2016 Best Nine

A bit of fun with the best nine of 2016

 and sharing some of them here -

Bible Journaling Best Nine

Best Nine-Grandson #one

Griffin

 Best Nine-Grandson #two

Levi

Best Nine-Grandson #3

Jackson

Best Nine-Grandson #4

Gordon

Best Nine- VRSLY

Best Nine-SKY

Best Nine- Flowers

Best Nine- Soul Care Resting

Christmas 7- Journey Home- Year's End

Bible Marginalia Series- #232

Hebrews 8:12

Remembering our sins no more!

That is a mighty fine way to end the year.

Not that I didn't try to have

 a "better" year this last year.

It is just so very obvious how quickly

 I fail to remember the good choices

 and get swept away by mediocre choices.

Not necessarily bad-

though some certainly fail there,

 but just the same old ordinary things

 that trip me up and cause me to stumble.

Over and over again-

pride,

jealousy,

coveting,

deception,

lying,

boasting.
and

whining.

Well, that lays the groundwork

 for a host of other sin layers.

And then mercy shows up......

BIG BUCKETS of MERCY.

Washed over me like caressing rain.

Carrying off the sloth and gray of sinfulness.

And laying softly a coat of snow white GRACE

gently around my shoulders.

And I get ready to BEGIN AGAIN.

in the CLEAN SLATE club.

Living as a life-time member

 of the "do-over" club.

Fresh calendar,

fresh year,

fresh waiting.

Sins forgotten,

replaced in LOVE.

Gift of the Father-

through His Son Jesus-

by the power of the Holy Spirit-

 in ME.

Supplies:

Colored pencils

Fine-point Sharpie marker

Christmas 6-Joy Days

 Bible Marginalia Series- #231

Galatians 3:26-29
Family- what a JOY to be a part of God's family.
Certinaly the blessing to think 
about in these days of Christmas.
Things sort of settle down 
in the days after Christmas.
Unless you add the excitement 
of a new grandson to the mix.

Gordon John schumacher

And a family adds another son.

And four grandsons 
together for the first time.
JOY DAYS indeed.

All of God's children 

in eternity together.

JOY!

Supplies:

Christmas card

Sharpie pen

Washi tape

Christmas 5- Fulfillment of the Promise

 Bible Marginalia Series- #230

Fulfillment of the Promise

Luke 2

Even if the lights are till up 

and the trees glow in our homes, 

we begin to go back to life "before" Christmas.

Back to the rush and hurry, 

and the lists and the priorities.

What if we would carry 

with us this amazing revelation?

The annunciation to the shepherds.

And then they quietly herded sheep 

to stop by Bethlehem, 

that they might give honor and praise.

Themselves.

Not leaving it up to another to give homage.

Not asking if it was worthy of the effort.

Just simple hearing that deserved an action. 

Glory to God in the Highest,

and peace and goodwill to men.

Yes, as we leave the manger viewing,

may we carry with us this same

 spirit of praise and rejoicing.

Yes, because of the fulfillment of the promise.

Supplies:

Manila tag

Tim Holtz Distress Ink

Red ribbon

Fine-point Sharpie pen

Sharpie pen

Also in margin from previous journaling-

Karla Dornacher margin

Christmas 4- Sure Knowledge of Faith

Bible Marginalia Series -#229
 Jeremiah 31:15
Remembering the slaughter 
of the innocent children.
And this cry still arises
 in the lands around Bethlehem.
In all of our advancement,
and technology inventions, 
we still wrestle with the very essence
 of our tainted ways of living with each other.
The disrespect for human life.
For the innocent children- born and unborn.
Today a daughter is at the hospital
 in labor to bear a son.
With doctors and nurses around 
to help and preserve life.
Today we remember the young life 
of a college friend of the children
 in our family- taken in a car accident.
We do not know the moment of our deaths, 
and the knowledge of salvation
 is monumental and 
gracious blessing when we lose loved ones.


