Thanksgiving 2024

 

Played around with a fun app on my phone 

with the Thanksgiving photos.They are a bit different with assorted filters

and they still capture the memories.

Sometimes it allows you to notice details

 that you don't see on an actual photograph.

Smiles, giggles, snuggles and quiet time.

Games and playing together. Helping with chores.

Lots of pumpkin pie!

Lined up stairstep style. 

What great joy is this sweet troop of littles.

Beautifully set table and wonderful feast

 this year and the Meier family hosted.

We loved seeing their Christmas 

decorations up early too!

Worship time together.

Unexpected snow fun for all the grand loves.

Giving thanks for Dan's recovery journey

Video game competitions.

Auntie Kristin was able to come

 with Sara to Michigan.

The puzzle crew was hard at work.

Helpers in the kitchen.

Figuring out how things work.

We are a very blessed family.

We give thanks for the Lord's good gifts.

We ask for strong hearts of courage

 in the waiting times.

Halloween 2024

                                        Fall flew by and I never got a chance

 to capture these family memories. 

Time to document this dress up time with littles.

Here is the Michigan crew 

and what fun to trick or treat together.

 The weather cooperated and it wasn't freezing.

Ages 3-10 right here.

There was the request to be "Bat Girl".

Thanks mom for pulling this off.

Littlest was in princess mode.

The loot haul.

 Hopefully to be eaten over a long period of time-

or shared!

Some fun with this trio of guys.

The Wilsons do the whole thing.

It is always so fun to see 

what they are up to each year.

Some brother fun for Halloween this year.

The very best kind of fun!

Capturing the days- they go by so quickly.

Worship into the Week- O Give Thanks

 Thanksgiving Worship

Phil. 4:6-7

So many things and people to give thanks

 for this year- 2024.

Healing and on the road to recovery

 for  son-in-law, Daniel.

Healthy children and grandchildren.

Work and employment.

Passion and connections for

work in the Kingdom.

New friends and coveted old friends.

House spaces updated and refreshed.

He is Good.

The Lord is very gracious.

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5,000 Days of Counting Gifts

 

Calendar Journaling for November 2024

This month included a milestone.

5,000 days of Counting Gifts.

That is a bit over 13 1/2 years.

One gift a day.

Every single day.

I don't share the monthly list online-

 as they include personal notes.

The days also get counted in my calendar journaling.

I use this method with my everyday devotions.

What is the daily takeaway from a devotional reading?

What is the STORY of your devotional life?

4 colored pencils and a Sharpie marker.

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4 colored pencils and a Sharpie marker.

Devotion: Jesus Be in Me- Sarah Hornsby

Worship into the Week- A Light to the Peoples

 

Worship into the Week-

The Lord's Comfort for Zion

Isaiah 51:4-6

This section of Scripture is full of hope for the church and

God's people. They can expect some times of ease 

and comfort with the certainty of salvation, 

even though they had many enemies. 

Attentive ears are certainly needed,

 as well as listening hearts.

God's justice serves as a beacon of light

 for everyone to see.

It will not go unnoticed.

The Epistle Reading of Jude 20-25 is also 

the lectionary reading for this Sunday.

In the reading, Jude helps the reader be a bit more settled

concerning the turmoil and upheaval of false doctrines and 

disputes in the Church. 

The current situation of the church seem overwhelming 

and Jude calms hearts by reminding them that the God

of the universe has the ability to 

preserve His people. He will guard them from the errors

that surround them.

What a hopeful reminder for each of us when the

 "church" seems to have lost its way.

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Worship into the Week- Shine for Jesus

 

Worship into the Week-

Shine for Jesus

Daniel 12:3

"Those who are wise shall shine for Jesus."

  REMEMBER  TRUST  DISCIPLE  GO  TELL 

There are marching orders in these days.

Things to do and people to be connected with in our days.

We don't know the time of the end, so we must

be about the business of sharing 

the love and the story of Jesus.

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Worship into the Week- Trusting for Provision

 

Worship into the Week-  1 Kings 17:8-16

The Widow of Zarephath

This story certainly is a great reminder for us anytime

we doubt that God sees what we really need.

The widow was on the last of her goods.

Down to the last dregs.

Then a stranger shows up and engages in conversation.

But, he asks for the very last of her supplies.

And- she obeys and goes to makes Elijah

 something to eat with her very last things in her kitchen.

