It Is Well With My Soul Hymn and Scripture Challenge

Here is a page going in my Scripture and Hymn Scrapbook. It has one of my favorite hymns. I heard the story behind the hymn many years ago, so it always nearly brought tears to my eyes when we'd sing it in church. Here's what Patter shared on her challenge:

"Horatio G. Spafford was born in North Troy, New York, on October 20, 1828. Mr. Spafford, was a well-known attorney. He and his wife Anna, had six children—5 girls and 1 boy. He also had a lot of real estate interests but lost a great deal in the great Chicago fire of 1871. Their only son died at the age of 4 from scarlet fever. Their 6th child, the last daughter, was not born until after a great tragedy which I will share in a moment.
"Mr. Spafford and his wife were good friends with D. L. Moody, founder of the Moody Bible Institute and Moody Publishers. Mr. Moody needed help in Britian as he was on an evangelistic campaign. Mr. Spafford and his wife were going to travel to Britian to help Mr. Moody; however, Horatio Spafford was delayed due to business. So, he urged his wife to take their 4 daughters and head to Britain ahead of him; he would then join them later. Nine days after his family left, Mr. Spafford received a telegram from his wife in Wales stating "saved alone." Their ship had collided with another ship and sank within 12 minutes. The Spafford's 4 daughters drown, and Mrs. Spafford was "saved alone." Horatio Spafford immediately boarded the next ship to join his wife in Wales. On his way, he wrote this hymn."

Life has seasons of trials which can overwhelm us at times, "when sorrows like the sea billows roll." Spafford went on to remind us of the lesson that he had learned well during other trials perhaps, "Whatever my lot thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul." The song ends with a triumphant reminder of our eternal destiny that will end all sorrow and trials, that the Lord is coming back for us.  Patter gave us this link to listen to the Isaacs sing this beautiful hymn. 

I used a page from a vintage, falling-apart hymnal to make this 9" x 9" page. The flowers, butterflies, and pearls are from CTMH.

Here are all six of the soothing verses of this hymn:

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
   When sorrows like sea billows roll;
   Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
   It is well, it is well, with my soul.
   • Refrain:
     It is well, with my soul,
     It is well, it is well, with my soul.
2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
   Let this blest assurance control,
   That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
   And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
   My sin, not in part but the whole,
   Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
   Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
4. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
   If Jordan above me shall roll,
   No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
   Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
5. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
   The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
   Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
   Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
6. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
   The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
   The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
   Even so, it is well with my soul.

The Scripture verses I wrote on my layout are the ones I've turned to scores of times during trials, Psalm 34 17-19 (in the New King James version):

¹⁷ The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
¹⁸ The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

¹⁹ Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

 I'm sharing this page on the following Challenges:
Craft Your Passion #198 - Spots and Stripes (my papers used)
Created with Love #74 - Anything Goes
Make It Monday #176 - Anything Goes
The Ribbon Girls - Anything Goes
Triple the Scraps - Hymn and Scripture challenge#2 (2013)
Winter Wonderland - Butterflies (doesn't have to be Christmas this time)
Word Art Wednesday #116 - Anything Goes with uplifting sentiment

Scripture and Hymn Challenge - I Need Thee Every Hour

Thirty-four years ago, just before the birth of my second child, my son, I told my pastor's wife that I was beginning to get nervous because my first birth experience was very long- 30 hours - and there was a long recovery after a high forceps delivery. After my son's birth I was supposed to start teaching her son in our Christian school. I couldn't afford to have problems, but my son was in the breach position at every doctor's visit. In addition, I've always been allergic to benzocaine or lidocaine that they give for pain, so I really had to have a natural birth.

My pastor's wife told me to focus on singing Scripture songs. She said that the verses would keep my spirit calm and the songs minister to our souls - mind, will, and emotions - where fear would reside. She was absolutely right. We had a 30 mile drive to the hospital. I sang my collection of Scripture songs silently during my entire two hours of labor, along with Lamaze breathing. No one thought I was having a baby. It was a short beautiful labor and delivery, happily memorable.  The doctor never made it in time and I never had to push. I could hardly believe I was holding a beautiful eight pound boy.  Now Scriptures and hymns are what I always love to turn to before surgeries or hospital procedures.

