Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Bible Marginalia- Everlasting Covenant

Bible Marginalia Series- #167

Sometimes in Bible Journaling
 I have started a page 
and come back to it way later.
Like wayyyyyy later.
More than a year later.
I had tried the process of a 
Stampin' Up ink roller pattern
 on tissue paper.
Added it in to the margin of my Bible.
Just wasn't ready to journal the page.
Been thinking about baptism,
covenant, and promise.
Now was the time to finish this page.
Somehow right now- 
meditating on the words-
 everlasting covenant-
is a blessing.

Supplies:
Stampin' Up ink roller flower design
Micron pens
Washi tape 
colored pencils

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Rhythm Cycles

Nothing makes me want 
to take a break more than-
weeding in the garden.
I tire much quicker now.
Can't really tolerate high heat or humidity

 I often weed from dusk to dark.
Daylillies here- just love the color.
The start of the garden phlox.
Queen of the Prairie.
 Filipendula- such a soft pink.
 Dwarf balloon flowers and feverfew.
Acanthus- royal and a bit regal.
Had to take out a shrub 
(tired of fighting the scale)
and now a vintage garden chair waits.
I like mid morning garden strolls.
and sometimes just plunk right down here -
 to clear my mind a spell.
I give thanks-
 and wonder if this is
 already counted in my journal.
Time to stay and  breathe deep in my
 very own garden hideaway.

Friday, June 24, 2016

A Servant's Heart

The Blessing Prayer
 for the 24th day of the month.
 Any month.
 Every month.
 "God, please help my children
 develop servant hearts 
that they may serve
 wholeheartedly,
'as to the Lord,
and not to men.' "
Ephesians 6:7 KJV

Servant hearts take time to be nurtured.
Sometimes we are just better
 at that than other times.
Often, our selfish, 
sinful nature wins the battle.
And then the dawn breaks,
 and we once again, 
start new and afresh.
Seeking to serve others- First.
Oh, how thankful I am for do-overs.


Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Resting Place

A few days ago we had an evening 
for some time on the water.
Water always refreshes our hearts.
Tumbling water down to water's edge.

Beautiful landscaping- carefully tended.

Lush blooms highlight in the dusk light.
And we are reminded 
of the necessary call to soul-
come sit awhile.
Breathe deep.
Without agenda.
The koi pond-
 resonates both movement and quiet.
Do you have a spot
 to sit and just contemplate?
To give yourself a "time-out?"
To watch the leaves 
on the nearby tree flutter?
God gives us His day -
 SUNDAY- the rest stop day.
Sometimes there are seasons 
when this is challenging.
So we take an evening
and watch the lightening bugs 
and push back and forth on the glider.
So that we may not be people 
who forget "their resting place."
Jeremiah 50:6

A friend gave this book 
to me in the last few days-
and as I read- 
and find "spiritual retreat"
here and now, now and then,
I see the sunset over the water.
And for friends that open their hearts
 and home for weary travelers-
Thank YOU.


Monday, June 20, 2016

Bible Marginalia-Here I am! Send Me

Bible Marginalia Series- #166
Worship into the Week
Sermon notes from June 12, 2016
Ordination and Installation Service 
for Ben Micheel
One of the readings was
 from Isaiah 6:1-13
The seraphim called to another:
Holy, Holy, Holy
is the Lord of Hosts;
the whole earth is full of
His Glory!
And though the foundations shake-
my predicament is the same-
Woe is me!
For I am unclean.
But the news arrive-
my guilt is taken away, 
and my sins atoned for.
And then the Lord asks-
Who will go? Who can I send?



Decided to add a yellow
 background to the left margin.
I make some notes during the service.
Noting where I am for worship.
(We travel much and are often 
NOT at our home congregation.)
Sermon notes.
Maybe some beginning
 lettering in the margins.
During the week is more reading,
perhaps numerous times,
praying over this section of Scripture.
Lectio Divina style.
Or really in this form, it is-
Visio Divina.
The Holy Spirit forming ME.
Spiritual Formation.

