Bible Marginalia- The Joy of the Lord

 Inspire Bible- Bible Marginalia

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

Ezra Reads the Law

Grandson Levi read the Old Testament Reading

 in worship this past Sunday.

 Maybe I was listening a bit more intently than usual.

I had my Inspire Bible and a few colored pencils.

 Just the movement of my hand helps me to listen better

 and concentrate on what the Lord wants me

 to hear in that time frame.

It had been so long since the Israelites 

had heard God's Word read aloud.

They stood for hours.

They were weeping in sadness and Nehemiah tells them

 to go and celebrate.  

Share the food with people who have nothing prepared.

"Don't be dejected and sad, 

for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Supplies:

Inspire Bible

Colored pencils

Washi tape

Family Bible Journaling

 

We had some great time at the beach 

for family Bible Journaling.

The story of the Vineyard Workers in Matthew 20

had been our devotion.

The "takeaway" we were working with was

Grace- Undeserved Love.

The 10 Grandloves all had their Journaling Bibles.

  (ages 10- to 2)

The Littles needed a bit of help.

Even 2 year old Lainey is right at the table with everyone.

They all have grown up with the practice

 and it is so amazing to see what they are learning 

to do now that writing, spelling and drawing

 is becoming their own set of skills.

We gave them the theme and then

 they were on their own unless that wanted help.

There was also great conversation in the creative time. 

Moms and Grandparents were on hand as helpers.

This was a wonderful memory making time together.

The rest of vacation time we had the opportunity to talk

 about undeserved grace and how that is the great gift

 that Jesus gives to all of us.

Bible Marginalia- Take Refuge

 Nahum 1:7

"The Lord is good,

a stronghold in the day of trouble,

he knows those who take refuge in him."

Just kind of centered in these words these days.

Praying over the future of 

Concordia University, Ann Arbor.

The faculty, staff and students are 

living in a time of flux and uncertainty.

May the Lord preserve this center of 

 learning in our Lutheran tradition,

 if this is his will for the Kingdom.

Supplies:

Enduring Word Bible

Colored pencils

Bible Marginalia- with Magazines

 

Recently I joined in with a live zoom 

with Visual Faith ® Ministry to learn more 

about their Bible Journaling by Verse kits.

One of the things I am always trying to problem solve

 is how to invite people that would like to try this out-

 but don't have alot of "supplies."

Before I donate old magazines or recycle them,

I pull out images with colors I like or a background

 that might be used when taken out of context.

I have been doing that ever since I taught a 

Faith Journaling with Junk Mail class 

about 20 years ago.

Getting the mail with alot of junk makes my day.

So here I used the images printed off in the kit 

and found similar colors in a magazine page.

Quickly that became a whole page in my interleaved Bible.

I also love looking for words 

and keep them in a box ready for creating.

  Part of the fun puzzle is piecing together phrases 

and words that pick up on the theme 

of a Bible margin or other printed "creative starters."

This way is great for those stumped with how to begin, 

or just want to try things out a bit.

Magazine paper is generally thinner 

than scrapbook paper,

 so it also helps when creating layers 

in your Bible or journal.

It is fine if you don't prefer to do this in your Bible.

(I only do it this way in my interleaved Bible,

 so I don't cover up any Bible Test)

So grab a magazine, or pick one up 

for sale for 50 cents at the library.

Inspiration is just a page turn away.

Supplies:

 Magazine cutouts

Similar kit

Printable from Visual Faith® Ministry

psalm-91-4-bible-journaling-by-verse-kit

 

Bible Marginalia- REST

 A recent Creative Haven with Visual Faith® Ministry

 allowed me to join for some time

 in the Word and to "mark the spot."

These zooms are live and I get to hang out

 with cool sisters in faith from all over the country.

The printable resource comes right with the zoom link 

and you are ready to go.

This gathering was showing some Bible Journaling kits

 that we now have on the website.

Visual Faith Ministry

You can find all sorts of resources in the Shoppe.

An hour zoom. An hour to focus on rest and read 

Matthew 11:28-29 and spend some to listen

 to what was saying right to me.