Today I have the flu, stomach and respiratory. I've been focusing on this hymn all day, acknowledging my need for God's help, healing, calming, and wisdom. You can check out the beautiful Bible verses and commentary by Patter Cross in her challenge for this hymn.  You can also see her list of links to all of the 2013 Hymn challenges here.

I found myself starting to feel really grouchy last week when I started getting sick. The verse I chose to highlight goes perfectly with the 2nd verse of the song: "Temptations lose their pow'r when thou art nigh." The stamped verse is from Our Daily Bread Designs:

"Great Peace have they who love your law and nothing can make them stumble." 

The lyric and the Scripture sound great to me when I'm praying not to be a grouch!

The orange and red tag were added so I could include my journaling about how this song relates to my life. My hope is that it will be an encouragement for me and my children when it's read.

(All of the pieces used on this project were scraps from my scrap box. The hymn itself was torn from an old 1950's falling apart hymnal that I had purchased for 50 cents at a 2nd hand store. My color choices came from the predominant colors that I've been using in the 9" x 9" album that I'm using for my hymn and scripture pages. I love the way CTMH papers, ribbons, inks, etc. can all match, like the juniper ribbon and ink I sponged on the chipboard flourish and sentiment and the flower center and brad. Both of the clock stamps are old, retired stamps from CTMH.)

I'm sharing this link with the following challenges:
All Sorts #241 - Use ribbon but no bows
Hiding in My Craft Room #132 - Super Scraps Saturday - papers were all from my scraps
Simply Create Too #52 - 2nd birthday!! Anything Goes
Triple the Scraps Hymn and Scripture Challenge #20
Word Art Wednesday #114 - anything goes with Scripture, uplifting verse

Hymn and Scripture Challenge - My Faith Looks Up to Thee

Today I'm posting another one of my 9" x 9" pages for my Hymn and Faith Journaling album. I'm making this album as way of sharing with my children and grandchildren who I've been, who I am and what I believe. Music has always been a big part of my life, both externally with groups and internally, in my heart and mind. This hymn is one that Patter suggested this year. She has a devotional on her blog which focuses on verse three, when life's circumstances become dark and full of grief. One of her daughters has a serious illness, so she was especially comforted by this hymn at this time. You can find her post here at Triple the Scraps which includes copies of the hymn if you'd like to join her challenge.

Unlike Patter, I like the entire hymn to show. I copied the hymn from a vintage hymnal and matted it with the black cardstock and pop dotted the edges to make a large pocket, with a tag that has plenty of room for journaling. I used a concordance to study the word "faith" and chose a simple verse that is the beginning of faith, Romans 10:17: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." When I was in college I became too busy and distracted to read God's Word each day. Even though I was in church every Sunday, I don't think I took God's Word into my heart and mind the way I should have. When I was in my twenties I finally realized I wanted to be "wholly thine" like it says in the first verse. I wanted Him to lead me through the difficulties of life. I recommitted my life to Him and made a habit of reading through the Bible each morning before leaving for work as a teacher. That's when I began to see how He was helping me through the situations I faced each day. I can also identify with the words "my zeal inspire" because I wanted to know Him more, pray more, encourage others more, and eventually went into full time Christian service.

Many of my pages in this journal use this retired CTMH 9" x 9" printed cardstock that has a pattern on each side. This is the back side of a different layout, so I added a Glitz 8" x 8" patterned paper on top.I cut the Spellbinders label twice, in black and white. I trimmed the white one down, following the embossed lines, and used it for the verse. I mounted it on a red patterned paper from MME. The black and red ribbons, butterflies, gray sparkles, and large flower are all CTMH. I used a foliage die from Spellbinders to make the leaf.

I hope something on this post or Patter's has blessed you. If so, please consider making your own layout to bless others.

