Illustrated Faith | Laura McCollough

Hello Monday, and Hello to my new guest LAURA!!! I have recently "met" Laura through Illustrated Faith. She is actually attending our Illustrated Faith retreat!!! And I can't wait to meet her! She has a beautiful heart for women and I wanted her to share that with you today.... please welcome Laura!!

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Hello! My name is Laura McCollough from A Kiss on the Chic and I am SO excited to be guest blogging today for this wonderful community of believers! I live in Southern California with my three daughters and my hardworking hubby. I own a small business that has grown into such a complete blend of all my passions and I truly give all the glory to the Lord for that! I’ve been in the scrapbooking and mixed-media world for over 10 years and have been on several design teams, owned a “kit club” and have taught many classes. My business has grown over the years into the most amazing thing to me... A way to share my love of travel, my passion for recording our memories and my desire to share the love of the Lord with others! I often wonder how this all happened, but it’s not that difficult to look back and see the hand of God in every step. That is why I have done my journaling for this blog post on the Prayer of Jabez.
I have been very blessed to have traveled many places in this amazing world with my family. I have asked myself many times “why us Lord?” Why did we take a year off and travel the world? Why do we get to go back to Italy every year? It wasn’t because we just had a bag of money sitting there for all of this. Hahaha It wasn’t until just about over a year ago that I finally realized the WHY. It’s a long story and I would LOVE to share it with you someday, but here’s what I realized:
The Lord has AMAZING plans for our lives... If we open ourselves up to them!

I know the Lord is directing our path and I know he gave us a heart for people and especially the people in Italy. We have made many friends and real connections with people around the world and I know the Lord has opened that door and “enlarged our territory” for a reason.
Since 2012 I have hosted Creative Retreats in Italy and it has been such a BIG blessing in my life! I get to bring amazing teachers together with people who want to travel AND be creative at the same time! I’ve met such wonderful people from all over the globe and it has been such a true JOY to do this as my job. From the very start I wanted to do a faith based retreat but I was really bringing together scrapbooking/mixed media teachers and students and didn’t know how to incorporate my faith into these Creative Retreats. I know they “knew” I was a Christian and I would put little scripture photos on top of their class kits each day and do other little things like that. But it wasn’t until THIS year that I felt the Lord telling me it was time... Time to go out in FAITH and do a full on faith based Creative Retreat! And you want to know how he was nudging me?
I would see these beautiful pictures on Pinterest of people doing CREATIVE things in their BIBLES!! I was totally AMAZED. It blew me away and I knew it was something I wanted to do from the very first photo I ever saw. This new way to express our faith AND be creative in our bibles just sparked a fire within me! I knew I would want to do that if I every did a faith based retreat... This was all happening at the same time I was praying about WHEN to do a faith based Creative Retreat. I wasn’t sure when, I wasn’t sure what it would look like and I wasn’t sure who to ask to come teach with me.

But the Lord knew. He gave me words of comfort and quietly told me “now” was the time. He directed my path to right people, he showed me what we should be doing, and I can’t tell you how excited I am about my first Art & Faith Creative Retreat in Italy next summer!! It’s amazing to see the Lord working and blessing things and I pray that he will continue to direct my path in all areas of my life.

Have you prayed the Prayer of Jabez? If not, I encourage you to read this passage in 1 Chronicles. “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain. So God granted him what he requested.”
Where will the Lord direct your path? He has amazing things he wants to do in everyones lives and I pray you will be open to His calling today and every day.
Thank you for letting me tell a story on here and be a part of this wonderful community! I hope to meet all of you one day...
Maybe even at one of my Art & Faith Creative Retreats!
Have a wonderful day,
Laura


Thank YOU Laura!!!! I hope to attend one day FOR SURE, how much fun would that be! For those of you new to idea of journaling in your bible, or love the idea of learning more about being creative in your faith I encourage you to check out TRUTH SCRAP a one of a kind online event!

go.be.inspired. 

Shanna

Truth Scrap 2015

Hiya friends! I am SO OVER THE MOON excited to have you here with me today and let me tell you why.. TRUTH SCRAP is coming! Since I started scrapbooking in 2011 I always remember hearing about TRUE scrap an online event hosted my Lain Ehmann! So when she approached my about doing a similar even but centered on our faith I could not have been MORE excited. Or so I thought! Once I saw the other teachers I felt honored to be a part of the group as well EXCITED for exactly what this group will be!

Here is a word from Lain:

"Truth Scrap is the galaxy’s ONLY online, live virtual art and crafting event focused on celebrating the intersection of faith and art. With inspiration brought right to your desktop, there’s no need to change out of your PJs because you’re logging on, right from home!If you want to learn more about the HOW and WHY of infusing your creativity with your faith, Truth Scrap is the event for you. Learn new skills while getting a new take on old favorites! And with seven energizing, talented instructors, you’re sure to be inspired. Can’t wait for you to join us!"

I am teaching one of the SEVEN classes offered at this online event (I know, right?!) I wanted to share the class description with you:

"For years, Shanna Noel struggled to read her Bible in a meaningful way. “I always wished I was more like that, that I LOVED to read my bible, that I even wanted to, but the truth is often times I felt like it was more of a chore than anything else,” she says. One day, though, she saw an image of a Bible all marked up, highlighted and underlined, and something about that struck a chord in her. She went online and ordered yet another new Bible – but this time it was a journaling Bible. “When I started to use the journaling Bible, a light bulb went off!” she explains. “I needed to have a place in my Bible for reflection, creativity, and journaling, and that is exactly what this new format provided.” Now, Shanna has taken her discoveries and is presenting them in a cohesive manner. You can join her as she shares how she uses her journaling Bible in a colorful and creative way that allows for personal growth, reflection and illustration."

So if you are new to your journaling bible or just want to gather with a group of like minded women and create, learn and grow together THIS event is for you!! P.S. I think this would make an EPIC Christmas present for those you love (or send the link to Santa (coughHUSBANDcough). 

Lain is running a great sale to start us off! The class is normally $149 but for a limited time snag it for $79!!! Plus I have a $20 coupon for you that is good through CHRISTMAS EVE. Just use code ADVENT when checking out! 

With this class you will not only receive the 7 classes but we will be having a PJ party the night before, I don't know about you but the 12 year old in me just got SUPER excited! PJ parties are the best!!!!

So what do you say, will you be joining us for TRUTH SCRAP 2015? I sure hope to see you there!

go.be.inspired.

Shanna