Calendar Journaling- February 2026

 Calendar Journaling - February 2026

The journey continues with Streams in the Desert.

Interesting phrases and connections this month.

Adding the Word Log again this month.

Working to keep up with the Bible reading.

Has been a good thing to just read through the Gospels.

Thankful for seeing the weaving of the words 

this month.

Four colored pencils and a Micron pen.

Thank you for the days and the ways

 to settle in for a valuable take away-

 to remember.

Bethel

 

The place for Biblical Bethel is generally connected 

to the modern Palestinian village of Beitin.

It is in the West Bank 

and about 10-12 miles north of Jerusalem.

It is in the hill country of Samaria. 

It is near the ancient Canaanite city of Ai

 and sits on a ridge.

It was a rainy day in Israel 

for our stop at Bethel this year- 

our first in 9 trips to the Holy Land.

There are connections

 to a number of Biblical stories here. 

Jacob's dream- Genesis 28:10-22.

When he was running from Esau,

he was at Bethel and had a dream of 

a stairway or ladder resting on earth 

and reaching to heaven.

In the dream, God promised Jacob the land,

many descendants and protection.

In order to set the place apart, Jacob

 named the place Bethel- "house of God."

A flat stone area is in the highest place.

We listened to our guide, Yossi, talk 

about the significance of the place.

We couldn't see very far out 

with the dense fog and reduced visibility.

Not much to see as we tried to

 imagine a stairway to heaven.

We were cold, wet and a bit miserable. 

Yossi asked John to say a prayer in this spot.

Shortly into the prayer, I opened my eyes.

And stared....

The fog had lifted. The sky opened up.

The clouds parted and there was the sun.

The hair on my arms stood up.

I had no words and couldn't move.

                                                                                                                          Photo by Corey Brooks

Pastor Corey Brooks managed 

to take a photo of the moment.

The rest of us just stood 

and stared and shook our heads.

This site is also connected to the story 

of Jeroboam and the idolatry of golden calves.

We had visited the Dan high place earlier on this trip.

Jeroboam I was the first king of the northern kingdom

-(c931-911 BC) established a rival cult center 

in Bethel ( and Dan) to prevent his subjects

 from worshipping in Jerusalem. 

He wanted to retain control over them

 and feared a return to the line of David.

Good things did not happen here

 at this site in the eyes of the Lord.

This map helps to give some perspective

 for the locations for these places.

Sometimes it is hard to picture the events

 at these sites and

 think through the Biblical stories for a

piece of ground on earth.

Thousands of years ago.

But, after the experience I had at Bethel,

I will remember the silence, 

the beauty and the feeling of sacred

when the light broke through from heaven.

A divine personal encounter.

 

Emmaus- Nicopolis

Church of the Breaking of the Bread.

A 1500 year old Byzantine cathedral is the remnant of

the ancient building in Nicopolis.

Emmaus, also known as Hazmat or Nicopolis, 

was a large city from the 

Hellenistic period through the Byzantine period.

This site is on the main road from the plains road 

to Jerusalem and is near Latrun.

We have visited a number of possible locations

 for the Biblical site of the Luke 24 story 

after the Resurrection.

This one is located 19 miles from Jerusalem,

 so it differs from the seven miles out of Jerusalem text.

This Emmaus- Nicopolis site is also found on the floor

 of the 6th century Madaba map in Jordan. 

The map states- Nikopolis, 

which is the Greek name for the city.

 Nothing changes in the story of the Risen Lord 

and the conversation with Cleopas, 

if we don't know the exact location of the town of

Emmaus.

Biblical text is Luke 24:13-35

Poppies blooming in the fields.

A first century AD family tomb in the area.

Some art from collections around the world are at the site

 depicting the time with Jesus after the Resurrection.

These photos help to visualize the meeting 

that took place after the Resurrection of Jesus.

A new Emmaus trail is from Abu Ghosh to Nicopolis.

 This trail allows people to walk the 12.5 miles

 as pilgrims "walking in the footsteps of Jesus."

We have been to the Abu Ghosh "site"

  of Emmaus and there is very little

 archeological evidence there.

So we continue to seek out the possible sites of Emmaus.

Yet, we know this is a real story,

 no matter where the precise location is situated.

Worship into the Week- Dust to Dust

 Genesis 3:1-21

The Fall of Man

The story of man is outlined here with:

  the temptation, the fall,

the consequences, the judgment and curses,

the Gospel promise and mercy.

Everything else in the world works from this scenario.

Despite all of the shame of the story

 and the outcome bringing 

challenge for our time on earth,

 there is the offered hope of a plan.

There will be the ultimate crushing defeat of Satan.

Christ is the victor and our redemption has been won.

But, we are reminded that the dust 

that we are made of, is the dust to which we return.

We see the broken nature that runs rampant in our world. 

We feel the separation from God and the challenge

 of our broken relationships.

We understand the boundaries of our world

 that include the hard struggles in our labors.

But, woven into this drama is the grace thread

 from the God of love.