I'm sharing this layout with the following challenges:
As You Like It #1 - favorite die or punch (the Spellbinders label)
Crafty Catz - Inspired by a Song
Crafty Ribbons - anything goes with ribbon
Hymn and Scripture Challenge 13
Mema's Crafts May Challenge - anything goes with optional flowers/Mother's Day
Sisterhood of Crafters - Free for all
Word Art Wednesday #78 - anything goes with scripture or encouraging verse
 

Hymn and Faith Journaling - I Surrender All

God made each of us special and unique in some ways. As a scrapbooker, I believe I can tell the story of our family and of my growing up years so that it benefits the next generation(s). One story of my life I've definitely wanted to share has been the point in time when I received Jesus as my Savior and was baptized. Patter's (Triple the Scraps) Hymn and Scripture Challenge in 2012 included an "Invitation Hymn" that we sang many times in church, inviting people to come forward at the end of a service and receive Christ. I decided to use her hymn challenge for "I Surrender All" to share my own Invitation to Salvation.

I apologize for the photos. It has been dark and cloudy here for so many days lately. My photos aren't what they should be, so I may retake them and edit this post if we ever get a sunny day and I'm home! I used 12" x 12" pages for this layout since I wanted plenty of room for the hymn, Scriptures, my long story, and a photo.

I used the first page for the hymn and this handwritten verse that goes along with my journaling:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23.

The right page has my personal story and my photo taken at that age along with this verse that the pastor shared with me:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

I used Basic Grey "Sugared" papers and stickers. The Paper Studio "Faith" paper is the gold one that has crosses. I punched borders with a Martha Stewart punch and added a few buttons. What had always seemed like a formidable task to make just right, was not so hard in the end. I hope it inspires you to share your own story. I'm sharing this "Faithbooking" layout with Word Art Wednesday where I've seen inspiring layouts every week and am now more inspired to do the same.

Here's how I shared the journaling. May God bless and inspire you to do the same!

I sang this invitation hymn many, many times as I was growing up. From the time I was a baby, my parents had taken me to a Baptist church. When we moved to the Hickman Mills area in 1955, we started going to Besonia Baptist Church at Bannister and Raytown Rd. We didn’t have children’s church there, so I sat in the church service Sunday mornings and evenings. At the end of every message, the minister, Rev. Richard Waltz, would give an invitation to anyone who wanted to come forward and accept Christ as their Saviour or join the church. One Sunday morning when I was six, almost seven, I heard him talking about how our sins would keep us from getting into heaven. I whispered to my mom that I wanted to go forward to ask Jesus to be my Saviour because I wanted to go to heaven when I died. My mom asked me to wait until the evening service. They invited the minister,  to come to our house that afternoon to talk to me about salvation. We sat on the sofa while he asked me questions to be sure I understood that I was a sinner and that Jesus died on the cross for me. It all seemed very clear to me. He led me in prayer and then I prayed, telling Jesus I was sorry for my sins and that I wanted Him to come into my heart and be my Saviour and Lord. I was really happy afterwards and told my parents, who had been in the other room, probably listening. That night at the evening service I went forward when the invitation was being sung. A week or two later Rev. Richard Waltz baptized me. I can still remember the entire experience, even the green and brown plaid dress I wore. I remember it as a happy experience that I’ve felt sure of all of my life, knowing that I did have forgiveness of sins and I did receive Jesus as my Saviour.


 

Hymn and Scripture Challenge - Trust Him When Thy Wants Are Many

Here is the latest challenge page I've made to  link up with Patter Cross's Hymn Challenge #7 for 2013 on her blog Triple the Scraps. I'm still going back and forth between the hymns I haven't done and the current ones I'm trying to keep up with. She has amazing information and scripture study for each hymn, so I'd invite you to visit her site for more. I'm sharing this faithbooking layout with Word Art Wednesday, also.

I was intrigued by the lyrics of this hymn. I don't believe I'd heard it before, but when I consider the many decades I've spent in church, it's possible I heard it sung by a choir and just don't remember it. The words invite the listener to trust in whatever situation they are in. There's something for everyone in any situation. I heard myself "singing in my head" two other songs about trust for several days. I'll probably make two more layouts using hymns of trust and additional verses. After I made the layout, I kept hearing Proverbs 3:5-6 in my mind, so I definitely have more to faithbook concerning trust.

