Toni was born and raised in a small town in Oklahoma.She graduated from East Central University with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Economics.After college, she returned to her hometown to marry her best friend, Charles.Toni is a stay at home mom to their three teens, two boys and a girl, whom God led them to homeschool.Her goal is to raise her children to love and serve the Lord.They live on a farm where they grow produce to sell at several farmers markets.She also plays the piano at church and teaches piano.
I did not enjoy writing in college and never thought I would do it in my spare time.
A few years ago, my opinion of writing changed. I had lost my grandfather for whom I had been a primary caregiver for several years. At the time, this was the most difficult thing I had ever experienced because I had not dealt with prior grief. If one does not deal with grief when it occurs, it continues to build and just gets worse.
Healing through Writing
While I was attending a grief support group, the facilitator, a wonderful Christian woman, suggested that I write my feelings in letter form to those who had caused me pain and anger, including my grandfather. I was not to mail these letters, just to write them. I thought this woman was crazy. What good was it to write a letter?How would I find healing from my grief through a letter?
After being told this several times, I decided to try it. Nothing was helping me cope and I knew my emotions were building. One day, I sat down with a notebook and pen and started to write, and the words just poured out. I wrote with such intensity and fury. I didn’t know where it was all coming from. In twenty minutes, I wrote eight pages to three people. The emotional release I felt was unbelievable. Everything came out. It really did work!
Since that day, I continue to use this method for other issues in my life. I often go back and add Bible verses in the margins when applicable. I have even written letters to God. This is my new-found therapy. Pen and paper are a lot cheaper than a therapist!
If you are afraid of someone reading the letter, you can burn or shred it when you are finished. I found that to be another healing aspect. It symbolizes letting go.
Releasing Our Anger and Emotions
Remember, anger hurts us. It separates us from God. Satan is always trying to find ways to destroy us. Ephesians 4:26-27 says,
“Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.”
We need to let our emotions out, not bottle them up.
Hello all!I am an Oklahoma girl, through and through!I was born here and after 5 years in Texas for college, I missed Oklahoma too much and just had to come back home with my Oklahoma husband to raise our Oklahoma babies! I met my husband in high school and fell we in love in college.We have 2 beautiful kids that are full of life and make me such a proud momma.I love to craft, journal, paint furniture, and decorate our Edmond home!See some of my creations at The Lettered Light www.etsy.com/shop/theletteredlight and IG:theletteredlight
I always, ALWAYS get nervous when I am about to do a Bible journaling class/workshop or lesson of any sort. It doesn’t matter if it is for friends that I have known for years or a small group of five new friends. But this full workshop of 25 beautiful ladies brought my nerves of public speaking to a whole new level. Friends, I am not a public speaker! I’m just a gal who likes to paint in her Bible. Well, I guess that is all the Lord needs sometimes…His word and a scared momma!
The morning was amazing. I definitely felt the Lord speaking through me and it was exciting to see so many people experience His word in a new way. My emphasis is always on the meditation process on the scripture. I think that is pretty new for people. It was and still is for me. The pretty page at the end is just a bonus, you know what I mean? Spending so much time thinking and contemplating just one verse has brought me peace and stability. I think about my page when I am done, I think about the next verse I feel the Lord leading me to, I think about how I may illustrate that one, I think about how the same words I have read for years may be speaking to me in a new way…The Living Word!
We had some great giveaways thanks to some very generous donors:
An anonymous donor donated a $15 gift card to purchase Bible Journaling supplies.
Creating a Great Day donated a fun stamper to date all the Bible Journaling pages.
A HUGE thank you to all who made this possible. Many were involved from shopping to helping set up the audio visual to donating the space where we had the workshop.
(This is Kristi writing this part – another HUGE “Thank You!” to McKenzie for putting on this workshop. It was so well done and we all learned so much. Thanks for combining your talent with faith and sharing it with others!)
Here are some pictures and words from a few friends who were at the workshop. Enjoy!
“I absolutely loved the Bible journaling workshop! It had been a busy week and it was a wonderful way to relax and meditate on God’s word! It’s new to me, but I look forward to making time to sit down, focus, and study on a verse and then journal it! McKenzie is a wonderful Christian inspiration to so many women and especially now that she is encouraging us to really study God’s word in a new way by Bible journaling! Loved her workshop and the Bible journaling idea she taught us all!” -Terra
“My most pleasant surprise was how the doodling, “sketching it out” time truly evolved into a picture of what I believe God would emphasize from the text for me personally at that time. I started out with an attitude of ‘oh well, we’ll see how this goes’ and ended up encountering God’s heart the deeper I went in the exercise.” -Angela
“Being in McKenzie’s Bible journaling class taught me another avenue to write the Word on my heart! Focusing on scripture, feeling it, and highlighting it was powerful to me! I love the depth of the class. McKenzie has a gift that she chooses to give to God!” -Leslie
I pray that if you feel pulled to this type of worship that you will lean into what God is trying to show you. God is the creator, and therefore He is creative! We are made in His image and so we too are creative!
I am an Oklahoman by birth, a Texan by current living situation, but claim the world as my playground.I love to travel and hope to someday soon take our family on adventures to far off lands, where we can share God with others and experience all the wonders He has created.
I am a mother of 5 crazy, homeschooling children ages 10 & under, wife to an amazing man, and daughter of the King of the Universe!I enjoy reading, making my kids laugh, cooking, all things natural, learning to play guitar and dusting off my piano skills.One day I hope to run again, but until then I’m learning patience.
Mark your calendars! We are so excited to announce our first live event – a Bible Journaling Workshop!
When:
October 24, 2015
Time:
9:30am – 12:00pm Central Standard Time
Where (Two Options):
Option 1
New Hope church of Christ
700 NW 2nd St
Edmond, OK 73003 Cost: $20 (includes a bag of artsy supplies to get you started! We are getting the supplies at a discounted rate so you will really get some bang for your buck. Bring your own Bible.)
Option 2
Your own Living Room via Periscope @Create_GreatDay
Gather some of your friends and join us from wherever you are!
Cost: Free, you will need to purchase your own supplies. We will share a supply list closer to the event date.
A sample of McKenzie’s work.
Our very own McKenzie will be instructing us on how to get started Bible Journaling.
So if you have been inspired by her Bible Journaling Posts, then you will love how she will walk us through step by step the process of connecting with God’s Word on a different level, which is really what Bible Journaling is all about.
Sure, there is some creativity involved but she will show you some of the tips and tricks and best of all you will walk away with an appreciation that anyone can Bible Journal. It’s not just for the artistically inclined!
Space is limited so register today!
Registration via this link is now closed. However, if you still want to come, please contact us at info@creatingagreatday.com.
Who will you bring to the event?
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