Supplies:
Micron Pens
Colored Pencils
Washi tape

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Faith of our Fathers

Father's Day 2016

Today in worship we sang this song:


  1. Faith of our fathers, living still,
    In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword;
    Oh, how our hearts beat high with joy
    Whene’er we hear that glorious Word!
    • Refrain:
      Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
      We will be true to thee till death.
  2. Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
    Were still in heart and conscience free;
    How sweet would be their children’s fate,
    If they, like them, could die for thee!
  3. Faith of our fathers, we will strive
    To win all nations unto thee;
    And through the truth that comes from God,
    We all shall then be truly free.
  4. Faith of our fathers, we will love
    Both friend and foe in all our strife;
    And preach thee, too, as love knows how
    By kindly words and virtuous life.

    A bit of the history:
    Faith of our Fathers is an English Catholic hymn, written in 1849
     by Frederick William Faber in memory of the Catholic martyrs
     from the time of the establishment of the Church of England by Henry VIII.
    Faber wrote two versions of the hymn: with seven stanzas for Ireland 
    and with four for England. The Irish version was sung at hurling matches until the 1960s.
    In England and Ireland it is usually sung to the traditional tune Sawston
    in the U.S. the tune St Catherine by Henri Hemy is more commonly used.

    I would believe that for just about all of us-- 
    the dungeon part went right past us.
    We weren't thinking about
     martyrs of the faith.
    We were singing in a sanctuary  
    without thinking about the freedom
     of gathering and
    professing our faith.
    And on this Father's Day 
    in the United States-
     I give thanks for the faith of my father,
    and for the faith of his father.
     I give thanks for the faith of the
    father of our three daughters.
    My husband- John,
    who by God's rich grace
     lives out the faith of his father,
     and his grandfather.
    And by this gift of grace,
     this earthly father 
    may have the blessing of
    sharing stories of faith 
    and the love of the heavenly Father
    with three sons-in-law and
     these three young grandsons.
    Griffin
    Levi
    Jackson
    So that faith of our fathers
    is not just some passing phrase of a song-
    that it might be the very essence of
    EVERYTHING.



Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Vintage Storage- Essential Oils

This was purchased a couple of years ago-
thinking it might help sort things
 in the garage redo.
Storage of small things.
A place for everything.
It was still empty.
SOOOOOO....
Cleaned it up,
set it out in the sun.
 No, I am NOT painting it.
 It is just the sort of chippy, 
worn and rusty-
that I love.
And paid for- just like it is.
 But the drawer bottoms 
could have a touch of update.
Scrapbook paper to the rescue.
The one divider comes out so it- 
so there weren't THAT many
 squares to measure and cut.
 So I have tried all sorts of ways
 to store the Essential Oils in the house. 
Need them close by- Easy to find.
 And not all over the place.
 Three little drawers.
 With Dividers.
And one full size drawer.
Measuring 6 inches wide.
6 inches high. 
And 9 inches deep.
 On the counter.
Hidden storage.
Perfect size.
And home for the Essential Oils.
Time for some lavender
 in the diffuser.

Monday, June 13, 2016

Bible Marginalia- My Words will not Depart

Bible Marginalia Series- #165

Isaiah  59:21-- Isaiah 60:1

Word into the Week
Part of the lesson from a Sunday Worship.
Thinking about these words 
and the HOPE.
The Lord says- this is a covenant.
And HE cannot break a covenant.
That is promise on steroids.
His Spirit and His Word that He gives us-
will not depart. 
 From ME,
MY Children,
and MY grandchildren.
A covenant that I cannot work
 to completion.
But, the Lord can.
From this time forth and
FOREVERMORE.
This verse goes right into
 the future GLORY.
ARISE SHINE!
Your Light has come!
Certainly much there to pray about-
Worship time brought
 into the hours of the week.

Supplies:
Illustrated Faith pen
Colored pencils