let’s count it all joy

welcome!

Welcome to December!

My friend, we’ve reached the end of this calendar year and the beginning of the church year! This time of year always brings up all the feelings for me.

Each Advent, we recall that we stand in a very broken world. And we are part of that brokenness. And yet, we have hope. Because Jesus has come, has given all for us, won the battle, and promised to come again. We live in a fallen world. We sin. But we have hope!

This month’s theme started with a small phrase: running the race.

But this small phrase is a big thing.

The Bible uses the metaphor of running a race to describe the Christian life. Our faith journeys require endurance, focus, and unwavering trust in God. Just as a runner trains diligently and keeps their eyes on the finish line, we too must prepare our hearts, minds and souls for the spiritual race set before us.

My time creating art and journaling around this theme has led me down so many rabbit trails because “running the race” is all-encompassing. It is life and the way we live our lives. It is a call for perseverance and discipline. It is sanctification and living in the way of love. It is remembering that our daily purpose is centered around our lives in Christ. It is keeping our eyes on the prize set before us.

When we set the themes of Advent and “running the race” side by side, we come to this: The way we live in this world (while we wait with hope) matters.

All of this feels very timely as we move toward a new year and consider how we want to move into the new year.

I feel like I’ve just written the outline of a long sermon that could benefit from a lot of fleshing out and personalizing. I hope that you will find some time, in this season, to flesh it out for yourself - to spend time in both prayer and journaling about what it looks like to run the race toward (and with) Jesus and to always live in hope.

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Your mailer includes ten little bits of goodness that I hope will bring your faith and your joy in Jesus to mind whenever you see or use them. More than anything, I would love for you to USE the goods from this mailer - to weave them into your projects and your personal devotions, to add color to your spaces, or to gift them to others and in so doing pass on Jesus’ love.

on this special “subscribers only” page, you will find:

• A video showing the ways I’ve used the products in this month’s mailer.

• Some additional quotes on running the race.

• A verse and scripture-section list.

• Images showcasing the ways I used the products.

• Journaling prompts.

• A prayer.

• Links to all supporting supplies that I used (sketchbooks, frames, art supplies, etc.). Please note that many, but not all of the supply links are affiliate links. And if I missed anything you are curious about, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask.

PROJECT VIDEO

VERSEs

Proverbs 4:12 (When we walk in His ways and run the race according to His plan, our steps will not be hindered and we will not stumble.)

Ecclesiastes 9:11

Isaiah 40:30-31

Isaiah 41:10 (running the race with God’s strength)

Romans 5:3-4

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (an encouragement to approach their Christian journey with purpose, discipline, and the goal of an eternal reward)

Philippians 3:12-16

2 Timothy 4:7-8

Hebrews 12:1-2

Jude 20-23 (a call for sanctification and living the fullest life I can for/in Christ)

quotes RELATED TO “RUNNING THE RACE”/Living IN JESUS

“I heard the voice of Jesus say, ‘Behold I freely give the living water; thirsty one, stoop down and drink and live.’ I came to Jesus and I drank of that life-giving stream; my thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in Him.” -Horatius Bonar (I Heard The Voice of Jesus Say, v.3)

“Discipleship is not a sprint. It’s a marathon. Perseverance is an essential element.” -Francis Chan

“The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances.” Robert Flatt

“The Spirit-filled life is not a special, deluxe edition of Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people.” -A.W. Tozer

“Jesus wants us to keep our eyes on Him as we run towards heaven. If we turn our focus to the left or the right, checking out how our race is comparing to someone else's, we're going to trip and fall. And we're going to lose all the joy that is promised when we obey.” - Lisa Brenninkmeyer

“In the Christian race of life, we are not running to win - we have already won. We are just running to finish. Jesus already finished the race, and He is standing on the other side.” -James Collins

“O grant, dear Lord of love, that we receive, rejoicing, the word proclaimed by John, our true repentance voicing, that gladly we may walk upon our savior’s way until we live with Him in His eternal day.” -Johann Gottfried Olearius (hymn: When All the World Was Cursed verse 4)

journaling prompts

I process my thoughts (and pray!) through writing. Perhaps you do too. If this is something you haven’t tried before, I would encourage you to give it a go. Sometimes, a little prompt is all it takes to get started.

1. Who is someone in your life who exemplifies “fighting the good fight”? (2 Timothy 4:7)

2. What does it look like (in daily life and big picture) to run a good race?

3. What causes me to look to the side rather than focusing on Jesus and my own race?

4. A verse I want to dwell on today is…

5. How did I do in 2024? Have I gotten off track, or am I running for the gold?

6. Have any relationships or things slowed me down in my pursuit of God?

7. Copy your favorite quote from above and write a related prayer.

8. What do I need to surrender to better run my race?

9. How can you set your eyes on Jesus and the prize of eternal life?

10. What does perseverance in Christian life look like?

SUPPLIES I USED alongside THIS MONTH’S MAILER CONTENTS

Journals:

EMSHOI dotted journal (my commonplace book journal)

Soho Urban Sketch Pad (kraft paper journal)

Carstens Heavey Duty 3 Ring Binder

Art Journaling Supplies:

Here is a list of my favorite and most-often used art journaling supplies.

If there’s something I missed, don’t hesitate to ask!