just because.......

show me the pumpkins!

at the PUMPKIN Patch

OH! MY!  BUNNY!

some photos sent from an  Fall outing 

and the rest captured in a visit to Ann Arbor

this is most certainly true!

got my stick!

peek a boo  - can you find me?

mom helps on the big slide

raisins in my cereal and out on a walk

ah-- after church donuts

hugs and love

mr. inquisitive

and just because.....

Bible Marginalia- In Denial

Bible Marginalia Series- # 137

Keep coming back to the book of John.
  How many times haven't I given thanks
 that "I am not like Peter"?
That very faint glow that somehow
 tries to lift me up from this blatant
 denial of being a follower of Jesus.
And then I remember-
the times I remained silent,
could have added to a conversation,
but rather chose to be anonymous.

Day in and day out.
Denial- for what I could have said,
should have said, almost said.
Or maybe a diverting of the topic 
so I would have to do make 
"connections" for people.

Forgive me, Lord.
And then I rest on the grace.
Grasp it right to me.
For in each of those fallen times-
I yet, by grace.
 have been carried right to the new point.
Forgiven and Redeemed.
And by Grace will carry on.

Supplies:
Easy to do-
just paint and stick.

Acrylic paint- Target
Various Alpha letter stickers
Illustrated Faith - words and word washi
Washi tape
Colord pencils
 Fine point Sharpie- non-bleed pen

Bible Marginalia- Walk in Confidence

Bible Marginalia Series- #136

Walk in Confidence

A Looks at Proverbs 3:1-6

These were the study notes as I prepared for 

the breakout sessions for the 

Women's Leadership Institute 

Regional Conference in Ann Arbor

 on Sept. 19, 2015.

The stamped verse became

 part of a small tip-in for the center.

Writing in the Margins 

The Key points

So that I could 

TAKE IT IN

 in order to

SHARE IT.

This margin is a design by Pat Maier.

 It comes with simple created space margins.

 Color it in. 

Go over the script with marker.

Add the study words.

Place it on a paint color swatch

 from Home Depot.

Add it to the margin 

with double -sided sticky tape.

Marginalia becomes part of the story 

of what a Communion walk LOOKS LIKE.

The Holy Spirit knitting the pieces together 

in soul-meshing ways only He can do.

This is the other side

 of this section of Proverbs,

A few notes.

ACKNOWLEDGE HIM!

The center of confidence walking.

TRUST HIM!

 He desires for us to walk easy- 

in straight paths.

And the way for that is as a follower of Jesus.

Don't spend your time on unstraight paths-

it will delay you, 

reroute you, 

and you might even get lost.

Remember 

and Keep the Lord's Commandments.

And walk with your head up 

and fix your eyes on Jesus.

 For the LORD is faithful.

And tell the story along the way.

 Would like a set of the created space margins?

email me at condoit@aol.com 

and I will send them to you

or notify me here on the contact form

Supplies:

printed margin- Pat Maier

colored pencils

Verse stamp

hand made paper for tip-in

washi tape

fine-point non-bleeding Sharpie pen

 Printed word washi- Illustrated Faith

#VRSLY updates

#puremich skies

Grandson love

out and about in Ann Arbor

Sea of Galilee 

near Sedona Arizona

the whole wide world

on my windowsill

just Gospel and Light for the world

pin and share

Bible Marginalia -and the Father ALWAYS hears you

Bible Marginalia Series- #136

This was centering on the airplane

 ride back home from a conference this week.

And one of the stories we know well- 

the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

But, in all the years of HEARING it,

 and thinking I knew the story,

 I didn't LOOK for the small nuggets right here.

As Jesus talks to the people gathered-

 He reassures them-

"If you believe- you will see the glory of God."

And the JEWS SAW 

what Jesus did and many believed.

and He tells them because 

they are all around and LISTENING-

"and the Father ALWAYS hears you!"

And so on the darkest day- 

when Hope is gone, 

and there is no way

 that the good will come,

Remember.

