Reformation 500- God on OUR side

 This is at St. Peter Lutheran Church 

in Schaumburg, Illinois.

The artist/ teacher Joanna Eden 

directed the work 

of her students to create this.

She drew the outline 

and the students painted it in.

On this Reformation Day-

may we still live as if-

 it's STILL ALL ABOUT JESUS.

This is Most Certainly True.

I heard this song today- 

"If God Had Not Been on Our Side"

by Martin Luther

 and the words

 have stuck with me all day.

Wonderful words to ponder 

on this 500th Anniversary of the Reformation.

Make sure you click the link

 to hear the song on You Tube.

"If God Had Not Been on Our Side"
by Martin Luther, 1483-1546

1. If God had not been on our side
And had not come to aid us,
The foes with all their power and pride
Would surely have dismayed us;
For we, His flock, would have to fear
The threat of men both far and near
Who rise in might against us.

2. Their furious wrath, did God permit,
Would surely have consumed us
And as a deep and yawning pit
With life and limb entombed us.
Like men o'er whom dark waters roll
Their wrath would have engulfed our soul
And, like a flood, o'erwhelmed us.

3. Blest be the Lord, who foiled their threat
That they could not devour us;
Our souls, like birds, escaped their net,
They could not overpower us.
The snare is boken-we are free!
Our help is ever, Lord, in Thee,
Who madest earth and heaven.

Hymn 267
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Ps. 124
Author: Martin Luther, 1524
Translated by: composite
Titled: "War' Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit"
Tune: "War' Gott nicht mit uns"
1st Published in: Gesangbuch
Town: Wittenberg, 1537

Listen HERE:

If GOD HAD NOT BEEN ON OUR SIDE

Reformation 500- Martin Luther's Seal

My husband received this gift this past summer.

 It has been propped up on the window sill.

I like how it is so delicately done

 and I love the symbolism 

of this tiny piece of stitchery.

The Luther seal or Luther rose 

is a widely recognized symbol for Lutheranism.

 It was the seal that was designed for Martin Luther 

 at the behest of John Frederick of Saxony in 1530, 

while Luther was staying at the Coburg Fortress
 during the Diet of Augsburg. 
Lazarus Spengler, to whom Luther
 wrote his interpretation, 

sent Luther a drawing of this seal. 

Luther saw it as a compendium or expression 

of his theology and faith, 

which he used to authorize his correspondence.

 Luther informed Philipp Melanchthon 

on September 15, 1530, 
that the Prince had personally 
visited him in the Coburg Fortress 
and presented him with a signet ring, 
presumably displaying the seal.

                                                       (Wikipedia)

I have tried to find the designer/creator

 on Facebook and on the internet

 and haven't been able 

to find any contact information.

 Maybe that will sow up with this blog post!!!

Reformation 500- Solas Bookmark

Reformation 500 Bookmark

 Print 3 to a page

(Best on cardstock)

Designed by Kathryn Stanis-

Visual Faith Coach

These images certainly help us 

to remember and reflect on the things

 that are the basic tenets 

for the Protestant Reformation.

Available for FREE download 
on the resource page at:
Visual Faith Ministry.

Reformation 500- Solas Margins

 SOLA-

Sola Fide-Faith

Sola Gratia- Grace

Sola Scriptura- Scripture

Solus Christus- Christ 

We stand on these SOLA principles:
grace, faith, and Scripture 
because there is only one Jesus Christ
 in whom we can be saved.
It has been done FOR us.
As we celebrate this 500th
Anniversary of the Reformation,
we give thanks to God for His work
 through Martin Luther and the reformers.
The truth stands in the light.

And a favorite quote:
"We need to hear the Gospel

 every day because 

we forget it every day."

Martin Luther

These Bible margins and quotes
 are availabe here on the 
Visual Faith Ministry
  website as a FREE download.
Visual Faith Ministry Resources
Download and print and color for personal,
 church, school and ministry purposes.
Not for resale.

Supplies:
 Prismacolor pencils
NIV Noteworthy New Testament- Zondervan

Soli- Deo Gloria
To God Alone the Glory
Blessed Reformation!

