Good Friday for Us

Good Friday 

The Place of the Skull-

would have been outside

 the walls of Jerusalem.

Where this might have been 
is now a part of a bus terminal.

The rocks continue to fall off

 the side of the rock side.

It looked more like

 this about 100 years ago.

 The traditional site as preserved
 by Constantine's mother 
is The Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The large mosaic in this setting depicts
 the crucifixion, 
and dressing of the body of Jesus.

"Early Christians venerated  the site. 

Then the emperor Hadrian 

covered it with a pagan temple.

Only in AD 326 was the first church 

begun by the emperor Constantine I. 

He tore down the pagan temple

 and had Christ’s tomb

 cut away from the original hillside. 

Constantine’s church 

was burned by Persians in 614,

 restored, destroyed by Muslims in 1009 

and partially rebuilt. 

 Crusaders completed 

the reconstruction in 1149. 

The result is essentially 

the church that stands today."

(seetheholyland.net.)

Whatever the exact site,

we know that the important event

 for Christians was our Jesus 

dying on the cross for each of us.

And we wait with Holy Saturday vigil-

the Good News of His Resurrection. 

Bible Marginalia- Gone Astray

Bible Marginalia Series- #288

Isaiah 53:1-6
oh the richness of words-

believed, heard, revealed,
root, dry ground,
beauty, desire,
despised, rejected,
sorrows, grief,
hide, despised,
borne griefs,
carried sorrows,
esteemed, stricken,
smitten, afflicted,
pierced transgressions,
crushed iniquities,
chastisement, peace,
wounds healed,
sheep astray,
turned, every one-
and the Lord has laid on him
 the iniquity of us ALL.

Holy Week Reflection.

Supplies:
Printable-pageofjoy.com.
Sheep- Vintage book page
Distress Ink- Weathered Wood
Akashiya Sai Watercolor Brush Set

Hosanna- Now Save us!

O Jerusalem, O Jerusalem 

Thinking of the walls 

and gates of the City-

 this Palm Sunday.

Thinking of the streets of the city.

O Jerusalem.

So they took branches of palm trees 
and went out to meet him, 
crying out, “Hosanna! 
Blessed is he who comes in the name
 of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”
John 12:13

I can do All Things- through Him

I received this packet at the 

Best Practices Conference 

in Phoenix in February.

Just getting around to opening it up.

 I like the Send a Prayer-

Send a Blessing title.

 This preprinted card 

was in the packet.

It was stamped and addressed

to a recent graduate 

of Concordia Seminary.

The instructions on the envelope

 gave the directions

 to pray for the pastor on the label.

You could add another prayer thought

 and put it in the mail.

So today a prayer card went in the mail to

Rev. Timothy Roth.

 I prayed for his family

 and congregation-

Saint Peter Lutheran Church

 in Humbolt, Kansas.

I like this simple method of 

praying for others 

and then blessing them 

with the prayer.

This could be a way for a church

 to begin 

or strengthen their prayer ministry.

Verses could be printed on a card and then

a Visual Prayer added to the back side.

Encouragement

and prayer for others 

done in community.

Bible Marginalia- In His Word I Hope

 Bible Marginalia Series- #287

Psalm 130: 5-6

In His Word I Hope.

Today was a challenging day.

Hearing about the unexpected

 death of a dear friend.

Another friend had the unexpected

 death of her brother-in-law.

Often death comes unexpected.

"Out of the depths 

I cry to you, O Lord.

O Lord, hear my voice."

Some days we are in the depths.

Nothing makes it better-

 or changes things.

In these challenging places I am reminded

of His Goodness.

"Wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

and in his word I hope;

my souls waits for the Lord

more than watchmen for the morning,

more than watchmen for the morning."

In memory of my friend-

Vivi Diefenthaler

Supplies:

Napkin

Tri-Art Gesso

Stickers

Die-cut

Colored pencils

Finepoint Sharpie pen

Bible Journaling with Kids

It is always good to 

share great resources.

Chelsea Wojcik

was at Creative Haven 

early March for a book signing

 of her newest book-

Bible Journaling with Kids.

It has been a blessing to be a part of 

watching this journey.

Chelsea is such an encourager 

for those who desire to bring 

this processing tool 

for time in His Word

 and share it with children.

 She shared pages from her Bible

 and stated that it is simply-

pray, read and talk.

 It is not about having your children 

"copy" your pages.
She loves it when her children surprise her with
their simple understanding.

It may be a basic Biblical truth that becomes

 the focal point of a Bible page.

Chelsea gives practical guidance 

for using supplies "in the house." 

Her education background shines

 in the way of making 

complex topics "come alive"

in approachable and tactile ways.

Blessings in this journey?

Time of worship with her children,

marking the journey along the way,

and awe-inspiring truths about God.

Sharing our goodbyes.

The Women of Margin Madness-

the Bible Journaling Ministry 

at Burke Community Church
 in Burke, Virginia

has been a rich blessing 
in the Visual Faith journey.

L to R- Connie, Sara McCormick,

 Michele Bowden, and Chelsea. 

Some are moving to new places 

and we give thanks to our Heavenly Father- 

for bringing us together along the way.

I am thankful for having the opportunity

 to write the forward for Chelsea's book.

May the Lord bless these friends 

as they all continue to serve in His Kingdom.

Books can be ordered from her website:
http://www.biblejournalingwithkids.com

Lent and Easter Words- Tag Booklet

Some photos of the 

Keep the Faith Project-

 Lent and Easter Words-

the Tag Booklet

Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday

Lent and Holy Week

Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday

Gethsemane and Good Friday

Golgatha, Tenebrae

Strepitus and Hymn 

 John 14:1-4,  Holy Saturday

Easter and Resurrection

 Christ the Lord is Risen today!

