let’s count it all joy
welcome!
Welcome to July!
This month’s mailer is all about keeping our eyes on Jesus.
Five years ago, last month, my father-in-law took his own life. He had a beautiful heart for God, was a wonderful man, and was such a kind and loving patriarch of our family. In the last year of his life, mental illness took over his mind and, tragically, he chose to end his life.
In those first few days, we were all in shock and struggling to do even the everyday things of life. I remember my in-law’s pastor visited my mother-in-law’s house several times. On that first night, we did a devotion with him, and turned to the story of Peter walking on the water. It wasn’t until he looked away from Jesus that Peter began to sink. Pastor Gaunt reminded us to keep our eyes on Jesus.
In the weeks and months that followed, when the moments were hard, I returned to this Biblical narrative again and again - sometimes literally turning to Matthew 14 in my Bible, and other times giving myself a little mental prompting, “eyes on Jesus, eyes on Jesus”.
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You’ve heard the phrases “the grass is greener where it’s watered” and “you become what you focus on.” I want to focus on Jesus. I want to give my full attention to the One who is all-powerful, all-loving, all-gracious, all-knowing, all-merciful, and just all-all. My relationship with Jesus is what I want to grow.
It makes life all the better in both the hard times and the times of ease.
He is the pioneer and perfecter of faith. He endured the suffering of the cross for our sins. Let’s look to Him, and when we lose our way, let’s look to Him again.
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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 keeping our eyes on Jesus.
A verse and scripture-section list.
An extra printable PDF art design.
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
Psalm 16:8
Psalm 25:15
Psalm 34:5
Psalm 119:18
Psalm 123:1
Psalm 141:8
Matthew 14:22-32
John 12:45
2 Corinthians 4:18
Philippians 4:8
Philippians 4:11-13
Colossians 2:6-7
Hebrews 12:1-3
printable
I thought the flowers on pink design from the inside of your booklet/folder was too pretty to not share.
Here it is in PDF form for you to print and use!
quotes on keeping our eyes on jesus
“The more I taste Jesus, the more the rest of the world loses its flavor.” -Gretchen Saffles
“With my eyes locked on the King
It is well, my soul it sings
It's a simple kind of free
When I'm with You and You're with me” -song lyrics from “Eyes Locked on Jesus” by Abbie Gamboa
“Whatever you fix your eyes on is what you will encourage; fix your eyes on Jesus.” Mark Parker
“Fix your eyes on Jesus; it’s okay to stare.” -BobGoff
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face and the things of Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.” -Helen H. Lemmel
“God grant, if we must have two eyes, that they may both be clear, one the eye of faith fully fixed on Christ, the other the eye of obedience equally and wholly fixed on the same objective.” -Charles Spurgeon
“Don’t let the obstacles in front of you take your eyes off Jesus.” -Anonymous
a prayer
(from Henri Nouwen )
Dear Lord, help me keep my eyes on you.
You are the incarnation of Divine Love,
you are the expression of God’s infinite compassion,
you are the visible manifestation of the Father’s holiness.
You are beauty, goodness, gentleness, forgiveness, and mercy.
In you all can be found.
Outside of you nothing can be found.
Why should I look elsewhere or go elsewhere?
You have the words of eternal life,
you are food and drink,
you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
You are the light that shines in the darkness,
the lamp on the lampstand,
the house on the hilltop.
You are the perfect Icon of God.
In and through you I can see and find my way to the Heavenly Father.
O Holy One, Beautiful One, Glorious One,
be my Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer, my Guide, my Consoler,
my Comforter, my Hope, my Joy, and my Peace.
To you I want to give all that I am.
Let me be generous, not stingy or hesitant.
Let me give you all – all I have, think, do, and feel.
It is yours, O Lord.
Please accept it and make it fully your own.
Amen.
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 try it. Sometimes, a little prompt is all it takes to get started.
Where is my focus right now?
What does it look like to keep your eyes on Jesus?
When your eyes are firmly fixed on Jesus, what do you see? How does your life look?
A verse I want to dwell on today is…
I am too often distracted by…
One way I keep my eyes on Jesus is…
Copy your favorite “eyes on Jesus” quote from above and write a related prayer.
If you are struggling through something, how can fixing your eyes on Jesus help you navigate?
Write about a time when you kept your eyes continually fixed on Jesus.
What concerns keep you from looking to Jesus? Write a prayer asking God to help you to turn to him when those concerns arise.
SUPPLIES I USED alongside THIS MONTH’S MAILER CONTENTS
Journals:
EMSHOI dotted journal (my commonplace book journal)
Other ephemera used in my journal - from
my currently on-hiatus 100 Day Project (100 Days of Joyful Printables)
Art Journaling Supplies:
Here is a list of my favorite and most-often used art journaling supplies.
Bible:
Frames:
Frames I have used and would recommend can be found on my Amazon shop framing page.
If there’s something I missed, don’t hesitate to ask!
“Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.”