Autumn
The yellow mums I bought almost a week ago are finally in full bloom. The
purple ones...not so much! Picture taken at twilight. 9/28/25
Credits:
Autumn Art ... More...Wooden Flowers & More By NLD Designs
Shades Of Autumn Elements by Palvinka Designs
Shades Of Autumn Papers by Palvinka Designs
Shades Of Autumn Overlays and WA by Palvinka Designs
Shades Of Autumn Sketches by Palvinka Designs
Photo is mine
Mum’s the Word!
I love to buy mums in the Fall. My favorite colors are the yellow and purple, even tho the purple looks red to me. Beautiful! 9/24/25
Credits:
(I blended one of the patterned papers into the textured solid papers and adjusted the hue and opacity. I adjusted the saturation and lighting on the pink alpha.)
March 2024 Color Play
Fleur Collection by Vicki Stegall (I used every portion of the collection, or you can buy the individual portions listed below)
Fleur Textured Solid Papers by Vicki Stegall
Fleur Alphas by Vicki Stegall
Fleur Patterned Papers by Vicki Stegall
Fleur Florals Paint and More by Vicki Stegall (elements)
Created with The Forgotten Wonderland by A Whimsical Adventure - September Color Play 2025
The Forgotten Wonderland Photo Masks
The Forgotten Wonderland Mystic Garden Papers
The Forgotten Wonderland Patterned Papers
The Forgotten Wonderland Solid Papers
The Forgotten Wonderland Mixed Media Elements
The Forgotten Wonderland Collection
Color Play - 2025 category: https://www.oscraps.com/shop/Digital-Scrapbooking-Coordinated-Color-Play-2025/
I just realized that I have not posted the other pages for the art journaling challenges this month. You will find the links to the challenge threads below for weeks 2, 3, and week 4 begins today.
0925 Week 2 is found here: https://oscraps.com/community/threads/september-aj-challenge-week-2-commitment.42772/
"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:15, 16
Growing and maturing as a Christian is a continuous process that requires
intentional effort and daily habits. Just like a seed, we need to nurture
ourselves with the right nutrients to grow roots deep into our faith. We
continue to grow in our faith through spiritual disciplines and active participation
in our church community. By engaging in practices like prayer, Bible study, and service, we cultivate a deeper relationship with God and become more like Jesus. These practices are focused on an individual’s personal connection with God.
Personal spiritual disciplines:
Credits:
Heritage Resource Heritage Trees by ADB Designs
Roots and Branches Page Kit by ADB Designs
The Alchemy Curated ToolKit | Vintage Finds & Artistic Elements No.1 by Rachel Jefferies
Messy Marks: Date Stamps 2025 PLUS BONUS by Rachel Jefferies
0925 AJ Week 3 is found here: https://oscraps.com/community/threads/august-art-journaling-challenge-week-3-purpose.42656/
Commitment - Staying the Course
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run in such a way as to win. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever”. 1 Corinthians 9:24, 25
This passage uses the metaphor of an athletic race to encourage Christians to live a disciplined life, undergoing self-control and sacrifice to attain an eternal reward rather than a temporary one.
You’ve heard it said, “The hardest part is to start…..this or that.” That is true in most instances for things we want to do. But then the vision or the plan we had in our mind just doesn’t seem to be as easy to get started as we had envisioned.
It’s the same in the Christian life. We “plan” to read our Bibles and pray everyday, but somehow life always seems to get in the way! Maybe it’s an unexpected phone call, or a sick child, or a ….. you fill in the blank. It is inevitable that we are going to have troubles and trials in this sin-cursed world, but the goal is always to finish our race. When the disciples got caught in storms they didn’t turn back, they always moved forward to their destination. They stayed the course no matter what. I’m sure they were tempted to “jump ship” but when Jesus calmed the “storm” they had gotten themselves into, they continued on their journey. Runners must not look back, but rather fix their eyes on the finish line; Christians are to focus on Jesus, not past failures or future anxieties, to complete their spiritual journey.
