Worship into the Week- Set Free

Worship into the Week-

Zechariah 9:9-12

Romans 714-25

Matthew 11:25-30

Pulling together the readings from worship this week.

We see that we are all prisoners... 

of sin, and death in the Zechariah reading.

 The foretelling of future with our king riding on a donkey.

This is the king that brings peace to the nations.

He rules all and everything.

The KING is coming.

Everything is entrusted to this KING by the Father.

He is humble and gentle at heart 

and truly wants to carry our load.

We spend all of our time lugging the weight ourselves.

We sang this song in worship and it really connected to me.

Surrounding Me- by Nick Taylor, Colby Key and Tom Zelt.

So I added the words to my Bible.

He simply says- COME.

I am so tied to sin it is hard to unload any of the burden. 

This section of Romans really speaks to my life.

I don't understand myself at all. 

I really want to do what is right.

But I can't.

 I do what I don't want, what I hate.

But thanks be to God!!!

Christ has set me free.

The KING leads my life.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Ministry printables

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Scrapbook paper

Distress Ink

Postage stamps

Colored pencils

Washi tape

Sojourner Truth and the 250th Anniversary

                    

 The Sojourner Truth

 Ain't I a Woman? 

Project

My friends know about the green bench.

 It is the place where folks who are sorting life, 

moving, or downsizing put all their things

 they just can't part with yet.

 So I have to make the decision for them later.

But, one of the amazing things has been the postage stamps.

Thousands and thousands of postage stamps.

One January a couple of years ago,

 I sorted the boxes and ziplock bags of stamps.

That's when I found the amazing 

collection of "women" stamps.

Not quite sure what I wanted to do with them,

 but "something."

So, as the 250th Anniversary celebration was coming up

 for the United States of America, I saw a plan developing.

I had visited my artist friend, Sally Beck, in her home 

and saw a beautiful art project done with stamps.

Hmmmm.

I had read a biography of Sojourner Truth last year

 and another book about her is on the list for our book group

 for Visual Faith® Ministry this year.

I will tell the story of a few stamps. 

This is a 3 cent commemorative stamp that was issued in 1948 to celebrate the 100th of the women's rights movement in the United States.  Issue date is July 19, 1948. Inscription-  " 100 Years of Progress of Women- 18148-1948"  The bottom says: "Seneca Falls, NY. commemorating the location of  the first women's rights convention. The  women pictured are: Lucreatia Mott (left) abolitionist and women's rights advocate. Carrie Chapman Catt (center) leader of the campaign that helped secure women's suffrage and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (riught) principal orgaznier of the 1848 Sendeca Falls Conventions and author of the Declaration of Sentiments. ( If all of this is new information for you that would be the "normal" place for understanding women's suffrage in the U.S.)

This 1 1/2 cent stamp was first issued in 1938 to amend

 odd postage amounts. Martha Washington was chosen 

because she was well recognized.

This is a 25 cent Ida B. Wells commemorative stamp that was issued on February 1, 1990 as part of the Postal Services long running Black Heritage stamps series. Ida B. Wells waste of the most courageous journalists and civi rights advocates in American history. She is best remembered for  investigating and reporting on the widespread use of

 lynching and mob violence. Her office was destroyed after her reporting. She also helped found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

This is the 1970, 6 cent Woman Suffrage 50th Anniversary Stamp.      It was issued  on August 26, 1970 to mark the 50th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote.

The Susan B. Anthony stamp was issued in 1954 and is one of the best known stamps honoring  the pioneer of the American women's suffrage movement. The stamp commenorates her lifelong fight for women's rights, espeicially the right to vote. She spent decades campainging for equal legal and political rights for women. When it was issued, the USPS was expanding the recognition of influential Americans. The stamp was released on August 26, which marks the anniversary of the certification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, granting women the constitutional

 right to vote.

This is the 1955  "The American Woman" 4 cent which was one of the most significant stamps honoring the everyday contributions of women rather than a single historical figure. It was issued on August 26, 1955 on the anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1920 which guaranteed the right to vote for women. The stamp celebrates the many roles American women played especially after World War 2.  The central image is a mother and child symbolizing family life. The three panels represent women in civic affairs,          education and arts and industry as the major areas of contribution      for women.

Finally, the inspiration for this project- Sojourner Truth.

This is the 22cent stamp issued on February 4, 1986 as part of the Black Heritage Series.

Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) was born into slavery in New York as Isabella Baumfree. After escaping to freedom in 1826, she became an influential abolitionist and women's rights advocate. She was known for combining religious conviction with calls for justice. Her famous speech in1851, commonly known as "Ain't I a Woman?" was delivered at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention. It has become an enduring symbol of the center of facial and gender equality.

There are many other women here that have made great contributions in the history our country. Perhaps I will explore more of them.

But, for now, Happy Birthday America!

Blessings for the next century and may God Bless the USA!

 

Worship into the Week- Grant Us Peace

 

Worship into the Week-

Jeremiah 28:5-9

Here we have a standoff in Jerusalem between Jeremiah

 and the false prophet Hananiah. 

Jeremiah endorses the hope that peace and the return 

of the Temple treasures and exiles would happen, 

but he is also cautious.

It is certainly what the people wanted to hear.

Jeremiah states." Amen! May the Lord do so!."

Though it sounds like an endorsement,

 it was actually a response of sorrow because he

knew the situation warranted another solution.

There would be the test of whether the prophecy

 of peace would happen. 

 (the story continues- v.10-17)

The story goes against Hananiah as the Lord 

endorses Jeremiah.

God tells Jeremiah to tell Hananiah that he has lied,

 and was not sent by the Lord.

He will die within the year,

because he has rebelled against the Lord

Two months later Hananiah is dead.

Caution to us- be careful who you listen to.

We are still waiting for peace.

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable

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Magazine cutout

Watercolors

Colored pencils

Postage stamps

Distress ink

Calendar Journaling - June 2026

 

Calendar Journaling- June 2026

Looking for the pieces that fit in the puzzle of this month.

What does the Lord want me to see?

How can I be a part of what He is doing?

Hope and anxiety weave through the month 

as well as His Unhindered grace.

This month I read through the book of Romans,

 as I move through the New Testament.

Next up?  Corinthians.

Always thankful for a practice that is doable, 

grace filled and tells the story of God's 

faithfulness in my life.

Jonah is 7!

This young man turned 7 this month.

Jonah- the Sloth King.

He had a great birthday celebration 

and we love watching his growing love for reading.

Can't go wrong with a cake this great.

 

A tackle box and fishing poles

 and he is ready to take his brothers and go fishing.

We always love a bit of outdoor fun.

On his birthday it was baseball

 and down for the championship game.

In a stunning upset and "come from way behind"

 they pulled off a win.  What a fun end to the season.

So this made for an extra special birthday event.

Love you Jonah!

 

The Chaste Tree

 

The Chaste tree turns blue purple 

in these days before the 4th of July every year.

Early this Spring it got a trimming of about a 1/3 off 

and still needs a bit of shaping.

When I see it locally, it is usually a bush.

Ours is definitely in the tree category.

We picked this up as a twig starter on a visit 

to Monticello probably about 30 years ago. 

They were doing a plant sale from the plants on the grounds

and this start came home with us.

This was one of Thomas Jefferson's favorite trees.

On April 11, 1807 he planted 9 rows of the Old World Native, 

grown mostly in the Mediterranean.

Vitex agnus-castus is the proper name.

He loved the tree because it drew bees, 

butterflies and hummingbirds.

 It is always good to add pollinators to the land.

It does the same thing in our garden and on a sunny day 

the tree throbs with movement.

It is a fast growing, drought tolerant shrub or tree 

and the spikes are fragrant and showy. 

It is also called monk's pepper and can grow in full sun

 with well-drained soil.

It generally has a 15-20 year life span, 

so our beauty is definitely on its second life.

The shrub was used for religious rituals in ancient Greece 

and among the Philistines in Palestine.

It has long been believed to be an anaphrodisiac,

( quells or blunts libido)

but its effectiveness is unproven.

Today original era descendants or similar specimens 

can still be found growing on the Northeast side 

of the house at Monticello and on the West Lawn

 near the South Pavilion.

So for this Sesquicentennial celebration, 

we salute a very great descendant 

of one of Thomas Jefferson's favorite plants.

20 Things to Do When It's Time to Dust

 

Today was a bit of an unusual day. 

There were no appointments, no Dr. Visits, and no zooms.

Every month I try to hold a FREE DAY on the calendar.

It doesn't always work. I was very excited 

when it turned up today still blank.

The only thing I had down today

 was to do dusting in the house.

But, you also need to know that I have a genetic quirk

that makes this household task a challenge.

My mom didn't like to dust.

Her mom would dust when she came to visit.

My mom dusted for me when she came to visit.

