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Saturday, January 28, 2023

A Picture of Forgiveness

 

I was sorting this week- 
emptying out folders, 
and came across this lovely drawing.
 I think this may be the story of 10 grandchildren
 in my house and 8 of them rambunctious boys.
There was the finding of a broken bowl last summer
on a visit and a few questions were asked by parents.
It was not reported initially 
and it took some parental help for the story.
There are many things stored in "Gigi's back room",
so that doesn't help in a wild game of hide and seek.
But, the part I love about this drawing 
is that these parents were able to use words 
and a visual image to help two young boys
 tell the story of brokenness.
Words and the images here
helped them come to Gigi- tell the story, 
state remorse, (maybe for being found out),
say- "I'm Sorry" and ask for forgiveness. 
 Then they were covered with the words of absolution- 
"I forgive you. We are good."

That is what we all need to hear 
from our Heavenly Father,
"I forgive you. We are good."
We also all need to remember our brokenness 
and only in Him are we ever whole again.

Perhaps when we need to ask forgiveness 
from another person, or our Heavenly Father,
 it would be helpful to sketch out the brokenness.
Then draw the picture of our renewed "made right."

As long as I am able to wrestle these troops,
 they also have to put up with the "made rightness"
of 14 kisses.

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Worship into the Week- A Great Light

Worship into the Week-Isaiah 9:1-4

For Unto Us a Child-
v. 2 "The people who walked in darkness 
have seen a great light;
those who dealt in a land of deep darkness,
 on them has light shone."

Especially in the dark days of January,
 we are looking for LIGHT.
Much of the days are gray and overcast
 so we celebrate when the sun
 breaks through the clouds.
LIGHT is hope and makes everything
 else look different.
 How I give thanks that my days
 have the brilliance of the JOY of knowing Jesus-
the Light of the World.

Supplies:
Visual Faith Printable
Worship into the Week Printable
Watercolors
Magazine cut-outs
Prismacolor Pencils
Vintage postage stamps



 

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Footsteps of Paul- Mars Hill

 

This are the the ancient stairs 
leading to the top of Mars Hill.
The wear and tear is showing on them 
and access to the top is now with a new set of stairs.
Mars Hill is the Roman name 
for a hill in Athens, Greece 
which is called Hill of Ares or Aeropagus.
Ares was the Greek god of war and their myths
 claimed that this was the spot that Ares stood trial
 before the other gods for the murder of Poseidon's son.
The top of the hill is 377 above the land below.



It is close to the Acropolis.
It is close to the Agora (Marketplace) also.
Mars Hill was the meeting place 
for those serving at the Aeropagus Court. 
This court dealt with religious, criminal and civil issues.
Saint Paul brings significance to this site 
with the story in Acts 17:16-34.
In his second missionary journey,
 this was the place for one of his most
 important Gospel messages.
Here he speaks to the Greeks about their idols,
 specifically their "Unknown God." 
Paul gives an excellent example of 
"understanding his audience."
He met them right where they were 
and then continued to lay out the Gospel message
 in a Biblical and logical way.
Christian apologetics at its best.
He started with the false beliefs that they held
 and then moved to a simple presentation 
of the Gospel message.
Paul perfected his missionary methods 
and started out in the synagogues, 
then moved to the marketplaces.
The Epicureans and Stoics he met there heard 
about the resurrected Jesus. 
They "brought him to the Areopagus" 
to hear more about this "new doctrine."
Connie and Lisa Latall
 
John and Connie on a windy day on Mars Hill.
The message of 
St Paul's speech on Mars Hill is an encouragement to us
 to be bold in the proclamation of the Gospel message.
We know this "unknown God."
 There will always be scoffers and searchers, 
and maybe some will claim this Jesus.
We don't have to manage the outcome.
The Holy Spirit waters the planted seeds.
We just need to take the steps.








Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Worship into the Week- The Messiah's Mission

 

Worship into the Week-
The Servant of the Lord-
 The Messiah's Mission
Isaiah 49:1-7 

This prophecy reveals the LORD 
who commands the coastlines.
The Messiah who was called form the womb.
Called even before He was in Mary's womb.
Gabriel declared the name of Jesus 
before the conception in Mary's womb.
The very words that this Messiah
speaks are with authority and power.
The Lord's mission will be at just the right time.

Verse 6: Here the prophet speaks of a servant of God.
 This promised one will be the Light to Gentiles-
so that God's salvation plan
 can reach the ends of the earth. 
That is the amazing plan that we-
 as followers of Jesus-
 are called to this mission.

Supplies:
Visual Church Year Printable
Worship into the Week Printables
Prismacolor Pencils
Die Cuts 
Magazine Cutouts
Word Stickers
Alpha Letters
Washi Tape



Monday, January 16, 2023

Logos 365- Living God's Plan



Starting out on a journey in 2023
 with a word- HENENI.
Hebrew for Here I Am.
Wasn't sure if this Visual Faith® Ministry project
 would be one I engaged with this year.
Always takes some prayerful time to discern what to add, 
and if something else needs to be deleted.
Seeing what there is to learn from Moses and Samuel. 
Learning to better listen for God's call.

So- starting a journal to put together
 the learning in one spot. 
The new thoughts. The revisited ideas.
I have vowed to keep it simple and not overwhelming.
But, I do love some great Gelli prints from my stash.
Word study is always interesting.
  This one is more of a phrase in English.
I wasn't sure about this project or my word.
 In fact, I had been running away from Hineni.
Then last week I grabbed the printed pages
 to join the VFM Day of Prayer Lectio Divina time.
And there it was- 
the verse I had been looking at right there-
 in the study of YAHWEH.
Hineni-
Here I am, Lord.
Direct this path this year.

Maybe you would like to join me?
It is not too late. 
Here is the simple packet to get started.

