The love of Christ compels us to write, to sing, and to share endless amounts of words that never truly wrap up the magnitude of His glory.

It still amazes me that today we launch the new spring Give Me Jesus Journals. It was just one year ago this month that the Lord began to stir in my heart the vision for the journal. Last May we had the first version of the journal in hand and sold out of the order within one hour. I had absolutely no idea what God would do with these journals and God-sized dream. It began as a tiny mustard seed of faith that God planted and is continuing to water to grow into a garden for His glory! With my knees to the floor and my hands lifted high to the Lord in praise, I am excited to partake in the gospel of grace with you as we study God’s Word together!

Today we are in day 3 of our “Well-Watered Women” series on how to study the Bible! In the first day’s post on being “In The Word” I shared how I spend time daily in the Scripture as well as a challenge for us to commit the first moments of our days to the Lord. Yesterday’s post answered the question “Why The Word?” We unveiled some insecurities we have in coming to the Word of God and pointed to how we are to come to Scripture and how we are to go and take the message into the world. Today, we will talk about different ways we can study the Bible and break down Scripture!

At the beginning of 2015, the Lord pressed on my heart a deep calling to be in His Word daily and to learn to abide in Christ as Jesus commands in John 15. The specific call was to “love God’s Word more than this world.” It still sets my heart on fire just for my fingers to type it! As I’ve shared about this desire and calling from the Lord, I have had countless women contact me asking how this is practically done. How do we actually love God’s Word more than the world? How do we rise in the morning and only desire Jesus? How do we live as a well-watered woman who is satisfied in Christ alone? 

My hands were completely a mess. I was in the backyard with all my paints, pencils, and sketchbook. Everything around me was ravishing and eagerly waiting to be brought to life through pen and paper. The dirt I sat on didn’t phase me as I gazed at the flowers in my dad’s tiny garden and drew the spectacular beauty before me. These were no Monet paintings, but they were made form the very depths of who I was. They brought my heart to life. They were me.  As a little girl, creativity was my identity. In school I wasn’t known for my basketball skills (which are literally non-existent), but for my art skills. I hung out with my art teacher and worked on projects with her during our breaks. I embraced every poster project as an opportunity to make something beautiful. I will never forget doing a project on Mother Teresa in middle school. I painted a watercolor portrait of Mother Teresa on white poster board as if it were my chance to show the world the beauty of this woman’s life through paper and brush.

The Joys of Growth

Last March I had no idea where Life Lived Beautifully was going. To be honest, I was at my wits end with trying to make a small business work. I was trying and trying and trying and getting no where. My heart was so weary and my spirit was defeated. I was on the brink of giving up and throwing in the towel. At the time, I had been making necklaces, stationery, and art prints. Though I loved creating these things, they weren’t bringing my heart life and I knew there was something more. I longed to share Jesus and His truth, but I didn’t know how I was to do it! I read through the journal I was using in this season and found these honest words of desperation:

It is with great joy that I am able to share the new Life Lived Beautifully Christmas Collection! Each product has been intentionally designed and created to point your heart to Christ. I don’t believe that we have to have beautiful journals in our homes to know Jesus, but I pray that the Lord uses the […]

Mornings are my favorite time of day. The earth is still, the coffee is brewing, and my heart has yet to get after its’ long to do list. I hunger after the stillness that can only be touched in the morning time. The reason this time of day is so dear to my heart is because it is when I meet with the Lord. No distractions, no things done, no one to talk to, just me and my Lord. This time is sacred and holy, the most important thing I do each day.

Mornings are my favorite time of day. The earth is still, the coffee is brewing, and my heart has yet to get after its’ long to do list. I hunger after the stillness that can only be touched in the morning time. The reason this time of day is so dear to my heart is […]