Halloween Fun

                                                                                                                                                     - photos by Kathy Meier

Some Neighborhood fun

for Halloween before the high winds and rain 

dove across the region.

Having out this week 

with the Meier rents.

Cat in the Hat and

Mr. Packer Clay Matthews

Mr. NATS World Series 

and a Vintage Pumpkin Queen.

(Actually resurrected from 30 years ago)

 cutest little skunk ever

some of the ornery Ann Arbor crew 

Little Miss Pumpkin-
surrounded by the crew.

a little bit of trunk and treat 

from this past weekend

 Our superhero family

 The Hulk and Superwoman mom
and their Super power brood

 The Trio

 The Duo

 Mr. Middle

Mr. Big
Fun and dressup and 
time for a bit of make-believe.

and to bring a smile.......

The Museum of the Bible

A special day with a wonderful friend 

visiting the Museum of the Bible. 
this is theBible of Martin Luther's pastor- 
Johannes Budenhagen.
I think that Bible marginalia 
is NOT a new thing.

A look at the Bibles connected

 to Martin Luther

 in the Museum of the Bible.

 A very special collection.

Sola

Reformation Week.

Some new resources

 on our Visual Faith Ministry Website.

Great resources to use printed 

on regular paper and on sticker paper.

Different sizes and color palettes.

Always a good thing to spend 

some time thinking about

 Faith ALONE

Scripture ALONE

and 

Christ ALONE.
Here is the link to get our free downloads:
reformation-printable

Space for God

A Prayer card I am spending time with this week.

Praying over a ministry family

 and a congregation celebrating an Anniversary.

150 years!

"The Lord, the Lord himself

 is my strength and song.

He has become my salvation."

Praying and coloring.

Breathing and praying.

Coloring and breathing.

Till it all becomes one thing.

I am often still amazed at the difference

 this practice has made in my prayer life.

The Holy Spirit has certainly moved things

 around in my life to make 

SPACE FOR GOD.

Some things have fallen away.

Some things have been strengthened

in the core.

I will always believe there are many

 more things that the Holy Spirit is 

currently working on in my 

sanctification process.  

Many things I may never even be aware of

in that journey.

Ever grateful...

" Be still before the Lord, 

and wait patiently for hi."

Psalm 37:7 RSV

Versicle prayer card from

Visual Faith Ministry
prayer-cards-projects/versicles-3-by-carla-kramer-2

Worship into the Week-Persistance

Worship into the Week-

Luke 18:1-8

The Persistent Widow

This parable has a framework of prayer.
Our God who gives more than we ask.
Persistance in our prayers and requests.
The Unjust Judge wouldn't listen
 or have compassion on the widow.
Out of frustration or the need to "move on"-
he gave her justice.
We don't know her need.
Does it matter?
She was in need- a time of adversity.
There was a momentum change.
Her suffering was made perfect
 when her request was honored.
She had strength to last.
Another reading was Psalm 121-
where we are reminded that 
our help comes from the Lord.
"The Lord will keep your going out
 and your coming in from
 this time forth and forevermore."

Lord, help me to be more persistant
 in my prayers and sharing my needs with you,
and just being "more present"
 in this amazing relationship. 
In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Supplies:
 Visual Church Year Printable
childrens-bulletin-luke-181-8
Junk mail
Magazine cutouts
Colors pencils 
Fine-point Sharpie pen

Set Free

 This canvas hugs the wall 

on the way to the laundry room.

I walk by it numerous times

 in a day. 

Glance - maybe. 

But, today I was just stopped

 in my tracks.

SET FREE.

A crevice just widened.

Those few moments became a 

couple of minutes as I looked at this 

canvas and breathed in the prayer
 of these words.

Created 

Valued

Forgiven

Called 

Transformed.

Oh thank you Lord, 

that there is SO MUCH MORE.

In this place and time on a 

sunny, bright day I can 

STAND TALL.

For this gift I give thanks,

 laundry basket in hand,

breath of sweet goodness,

of my faithful God. 

Worship into the Week- Healed

 Worship into the Week-

Luke 17: 11-19

 Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers

On the way to Jerusalem.

Jesus passes along 

between Samaria and Galilee.

 A village- most likely small there in the desert area.

That is pretty desolate geography.

Probably where you would

 put a colony of lepers 

so they didn't impact a bigger population.

But, at a distance they recognize Jesus.

They call out to him.

They attribute the term- Master.

"Jesus, Master, have mercy on us."

Jesus responds to them immediately-

 no questions asked.

"Go and show yourselves to the priest."

And AS they went they were cleansed.

There wasn't a class to take, 

or a check list of "do-first.

 It was immediate relationship and response.

God's Unconditional Love embodied 

in Jesus reached right into their lives.

They were declared altogether beautiful-

 just as they were,

and after they were cleansed.

Jesus treated both body 

and soul in one fell swoop.

DONE.

Enduring Word Bible - #59

I think I grew up as a child 

mad at the nine.

Think I heard many sermons 

about the "bad, ungrateful, lepers."

They failed to return and give thanks and praise.

Perhaps they did later in the day- 

but we don't know that part of the story.

