Worship into the Week- To Live is Christ

Worship into the Week-

Philippians 1:12-14, 19-30

The Advance of the Gospel

To Live is Christ

Paul was speaking to the people of Phillipi 

and his circumstances were not good in prison.

Yet, he had this amazing trust that God 

does not waste anything happening to us. 

Paul could see the Gospel moving forward

 even in his bad situation.

 I have a pretty hard time setting 

that standard and keeping it.

Living free and life well would be the good dream.

But, Paul understands that He belongs to the Lord-

 whether dead or alive.  

His is with Christ while alive, 

but to be dead and with Jesus is even better. 

But, that isn't his choice to make.

So he comes to a clear view of living the everyday:

v.27 "Only let your manner of life

 be worthy of the gospel of Christ."

Worthy-

merit recognition

to balance the scales. 

We are called to live as a child of God

 and heir with Jesus.

We must pray that my life as a follower of Jesus 

matches the great gift of my spiritual position 

of heir to the Kingdom.

It is a simple, straightforward system of living.

 Think Deeply, Act Justly, 

and Live Wholeheartedly for Jesus.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Printable

vcy-graphics-only-september-2023

Worship into the Week Printable

worship-into-the-week-september-2023

Magazine cutouts

Colored pencils

Vintage stamps

 

Bible Marginalia- with Magazines

 

Recently I joined in with a live zoom 

with Visual Faith ® Ministry to learn more 

about their Bible Journaling by Verse kits.

One of the things I am always trying to problem solve

 is how to invite people that would like to try this out-

 but don't have alot of "supplies."

Before I donate old magazines or recycle them,

I pull out images with colors I like or a background

 that might be used when taken out of context.

I have been doing that ever since I taught a 

Faith Journaling with Junk Mail class 

about 20 years ago.

Getting the mail with alot of junk makes my day.

So here I used the images printed off in the kit 

and found similar colors in a magazine page.

Quickly that became a whole page in my interleaved Bible.

I also love looking for words 

and keep them in a box ready for creating.

  Part of the fun puzzle is piecing together phrases 

and words that pick up on the theme 

of a Bible margin or other printed "creative starters."

This way is great for those stumped with how to begin, 

or just want to try things out a bit.

Magazine paper is generally thinner 

than scrapbook paper,

 so it also helps when creating layers 

in your Bible or journal.

It is fine if you don't prefer to do this in your Bible.

(I only do it this way in my interleaved Bible,

 so I don't cover up any Bible Test)

So grab a magazine, or pick one up 

for sale for 50 cents at the library.

Inspiration is just a page turn away.

Supplies:

 Magazine cutouts

Similar kit

Printable from Visual Faith® Ministry

psalm-91-4-bible-journaling-by-verse-kit

 

Sister Gardening

 

I have been blessed to visit the gardens 

of my two sisters here in later September.

What a blessing to "walk the grounds" 

like we use to do on the farm 

when we came home to visit.

Something connects us 

about digging in the dirt.

Waiting for the growth, and blooms

 and maturing of flowers.

Seeing if the combinations end up 

looking like what you had "in your mind's eye."

Making decisions for next year- yes, this!

And not, that!

We also lament together the upcoming frost 

that will take things that we just don't have room 

to "overwinter" in the house. 

Where could we find shelter for just one more pot?

Maybe saving some seed or a few cuttings

 to pamper through the dark months.

But, we KNOW, that "Lord willing" 

we will be back to finding the things next year, 

that bring us so much pleasure for the summer months.

And secretly, we all admit, 

maybe we are also just tired of watering for this year.

Worship into the Week- We are the Lord's

 

Worship into the Week-

Romans 14:1-12

Do Not Pass Judgment on One Another

So many categories, and historical sides of every issue.

We live in our rightness and it blinds us 

so we can't even listen to the the other side.

Every time we hold to Right then we pass judgment-

that someone else is Wrong.

Every worship community makes decisions 

with what seemingly works for the majority.

Parents make decisions with the information

 they have for the best of the family unit.

Life works best when we set our decisions 

in the framework that we-

are the Lord's.

If we live that way in our daily walk, 

then the truth is-

 whether we live or die- we are the Lord's.

A family has recently gone through

 the tragic loss of their child.

I can't imagine the extreme heartbreak.

In the last 2 weeks I have come back to this passage

 over and over again.

Wondering how the comfort seeps into the 

fibers of the heart of grieving parents.

