Worship into the Week- The Powerful Word

 

Worship into the Week-

Isaiah 55:10-13

We really only know how to think about things

 with a beginning and an end.

This passage really helps us to see that God

 moves in realms beyond ALL of that.

 Rain and snow must continue it's downfall journey

 once it starts to water the earth.

So is God's Word unstoppable.

What God mopves forwards must continue

 its purpose into the world.

His creation will be restored and it is an everlasting sign

 that His Word rules above all.

Above all the manmade laws, decrees 

and institutions- God Rules.

There is something very comforting about this for me.

 NO matter what we mess up,

God is still working in the middle and 

in the background to redeem it all.

I trust in His good purpose and plan, 

especially on the the days 

this world feels out of control.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Printable

vcy-graphics-only-july-2026

Color Pencils

Postage Stamps

Worship into the Week- Set Free

Worship into the Week-

Zechariah 9:9-12

Romans 714-25

Matthew 11:25-30

Pulling together the readings from worship this week.

We see that we are all prisoners... 

of sin, and death in the Zechariah reading.

 The foretelling of future with our king riding on a donkey.

This is the king that brings peace to the nations.

He rules all and everything.

The KING is coming.

Everything is entrusted to this KING by the Father.

He is humble and gentle at heart 

and truly wants to carry our load.

We spend all of our time lugging the weight ourselves.

We sang this song in worship and it really connected to me.

Surrounding Me- by Nick Taylor, Colby Key and Tom Zelt.

So I added the words to my Bible.

He simply says- COME.

I am so tied to sin it is hard to unload any of the burden. 

This section of Romans really speaks to my life.

I don't understand myself at all. 

I really want to do what is right.

But I can't.

 I do what I don't want, what I hate.

But thanks be to God!!!

Christ has set me free.

The KING leads my life.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Ministry printables

vcy-graphics-only-july-2026

romans-7-15-24-25-by-sally-beck

romans-7-15-25-by-sally-beck

Scrapbook paper

Distress Ink

Postage stamps

Colored pencils

Washi tape

Sojourner Truth and the 250th Anniversary

                    

 The Sojourner Truth

 Ain't I a Woman? 

Project

My friends know about the green bench.

 It is the place where folks who are sorting life, 

moving, or downsizing put all their things

 they just can't part with yet.

 So I have to make the decision for them later.

But, one of the amazing things has been the postage stamps.

Thousands and thousands of postage stamps.

One January a couple of years ago,

 I sorted the boxes and ziplock bags of stamps.

That's when I found the amazing 

collection of "women" stamps.

Not quite sure what I wanted to do with them,

 but "something."

So, as the 250th Anniversary celebration was coming up

 for the United States of America, I saw a plan developing.

I had visited my artist friend, Sally Beck, in her home 

and saw a beautiful art project done with stamps.

Hmmmm.

I had read a biography of Sojourner Truth last year

 and another book about her is on the list for our book group

 for Visual Faith® Ministry this year.

I will tell the story of a few stamps. 

This is a 3 cent commemorative stamp that was issued in 1948 to celebrate the 100th of the women's rights movement in the United States.  Issue date is July 19, 1948. Inscription-  " 100 Years of Progress of Women- 18148-1948"  The bottom says: "Seneca Falls, NY. commemorating the location of  the first women's rights convention. The  women pictured are: Lucreatia Mott (left) abolitionist and women's rights advocate. Carrie Chapman Catt (center) leader of the campaign that helped secure women's suffrage and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (riught) principal orgaznier of the 1848 Sendeca Falls Conventions and author of the Declaration of Sentiments. ( If all of this is new information for you that would be the "normal" place for understanding women's suffrage in the U.S.)

This 1 1/2 cent stamp was first issued in 1938 to amend

 odd postage amounts. Martha Washington was chosen 

because she was well recognized.

This is a 25 cent Ida B. Wells commemorative stamp that was issued on February 1, 1990 as part of the Postal Services long running Black Heritage stamps series. Ida B. Wells waste of the most courageous journalists and civi rights advocates in American history. She is best remembered for  investigating and reporting on the widespread use of

 lynching and mob violence. Her office was destroyed after her reporting. She also helped found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

This is the 1970, 6 cent Woman Suffrage 50th Anniversary Stamp.      It was issued  on August 26, 1970 to mark the 50th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote.

The Susan B. Anthony stamp was issued in 1954 and is one of the best known stamps honoring  the pioneer of the American women's suffrage movement. The stamp commenorates her lifelong fight for women's rights, espeicially the right to vote. She spent decades campainging for equal legal and political rights for women. When it was issued, the USPS was expanding the recognition of influential Americans. The stamp was released on August 26, which marks the anniversary of the certification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, granting women the constitutional

 right to vote.

