Tuesday, March 31, 2015

The Holy Land and Vrsly

    In this Holy Week-
looking at my Holy Land vistas
that have been combined with words
 added with the #Vrsly app on my phone.
Sea of Galilee
 near the Mount of Beatitudes


High seas at Caesarea Maritima
Be Thou My Vision



Tree near the Pools of Bethesda- Jerusalem
 Imperfect Me- Meets Perfect Jesus




The pagan niches and Cave of the god Pan-
Who do people say that I am?  Mark 8:27-30
Caesarea Phillipi




Remains of Herod's palace-
Caesarea Maritima
all the travels and buildings of Herod-
 did not fill his longings



Flowers at the Tel of Megiddo


Roman arch of the aquaduct system-
 Caesarea Maritima
Looking out to the Mediterranean
(Waterlogue app also)

Oh- that Jesus brings eternal life to all of us -
 because He is ALIVE.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Palm Sunday- Up to Jerusalem

                                                                              C. Denninger
And Jesus and His disciples
 were going up to Jerusalem.
Mark 10:32

 The prophesy of Zechariah 
comes to be on this Sunday-
 Zechariah 9:9

                                                                                      C. Denninger
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, 
to Bethphage and Bethany,
 at the Mount of Olives, 
Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, 
"Go into the village in front of you, 
and immediately as you enter it 
you will find a colt tied,
 on which no one has ever sat.
 Untie it and bring it.
 If anyone says to you, 
"Why are you doing this?" say, 
"The Lord has need of it
 and will send it back here immediately."
And they went away and found a colt
 tied at a door outside in the street,
 and they untied it.
 And some of those standing there said to them,
What are you doing, untying the colt?"
And they told them what Jesus had said,
 and they let them go.
And they brought the colt to Jesus 
and there their cloaks on it, and he sat on it.
And many spread their clocks on the road,
 and others spread leafy branches
 that they had cut from the fields.
And those who went before 
and those who followed were shouting,
"Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes
 in the name of the Lord!"
Blessed is the coming kingdom
 of our father David!
 Hosanna in the Highest!
And he entered Jerusalem
 and went into the temple.
And when he had looked around at everything, 
as it was already late,
 he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Mark 11: 1-11



The Hosanna mural
Prince of Peace Lutheran Preschool 
Springfield, Virginia

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Ecclesiatses 7-12- Book of the Bible Study

Bible Marginalia Series- #79

Continuing the walk through Ecclesiastes.
Chapter 7:14
A clear thought here-
in the day of prosperity be JOYFUL-
 and in the day of adversity-
REMEMBER-
 God has made one as well as the other.


Chapter Nine-
Death comes to ALL.
Enjoy life with the one you LOVE.
 Whatever your hand finds to do,
 do it with your 
MIGHT.


The two page layout of the study.
Coloring around the headings
 helps me to keep my place-
 to know where I have been,
 as I come back to work here each time.
I liked the "bleed-through" of the clock stamp
 from the previous page and left the faint shadow
 on this page as it added to the topic here too.


Chapter 9:17
Quiet, wise words
 are better than a shouting ruler.

Chapter 10:19
And a verse that speaks of what Solomon 
has observed in the world:
Bread is made for laughter, 
and wine gladdens life, 
and money answers everything.



Chapter 11:5
 Just as you can't know how the wind blows
 or bones grow-
 neither can you know the way of the Spirit,
 how God works things.

Chapter 12:7-8
And all comes from dust
 and all returns to dust.

verse 13-14
the end of the matter is:
all has been heard.
SO,
 Fear God and Keep His commandments,
 for this is the whole duty of man.


the two page layout.

All is vanity.
All is vapor or mere breath.
Unless it has eternity impact.
Unless it is of KINGDOM purpose.

Process:
This study was actually done over
 a couple of weeks time.
Pages were started, new ones started,
and then  I would come back as the key verses
 began to come forward.
This Book of the Bible study
 was done in preparation of leading a women's retreat.
It is part of what helps me be able
 to take so much material and find the nuggets,
 as well as the application
 for the topic we were dealing with:
 The Spirituality of Change.

Supplies:
Small alpha stickers
 Sticky notes
Pottery Barn magazine Sizzix cutouts
Colored pencils
Fine- point Sharpie pen
Washi tape

Friday, March 27, 2015

Bible Marginalia- Ecclesiastes 4-7

Bible Marginalia Series- #78

Ecclesiastes 4- 7:10

Writing in the margins for a whole book study
seems to be a bit different than focusing
 on just one verse that might become
 the whole margin focus.
 This page held multiple highlights including
our wedding verse focus of 4:12-
a three-fold cord is not quickly broken.
Chapter 5-
Then some direction about proper choices
 about going to the house of God-
 guard your steps,
draw near to listen, 
don't be rash with your mouth,
 and let your words be few.

