At Only By Prayer, we are excited to have artist Erin Leigh with us today for an interview. We are discussing Scripture Art Journaling and will be covering how you can get started and what supplies you need. Don’t worry — this can be a cheap hobby, and very few art supplies are required to get started.

Lest you think you need to be artistically talented to try this out, let us relieve you of that worry too. Neither Mary nor I have any formal art training, yet we have fallen in love with this form of art that helps us draw closer to Jesus in the process!

Erin’s enthusiastic encouragement and love of art is contagious. We can’t wait to see what you try out. Be sure to snap a few pictures and share them in the comment section below. Mary has also posted a few Scripture Art Journaling lessons on our website, as well, but we encourage you to take Erin’s 31 days of Scripture Art Journaling lessons for free on her website.

Be sure to check out our list of resources at the bottom of this post.

Resources

1. Erin Leigh’s website
2. Erin’s 31 Days of Scripture Art Journaling
3. Erin’s Etsy Shop
4. Erin’s Facebook page, Pinterest page, and find her on Instagram under ArtByErinLeigh

Possible Supplies

Thanks for watching and let us know what else you would also like to hear about from Erin in the comments below!

Before you jump headlong into the New Year, it’s always prudent to take an honest look at the past year. What did you do right over the last 365 days? What changes do you need to make? With some soul searching and prayer, God will give you a plan for what lies ahead. Take a few hours or, if you can spare the time, a mini-retreat to shore up your soul and plan and prepare for the next 12 months.

Join Mary Kane and me (Jane VanOsdol) of Only By Prayer as we share some suggested areas of focus for this next year. Our topics touch on spiritual, physical, and personal goals.

Looking forward to the New Year with you!

Click the sideways triangle directly below to listen to the podcast:

Resources from the Podcast

1. OnlyByPrayer Facebook page
2. Private prayer request page. Contact us and let us know if you’d like to join this page.
3. Erin Leigh’s 31 Days of Scripture Art Journaling
4. How To Pray blog post
5. How To Pray: Praying God’s Word podcast
6. I Pray Journal-graphics
7. One Word podcast
8. One Word website
9. Free Faith & Fit Workout
10. Sit and Be Fit
11. T-Tapp More Workout (includes a chair workout)
12. Update: Since this podcast was recorded, Jane has become a certified aromatherapist. You can find her website at JanesAromaScents.com and can order essential oils from her as well.
13. Shannon Buck’s Organic Olive Oil Hand Salve

If you have been following the international news over the past few weeks, you may have seen how our Christian brothers and sisters in Iraq are suffering terribly at the hands of the terrorist group ISIS. Men, women, and children are being murdered mercilessly by this group. I’ve included a video and some sources that you can use to keep up with this current situation and other persecuted groups too.

At Only By Prayer, we’d like to request that you intercede for the Iraqi Christians. We need to pray for protection, for the persecution to stop, and for justice to be served. If you feel led, please share your prayer in the comment section below

Pray on!

International Christian Concern (main website)

ICC article : Iraqi Crisis

Voice of the Martyrs

I Commit To Pray

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We are so glad you are back for Week 6, Lesson 1 of Faith & Fit, Make 3 Meals! Let us encourage you to persevere. Keep studying, and moving. You are laying up treasure in heaven where neither moth or rust can destroy. You are establishing healthy habits. Don’t give up! Jesus is walking with you every step of the way. Listed below is your Faith & Fit work for today. Please click on the links or the play buttons to access each resource. Remember to leave a comment about your experience at the Speak Your Mind section at the bottom of the page. In Christ, we can grow stronger. Let’s do it!

Everyday Faith Teaching Video:

Everyday Faith Bible Study:

Please click on the link below to access Everyday Faith Bible study!

                             Week 6, Lesson 1 Bible Study

Everyday Fit Physical Challenge:

Beginner Level: Today make it your goal to walk for 45 minutes or two miles. Walk at a pace that you are comfortable with and that you are still able to carry on a conversation. How are you feeling on your walks? As always, check with your doctor before beginning any physical workout to be sure you are up for the challenge! For those of you who are interested in burning more belly fat while you’re walking, here’s an interesting plan from Prevention Magazine that you can download if you’d like to.

Experienced Level: Today make it your goal to jog or ride your bike for 45 minutes. Jog or ride at a pace you are comfortable with and that your are able to carry on a conversation. By the end of your walk/ride you should be sweaty and tired but not exhausted. As always, check with your doctor before beginning any physical workout to be sure you are up for the challenge!

Are you ready for push-ups with Coach Dan? Try these once a day.

