Angela Parlin

So Much Beauty in All This Chaos

Thought About Bible Journaling? {Giveaway: Beautiful Word Bible}

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journal.jpgIn a way, I’ve always done Bible journaling.

Mostly I’ve scratched ink around the edges of the Word, recording dates and phrases and slices of conversations, as well as thoughts the Lord gives while reading. You too?

This year, Zondervan sent me the all-new NIV Beautiful Word Bible (February 2016), in exchange for my honest review.

I wanted to see how it feels to bring paints and colored markers to the pages of scripture. So began the adventure! I started reading through Exodus along with my current Bible study, and from each page, I copied a verse or two onto the side margins, adding a little decoration here and there.

Before I found all this extra margin space, I often copied verses onto separate journal pages. I learned long ago that I retain information best when I write something out and spend that extra time thinking about it. I have a feeling many of you take in scripture that same way.

AngelaParlin.comBy now I’ve played with a number of variations, different ways of combining art with scripture verses, and I’ve learned that most days, keeping it simple is my style.

What I love about Bible journaling, is that it gives me a way to interact with the text beyond my reading.

When I open the Bible later, I turn pages to receive a visual reminder of where the Lord spoke to me before.

My favorite thing about the Beautiful Word Bible is that it features 500 illustrated verses throughout. It still offers plenty of blank spaces to create your own art while reflecting on scriptures you’re reading.

In my opinion, this is a perfect first journaling Bible, because it includes so many colorful ideas to inspire your own creations. I don’t know about you, but I tend to be more creative and willing to risk artistically, when surrounded by the creativity of others.

Will experienced artists and Bible journalers love it also? I think yes! There’s still plenty of space for your own art, but every once in a while, there’s another illustration.

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If you want to know more about the Beautiful Word Bible, click here to view a video and/or purchase it.

Giveaway Details:

I will be giving away another copy of this book on Wednesday, March 23 at noon. To be included in the drawing for the giveaway, simply LEAVE A COMMENT on this post.

Let us know if you have a tip for Bible journaling, or if you just hope to try it out.

I look forward to mailing someone a copy of the Beautiful Word Bible. Best wishes to each of you!

 

UPDATE: Gayl, you are the winner of the Bible! I’m emailing you now! 🙂

As always, I’d love to have you SUBSCRIBE at the pink box to the right to receive weekly posts in your inbox. Thank you!

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. 1 Samuel 3:9

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Who You Are In the Light

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identity who you are in the lightDo you know who you really are?

A friend told me recently that her Mom used to have her stand in front of the mirror and recite truths about who God says she is. Isn’t that great? I’ll save it in my parenting toolbox, but the truth is, I’ve needed it myself.

Not long ago, I knew certain facts regarding who God says I am—but I didn’t feel like they were true.

Have you been there?

There’s an identity crisis, within the church. It begins with our understanding of God, and our understanding of who we are in light of Him.

We can name details about God, but do we really know Him? And if we don’t KNOW the God who created us, then how do we know our own selves?

I grew up in the church, so I learned numerous truths about God and about myself through the years. I also live in a world where I heard an abundance of lies about us both. There were those labels people gave me, those labels I gave myself, and the experiences that told me things I couldn’t forget.

But more often, I was oblivious to what was going on around me. The world and the devil did their thing, and I failed to see the false and fiery arrows shot my way.

While my foundation was forming, the enemy worked to confuse my identity.

I didn’t know deep down in my heart who I really was–because of Jesus Christ. I didn’t live confidently out of the truth.

When you don’t have a firm grasp on who you are in God’s eyes (your identity in Christ)—
start with who God is.

Find Him in the quiet. Seek Him through His Word. Get to know Him more.

Meditate on who God is. Focus on who He says you are.

Look to the Word–not to the world–for daily affirmations.

Let Him change your view of Him and your view of you.

Let Him set you free from the lies that hold you down.

In time, God will transform your mind completely, giving you a whole new view.

You will understand who God is and who you are in light of Him.

