Mr. Levi is Three

Mr. Levi is Three

Rounding out the celebrations 

for the month of February 

and this is one - do not forget kid.

The Birthday celebration 

was more of a "family affair."

But, all things are good

 when you get to wear your

"preschool" crown.

With balloons swaying by the ceiling,

and brightly colored gift bags all lined up.

And you have fun things 

to try out with momma.

 Cake-- all celebrations go better 

with cake and candles. 

Don't forget the frosting!

Blow them out!

So cars, and dinosaurs and duplos all rule.

As well as books, and laughter and 

everything cool.

May the Lord bless your adventures in Three-

Mr. Levi!

Enduring Word Bible- Rest

Enduring Word Bible- #38

Matthew 11:25-30

Come to Me and I will Give You Rest

The first part of this passage marks 
the words of Jesus about wisdom and children.
There is a a connection 
with the way of children- play- 
as it meets headlong with our grownup 
striving for work and more work.
The Forgetting of Sabbath.
We are pushed to the limit till 
our need for rest overwhelms.
The Message shares part of this passage as-
our need to learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
Oh, Lord, let us breathe 
in your Goodness for our own good. Amen.

Supplies:
Enduring Word Bible
Colored pencils
Washi tape
Fine-point Sharpie pen
Gelatos

Worship into the Week- Judging Others

Worship into the Week-

Luke 6: 37-42

Lectionary C

This week's reading is a clear indication

 of why it is so important 

to read the verses of the Bible in context.

So many times I have seen only verse 38:

"Give, and it will be given to you. 

Good measure, pressed down, 

shaken together, running over, 

will be put into your lap." 

Maybe it was connected to generosity

 or a giving heart.

It is actually wrapped around the topic

 of judging others, forgiveness 

and forgiving others.

Our well of forgiveness will be filled up in the measure

 of how we forgive others.

How we judge others

 and their worthiness to be forgiven.

 How we fall into condemnation

 and measuring others.

And we almost always come out

 "on top" of any measurement scale.

Then this section moves right into the parable

 of the speck and the log.

This becomes the epitome 

of the hypocrite analysis.

So easy.... to point out any mistakes- of others.

And sit with a "blind eye"

 to our own shortcomings.

Oh, to see these section 

all together-brings a new richness.

Supplies-

Visual Faith Printable
visual-church-year/childrens-bulletin-luke-6

Staples gel pens

(make sure you allow a generous drying time)

Junk mail 

Fine-point Sharpie pen

Worship into the Week- Blessed

Worship into the Week-  

Luke 6: 17-23

Lectionary C

Jesus Ministers to a Great Multitude

A great crowd of his disciples,

 a great multitude of people

 from all of Judea and Jerusalem

 and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon- 

they all came.

Because Jesus was there in the Galilee.

They came to hear him and to be healed.

Those with unclean spirits were cured.

All the crowd tried to touch him,

 for the power came out from him

 and healed all of them.

Simple. Dramatic. Truth.

These miracles opened the door for him

 to share words that would change their lives.

The Beatitudes.

Turning the way to act and think

 and treat others upside down.

The very law of human interaction

 was to be "changed".

Just as they knew their former self before healing-

 that was their "old life".

This was the beginning of their "new life."

No turning back for those who heard

 and listened with their hearts.

A new code of ethics

 was set stage for the followers of Jesus.

The reward would not be here on earth,

but a heavenly reward.

Rejoice in this new day.

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable
bulletin-luke-6:17-23

Colored Pencils 

Magazine cut-outs 

Assorted Diecuts

Fine-point Sharpie pen

The Extravagant Love Cruise-2

Sometimes you just 

don't know how life gets sliced.

I don't think I would have been able

 to put together

 the opportunity to go on a cruise 

with a daughter and a sister.

Part serendipity- all blessing.

Then you add in my co-hort

 in and out of trouble- Pat.

A great grand mix

with all sorts of long-time and new friends.

Then celebrated MY Birthday on the cruise.

 Now I can say I went on a cruise for my birthday.

