1. to interlace: 2. to form by combining various elements into a connected whole: blend; unite; braid; knit ; construct; merge; make; together; piece; fuse; create; compose; mesh; splice; sew; plait
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CONTENTS
STRENGTH 33 S TRENGTH U NDER F IRE 36 D EVOTIONAL S ERIES 45 S CRIPTURE C ARDS
TOGETHER 12 T HE T APESTRY
OF
G ENERATIONS
58 G RAFTED I N 62 F INDING Y OUR F AMILY 66 S MITH P ARTY
OF
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GRATITUDE 80 H OW TO BE T HANKFUL W HEN G OD S AYS N O 84 T HE J OURNEY F ROM T HANKFULNESS TO G RATITUDE 88 F ROM W ASTELANDS
91 P RAYERS
OF
TO
G ARDENS
G RATITUDE
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SOUL INSPIRED 126 T HE A RT
OF
D OODLING
129 J OURNALING T EMPLATES / C OLORABLE B OOKMARKS 130 A UTUMN W ORDSEARCH
XX W RITING A L EGACY L ETTER UNLOCKING THE BIBLE Darlene Schacht, Time Warp Wif
22 J OYRIDE W ITH J ESUS 24 H OW G OD G OT M E I NTO T HE W ORD 60 N O M ORE G OING I T A LONE
FEATURES 74 B ELIEVING F OR G OD ’ S G OODNESS Stephanie K Adams
Lord, give us a hunger for Your Word. Amen.
16 F EARFULLY AND W ONDERFULLY M ADE Susan Duncan 96 Y OU ’ RE I NVITED Jodie Barrett
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CONTENTS
AUTUMN 50 H ELPING K IDS N AVIGATE A R ETURN TO S CHOOL
SOUL CARE 72 G UARD T HE T HRONE R OOM 78 W HEN C ARE
THE
S OUL N EEDS
51 H OMESCHOOLING 101 114 F LAVORS
OF
F ALL
FAITH-FULL FELLOWSHIP 112 I NVITATION A CCEPTED
120 L ESSON F ROM R OCKER
THE
F AMILY
122 W ELCOME
IN EVERY ISSUE 6 A L ETTER F ROM E DITORS
THE
8 S CRIPTURE R EADING L ISTS 15 C OMMUNITY B UZZ 48 E NCOURAGEMENT C ALENDAR 102 F ICTION S ERIES :L OVE P EACE & S ECOND C HANCES 135 R ESOURCES
138 O UR P RAYER
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MITZI NEELY Content Director / Editor In Chief JANA KENNEDY-SPICER Art Director / Creative Editor STEPHANIE K ADAMS Community Coordinator TYANNE RAKOWITZ Business Administrator
Sweet To The Soul FAITH - The Woven Journal Copyright © 2021 by Sweet To The Soul Ministries All rights reserved. www.SweetToTheSoul.com ISBN: 978-1-953718-07-5 Sweet To The Soul Ministries PO Box 785 Royse City, Tx 75189 No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For inquiries and permission request, contact through website: www.SweetToTheSoul.com Unless noted otherwise, all scripture quotations are taken from the “ESV”, The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2011 Scripture quotations marked “NIV” are taken from The Holy Bible: New International Version, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblicia, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. To order copies of this issue and access additional resources, visit www.sweettothesoulFAITH.com To inquire about ordering in quantities of 10 or more, please email info@sweettothesoul.com For information regarding advertisement opportunities, please email info@sweettothesoul.com
CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS: Stephanie K Adams, Real Women Ministries Lisa Appelo, True and Faithful Monica Bard, monicabard.com Jodie Barrett, Faithfully Following Ministries J. E. Berry, J. E. Berry Speaks Kristine Brown, More Than Yourself Sue Carroll, Doodles 101 Ellen Chauvin, Soaked and Sprouting Michelle Cooper, Digital Learning Specialist Natalia Drumm, A Wife Like Me Susan Duncan Gretchen Fleming, Following Hard Sarah Frazier, sarahefrazer.com Elizabeth Giertz, The Messy Desk Terri Hill Carmen Horne, Women’s Hope Coach Christa Hutchins, Do A New Thing Elaine Lankford, Transforming Love Ministries Amy Elaine Martinez, Amy Elaine Ministries, Past to Power Podcast Susan B. Mead, susanbmead.com Mitzi Neely, Peacefully Imperfect Ministries Michele O’Leary, micheleoleary.com Cyndee Ownbey, Women’s Ministry Toolbox Misty Phillip, Spark Media Melanie Davis Porter, Courage to Endure Jodi Melissa Slaughter Karmen Smith, Blessings Beyond the Barnyard Jana Kennedy Spicer, Sweet To The Soul Ministries Lori Wood, loriannwood.com ARTWORK CONTRIBUTORS: Debbie Bonner Sue Carroll Megan Lawson Jana Kennedy Spicer PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTORS: Stephanie K Adams, Real Women Ministries Jodie Barrett, Faithfully Following Ministries Jo Anna Duncan, Jo Duncan Photography and Studio Susan Duncan Liz Giertz, The Messy Desk Terri Hill, food photographer Karmen Smith, Blessings Beyond the Barnyard Jana Kennedy Spicer, Sweet To The Soul Ministries
