What is Visual Faith?

So just what is Visual Faith?

This is an attempt to gather 

some of the processes,

 and reminders of faith 

that tell part of the story 

for followers of Jesus.

We are made in the image

 of a creative God,

and visual faith tools honor 

His creative sanctification 

of believers on a daily basis.

It is the basic process of bringing together

 our great gifts of prayer and His Word- 

and adding visual, kinesthetic, 

and tactile adaptations that make meaning

 for us in our daily life.

It is the answer to the question-

What does this mean for me?

Visual Faith

Bringing together images of everyday life

with words- typography, 

that communicate a Biblical truth.

Visual faith photo booklet

with faith language affirmation.

Graphic displays and text 

cement words of hope

in beautiful transformative ways.

Manila Tag booklet 

for specific liturgical seasons.

(with age-appropriate language)

Theology- the study of God,

lived out in our own 

lives and experiences.

The language of faith- discipling words

that become part of faith-life living.

 Small tactile remembrances 

of God's dramatic intersection in our lives.

 Daughter Jessica's -Baptism story.

Faith milestone.

Faith foldable- "Faithable" to

Gather the story of faith milestones.

And Confirmation story.

A tool to witness to family, 

friends, neighbors,

and the world- 

of God's gracious faithfulness to us.

Prayers for my Children-

Scripture Flipbook 

Visual faith is the intentional process 

of using reminders of faith 

in our prayer life.

God's Word to pray over our children.

Prayer cubes for Meal time, 

Bedtime, Anytime.

Visual faith includes 

teaching methods to instill 

words of prayer

 in the lives of our families.

Visual theology 

allows the connections

 to be personal,

and a part of the story-telling

of God’s faithfulness.

 It is seeing and understanding

 the truth about God.

Scripture Printable (from Pinterest)

and added to a flat canvas.

Visual Faith is the intentional placement

of God's Word in front of us in our homes 

so that we may 

See and Remember.
These tools deal with the diagnosis 
we all have of spiritual amnesia
 and forgetting God's faithfulness to us.

Faith Foldable- Accordion Booklet

It is the gathering of the STORY 

of our faith journey-

along the way- 

and documents our spiritual formation.

Faith Family Rolodex-

an ongoing project that collects 

words of meaning and milestone events,

 and the rhythm of the liturgical seasons.

Visual faith is the response

 to conversations with families 

about what is helpful

 in the teaching of "faith culture".

Meeting families right where they are.

Baseball card holder with 

prayer cards for individuals.

Visual Faith is a way to lift up 

people to the Lord in prayer.

And remember who we are praying

 for in our daily walk.

Prayer card made for a friend

Visual faith is a way to bless others

 in our lives with the images that 

bring prayer to the center of our lives.

Visual faith can be in the margins

 of our Bibles

where God's Word 

meets the world of our lives.

Gratitude journals and cards

Visual Faith is an intentional plan

 to pay attention to our daily gifts,

to create hearts of gratitude.

Visual faith can be the journaling of prayers,

 Bible Study, and sermon notes. 

Visual faith is connecting 

our response to God's text message to us.

The centering of the growing relationship

 we are blessed to experience in prayer

 and time in His Word.

Visual faith is our ongoing spiritual formation,

worked out by the Holy Spirit

 in an Individual Education Plan. 

It is the journey of our Heavenly Father

turing the broken into the beautiful,

and our witness of this process

 that is covered in Grace.

What can YOU add to the conversation
of how the Lord is working out 
His plan for your life?
And how you Tell the Story....

Best Practices- Heartland

New experiences and setting for sharing 

of Visual Faith this past week at 

Cornerstone Lutheran Church

 in Carmel, Indiana.

re:inspire- the theme

 for Best Practices Heartland this year.

Official name tag
Love the 
Valparaiso University
lanyard

Heart stirring worship and music.

Thoughtful Keynote presenters.

Interesting breakout sessions.
Design Fugitives

The gathering of the Visual Faith story.

Meeting other practitioners- Rev. Billy Newell. 

Sharing with others.

Time to pray, practice and listen.

Talking about Visual Theology.

Your Life - His Word.

What does YOUR story look like?

One of the young attendees 

shares her work with Pat Maier and myself.

An unexpected opportunity in our week-

serving with Pat Maier as a panel discussion

 with Pastor Scott Giger.

Talking about what we are learning 

in our journey with Visual Faith practices.

Such great hospitality and 

food for those attending this conference.

