This week’s Bible Journaling verse was such a blessing to my heart! I love how the design of the heart turned out for sure. The mouth… not so sure but it was still a very fun verse to play with. But… of course… it was about so much more than the art!
At first, it caused me to examine my heart and think about my words and to be honest… I was convicted in a couple of areas. One was gossip… and the other… as always… was about how I talk to myself. Both are ugly. Both are hurtful. But conviction is good… because now I am being more attentive to both.
Oh does the mouth ever speak! But even though this verse very much applies to my life today… and the constant challenge it is to keep an ear to the words I speak both to myself and to others… the truth is that as I pondered this verse… my heart was filled with gratitude. It reminded me from whence I’ve come and how much God has changed my heart and my words.
When I tell people about the kind of words that came out of my mouth before I came to know the Lord… I usually get this wide-eyed look of surprise… maybe a little gasp… and a whole lot of disbelief. Oh yes. And I wasn’t just a potty mouth… it was so much worse. I was a young woman who was so filled with pain, anger, bitterness and even hatred… that all that emotion kept spewing out my mouth… out of control… outbursts of anger and jealousy and rage… hurting the people I loved the most. My heart still cringes and cries when I think about the person I was.
And then I met Jesus…
Did the words I spoke change overnight? No. But my heart did… from the very first moment He came to live within me it began to change… to heal… to find peace… to discover joy. His light broke into my darkness. His abundance began to permeate my heart! His unconditional love filled the immense emptiness. His truth began to replace the lies I grew up with. His forgiveness filled and overflowed my heart… forgiveness for my sins and for those who had so terribly wounded the fragile child who lived within me.
And I’ve never been the same since.
So even though I know this verse can be convicting… and it should be… for today… for me… with tears of joy and gratitude… it reminds me of how much God has done in my life… and how blessed I am. It also stirs within me a longing for so much more of His abundance to fill my heart… overflowing love… so that the words I speak will be words of life and not death. Love and not hate. Truth and not lies. Building up not tearing down. I want always to speak words of hope and encouragement… and not just to others but to me too… to that fragile child that still lives within me… because I need to hear those words too.
And so do you.
Thank you all so much for loving me and allowing me the opportunity to share my heart here. Sorry this was so long… but I do hope you are encouraged to want more of God’s abundance in your life too. Believing Him for it together!
You can find this design in the “Luke 6-9” Collection available in my shop. Color-Your-Own version here. Full Color version here.
BIBLE JOURNALING FOOTNOTE…
For those of you who might be interested in Bible Journaling… I always start with a pencil sketch… sometimes in my molesking journal or graph paper sketchbook and sometime in directly in my ESV Single Column Journaling Bible
Thanks again for the visit… sending Love and God-hugs your way…
Your testimony always blesses my heart. Thank you for sharing your tender heart & encouraging my heart.
Love you my friend. Hope you and hubby are doing well… you’re still in my prayers.
I was surprised someone who creates such beautiful artwork could struggle with self-talk! I’m working on both just like you. Thank you for sharing your life and please know it is helping and encouraging us. God HAS done a mighty work in you! Awesome!
You are such a wonderful inspiration to me Karla! I thank God that I found another sister in Christ. You lift my spirits. And that means so much to me. I am blessed because I met you.
TenaAnn
This is beautiful – and I do mean more than the artwork. Thank you for sharing your heart as well as your artistic talents. I too struggle with that internal ugly self-talk and can be pulled into gossip before I’ve even realized it. Thank you so much for sharing and God bless you!
I’m so glad you expanded this verse to include self-talk because it is my belief that until we get that under control, we’ll never be able to control what comes out of our mouths. Words are powerful–God spoke everything into being with His Word(s)–and so do we.
I got my Journaling Bible this week. I will be writing thoughts and prayers that the Holy Spirit brings to my mind. I am not an artist, but I will use the gifts God gave me to worship our Lord and encourage others. Thank you for sharing your experiences and gifts with us, Karla. You are a blessing. Ann
Karla:
Thank you for all of your Art work and placing the Lord in the center of your work. you are such a blessing and an encouragement.
Paula in So. Calif.
Your post and your artwork is lovely! I am planning to buy a journaling bible soon!
Hi Karla, Wow, your artwork for this verse is very appropriate! This is an area that I struggle with! BTW, I am loving my coloring book and am eager to get some of your bible bookmarks. Is this scripture study from an online Bible Journaling group that you are in? I tried to find the Journaling Bible Community on Facebook but just keep coming up with their swap & sell group. Blessings, Kym
I haven’t made a start yet, but am following your journalling journey with interest. As always…beautiful work!
I first found you on pinterest while looking for appropriate coloring pages for a girl’s group at my church. The more I viewed your site, the more I could see how much you love the Lord and want all to know him. I have a journaling Bible, but am nore into using watercolor paper. My dd who can draw like a dream (dh has degree in art lol) has been thru so much this last 18 months that I want her to start Bible journaling. What is said about a broken heart in every pew really relates to her. She never let go of God and is even stronger in her faith. I would love to have her use the Bible journaling as another path (without “mom I know what I am doing”). I am afraid that she is headed toward jumping from the frying pan into the fire. I would love to hear ways that this journaling has been introduced by others and any help that you and your friends can help me. TIA Melody
Thank you for sharing part of your story! The wonderful grace of Jesus transforms the wounded and how grateful I am for that because HE has transformed me!
This is so true. I can talk so sweet and show love to just about everyone except myself. I always am so critical and beat myself up. Many women do the same thing. They cannot view themselves with the same eyes they view everyone else with and I know it is a sin when I beat myself up like I do. Thank you for your honesty and sharing your gift with others.
Karla,
You certainly are tempting me to purchase a journaling Bible. I love the idea of it, but still lack the trust in trying to illustrate it. Your tips and ideas are very inspirational. Thank you for sharing your heart and feelings.
Karla, God-hugs to you also! Love this! I love anything with hearts! Thanks again!
Thank you for sharing…your words and very encouraging.
I was just talking about my thankfulness of what God has done for my sharp tongue and harsh words to the ladies at Gateway CC in Washougal. This is something I’ve been mindful of since coming to follow Jesus Christ. So glad I haven’t had to mind my words all on my own but with the Holy Spirit. Thanks for this blog!
Karla, your devotions are such a blessing to me. I know your have out your heart and souls into these. I needed to hear such encouraging words today. Thank you!
I love your heart for God and the honesty of your words. Thank you for sharing…and for your generosity!
This devotional is just what I needed to read! I’m asking God to transform my heart and mind to see myself the way He does so I can curb negative self-talk. I believe when we have God’s view of who we are in Him, we’ll be free to see others through His eyes as well!
Blessings dear Sister-in-Christ!
Nancy
Thanks for sharing all these great tips on how you get your designs started. I really like your style. Your love for Jesus is reflected so evidently in your art and words.