Worship into the Week- Walk in the Light

 

Walk in the Light-

Isaiah 2:1-5

The Mountain of the Lord is a future vision where 

this spot becomes the highest point.

 It will draw all people to it for judgment and teaching. 

 They will disarm themselves and change the swords into plows

 and spears into pruning hooks. Wartime will cease. 

There is a plea for the house of Jacob

 to walk in the light of the Lord.

God is calling them to give up their idolatry and sinful ways.

Walking in the light  of the Lord means to follow

 His commands and teachings. 

"Light" means centering our living under 

God's guidance and instruction.

Lord, help me to focus on the way my days unfold

 that there is the brightness of your closeness and Light.

Amen.

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Calendar Journaling- November 2025

 

Calendar Journaling-

November 2025

The blessings of Biblical text centering

 from my daily devotions.

Four colored pencils and a 

Sharpie pen.

Word Log Journal for helping to see where the 

words fit together.

What is the Holy Spirit doing in my life?

What am I going to do about it?

Where do I need to redirect for next month?

What should I be SEEING this month?

Finished up the devotion- 

Jesus Reigns in Me! by Sarah Hornsby.

Thanksgiving Blessings-2025

 

Thanksgiving Blessings- 2025

Deuteronomy 8:1-10

This reading for worship for Thanksgiving highlights 

the reminder to the Israelites to remember 

that God provides, disciplines and tests. 

Their daily hunger and dependence on God for food

 helped them to learn to trust His word, 

not just the promise of food. 

Daily miracles week after week,

 year after year provided the framework for providing

 for their needs. It helped them to understand the hope

 to come of the land of abundance in the future. 

The last thing God wanted was a group of prideful

 and self-sufficient people that didn't need Him anymore.

 God's every detail plan even had their shoes and clothes

 that didn't wear out. The 40 year journey 

was to humble the Israelites and fine tune 

their dependence on God. 

"Man shall not live by bread alone"

 is the iconic phrase that God gives more

 to sustain us then just our daily bread. 

There is also the warning that abundance 

and prosperity is dangerous because we tend to forget

 about God when our need is lessened. 

Finally, they are asked to give thanks 

for the land that God is giving them. 

That is paired with obedience 

because of His great goodness.

  So much of this story is a reminder to us 

living in this land of plenty and prosperity 

that we not forget the good God 

who cares for us and provides all things.

So, on this Thanksgiving Day we celebrate the

gift that blesses us for eternity.

Jesus our greatest gift and we give thanks.

                thousand-thousand-thanks-shall-be-hs-by-pat-maier

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Worship into the Week- Treasured Possession

 Christ the King Sunday- A Call to Repentance

Malachi 3:13-18

The reading for this week in Malachi sounds amazingly 

similar to the cynical remarks heard today about complaints 

about God. Serving is meaningless or pointless. 

What does it GET ME?

God confronts the people for their judgment against Him.

 Harsh words. They deny that they have said anything bad.

 They point out that the evil people prosper

 and it doesn't seem like they"get ahead" with obedience. 

There is certainly a self-centered framework. 

They want an immediate "pay back" for obedience. 

Like they deserve a reward.

Then there are the faithful remnant 

that obey and fear the Lord. 

God listens in to their conversations 

and created a book of remembrance. 

He noticed this group encouraging each other. 

He promises future justice and outlines that there 

will be a clear division between 

the righteous and the wicked in the world.

He announces that those who remember Him 

will be His special "treasured possession," like jewels.

We are called to serve God by faith and in His mercy,

the faithful will be rewarded.

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Worship into the Week- Sun of Righteousness

 

Worship into the Week- Malachi 4: 1-6

Great Day of the Lord

This section of Scripture is a prophecy describing

 the future "day of the Lord." 

There is judgment for the wicked and salvation for the righteous.

Not a good forecast for the wicked with burning like chaff.

The godly will be healed by Jesus- the "sun of righteousness".

This will cause leaping like calves out to pasture.

The Law of Moses is to be remembered and obeyed.

Before the day of the LORD arrives God 

will send the prophet Elijah- or John the Baptist.

He will turn the hearts of the children 

and parents to each other. 

They must be reconciled rather 

then suffer a future destruction.

It has been almost 10 years since 

this page in a journaling Bible.

Here at the end of Malachi,

 we step into the intertestamental period.

It covers about 400 years till the New Testament.

Much history took place in these years including

 the rule of numerous empires,

 especially the Greeks and the Romans.

This time period included the conquests 

of Alexander the Great, the rule of Seleucid Empire, 

the Maccabean Revolt 

and eventually the Roman control of Judea.

This was finally the setting for the coming of Jesus.

Jesus is the light of a new day.