May these scriptures be a starting place, pointing the way to the truth.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him. Psalm 28:7

The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Job 33:4

Before I was born, the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb He has spoken my name. Isaiah 49:1b

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me.” Genesis 16:13a

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Read this post also at PurposefulFaith.com.

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From TGIF to DWTS

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assignment do for GodGrowing up, Friday nights meant Full House, and I was a huge fan.

Mom would make whole wheat pizzas and serve Sunkist orange soda. That was a big treat, with a health-nut-Mom. And we’d finish off the night with a big bowl of popcorn and T-G-I-F.

So I was thrilled a few years ago, to find out that DJ Tanner–I mean Candace Cameron Bure–loves Jesus, and had published a couple of books. Now I’ve been given the opportunity to review her 3rd book, which released in August, 2015.

Dancing Through Life

Dancing Through Life: Steps of Courage and Conviction is Candace’s personal reflection of her recent opportunity to compete on the hit show, Dancing With the Stars. I watched DWTS for the first time that season. Candace inspired me, week after week, with her grace and authenticity, both on and off the stage.

Throughout the show, Candace continually pointed fans to Jesus. It was obvious that her faith informed her decisions and actions. In Dancing Through Life, she gives us insight into her decision-making process as well as the input of wise people who surround her.

“Jesus has changed me from the inside out. I can’t help but to point others to Him.” ~Candace Cameron Bure

Maybe the most prominent theme of Dancing Through Life was Candace’s realization that she cares too much what people think of her. To put it biblically, she struggles with fear of man.

Don’t we all? My struggle looks a little different from hers, and yours will look different from mine. But to some extent, I think we all struggle with caring too much about other people’s opinions of us.

“Fear of man is the worry that we won’t measure up, that we will be criticized, that someone won’t approve of the choices we are making. The Bible calls this a trap. Why? Because fear of man works like a chain that binds us to public opinion.” (Candace Cameron Bure, Page 83)

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. Proverbs 29:25

Candace speaks about criticism from experience. If you follow her on social media, you know exactly what I mean. It’s heartbreaking sometimes, and the attacks come from all sides.

I admire her for continuing to step into the roles God gives her, even seeing her platform as part of God’s purpose for her life. I also appreciate her honesty and openness with readers, even though admitting these struggles invites additional attacks.

In the end, Candace connects her own story to that of her readers’. Our stories look different from hers, but she leaves us with this encouragement: Whatever our assignment in life, we have the opportunity to do it for the Lord.

“He wants your story to point to a bigger story of His great love for each of us.” ~Candace Cameron Bure

I highly recommend Dancing Through Life. Joy and encouragement jumped off the pages, and I walked away from the book, having grown along with the author. Grab a copy, and enjoy!

*Subscribe in the box to the right, in order to receive my weekly posts in your inbox. I’m so glad you’re here!

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To Be God’s Yes

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resolutionI have a love/hate relationship with New Year’s Resolutions. Mostly hate. Because I used to live striving to become a better version of me, and she was continually out of reach.

These days, it feels like everyone is always trying to improve themselves.

But it’s never enough. No one is content with where they are now. So many people seem to be striving to become something better rather than enjoying the journey.

I agree that growth is important. We’re here to learn and grow and love each other along the way.

I just think we have this idea that it’s all up to us. That WE can make things happen, so we work toward self-improvement and place our hope in all we could become or do, in how that might fix our lives.

But it doesn’t. It won’t.

Today’s guest post is from Pam Lenhart, otherwise known as MY MOM. She’s wise and deep and she loves Jesus and encouraging people. When I read her thoughts today, I knew they needed to be shared. Enjoy!

 

To Be God’s Yes

It seems every year there is a word or a thought that keeps coming back to me for the whole year.

TRUST was what the Lord reminded me to do for all of 2015, and 2014 was the reminder that I CAN trust God with everything.

That was the year my husband fell and had a brain injury that changed our lives. God wanted me to continue to trust Him through it all in 2015. He has walked us through so much.

As 2015 came to a close, (our pastor) Scott Lehr spoke on what is the faith step God wants you… to take as your Christmas gift to him?