Reformation 500- Katie Von Bora

 There are a lot of resources and new books

 available to commemorate

 the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation.  

Not many are written for children.  

Not many new resources about Katie Luther.

 I have read both of these- 

published by Concordia Publishing House.

Both are wonderful starting points 

for knowing a bit of Katie's story.

And maybe even for adults-

this Hero of Faith story 

is both a quick introduction

 or an interesting review.

Reformation 500-The Business of Prayer

I have been seeing this image
 on Pinterest alot lately.

The wall is a lovely brick wall
 at the Retreat Center - 

Richmond Hill, in Richmond, Virginia.

I added the words probably 

4 years ago with Pinwords.

 Don't event think that site is still around.

It shows up on Boards titled- 

Reformation, Martin Luther,

or Prayer.

Sometimes it is good to revisit a simple thought,

with a simple image.

Powerful.

Reflective.

Memorable.

That is what drives social media- 

and the following interactions.

Pin Away.

Bible Marginalia- One Blessing After Another

Bible Marginalia Series- #268

John 1:16

I simply love this verse.

One blessing after another after another.... 

Sometimes it is so easy to get 

wrapped up in our own agenda.

We simply forget.

What is awaiting us in 

full measure every morning.

From the fullness of his grace-

we have RECEIVED.

Already have it..

with more on its way...

more blessings...

more blessings...

more grace.

Just got to 

GIVE THANKS

for all of that.

Supplies:

NIV Noteworthy New Testament

Fine-Point Sharpie pen- non-bleeding

Washi tape

Bible Marginalia- Heart Watch

Bible Marginalia Series---#267

1 Samuel 16: 7b

Sermon notes

Samuel comes to Bethlehem

 to anoint the new King.

He comes with trepidation and fear

 that Saul the King would find out.

Jesse marches out his sons-

seven of them to be exact.

He sees handsome men 

and judges it to be one of them.

The Lord says they are not the ONE.

"For the Lord sees not as man sees,

man looks on the outward appearance, 

but the Lord looks on the heart."

And then he asked if there are any more.

Well- just the youngest.

David comes and the Lord says- 

"This is he."

Samuel anoints David and the 

Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David

 from that day forward.

Pretty dramatic day there.

A reminder of just what is 

important to the Lord-our hearts.

And how often we get sidetracked

 with all the things that are not heart-tending.

Lord, keep me focused 

on the RIGHT THINGS.

Supplies:

Fine-point Sharpie pen-non-bleeding

Micron pen

Colored pencils 

Uncluttered Spaces

We need "uncluttered time and space 

in which we can distance ourselves 

from our own activities 

enough to see what God is doing."
Eugene Peterson

Keeping the rhythm of 

work and rest within 

God's time is necessary, 

faithful and wise.

I hear the disclaimer over and over 

among our harried lives--

too busy, too much, too little margin.

We need to remember that God will STILL 

work in the margins of our lives.

He prefers first fruits, and lifted offerings.

But, He still delights when His children

 come as beggars 

with little to offer and sit by the wayside.

His powerful presence will take

 our meager offerings 

and turn them into banquets that feed our soul.

How blessed that we have a heavenly Father,

who meets us right where we are-

strung out and strung along.

He takes frazzled, piece-meal connections

and still works Miracles.

And maybe from that point of view-

we can SEE what He is doing.

Visual Faith- Charleston, West Virginia

We gathered on Saturday- October 14, 2017 

at St. Timothy Lutheran Church 

in Charleston, West Virginia

for a Visual Faith event.

It was great to have a non-gendered 

and intergenerational event.

Visual Faith coaches 

Kathryn Stanis and Wendy Hardy

 came from the Pittsburgh area

 to bring encouragement for "starting out" 

and what has worked for them 

to begin a Visual Faith ministry.

Participants were from a variety of area churches.

What a blessing to be together.

Lots of show and tell to share.

The mother -daughter team of 

Connie Denninger and Sara Wilson

 brought stories of encouragement 

for Visual Faith practices.

