My $60 Cup of Coffee - Part 2

I have debated about 

whether to finish this story.

Part of it seems so trivial.

Yet, part of it is such a blessing.

That $60 cup of coffee. 

Well, I write these posts mainly for my family.

Recorded testimony of God's faithfulness.

So, when I am at my local grocery store,

 I am taken aback to run into 

an acquaintance who says--

"loved the coffee cup story."

And then another who is an Instagram follower-

"loved that you got another coffee mug from CPH."

So that part is the blessing.

A few days later- after posting the spilled coffee,

broken cup incidence,

Elizabeth Pittman sent me a brand new mug.

Carefully protected in heavy foam in a heavy box.

What a wonderful surprise.

Something in my little world noticed.

So that $60 fee to dry clean the drapes?

Well, it did cost me $60, but the stain didn't budge.

There is some clause in the Dry cleaners Bible...

And they are now 3 inches shorter 

than the undry-cleaned, unstained other panel.

Do I get new drapes?

Take the one left to have dry-cleaned,
 for $30 more,

 so then they are the same length?

See my dilemma?

But, what does it matter?

The birds don't care about the coffee-stained

 lining seen on the outside of the window.

They still cover the window and lend privacy.

They still help to keep the 

sun out in the lower level.

Is it just my own need for perfection?

Who really cares- except me?

 So, I have been mulling 

this over for a couple weeks.

And they will stay as is.

A reminder of a story....

A reminder of my own imperfectness.

A reminder of how much my God loves me.

That's just what He does- collects the imperfect.
He sent the perfect one 
to perfect some very Imperfect people. 

A reminder that one person's move

 to bless me with a mug-

made all the difference in a frustrating situation.

A reminder to be a blessing.
And if you stop by for a visit- 
I'll show you my imperfect drapes-
with a smile.
It's a sign of life.
If you didn't read the first part of the story-
 here it is:
my-60-cup-of-coffee

"Every priest goes to work at the altar each day, offers the same old sacrifices year in, year out, and never makes a dent in the sin problem. As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! Then he sat down right beside God and waited for his enemies to cave in. It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process. The Holy Spirit confirms this: This new plan I’m making with Israel isn’t going to be written on paper, isn’t going to be chiseled in stone; This time “I’m writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts.” He concludes, I’ll forever wipe the slate clean of their sins. Once sins are taken care of for good, there’s no longer any need to offer sacrifices for them."
Hebrew 10:11-18- The message

Melting into July

 High temps headed our way for the weekend.

The hydrangea will droop quickly.

The filipendula will just sway in the breeze.

Trying a Golden Dewdrop standard

 on the top deck this year.-

 yea- I know- 

it's  purple- not yellow;

 but that is the name.

 The day lilies will just 

keep doing their thing.

One bloom a day.

 The coneflower (Echinacea)

 are happy and bloom 

at the feet of the little girl.

Oh and white hydrangea -

 they just glisten at dusk.

These are some of the 

first hydrangea I planted.

Still like how the colors play out. 

Crocosmia-

always here for the 4th of July.

A dwarf bee balm- 

monarda- living out its namesake.

Gooseneck Loosestrife bend their heads

 as they stand guard to the back yard.

Running errands today I spotted

 the Queen Anne's lace along the sidewalk.

Such a study of delicate tiny blooms.

So, I will keep cutting back 
and cutting back in the garden.
And stand with the hose and the watering cans.
It's just what you do as
 June melts into July.

Enduring Word Bible- Widen your Hearts

 Enduring Word Bible- #5

Here-2 Corinthians 6: 1-13

Another reading from worship

 this past weekend.

Simply-worship into the week.

Rereading and looking at the texts.

Lectio divina- sacred reading.

reading slowly.

Again and again.
Call to those in ministry-
a long list of challenges-
a long list of gifts of the Spirit.
Speaking clearly and freely to the Corinthians:
WIDEN YOUR HEARTS.
Meant as much for us today-
 as it was 2000 years ago.

Supplies:

Enduring Word bible

Prismacolor pencils

Fine-point Sharpie non-bleeding pen

Washi tape

American Crafts- Bible Journaling Rub-ons

(Michael's) 

They don't add any thickness to your page.

Enduring Word Bible- Whirlwind

Enduring Word Bible- #4

A full day of worship events-

a retirement and an installation.

This was the Old Testament reading 

at the Retirement service.

Job 38- where the Lord answers Job-

out of the whirlwind.

It struck me that I often feel 

like I am the one in the whirlwind-

and in this reading God 

answers out of the whirlwind.