Oh, how thankful we are that this story has the 

Good News of Jesus for each of us.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Printable

vcy-graphics-only-february-2026

Prismacolor pencils

Magazine cutouts

Levi is 10

 

Our big guy is 10 and on to the double digits.

Thumbs up!  It is gonna be a good thing!

And yup an Oriole fan.

Time for the boys to 

hang together on a fun outing.

May the Lord bless you. young man!!!

Keep reaching for the sky!

Guard and protect your body and your heart!

Amen.

Worship into the Week- Return

 Ash Wednesday   Joel 2:12–19

Return to the Lord

The call for an urgent, inward

 and community return to God 

comes during a really difficult time-

a plague.

God was demanding a real and true repentance-

"rend your hearts and not your garments".

Meaningless rituals are not 

what God wanted from His people.

 In response, God promises mercy and the restoration of 

blessings to the land.

Our God is gracious and compassionate 

when repentance is sincere.

God asks then to 

"turn...with all your heart, with fasting, 

with weeping, and with mourning."

God is looking at hearts and a real change and 

is not moved by big shows of piety 

or outward displays of goodness.

The abounding steadfast love of God is what 

allows me to return time and again.

May I make a heartfelt reversal 

from the ways of distraction

 to a focus only on Jesus.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Printable

vcy-graphics-only-february-2026

Magazine cutouts

Colored Pencils

   

 

Worship into the Week- Holy Ground

 

Worship into the Week-

Transfiguration Sunday

Old Testament Reading-Exodus 24:8-18 

Moses ascends the mountain

 into the cloud of God’s glory.

Epiphany ends on Transfiguration Sunday. We have been thinking about God's incarnation and now we center on revelation. This mountain is where heaven meets earth and humans encounter the divine. This section of Scripture  includes the Lord's directions to Moses and the ascent of Moses on the mountain. Then the glory of the Lord comes to the mountain, and Moses enters the cloud. Moses the mediator had a significant role as God's glory is manifested and they are given the law. It is Holy ground and they are entrusted with this covenant relationship. After the covenant ceremony there are the instructions for the tabernacle. God shows that He demands obedience (giving of the Law) but He also wants to dwell (be with) His people. We have lost much of the awe of God, the sheer utter magnificence of our Creator. As I contemplate this story of the actual presence of God, may I have a renewed sense of a limitless God in all ways.  

Supplies:  Visual Church Year Printable, Magazine Cutouts, Colored pencils, Gel pens

All in the Name of Love- Valentine's Day

Maybe it is because my birthday

 is the day before Valentine's Day.

Or maybe it is just because I LOVE hearts.

A favorite collection is 100 year old Valentine postcards.

But, I love bringing out the nostalgia

 and the vintage for February.

February 1940 Home Arts magazine?  oh, yea.

A glass jar of red and white marbles?  Yup.

3-D Valentines- many from Germany.

A collection of keys?  the older the better.

The key to my heart?  The best.

Grade school Valentine's?

The more the better.

Nostalgia and red.

A valentine tree with vintage red and white handkerchiefs?

And lights on the dark days?

A heart florist's container is now a bit harder to find.  

Yes, yes,  I love it all.

For the greatest of these is LOVE.

Worship into the Week- Shine Light

 

Matthew 5: 13-20    Shine Light

Jesus speaks to His followers and helps them to think

 about their presence in the world. They are different.

They are to let their light shine in the darkness.

It is to be seen, not hidden.

They bring good flavor and preserve goodness,

 just like salt did in the ancient world.

Believers are to have a positive impact

 in their families and communities.

When they do good things and show care,

 it is not to make themselves important.

 but to reflect God's love to others. 

Jesus is working to help those listening to understand

 that His new words are not meant to abolish the Law

 that rules the world of the Jewish people.

Jesus frames his speech with simple teachings that fulfill

the Law and it is made perfect in Him.

The righteousness is deeper than mere outward compliance

 and keeping the Law to the letter.

It is a heart matter and Jesus gives the power

 to have a "heart made right."

This is Tiberius on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. 

The shoreline at the top would be Capernaum and Magdala. 

This would have been one of the hills that shone light

 in the dark at the time of Jesus.  Another possibility 

would have been the Roman city of Hippos- (Sausita) 

across the lake. Standing on the shore at night

 it is very easy to see how Jesus used -

 "right where you are" object lessons with the disciples

 and His followers. 

Shine Bright!!

Supplies:

Visual Faith Ministry Printable

vcy-graphics-only-february-2026

Postage stamps

Colored pencils

Gel pens

Word tape

Calendar Journaling- January 2026

 

Devotional Journaling January 2026

A subdued and quiet entry into the new year.

Four colored pencils and a fine point Sharpie.

Phrase take aways from a favorite devotional-

Streams in the Desert.

Lord, what do you want me to SEE this month?

The Gospel of John and the Art of Sally Beck- Part 4

Just hangin' out with Scripture and an image.

Thinking about the people involved in the story.

How were lives changed?

What was different for them 

after they "hung out " with Jesus?

How did their stories change 

after an encounter with Jesus?

How do I share my story and tell the Good News

 about time with Jesus?

Lord, lead me.