Just One Day

 

Daylillies- Bloom for JUST ONE DAY.

Full on. Get it Done. 

For ONE day. 

They are Hemerocallis,

 a member of the family Asphodelacaea.

 In fact, they are not really a lily.

Daylillies are perennial plants and the name attributes

 to the flower which generally last for one day. 

Most blooms open in the early morning 

and wither during the following night.

Often another flower is replaced on

 the same scape the next day.

What if I had just one day?

What would I choose to highlight, 

do, say, or finish if I had ONE DAY?

Well, we really don't know if each day is our ONE day.

So the best plan is to simply make each day

 the VERY BEST ONE DAY.

Choose well.

The Amazing November Scripture Writing Plan

 

This is the November Scripture writing plan

 that I am currently using this year.

Today I wrote out the significant part 

of this reading for today- November 18.

The truth is that I created this project in 2016-

with every intent of finishing it that year.

Life doesn't always finish on intent.

I think I have added to each each year since then-

with every good intention of finishing

 the Scripture writing that year.

But, just because THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN-

 doesn't mean that the PROCESS 

and the Biblical connections are any less relevant.

I often think about how God and time 

are probably so different in how that all gets played out

 in the world.

 My agenda and my timeline 

and my parameters might be important,

but I also believe that God uses all

 the bits offered to him through the years 

to make a wonderful finished blessing.

This is the amazing Scripture writing plan,

 because I am still writing- not that I finished.

No matter the sequence of the journey 

or the detours on the way, 

keep moving forward, dear friend.

 Pick it up again, start over, 

or start anew.

And..... I am not dating my little booklet

 till it gets finished.

By grace... we shall see.

The lovely website below is where 

I got this plan that I am following.

Below is the new 2020 November Scripture 

writing plan and you can find that right here:

http://www.swtblessings.com/2020/10/november-scripture-writing-plan.html

Scripture Doodles- August

Devotion- Habits of the Heart-

This month taking a look at:

Meditation on God's Word

Keeping Sabbath

Trusting in God

Witnessing

Making a Sacrifice

One phrase to pray through the day.

Calendar from 

Concordia Publishing House.

Four colored pencils for the palette.

The STORY of a month of devotional reading.

This is the 1500th blog post
 at Vintage Grace.
Who would have dreamed?

Lent Journaling- 2020

Finished up my Lent journaling for this year.

Used the calendar from Visual Faith Ministry

 designed by Kim Gilman.

The devotion was by

Lisa Clark- Eyes on Jesus 

by Concordia Publishing House.

 I liked the theme woven through the devotion 

and words that were connected 

throughout the Lent journey.

Simple tools-

 4 colored pencils 

and a black Sharpie pen-

 moving to Easter.

 What a blessing this is

 in my devotional life practices.

Neighborhood Vista

 A recent evening walk in our

 "stay at home" neighborhood 

was full of many contrasts.

There was the very dark sky

 of a storm passing close by...

The sun hit the trees nearby while the 

background loomed dark and a bit eerie.

The contrast of new spring growth ready to pop 

and the in-full bloom trees played out 

against the gray blue sky in the background

 when I looked up and in the distance.

 Then I looked at the close-up

 views right in front of me.

 It became a fitting view of Holy Week.

It is so easy to get lost in the big picture

 unknown of our pandemic world right now.

Then every blossom and every petal whispered-

 "keep your eyes on me, child,

I hold the whole world in my hands."

In the dark and gloomy, scary COVID19 days,

 the God of  the Universe 

is in a count down mode, 

with the reassurance of- Easter is coming.

Yes, Easter is Everyday.

Soulcraft

This page from an old book has been 

on my refrigerator for probably ten years. 

Think that is because I am  

still trying to "live into this sentence."

I was stopped in my tracks 

when I came across this gathering 

of words on a page.

There are so many phrases

 right here that get me thinking.

Soul craft

Creating and sustaining safe havens

Set apart from the world

Seek and Savor

Small authentic joys

Recurring theme

The work of women

Time to wonder into the August summer garden.

Mulling over these rich, dynamic phrases.

Because I believe in the power of the work

 of the Holy Spirit in my life,

this soul craft is about my daily life living.

Some days I think about it more than others.

And when I do, I give thanks,

for a master designer that knows the plan.

Pressed Down

So I don't know if this is true for anyone else.

 The pansies start to droop in the

 heat of summer here in Virginia.

Time to replant pots. 