Unless otherwise noted, artwork, graphics and photography licensed stock images.
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Greetings Friends! I am so excited to welcome you to the WOVEN Journal. Fall is a special time of year for so many and it’s a favorite season for me too. Sometimes here in Texas we don’t get the cooler temperatures as early as other parts of the country so we depend on back-to-school and football to remind us it’s here. That may sound strange but there is some truth to that. Seriously though, fall is a great time to make connections. It's a season to celebrate togetherness with friends and family. It’s a time where schedules sometimes take precedence, kids return to extracurricular activities, and familiar routines resume. Embrace each one and make what you’re doing count. When you peruse these pages I pray you'll come away with a sense of what’s near and dear to your hearts. Whether it’s thanking God for the family you have, praying for strength and courage in your day-to-day life, or spreading gratitude everywhere you go, this journal encompasses all of those things and more. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 ESV Blessings to you!
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Autumn is quite simply my favorite time of year. Hands down. I love everything about it. Well, almost - not a
Photo by Jo Anna Duncan
fan of allergies and Texas ragweed - but everything else I love. The colors. The scents. The temps. Woven... doesn't this word just make you feel warm? I am loving this word and all that it represents. From beautiful colorful tapestries to warm handmade quilts, from God knitting us together in the womb to His weaving us together in families. In this Autumn issue of Sweet To The Soul FAITH, we are blessed to bring you the stories of several women who will share with you how God has divinely woven their lives together with others, across generations, across towns and around the world. As you read through The Woven Journal I pray you find encouragement for the season you are in, renewed strength for today and the days ahead, a fresh perspective of what family means to you, and a thankful heart for all God has given and taken away. Now I’m off to cook up a pot of Kristine’s delish Potato Soup, light a pumpkin spice candle, and settle in with The Woven Journal, I’ve got to find out what happens next with Andy and Mae-Lyn. Blessings,
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JANA KENNEDY-SPICER
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) Sitting outside the courtroom doors, again, I was physically exhausted and emotionally de-hydrated from crying more tears than I thought anyone could. I had long stopped crossing days off the calendar in anticipation of reaching the end of this ordeal, it was now months into year three. It would be months more before this hard fought battle was over, but this day, God willing, would at least bring resolution to one matter. Have you ever been reading or studying about someone in the Bible and had that moment when you thought, “Oh! That’s me!”? I’ve had a Moses moment, when God called on me and I responded with, “Why me?! I’m not qualified.” I have even been Abraham, trying to solve a problem God already had a resolution for, and thus messing things up for more people than just me. I could list other examples, but I think you get the idea. My response in these situations share a common factor. I was relying on my own strength because of my lack of faith in God. Just like Moses and Abraham both did at one point. But then, in Hebrews 11 we find both Moses and Abraham used as examples of what can be accomplished by faith. So how did they go from seeing their strength as the only solution to their situation to becoming Biblical pilers of faith?