Or maybe that is God in the middle of 

"my whirlwind life"-

yup, God right in the middle of THAT. 

So, no, none of us were there 

when the world 

was set right in the universe.

When the morning, waves, the seas,

 darkness, the stars,

and clouds were created 

and given their purpose.

Think I can trust my whirlwind days

 to the ONE 

who holds ALL OF THIS

in His hands.

Supplies:

 Enduring Word Bible,

 Colored pencils, 

Fine-point Sharpie non-bleeding pen

 Faber-Castell Gelatos-

Guava and Aquamarine

Bible Marginalia- Endures

Bible Marginalia Series- #296

Psalm 119

There is just so much here--

a challenge to focus.

I joined Burke Community Church 

this week for their 

Margin Madness Bible Journaling evening.

They led us through some devotional time

 in this section of Scripture.

Then they gave multiple options 

for processing in the margins.

I was drawn to a stack of magazines,

 some acrylic paint and the printed out verse. 

Verse- 64

"The Earth, O Lord, 

is full of your steadfast love;

teach me your statues!"

How steadfast is this great love!

verse 90-

"Your faithfulness endures to all generations,

you have established the earth, 

and it stands fast."

Endures--
*suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently
*remain in existence, last.
Well, when we think of the earth,
 I suppose it is the second meaning.
 Lasting until the end of the earth.
The Lord created it and it 
will endure until He says no more.

Supplies:
Magazine cut-outs
Acrylic paint
Washi tape
Printed Bible verse
Fine-point Sharpie- non-bleeding

1. 
   

Baptism Blessings- Charlie

A Baptism Day Story

for Charleston John Meier

on Saturday, June 2, 2018.

First, you get ready for friends and family.

 You get a special celebration cake.

And assemble all sorts of treats- 

banana bars and oatmeal cookies.

(Thanks- Pat Maier for the amazing pretzels.)

You set up the buffet and cut up the melons,

and garnish with mint from the garden.

There is Minnesota Wild Rice salad 

and Momma's Real Good Baked Beans.

The roses and oriental lilies

 are blooming in the yard.

 Then it is time to go to church. 

Papa John Denninger 

gets to baptize Charlie.

Grandpa Meier shares in the service 

-leading the blessings.
A Child of God!
Thank you God for this good gift.

Explaining what comes next.

 Mom and Dad- 

Jessica and Dan 
sure love little Charlie.

With sponsors- Joshua and Laura Schumacher 

and cousins Griffin and Gordon.

With Sponsors Jenny and Matt Smith.

  The Meier family with dear friends-
the Lancaster and the Adam families.

 The Meier Family

 The Meier crew.

 The Meier Clan.

The Denninger crew.

 The Denninger clan.

A Baptism service can be 

hard work for the grownups.

Now it is time to go and celebrate! 

And you draw and write 

on the big chalk board.

 There is fun and you run and you play bball.

(or you sit and rest)

On a beautiful evening 

we were blessed to share and visit.

Aunt and Uncles and Cousins 

and Grandparents-Yea!

 Charlie on the Meier family
 baptism blanket.

Charlie's gown was sewn 
by his great-great-great grandmother- 
Anna Roehl on Daniel's side.
It has been worn by many generations
 on their baptismal day!

 There is one body and one Spirit—

just as you were called to the one hope

 that belongs to your call—

 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 

6 one God and Father of all, 

who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:4-6

 Charlie on the quilt that was 

his momma's for her Baptism-

Jessica Laine.

 Charlie on the quilt made for 

family baptisms by Great Grandma Ella Graft. 

Charlie on the family quilt made by 

Grandma Florene Denninger.

Cousins Evelyn and Clara
get a turn to hold. 

Uncle Matt and Aunt Jenny 

 A young friend and Uncle David

He won't be little long!

Sisters-in-love

A blessed day of faith celebration- 
from one generation to the next.

Enduring Word Bible- Covenant

Enduring Word Bible- #3

Tracking the word- covenant-

 right now and ended up at Ezekiel 16:62.

I find great comfort in just 

who initiates this covenant.

The Lord will establish.

Simply used colored pencils 

for the margin images and lettering.

Used bubble wrap around a toilet paper roll

 to add some faint color 

to the background with 

VersaCraft Chiffon Chalk.

(Used a heat gun to set)

Didn't want to cover up 

the lettering and coloring,

or the Biblical text.

The chalk is soft background color.

Added some washi tape to

mark where the Lord established

His covenant with His people.