

Staying on the Ancient Path Devotional Art Journal - Using Jeremiah 18:15:

“Because My people have forgotten Me, They have burned incense to worthless idols. And they have caused themselves to stumble in their ways, From the ancient paths, 

To walk in pathways and not on a highway,"

and for this installment, adding knowledge to our faith. 2 Peter 1:5-8

 ^"But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control ^[a]perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither ^[b]barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

We continue on the journey, discussing how we can get knowledge and the story in Nehemiah 8:1-18, how the people were listening to God’s Word and understanding it.   Using some of my botanical gel prints to make the journal page.  

Other verses used:

Proverbs 2:3-5- “Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;  If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.”

Proverbs 8:10-”Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.”

 

Colossians 2:3-(In Christ) “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

2 Peter 3:18- “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

Psalm 119:130- “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”

2 Corinthians 4:6- “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Psalm 119:105- “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

Staying on the Ancient Path -Virtue- The 10 commandments

2 Peter 1:5-7 gives us some things to add to our faith so that the Lord can bless us in our lives and family.  

"...Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity."

In this video, I am focusing on the first one, virtue (a good moral character, to have excellence in all things). The best place to start is at the beginning- the 10 Commandments, given in Exodus 20.  We discuss a little on each one.  This gives us a good start and it also teaches us a little about God and what He likes and dislikes.  I pray that this will encourage you to continue to do the things that God likes and stay on that ancient path of good.

Staying on the Ancient Path - Taking the first Step - Gospel

"Heaven is a gift" tract is read and gives the gospel message.

Also, the story of Abraham and Isaac when God told Abraham to offer his only son

as a burnt offering on the altar and how God provided the Ram as a substitute.

This story gives a clear picture of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Staying on the Ancient path journal- start

In Jeremiah 18:15 God is really warning His people to come back to Him and stop worshipping the false Idols.  They had strayed away from God so much that they never read His word or worshipped Him. It eventually led them down a very dark path and being overrun and taken captive by the armies of Babylon.

"These can be counted on. But not my people! For they have deserted me and turned to foolish idols. They have turned away from the ancient highways of good and walk the muddy paths of sin. (TLB)

The Ancient highway was a good highway in which God was the center of it.  Any other path was a muddy path and only led to sin, darkness and death.  When we follow the Lord and do what He says, we will be walking in His light and it will only be good.

This is the beginning of an "ancient document" art journal with this theme of staying on God's ancient path and walking in His ways.  I hope you will join me on this little journey and discover God's good path for us.

Freedom 2024 word of the year- impromtu journal page

I've decided to have a word for the year for 2024.  It's the word - Freedom!  It's been popping up a few times recently and it would be a good word to use to focus my mind on.  There are 3 verses that talk about freedom that I want to think about:

Galatians 5:1-
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

It's talking about how Jesus made us free from our sins with his death on the cross and resurrection. We don't need to try to pay for our sins by doing all kinds of work and religious things.  He gave it to us as a free gift.  We can now worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

2 Thessalonians 3:1
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

The Apostle Paul wanted to be able to preach the Word of God freely and that it will spread throughout without any hinderance and be effective.  I pray that same prayer for me.

Revelation 22:17
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

A beautiful verse at the end of the Bible, showing that God wants everyone to come to Him, freely.  He wants to be involved in your life and help you and give you eternal life, if only you will freely come to Him.

Watch as I create an art journal page, with these thoughts in mind... 

Think on These Things - Praise

Think on these things from Philippians 4:8 - an ArtsyUs devotional series.  We are making an art journal page, using paint and collage while focusing on the word, “Praise”.  There are so many things to Praise the Lord for: His goodness, mercy and grace… I pray this will help you focus on His goodness all around you and cause you to stop and Praise Him!

Philippians 4:8  (KJV)

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Think on These Things - Virtue

Focusing on the word, "Virtue" in this installment of my video Devotional series on Philippians 4:8  "think on these things..."

I got re-acquainted again with Proverbs 31 - The virtuous Women. I can think of many ladies in my life, who fit this description.  I pray this will bless and encourage you as it has me.

Think on These Things -A Good Report

 Think on these things - Philippians 4:8 - We are focusing on the phrase, "A Good Report" in this ArtsyUs devotional series.  We are learning about Ruth, in the Book of Ruth in the Bible.  Her story involves a couple of good reports.  I encourage you to read the book.  It's very short.  The story is so good and has a happy ending.  As you hear good news or report of someone this week, write or text them a note of encouragement.  I know it will go a long way to make them feel special and you will feel good also.  Blessings!