Friday, January 13, 2023

Meteora- Kalambaka, Greece

This is one of the monasteries in 
Meteora, Kalambaka, Greece.
The 1981 James Bond movie- For Your Eyes Only
used this site, making this view even more famous.
This is the Agia Triada Monastery and is one of the the 6 
remaining Monasteries. 
Meteora means "suspended in air, 
lofty or elevated".
They date from the 14th and 15th centuries,
and are perched on top of natural sandstone rock pillars 
on the Thessaly plain.
 
A view as we leave the area.  
They are an engineering feat 
and we tried to imagine 
just getting the supplies up there.

There were originally 24 of the precariously 

built Eastern Orthodox monasteries.

Meteora was added to the 

UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988 

because of the amazing architecture, beauty of the complex,

as well as the religious and artistic significance.


Internet photo
St. Stephan - Agios Stefanos
is the only monestery
 you can reach by bus. 
It is believed to have been built in the 14th century,
 but has a much newer katolikon  
structure built in 1798.
There is a museum, and workrooms for 
paintings embroidery,
 incense-making and needlework.
The frescoes in the church were done about 1545.
The structures were heavily bombed, and raided in WWII,
as they thought the monks were hiding refugees.
It was converted to a nunnery in 1961,
and 28 nuns were living there in 2015.
The entrance to St. Charalambos' Church 
has a bridge that allows access.
St. Charalambos Church
honors this early Christian saint from Magnesia, 
a city in Asia Minor. He was martyred 
during the reign of Septimius Severus in 202 AD.
The art is beautiful and so are the grounds and gardens.

This the stunning view from St. Stephan's 
overlooking the town of Kalabaka.
wikipedia 
There is something mystical about these holy places
 that reach to the sky.
The world is certainly shut out here 
to focus on worship and listening to God.
May all that visit here hear His calling.
May I be reminded to embrace the quiet
 to hear the "still small voice".



Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Worship into the Week- Arise to the Called

 

Worship into the Week-Epiphany
Isaiah 60:1-6
The Future Glory of Israel-
The Glorious Light of God's Kingdom.
So much of this Chapter is light,
 glory, brightness and radiant.
This is direct contrast to 
what is NOT Kingdom- darkness.
Light helps us to see.
We don't SEE well in the dark.
Lord, help me to walk in the LIGHT.
Help me to give you the Glory 
because your light has come.
 
Worship into the Week-
Isaiah 42:1-9
The Lord's Chosen Servant

This chapter is the Servant's Song 
and here they are talking about Jesus.
Connecting here with the Creator of the Universe 
who has called me in righteousness. 
The Lord has taken my hand and called me.
Even when I feel like I am in the darkness,
I cling to the One who holds my hand.

Supplies:
Visual Faith Printable
Worship into the Week Printable
Magazine Cut-outs
Prismacolor Pencils
Christmas Card


Saturday, January 7, 2023

Worship into the Week- Law and Promise


 Worship into the Week-
Law and Promise
Galatians 3:23-29

Everything is different now that we are not
 held captive by the law.
The law protected us until Christ came 
and now that faith is ours, we are justified by faith.
"But now that faith has come, 
we are no longer under a guardian, 
for in Christ Jesus you are also sons of God,
 through faith.
For as many of you as were 
baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 
There is neither Jew not Greek, 
there is neither slave nor free, 
there is neither Jew nor Greek, 
there is no male and female,
 for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
We are heirs because of the promise.

Supplies:
Visual Faith Printable
Worship into the Week Printable
Prismacolor Pencils
Magazine Cutouts
Watercolors

Friday, January 6, 2023

Epiphany Blessings

 

Vintage Epiphany Cards.
This day- January 6 is known as the feast
 that honors the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child,
and the physical manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.
Sometimes it is called Three King's Day.
It is known as Theophany in the Eastern Christian churches
 as the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ

The Wise Men have found the Christ Child.

Let us also move our hearts to center 

on the manger with the babe- born for each of us.

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Thermopylae- Greece


One of the things that was made evident on our 
Footsteps of Paul trip in March 2022
was how much Greek history I had forgotten.
Thermopylae was one of those spots.
Thermopylae means "hot gates", 
referring to the hot sulphur springs in the area.
The entrance to Hades, the underworld of Greek mythology
 was said to be at Thermopylae.
On the right and left 
is the marble figures of Taigetos.
This is the personification of the highest mountain
 in the Pelopolnese and the personified Evrotas-
 which is a river flowing through the whole region of Laconia.


The Memorial in Thermopylae, 
which was erected in 1955, 
was by the sculptor named Vasos Falireas. 
This is the brass statue of Leonides 
with his spear and shield in the center.


Now it is nearly 2500 years since the Battle 
and it is still revered in our Western culture as the ultimate
symbol of heroic perseverance against odds 
that are were deemed insurmountable.
Maybe not a bad idea to remember 
when it is time to give up or it seems 
like there is no win in the game.
Paul would have been very aware 
of this historical event. 
Perhaps it brought him encouragement
 when the odds were overwhelming 
and the world was against him.


Monday, January 2, 2023

Worship into the Week- He is For Us

Worship into the Week-
God's Everlasting Love

He is For Us
Romans 8:31b-39

Contemplating the end of the year is always
 a time for reflection on both the good and the hardships.
It is so very easy to keep our focus on the here
 and now and the challenges of earthly life.
Looking into the new year we must 
cling to this promise and our hope.



""... we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, 
not things present nor things to come, nor powers,
 nor height nor depth, not anything else
 in all creation will be able to separate us
 from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

New Year's Blessings to you in 2023!

Supplies:
Visual Faith Printable
Worship into the Week Printable
Gelatos
Washi Tape
Magazine cutouts
Colored Pencils
Vintage Stamps