And to respond--the encouraging words for me-

He does the heavy lifting.

That's Good News.

Supplies:

Zondervan Noteworthy New Testament Bible

Journal-Testament-Pocket

Bible Journaling Kit Printables

matthew-11-28-29-bible-journaling-by-verse-kit

Sharpie Pen

Watercolors

Bible Marginalia- Jesus Calls Matthew

 

Bible Marginalia- Jesus Calls Matthew

Matthew 9:9-13

When Jesus calls Matthew he says to him,

"Follow me."

Matthew responds immediately

 and gets up to follow Jesus.

Later, Jesus is reclining later at the table 

with many tax collectors and sinners. 

Quick to point this out are the Pharisees 

who questioned Jesus about the company he kept.

Jesus replied,

" Those who are well have no need of a physician,

 but those who are sick. Go and learn  what this means,

 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' 

For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

Lord, we are all sinners 

and in need of a healer.

Help me to see just how much I need you-

that that I am no better than anyone else.

I need the Great physician in  my life.

Amen.

Supplies:

ESV Crossways Bible

Watercolors

VFM Printable

Sharpie Non-Bleeding pen

Journaling Thessalonians

Our recent trip was leading a Footsteps of Paul

 trip to Greece, Turkey and Rome.

We spent some days in Thessaloniki and I started reading 

Thessalonians on our travels on the bus.

CHOSEN.

LIVE WORTHY OF GOD WHO CALLS YOU INTO HIS KINGDOM AND GLORY.

There was just something very special 

about reading Paul's words 

to the people of Thessaloniki while we were right there.

BE JOYFUL ALWAYS.

PRAY CONTINUALLY.

GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.

Even on a jiggly bus and bumps here to there,

 there were so many wonderful 

connections to God's Word.

COUNTED WORTHY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Even Athens, contributed to the Bible Journaling 

inspiration with a whole city full of graffiti walls.

STAND FIRM.

NEVER TIRE DOING WHAT IS RIGHT.

Bible journaling gives me the opportunity 

to journal my time in God's Word.

When life events become story in the  

journey of faith.

Supplies:

 Interleaved New Testament-

 Pocket size from Zondervan

Colored pencils

Fine-point non-Bleeding Sharpie

Washi Tape

Enduring Word Bible- Always with the Lord

Enduring Word Bible-

The Coming of the Lord

1 Thess. 4:13-18

I have been settling into thoughts about

 the Saints gone before us this week.

Here Paul brings comfort to the Thessalonians

who mourned the death of family and friends.

Grieving is a part of life, but tempered with hope.

He warns them to not be like the Gentiles-

 who have no hope.

Christians have the MOST SURE HOPE 

of eternal life after our time here on earth.

This hope is greater than all 

the griefs and tragedies of life.

We don't really understand the complexity 

and mystery of death.

It is an unknown territory.

But, believers in Jesus- sleep in Him.

In this time of rest their assurance

 is the Resurrection of our Lord. 

This changes everything.

When the Lord descends from heaven,

 there will be the sound of the trumpet of God,

  and the voice of an archangel.

v16..."And the dead in Christ will rise first. 

Then we who are alive, who are left, 

will be caught up together with them in the clouds

 to meet the Lord in the air, 

and so we will always be with the Lord."

This gives us great courage

 and we are called to share this good news with others.

We too, will be gathered with the Saints-

to ALWAYS be with the LORD.

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• Supplies:
• Enduring Word Bible
• Washi Tape
• Colored Pencils
• Thread stitching Stamp and ink
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Worship into the Week- Rooted

 

Worship into the Week-

Colossians 2:6-15, 16-19

Alive IN Christ

Paul warns here that the world is deceptive

 and will seek to take us captive.

We must walk in him, 

rooted and built up and established in the faith.

We have the gift of forgiveness

 for ALL of our trespasses.

Jesus took them all to the cross on our behalf.

We don't have to live under the weight

 of our debt of sin,

with its legal demands.

We live in grace.

Enduring Word Bible

Some journaling, 

a margin right into the Bible with washi tape.

The Word of God is our strength and armor. 

May it dwell in us richly.