Dear Lord,
Mayo guard and protect the children.
May we find more ways to impact
 the lives and well-being of young lives.
May the mothers in labor 
be kept safe and the babies born thrive.
May these new lives be blessed 
with the gift of the knowledge 
of sure faith in the waters of baptism.
May we be spurred on to share 
this life-saving blessing with all young families
 and their little ones.
In the name of Jesus we pray,
Amen.

Supplies:
Washi tape
Colored pencils
Fine-point Sharpie marker

Christmas 3- God Incarnate

 Bible Marginalia series #228

Feast of St. John
John 1:1-16 

Incarnate, Incarnation-

a deity embodied in human form- 

in the flesh
Begotten-
to bring forth, beget, 
denotes the physical reaction
 of either parent to a child,
used especially  of God's act
 in making Christ His Son.

Two words that hold the center of Christmas-
Begotten and Incarnate.
The Word Made Flesh.
For God so LOVED the WORLD, 
that He GAVE His only begotten Son.
I love thinking about this-
and the wonder of it all.
By faith, and the gift of grace,
we too have seen Christ face to face.
In the very full margins of John 1-
a tip-in card works well. 

Supplies:
Old Christmas cards collaged for the image
Washi tape
Fine-point Sharpie pen

1. 
   

Christmas 2- A Host of Heavenly Angels

 Bible Marginalia Series-#227

A Host of Heavenly Angels

This is the day that remembers
 St. Stephan the Martyr.

Not such a great ending to his story.

Until we remember that is not the end of his story.

Because of our Christmas story celebration,

we all have a different end to our story.

Sometimes today is a rather melancholy day

 for me, as I think back and remember 

the death of my first husband on this day.

Now 37 years ago today.

But, it is this very Heavenly host image

 that reminds me of this joyful rejoicing chorus.

And there is Larry, and my mom and dad.

And someday me, 

and prayerfully all my loved ones.
And that's a good ending to the story.

Supplies:

Using those Christmas cards

and

Washi tape

A super way to still get a visual image

 in these especially busy days.

Christmas Day- Joy to the World

Bible Marginalia Series- #226

Matthew 1
The Birth of Jesus Christ  
Let Earth Receive Her King

Born in the City of David- Bethlehem

The journey to Bethlehem-

no matter where you are coming from,

or the challenges along the way-
you are still welcomed at the manger.
Blessed Christmas to each of you!

Images go with the 

Tree of Promise devotions written 

by Natalie Hartwig.

Visual Faith Journaling design by Pat Maier.

Files for each of these may be found here:
Files-DC Metro Visual Faith

Supplies for Bible page:
Christmas card
Washi tape
 Supplies for Daily Visual Faith Journey
Colored pencils
Fine-point Sharpie- non-bleeding

Christmas Eve- A Bethlehem Night

Bible Marginalia Series- #225

Luke 2-
A Bethlehem Night

Gathering of 3 years of margin work

 in these spaces.

Something to always see NEW

in an old story.

Ater 3 trips to Bethlehem-

 I can't help but see the landscape of Bethlehem

 in my mind when we read this story.

The rocky caves all around.

 Imagining the desolation 
of the surrounding hills

 with the shepherds and their flocks.

Oh, little town,

Oh, little town-

 you hold such a 

BIG GIFT.
Tidings of great JOY.

Supplies:
for the new  tip-in insert-
Cardstock
Christmas card cutouts
alpha letters 
Sharpie fine-point pen
Christmas "words" die cuts

Advent 27- Watchman- Awake!

Bible Marginalia Series-#224
Matthew 25
and (Matthew 24:36-41)
"But concerning that day and hour
 no one knows, not even the angels of heaven,
 not the Son, but the Father only."
I have often wondered if this is the
 only thing that Jesus does not know.

He certainly lived His life 
under the shadow of His own end.
And we would have to sit in the 
doom and gloom of a dismal eternity 
if it were not for the babe in the manger.
Who came in love FOR ME,
died and ROSE AGAIN,
FOR ME.
What hope this birth of a Savior brings,
and with it the reminder-
of what ADVENT preparation really is...
preparing for His return.
Oh, give thanks 
that we have that gift to celebrate.

