Friday, August 30, 2024

Worship into the Week- Spiritual Blindness


 Worship into the Week- 
Isaiah 29:11-19

Jerusalem knew how to talk the spiritual talk,
 but they were living a double life.
Their hearts were far away from God.
Knowing a person's heart is God's territory.
We can try by looking at the whole story of 
someone's life, but even that is limited. 

Here Isaiah is speaking of the great 
spiritual blindness of 
the leaders of Jerusalem. 
They have access to God's Word,
 but don't understand it's meaning.
How is that any different from 
the leaders in our world?
Empty lip service to God.
Or perhaps the created begins to think
it is greater than the Creator.
Or that they can hide their plans 
from the potter.
 They do their works in the dark.
Not transparent.
But, then there is a shift. 
Isaiah begins to tell of a fruitful land 
where the deaf hear and the blind see.
The humble finally experience joy
 in relationship with Lord.
God's mercy shines through the story
of redemption.

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable
Worship into the Week
Colored pencils
Distress Ink
Magazine Cutouts
Gold pen




Thursday, August 29, 2024

Lainey is Three

 


This little firecracker is officially three.

Three and into everything Elsa and Frozen.

She has a new "kitty" and carrier.


That is a lot of confetti sprinkles!!!

A bit of dress up.
All the good things that make up a princess.

With Papa and Gigi and the 
Meier clan (minus Dan.)

Mom and Dad and Auntie Jess with Papa and Gigi.


What a fun gathering with the Michigan cousins.

Fun food and friends for a party.
Lainey Ella Christine- we love you!
AND when your birthday is on the first day of school-
your wear your gold sparkle shoes and get a crown!

        

Saturday, August 24, 2024

Worship into the Week- The Lord Hears Them

 

Worship into the Week-

Psalm 34:12-22

"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted 

and saves the crushed in spirit."

We may hear the word brokenhearted,

 but we perhaps don't use it very often.

"Feeling or showing extreme discouragement, 

dejection, or depression.

Despondent about his health."

Crushed in spirit is another term 

we might shortened to "crushed."

Crushed- could mean when we have lost passion, desire

 and energy to deal with life and its challenges.

When we just feel broken.

How do we deal with life when it comes to this point?

We find something to be thankful for each day.

We give praise and worship to the One who keeps us.

We worship the One who redeems.

We seek refuge in the One who delivers us.

Then the next day comes and we start all over again.

"When the righteous cry for help,

the LORD hears and delivers them

 out of all their troubles." v. 17


Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable

vcy-graphics-only-august-2024

Worship into the Week Printable

worship-into-the-week-august-2024

Magazine Cut outs

Distress ink

Colored pencils



Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Hadley Grace is Five

 

Hadley Grace has been waiting
 for five for awhile now.
She just knew it would be very special.

It included a new outfit or two and sweet younger sister
 loved the sharing of the crowns.

So yes, the whole dress up bin 
came out for the celebration.

A new pink bike was a thrill of a gift.
"no boy bike" allowed.
We love you dear sweet, 
feisty, unicorn princess. 
May the Lord grant you the graciousness 
of good health and safety in all of your days.

Saturday, August 17, 2024

Worship into the Week- Delivered from All my Fears

 

Worship into the Week-
Psalm 34:1-8

Last Friday evening I was working on these
pages for my worship into the week journal.
On Saturday morning- August 10th, I was 
coloring in the Psalm verse.
At 11:30 am we got the news that son-in law Daniel 
had been in a severe bike accident.
In the caring way that the Lord does His work,
I was planting these words in my heart.
"He delivered me from all my fears."
Taste and See that the Lord is Good.

Blessed is the the man who takes refuge in him!
Thank you Lord, for all the ways you take care of us.
We give thanks for the tender knitting together
 of Daniel in surgeries this week.
May we enter this trusted relationship 
with you in hope for the future of all our days.

Supplies:
Visual Church Year Printable
Worship into the Week Printable
Magazine Cutouts
Colored Pencils




Saturday, August 10, 2024

Worship into the Week- About to Rain


  Worship into the Week-
Exodus 16:2-15

The first part of this week has been dealing
 with the aftermath of Hurricane Debbie.
She has certainly been raining down.
Our text for this week in Exodus
 is talking about a different kind of raining down.
Raining down bread.
Grumbling people.
Wishing they could go back to where they were before.
Slavery was better than this hunger in the desert.
But wait, in the morning 
you shall see the glory of the Lord.
That is not an ordinary day.

Then today, we have the news of son-in law-
 Daniel, in a truck and bike accident.
Daniel on the bike. 
We give thanks for the preservation of his life.
We pray that in all the days ahead 
of surgery and recovery that Daniel 
and all of us may be reminded
that "I am the Lord Your God."

Supplies:
Visual Church Year Printable
Worship into the Week Printable
Colored Pencils
Magazine Cutouts





Monday, August 5, 2024

The Reno Story- July 2024

 


The first part of the month
 they cut the top windows out.
What a stunning view appeared 
as now we saw clouds floating along.
The house got wrapped in Tyvek.


A new charcoal black roof covers everything now.

Some new doors went in all sorts of new spaces.
The deck was started.

A small storage closet was removed to enlarge the shop.
It was actually the backside of the house they took out.


Closets were framed out in the office.
 A couple of loads of trash were removed.
It is still easy to see the stable side of the yard
 and the part that is "under construction."
Things continue to move forward.
Waiting right now for the windows to arrive.

Saturday, August 3, 2024

Worship into the Week- Covenant



Worship into the Week-
Genesis 9:8-17
"I have set my bow in the cloud, 
and it shall be a sign of the covenant 
between me and the earth."

God's covenant with Noah
 is His covenant with me!

A strong storm roared through my neighborhood tonite.
  Though I didn't see it, 
social media posts showed the rainbow.
Our family has always been 
on rainbow lookout after a storm.
Why?
Rainbows are such a visible, notable sign from God.
The reminder in nature that ties right to Scripture.
God's Word places tonight's rainbow 
right into the connection of Genesis 9:13.
That's such a great and wonderful 
sign of a promise.
A contract, an agreement between God and his people.
May every rainbow sighting be a vivid reminder of this
precious relationship.

Supplies-
Visual Church Year Graphics
Worship into the Week
Magazine cutouts
Colored pencils