None of us know what the future holds.

We never know when we will 

cling to these very words.

I will be thankful that I know them,

and I pray the strength to believe them.

Journaling in my Enduring Word Bible

Romans 14:8

Supplies:

Visual Faith Printable

vcy-graphics-only-september-2023

Worship into the Week Printable

worship-into-the-week-september-2023

Distress Ink

 Washi tape

Magazine Cutouts

Markers

Vintage Grace Gardens- Mid-September

 

A stroll in the garden at golden hour.

Finding some splashes of purple color.

Even some reblooming clematis.

Purple balls on the hydrangea 

and purple spires on the liriope.

Can see the feverfew has 

another branch of blooms.

The shoot on the hosta reaches out 

with a dainty loop of blossoms.

An early evening walk 

is always worth the effort.

Worship into the Week- No harm

 

Worship into the Week-

Romans  13:1-10

Fulfilling the Law Through Love

v.8 "Owe no one anything, except to love each other, 

for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law."

v.9 "...and any other commandment, 

are summed up in this word: 

"you shall love your neighbor as yourself."

v.10 "Love does no wrong to a neighbor, 

therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

Neighbor- just what does that mean?

Is it just the people that live on my street?

Are they the people that are not in my "family'?

Is it those that I do not know?

 Are they different from me or the same?

Thinking back to the times I have walked 

in the footsteps of Jesus in the Galilee 

and wondered how he saw the term- Neighbor.

The Greeks that lived there, the unclean people

on the "other side?"

One of the things that you understand 

on a trip to the Holy Land 

is that Jesus didn't see people as others.

They were all in the sight of someone who 

loved them all the same.

Lord, please help me to begin to see that

your world is not made up of us and them.

We are all children of the King.

Rearrange my heart in all the ways

 that I need to learn to see the people of this 

world in the way You see them.

Amen.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Ministry Printable

vcy-graphics-only-september-2023

Worship into the Week Printable

worship-into-the-week-september-2023

Colored Pencils

Distress Ink

Magazine Cutouts

 

Bible Marginalia- REST

 A recent Creative Haven with Visual Faith® Ministry

 allowed me to join for some time

 in the Word and to "mark the spot."

These zooms are live and I get to hang out

 with cool sisters in faith from all over the country.

The printable resource comes right with the zoom link 

and you are ready to go.

This gathering was showing some Bible Journaling kits

 that we now have on the website.

Visual Faith Ministry

You can find all sorts of resources in the Shoppe.

An hour zoom. An hour to focus on rest and read 

Matthew 11:28-29 and spend some to listen

 to what was saying right to me.

And to respond--the encouraging words for me-

He does the heavy lifting.

That's Good News.

Supplies:

Zondervan Noteworthy New Testament Bible

Journal-Testament-Pocket

Bible Journaling Kit Printables

matthew-11-28-29-bible-journaling-by-verse-kit

Sharpie Pen

Watercolors

Flight 93 Memorial

In a field in the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania

 rises a very tall concrete structure.

We have seen the signs for Flight 93 Memorial for years,

and on a recent trip back from Michigan

 we took the detour to see the site.

The park "officially" closes at 5 pm,

 but you can still see the site and

walk the grounds till dusk in the 

summer when the park gates close. 

The Tower of Voices that honors the 40 people

 who died on September 11, 2001 

on Flight 93 is a more recent addition to the Memorial.

The Tower of Voices is a 93 foot tall monument 

and with little wind was silent the day we visited.

The structure is grand and powerful and stands 

with massive strength in the open field.

It is a testament to the courage of a group of people

 who had never met before boarding a plane

 on the morning of September 11, 2001.

Farther into the park is the actual crash site.

 40 marble panels form a wall with the names

 of each remembered hero.

Passenger Todd Beamer is one of the 

well-known names from this Wall of Remembrance.

The Wall of Names follows the trajectory 

of the plane crash and is denoted 

by the black granite path.

 The Ceremonial gate

 is made of hemlock (a symbol for this site) 

with 40 cut angles.

Beyond the gate is the boulder 

that marks the crash site.