And then a word of wisdom about money:
He who loves money 
will never be satisfied with money.

Chapter 6-
Whatever has come to be
 has already been named.
Chapter 7-
A good name is better than
precious ointment.
Better is the End of a thing
 than its Beginning.
Don't say why were the former days 
better than these?
(that is not a wise thing to say)


Threads of wisdom in this book.
Grab them quickly.
 Time is fleeting.

Supplies:
Sticky notes ( Tuesday Morning)
Rectangle tabs and tags
Clock stamp- (Michael's)
Colored pencils
Black Fine-point Sharpie pen
Washi tape

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Bible Marginalia- Ecclesiastes 1-3

Bible Marginalia Series- #77

Have been preparing to lead
 a retreat for clergy
wives last weekend.
The Spirituality of Change-
and a look at Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
Using the work of Joyce Rupp in 
Praying Our Goodbyes.

But, found out that I needed to
 read and study all of this book.
Needed to get hold of vanities and
striving after the wind.


Two page layout for Chapter 2 and 3.
Simply using circle tags.
Added in on the left a copy of the book mark 
we had for each person.

The right side is a bookmark from a retreat led about 
15 years ago.
The thing about change is:
you always keep talking about it.

Left side with bookmark filled up.
Added this in with washi tape.


Right side with Chapter 3.
He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Right side with book mark flipped
 for extra journaling space.

Our God wants us to find JOY in our days.
Whatever God does endures forever.
Nothing can be added to it or taken away.
God has put eternity in man's heart.

In this space of time that we have here on earth-
there is nothing better than to eat
 and drink and find enjoyment in your work.

Here is this section we learn that vanity
is the Hebrew term- hebel.

It means vapor, or mere breath.
And all are from dust,
 and to dust we will return.
Thankful- that there is more than this
brief breath of time.

Supplies:
Circle and rectangle tags
Cardstock
Washi tape
 Colored pencils
Black Fine-point Sharpie pen



Monday, March 23, 2015

Spring Sightings



 Was visiting at middle daughter's home last week
A Thrift Store find of lovely eggs grace
 a bowl filled with old book page strips



Speckled eggs (from Michael's)
book page strips 
and a vintage Easter card  (100 years old)
copied for a touch of 
Good News!




Burlap wreath gets a touch of Spring yellow

An older framed photo of grandson Griffin 
makes a 
chick watch perch



A bit of neutral texture
 from a coffee filter wreath



And an inspiring trip to IKEA-
with cutie pie
 gets a Waterlogue touch.

Time to get
 some 
Spring  
out here at home!


Friday, March 20, 2015

Bible Marginalia- 2 page Layouts


Bible Marginalia Series- #76

I wasn't sure what to call this post.
It deals with consecutive pages
 in the book of Isaiah. 
2 margins face to face.

But, the reality is this wan't a planned out 
"styling" of  what a "layout" looks like.
It was just a matter of hanging out
 in the same verses-
over a number of days.

But, that said,
It helps to choose colors 
 and a style that work well
 as one visual statement-  
 to make the colors ease into each other.
Bright or soft.
The added- in pieces connect visually.
It makes one "story"
 in the margins of my Bible.


This was the first margin work.
I was using some printables for the wording.
It is talked about in the post below.



This page I added a stamped paraphrase verse-
Isaiah 40:29-31
some stamping and finished the page 
with a short prayer and highlighted verses.

The tip-in was also a printable-
placed on scrapbooking paper.
Adding it in with washi tape.

So the time spent here--
reminders to Connie-
God holds my hand.
Don't be afraid.
He will strengthen me.
He will HELP me.
I will soar.

Supplies:

 Stamp and ink
colored pencils
Sharpie fine point pen
flat dimensional
additional supplies
 on post shared previously.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Bible Marginalia-Washed and Cleansed


                                                                           work of Laura Schumacher

Bible Marginalia Series- #75

Psalm 51
Wash me from my iniquity.

 Let me hear joy and gladness.

 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
and renew a right sprit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, 
uphold me with your willing spirit.

Lenten heart words.
Life-long liturgy.

Thanks to daughter Laura-
 for sharing her journaling.

