Thanksliving Devotional Journaling

 

This month was an experiment 

in doing part of our devotional time together.

                     Though we didn't plan to share the prayer page,                                                  it is a significant result. 

 Our readings were different then 

the listing on the prayer page and 

we managed to finish the month together.

I used 4 colored pencils and a black Sharpie pen.

Husband, John, is more of an image guy

 and usually journals with a blue pen.

He would give some background for the readings

 each day and we ended with prayer time for those in our life.

If we got behind a day or two- 

we just caught up along the way.

This has been a mystery for us for years- 

and we decided to take this experiment

 right into ADVENT.

The image page addition has been 

a very helpful tool for our 

shared devotional life journaling.

Grace upon grace.

Worship into the Week- Everything Everywhere

 

Worship into the Week-

1 Corinthians 15:20-28

28 Then, when all things are under his authority, 

the Son will put himself under God’s authority, 

so that God,

 who gave his Son authority over all things, 

will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.

New Living Translation

I love how this translation highlights the words-

 Everything Everywhere.

I will just walk around with that these next days

 to let that sink in and then maybe it becomes

 a bit more affixed to my soul. 

Supplies:

Visual Faith Printable

vcy-graphics-only-november-2023

Worship into the Week Printable

worship-into-the-week-november-2023

Magazine cutouts

 Colored pencils

Enduring Word Bible- Psalm 18

Enduring Word Bible-

Psalm 18

Just some time praying Scripture as I 

color in the margin.

Resting with my Lord as my rock,

my fortress and my deliverer.

Sometimes Bible Journaling 

and the coloring process 

gives me a chance to just be held.

Supplies:

Enduring Word Bible

Colored pencils

Washi tape

 

Worship into the Week- Children of Light

 

                                                           Worship into the Week-                                                                    The Day of the Lord

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Coming close to the end of the church year

 and that reminds us of the coming of the Lord.

We often forget that the "day of the Lord 

will come like a thief in the night."

If we live in peace and security,

 then hardship comes suddenly.

But, we are not people who live in darkness and unaware.

We are children of light, children of the day.

We watch and put on the breast plate of faith and love,

 and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

Because Jesus died for us, it doesn't matter whether

 we are awake or asleep, we will live with him.

So don't be afraid and build each other up 

with encouragement, because we know it is true. 

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable

vcy-graphics-only-november-2023

Worship into the Week Printable

 worship-into-the-week-november-2023

Markers

Magazine Cutouts

Label Stickers

Stamp

Thanksgiving Day- 2023

 A gathering of slices life for Thanksgiving 2023. 

Some vintage postcards from over 100 years ago.

Remembering past generations 

and all the saints in heaven.

Greetings sent by text to friends and loved ones.

The gourds from this fall still look lovely.

 A bit of a turkey tag-along. 

An early blooming cactus.

A simple dinner with scallops, roasted sweet potatoes

and brussel sprouts, and maple bourbon cranberries.

Two big plants still outside in these milder days.

Worship into the Week for Thanksgiving Day.

So many things to be thankful

 for in our very blessed life.

John ad I give thanks for our faith, 

family and good health.

All of these are our very great gift.

Worship into the Week- Encourage One Another

 

The Coming of the Lord

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Paul is working here to help clear up some issues

 with the Gentile converts in Thessaloniki.

 Some things remain unclear about the end of life

 and the end of time scenario,

but Paul seeks to bring them assurance in time of death.

Perhaps some in the community had died since Paul left,

there certainly was the need 

to bring hope to those left behind.

Since the basic tenet of our faith is that Jesus died 

and rose again, we can cling to the belief that God 

will raise those believers again to new life.

We don't have to understand the how, the timing 

or try to make sense of it all.

We just know that in Jesus and with Jesus-

 this is the way of the Kingdom. 

Even now, God is working His plan for the 

restoration of the universe.

"..and so we will always be with the Lord. 

Therefore encourage one another

 with these words" v.16

This month has been the hard loss of a 

neighbor and ministry friends.

 These words bring light and hope

 in the darkness of death.

"God will bring with him those 

who have fallen asleep." v.14

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable

vcy-graphics-only-november-2023

Worship into the Week Printable

worship-into-the-week-november-2023

Magazine Cutouts

Vintage Stamps

Colored Pencils

Stamp and Ink

Distress Ink

Random Life November Snippets

 

This week has included time for

 an online Zoom gathering - Around the Word.

A Lectio Divina process that also 

becomes a Visio Divina outcome.

Always a blessing for this hour each month.

(Sign up for this Free event each month 

at Visual Faith Ministry here-)

VFM events

The Japanese maples have been showing off

 a bit around here this week.

Golden light captured through fall colors 

made me smile this week.

An early start to a day gave the gift of sunrise- 

something I don't usually see in my day.

The burning bush out back has been slower than the rest of the neighborhood, but finally burst into a full RED color display.

The past two weeks has also been time

 to bring the plants back inside for the Winter.

Trying to fit it all in takes a bit of time and 

moving things around.

All in all- a week to gently slide into 

Thanksgiving week and count more and more 

of my blessings. 

Worship into the Week- For All the Saints

Worship into the Week-

I John 3:1-3- Children of God

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, 

that we should be called children of God; 

and so we are.

The reason why the world does not know us

 is that it did not know him.

Beloved, we are God's children now, 

and what we will be has not yet appeared;

but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, 

because we shall see him as he is.

And everyone who thus hopes in him 

purifies himself as he is pure."

We all live between the right now 

and the "to come" world.

In this time here, how wonderful to have 

our identity centered as God's children.

 We KNOW HIM and HE KNOWS us.

All things change in my world

when He calls me Beloved.

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable

vcy-graphics-only-november-2023

Worship into the Week Printable

worship-into-the-week-november-2023

Colored Pencils

tag and die cut

Magazine Cut out

 

Dress Up Roundup- 2023

Finally getting to doing a roundup for Halloween 2023.

The Meier family has some great  pumpkin carvers

 

                  There was Pikachu, a bat princess, a baby skunk,

Buzz Light Year and the Mandalorian.

We also had Bluey and Harry Potter 

for the Michigan crew.

When it was time for a group photo

 Bluey became very sad.

There is much to do to get this crew 

ready for tricking and treating.

So much fun for a night of dress up 

and saying hello to the neighbors.

A little face paint.

Needing a little help from Uncle Dan with the tie.

Checking each other out for the evening.

The Virginia crew had their A game on 

as the team from Baltimore.

Even mom and dad get into the fun 

 as a whole family team.

Till next year and a whole bunch

 of fun with the #dengrandloves.

In Need of Present Help

 

Worship into the Week- Psalm 46

Reformation Sunday

God is our Fortress

"God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam, 

though the mountains tremble at its swelling." v. 1-3

These words have set deep in the past few days.

I have stood on PRESENT HELP.

Not on the route "to arrive".

Not on "back order."

PRESENT HELP.

Like with an inhaled breath.

Like I can touch it now.

Enduring Word Bible- Psalm 46

"Be still and know that I am God.

I will be exalted along the actions,

I will be exalted in the earth!

The Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress."

So a deep breath in to calm my soul 

and mind and heart.

Be still. Be still.

Present Help is here right now.

I will lean back on my fortress.

Clinging to the LORD of hosts.

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable

vcy-graphics-only-october-2023

Worship into the Week Printable

worship-into-the-week-october-2023

Magazine Cutouts

VFM Reformation stickers

Colored pencils

Distress ink.