Count your blessings Jesus Calling - July 2

Summertime. What a perfect time to... start a new blog... add a new pet to your family...attend a camp... spend time with family and friends. God has certainly blessed us this summer! When we pray together as a family, it's a great time to think about things we are thankful for. I am thankful that so many wonderful opportunities are keeping me away from this blog, including the beautiful summer weather. I'm also thankful for this hot day to sit inside and write a few entries while my kids attend Bible camp. Photography and art are fun ways to reflect on our blessings. Here are some things we have been thankful for lately.

Our new pet bearded dragon

Babies

The collage was inspired by the Jesus Calling devotion on July 2nd. (My son would have you know that he wanted to add more, but ran out of time.) We were using art to show how God had made our lives masterpieces. What form of art would you choose? What would your masterpiece include? Enjoy pondering these questions and creating your representation of God's good work in your life.

Jesus Calling July 1

What a perfect theme for today's devotion. I haven't been taking the time to blog for the last few days and today is about fighting for your time with God.

Today make bath time = God time if you, like me, are struggling to squeeze in the extra time for another activity. Put some bubbles in. Say a prayer over your child's bath time, asking God to cleanse them inside and out.

If you have time for a craft (my daughter will always make time), grab a bowl, drinking straw, paint, paper, dish soap and water. I've had more and less success with this activity depending on the type of paint. You might also try food coloring.

1. Mix soap, paint, and water in a bowl. Be generous with the paint and soap, but it needs water to thin it enough to blow bubbles in it.

2. Put the straw in the bowl and BLOW! Warning, it would taste disgusting to suck it in, but it happens, especially with young children :). Blow a heap of bubbles so high they are almost overflowing. Like your love for God and His love for you are overflowing onto everyone around you.

3. Press the paper onto the bubble heap, making a print of bubbles on the paper.

4. Optional: Put a photograph of yourself in the center of the bubbles after the paper dries. Or draw a picture of yourself with crayons or markers.

Jesus Calling June 26

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me." -Psalm 23:4

What is something you fear? Is it the dark? Heights? Dogs? Speaking in front of groups? Being alone? Spiders? Snakes? Report cards? It seems that there are so many things to fear in this life.

Draw a picture representing your fear.

Paint over it with God's love to show that God is always with you. As you paint, talk about how the thing you fear might actually be a blessing to you. You might also discuss how your fear is blessing, a way that God helps you stay safe.

Jesus Calling June 24

"He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken." Psalm 62:6

Take a walk today while thinking about God: His strength, guidance, and constant presence. Look for a rock while you are walking. Keep it in your pocket as a reminder of his strength. Or if you would like, paint it. Put it in a place where you will see it and be refocused on Him.

Jesus Calling - June 6

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. -Psalm 19:1

Today's devotion is all about God's creation and seeing Him in His wonderful work. We can know of his love for us by seeing the care He put into every detail of creation. So our project today is to record that beauty in a drawing using perspective.

1) Draw something from nature in great detail, like a flower mentioned in the devotion.

2) Add a background: mountains, a forest, an expansive blue sky. Don't forget to give your drawing something to anchor it (ground for your flower, a sandy beach for your starfish).

3. Don't be afraid to add your own flair of creative inspiration.

A realistic interpretation

A more abstract interpretation - rivers of love & mountains of peace

Jesus Calling - June 2

I must confess, it was not as simple to think of a craft to go with today's devotion. I guess that's why God had us start the blog yesterday. Today's devotion wandered briefly over many topics, focusing mainly on putting ourselves in God's presence, and settled on Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God."* The kids and I discussed what would help us feel at peace and focused on God. We talked about needing to involve all our senses (taste and smell being integrally linked, no licking this craft item). Off I went to raid the craft stash for soft items along with card stock and tacky glue. Then I turned the kids loose.

Flannel, velvet ribbon, feathers, cotton balls and pipe cleaners

Here are my and my daughter's results:

Psalm 46:10

(I will spare you the flannel board Mayflower story created by my son. It's really creative, but not exactly on topic. However, we did discuss that the Pilgrims came to the United States for the freedom to worship God.)

To summarize the basic steps:

1. Think of a symbol that reminds you of God when you see it. Draw it on card stock and cut it out. (For young children you could have several choices such as a heart, cross or dove precut.)

2. Trace your symbol on felt, cut it out, and embellish as desired. ALTERNATIVELY decorate your card stock shape with soft items that will help you feel calm when you feel them.

3. Add a tiny drop of lavender oil to the felt shape to smell as you breathe calming breaths.

4. Sit with your object in the quiet near an open window to hear the sounds of God's creation. ALTERNATIVELY listen to calming music to put yourself in God's presence. What does He have to tell you today?

*for the curious, we are using the Hands On Bible, New Living Translation 2nd edition that was given to my son by our church when he was in second grade. It is well loved!