Supplies:
Illustrated Faith Washi tape and paper clip
Colored pencils
Fine-point Sharpie pen
Alpha Letters
Tim Holtz Vial labels

Advent 26- God Loves Me Dearly

Bible Marginalia Series- #223

Zechariah 9: 9-13

Behold your King is coming to you.
Something about that is a heart
 in a manger kind of picture.
The Coming King of Zion.
Already been here.
Coming again.

Something about that is
 a God Loves Me Dearly chorus.
Yes, Love Came Down.

Still enjoying using old Christmas cards
 in the margins for Advent and Christmas.

Supplies:
Old Christmas cards
Washi tape
Colored Pencils
Fine-point Sharpie pen

Advent 25- Light in the Dark

Bible Marginalia Series- #222

Isaiah 21: 11-12
Light in the Dark

Watchman!
Working to see in the dark-
that makes sense on the day
 of least light for this year.
The longest night.
When we search for ways
 to bring  a bit of 
LIGHT.
We don't fear the darkness.
We know the promises we have heard.
And that might just add a bit
 of twinkle to our Advent.

Supplies:
Watercolors
Punched stars
Gold Sharpie pen
Fine-Point Sharpie pen
twinkle die-cut
paper clip tab

Advent 24-Showers of Love and Mercy

Bible Journaling series- #221

Zephaniah 3:14-17
Advent 24- 
Showers of Love and Mercy

A reminder of HOPE.
Just loving the terms and images
 here in this section.
A Mighty one.
The Lord is in your midst.
He will rejoice over you.
He will quiet you by his love.
He will exalt over you
 with loud singing.
He will rejoice 
over you with gladness.

This image was in the mail this past week-

when looking at hope,

when in the bleakest situations-

miracles can happen.

Just seems like this was a part

 of the look at Zephaniah.

Thanking God that my Lord sees me,
is with me,
and rejoices over me.
That is certainly showers
 of love and mercy.

Supplies:
Alpha letters
Cross stamp
Arrow stamp
IF stamps
Colored pencils 
Bible verse stamp
Cardstock
 Washi tape
Magazine add
Fine-point Sharpie pen 

Advent 23- Very God of Very God

Bible Journaling Series- #220

 Very God of Very God

Isaiah 9:1-7
The symbol of a full sun, 
our Sun of Righteousness,
 placed within the Trinitarian triangle
 emphasizes the deity of Christ.
A flip up- add-in.
A lot of symbolism in this image.

Supplies:
Cardstock
Sharpie marker
Pearlescent watercolors
Washi tape

Advent 22- Oh! come! Emmanuel

Bible Marginalia Series- #219

Matthew 1

God with Us.

Folded hands of prayer

 through the centuries.

Giving thanks for the

Emmanuel -

God With Us. 

A Christmas Card 

becomes the base for a "tip-in".

And through the years we pray

 the Advent song-

Oh, Come Emmanuel!

Come again!

Supplies:

Christmas card

Google image

Washi tape

Fine-point Sharpie pen

Colored pencils

Advent 21- Price Paid

 Bible Marginalia Series- #218

The Sacrifice of Isaac

Genesis 22

Had looked at this section of Scripture-

Advent 5 with the focus on Abraham

 and the promise to him.

This section is the Good News for Isaac-

and for each of us.

Price Paid.

Abraham's obedience met the mark.

Jesus's obedience and holiness met the mark.

In our wreck of life- we hear that message

with thankful hearts.

So a Christmas card is a perfect way

 to tie in a New Testament Christmas message

 and the Old Testament connecting story.

Helping us to see how it ALL fits together.
More on this devotion HERE:
Price Paid

Supplies:

Handmade Christmas card

Distress ink

Colored pencils

Washi tape
Fine-point Sharpie pen

Advent 20- Anticipatory Joy

  Bible Marginalia Series- #217

                                                 Luke 1
                                      Continuing with the 
                                Tree of Promise devotions
                               found in the Files section here:
                            Visual Faith Learning Community

                            Had added the Karla Dornacher
                                 margin almost 2 years ago.
                                The image for this devotion
                                           was a gift "box."