Supplies-
Gelatos- Faber Castell
 stamp
 Washi tape
 Prismacolor pencils
  I loved how she cut little pieces of washi tape
 and added them in to the design.


Monday, March 16, 2015

Bible Marginalia- Blessed be the Name!

                                                                                                      work of Jessica Meier

Bible Marginalia Series #74

Sometimes I just want to copy
 the visual of someone else into my Bible. 
I get wonderful inspiration
 from my three daughters-
who are all on this journey with me.

I have permission to share their 
work here in this space.
I will highlight from time to time
 their work.
And it may have ended up
 in my Bible too.
What a blessing!

Psalm 113 here.
A time for praise.
From the time the sun rises till it sets.
 The name of the Lord is to be praised.
BLESSED!
Do we often think to BLESS
 the name of the LORD?
Even as I am BLESSED,
 I can return the gift.

Supplies:
Watercolors- Michaels
 Signo White pen
Heidi Swapp date stamp
Washi tape
Fine point Sharpie pen- non-bleeding
Banner stamp- Michaels

Saturday, March 14, 2015

All is Grace- Mixed media goodness



This is the beautiful handmade gift
 from a friend.
 Layers and layers of fabric
 and dimensional goodness.


A handmade rose
Laces
Sheet-music printed fabric



Worn and aged

Highlighted and embellished
Pinned and buttoned
Jeweled and layered
 Added to and stitched together-
a visual reminder of all that 
comes my way because of 
His great gift


 Thanks to Rebecca Ersfeld 
for her original design 
that inspired this work.
  Thank you to Bonnie- 
for this gift of grace.
Thank you God, for reminding me of 
that this saving, redemptive gift 
for ME-
is all grace.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Cana-Israel Pilgrimage-2


We visited what MIGHT be the town
 of Cana that Jesus visited 
with his family for a wedding.
Where Jesus performed his first miracle-
turning water into wine.
 Many symbols here of wine and jugs.

This church is in the town of Kafr Kanna-
in what is thought to be the 
Biblical New Testament Cana.
Kafr Kanna is an Arab town
 in the Turan Valley in Galilee.

It had a population of  18,000 in 2006.
 It is not very far from Nazareth.

I just love doors.

Maybe they are old?



Renewing our marriage vows in Cana.
 Thanks Rev. Martin and Rev. Jeff-
for doing the honors of this meaningful time.

One thing is sure in the Gospel of John in this story.
The city of Cana and the surrounding towns
 would never be the same after the story of Jesus
 and the miracle with the water and the wine.
Even today-
 the power of Jesus can change whole towns.

How are WE doing with changing where we LIVE-
 with the power of Jesus and His message?


Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Bible Marginalia- The Lord won't leave me



Bible Marginalia Series- # 73
I find that even if I don't do
 two both pages at the same time-
 I like to use similar colors for the two page spread.


This page was worked first.
  Deuteronomy 29:29
"The secret things belong to the Lord our God,
 but the things that are revealed to us and 
to our children are forever."

Not all will be revealed.
We are working out
 some things here on earth -
 without the whole story.
 That is hard for me sometimes
 as a "control the outcome" person.



And as I work it out here on earth
-- the wonderful part to remember is-
"The Lord will 
NEVER
 leave me or forsake me."

Deuternomy 31:6
gonna cling to that.


Supplies:
Printable Bible verse
Washi tape
Scrapbook paper
Colored pencils
 Fine point Sharpie non-bleeding
 Iridescent watercolors
American Crafts banner tag

Monday, March 9, 2015

Harod Spring- Israel Pilgrimage- 2



The Harod Spring-
the story of Gideon and his men
 and the battle with the Midianites.
Hard Spring is at the base
of Mount Gilboa 
on the southeastern side of the
Jezreel Valley.

This story is a 
 reminder of how quickly
we will take credit
 for good and well things.
For a win.
Any great accomplishment 
is certainly the will of our great GOD.
The credit is due HIM.


 This section is a bit confusing 
about how Gideon chose his men.
The verses seem a bit confusing.
Nonetheless- it was the system that God used
to reduce Gideon's army
 to a ridiculous small army of 300.
That is going into battle at 450 to 1.
 Israel had long been 
oppressed by the Midianites.
Gideon was now leading 300
valiant men into a battle with unbelievable odds-
because that is what God asked him to do.
A reminder to us when the odds look outrageous.
Working in the realm of God's will brings us 
unimaginable power.
Encouragement for TODAY.

This story was journaled in this post-