I chose four Psalms that are meaningful to me to accompany this hymn. Now that I'm in my mid-60's and experience the accompanying forgetfulness, Psalm 71:1 is even more meaningful: "let me never be put to confusion!" The other verses I've quoted to my children or friends when they've asked for prayer and advice. As adults we are expected to be self-sufficient, self-reliant, but as children of God we have to learn to trust Him in difficult situations, like a small child taking His hand and letting Him lead us.

Here are the seven stanzas of the hymn in case you can't read them on my layout.

1. Trust Him when thy wants are many;

Trust Him when thy friends are few;

And the time of swift temptation

Is the time to trust Him, too.

 

2. Trust Him when thy soul is burdened

With the sense of all its sin;

He will speak the word of pardon,

He will make thee clean within.

 

3. Trust Him for the grace sufficient,

Ever equal to thy need;

Trust Him always for the answer,

When in His dear name you plead.

 

4. Trust Him for the grace to conquer,

He is able to subdue;

Trust Him for the power for service;

Trust Him for the blessing too.

 

5. Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee,

Trust Him when thy strength is small,

Trust Him when to simply trust Him

Seems the hardest thing of all.

 

6. Trust Him; He is ever faithful;

Trust Him, for His will is best;

Trust Him, for the heart of Jesus

Is the only place of rest.

 

7. Trust Him, then, through cloud or sunshine,

All thy cares upon Him cast,

Till the storm of life is over,

And the trusting days are past.

 

 

 

 

 


 

Clearly Inspired Challenge #71 - Anything Goes

Today at Clearly Inspired Challenge #71 we can make ANYTHING, so I made a layout to put in my scrapbook about my childhood. I'm combining it with Patter's Hymn and Scripture Challenge #8 from 2012 about the hymn "Christ Arose." I had been wanting to journal about the special meaning of that hymn to me, especially when I first sang it in 3rd grade, but I didn't have photos to go with it. So I chose a digital verse and image from Clear Dollar Stamps to embellish or illustrate it and included an Easter photo from a different year.

I used the digital stamp "Jesus Paid It All" from Clear Dollar Stamps to add the verse and empty tomb embellishment. I used Photoshop to print the colored version of the tomb, reducing the opacity to 80% so that I could color over the colors with three of my neutral gray Copics.  I did that to soften the colors to coordinate better with the heritage look of the page.

I used the CDS stamp for Matthew 28:6 which also emphasizes the other half of Christ's sacrificial death, taking our place on the cross. Simply stated, he didn't remain in the tomb. He showed us that death for believers is not final. There is life after death. Patter has a great devotional on her blog (linked above) with many more verses you can use to understand the depth of this song.

Journaling in the pocket: In 1958 my dad was pastoring a small country church, Prairie Lee Baptist Church, near Lee's Summit, Missouri. I was in 3rd grade. I was always there when the doors were open, so when a few brave souls gathered for choir practice before Easter, they invited me to come up front to sing with them. It was the very first time I remember hearing the hymn but the music and words captured my heart and I fell in love with it.  That choir practice taught me about dynamics for the first time. The way the song was sad in the first part was softer and slower. When the verse talked about Christ's resurrection, it was happier, louder, and faster. When Easter Sunday came, they asked me to come on up and sing with them in front of the church. I was always shy, but since I loved the song, I enjoyed singing with them, even though it was in front of the small congregation. Little did I know that it would be the first of many future years of singing in choirs.

I used yellow gingham ribbon and K & Co floral/butterfly embellishments. The tag pocket is from Close To My Heart.

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you with joy this Easter as we celebrate His death for our sins and His joyous resurrection.