In THE END- 

we will see His GLORY

and we are not ALONE here-

 because He HEARS you- and me.

Supplies:

Fine point Sharpie pen

Colored pencils

Bible Marginalia- Martin Luther Quotes

Bible Marginalia Series- #135

Another friend has artistic gifts- Pat Maier.

She has joined in the Bible Journaling journey.

I supplied her with a set of

 margin outlines to fit the space.

These wonderful Martin Luther quotes

 is what I got back 

to use in my Journaling Bible.

This page I just chose one

 of the Bible verses referenced in the margin.

Here I found a corresponding story

 that I liked with the quote.

What a gift is my artist friend- and her WORK.

Supplies:

 For the margins I simply went over the words

 with a Finepoint non-bleeding Sharpie.

Used Prismacolor colored pencils for the rest.

Washi tape on the edge of one.

 Matted 2 quotes with paint chip swatch.

 Matted another quote with a

scrapbooking paper.

these quotes may be found here at Visual Faith® Ministry-

Collection=Reformation

Women's Leadership Institute- Ann Arbor Regional Conference

A regional conference was held on

 Saturday, September 19, 2015

at Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

 96 women of all seasons of life gathered

 to educate, encourage and equip women-

 right where they are living life-

and to Walk with Confidence.

Women's Leadership Institute- 

Concordia University Wisconsin- Facebook

WLI- CUW - Facebook Group

Darcy Paape- Executive Director

 of the Women's Leadership Institute- 

Concordia University- Mequon, Wisconsin 

(on left in white jacket)

giving thanks for her team of helpers.

Women's Leadership Institute- blog

Rev. Dr. Pat Ferry, 

Concordia University President 

of both campus sites- Mequon and Ann Arbor

 was there with his wife,

 Dr. Tammy Ferry,

 to welcome and greet participants.

Elise Arndt of Troy, Michigan

 was the Keynote speaker 

and challenged the women to stand firm

 in the God-pleasing

 moral strength and character 

that they bring to their families, 

neighborhoods, and nation.

Would you like to know more 

about neighborhood ministry?

Check out: ineighborhood

I was blessed to be a breakout speaker 

with two of my daughters.

Left-Laura Schumacher of Ypsilanti Michigan

(Saline High School Art Teacher 

and Adjunct Art at Concordia- Ann Arbor)

Right- Jessica Denninger of Canton, Michigan

(Kindergarten Teacher at St. Matthew's Lutheran School-

 Walled Lake, MI.)

 Our topic:

 Visual Prayer and Bible Journaling- 

Telling the story of God's Faithfulness-

 Right where you ARE.

With an overview of Proverbs 3:1-6

 we highlighted and introduced some

creative faith expressions and tools.

Writing in the Margins- Lisa Nichols Hickman

Beauty in the Bible-Adult Coloring Book

Staples-Trading-Card-Pages- (for Individual prayer cards)

Avery floral mini binder- ( have also seen them at Staples)

Prayer Cards- Pinterest-praying-for-the-southeastern-district

Ann Voskamp Resources-aholyexperience.com/free-tools-library-signup

Resources:

Praying in Color- Sybil MacBeth

26 Ways-Pray-Alphabet-Spiritual-Practices- Lisa Hickman

Simple-Blessings-Coloring-Designs-Karla Dornacher

Today-Going to be a Great Day Inspirational-Coloring book

Faith-Angie's-Patterns-Angie-Grace

Prayers-Adults Coloring Book-Deborah-Muller

Psalms-Timothy-R-Botts

Interested in the Family Faith Rolodex Words?
email me and I will send you the pdf.

Resources/information
 for early childhood classroom use-
The Lords Prayer Book
My Prayer Journal
Praying the Alphabet Flip Chart
My Kindergarten Prayer Book
message Jessica here:
Jessica Meier- Facebook

Tips for visual prayer/journaling
for middle school and high school students:
Devotional prayer time
Prayer Cards
Small Group Bible Study
message Laura here:
Laura Schumacher-Facebook

Journaling Bible 

and Sermon note cards

illuminated-journaling book- Jann Gray

Journaling Bibles-

can be a challenge to find these days.