He will bring healing.

Jesus restores.

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Worship into the Week- Holy Ground

 Worship into the Week- Exodus 3:1-15

Moses was just doing his job tending the sheep. 

Then God intervenes in the daily schedule 

and everything changes.

Moses encounters God at a burning bush that is

 not consumed by the fire.

Here we have God's presence, power and the plan

to rescue the Israelites.

Moses is told to remove his shoes 

for where he stands is holy ground.

God's plan reveals his intimate connection

 to the plight of the Israelites.

  He calls Moses to be the leader and doesn't 

shuffle the plan when Moses doubts his capabilities.

Once again, God shows that He gifts the ones He calls.

God's glory is shown when He chooses to use 

simple, ordinary people for His purposes.

Lord, may I not doubt your nearness

 in the callings you have given me.

Lead me to understand that your presence

 is Holy Ground in my life.

And you are everywhere. Amen.

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Worship into the Week- Learn to Do Good

 

Worship into the Week- Isaiah 1:10-18

All Saint's Day

This section of Scripture calls out the corrupt 

worship happening and is a call to justice. 

God rejects the the religious rituals of the people

 because they do not align with their daily behavior.

They do not see the poor, marginalized and the vulnerable

 around them. God promises forgiveness of their sins.

They can become just as white as snow, 

but they need to amend their ways.

The plan is forthright: learn to do good, seek justice, 

correct oppression, and obey God.

Do not forget the widow.

God is looking for a transformed heart, 

not just outward actions.

When the people of God are obedient,

 their scarlet sins become as cleansed and white as snow.

 This is the picture of sinner to saint that is our gift of grace.

It is our map of how God wants us to see "others".

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Votes for Women- 105 Years

 

I recently hosted a  Suffragette Party 

for the gals in the neighborhood.

Most of the time women know nothing or very little about the story right here in our backyard.

It is always amazing to tell the story of the women in the Occoquan Workhouse in Occoquan, Virginia in October 1917. 

The women picketed the White House for 18 months- day and night, every day but Sunday. 

They were arrested for picketing the White House and sentenced for blocking traffic. Under horrible conditions, they were treated poorly and not allowed any outside communication. 

When Alice Paul joined them, she began a hunger strike and did not eat for three weeks. 

Then, afraid they would have a "martyr", they began to force feed her. 

By the end of November, the women were released and President Wilson began to support the 19th Amendment.

 

In 2020 I went to the 100 year Anniversary of the ratifying of the 19th Amendment. The state of Tennessee gave the last vote needed in the Senate on August 26, 1920 to make the 19th Amendment a law. At the Anniversary celebration they reenacted the famous horse ride in the parade in Washington, DC in 1913 with Inez Mulholland on the horse.

I was able to sign the 100 year Anniversary document that went into the time capsule for the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial.

Turning Point is a Suffragist term and has been for a very long time

That memorial is now finished. See that HERE:

the-turning-point-suffragist-memorial.html

So I voted today. For a woman for Governor of Virginia.

105 years after Votes for Women became a reality, 

I was able to vote for a woman to lead in Virginia. 

When I was born, women were able to vote for just 35 years.

I am very thankful for the brave women who fought hard that I may enjoy that right today.

Want to know more about the Suffragette Movement in America?

Check out any of the following books.

Alice+Paul-elizabeth Raum

Bold-Brave-Heroes-Women-Kirsten+Gillibrand

                        

Remember-Ladies-Great-American-

Courage-Cloth-Winning-Fight

People-at-Center-Womens-Suffrage

Womens-Right-Cornerstones-Freedom-

Calendar Journaling- October 2025

 

Calendar Journaling for October 2025

A small square for adding in a "take-away" phrase

 from my daily devotions.

4 colored pencils.

Time for me to remember, reflect, respond.

Where is the light of the Holy Spirit shining for the day?

Words are my thing. I get distracted with trying

 to think of an image to draw

It takes me off track.

So the simple plan is to stick with what is working.

Then at the end of the month 

I look for the key words for the Word Log.

The words that stand out for this gathering of days.

They get transferred to another place

 for a prayer practice experiment- Grab 3.

On to November....

Devotional:

Jesus Reigns in Me by Sarah Hornsby

Worship into the Week- Reformation Sunday

 

Reformation Sunday- 

Old Testament Reading Genesis 4:1-15

Sin Leads to the First Murder

Jealousy becomes the driving force in Cain's life 

when he becomes jealous over God 

accepting his brother's Abel's offering.

There are consequences to sin and it encompasses 

envy, anger, and violence. 

The story evolves with God's justice and mercy

 as he punishes Cain with a curse and exile.

But, God also protects Cain with mark.

