Worship into the Week- Nor Anything Else

Worship into the Week- New Year's Eve

Romans 8: 31-39

We are more than Conquerors-

because of Jesus who loved us.

Of all that this 2020 year has brought upon us-

of death, Covid, heartaches, despair, loneliness,

fear, illness, hurtfulness, and failure.

But,

In this AULD LANG SANG moment-

 I will remember God's Word

 to me and to you-right into the 2021 year.

From the Message:

31-39 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Blessings to each of you in 2021

 and thanks for stopping by here 

to see and hear the story of His Faithfulness.

Connie

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable    romans-837-123120

Magazine Cutouts     Scrapbook Paper

 Gel pens   Colored Pencils

Thanks to Rachel Hinz for these images.

Adding in the images from Worship into the Week

that didn't make individual blog posts.

But, I wanted to share the lovely images

 that blessed my devotional worship time

Christmas Day Dawn

Christmas Day

December 27, 2020

Soul-Tending Reading 2020

=

The Soul-Tending Reading List for 2020-

Top to Bottom-

The Spiritually Vibrant Home-Everts

Songs of Easter-Collins

The Princess and the Goblin- George MacDonald

The Minister's Restoration- George MacDonald

The Radium Girls-Kate Moore

First Easter- Paul L. Maier

The Forgotten Desert Mothers- Swan

Let's All Be Brave- Annie F. Downs

Everybody Always- Bob Goff

Her Mother's Hope- Francine Rivers

Her Mother's Dream- Francine Rivers

It is always surprising where I end up

 at the end of my year of reading

I make a stack of proposed books

 and then see where it goes.. as the days unfold.

As the Lord lays out the plan...

I journey into 2021.

 

Nostalgic Christmas

                     

                                                          I purchased this photo 

in an antique store in Nebraska 

when my daughters were 1, 2 and 3.  

It is a picture cut out of a magazine'

 or some sort of publication

and then laid on top of a simple paper matting. 

The man reminded me of their dad- John. 

This is how I often saw how he held his daughters.

They did not need to hold mistletoe

 to get a kiss from dad.

It was probably made as a very special gift

 for a soldier serving in World War 1.

In France 

Christmas 1918

Salutation to a Soldier

Pieces of the paper with the 

very precious words are just falling off.

It lives in the hallway in my family room these days.

Think it will be a January project to type them

 out and attach then while I can still read them.

And perhaps save this very nostalgic

 Christmas greeting- another 100 years.

A bit of a 90's throwback with black and white photos

 of the girls with copies of 100 year old postcards.

Here is a page form the 

December 1953 McCall's magazine.

Love the image and the way this was

 just a part of life in this mid-century publication.

It is matted and framed 

in the front hallway for Christmas.

This print is the back cover of the

 Dec. 1916 Modern Priscilla.

Always makes me want to 

make up a cup of hot Cocoa.

A favorite- 

A Child's Book of Christmas Carols-from 1942 

Illustrated by Masha- 

who illustrated the very first 

Little Golden Book- the Three Little Kittens.

This lithograph graces the living room 

during the Winter months.

This print is by George Leighton 

and was published in the Christmas Supplement

 for the Illustrated London News- Dec. 20, 1856. 

It is a wood-engraved lithograph.

 I purchased this in March 2000 

as my trip souvenir in Galway, Ireland.

It truly may be said that for me-

"pre-loved" is best.

Worship into the Week- Salvation for All

Worship into the Week- 

Christmas Eve Services

God is Love

1 John 4:7-16

God's Steadfast Love endures.

God showed love among us

 by sending His one and only Son.

For the Grace of God has appeared,

bringing salvation for all people.

Titus 2:11

Waiting for our blessed hope,

the appearing of the glory 

of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

A tiny baby changes everything.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Ministry Printables

childrens-bulletin-1-john-47-16-122420

childrens-bulletin-

titus-211-122420-christmas-eve-midnight

Colored pencils

Scrapbook paper

Newspaper cutouts

Advent Calendar- 2020

 

ADVENT Calendar 2020

A simple phrase from the 

devotional reading each day.

Marking the days of ADVENT-

right up to Christmas.

Devotion- And the Word was God-

Inspirations from Henri J.M. Nouwen.

Calendar from Visual Faith Ministry-

advent-calendar-2020

Designed by Valerie Matyas.

Worship into the Week- Nothing Is Impossible

 

Worship into the week.

The Birth of Jesus Foretold.

Luke 1:37

Nothing is Impossible with God.

 The words to this young Mary.

And her words in return-

"Let it be to me according to your word."

Because of this,

 we have JOY DELIVERED 

for our ADVENT.

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable

childrens-bulletin-luke-137-122020

Scrapbook paper

Colored pencils

Magazine cutouts

Advent Gatherings

Some of the gatherings around

 the house this Advent season.