Finding that my collection of old Christmas cards

 are a help for the visuals for the Advent devotions.
One worked perfect for a "tip-in" 
added with washi tape.

Oh the Joy! that Mary and Elizabeth

 shared together.

Beyond imagination. 

Beyond belief.

Truly supernatural meeting

 their everyday lives.

We are expecting a Dec 27 grandson.

Wonderful to be in anticipation

 of a Christmas season baby.

Supplies:

Washi tape

Christmas card collection

Fine-point Sharpie pen

Advent 19- Prepare the Way

Bible Marginalia Series- #216

Luke 1

Prepare the Way

Isn't it amazing that any of us
 are privileged to be a part of
 the metanarrative story
 of Preparing the Way?
A wonder moment if I think
 about just what that means.
Zechariah and Elizabeth living out
 some rather unbelieveable "God Moments."

Thinking today about just how 
my choices work for preparing the way, 
or cluttering the journey.
For myself, my family, my neighbors
 and all the others I meet along the way.
A poignant thought 
in these days of "getting ready."

Supplies:
Cross stamped on cardstock
(to cover a messed up 
embossed angel that failed)
Acrylic paint- Target
Washi tape
Small manila tag
Fint-point non-bleed Sharpie pen
Stamps and ink
Small words (gift from a friend)

Advent 18- Eyes of Faith

Bible Marginalia Series- #215

 Hannah's Prayer

 Eyes of Faith

1 Samuel 2

A look at a beautiful prayer from 
a mother who prayed 
over the gift of a child.
Simple faith.
Simple relationship.
All in and all His.
The realization that any of our children
 are simply lent to us.
Every child at baptism is given to the Lord.
May this trust hold  be at the very fiber
 of being for all of our children and spouses,
 and grandchildren.
And the generations to come.

Supplies:
Colored pencils
Fine-point Sharpie pen

Advent 17- Risen King

 Bible Journaling Series- #214

Risen King

Isaiah 9

Since I have been journaling

 for a couple of years in this Bible -

there are now pages that are "full."

 I have decided that additions and layers-

 just add to the story.

The people have walked in the darkness.

Now there is a "tip-in"-

FOR THE GREAT LIGHT.

So good to read these sections

 of Scripture again and again.

Always see a new piece in new light.

For to us a Son is born,

to us a son is given!

Supplies:

Scrapbook paper

Cardstock

Washi tape

Pearlescent watercolors

 Fine-point Sharpie pen

2015 entry used Gelatos

Advent 16- Comfort Promise

Bible Marginalia Series- #213

Advent 16

 Comfort Promise

Isaiah 40:1-4

 Time to share the news 

of a straight highway

with words of peace to the world.

Above the din and shouting

 of the world there is HOPE.

In the crooked ways,

the rough patches along the road,

there is comfort.

Comfort, comfort my people.

The world is desperate for comfort.

And in all the messiness of life,

Jesus comes right into the middle of it-

with the gentle rocking

 of each of us in His arms.

Shush.

I am HERE.

Supplies:

Inspire Bible

 Colored Pencils

Signo Uni ball white marker

Fine-point Sharpie marker

Advent 15- Bind our Hearts

Bible Journaling Series- #212
Advent 15
Exodus 20:1-21
The Ten Commandments

What ties us to the Lord of the universe
 in a loving relationship?
The Ten Commandments.
How to Live Life, to Live Well,
 and Love Others Well.
The cross on the center of the 
tip-in (card flips up to read the words),
crosses to the New Testament story.
It is God's
 love, sending His son,
that rewrites our "sorry state" story
 of not fulfilling the commands of God.
By grace His great love, His heart for us, 
is the gift given in Jesus.
The Law fulfiller- when we cannot.
 The cross binds our hearts in Christian love,
 that we may extend that love to others.

Supplies:
Cardstock for tip-in
Washi tape
Colored pencils
Heart sticker
Fine-point Sharpie marker