•
•
I open my heart to conversations with God – real, raw conversation and prayer. I began believing – genuinely believing the promises found in His Word.
I knew that although I was sitting all alone, God was with me > Deuteronomy 31:6; although I was the only one others would hear and see, God was fighting for me > Joshua 23:3; even when others saw my weakness, God’s strength was present > 2 Corinthians 12:9; even if others were uncertain of the outcome, God’s will would prevail > Proverbs 19:21 Oblivious to everyone else going in and coming out of that courtroom, I sat there, my Bible opened to the tear stained pages of Hebrews 11, reading, praying and believing .... “... who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.” Hebrews 11:33-34 And that day, God did all that.
Examining stories of their lives, I found these things in common: they 1) spent time with God, 2) had conversation with God, and 3) believed God would do what He said He would do. .
R EFLECTION : Is there an area of your life you are attempting to control out of a lack of faith in God’s plan or promises?
To passers by, I was just another poor soul waiting for my appointed time slot before a judge. They knew nothing of my situation, my experiences or the amount of time I had been waiting for a resolution, but God knew. And I knew I was not the same woman that day, as I was on day one. Just like Moses and Abraham, over time, my faith in God had grown.
Recall a time in your life when you felt God’s strength in your life. Talk with Him about that experience.
All those month’s spent waiting, fighting, questioning, were month’s spent with God. I had been one of His lost sheep, one that wondered away from the flock and ended up in very perilous circumstances. He came and found me and brought me back to Him. As a result,
•
I started spending time with God – praying, Lord give me a hunger for Your Word.
P RAYER : Dear Lord, thank You for your precious Word, that it teaches, encourages, defends and convicts. Thank you for showing us the examples of Moses and Abraham so we can see how You love each of us even in our doubt and disobedience. Reassure the woman reading this that You are present in her life, that you fight for her, that she is dearly loved by You. Help us to learn to depend on you instead of ourselves In Jesus’ name, Amen.
JANA KENNEDY-SPICER is a wife, mom and Nana. A born and raised Texas-girl who loves boots, sunflowers, and sweet tea. She has a heart for studying God’s Word and is passionate about encouraging women to do the same. Connect with Jana at SweetToTheSoul.com 44
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S CRIPTURE C ARDS Cut out Scripture cards and tuck in your Bible or display around your home or office; or write an encouragement on the back and share with a friend.
The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on my high places. Habakkuk 3:19 NASB
SWEET TO THE SOUL FAITH
“...that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man.” Ephesians 3:16 (NASB)
Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:11 NASB
SWEET TO THE SOUL FAITH
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. Nahum 1:7 (ESV)
SWEET TO THE SOUL FAITH
SWEET TO THE SOUL FAITH
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Shall We Gather at the River Shall we gather at the river, Where bright angel feet have trod, With its crystal tide forever lowing by the throne of God? Refrain:
Yes, we’ll gather at the river, The beautiful, the beautiful river; Gather with the saints at the river That flows by the throne of God. On the margin of the river, Washing up its silver spray, We will talk and worship ever, All the happy golden day. Ere we reach the shining river, Lay we every burden down;
Grace our spirits will deliver, A nd provide a robe and crown. At the smiling of the river, Mirror of the Savior’s face, Saints, whom death will never sever, Lift their songs of saving grace. Soon we’ll reach the silver river, Soon our pilgrimage will cease; Soon our happy hearts will quiver With the melody of peace. Written by: Robert Lowry, 1864
Originally titled "Beautiful River" and subsequently titled "Hanson Place," written by American poet and gospel music composer Robert Lowry (1826–1899). It was written in 1864 and is now in the public domain. The title "Hanson Place" is a reference to the original Hanson Place Baptist Church in Brooklyn, where Lowry, as a Baptist minister, sometimes served.