The goal should always be to reach the destination that God has predetermined for us. The opening passage of scripture above uses the metaphor of an athletic race to encourage Christians to live a disciplined life, undergoing self-control and sacrifice to attain an eternal reward rather than a temporary one. The "race" represents the Christian life, and the "prize" is the eternal reward that comes with living faithfully for God. Just as athletes train rigorously for a perishable crown, believers should exercise strict discipline and self-control in all areas of their lives for an imperishable reward. Paul contrasts the temporary, perishable wreath (the prize of ancient games) with the imperishable crown that awaits believers, emphasizing the long-term value of their efforts. The passage calls believers to run their spiritual race with purpose and focus, not with uncertainty or in a way that would lead to being disqualified from the prize.
Hebrews 12:1-2: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” This passage calls believers to run the race set before them with endurance, laying aside every weight and sin and looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of faith. The race isn't for personal glory, but to win the prize of eternal life with God and to honor Him.
Acts 20:24: “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Paul speaks of finishing his ministry and his "race" with joy, even in the face of hardship, showing his own commitment to the marathon of his faith.
2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Paul is summarizing his life's journey in terms of this powerful metaphor.
Staying the Course in the Christian life is not easy. The devil will fight you at every turn in every way and every day. But, thankfully, the Lord is with us and as we trust in Him and lean on Him for our help to defeat the devil’s work in our lives, we can keep on keeping on in our daily service to and for the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. He will help us with those daily disciplines of pray, Bible study, witnessing and living for Him. Thank You, Lord!
Credits:
Running WordART No 1 by Anna Aspnes
ArtPlay Palette Thrive by Anna Aspnes
SNIPS & SNAILS - Set 1 - 11 PNG Stamps and ABR Brushes by Idgie's Heartsong
The Alchemy Curated ToolKit | Vintage Finds & Artistic Elements No.1 by Rachel Jefferies
Messy Marks: Date Stamps 2025 PLUS BONUS by Rachel Jefferies
0925 Week 4 {Commitment} found here: https://oscraps.com/community/threads/september-art-journaling-challenge-week-4-commitment.42859/
“Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matthew 19:4-6
“...from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’
‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to
his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer
two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Mark 10:6-9
In these passages, Jesus is answering a question from the Pharisees about divorce, referencing that God created humanity as male and female and that a man and woman are meant to become "one flesh" in marriage. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
The phrase "what God has joined together" acknowledges God's active role and sovereignty in uniting a couple in marriage. God created marriage, and Jesus is saying man is not to interfere with or divide what God has united. The verses are a command for people not to separate what God has united. It serves as a reminder of the permanence and sanctity of the marriage bond, which is meant to last until death.
The decision to marry is not a decision to be made hastily. In the Bible, "one flesh" refers to a profound, indivisible union between a man and a woman in marriage, signifying their physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual oneness. Stemming from the creation account in Genesis, it means that the married couple becomes a single entity, surpassing their previous individual relationships and forming a new, unified life together. This concept extends beyond mere sexual intercourse to represent a complete bond where the couple complements and fulfills each other in every aspect of their lives.
That being said, I do believe there are Biblical reasons that allow for divorce. The Bible outlines two primary grounds for divorce, supported by Jesus and the Apostle Paul: sexual immorality (or "fornication," as stated in Matthew 5:32 and 19:9) and abandonment by an unbelieving spouse (as outlined in 1 Corinthians 7:15). While some interpretations include other factors like abuse or addiction, these two are the explicitly stated exceptions to the permanence of marriage.
In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus states that a man who divorces his wife, "except for sexual immorality" (porneia), causes her to commit adultery. The Greek word porneia encompasses a range of sexual sin, including adultery, incest, and other forms of unlawful lust. This exception gives the innocent spouse the right to seek a divorce when their marriage vows are broken through sexual sin.
The Apostle Paul addresses the situation of a Christian married to a non-Christian in 1 Corinthians 7:15. He states that if the unbeliever chooses to leave the marriage, the believer is "not bound" and can let the separation happen. This means if a non-Christian spouse abandons the marriage and initiates a separation, the Christian spouse is free to divorce and is not obligated to remain in a broken relationship. The Bible presents marriage as a sacred and permanent covenant, so divorce is never to be taken lightly. Even with these biblical grounds, reconciliation and forgiveness are always the preferred first steps.