Pages from the Bible 

of artist Daphne Boder.

Visual Faith coaches - 

Daphne Boder and Pamm Moore-Haley
 and Jan Northcutt

were instrumental in bringing 

the details of the day together.
Michelle Fowler was the chef extraordinaire.

Faith Art Canvas shared by

mixed-media artist

Candice Mullins.

Pages journaled in a "regular" Bible by 
practitioner- Bobi Bryant.

I will continue to pray over this faith community.

It is always a blessing 

to see what the Lord does in the Kingdom

 from these Visual Faith gatherings.

We already know that He

 is about the Next Thing for participants 

that were gathered in this place-

 for such a Time as this!

Bible Marginalia- Increase Our Faith

 Bible Marginalia Series- #266

Luke 17

This section of Scripture highlights 

one of the challenges for me as 

I have been doing Bible Journaling practices.

There is so much HERE.

Temptation to sin reminders, 

and forgiving our brothers and sisters.

The Apostles ask Jesus to "Increase our faith," 

and then there is the mustard seed reminder.

The unworthy servant and our duty.

The Cleansing of the ten lepers--

and then Jesus says-

"Rise and go your way;

your faith has made you well."

And the coming of the Kingdom-

"behold- the kingdom of God 

is in the midst of you."

These are some of my well-remembered

 phrases in the New Testament.

Bible Journaling has helped me to SEE

 that sometimes they are all on 

ONE page of the Bible.

Though this makes it difficult to pick out 

what might be highlighted in the margin,

each time I come back to this page over and over-

it is so RICH in WORDS and IMAGES.

And since I don't do much actual drawing-

it is the image of the flower napkin 

in the background that makes 

these words jump off the page.

From right here- to my heart- as prayer.

Thank you, LORD, 

for making your WORD so full of meaning-

every time I linger in it. Amen.

Supplies:

Napkin- one layer
Tri-Art Clear Gesso

Alpha stickers

Colored pencils 

Fine-point non-bleeding Sharpie

Bible Marginalia- Sing the Lord's Song!

Bible Marginalia Series- #265

Psalm 137: 4

I have been thinking of this verse

 for a few weeks now-

 How shall we sing the Lord's Song?

Somehow in the aftermath 

of the shootings in Las Vegas- 

this thought comes front and center.

In a world full of disaster and hurting people,

where discouragement reigns supreme,

 hope slips away between 

the crevices of our days.

How do we respond 

as followers of Jesus?

We sing His GOODNESS.

We tell of His MERCY and GRACE.

Nothing that comes from us 

can begin to bridge these deep soul losses.

It must begin with our God, 

for He ALWAYS reaches for us first.

And in these days of grieving
 for so many and so much-

we certainly still have a song to sing.

We sing the LORD'S Song.

Supplies:
Napkin- (single layer)
Tri Art Clear Gesso
Acrylic paint
Assorted Alpha letters
Colored pencils

Gifted To Influence- Leadership Conference

Had an opportunity 
to attend this conference

 this year as a presenter and exhibitor
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

We were able to share the story of

 Visual Faith Ministry

 and launch the new website.

Visual Faith Ministry

With Co-Founder-

 Patricia Maier- at our exhibitor's table.

Show and Tell for ideas 

for visual faith practices.

Our new logo for Visual Faith Ministry.

WLI Director - Darcy Paape

opening with "story" at the Honors Dinner.

I shared conversation and presented 

with the topic of Deploying Digital Missionaries.

Pat shared the vision for Visual Faith practices.

A bite for lunch downtown Milwaukee.

Some evening fun with comedian-

 Leslie Norris Townsend

And THIS foursome-
Patricia Maier, Wendysue Fluegge, 
 Deb Burma and myself
 will be leading an 

Extravagant Love 
Caribbean Cruise - 

February 9-14, 2019 with EO TRAVELS

Mark your calendars now!!!
Never ceases to amaze me
 about what the Lord is up to!

Visual Faith- The VRSLY Project

The VRSLY PROJECT- 

The updates for Visual Faith

 intersections in my daily life.