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You’re JODIE BARRETT
The house was so quiet not even a mouse was stirring. Both my children were at college, spreading their wings and learning to fly. My Armystrong husband was somewhere around the globe serving our country. Momma bird (that’s me) was left in an empty nest with the holidays drawing near. A quiet house greeted me each night after a long day’s work. No one was home to cook for or clean up after. The stockings were hung with care, but the laughter around the table was missing. This was the perfect setting for loneliness to creep in and settle deep. I knew I could sit and focus on being alone or I could meet with God and spend time with Him. From experience, I knew the later was best. 96
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Praying for others in the month of December as I decorated our Christmas tree had become a special time for me. A dear friend had shared her tradition of slowly hanging ornaments and giving thanks to God for those she remembered. I loved this idea! Following her lead, I hung ornaments on our tree and prayed. I decided to also use this time to read my Bible and journal prayers for others. As I did this, Paul’s words in 1 Timothy caught my attention: I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 1 Timothy 2:1 NLT With so many needs, concerns, burdens, and heartaches, Paul’s words to Timothy answered a question that often troubled me, “How can I help others?” The answer was right there in God’s Word. Many times I knew someone in need but overcomplicated my response. Paul urged Timothy to begin with praying for others and I need only do the same. Inspired to create a prayer tree, I set It up in our loft area. Every evening I would climb the stairs, open my journal, read God’s word and for others. There were so many people in need: the lost, the lonely, the sick, and the grieving. Often my list seemed overwhelming, so each night I focused on a different group of people. I made headings in my journal and asked God how to pray for each group. Later, I hung tags and ornaments on my prayer tree to help me recall who to pray for throughout the holiday season. This process helped me stay organized for a task that seemed bigger than me.
As I prayed, I felt a nudge to invite others to pray with me, but how? How could I reach my community and extend an invitation? Like many times before, God had prepared me in advance with everything I needed to follow His prompt. Right there by my prayer tree, I opened my Facebook account and did a live video inviting others to pray with me. The response was overwhelming. Many were like me and wanted to pray together. I was not alone at all. God was using the silence around me to draw me and others to Him. A UTUMN 2021 | S WEET T O T HE S OUL FAITH
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That December, I con nued to use Facebook to pray with my community while I would sit at the foot of the tree. The house felt less lonely, but more importantly, I felt the presence of the Lord with me as I trusted Him to hear the collec ve cry of a community praying for one another.
there am I with them." And gather in His name we did! Young and old united to pray around the tree. Cars lined the streets of our neighborhood, as our beau ful community came to pray, shed tears, laugh, and sing songs together. We joined hands, even in rain and snow, to pray for all people.
God hears our voices, responds to our needs, and He is faithful to fill any emp ness we offer Him.
God invites us to come, in fact, He urges us to come and intercede for others. Some mes, He creates a quiet space of opportunity and asks us to use it for Him. When we are faced with the queson of how to help others, we can “first of all” pray.
The next year, my li le prayer tree grew into the “Community Prayer Tree.” With the help of my ministry partner, friends, and family, my husband and I placed a tree outside of our home on the lawn next door. We wanted others to know the love of Christ, experience the power of prayer, and provide a place for our community to gather. As we invited others to join us an cipa on built, and fear mounted. What if there was no response? Trust had to trump fear. I knew that the Lord would hear us, and I trusted the truth wri en in Ma hew 18:20, “For where two or three gather in my name,
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My hope is that interceding for others through prayer will grow. We can join hands and voices, offer praise, and li our prayers to the Father in many ways, but perhaps a place to start is to accept an invita on to begin a prayer tree in your community. With a li le planning you can easily prepare a space for others to gather. The process is simple.
Photos courtesy of Jodie Barrett
Jodie with ministry partner Donna Fender at their neighborhood prayer tree.
How to begin a Community Prayer Tree C HOOSE
A CENTRAL LOCATION . This may be a community park, a church lawn/
courtyard, a local business, or an open space in your yard. If using a public location, secure the necessary permission/permits to place a tree. Using a location with access to electricity will allow your prayer tree to have lighting.