A couple of links:

ESV Journaling Bible

The ones pictured here are:

esv-single-column-journaling-bible-chestnut

Artist Karla Dornacher has printable Margins.

Bible-bookmarks-Karla Dornacher

And a tangled mini-pumpkin by Pat Maier.

How will the news spread 

about creative faith expressions?

Social Media- read this resource to learn more.

Digital-Cathedral-Networked-Ministry-Wireless World

Pat Maier, 

wife of LCMS Michigan District President,

Dave Maier was a participant and encourager.

Her hope is to begin a Visual prayer

 and Bible Journaling group

 on the Concordia University campus 

to encourage students, faculty,

and community in the areas

 of prayer and Bible reading. 

Interested in connecting with Pat Maier 

about speaking about Bible Journaling

 at your church or group?

Message Pat here:Patricia Maier

Check out #cuaacreate on Instagram

 to watch this community grow.

Here is the link to the

Facebook Bible Journaling Group.

Journaling Bible Community-

 Illustrated Faith and Shanna Noel

and to the newly forming Bible Journaling Group 

in Ann Arbor Michigan-

Ann Arbor Bible Journaling

We give thanks for the partnership of WLI- CUW

 and their heart for connecting women to each other and to

our Lord Jesus.

Bible Marginalia- When Faith Helps Out

Bible Marginalia Series- #134

My friend, Faith, 

is a spirit-filled woman

 who happens to ALSO be a wonderful artist.

I introduced the concept of Bible Journaling

 to a group of women in leadership roles.

I saw Faith's face light up

 as she thought about all the ways

 she might contribute 

to this style of worship in a Bible.  

With encouragement, 

she created these margins 

to color for my Bible.

They are wonderful glimpses of images

 that reflect and cement 

these psalms right into my heart.

At worship today this image 

and these words kept "floating through"

 as I sat and participated in worship.

The Lord speaking right to me-

Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

Lord, fill me with your grace,

mercy, compassion, and JOY.

Blessed at His table once again.

To be satisfied.

Faith has offered these margins

 to be used for personal 

and ministry and church purposes.

If you would like a copy of these- 

I will email them to you.

Just notify me by email:

condoit@aol.com

or in the contact info on this blog.

Supplies used:

Faith Mueller margins 

(she goes by Mutti)

Prismacolor pencils

Washi tape

Acrylic paint- Target

Oh! Give Him Thanks!

Youngest daughter Sara 

and son-in-law Joshua shared this news today.

For He is Good!

Report is baby is healthy

with long legs.

Today in Ann Arbor Michigan,

 I had the privilege to be a

 break out session presenter

 with the other two daughters.

 Jessica Meier (on right) and 

Laura Schumacher.

( ah, yea that 's her on the left)

We spoke about how God

 is chasing things up in our lives

 with Visual prayer and Bible Journaling.

And His mercy endures forever!

 We shared about how God

 has brought an  aliveness and richness

 of color to our spiritual lives

 in ways that we could not have imagined.

And choses those least likely to bring forward,

so that the glory is rightly given to HIM.

And we are humbled.

And we pray that His mercy 

will raise up groups of women-

 that were connected today

 to call women to prayer and Bible Study 

with visual tools.

For the sake of the neighborhoods,

 our own families,

and His work in the World.

 Oh! we give thanks-

 that He does not leave us alone

here for the sake of the Kingdom.

Vrsly Updates- Social Media Gospel

The favorites of this last month -

 the Vrsly app on my phone.

 a few words on a photograph

 that changes up the story

These images are meant to be SHARED, 

PINNED, and sent to friends on Facebook.

Join the team to spread

 Social Media Gospel to the World