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable

vcy-graphics-only-july-2022

Worship into the Week Printable

worship-into-the-week-july-2022

Prismacolor pencils, 

Washi tape 

Distress ink, Vintage stamps

Magazine cutouts

Concordia Mission institute

The group met for Concordia Mission Institute 

this past week- July 9-15, 2022 in 

Concordia, Missouri.

This gathering happens yearly to train, 

encourage, educate and grow the teams of

 Lutheran Bible Tanslators and Mission of Christ Network.

Pat Maier and myself were invited to share

 about Visual Faith® Ministry

 and to lead the group to explore 

the practices of Visual Prayer.

Trying some Visual Prayer practices here.

This gathering includes the lay people 

that serve in mission settings 

around the world. 

They are an amazing group of faithful leaders

 with servant hearts..

Husband,John, and friend, David Maier,

 are always planning some kind of ministry alliance.

 St. Paul Lutheran Church is part of a 

beautiful campus in downtown Concordia.

St. Paul Lutheran High School is a residential school right

 in Concordia, Missouri and the site for the CMI conference.

It is also the home for Lutheran Bible translators.

An evening walk allowed us to meet townsfolk 

and also admire the plants flourishing

 in the hot, and dry summer.

1 John 4 was the selection for

 the Biblical centering for our week together.

God is Love.

We are God's Beloved.

We are perfectly loved.

God ABIDES in us

 and Hs love is perfected in us.

And we KNOW that the Son of God

 has come and given us His understanding.

Margins in the Enduring Word Bible.

Shout for Joy

 

Psalm 66

How Awesome Are your Deeds!

Shout for Joy to God,

all the earth;

sing the glory of his name;

give to him glorious praise!

My meditation verse this week.

The Psalms of Summer for 

Visual Faith® Ministry.

Supplies:

Enduring Word Bible

Colored pencils

Fine-point Sharpie Gel

Gelatos

 

Worship into the Week- The Lamb Reigns

 

Worship into the Week-

Revelations 5:1-4

The Scroll and the Lamb

"Jesus Christ is introduced in the vision of God's

 heavenly glory as the victorious Lamb. 

He is presented to the heavenly host as the one 

who can receive the scroll form God and look into it. 

His receiving the scroll from God 

is also a demonstration 

and a vindication that his death 

and resurrection were a victory for God and his people."

Concordia Commentary- Revelation- Louis Brighton p. 134

"This vision of God's heavenly glory and the enthronement 

of Jesus Christ and of the celebration begun and now ongoing

 not only introduces the prophetic message of Revelation, 

it also dominates and controls it and shows

 how it is all going to end.

Jesus Christ is the Lord of the message."

Concordia Commentary- Revelation- Louis Brighton p. 146

"After his coronation (Rev. 4-5) , he himself (6:1-7:17)

 introduces the message to John.

(The message for 8:1 to 22:5 is from Jesus through angels.)

And Jesus controls if for the purpose

 of strengthening the saints, 

of aiding his church to carry out her mission on earth,

and of judging the the powers 

and persons of wickedness and evil.

Everything seen and heard

 in the prophetic message is to be interpreted in view

 of this inaugural vision of Christ's coronation, 

for then and only then will the individual components

 of the message yield their proper interpretation."

Concordia Commentary- Revelation- Louis Brighton p. 146-147

Choosing to go to the expert on the book of Revelation,

as I sit with my take aways.

Holy, Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty.

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.

To the Lamb- be blessing and honor 

and glory and might forever and ever.

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable

vcy-graphics-only-may-2022s

Worship into the Week Printable

worship-into-the-week-may-2022

Enduring Word Bible

Colored Pencils

Recycled bill envelope

Watercolors

Distress ink

Enduring Word Bible- By Faith

 

                

                              By Faith- Hebrews 11

Faith and Sight 

 Recounting the Stories for those Discouraged

Our physical eyesight is what gives us 

the evidence of the material world. 

Faith is the "sense" that gives us the evidence

of the unseen, spiritual world.

We rest our days in the mix of both of these realities.

Assurance and Hope

A big ticket commodity 

in an ever-changing world.

