Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Scripture Doodles- July


Scripture Doodles- July 2019
Visual Devotional Practice
combined with the reading of 
Portals of Prayer- Concordia Publishing House.

A word or phrase taken from  the daily reading
 and added to the calendar square
 to create the Story Board.
What do YOUR DEVOTIONS LOOK LIKE?

This month's author is 
Rev. Jonathan Krenz from Moscow, Idaho.
Concordia Publishing House calendars
 are uploaded each month
 in the Visual Faith Ministry-
 Facebook FILES.
Visual Faith Ministry FILES

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Child of God- Jonah Dalton Wilson

 Jonah Dalton Wilson-
Baptized at Prince of Peace Lutheran church
Springfield, Virginia
July 6, 2019
Our daughters with spouses and all of the troops.
Seven Grandsons.
Jacob Macrina represented 
the whole Macrina family-
the sponsors of Jonah.
Papa and Gigi 
with the Wilson Family.
Grandma Wilson and Grandpa Wilson 
join the little family of five.
A fun celebration.
They have their arms full.
The 6 big boys.
Ha!  Shoeless Jack.
And now there are Seven.
Such joy when they are together.
And such chaos.


Baptized by Papa-
with the Water and the Word.
Claimed as a child of God.



Little one - you are greatly loved!
The gift of grandparenting.

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Worship into the Week- The ONE THING

Worship into the Week-
Luke 10:38-42
Martha and Mary

Always busy, we are,
 much to do.
Lists, things to check off.
People to care for and serve,
But, what is the good?
The BEST? the ONE thing.
First things first.
The right choice.
Jesus first.
A simple story- 
with a very big point to make.

Supplies:
Visual Church Year
childrens-bulletin-luke-1042
Watercolors
Fine-point Sharpie
Magazine cutouts
Junk mail

Friday, July 26, 2019

Praying Through A Convention

Sometimes when you are a "Guest" at a Convention
 it is a bit challenging to stay engaged.
The time together lasts for a week with the inclusion
 of the pre-convention floor committees that meet.
But, we came armed and dangerous- to Tampa, Florida, 
with ready to go Bible verse prayer cards,
 colored pencils and sharpeners.
We also brought prayer cards right
 from the Visual Faith Ministry website.
Wives gathered from the Council of Presidents 
and the Presidium 
of the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod.
Simple, doable prayer practices 
that helped us with long days of sitting.
The cards and coloring help us to pay attention
 and deal with distractions as we spent some time in prayer.
As I began a prayer card, I asked the Holy spirit
 to show me who to pray for at this time.
Within five minutes, I got a text that a friend
 had just learned of the sudden death
 of her 19 year old niece and asked me to pray.
When I began the next card, I repeated the same prayer,
and once again, in a very short time,
 I was sent a text asking me to pray.  
A friend of a daughter had just had her baby-
 the cord was wrapped around its neck, 
and the baby was blue and unresponsive.
I don't always have such a quick of a response to:
"Whom shall I pray for?"
This was certainly a time
 when the Lord brought swift answers.
However, you manage long periods of sitting,
this works for some of us. 
We all gave thanks for this blessed time
 to sit and be together, 
and cover a small piece of the Kingdom in prayer. 
 God is good.

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Enduring Word Bible- All Things

Enduring Word Bible- #50
God's Provision
Philippians 4:10-20

In the lean times and in the abundance.
God has provided.
Paul speaks of being brought low
 and how to abound.
He has lived the life of a first century Christian, 
that still resonates 
with a twenty-first century Christian.
But, in all if it-
he has learned the secret of facing
 "plenty and hunger, abundance and need."
Because, the Lord gives the strength.
True then- true now.

Enjoyed playing with colors 
on a margin that wasn't permanent in my Bible.

Supplies:
Enduring Word Bible
using a Margin from CPH
Colored pencils



Monday, July 22, 2019

Downloads and Printables- Marydean Draws

  One of the the things 
I am always on the look out
 for are Scripture printables that fit into what I have
 been working on with the 
Well with My Soul project.
 That is simply adding Scripture to 4 by 6 
tabbed manila index cards 
and adding them to a tray holder
 in order of the books of the Bible.  
(more photos at a later date)
I am very excited to be meeting 
Mary Hairston of Marydean Draws
 at the Visual Faith Summer retreat
 this coming weekend in Roanoke, Virginia 
and also Melody Hester of Umbrella Prayers.
 On a car trip to Charlotte last weekend
 I had printed out this
 set that she will be sharing with the retreat attenders
 and had fun adding to index cards with nothing more
  than Masking Tape from Staples
 and Distress ink on the edges.
Here is a link to her Easy Store:
shop/MarydeanDraws

Stay tuned as I share more
 on the work of this talented artist.

Friday, July 19, 2019

Worship into the Week- Neighbor

Worship into the Week-

Luke 10: 25-37
The Good Samaritan Parable
 I remember this story from childhood
and especially love thinking 
about this story from the perspective
 of the injured man and also the helper.
On healthy days we are the one offering the hand.
On some days we are the recipient.
But, we are always in the symbiotic relationship
 of neighbor and other.
Sometimes we are the one offering help
 and other times we are the receiver. 
The important thing to remember
 is that we must not fall 
into the ladder climb momentum
 and see others always below us
 and thus we are-
always the helper.
It is important to sit back and learn
 about the life spot where others find themselves.
Time to learn from them.
Then be ready to assist, 
as needed,
and then come BACK to check.
Thinking especially about how to model this
 across the border.
 It is our #1priority-
to be good neighbors.

Supplies:
Visual Church Year
childrens-bulletin-luke-1029
Watercolors
Junk Mail
Magazine cutouts


Monday, July 15, 2019

#lcmsnyg2019



 So what is an 
LCMS National Youth Gathering?
There is a Theme- Real. Present. God.
There are nightly mass events.
This year it is the US Bank Stadium-
home of the Vikings.
With over 20,000 of your fellow high school students
and great speakers.
TobyMac was the Mass event
 Extra for the first night.
                                      (photo from LCMS NYG Twitter)
There are Bible Studies, speakers,
interactive fun things to do,
hang out space and time
 to gather with others from your District.
New T-shirts from your alumni college.
There are many displays and
connection spots.
FARM- Family Adventure and Recreational Ministry 
highlighted Visual Faith prayer cards
 using the theme Psalm for the Gathering.
A favorite speaker was Ashley Paavola.
                                                              (photos from the LCMS NYG Twitter)
There was the very cool hands-on
 group Creative project led
 by Artist- Jeffrey Miller.
The Skit Guys were the Mass Event Extra
 on the Second night.
                                                                  (Photo from the LCMS NYG Twitter)
Landmarks and lovely flowers
 in downtown Minneapolis.
You saw the flowers over and over again
 as there is LOTS of walking.
Some pretty cool visuals in the Stadium.
                                                              (Photo from the LCMS NYG Twitter)
Spying new and old friends 
out and about in the interactive center
 in the Convention Hall.
So-CARL stole the show for the NYG.
 He is all of us. 
Way to go Max Harmon.
Good eats and cooling beverages.
And as the event was winding down-
 a bit of road racing warriors.
Thanks Chuck Hiller for jumping 
on the Razor Racer plan with John.

We loved catching up with native Minnesotans- 
who just happen to co-grandparent with us.
A final night walk back
 to the hotel and a lovely landmark.
Minneapolis - thanks for gracing us 
with sunshine and good weather.