S ET
A TIME FOR GATHERING . Community prayer can be as small as two or three
people and as large as your location can accommodate safely. Plan how long you would like to meet. A one-hour time span is ample for people to mingle, prepare prayer tags, hear a short welcome and encouraging word before praying together. If you gather more than ten people, having a small team of support will be beneficial. Some can welcome others and hand out tags for hanging on the tree, while others can offer to pray with visitors. While neither are necessary, soft music and warm beverages offer an inviting environment.
P ROVIDE
SUPPLIES . Having tags and pens near the tree allow others to hang
their prayers and requests on the tree for others to read. Prayer prompts for each week or day can be posted to help guide people in how to pray for their community. A daily list of prayer prompts, and printable tags can be down-loaded at SweetToTheSoul.com/JingleandJoy As another Christmas season approaches, I’m looking forward to the time we will share around the foot of the Prayer Tree. It’s never about the tree and always about following where He leads. I treasure knowing our community will unite once again to pray for others. More so, I praise God now for how he will respond. Will you join me by starting a Prayer Tree? I think you will find like I have, that time spent with friends and neighbors gathered around the branches will cause a stirring. No, not a mouse, but rather your heart enlivened from sharing the true gift of God’s love with others.
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MITZI NEELY
Warmth and comfort occupy the top of the list when it comes to cooler days and even cooler nights. A hearty bowl of soup and a slice of homemade bread can warm the soul and the stomach. Simple recipes for simple fair are a lifesaver when planning family meals and fellowships.
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From Mitzi Neely Ingredients: 1 lb. ground meat 1 half medium onion chopped 1 package of smoked sausage, sliced 1 can whole kernel corn 1 can hominy 1 can Ranch Style beans 1 can Ranch Pinto beans 1 can diced tomatoes or Rotel tomatoes 1 package of Ranch dressing mix 1 package of Taco seasoning mix 2-4 cups of water Tostitos or Fritos Directions: 1. Brown meat, sausage, and onions with salt & pepper. 2. Drain and transfer to a soup pot or crock pot. 3. Add all other ingredients including both dressing and seasoning mixes. Add salt, pepper, & garlic salt to desired taste. 4. Mix and simmer for 1 hour on stove top or 4-6 hours in a crock pot. 5. Serve with chips. This soup is so delicious and perfect for a crowd. *1 pound of meat - 1 can each 2 pounds of meat - 2 cans each Terri Hill
From Carmen Horne Ingredients: 5 cups blanched almond flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 2/3 cup butter (melted) 2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk 6 large eggs 1 cup shredded cheese (I use the 4 blend Mexican) 2-3 jalapenos, seeded and chopped. (Leave in a few seeds if you want more heat) Instructions: 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 10" cast iron skillet. (I melt the butter in the skillet & pour it into my cornbread right before I pour it into the hot skillet.) 2. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. 3. Stir in almond milk, eggs, cheese, jalapenos, and melted butter. 4. Pour into the hot skillet and smooth with the top. Bake 35-40 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
Low Carb KETO Friendly If you like sweet cornbread, add in a low-carb sweetener of your choice. I was raised like Christian Comedian, Singer, and songwriter, Mark Lowry, "Sugar in the cornbread is cake. When you bite into cornbread, it’s supposed to suck 90% of the moisture out of your body."
Terri Hill
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• 7 daily topical scripture based Q&A driven studies • Traceable journaling prompt words
• 7 daily Bible Journaling templates (or color pages)
• Verse Mapping worksheets and study instructions
• Extra blank formatted study sheets to add your own “Favorite Things” to your study journal • 2 Bonus color pages
D OWNLOAD
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AT :
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C O L O R P AG E / J O U R N A L I N G T E M P L AT E
Photo & original Artwork by: Jana Kennedy Spicer
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DO
YO U K N O W J E S U S ?