Her obedience is rewarded and she is blessed 

with an unending supply of flour and oil.

This part of her story ends well.

(But, in the next section of Scripture

 her son falls ill and dies.

But, Elijah restores her son to health.)

Lord, help me to remember that in the times

 of plenty and with less, 

we are always called to be obedient to YOU.

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Worship into the Week- Written on Your Heart

 Worship into the Week- Deuteronomy 6:1-9

The SHEMA

The Greatest Commandment

Love God-

with every fiber of your being.

The command is rather daunting- 

with all your soul, all your heart and all your might.

I can't even attempt that 

without the help of the Holy Spirit.

But, this command lays out the morning till night,

in your place and in your face model.

This prayer is usually considered the most

 essential prayer in the Jewish faith. 

So how can the THE SHEMA

 be helpful to a Christian today?

1. The Shema is a great reminder to Christians

 of the wholeness of our worship of God.

2. The Shema calls us to live a Bible-saturated life- 

in how we study God's Word 

and in our calling to make disciples.

3. The Shema keeps in the forefront of our lives that

obedience to God is out of love rather than duty.

4. The word Shema is Hebrew for Hear. 

It reminds us to declare our love for Jesus by listening 

to the Father and carefully living out our lives as a 

follower and disciple of Jesus with all our might.

It certainly is a wonderful reminder 

as we step out of the house and return each day.

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House Reno- October 2024

 

  October was a very busy month around here.

Started to side the shed. Put the not needed 

kitchen sink window in the shed to reuse.

Been trying to take things to RESTORE-

 but they have become rather picky these days.

Trying to keep things out of the landfill.

Moving along in the Shop space.

Daughter Number 3 thinks

 it looks like her guest room.

It really makes things look tied together

 when the side is going up on the house.

Loving the darker color with the brick.

In John's new office space, music room, guest room 

we went with the Sherwin Williams- Evergreen Fog. 

Then opened a new magazine that came to the house

 this month and it was the chosen color 

for their advertisement.

Went bold- and painted all the 

trim and doors the same color.

Perfect frame to see out of all the windows.

Then kitchen cabinets began to arrive.

This is the really fun part of a renovation.

Now I see why people pack up 

and move out on HGTV.

Living in a remodel is just plain challenging.

We give thanks for a helpful 

GC- Aldo Razo and his careful crew.

Primer on the feature gallery wall in the Hallway.

Custom shelves for John's books in the office

 is a great use of that bit of vertical space.

The LORI bed  (Murphy Bed) 

arrived ready to be put together. 

John's books include the library of his grandfather-

Rev. Fred Droegemueller.

Tried to make an Old Testament and New Testament side.

Sliding door for the space. 

Finished LORI Bed.

Monumental day-10-10-2024- 

all the carpet went out of the house

Countertops arrived.

Appliances starting to arrive.

THAT changes a space.

GE Cafe Appliances.

4 bar stools to fit the family 

with the most littles.

New stair railing.

Flooring is red oak hardwood 

with a light gray wash.

A monumental day to have an ice maker.

First one in our lives- seems like a great luxury 

to not have a freezer full of ice trays.

Trying out the coffee maker to 

replace the battered and leaking old one.

Continuing to give thanks that the years

 of "waiting"

to fix and repair are moving forward 

to make such a great space 

for our family and friends.

Worship into the Week- Justified By Faith

 

Worship into the Week-

Justified By Faith- Romans 3:19-28

Reformation observations have been the agenda

 in Protestant churches this past week.

Time for:

 Sola Gratia- Grace Alone

Sola Fide- Faith Alone

Solus Christus- In Christ Alone

Sola Scriptura- Scripture Alone

Soli doe Gloria- For the Glory of God Alone.

Contemplating words like:

justified

propitiation

righteousness

faith

It all hangs together in Jesus.

Giving thanks for the way that this great gift 

of grace has been given to me- 

as one who has fallen short.

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Calendar Journaling- October 2024

 

Scripture Doodles October 2024

Looking for where the Holy Spirit

 is moving this month.

Using the Devotions- Jesus Be in Me- by 

Sarah Hornsby.

Noticing the words that stand out in the readings.

Praying about that list.

4 colored pencils and some 

small squares that tell the story.

Worship into the Week- Occupied with Joy

  

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor

 Ecclesiastes 5:10-20

Solomon had a few things to say about

 the accumulation of wealth.