This story highlights the importance of the heart's motivation

 and connection in worship.

We also see that sin is so destructive and that the evilness

 of sin creates a spiraling of consequences.

We know that we are each responsible for our brothers 

and sisters."Keeping" is part of loving and helping others.

Seeing others- those marginalized, outcast, not like us,

becomes our great challenge.

A heart change is what is in order.

Lord, change my heart.

On this Reformation Sunday we also give thanks 

for the brave work of Dr. Martin Luther 

in the Reform of the Church.

Lord, bring the changes needed today in our church.

Help us to stay the course and lead like Jesus. Amen.

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Worship into the Week- Wrestling with the Divine

 

 Worship into the Week- Genesis 32:22-30

An all-night wrestling match with a 

divine being is not part of a normal week.

This section of Scripture begins the story of change for Jacob. 

He is moving from a self-reliant man to dependence on God.

It was not a planned transition. 

This encounter comes after he sends all

 of his family and possessions away.

His new "limp" is a mark of his encounter with the divine.

He is physically and permanently changed now.

His new self is centered on the blessing

 that comes from his struggle and vulnerability.

Jacob's previous life was full of conflict and deception.

His wrestling match is a turning point in his struggle.

Now he has a new identity. He is also the patriarch of a nation

 that has "struggled with God and man."

This encounter with the divine being is a profound moment

  of intimacy and struggle between God and humanity.

Things will always be different for Jacob.

His physical disability looms large in his daily life.

But, the transformation is monumental. 

Ultimately, he receives a blessing through his defeat and injury.

What a tremendous story when true strength comes 

from dependence on God, and not on self-reliance.

Maybe we can see the power of this "letting go"

 in our own day to day struggles.

Time to call in the power reserves and rely on God.

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Worship into the Week- My People, My People

 

   

Worship into the Week- Ruth's Loyalty to Naomi

Ruth 1:1-19a

What a beautiful story of loyalty

when life got completed and things didn't go as planned.

Husbands lost. Families disrupted.

Life order out of order.

Things were changing and they 

were all stepping into the unknown.

But, this God of Naomi was a deep calling for 

trust from Ruth.

She was ready for whatever and wherever 

with them together.

Our middle daughter has a saying in their little family

 that is said together at meal time.

Hands held, with the meal prayer said, is a family chant. 

"My people, My people!"

 rings out as they smile at each other.

That is the chant of Ruth.

The part where Boaz comes in is not in the reading for today,

 but the idea of Kinsman Redeemer

 is significant for the rest of the story.

Ruth and Boaz become part of the

 heritage of Jesus himself.

I have often stood in Bethlehem at the field

 historically known as the field of Ruth and Boaz.

 Thinking about this story allows me

 to give thanks for my family. 

My story of "grafted into" the family of Jesus

allows me to say- My People, My People.

 I give great thanks for that great gift.

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Worship into the Week- The Righteous Live by Faith

 

Worship into the Week- The Righteous Live by Faith

Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4

The prophet is suppose to wait for God's 

revelation, which will be written down and made clear.

The righteous believer lives by their unwavering faith in God.

This is the opposite of how the proud and puffed up live

 in their own evil and self-reliant days.

This section calls for patience and waiting for God's timing.

We must trust in His faithfulness, 

especially when the world feels overwhelming

 with injustice and rampant evil.

"If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come;

it will not delay." v.3

In Chapter 2 Habakkuk gets God's response 

to his complaints about the wicked and unjust actions

 of the Babylonians. God promises He will eventually

 judge the proud, greedy and oppressive empire.

The reminder in verse 4 is often quoted in the New Testament,

"the righteous (just) shall by faith."

Our reminder too, when we want the arm of justice

 to move on our behalf.

Especially when we must wait for it.

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Twin Oaks Winery

 We were blessed to celebrate a couple of milestone birthday

 this summer at Twin Oak Winery in Bluemont, Virginia.

Extra care and attention was in order and we were 

well taken care of on this Sunday afternoon.

A special time with "original girls" 

for our family made a festive day.

Sun and grape vines and lots of laughter with great views.

A perfect day.

John and I love to see new beautiful spaces

 in the land of Virginia.

                      I was blessed to return for some more time 

here in this spot in September.

(This time to do work and planning.)

I highly recommend the day time 

view of the valley in the distant.

Twin Oaks is set up for a special occasion.

Sunset is kind of magical here.

 

A day away is a wonderful recharge time.

Newly remodeled with the touch 

of dear friend and owner Michele Spear.

18035 Raven Rocks Rd, Bluemont, VA 20135

Open Friday- Sunday

(Check times)

This spot is worth the journey 

to the Shenandoah Valley.