But, I cannot throw in the trash 

the last few remaining blooms.

 They looked a bit ragged when I finally

 got to snipping them off.

 I pulled down the remaining phone book

 that I keep just for pressing flowers.

Flipping through to find a good spot -

 I found the pansies pressed from last year.

I added this year's petals.  

One week later here they are together. 

I am not really sure what 

happens with them next.

They will end up on something

 in a collage of sorts.
But whenever I do this pressing of flowers-
 it always makes me think 
of this section of Scripture.
Luke 6:36-38

36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not,

 and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down,

 shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.

 For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Oh, Lord, may these petals that are flattened 

at the end of their life be a reminder to give freely. 
Even at the end- they still give.

The blessings are far more than I can imagine.

 Your rich grace, mercy and love are simply available to me-

poured right into my lap.

How great is this goodness to me. Amen.

Scripture Doodles- April

Scripture Doodles for the month of April.

 Gathering a good portion

 of the Lenten season walk.

Choosing four colors to use for the month.

Preparing a calendar from 

Concordia Publishing House

 to use in a traveler's journal.

One word or phrase take-away

 from each day's devotion.

Added to the calendar to create a visual story

 for the month of devotions.

Mini-billboards-

for reminders to pray,

meditate, and listen for the very place

 that the Word of God 

is speaking into my life.

The April 2019 devotions were written by

Rev. Richard Eyer.
Calendars were  supplied
 by Concordia Publishing House.

Lent Scripture Journal

Going back in the archives here

 to share a Lenten practice 

that appealed to me 

because of the simplicity.

Just a 6 by 81/2 blank spiral journal.

think I just had it on hand.

We were in the middle of an overall

 in the basement and my studio things

 were packed up and not too available.

It was the week after Lent 

and I felt I just needed to be the THE WORD.

This was pre-Pinterest so I just was working

 with my own creative flow here.

I started out reading the book of 

Corinthinans and simply adding in passages

 that were meaningful to me.

I made copies from my collection of 

Vintage Easter cards as a visual divina focus. 

 I used a basic circle image to draw- 

sometimes called a mandala.
Because of the connection to 
Hindu and Buddhist teachings
 we call this patterning a Circle Tangle.
It is simply a geometric repetitive pattern 

drawn in a circle shape.

 I wasn't practicing my lettering, 

or choosing any colors by 
keeping with the black ink pen.

I was focused on the Scripture.

Claiming it to heart.

What started out as a Lenten practice-

 kept right on going after Easter,

till I filled up the whole journal.

Still one of my favorite 

Lent practice experiments.

And for a bit of light-heartedness in Lent-
 here is the link for the YouTube video
 of this Lent Scripture Project-
 done in QuikStory.
Lent Scripture Project

2018 Advent Calendars

 Advent 2018 Calendars

Using the Patricia Maier Design

 from Visual Faith Ministry
advent-calendar-2018
Used the Henri J.M. Nouwen Devotional- 
The Father's Love
This simple way of adding one word or phrase a day-
helps to keep me focused, centered, and in HIS WORD.

I choose 4 colored pencils to use for the month

 with my fine-point Sharpie marker.

For Advent this year I also used the 

Advent Calendar design by Bev Wicher.

Also from Visual Faith Ministry.
2018-advent-calendar-by-bev-wicher
I used this design to spend specific prayer time
 for people on my prayer list.
Once again- 4 colored pencils for the month.
I find that this simple practice
 allows me to recall them to my mind
 throughout the day and thus lift them in prayer.
The Lord has blessed this way
 to color and pray- for ME.

Scripture Doodles in a Traveler's Journal

 The month of September

 in tiny Scripture doodles

 to go along with my 

Portals of Prayer devotions.

 Four colored pencils

and a non-bleeding Sharpie pen.

I divided the calendar 

to fit in three pages 

in my Traveler's notebook.

What am I SEEING in this practice?

I am drawn to my devotion time.

I can catch up if I get behind a day or two.

The word or phrase runs across 

my conscience thoughts during the day.

I love the whole picture 

of the month of devotions.

This practice would work 

with any devotion 

you may be using for the month.

Here is the link for calendars 
if you would like to try this out and join us!
devotional-calendar-october-december

My $60 Cup of Coffee

So, before you judge me-

 that I spent $60 on a cup of coffee - 

here is the story.

So- a couple of days ago,

 I grabbed my normal cup of coffee 

and was walking around the house 

picking up this and that. 