This is the 1955  "The American Woman" 4 cent which was one of the most significant stamps honoring the everyday contributions of women rather than a single historical figure. It was issued on August 26, 1955 on the anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1920 which guaranteed the right to vote for women. The stamp celebrates the many roles American women played especially after World War 2.  The central image is a mother and child symbolizing family life. The three panels represent women in civic affairs,          education and arts and industry as the major areas of contribution      for women.

Finally, the inspiration for this project- Sojourner Truth.

This is the 22cent stamp issued on February 4, 1986 as part of the Black Heritage Series.

Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) was born into slavery in New York as Isabella Baumfree. After escaping to freedom in 1826, she became an influential abolitionist and women's rights advocate. She was known for combining religious conviction with calls for justice. Her famous speech in1851, commonly known as "Ain't I a Woman?" was delivered at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention. It has become an enduring symbol of the center of facial and gender equality.

There are many other women here that have made great contributions in the history our country. Perhaps I will explore more of them.

But, for now, Happy Birthday America!

Blessings for the next century and may God Bless the USA!

 

Worship into the Week- Grant Us Peace

 

Worship into the Week-

Jeremiah 28:5-9

Here we have a standoff in Jerusalem between Jeremiah

 and the false prophet Hananiah. 

Jeremiah endorses the hope that peace and the return 

of the Temple treasures and exiles would happen, 

but he is also cautious.

It is certainly what the people wanted to hear.

Jeremiah states." Amen! May the Lord do so!."

Though it sounds like an endorsement,

 it was actually a response of sorrow because he

knew the situation warranted another solution.

There would be the test of whether the prophecy

 of peace would happen. 

 (the story continues- v.10-17)

The story goes against Hananiah as the Lord 

endorses Jeremiah.

God tells Jeremiah to tell Hananiah that he has lied,

 and was not sent by the Lord.

He will die within the year,

because he has rebelled against the Lord

Two months later Hananiah is dead.

Caution to us- be careful who you listen to.

We are still waiting for peace.

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable

vcy-graphics-only-june-2026

Magazine cutout

Watercolors

Colored pencils

Postage stamps

Distress ink

Calendar Journaling - June 2026

 

Calendar Journaling- June 2026

Looking for the pieces that fit in the puzzle of this month.

What does the Lord want me to see?

How can I be a part of what He is doing?

Hope and anxiety weave through the month 

as well as His Unhindered grace.

This month I read through the book of Romans,

 as I move through the New Testament.

Next up?  Corinthians.

Always thankful for a practice that is doable, 

grace filled and tells the story of God's 

faithfulness in my life.

Jonah is 7!

This young man turned 7 this month.

Jonah- the Sloth King.

He had a great birthday celebration 

and we love watching his growing love for reading.

Can't go wrong with a cake this great.

 

A tackle box and fishing poles

 and he is ready to take his brothers and go fishing.

We always love a bit of outdoor fun.

On his birthday it was baseball

 and down for the championship game.

In a stunning upset and "come from way behind"

 they pulled off a win.  What a fun end to the season.

So this made for an extra special birthday event.

Love you Jonah!

 

The Chaste Tree

 

The Chaste tree turns blue purple 

in these days before the 4th of July every year.

Early this Spring it got a trimming of about a 1/3 off 

and still needs a bit of shaping.

When I see it locally, it is usually a bush.

Ours is definitely in the tree category.

We picked this up as a twig starter on a visit 

to Monticello probably about 30 years ago. 

They were doing a plant sale from the plants on the grounds

and this start came home with us.

This was one of Thomas Jefferson's favorite trees.

On April 11, 1807 he planted 9 rows of the Old World Native, 

grown mostly in the Mediterranean.

Vitex agnus-castus is the proper name.

He loved the tree because it drew bees, 

butterflies and hummingbirds.

 It is always good to add pollinators to the land.

It does the same thing in our garden and on a sunny day 

the tree throbs with movement.

It is a fast growing, drought tolerant shrub or tree 

and the spikes are fragrant and showy. 

It is also called monk's pepper and can grow in full sun

 with well-drained soil.

It generally has a 15-20 year life span, 

so our beauty is definitely on its second life.

The shrub was used for religious rituals in ancient Greece 

and among the Philistines in Palestine.

It has long been believed to be an anaphrodisiac,

( quells or blunts libido)

but its effectiveness is unproven.

Today original era descendants or similar specimens 

can still be found growing on the Northeast side 

of the house at Monticello and on the West Lawn

 near the South Pavilion.

So for this Sesquicentennial celebration, 

we salute a very great descendant 

of one of Thomas Jefferson's favorite plants.