I'm sharing this layout with the following challenges:
Hymn and Scripture Challenge #8 - Christ Arose.
Celebrate the Occasion #104 - Easter
Crafting for All Seasons #48 - Anything But a Card
Craft Us Crazy #39 - Anything But a Card
Digi Stamps for Joy #63 - Celebrating Easter
Word Art Wednesday #72 - Anything goes with scripture, uplifting verse

12" x 12" Scrapbook layout recipe:
Digital Image and Sentiment - CDS Jesus Paid It All colored
Copic Markers - N00, N02 neutral grays to color over image
Paper - Creative Imaginations, CTMH Sunny Yellow and Indian Corn Blue cardstock,
Accents - CTMH letter stickers, envelope (Décor Journaling Spots); K & Co flower and butterfly accents; yellow gingham ribbon from stash; page from old hymnal
Tools - Printer, Photoshop CS (to reduce opacity); Spellbinder's Fancy Tags 2; Cuttlebug Embossing Folder "Swiss Dots"

Hymn and Scripture Challenge - Cleanse Me

Here is the next hymn I'm adding to my Hymn and Faith Journaling Album. This hymn that Patter chose for her Hymn and Scripture Challenge #5 is a beautiful prayer. On our own, we don't recognize every sin that creeps or even leaps into our lives. In order to be used by God, we need daily cleansing. I've had family and friends who are often plagued by troubling thoughts, anger, or fear. I've shared the truths that I learned myself about how God's word is like water that washes away troubling thoughts in addition to guiding us in the right direction and pointing out sin in our lives.

I like the verse I chose from 2 Corinthians that I printed from Clear Dollar Stamp's digi "Value Verses 2." We cast down those imaginations and bring every one of our thoughts into captivity and obedience to Christ. That's not an easy thing to do when you're facing trials in life or the "he said, she said" situations. Sometimes those negative thoughts race and jump around in your mind not letting you calm down. In my most troubling times in life I found great consolation in Psalm 34 and have encouraged others to read it many times. For many years I kept up a routine of reading 5 Psalms and one Proverb each night before bed. So many truths are packed into those books that refer to our relationship to God and how he helps us (Psalms) and how to respond to others (Proverbs).

I'm also sharing this layout with Word Art Wednesday this week.
 

Hymn and Scripture Challenge #1 - Lift High the Cross

Yesterday I found the box where I had stored my 9" x 9" scrapbook and papers that fit it. I had started them last year with Patter's Hymn and Scripture challenge until life became unorganized and I lost track of the scrapbook. I kept meaning to start again when things settled down, so I was ready to make a fresh start and play catch-up and keep up.

As a grandma, I can tell that my thoughts aren't as sharp as they used to be. I want to record the importance of the Lord in my life and the truths I absorbed from the hymns I've always loved singing. I know it will be meaningful for my kids and grandkids someday. (A few of my scrapbooking friends enjoy reading what I've put on these pages as well.)

I don't believe I had ever sung or heard this hymn, "Lift High the Cross," until I heard it from the link on Patter's blog. It's very inspiring and reminded me of a chorus we used to sing in Christian school, so I included that on my layout. Please check out Patter's blog post for this hymn to hear it and to see the wonderful verses she shared that relate to this hymn.

With the Easter season approaching, many people will be thinking more about Christ's crucifixion. I always have a tinge of sadness thinking about Christ taking such a horrendous punishment for my own sins. This song encourages us to elevate what took place on the cross to the level that others see His great love in that act of sacrifice. Another hymn uses the phrase "Let others see Jesus in you." I used to tell my young students that what you do and what you say should be what Jesus would do or say. That's one way to let others see Jesus. We are also to proclaim His gift of salvation to the world "till all the world adore His sacred name."

I always enjoy the time in the church service in our small town church when people can share blessings. Sharing what Christ has done, how God has blessed us is another way of lifting him up in praise.

I included the verse from John 12:32 that Jesus spoke, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." We do the proclaiming and He will be the one who draws or pulls all men unto himself. I think it's like the verse that says His words will not return unto him void. We do the sowing and He will give the increase.

I'm also sharing this layout with Word Art Wednesday Challenge #72. They have a great verse this week about being crucified with Christ (that I'll use on another layout!!)