#devotional plans

It’s almost that time again where we make all of our plans and intentions for the new year, I’m hoping that this year to really dig in and explore my spirituality and take each piece and figure out what serves me and what does not.  My goal for 2020 is to find what sparks joy and makes my craft meaningful to me without being too much (anxiety and perfectionism are my bane)

Some ideas:

Using my A6 hobonichi to chronicle something each day that I think about in terms of my craft

Ways to incorporate my craft everyday that does not give me anxiety

Mix my practice journaling with my regular journaling to give me a better idea of where I was at the time and see if there are any patterns that emerge

Letting go of my perfectionism and just letting my devotional writings flow

Don’t get stuck on the aesthetics

Challenge myself to read at least one craft related book a month

Devotional collages

Keeping track of my feels and fails

Setting my intentions and following through

Day 7: April 18, 2011

The following passage is from: Ephesians 2:1-10 (NIV Version)

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of out flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms of Jesus Christ, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We've read what God says regarding the sin that separates us from him. How do we find the solution?

Because he loves you, God does not want this separation to remain between you and him. But, because he is perfect, he cannot allow our sin to go unpunished. Otherwise he would cease to be perfect, which means he would cease to be God. The sin-bill must be paid.

Day 6: April 17, 2011

The following passages is from: Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV Version), Mark 8:34-38 (NIV Version), & Romans 6:23

Matthew 7:13-14

13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Mark 8:34-38

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37  Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

Romans 6:23

23  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It's hard for us to admit we have sinned against God. We'd like to think his love will cause him to ignore our short-comings. But lets think about this from God's perspective.

By way of analogy, if you're at the top of a cliff, it doesn't matter if you take a small step or flying leap off the edge. The end result is the same. So it is with our sin. Whether we have sinned a little or a lot, we have all abandoned God, and the end result is horrifically tragic.

Day 5: April 16, 2011

The following passage is from: Psalm 53:2-3 (NIV Version) and 1 John 1:5-10 (NIV Version)

Psalm 53:2-3

2 God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. 3 Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even me.

1 John 1:5-10

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim we have relationship with him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sings and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we clam we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Being at peace with God is not automatic, because by nature we are separated from him. This separation is the "something wrong" that is at the root of our selfishness, loneliness, and dark feelings.

Through many immoral and amoral acts, thoughts and attitudes, we keep moving away from God, not towards Him. All of us do this, no matter how moral and upright we may seem on the surface.

Day 4: April 15, 2011

The following passage if from: Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV Version)

28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened. and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

God has a plan. What is it?

Is your life hard? God said, "I'll carry your burdens." Lonely? "I'll never leave you." Guilt getting to you? "I'll take it away." Life after death? "I can handle that for you. I promise"

Day 3: April 14, 2011

The following passage is from: Colossians 1:15-20 (NIV Version)

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.16 For in him all things were created: things is heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rules or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, an in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Maybe it's time to try God. Not "God" the Philosophy. God, the living Creator of the universe.

More than a concept, he's a Person, a Deity. He's someone who knows who you are and where you are. He's someone who cares about you, your life, your questions.

Maybe this is your time to make a connection to God that will meet your deepest needs. Maybe this is your time to understand his great love for you.

Day 2: April 13, 2011

The following passage is from: John 14:1-6 (NIV Version)

1 ”Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.2 My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.4 You know the way to the place where I am going." 5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Something isn't complete between you and God, but you're not sure what you're missing. Perhaps you've had these thoughts:

I try to live a good life. I try to be a good person. I obey the Ten Commandments (mostly). I am nice and don't steal or kill.

You're a good person. You try to be the best you can be, try to do what's right most of the time and try to do more good things than bad. So why do you still feel this void?

You may even tried more drastic ways of dulling your pain -- sex, drinking, buying new things, going to fun places, meeting the right crowd, etc.

And for all this trying, there is still something missing. So what do you try next?