Some traditions and individuals consider other factors, such as abuse, abandonment, or addiction, to be valid grounds for divorce, though these are not explicitly stated in the core scriptures as exceptions to the permanence of marriage. Chronic neglect of physical needs or failure to provide shelter for the family can also be a form of material abandonment, breaking the covenant's implied promise of care and provision. A consistent pattern of abusive behavior is a grave sin that violates the covenant's commitment to love, cherish, and protect one's spouse, thereby breaking the covenant.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is an old saying that I think can be applied to the commitment made when we marry. If there is any doubt whatsoever in getting married, I think the wedding should be put on hold for a time at the very least, until the doubts are erased or worked out. Once the marriage commitment is made before God and man, we need to do whatever we can to be true to that commitment.
As a Christian wife, I am accountable to God for the promises I made to my husband when we repeated those marriage vows to one another. And unless I have Biblical grounds, there will be no divorce in my future, God willing!
Ephesians 4:32; 5:1, 2, 33 - “…..be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you…..be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma…..let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”
Credits:
The Alchemy Curated ToolKit | Vintage Finds & Artistic Elements No.1 by Rachel Jefferies
Messy Marks: Date Stamps 2025 PLUS BONUS by Rachel Jefferies
Wanderlight | Stamps by Joyce Paul Designs
Wanderlight | Kit by Joyce Paul Designs
A Beautiful Day (elements) by Joyful Heart Designs
Muses (one) by Joyful Heart Designs
Wild Forest
Journaling reads: A walk in the woods to take Mark’s phone to him. I love the way the sun shines through the trees! 9/18/25
Credits:
All by Regina Falango
WILD FOREST BUNDLE (I used every portion of the bundle. Individual pieces below)
WILD FOREST THE KIT
WILD FOREST ELEMENTS (Included in the Kit)
WILD FOREST ADD ON
WILD FOREST CLUSTERS
WILD FOREST TRANSFERS & ACCENTS
WILD FOREST PAPERS 1 (Included in the Kit)
WILD FOREST PAPERS 2 (Included in the Kit)
Smurf Magic
Copy Cat Challenge #1 found here: https://oscraps.com/community/threads/september-challenge-1-copy-cat.42755/
Credits:
Acorn Woods Papers by Art Addicts
Garden Fairy Wordart and Brushes by Art Addicts
Woods
Letter Art Challenge #2 found here: https://oscraps.com/community/threads/september-challenge-2-letter-art.42583/
Journaling reads: Finally! It has cooled down enough for me to enjoy spending time in the woods with Mark. Enjoying the fire and the food but not the mosquitoes! September 2025
Credits:
Cabin in the Woods Collection by Aimee Harrison (I used something from every portion of the collection, except the glitters)
Individual items found below:
Cabin in the Woods Glitters by Aimee Harrison
Cabin in the Woods Messy Edges by Aimee Harrison
Cabin in the Woods Blended Papers by Aimee Harrison
Cabin in the Woods Graffiti by Aimee Harrison
Cabin in the Woods Titles by Aimee Harrison
Cabin in the Woods Alphabet Sets by Aimee Harrison
Cabin in the Woods Page Kit by Aimee Harrison
Echoes
Seasonal Challenge #3 found here: https://oscraps.com/community/threads/september-challenge-3-seasonal.42719/
Journaling reads: My beautiful girls. They are an extension of me and yet different....beauty and grace wrapped in God’s love. I am blessed! 9/1/25
Credits:
Lost And Found Collection by Daydream Designs (I used something from every portion of the collection)
Individual items found below:
Lost And Found Page Kit by Daydream Designs
Lost And Found Clusters by Daydream Designs
Lost And Found Stamp Brushes by Daydream Designs
Lost And Found WordArt by Daydream Designs
Lost And Found Artistic Papers by Daydream Designs (included in the kit)
Lost And Found Solid Papers by Daydream Designs
Time’s Echoes
Journaling reads: I took the car to the tire shop up the road for an oil change, tire rotation, and inspection. When that was finished I went to Wendy’s for salads and Mark and I ate them behind the shop on a picnic table. 9/15/25
Credits:
Lost And Found Collection by Daydream Designs (I used something from every portion of the collection)
Individual items found below:
Lost And Found Page Kit by Daydream Designs
Lost And Found Clusters by Daydream Designs
Lost And Found Stamp Brushes by Daydream Designs
Lost And Found WordArt by Daydream Designs
Lost And Found Artistic Papers by Daydream Designs (included in the kit)
Lost And Found Solid Papers by Daydream Designs