The Crash Site Boulder

Just before 10 am the hijacked plane was seen
flying low and erratically over southwestern Pennsylvania.
At 10:03 am it crashed, upside down at 563 miles
per hour into this spot in a Somerset County field.
There were no survivors.
All 33 passengers, seven crew members
and four hijackers are killed.
It is believed that the heroic efforts
on this flight saved the plane from crashing
  most likely into the US Capitol.
This plane that was bound for San Francisco, California
 from Newark, New Jersey
was delayed 25 minutes before takeoff.
When the terrorists took over the plane,
the passengers and crew began phoning family,
friends and authorities to report the hijacking.
 Their calls- 13 people placed 37 calls-
told them of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks.
They understood that their delayed take off
had foiled the terrorist plan for their plane
to be a part of the unified attack.
They also realized that the Washington bound plane
was meant for destruction.
The passengers and crew then made a collective decision,
by vote, to rush the terrorists and try to retake the plane.

There is certainly something very solemn about
this National Park near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
On this Anniversary of the event 22 years ago today,
we give thanks for the all the ways

our Lord has protected our nation and the world.

May His hand continue to guide the 

way of peace and hope in our world.

 

Hudson is 3!

 

Hudson is Three and this photo

 just about says it all.

Utter Donut Delight.

Hudson Daniel you are the guy!

Fun with cousins for the birthday gathering.

Peppa Pig and Bluey were favorites for gifts.

                                 

                                  Pikachu is pretty squishy!

                             

                                 Hudson loves "his guys."

                            

                              What a fun cake and decorations!

The Schumacher family and Birthday boy Hudson!

The Meier clan.

A jumble of blonde brothers.

                           

                      Fun to have Grandpa and Grandma Meier

 visiting for the birthday!

Hudson, may the Lord bless 

your new birth year with grace and health and 

many learning adventures. Amen.

Worship into the Week- Christian Living

 

Worship into the Week-

Romans 21: 9-21 

Marks of the True Christian

A full model of Christian living

 is depicted here in this reading.

A challenge to look at on a good day 

and a bit overwhelming when not feeling up to the quest.

So many things to place in the center of attention.

I may get sidetracked with the extent of the long list,

but to reread often may bring

 things to light that need my attention.

Today I am centering on this part-

v12 " Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, 

be constant in prayer."

That has my heart connection today.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Printable

vcy-graphics-only-september-2023

Worship into the Week Printable

worship-into-the-week-september-2023

Distress Ink

Colored Pencils

Magazine Cutouts

Bible Marginalia- Jesus Calls Matthew

 

Bible Marginalia- Jesus Calls Matthew

Matthew 9:9-13

When Jesus calls Matthew he says to him,

"Follow me."

Matthew responds immediately

 and gets up to follow Jesus.

Later, Jesus is reclining later at the table 

with many tax collectors and sinners. 

Quick to point this out are the Pharisees 

who questioned Jesus about the company he kept.

Jesus replied,

" Those who are well have no need of a physician,

 but those who are sick. Go and learn  what this means,

 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' 

For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

Lord, we are all sinners 

and in need of a healer.

Help me to see just how much I need you-

that that I am no better than anyone else.

I need the Great physician in  my life.

Amen.

Supplies:

ESV Crossways Bible

Watercolors

VFM Printable

Sharpie Non-Bleeding pen

Worship into the Week- Changed

 

Worship into the Week-

Romans 11:33-12:8

A Living Sacrifice- Gifts of Grace

v.3 "...by the mercies of God, to present your bodies

 as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, 

which is your spiritual worship.

Do not be conformed to this world,

 but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, 

that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, 

what is good and acceptable and perfect."

This is a section of Scripture

that I have loved for a long time.

"Transformed by the renewal of your mind"

has become a favorite Biblical phrase.

By God's grace- we can change.

We are MOVABLE.

The old can slip away as God replaces it with 

more and more good and acceptable pieces.

Perfection will come when we reach heaven,

but the Lord is not happy with His children

in static places.

In His grace we are on the move.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Ministry Printable

vcy-graphics-only-august-2023

Worship into the Week Printable

worship-into-the-week-august-2023

Markers

Colored pencils

Magazine cutouts

Vintage stamps

Scripture Doodles- August 2023

 

Scripture Doodles- August 2023

Small squares with phrases from daily devotions.

Creating the story of encouragement.

This gives me the ability to look back 

and see the message from this time of reflection.

Four colored pencils and a calendar.

The overview for the month? 

The Gospel-Lens to view Life.

I am thankful for this practice that allows me to have

a system to mark devotions and look for 

the connecting pieces.

Devotion book- 

New Morning Mercies- Paul David Tripp

Calendar- Concordia Publishing House