My mom has been gone for 22 years.

I dust for my daughters when I visit them.

Yes, I have dusted our home in the last two decades,

 but today there were the distractions.

Here is what happened today:

1. my morning devotions

2. chatted or texted with all three daughters

3. folded and put away laundry

4. dealt with about 60 emails

5. returned damaged cheese to Costco (and bought groceries)

6. deadheaded the yarrow

7. changed the water in the little bottles that are rooting cuttings

8. fixed supper and cleaned up

9.     harvested some of the first lavender

10. filed some papers

12.  read 50 pages in Theo of Golden

13. emptied and refilled the dishwasher

14.  realized that feverfew matched the porcelain flowers 

       on the lamp by my bedside- so had to put a bouquet right there

15.  three phone calls and one video call

16.  sorted a couple paper piles

17.  noticed, stood and watched what we can see of a sunset                             

       at our house

18.  worked on a prayer card for Joey

19.  did some planning for vacation

20.  watched the latest on Castle Impossible

And no dusting.  

So... you see what happens.

On every day and a FREE DAY.  

But, I can still count gifts today.

There is tomorrow..... 

Worship into the Week- Don't Be Afraid

 

 Worship into the Week-

Matthew 10: 5a, 21-33

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

Jesus has some sobering words for his disciples

 as he gets ready to send them out.

He warns them that there will be family strife and 

betrayal. The world is fallen and hostile and they will be

the brunt of hatred because of the story of Jesus they share.

Faith in Jesus will cost them dearly. 

"Don't be afraid " is a phrase Jesus 

uses three times in this section.

Then Jesus moves to affirming the value of their work. 

 Most importantly, He highlights the value of each apostle

 to God. God knows the number of the hair on their heads.

 Their value is far beyond that of the birds of the air.

God has intimate knowledge of believers.

They are KNOWN to Him.

A final warning is that their public affirmation of Jesus

 will be known, 

and Jesus will affirm each of them to the Father.

They are encouraged that even with a future of persecution,

 they will be rewarded in heaven.

Worship Sermon notes- JRD 

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Worship into the Week- Treasured Possession

 

Worship into the Week-

 Exodus 19:2-8     The Lord Reveals  Himself at Sinai

Things were moving along for the people of Israel. 

They arrived at Mount Sinai after their exodus forn Egypt. 

God reminds them of His goodness and past grace. 

There is the reveal of a conditional covenant and God delcares

 that Israel is His treasured possession.

The people agree with the proposal,

 but really don't understand what it means for this acceptance

 to God's offer. He wants total obedience, nothing else works.

Israel commits to doing all that the Lord 

has asked of them and 

really don't see how this will be a probelm.

There is a big IF in this agreement.

God states that IF they obey...

they will be His treasured possession.

Well, know how this is going to go, 

and so the story continues only with God's 

continued grace story of those 

He carried on eagles's wings. 

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Worship into the Week- A Call to Repentance

  Worship into the Week- Hosea 5:15-6:6

Hosea, the revivalist, was making a call to repentance.

There was superficial worship that was

 no better than the worship of false gods.

Over and over again Israel was caught in this 

cycle of stepping away from a healthy view of God.

Then God dispenses discipline and waits. 

This withdrawal is to highlight their great need for Him. 

He invites them back into this authentic relationship,

but sees that their worship and devotion

 is like "the morning mist" or "early dew."

God throws out the empty words and states,

"for I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, 

the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."

Instead of chasing after Baal, there is hope 

that the people will strive for knowledge

 

that begins with "the fear of the Lord."

Hope for us too, that repentance opens the door to 

new relationship with God.

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Worship into the Week- God Created

 

  

Worship into the Week- Trinity Sunday

Genesis1:1-2; 4a

Lots of beginnings here. 

Genesis comes from a Greek word that means

"origin", "birth", or "beginning."

We have the creation of the universe, adding humanity, 

then sin, the beginning of civilization and the Jewish nation.

It is a giant epic movie to tell this story.

God was before the beginning. 

He was before life and structure and form 

set things in motion and set apart.

The Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, 

hovered over the waters.

The Spirit was an active presence in the creation.

The creation of matter out of nothingness.

This act of grace was reflected in God's creation as 

a reflection of God's character and it was very good. 

Jesus was present at creation as the eternal "Word".

 He existed before time began and was actively involved 

as the agent through whom God created all things.

This story of the beginning with the Triune presence 

 is a wonderful reading for Trinity Sunday.

Supplies:

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Markers

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