HKC Take Me Deeper Devotion (August Week 2)

This month on His Kingdom Come, we are focusing on gratitude in our devotional study called Take Me Deeper. The verse for this week is from Philippians 4:8-9. 

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

I like using the main verse of the devotion and picking it a part and see what God says to me (first I pray and ask God to open my heart and give me wisdom to hear what he has to say). Then I use the study method that Anne Graham-Lotz uses which is called the 3 question study method.

Question 1: Facts (write down the facts of each verse)

Question 2: Truths (what are the verses trying to say to the reader/world)

Question 3: Listen to God (What is He saying to me personally)

Anne has a wonderful video explaining this type of study if you would like to view it.

This week’s study I went through each question and when I got to question 3, I just began to write what God was saying to me.

Here is an excerpt of what came to me in my study:

“The word peace is thrown around in this world a lot, but what is peace…real inner peace? Peace is something that I feel everyone in this world truly longs for- a deep and everlasting peace. But I think this kind of peace is typically hard to come by in this fallen world. So people (myself included sometimes) try and fill up that empty hole where peace should reside, with “things,” anything from drugs, alcohol and sex to shopping, careers, and exercise.

It is easy to get wrapped up in these things and lose focus on what really brings peace (or who)…God. He has given us His word to help us know Him…The God of Peace. Jesus is called the “Prince of Peace” so it is easy to conclude that God is all encompassing peace. He has given us His word to help us know Him. If we focus on all things that encompass who God is and live that out, then we will find true and everlasting peace, a peace that surpasses ALL understanding. –Philippians 4:7”

I decided to do a bible journaling page this week with one of my stamps from my new stamp line called “God’s Girls.” There are 4 different sets available on the HKC site store if you would like to check them out.

Also, a reminder that registration has opened up for Festive Soul Food a collaborative workshop that I am part of. This is going to be such a fun class; I am so excited because I am going to teach a class on how to make a Gratitude Journal and I am very proud of how the class turned out. Also, the other teachers in the class are so amazing!! Come join now at Community Thrive!

Festive Soul Food + more!!

I can't believe how fast summer is going!! Less than a month and my son will be starting school (at a new school nevertheless). So much has been going on and it is sometimes hard to balance, but with a little planning and some help from above, I manage to make my deadlines.

I have been teaching like crazy and now teach 6 classes at The Making Place here in my hometown of Escondido. I teach a Mixed Media class, 3 Art Journal classes and 2 Bible Journal classes. I'm going to possibly teach a Bible Journaling class at my church as well. I never would have thought in a million years that I would be teaching. I was the kid who was terrified to get up in front of the class and give my oral report. I never finished college, but was very close to getting my general AA degree. One of the last classes on my list was speech. I kept putting it off because I was so afraid of speaking in front of people. But I have to say, God makes us able. My prayer before my classes is that I show His love, patience, grace and joy to each of the students I teach.

Here are some pictures of some of my classes:

I have also been busy with His Kingdom Come. We put out "free" amazing devotions every Friday (we call it "Take Me Deeper") and then make art based on those writings. The authors of our devotions have blessed me so much with their wisdom. I don't always get the "art" part done, but I ALWAYS make sure to do the devotion study. It isn't too late to join us, we have new people starting all of the time!

Here are some recent pages from Take Me Deeper:

Last but not least!! I am part of the upcoming collaborative project called "Festive Soul Food."  There are 12 teachers that are teaching and they are so amazing and talented. I am humbled to be among them. The really exciting part is we are asked to teach a project based on a holiday or religious event/holiday that has some meaning for us. Since I just did a study on Anne Voskamp's book 1,000 gifts, I knew exactly what I wanted to teach. AND...I get to giveaway a free spot the class!!! So stay tuned for that!

Here is my interview for Festive Soul Food.

Registration opens August 1 and it is only $32.

Free Digital Download!!

I have been pretty busy working on my new stamp line I have coming out with His Kingdom Come. I have had a dream for awhile to turn my God's Girls into stamps that were large enough to be used in Art Journaling and also Bible Journaling. So all of the drawing, scanning and digital clean up has been done and now it is time to wait. In the meantime, I have created a free digital download of one of my "God's Girls" who didn't make the stamp line cut. Click on the image below to get your freebie. I have listed it on the HKC site, so you will have to become a member to receive it. Becoming a member is easy and free.

His Kingdom Come Stencil Blog Hop!! With Video!

Welcome to a very exciting blog hop.  Today His Kingdom Come is celebrating the launch of a brand new Faithart stencil & mask line “Praise Him” designed by Diane Marra.

His Kingdom Come has created tools to draw you into God’s presence and lead you deeper into creative living. Faithart tools help us create art with the intention of connecting with God.

His Kingdom Come faithart tools help you exercise the artistic gifts God has bestowed upon each of us. These faithart tools allow you to work together with God to discover the creative, holy and abundant faithart He has placed upon your heart!  Join His Kingdom Come in creative expressions of faith!

His Kingdom Come showcases faithart products designed by Christian artists who know and love God and are passionate about sharing their faithart!  Our faithart product includes canvas ephemera, stamps, stencils/masks and Thermofax screens.