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Rainy day? No worries! Please click on the link below for a challenging indoor workout with Leslie Sansone!

4 Fast Miles!

Everyday Fit Food Challenge:

Make Three Meals

Today for Make Three Meals, we’d like you to take the time to eat three healthy meals, and it’s even better if you can sit down with your family for those meals, like we talked about in Week 4. Whether we’re busy with work or home duties, too many Americans tend to skip meals and eat haphazardly. When I was in Europe many years ago, meal time was a thing to be celebrated and enjoyed with family and friends. If you enjoy cooking and want to take some time to prepare the meal, that’s wonderful. If you need help locating fast, healthy meals, just click on the link. Feel free to share what any of your meals looked like today.

Extra Faith:

Need a little extra spiritual challenge added to your day? Take advantage of the following resources!

There’s much to mull over in this article Jesus’ Rhythm of Life. It explores the secret of Jesus’ ministry and how he practiced spiritual disciplines while He was on earth.

Extra Fit

Need an extra challenge? Get your abs in shape with Team Beachbody Coach and Founder of Team Let’s Go Fitness at Dan Vukmirovich. Dan’s videos are short, effective and productive!  Try Dan’s videos once a day. Let’s go!

Please be blessed by Day Six of Dan’s Body Mind Spirit series. Again, you can do these once a day.

Let us know how you’re doing today. Share in the post below or on our Faith & Fit Facebook page.

Listen in as Mary Kane and Jane VanOsdol of OnlyByPrayer.com discuss a simple way to set goals for 2014. The book One Word That Will Change Your Life by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton, and Jimmy Page is transforming their goal-setting plans for 2014. Whether you are a seasoned goal setter or you repeatedly fail at keeping any goals you set, you’ll be inspired to approach this process in a whole new way for 2014.

Resources from the podcast:

Compel Training from Proverbs 31 Ministries

One Word website

One Word That Will Change Your Life, Expanded Edition (book) available as an e-book and in print

Jane and I welcome you to Week One of Simple Thanks! We are very excited to be with you during this journey into the simple thankfulness. In the weeks leading up to this study, we have been praying for you. Thank you for answering God’s  call; it is not an accident that you have joined this study. God is calling us to live fully in the moment. Life is a gift–rejoice and give thanks.

Here is our TalkShoe Webinar from week 1 if you missed the live call-in:

Weekly Homework

Each week we will add your assignments to a password-protected post. Look for the password every Tuesday evening in your email. Below you will find homework for each level of study. Feel free to change from Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3  as your schedule allows! Remember, there is no pressure to complete every activity. These are just options for your growth. They can be accessed at any time, even after the study ends.

Level 1, Study: Weekly Goals 

• For Week 1, watch  SESSION 1:Attitude of Gratitude, Ann’s video.
• Take time to notice and thank God for His simple gifts.
• Complete the study guide  and Between Sessions homework PDFs.
• Start your 1000 Gifts List in a separate journal.
• Feel free to do any of the other activities from Levels 2 and 3 as your time allows.

Level 2, Community: Weekly Goals 

• For Week 1 watch  SESSION 1:Attitude of Gratitude.
• Take time to notice and thank God for His simple gifts.
• Complete the study guide  and between sessions homework PDFs.
• Start your 1000 Gifts List in a separate journal.
• Answer the question on the Speak Your Mind comment section at the bottom of this post.
• Join the Community Call, Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. EST on Talk Shoe (Information on TalkShoe is in your weekly email.)
• Read Thankfulness, the Way of Jesus from the Soul Shepherding website.

 Level 3, Opportunity: Weekly Goals 

• For Week 1, watch  SESSION 1:Attitude of Gratitude.
• Take time to notice and thank God for His simple gifts.
• Complete the study guide  and between sessions homework PDFs.
• Answer the question on the Speak Your Mind comment section at the bottom of this post, join the Community Call on Wednesday night on TalkShoe, and listen to the Podcast at the link provided up above.
• Don’t forget to check out our private Facebook page. Leave your comments about this week’s study, post your prayer requests, or share any insights/questions you may have. Only members of our Bible study group will see these posts.
• Start your 1000 Gifts List in a separate journal.
• In the evening, do devotions 1-5 in the one thousand gifts devotional journal.
• Read chapters 1-3 in One Thousand Gifts trade book by Ann Voskamp.
• Take advantage of the Extra Simple resources by clicking on the links below:

  From Grumbling to Gratitude

Please take a few moments to worship and express your gratitude to God through music for His many blessing and gifts.

Questions of the Week (Please respond in the Speak Your Mind section at the very bottom of this page).

What simple gift are you most thankful for this week?