The part that rises to the top for me now

 is just how often -

 I myself am all of the nine.

Was gonna say thanks,

 will pray about that tomorrow.

Oh, yea got to remember that....

How many times I have been healed.

Over and over again-in body and soul-

and never gave thanks and praise.

Lord, in my poor days,

 let me have greater faith to trust.

To be assured that to simply call out

 your name brings healing.

You are in the restoration business.

Though it may not be my timeline or method.

YOU HEAL.

YOU CLEANSE.

YOU build up my faith.

I give thanks.

Amen.

Suppose:

Visual Church Year
childrens-bulletin-luke-1714

Watercolor

Magazine cutouts

Junk mail

Water color pencils

Micron pen

Cardstock

Washi tape

Be the Light

Been praying over the Be the Light 

Bible Journaling On-Line 

Conference that began today.

It is sponsored by Bible Journaling Ministries with 

Tracie and Lonny Rollins.

This new endeavor
  has been a blessing for me.

Moving out of my comfort zone

 to try something different.

How might the Holy Spirit

 use this opportunity?

It is in His hands.

Today there are 4,420 participants 
signed up for the session
 I teach on Friday-
 Introduction to Visual Prayer and the Devotional Life.
Not sure just how many
 will actually be "on board."
Amazing what happens these days 
with technology, 
and the way we can impact others around the world.
We can truly be "deployed digital missionaries."
To God be the Glory!

Enduring Word Bible- Increase our Faith

Enduring Word Bible-#58

Increase our Faith

Luke 17: 5-6

I grew up with a mulberry tree

 along the ditch bank of our farm.

I know I learned about faith 

as small as a mustard seed,

but I really don't remember 

the mulberry tree part of this reading.

I think I would have looked

 at that tree a bit differently.

But, the mustard seed comparison

 that Jesus speaks of to his disciples- 

 is probably spot on for the picture of our faith.

Puny, minuscule, 

and hard to see most of the time.

But, the hope and promise here is very real.

That tiny bit of faith in Jesus

 has the power to uproot a mulberry tree

 and plant it by the sea.

That is nothing to shake off
 as futile or worthless.
 We pray for the Lord to increase our faith,
and He answers this prayer.
Imagine what we can move
 as we place our trust in HIM,
and the tiny seed grows....

Supplies:
Visual Church Year Margin
childrens-bulletin-luke-175
Watercolors
Magazine cutout
Washi tape 
Colored pencil
Fine-point Sharpie pen

Worship into the Week- Increase

Worship into the Week

Increase our Faith

 Luke 17:5-6

Don't we all have days or weeks

 when our lament is -

"Lord, increase our faith!"

When the challenges seem insurmountable

 and the setbacks just keep on coming.

I need to see the way out.

I need to be reminded that I am not 

not in charge.

 The ONE who created the mulberry tree, 

and the ocean holds my days and nights.

May He bless me with a faith that increases.

Supplies:

Visual Church Year
childrens-bulletin-luke-175

Watercolor pencils

Junk mail

Magazine cutouts 
Fine-point Sharpie pen

The Reservoir

Beginning a new devotional book right now.

 Husband and I plan to do this together---

I may hang out here a bit 

and then start together the first of the month.

Monday - Friday readings.

To be a reservoir and not a canal.

Praying this verse into the lives of our family 

right now 

and especially another family in deep distress.

 Lord, have mercy.

 Lord, have mercy.

Be with them in darkest of days.

Walking into the unknown.

Let them know and feel your presence.

In the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Worship into the Week-Promise

Worship into the Week-

Matthew 18:10-14

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Let the Children Come to Me

Matthew 19:13-15

We have guardian angels 

that are not like Hallmark innocents.

We have the massive power of

 supernatural beings that have been placed

 to care for and defend us.

In these verses I see the love

 of our Heavenly Father,

for little ones.

For the sanctity of life,

and the precious gift of children.

For to such belongs the Kingdom of Heaven.
We cling to this promise of great hope,
because we have the mighty defenders that
move on our behalf.

Supplies:
Visual Church Year
childrens-bulletin-matthew-1810
Watercolors
Colored Pencils
Magazine cutouts 
Washi tape
Junk Mail

Enduring Word Bible- Mini-Billboards

Enduring Word Bible - #57

Luke 10

How Jesus sent people out to the world.

In pairs.. with prayer...

and go to places of peace. 

Learning at a conference right now-

how to disciple others to disciple others.

Lots to mull over and sometimes I NEED

mini-bulletin boards 

to help me map out the take-aways

for me right now.

So I can REMEMBER them better.

What helps you take God's Word

 with you right into the neighborhood?

Supplies:

Colored pencils

Micron pen-.005

Scripture Doodles- September

Scripture Doodles 

for the month of September.

One word or phrase 

from the devotions each day.

Using the Portals of Prayer devotions

 from Concordia Publishing House.

Four colored pencils.

Time to pray.

In a Traveler's Journal

 for easy transporting.

Calendar supplied by 

Concordia Publishing House.

The September devotions were written by

Rev. Bryan Hopfensperger.