The word that kept coming back to me was YES.

Do you remember the movie, Yes Man from a few years ago? I never did see it, but the previews showed that he had to say yes to everything anyone asked.

That could get you into a lot of trouble. Unless you are saying YES to whatever God wants of you.

I thought maybe He wanted me to be his “yes man”, er…woman.

I’ve been reading daily in Acts. The last couple days of 2015 I read about Peter in Acts chapter 10.

God took Peter down a notch. He gave him a new vision and changed his life. Then He told him some men were coming for him and to go without hesitation.

The next day Peter obeyed. He went with them. He became God’s yes man.

Ok, Lord, I see the pattern.

God sent Peter to a religious man who was good and respected, but not right with God–because he didn’t know he needed to surrender his life to Jesus Christ, the Savior. He needed to do things God’s way and follow him wholeheartedly.

Because Peter obeyed God, because he said YES and went without hesitation, God used him to introduce a good man to Jesus Christ for a total life change.

Yeah, I heard that, Lord. I get it.

So my resolution, goal, plan, prayer, however you want to say it, for 2016 is to be God’s YES.

To go without hesitation, without thinking it over, without wondering if that is really what God wants of me….. Just to say yes and go.

Now its out there and you can hold me accountable. And FYI, I’m not going to be perfect at it. Because, well, I’m a sinful, selfish, stubborn and weak person–saved by grace and loved unconditionally by my Savior and Lord.

What about you? What faith step does God have for you this year?

I’d love to hear about it.

 

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Falling In & Out of Prayer

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prayerIt doesn’t sound super spiritual, but you guys–prayer is hard.

Stillness is hard. Hard stops in a busy life are hard.

Do you agree? Tell me it isn’t just me.

In early January, I thought I had picked a word for the year. But instead, God led me to focus on prayer, and not to only toss Him my cares and needs.

I needed to grow in prayer as worship. To take my sin seriously and regularly confess it. To sit in the silence and listen for His whispers.

So I set out to spend time away from the world each day in prayer, to learn to pray without multitasking.

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek. Psalm 27:8, NIV

Sometimes, my prayer life was amazing. I was learning so much about God. But the truth? It wasn’t all glitter and rainbows, and I didn’t always show up.

Sometimes I really struggled to sit still before the Lord.

When I got caught up in so much busyness, concentrated prayer was the first thing I let go of. I put it off for later, and another day went by.

At the same time, I enjoyed mountaintop views this year, and they were unbelievable. But there were also valleys.

The mountaintop often didn’t appear when I was on my best behavior. It didn’t show up when I was the most faithful, or the most consistent.

Instead, I’d come to this place with hard corners in my heart, with a terrible attitude, having been away from Him for days. Even my kids could tell the difference. I’d be having one of those weeks when I didn’t like myself very much.

Having fallen out of prayer, I’d fall on my knees again.

And just when I knew I was a mess and didn’t deserve it, I’d see that view again. He’d bring me around to the mountaintop. He’d fill me with His grace and lift me up.

Then I’d walk around the house, humming “Love Lifted Me.” Knowing Love lifts us once for eternal salvation and continues to lift us every time we fall, whether in ways that measure large or small.

Sometimes in this world, we’re sinking in sins and distractions. Love is always near to lift us, when we come back to Him.

Jesus doesn’t stand there, pointing His finger and saying, You know better. You should be more consistent. You should be more… He doesn’t call us those names that float around our heads.

Jesus stays near. His arms are open wide. Whether it’s been a week or 20 years, His desire is that we seek Him. That we come and talk with Him.

He didn’t come to rescue us because we’d be star performers or at least consistent.
He didn’t save us because we earned it.
He saved us because He is Love and He longs to lift us.

And He’s already everything we’re not.

Jesus is an unending welcome-back, a Love who lifts us up again.

May we settle in before the Lord this year. May we worship Him and know Him more and let His kindness to change the course of our days.

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.” Psalm 27:8, NLT

Read this post also at PurposefulFaith.com!

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