inspirational design
Here’s a Free Scripture Art Printable for you, friends!
Just click on the image above to download the pdf file, which you can print out on any printer and then trim to 5×7 or 8×10 size.
This is one of my daughter’s favorite verses. Mine too. Such sweet and necessary encouragement that we can do hard things -even seemingly impossible things- when we’re relying on Christ to give us His strength.
If you missed my last post about some recent challenges I’ve faced, you can find it here.
Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap,
but by the seeds that you plant. -Robert Louis Stevenson
Hi Friends!
Maybe you’ve noticed that it’s been rather quiet around Hope Ink lately. I’ve missed connecting with you, and pray that this little note finds you well. This year has definitely been a time of growth and “seed-planting” for me –even if fruit isn’t usually visible. Can you relate?
Along with family, parenting, ministry, and the daily-ness of life, I’ve been asking the Lord to help me be more faithful with my time and health. I don’t know about you, but those are some of the first things to suffer when life gets too busy and I start feeling overwhelmed.
So, I started by making some simple changes (simple, yes -but definitely not easy). One of those is saying “yes” less often. I realized that I was saying yes to too many (good) things, and not leaving enough room for the best things.
Along with simplifying my schedule, I decided to be more intentional about how I was taking care of my health. As with any major change, there’s been stops and starts, ups and downs, but overall I’m in a much better place physically than I was last year. And I’m also significantly lighter, weight-wise (hallelujah!).
I’m planning to share more about the details of what’s worked for me, for those of you who have asked, so stay tuned! I know I’m always encouraged to hear others’ stories of overcoming challenges and what made the difference.
At the moment, I pretty much love everything Wardee from Traditional Cooking does – including the great tips & recipes she shares for my new favorite kitchen tool, the magical Instant Pot.
Anyway, feel free to let me know in the comments if you have questions about the changes I’ve been making – and if there’s a specific area you need encouragement in.
One thing I continue to be reminded of is that no matter what challenges we face in this life, there is always, always hope!
We have this HOPE
as an anchor for the soul,
firm and secure.
-Hebrews 6:19
One of my absolute favorite songs for Easter (or for any day of the year) is Don Francisco’s He’s Alive.
I’ve been laid up with the flu the past few days, so I was able to put my rest time to good use and make this little art printable for you. You can click on the image above to download and print (trim to 8×10 with a white border for a standard frame size -or 5×7 for a bit smaller).
Then rejoice that Jesus is alive! And, if you’ve put your faith in Him, you’re completely and utterly forgiven!
I also had time to finish this new coloring page printable (sometimes sickness is productive, apparently). You can click on the image to download and color with the kiddos to your heart’s content. I’ve also added these to the Printables Page if you want to see if there’s any you might have missed.
Happy Resurrection Day!
He’s Alive -Don Francisco
The gates and doors were barred and all the windows fastened down,
I spent the night in sleeplessness and rose at every sound,
Half in hopeless sorrow half in fear the day,
Would find the soldiers crashing through to drag us all away.
Then just before the sunrise I heard something at the wall,
The gate began to rattle and a voice began to call,
I hurried to the window and looked down to the street,
Expecting swords and torches and the sound of soldiers feet,
There was no one there but Mary so I went down to let her in,
John stood there beside me as she told us were she’d been,
She said they moved him in the night and none of us knows where,
The stones been rolled away and now his body isn’t there.
We both ran toward the garden then John ran on ahead,
We found the stone and the empty tomb just the way that Mary said,
But the winding sheet they wrapped him in was just an empty shell,
And how or where they’d taken him was more than I could tell.
Something strange had happened there but what I did not know,
John believed a miracle but I just turned to go,
Circumstance and speculation couldn’t lift me very high,
Cause I’d seen them crucify him and then I’d watched him die,
Back inside the house again all the guilt and anguish came,
Everything I’d promised him just added to my shame,
But at last it came to choices I denied I knew his name,
Even If he was alive it wouldn’t be the same.
But suddenly the air was filled with a strange and sweet perfume,
Light that came from everywhere drove shadows from the room,
Jesus stood before me with his arms held open wide,
And I fell down on my knees and clung to him and cried,
He raised me to my feet and as I looked into his eyes,
Love was shining out from him like sunlight from the sky,
Guilt and my confusion disappeared in sweet release,
And every fear I’d ever had just melted into peace.
He’s alive, He’s alive, He’s alive and I’m forgiven,
Heavens gates are open wide.
He’s alive, He’s alive, He’s alive and I’m forgiven,
Heavens gates are open wide.
He’s alive, He’s alive, He’s alive and I’m forgiven,
Heavens gates are open wide.
He’s alive!
Be at rest once more
O my soul.
For the Lord has been good
to you.
Psalm 116:7