A team of talented HKC artists have come together to launch these exciting new stencils & masks.  This blog hop is your chance to get to see how these artists have used them in their faithart.

It doesn’t matter where you start within the blog hop.   Or you can start at the beginning at His Kingdom Come.  Each blog has the complete list of participants.

His Kingdom Come

Diane Marra

Penny Bragg

Pearl Brown

Bernice Hopper

Mary Brack

Kathy Shaull

Tricia Berg

Paula Parkison

Shonna Bucaroff

As you visit each blog you will be given a letter eg. D.   When you have collected all the letters they will make a word.  When you have worked out the word email Bernice with the word.  We will randomly choose 4 people who have the correct answer to win a free stencil of their choice.   All entries must arrive by Noon (Pacific time) on Tuesday 23rd June.

The letter to collect from my blog is: R

How I used the “Glory Be To God” stencil/mask

I used the Stencil's "negative" image in my Bible Journal.

I used the Stencil's "Mask" in my art journal.

Click here to view these products in the His Kingdom Come Store.

Gifts all around us!!

We just finished up a pretty heavy women's bible study at my church so we decided to do a simple one for the next 5 weeks. My bible study leader (the Pastor's Wife) chose 1,000 gifts by Ann Voskamp. In a nutshell, this study is challenging me to look at my life and the things around me as gifts from God. The little things, like the birds chirping outside the window of my art room, morning coffee, stories from friends that make me smile and my son's laugh. So often we get caught up in the busyness of life; rushing from here to there, deadlines, baseball games and much more. Negative things happen and we focus on those things (I know I do) and let them get to us. But for every 1,000 fears and negatives in our life, there are 1,000 gifts that God has for us...if we just take the time to look around and notice them.

I have decided to start a gratitude journal and list the things I am grateful, and thankful for. I'm not really looking to write 1,000, I am going to just write down as much as I can for as long as I can. Here is a list of my first 20:

1. Forgiveness on a daily basis
2. Godly women in my life
3. A family who loves me
4. A healthy son
5. A giving husband
6. A nice home to call my own
7. Talents God has given to me
8. A beautiful city to live (San Diego)
9. the ability to see
10. the ability to hear
11. the ability to think for myself
12. Freedom 
13. A quiet house
14. Time to myself
15. The ability to share myself with others online (HKC)
16. The breeze that is coming through my back door right now, refreshing my lungs and skin
17. Transportation of my own.
18. A mother that I share a strong bond
19. Morning Coffee
20. My Bible

What are you grateful for? Do you keep a gratitude journal? Have you read this book or done the bible study?

Also, my last post was about my new coloring book download. This is so fun and I'm glad that I can create something that may help others. Coloring books are not just for kids; many adults find coloring a way to escape and to calm their anxieties. My Pastor's wife recently confessed to me that she often buys children's coloring books and has completed many of them. I remember as a teenager, my step-dad and I would sit on the floor in the living room and just color; it was a bonding experience for us. 

I have a bigger vision for these "books." I would love to be able to help people in nursing homes, hospitals etc. by providing them a way to escape their troubles for just a moment; all the while giving them a message of peace and hope through God's word.

If you are interested in buying my very first coloring book, here is a link for you (only $6). I have also created a mini-class that gives you some ideas on how to color your book (colored pencils & Gamsol, and watercolor). I also show you a way to create a note card for someone. This class is $12 and includes the coloring book download. The link for the class is here.

Peace & Blessings!

Shonna

Introducing...God's Girls..The Coloring Book!!!

I'm so excited to finally release my very first coloring book PDF download!!! God's Girls Volume 1!! The coloring book PDF includes 6 pages (including the cover) for you to color along with Bible verses with the themes "Joy, Hope, Love, Faith and Peace." The PDF download is only $6 but... I decided to create a class that includes the download for only $12. 

Adult Coloring Books are the rage now!   And wonderful news is that you can deepen your faith walk and color at the same time!  I have created a technique class to demonstrate a variety of ways you can color in your “God’s Girls Coloring Book.”  You will learn how to color with colored pencils and Gamsol (a great solvent that helps blend your colored pencils) as well as using watercolors (tubes, pans, etc.)You will also learn how to print the book on different types of paper for different uses and I show you how to make a card to give to your friends too! A great bargain for the coloring book and technique class!

Sign up today at www.his-kingdom-come.com

Class is self paced and starts tomorrow (May 8, 2015)

Thankful Thursday!!

1. I am thankful for Mary Brack urging me to draw more diverse girls. I took her "urging" into consideration and painted her beautiful god granddaughter!! I love the way she turned out!

2. I just have to say it....I am thankful for coffee!

3. The Lord and how he speaks to me through His word and His people (this happened a lot to me this week...and I needed to hear his voice).

4. Where I live.  San Diego is the best city in the world (IMHO).

5. Last but not least...I am thankful that my mom's surgery went well and she will no longer experience pain associated with gall stones.


What are you thankful for this week?

I am also auctioning off a painting along with Mystele Kirkeeng for the Water Project. Click on the link here to find out more information about this amazing project.  The auction is being held right now on my Facebook page (click on the link to make your bid).

Here is the painting I am auctioning...