God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins and bring us into a relationship with Him. (John 3:16) Through Christ, we can know the promise of eternal life and experience the joy of knowing God here on earth! If you would like to have a relationship with God, the Bible tells us that the first step is acknowledging that we have sinned and that there is nothing we can do to earn God’s love (Romans 3:23-26). Next, we believe and confess that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9) and allow Him to guide our lives. Where we once wanted to control our own future, we now invite Jesus into our hearts to be Lord over our lives. Knowing God’s peace, perspective and purpose for your life begins with a personal relationship with Jesus. Would you like to accept Jesus as Lord of your life? You can pray the following prayer:
Lord, I confess that I have sinned against You and ask You to forgive me. I’m sorry that my sin has hurt You and other people in my life. I acknowledge that I could never earn salvation by my good works, but I come to You and trust in what Jesus did for me on the cross. I believe that You love me and that Jesus died and rose again so that I can be forgiven and come to know You. I ask You to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I trust You with everything, and I thank You for loving me so much that I can know You here on earth and spend the rest of eternity with You in heaven. In Jesus name, Amen
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V ISIT U S O N- LINE SweetToTheSoulFAITH.com
SweetToTheSoul.com
SweetToTheSoulShoppe.com
SCRIPTURE READING PLANS : Each month consists of a topic-driven reading plan, complete with 31 Scriptures to use in your Bible study and quiet time. The verses serve as a guide to dive deep into God’s Word as you focus on small portions. Blank Scripture Journal pages are also available for download.
BIBLE STUDY RESOURCES : Soul Inspired Bible Study is about spending time in the scripture with God and allowing the Holy Spirit to give us understanding. These Bible Studies cover a variety of topics and offer resources in multiple formats including journals, devotionals and more.
INSPIRED INBOX : These free Soul Inspired Bible Studies are delivered directly to your inbox. Choose from several topics. Just sign up, check your email box, then download and print all your study materials. Study alone at your own pace or invite friends to join you and study the Bible together.
SOUL INSPIRED BIBLE JOURNALING RESOURCES : are designed to inspire your soul and encourage you to use your creativity during your Bible Study time. Our journaling resources include Bible Journaling Kits, printable templates / colorable bookmarks, coloring pages, scripture cards and more!
COLORING BOOKS : Coloring is a wonderful way to relax and destress. Our coloring books
include inspirational Scripture and encouraging quotes through beautifully hand-drawn artwork. Be inspired as you spend time reflecting on scripture as well as enjoying the calming and refreshing benefits of coloring.
SWEET TO THE SOUL SHOPPE : Our on-line shoppe is where you will find all of our Bible Journaling and creative resources. Many resources are printable instant digital downloads. We also have several sets of scripture cards and blank encouragement cards. Visit sweettothesoulshoppe.com to see our full line of products.
Our Bible Studies and Journals are available for purchase via Amazon. Visit sweettothesoul.com for direct links to each of our books or journals.
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Father, the mysteries of how You have woven us into Your likeness can seem overwhelming at times. However, we are created in Your image, “So God created mankind in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27, NIV). And as You looked all around on the sixth day, You said, it was very good (Genesis 1:31, NIV). We are very good because of how the thread of Your love of freedom weaves through us because of the blood of Jesus Christ. We gather, tied together by Your love, grace, promises, and truth, to praise who You are: Our Abba, Father. We lift our hands in thanksgiving because You are our Salvation, the One who performs miracles every day in our lives. May we continually give You praise with our hearts and song. Help us honor You all the days of our life, Lord.
Satan can steal the very good within us due to shame, guilt, fear, and lies. There is nothing more he desires to do than shut down God's very image here on Earth. He knows that when God's girls wish to weave together a community and form beautiful bounds of togetherness, God's kingdom will move forward. Yes, we may have broken pieces of life, but You take our brokenness and create a mosaic of beauty and grace, the image of You, complete and whole. Thank you, Jesus. As we walk through life, Lord remind us of the very good You continue to weave within us as we lean into Your desires to serve You each day. So tie our hearts to You as we seek You and find You with all our hearts (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV). Because when we trust You with everything and lean not in our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5, NIV), You will guide us and keep us on track to Your perfect plan in life.
United, we praise You for loving us unconditionally, perfect in every way.
Prayer by Michele O’Leary
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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