Alleluia!

A favorite hymn

The project can be downloaded

 in Resources on the

Visual Faith Ministry website
lent-and-easter-words-tag-booklet

Supplies:
Scrapbook paper 
Old Hymnal
Fibers and ribbon
Washi tape
12 #8 size manila tags
Assorted die-cuts
Distress ink
Thrift store Bible
Paper Clips

Bible Marginalia- Living Hope

Bible Marginalia Series: #286

LIVING HOPE
1 Peter 1:3-9

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
changes EVERYTHING.
It brings us the blessing by His mercy,
to be born again
to a LIVING HOPE.
This inheritance is imperishable, 
undefiled, and unfading, 
kept in heaven for me- and you.
This inheritance, by God's power, 
is being guarded by faith 
for a salvation 
ready to be revealed in the last time.
We can rejoice, 
even though we have trials and 
challenges.
A genuine faith - tested by fire, 
is more precious than gold. 
Though we have not see him, 
we love him.
Though we do not see him now, 
we believe in him.

This LIVING HOPE-
what a gift.
Each day, every hour-
an alive HOPE.

Supplies:
Interleaved Bible
Used the printable verse from
 purejoycreative
scripture-cards
napkin from Tuesday Morning
Alpha letters
Washi tape

Grandson #5

 Isaiah John

Born March 9, 2018

9 lb  8oz   22in

 Mom Sara--doing well

Dad Joshua-

 looking at his new son

Papa with Isaiah
Smooshy face

Never gets old-
these little ones 

Gigi going to love
 these snuggles

Big Brother Levi-
 gonna figure out all this 
new stuff.
He's got this.

Heavenly Father,
 we give thanks for your tender care
 for this new little one.
We are thankful for the ways you
will care for Isaiah 
and continue to bless the life of this
loved one..
We give thanks for the safe delivery
 and health of his momma too.
In the name of Jesus we pray.
Amen.

Bible Marginalia- Remember

Bible Marginalia Series - # 285

Deuteronomy 8
Remember the Lord Your God

This chapter certainly lays things
 out for us about the commands
 that God has given us.
Remember.
Remember. 
Time to be humble.
Take care lest you forget.
Remember- 
the Lord your God.
God gives you the power
 to get wealth.
And IF you forget the 
Lord your God
and go after other gods
and serve them and worship them,
you shall surely perish.

Sometimes we have a 
difficult time reading
 this passages in the Old Testament.
 It is much easier to say-
 that was then and this is now.
Maybe these commands 
do not apply for us today?

Moses had charged parents
 in teaching their children,
to impress the Word of God upon them.
The best way to teach this is the frequent 
repetition of the same things
 over and over again.
So in this chapter, Moses is using the 
same principles with instructing 
the Israelites as his children.
Obey God.
Remember the great things 
God has done for them.
Be cautious about the temptations
 of a prosperous condition.
There is a warning about consequences
 of disbelief in God.
What do we do now?

LIVE AS IF THE 
LORD IS YOUR GOD.

Supplies:
Colored pencils 
Washi tape
Fine-point non bleeding Sharpie pen
Crayola Crayons

Hope Legacy Paper Bag Journal

Sharing a Keep the Faith project

from 14 years ago.

 My mom was diagnosed with uterine cancer

 and began chemotherapy treatments.

 I started sending my parents 

notes of hope and encouragement.

After her death in August 2004, 

 I was helping my dad sort life,

and I found the notes

and cards taped all over the house.

They were in the bathroom,

inside cupboard doors, and

on the wall of the bedroom.

 I didn't know what to do with them.

But, I knew one thing.

 I didn't know how to grieve

 the loss of a parent.

Somewhere along the way,

 I had seen a paper bag journal project.

This was long before Pinterest, 

and I don't really know how 

we came across new ideas.

 I used 6 basic lunch bags 
(not the extra large size)

 placed end to opposite end 

and a small pink paper bag for the center.

 The layers were hole punched

 in the center through all layers

 and tied with ribbon.

 The pockets serve as places

 to add the notes and memorabilia.

Recycled greeting cards-

(from sympathy cards) 

served as the extra embellishments.

I added a page of mom's handwriting.

Double sided tape secures the items on the pages.

Flaps are formed with a hole punch and a brad.

When sorting through boxes of old newspaper, 

I found the newspaper article 

about my great-grandmother's death in 1922.

When I saw what had been written 

about her in the church's newsletter-

Emanuel's Lutheran Church in Tipton, Indiana, 

 a new life's purpose was being shaped.

Great Grandma Anna was 

"a faithful wife to her husband, 

a devoted mother to her children, 

she was mindful not only of their bodily

 but also and especially of their  spiritual welfare."

That's legacy.

The forming of spiritual centering

 from one generation to the next.

Passing the baton.

So the pieces came together within

 the layers of a paper bag journal.

A grieving heart grasped the words of hope

 in Bible passages secured along the way.

I began to SEE the purpose unfold

 of my journey ahead,

for the sake of my children and their children.

 Meaning-making is not meant to be difficult,

but it does become clearer with the hands-on

 tangible, visual gatherings along the way.

Perhaps then, the story to bless 

the next generation is a bit easier to find.

Anna Bauer-

my grandmother with her siblings.

Katherine Elizabeth and Constance

 Maybe a simple "Keep the Faith" tool 

brings hope and encouragement to another 

mom or dad-

for the sake of the next generation.