I’ve always enjoyed pen and ink drawings for as long as I can remember. And I’ve been offering some of those drawings as free coloring pages on my website for years and loved hearing the stories of how churches were using them in their Sunday School classes and women were using them with children and grandchildren. As I watched my collection of drawings grow… I kept wondering about the possibility of publishing them as a coloring book.
Simple Blessings Coloring Book
It had been on my heart for quite a while to create an inspirational faith-based coloring book. I envisioned it having pictures that a mom would enjoy coloring with her children. I wanted to give her the opportunity to not only be creative with color but give her a way to share and talk about God’s Word as they colored together.
I had been offering free coloring pages on my website for years… and had a number of pen and ink “morning doodles” in my art journal that I thought would be a perfect fit. I decided to self publish Simple Blessings in the late summer of 2014 so I could have it to take with me for the fall/winter art shows we were doing at that time. Little did I know that in a matter of a few months… adult coloring books would become the rage and much to my surprise Simple Blessings rose to the top 100 books being sold on Amazon for several weeks!
What is amazing to me is that God already knew! He is the One who prompted and encouraged me to create this book despite being counseled that it was probably a waste of my time. He already knew that my husband was going to have back problems that would not allow us to continue to do art shows and would need another source of income. He already knew the plans He had for me… and for us… plans in place to take care of us months before coloring books became popular and the need arose. All I had to do was trust Him… trust Him enough to step out in faith and self-publish a coloring book with the hope of encouraging others in their faith… even when others thought I was nuts. And I’m thankful I did!
So I leave you with this question: Is God calling you to do something today… that without your even knowing it… might impact your life tomorrow… and be a blessing to others along the way?
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
You can purchase a print copy of Simple Blessings here or a printable instant download version here.
Garden Blessings Coloring Book
Whether you are an avid gardener, a casual cultivator, or one who simply delights in the beauty and bounty of a well-tended garden, I invite you to stroll along with me through the pages of Garden Blessings… my newest adult and older children’s Coloring Book in the short video below.
I’ve always loved how God speaks to us through garden imagery from the first pages of the Bible through to the last and we see Him portrayed as the Master Gardener of our hearts and lives… tilling the soil of our hearts, planting the seeds of His truth, watering us with the Holy Spirit, and tending to the weeds as we grow, blossom, and bear fruit for His glory. 
He uses the visual imagery of gardening to help us understand our relationship to Him and the promises that He has given to us.
Garden Blessings is full of garden related imagery and Bible verses along with a few quotes that I hope will refresh your spirit, renew your mind, and draw you close to the Lord as you spend time coloring your way down this fragrant garden path page by page.
You can purchase a print copy of Garden Blessings here or a printable instant download version here.