An old cigar press has little shelves

 that pull out for display space.

Some very favorite manger scenes. 

A wreath over the fireplace.

A hang out for handmade Santas and animals.

LOVE CAME DOWN

shown with the printer's trays

 and old typewriters.

The old cupboard in the kitchen 

holds a collection of glassware, 

 glass beads in old blue Ball jars, 

and some handmade favorites.

 A black and white photo of the Denninger siblings 

and a visit with Santa circa 1958.

 The piano corner with the shelf 

from the home of a growing up neighbor.

A live tree this year with the handmade 

ornaments and the Christmas angel.Kitchen wreath with crochet pot holders,

old cookie cutters and some angels floating. 

Seed packet display case becomes

 a holder for 100 year old Christmas cards.

This is a whole lot of pearls and pins.

 Morning light in the living room.

Shiny Brites shining Bright.A tree by the kitchen sink 

gathers old kitchenware.Santa sentinels by the door get

 some very special hugs by the littles.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.

Worship into the Week- In All Circumstances

 

Worship into the Week-

1 Thessalonians 5: 12-24

Rejoice, Pray and Give Thanks

Paul had some pointed instructions for the 

Thessalonians.

He say the places where it was hard

 to live out their Christian faith.

It is still hard.

Respect those who are over us in the Lord.

We need to esteem them in their work.

Be at peace among ourselves.

Urge the idle.

Encourage the faint-hearted.

Help the weak.

Be patient with all of these people.

Do not repay evil with evil, 

and do good to one another and to everyone.

And then the verse we may know a bit better:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,

 and give thanks in all circumstances.

Do not quench the Spirit.

Do not despise prophecies, 

but test everything 

and hold fast to what is good.

Abstain from every form of evil.

May we be kept blameless

 in spirit, soul and body till our lord comes again.

Because He who calls us is faithful, 

and he will surely do it.

Many sections of this that I hold dear

 this Covid Advent season.

For in these days we pray- in all circumstances.

Lord, even in this, 

may your goodness be the story that we tell.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Church Year Printable

childrens-bulletin-1-thessalonians-516-24-121320

Scrapbook paper

 Magazine Cutouts

 Washi Tape

 Colored Pencils

Advent Manger Walk

    

                            A favorite Advent activity 

                             is to go the the National Cathedral 

and see the Manger sets and Nativities.

This year it is simply 

a walk around the house.

Old favorites gather.

Some are set out to be "safe" 

from hands of inquisitive toddlers.

(and many need to move to higher ground)

All the little figurines gather to tell 

the story of this Christmas Season.

A Child is born!

He comes for you and for me.

This set gets rearranged many many times.

A very fragile and tiny nativity 

that has somehow managed to be in one piece.

My friend Bonnie made both the newspaper tree 

and the Holy Family in the Ball jar.

This handmade porcelain set

 is probably a favorite of mine.

Simple. Delicate. One of a kind.

Thanks for stopping by

 for this "manger walk" at home.

Worship into the Week- He is patient

Worship into the Week

2 Peter 3: 1-10

The Day of the Lord Will Come

This one fact- 

with the Lord one day is as a thousand years

 and a thousand years as one day.

He is the Lord of time. 

He is not slow to fulfill his promise

 as some think of slowness.

He is patient toward me.

The Lord does not wish for any to perish

 and that all should reach repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief 

and the heavens will pass away with a roar.

These days of Advent- are waiting.

For He has come and He will come again.

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable

childrens-bulletin-2-peter-39-12620

Magazine Cut-outs

 Colored Pencils

Washi tape

Worship into the Week- Eagerly Wait

Worship into the Week-

ADVENT  ONE

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Thanksgiving

God is faithful.

He has brought gifts beyond

 measure to his 

believers.

I am not lacking in any gift,

 as I wait for the revealing

 of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This Advent season I pray 

that this manger babe

comes close to my heart-

and I rest knowing He is already there.

May I eagerly wait his return.

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable

1-corinthians-17-half-by-rachel-hinz

Colored pencils

Magazine Cutouts

Washi tape

Christmas stamp

Magazine Alpha letters

Scripture Doodles- November 2020

 

   Scripture Doodles 

November 2020

One square a day to capture

 a devotional thought for the day.

Reading Habits of the Heart. 

This month was centered on:

Being Frugal, Resting, Guarding your Heart, 

Practicing Gratitude and Letting Go.

A small spiritual practice that outlines

 part of the story of the redemptive work 

of the Holy Spirit in my life.

This helps me to See and Remember 

and Trust in the Journey;

that I may be discipled and disciple others 

and Tell of God's Faithfulness in my Life.

Supplies:

Concordia Publishing House Calendar

Colored Pencils