He knew that it didn't bring satisfaction.

Money can also easily disappear.

What will we remember of our 

work and toil here on earth?

When God occupies our hearts with JOY-

it is so much better of our daily walk,

We come and go.

Let us move in our days without

 our focus solely on money.

Let us find joy in the daily life of eating

and drinking as we go about our days and work.

It is pleasing to the Lord.

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Worship into the Week- Seek the Lord and Live

Worship into the Week-

Seek the Lord and Live:

Amos 5:6-7, 10-15

Here- Amos declares judgment on the kingdom of Israel.

There can still be time for repentance.

There is the warning that they are to set themselves 

apart from their wicked nation and seek good and not evil-

so that they may live.

Amos was a "herdsman and a dresser of sycamore trees."

(Amos 1:1, 7:14)

God called him to  be the truth teller to the people 

of the northern Kingdom of Israel.

 He was a "nobody" and his audience 

were the wealthy and powerful, 

and the religious establishment.

The words of Amos were dire and he was not welcome.

He comes to tell of a nation already dead.

They didn't pay attention to Amos since the "upper class"

 were doing well. His words are dismissed.

But, Amos gives hope.

"Seek the Lord and live." v.6

There is an opportunity for a turnaround and second chance.

His audience thinks they have been "seeking the Lord" 

since they worship at Bethel. 

So, there must be something more- a new way.

God was seeking a lifestyle that wasn't just "at worship time",

 but in all their dealings with people.

God was looking for hearts of compassion, 

justice at the "city gate", honest interactions,

and are for the poor.

Amos makes it pretty plain.

Seeking God is Seeking Good.

It is looking for the poor and vulnerable.

A remnant will remain through the Assyrian invasion

 and the Babylonian invasion. 

Are we ready to hear the warning of Amos today?

The poor are vulnerable, wealth is unfairly distributed, 

and economies are volatile. 

Not much has changed in the world centuries later.

The words of Amos are also a call for us to align with

seeking God in ways that also seek good.

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Worship into the Week- God's Design

 

Worship into the Week- Genesis 2:18-25

God's Design

The creation of woman begins the plan 

for living in our earthly relationships.

Woman is Adam's helper and companion.

She is named Eve and they are to become one flesh.

This marriage covenant is established by God

 and sets in motion the nature of love

and human relationships.

This gift also establishes the ideal connection

 between Jesus and the church.

This bond between a man and a woman is so strong

 that to alter it is like cutting out a part of one's own body.

Good gives humans the blueprint for married life 

with one man and one women in a life long 

relationship together.

It is the very first part of the Bible where God lays out

 his design for the people He loves so much.

It is a mapped out plan for flourishing here on earth.

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Worship into the Week- Spirit on Them

 The Spirit on Them-

Numbers 11:4-29

So the people in this story have a bad case of 

"spiritual amnesia".

We all have the tendency to remember in the moment

 the stories of God's goodness and then they simply 

slip away in our harried and busy lives.

The people of Israel began compiling that perhaps

 it would be better 

if they had never left Egypt.

At least there, they had meat to eat. 

Round that out with melons, cucumbers,

 leeks, onions and garlic.

They were a grumbling and complaining, 

unhappy lot of folks.

God was angry and Moses was pretty perturbed with God.

These lousy mess of people was not "his doing."

Moses told God that he could not carry the weight 

of all these people alone.

Then God sends in those to help carry the burden.

We actually see that 70 elders are commissioned here to 

aid and help Moses.

 The men were placed around the tent.

"And I will come down and talk with you there. 

And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you

 and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden 

of the people with you, 

so that you may not bear it yourself alone."

The men soon prophesied, but then stopped doing it.

But, even that became a bone of contention,

 as others quickly began to "tattle" 

about those who had spoken in prophecy.

Moses squelched that attitude.

"Would that all the Lord's people were prophets,

 that the LORD would put his Spirit on them."

So Moses and the elders went back to the camp.

So Moses had a hard time believing that God could

 provide the meat just has he had the manna. 

His concept of God was minuscule 

and he could not fathom with his own

 understanding how that would work.

How often don't we think that the power

 of God has been shortchanged in a situation?

God has resources and power that Moses 

knew nothing about.

That is the choice of God for each of us.

 For God can come into every life situation 

with a completely unexpected way.

Let's trust him on that! 

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