Conviction

Our marching orders for 

moving forward in our days.

Supplies:

Enduring Word Bible

Washi tape

Colored pencils

Enduring Word Bible- The Stoning of Stephan

 

The Stoning of Stephan

Acts 7:54-60

This section of Scripture follows the speech 

of Stephan to the high priest. Stephan had been chosen

 to serve as a deacon. He was full of grace and power

 and was doing great signs among the people. 

This did not go unnoticed and it riled up the leadership.

Stephen closes his speech to the council by saying,

"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised 

in heart and ears you always resist the Holy Spirit.

 As Your fathers did so do you.

Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?

And they killed those who announced beforehand

 the coming of the Righteous One, 

whom you have now betrayed and murdered,

you who received the law as delivered by angels

 and did not keep it."

They saw that his face was like that

 of an angel as he spoke to them.

They raged against him.

Stephen gazed into heaven, full of the Holy Spirit,

 and saw the the glory of God,

 and the son of Man standing at the right hand of God.

Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him.

Saul was a bystander to this event as they

 laid down their garments at his feet.

Stephan cries out, " Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit."

Lord, do not hold this sin against them."

Stephen dies as the first martyr for the Lord.

We don't usually "get stoned" for our witness, 

or endure bodily harm.

Yet, we still find it challenging to speak up

 in the name of Jesus or we view events as bystanders.

Lord, give us the brave hearts to speak 

with wisdom when it is timely, 

and may we listen and heed Holy Spirit nudges

 for the right time.

Supplies:

Enduring Word Bible

Colored pencils

Fine-point non bleeding Sharpie

2-22-22

 

Luke 2

I have been thinking a lot 

about the town of Bethlehem

since our time there this past January 2022.

A town of no prominence.

Changed forever with a story of a baby,

 shepherds and angels.

There are very few signs left 

in this city of that amazing event.

Very few Christians even live there anymore.

This little town of David, 

beheld the greatest event in all of time.

Today it doesn't mark the passing of days

 on a calendar that marks the years since this birth.

A palindrome marks this day,

marching along one after another.

How do we set out to mark the days

 that turn on the calendar pages?

That we don't forget this birth 

that changed an entire world for all time.

Feb. 22, 2022 is written out numerically 

as 2/22/22.

Not only is it a palindrome because 

it reads the same forward and backward,

but what makes it special is the date has all twos.

It will also be the same no matter

what part of the world you're in,

regardless of whether your country

uses the day-month-year 

or year-month-day-format.

It's TWOSDAY.

But, what I want to remember today 

is that because of that baby,

shepherd and angel story-

we have HIS  STORY for all of history.

Supplies:

Zondervan New Testament Bible

Black Sharpie pen

Colored Pencils 

2-2-22

 

2-2-22

Tonight I joined an online Zoom Bible study using this 

resource from Visual Faith Ministry.

  We published this as part of the Movable event

and it is available on Amazon.

God-Change- Carolyn Bira

We spent time looking at Romans 12:1-2. 

Writing it out and sharing insights.

Transformed by the renewing of your mind.

"For the weapons of our warfare 

are not of flesh but have divine power

 to destroy strongholds."

2 Cor 4:5

Noting this date of 2-2-22 and blessed 

to share time in the Word with friends today. 

It will be another hundred years till another 2-2-22.

I will be long gone and in heaven by then.

May the Lord bless time spent in the Word-

today and in the years to come.

Bible Marginalia- the Light of Life

 

Bible Marginalia-

I Am the Light of the World

John 8:12-30

Jesus was stating things pretty clearly 

here about who He was and who affirmed that- His Father.

Jesus said... "I have been telling you from the beginning."

But, they didn't want to hear it then 

and they didn't want to hear it now.

They hearts were closed and they walked in darkness.

Anytime I am in deep darkness, 

I search and search for the light.

How wonderful when that pierces the darkness,

 and I can see again.

And see for eternity. 

And this light makes everything

 different in the here and now.

Jesus. It is Jesus- the LIGHT.

Supplies:

Enduring Word Bible

Colored pencils

Red Fine-point Sharpie pen