SEM Sketch Challenge/31 Things

   I mentioned that I am taking Ali Edward's class Thirty-One Things over at Big Picture Scrapbooking.  What I love about this class is the focus on "going deeper" in journaling especially on scrapbook pages.  I am having problems with my camera and had to borrow my sisters for a while so most of my 31 layouts don't have pictures yet.   I decided to combine the SEM sketch challenge with Day 4 of the 31 - word prompt Spirit.  
Here is the sketch we have to work with this month

and my page

I kept with the same overall color theme with the rest of my 31 pages - blues, yellows, flowers and the Pemberley paper pack.  I love this paper!  I also used some blue washi tape.   I cut six squares and hand stitched around each one.  

The flowers were cut from one of the papers that comes with the Pemberley paper pack.  

The hardest part (and best part in my opinion) was the journalling which takes up most of my page.  It is rather long so if you don't want to take the time to read it that is fine and I'm not offended.  If you do read it remember that the prompt word was "spirit" and this is what that word means to me.   Journal: 

“Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so” These words have held such meaning in my life ever since I was a little girl.  Life has been difficult at times – I know the pain of physical brokenness.  I have experienced the betrayal of trust and the loss of life.   I have had my heart broken and my body weep as it could not hold onto the life of my unborn child.  I have experienced much joy in life as well.  The love of a large family with sisters and a brother who make me laugh and cry at the same time.  True love from a man who understands and puts my needs before his own, which sometimes means being quiet and sometimes means standing up to my rants.  Joy in its purest form, wrapped in a blanket and snuggled up to my breast – I am called Mama by three and love it! 

I don’t have to look further than the mirror to see my own brokenness, selfishness and mess.  It does not take much for me to realize that just when I think I can do this life on my own is when I start to screw things up.  Over and over again I have realized my need of a Savior and have found that need met in the very work of Jesus Christ. 

When I hear the word “spirit” this is what comes to my mind . . .  “Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.  Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to the spirit.  The wind blows wherever it pleases.  You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.  So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:5-6, 8 and “For God so loved the world that He gave his only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.  God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17. 

I am not a perfect woman – I never will be on this side of heaven.  I believe I am worse off (a greater sinner) than I even realize but at the same time I far more loved than I could ever hope for – that is the Gospel – the “good news” that I believe.  This runs through every fabric of my being – it makes me who I am!  When I screw up with my kids I tell them I was wrong.  I feel like in this stage of being a Mama to such little ones I’m messing up a lot, I lose my patience and my temper so much more than I want to, I ask them to forgive me and tell them that I need my Savior every day.  These are the things I want them to learn from me. 

“I believe in God the Father, almighty maker of heaven and earth.   And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son, our Lord.  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, He was crucified and dead and buried.  I believe that He who suffered {and knows the suffering I myself experience!} was crucified, buried and dead.  He descended into hell and on the third day, rose again.  He ascended into Heaven where He sits at God’s mighty right hand.  I believe that He’s returning.  I believe in the Holy Spirit, one holy Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sin.  I believe in the resurrection I believe in a life that never ends.”  ~ Rich Mullins

Every day I live by faith, being sure of what I hope for and certain of what I do not see.  About a month ago I began memorizing the book of James and have been challenged to put feet to that faith – not merely listening to the word and so deceiving myself but doing what it says. Loving my neighbor as myself, being quick to listen and slow to becoming angry, being kind and compassionate.  I do love but I don’t always love or even love enough.  I am kind but not in every moment.  I do think of others but I also focus way too much on myself.  I am reminded that it is the Spirit at work in me that enables me to even love in the first place. I love because He first loved me.    

I want my children to know that like Rich Mullins “I believe what I believe and it makes me who I am.  It is the very truth of God and not the invention of any man.”  I did not make it but it is making me.  

Here is the song that inspired some of my journaling

 Thanks for stopping by - I read each one of your comments.  One last look at my page

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