Why "The Illuminated Scroll"?
Growing up in a household where God was always the Head of our home, I knew that there was a Divine Being that ruled over my life. It was only later in life that I experienced the absolute joy and peace that comes from a deep and personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
So, many years later, when I got a word from the Lord (through my friend Gary) one of the trustworthy prophetic voices in our church, I just knew that God would be faithful to bring this prophecy to fruition, I just had to be faithful to follow His leading. Gary said, “I see you writing out scrolls with beautiful hand lettering. These would be scrolls of prophetic words for people as the Holy Spirit birthed something in them.”
Needless to say, I felt overwhelmed by the thought of this and so very unworthy.
How could God use me in this way?
Who was I, without a stitch of creativity, meant to be bringing forth such amazing items?
Isn’t that just the way of things though?
I don’t know about you, but when God leads or shows me a direction or a dream that is too big for my humanity to comprehend, I tend to say “Oh no! He can’t be talking about me!”
And I allow the enemy to weasel these words into my brain – “You’re not good enough!”, “You’re not worthy!”, “What have you got to share with the world?”, “What could anyone learn from you?”
BUT GOD…..
These two amazing words have punctuated every season, every trial, and every aspect of my life.
Without Him, I would not be writing this today! I would not be carrying out His will in this way.
BUT GOD…
He makes a way, when there seems to be no way. He gives you courage and strength when you need it the most.
As I have seen, over and over in my life, when God leads me down a specific path, He is faithful to see it through. The ESV translation of Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” It is this knowledge that gives me the confidence to move forward, as the Holy Spirit leads.
God knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10 NKJV) and His Word assures me that I was known before I was formed in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV).
I have always believed God wanted me to share my story with others in order to bring encouragement, comfort and peace in the midst of experiencing life’s battles. My complete reliance on the Lord, in every aspect of life, provides me with the strength that I need to tackle each day. Some may see this as a crutch or weakness, but I see it as my saving grace, allowing me to walk through this life with my sanity intact (at least that is my opinion). I have always been a natural born encourager, wanting the very best for all those around me and assisting people to develop into the people that God has called them to be.
Friend, His plans are always for our good because He is a good Daddy God, as Matthew 7:11 NKJV tells us (“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”).
My role in this divine partnership, with God, has been, and always will be, to remain obedient to nurture, invest in and foster the gifts He has bestowed to me. He has placed these desires in my heart, and by faithfully walking through the doors He opens, I can be sure that He will see these plans come to fruition, to ultimately bless Him and His people.
With this confidence and assurance in mind, God led me to start a company called “The Illuminated Scroll”.
I was recently asked to present a session at a digital bible journaling summit, and I knew straight away that God was moving me into the next chapter of this calling that He had for my life. I consulted a few of my trusted Buddies in Christ, and they were so faithful to work through every step of this journey with me.
They, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, help me on a daily basis, to stay positive and move forward in the work that God has planned out. They are like my own personal God-led cheer squad – “Give me a T, give me an A…. Goooooooo Tatum” , hahahaha! I am so eternally grateful for them each and every day.
God gives us these human tribes in order to have a tangible expression of His love for us. As we may not always feel it or know that He is there. These are the people who always support you, pray with and for you, people who only want the very best for you, at all times and in all things.
It is this beautiful tribe, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, who helped me to come up with the name “The Illuminated Scroll”.
Illuminated meaning to Illuminate (shine a light on/ highlight) the Word of God and shining out for Jesus, illuminating the darkness of this world. As well as a play on the word illuminate, as it relates to a digital device (iPad) which has an illuminated screen. This digital platform is the basis for the products that will be developed by our company.
And scroll, meaning beautifully illustrated manuscripts that are made to withstand the test of time. Refined materials of high quality created to convey messages and stories, records of information to be passed along for many generations. It is also a play on the word scroll as it relates to moving across the screen of the digital device you are using.
Past experience certainly tells us that studying the Word creatively helps us to write these scriptures on our hearts and provides us with the ability to recall the scriptures when we need them. We aim to be the place where prophecy meets creativity.
I am so very grateful that you have found your way here and it is my sincere hope that as we embark on this journey together, you are equipped with the tools necessary for deeper, creative worship of the Lord and develop an arsenal for studying the Word of God.
Lots of Love
Tatum Pretorius