I am sure we were celebrating my birthday

with those beverages.

 The server at our table also had 

the same birthday so we cheered together.

The evening dining was slow and pampered. 

I even figured out how to do the cruise 

with my new life as celiac and going gluten-free.

                                                          (photo Pat Maier)

Our dining level overlooked this tier 

and that chandelier made me 

have more than one Titanic thought.

We had custom-made days off the ship 

with made-to-order skies,

 warmth and breeze.

The brilliant flowers flung

 the Winter doldrums far away.

It was amazing to scoot by another ship

 docked in Jamaica as we set sail. 

I will not complain about parking again.

I also loved how easy 

it was to find your way back

 to the Independence of the Seas.

Even I didn't have to ask for directions.

Daughter Sara helped with technology.
A phone call

 from hubby John who called-from Myanmar

(previously Burma)- for my birthday,

taking selfies and keeping us on track
 for our schedule and the internet.

There is just something about island life.....

And what fun to share in faith...

when the Christian ladies 

overtake the Ship's Top Floor Bar.

Thank you Lord, for the opportunity
 of another amazing life experience.
What a blessing.

The Extravagant Love Cruise- 1

So when you have imagined an experience

 for two years in advance-

it is hard to imagine that it is here and over....

 Right into the pages of your Bible........ 

                   (photo Pat Maier)

As a first time cruiser-

it is really challenging to understand

 the scale of this ship.

Team-

L-Wendysue Fluegge brought Worship and Music to this event.

R- Author Deb Burma brought her love for God's Word to share with all of us.

Having Fun and Learning Together

 as First time Cruisers.

The Visual Faith Team -

L- Connie  R- Pat Maier

shared Doors into Prayer 

to share Visual Faith practices.

There was great learning time together.

Meeting in the evenings with other Visual Faith coaches

in the Windjammer was a highlight.

We delighted in making IN REAL LIFE connections.

And sharing our part of the Visual Faith story.

So thankful for this gathering of

 Visual Faith coaches who joined us

  for the Extravagant Love cruise.

Some faces are fuzzy 

but you might be able to find yourself

 or the face of a new friend.

This is the "official" photograph

 that I purchased for this event on the cruise.

Now to pray over all of these blessed women of faith.

A Birthday Blessing

Birthdays are pretty awesome.

They mark the gift of days

 and months and years.

This year I was blessed by a special

 birthday tribute from my three daughters.

I was leading on the Extravagant Love Cruise

and on February 13, there was a very special highlight.

We have honored time together with the practice 

of noting the event by Bible Journaling together 

the same verse or an appropriate verse.

Isaiah 58:11 was the verse 

chosen by my daughters

 and journaled as a birthday blessing for this year.

Right in their own personal Journaling Bibles

I was given this gift "on ship" right 

before a morning Bible Study session.

Youngest daughter, Sara, 

was also on board and explained

 the surprise to the rest of the cruisers in our group.

I am blessed beyond measure.

And very, very thankful 

for this birthday celebration. 

Worship into the Week-Uncharted Waters

Worship into the Week

Feb 10, 2019- Lectionary C Reading

Gospel Reading- Luke 5

Nothing will be the same 

after this mandate from Jesus.

 No going back.

Uncharted territory.

They only know how to do 

what they have already done.

No they have no idea how 

to do march with the new charge.

No wonder Jesus tells them not to be afraid.

That is scary.

Catching men?

With nets?

With WHAT?

This Good news Gospel is rather nebulous.

What does this LOOK LIKE?

How is contained and carried?

How do you handle it?

We now have the experience

 of the ultimate shareable GIFT.

Time to pray about these uncharted waters

with a humble, teachable heart.

Supplies:

Visual church Year Printable
childrens-bulletin-luke-5
sermon-notes-luke-5

Magazine pages

Junk mail 

Water colors

Non-bleeding Sharpie pen

Heart to Heart

 This is the season of hearts.

Vintage gatherings and creations.

Here is a glimpse of the bits of devotion....

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1 John 4:10 ESV

We love because he first loved us.

  1 John 4:19  (ESV)