The start of the morning routine 

of putting life back together.

How does it get rearranged

 in the night while I am asleep?

As, I walked downstairs it was dark.

The curtains were closed over the patio door.

They are hung on grommets 

and you just slide them back across the rod.

As I reached up, with coffee in hand,

 there was a brief-second thought-

this rod comes down on the umpteenth time.

Then umpteenth happened.

The rod came down, 

slammed the coffee cup 

out of my hand-

 crashing it to the floor.

 Coffee spilled all over my 

"decent outfit-running errand clothes,"

the floor, the window, 

and the curtain panels.

My only- thing I own that is "Pottery Barn" drapes.

I think I stood there dripping coffee

 for about a minute.

 Took a deep breath.

Exhaled.

Took another deep breath.

Saw the broken handle 

coffee cup on its side.

And read the words-

"The Word of the Lord endures forever."

1 Peter 1:25

And smiled.

And smiled.

Oh, thank Goodness.

So, I changed clothes, 

grabbed the curtains 

and drove to the dry cleaners.

$30 per panel.

$60 to clean.

Hopefully, the curtains as good as new.

Coffee cup still broken.

And clinging to what endures-

 the Word of God.

So, the $60 cup of coffee? 

A reminder for me to do 
one thing at a time.

To slow down busy momma- 

and keep hands free for the task at hand.

It's ok to be intentional 

with each thing we do.

And give thanks,

give thanks.

 It is important to remember 
that all that we engage in here-
 is at best transient.
BUT,

His Word, His Kingdom-

 stands forever.

ps.  this story didn't end here 

because Elizabeth Pittman at CPH 

sent me a new mug.....

Den Gardens

The colors and textures of God's world

 in the Spring simply astonishes me.

 The delicate petals and gradient hues

 bless a small part of the world in my garden.

 The fragrance of the Miss Kim lilacs -

delicate against the vibrant green.

Sometimes you just need an old chair

 to old up your blooms.

The Knock Out Roses 

seem to absorb sunlight.

Not sure just what the 

connection is for me but

a walk in my yard and 

seeing the beautiful flowers, 

often brings this passage to mind:

Romans 8:38-39  (ESV)

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, 

nor angels nor rulers, 

nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 

39 nor height nor depth, 

nor anything else in all creation, 

will be able to separate us 

from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As Mary Oliver says-
"paying attention 
is the beginning of devotion."

And that leads right to prayer.

Uncluttered Spaces

We need "uncluttered time and space 

in which we can distance ourselves 

from our own activities 

enough to see what God is doing."
Eugene Peterson

Keeping the rhythm of 

work and rest within 

God's time is necessary, 

faithful and wise.

I hear the disclaimer over and over 

among our harried lives--

too busy, too much, too little margin.

We need to remember that God will STILL 

work in the margins of our lives.

He prefers first fruits, and lifted offerings.

But, He still delights when His children

 come as beggars 

with little to offer and sit by the wayside.

His powerful presence will take

 our meager offerings 

and turn them into banquets that feed our soul.

How blessed that we have a heavenly Father,

who meets us right where we are-

strung out and strung along.

He takes frazzled, piece-meal connections

and still works Miracles.

And maybe from that point of view-

we can SEE what He is doing.

Lenten Journey Calendars- 2017

The Lenten Journey Calendars-

 2017

Sybil MacBeth calendar

With this calendar I used the devotional booklet-

Mercy, Passion and Joy- 

Reflections from the Writings of C.S. Lewis

Lenten calendar design by Bev Wicher.

This calendar Journey was called-

Faith Facts for Lent by Paul L. Maier.

This calendar design is by Pat Maier.

The devotions used for this one was

Living the Gospel Life-

 Lenten Reflections, by various authors.

I never really planned to do 

3 calendars for Lent this year.

There were just 3 devotion books

 I wanted to read.

 Then I couldn't decide which one

 I wouldn't do a calendar for this year.

I find it interesting that the words for each day

make such a RICH tapestry for the journey.

It is also a blessing that this 

spiritual practice is so "forgiving."

Get behind a couple days on a calendar or 2?

 Then catch up as you can.

Remember this is about 

"do as you can- not as you can't."

It was also fun to see snippets

 of calendars of friends

 who were participating 

along the way during Lent.
All in all - this discipline has been a blessing.

Calendars used here can be found 

in the Files section in the 
DC Metro Visual Faith Facebook Community
-2017 Lenten Calendars.