Maybe Visual Faith is new for you,

maybe you have wanted to try it out,

or perhaps you have wanted 

to share your journey with others.

It is time-

Rise up,

take courage and 

DO IT.

Dexter Cider Mill

On a beautiful day- 

 oh -what to do?

How about a visit to the local 

Michigan Cider Mill in Dexter.
The mill is the oldest continuously
operating cider mill in Michigan.
Using locally grown apples 
and 3-5 varieties at a time,
 they are pressed in a 100 year old oak press.
Because each blend will be different, 
each press is unique.
The crowds line up 
for the homemade doughnuts, 
caramel apples and 
apple nut bread.

  The world is still green along 
the gently flowing Huron River.

The mill was placed here

 to serve the cider press.

 A mom and two of her daughters,

and two of the GRAND sons.

Water and little boys?

Gotta throw rocks.

Laura and Griffin.

 Jessica and Jack

Gigi and Jack

Laura Jack and Griffin

Hang on.

a ledge and a two year old

Got that.

Griffin and "the doughnut"-
and the line waiting to get their doughnuts too.

A brilliant blue sky and 
leaves turning red.

And a glistening river
 ripples into late afternoon.

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Be Still, My Soul, Before the Lord

Another beautiful hymn written

 about prayer -sang at a recent retreat.

Lutheran Service Book- Hymn 771

Be still, my soul, before the Lord
For God is always near.
Before your mind is moved to pray,
God listens and will hear.

You need not multiply your words
nor pray with practiced art.
Beyond all speech, God understands
the hunger of your heart.

Wait, then, in quiet confidence,
Your anxious thoughts at rest.
God knows your needs before you ask
and works for what is best.

Be still, my soul, before the Lord;
On God in patience wait.
God's love, unseen surrounds your life;
God's help will not be late.

Author: Herman G. Stuempfle

In Holy Conversation

Sang this hymn at an event this past weekend 

and loved the connection to prayer.

How marvelous, how wonderful is this gift of prayer.

IN HOLY CONVERSATION- 
Lutheran Service Book Hymn 772

In holy conversation we speak to God in prayer,
And at His invitation our deepest thoughts we share. 
We come, His will obeying, as children bringing needs; 
And to support our praying, His Spirit intercedes.
These holy conversations begin in child-like ways;
We bring our supplications and words of thanks and praise. 
With care our Father listens to every thought expressed, 
Then answers our petitions in ways He knows are best.
As holy conversation, in silence or by word,
In every situation through Jesus, we are heard.
So let us pray securely, expressing hopes and fears 
With confidence that surely our Father ever hears.

Text: Gregory J. Wismar (b. 1946) Rev. Wismar is a retired Lutheran pastor living in Newtown, CT. This text is copyrighted © 2004 by Gregory J. Wismar 

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Lakeshore Zone LWML Retreat- Create in ME

 On a beautiful fall Saturday

 a group of 50 women

 gathered at the Maranatha Retreat Center

 in Muskegon, Michigan.
Maranatha Retreat Center Muskegon MI

I was blessed to connect to Beth Foreman 
last summer with an article 
she wrote about Bible Journaling
 for the LWML Quarterly.
Fun to accept the offer to lead a time with women
 looking at Create in ME and Visual Faith.
My friend, Pat Maier, came along 
so I could introduce her as the on-the-ground 
Visual Faith coach for the Michigan District.
We enjoyed presenting TOGETHER 
for the first time.
A special event also celebrating
 the leadership of outgoing President Barb Draper.

Visual Faith Show and Tell

Keep the Faith Projects

Visual Prayer

Bible Journaling

Prayer as the foundation and the umbrella

 for all of our Faith story.

Sound doctrine and Biblical teaching connecting 

 in the theology of our everyday life.

Morning devotions by Rev. Michael Goers- 

It's a NEW DAY.

Thinking about the sanctification work

 of the Holy Spirit in us -

each and every NEW day.

Time to Pray and try out the new 

LWML Creative Resources

 for praying and blessings others.
Find them here:
LWML Visual Prayer

How do we deal in our prayer lives 

with these 3 obstacles?

1. Paying Attention

2. Dealing with Distractions

3. Slowing Down

 It is a learned behavior that takes practice.

Visual prayer tools help us learn to be focused.

   Visible prayer tools collect

 a prayer STORY for our lives.

The story of God's faithfulness.

The STORY becomes our witness

 to our families and neighbors.

 The Holy Spirit can also use these offerings 

to tell a STORY of hope to those 

who don't know Jesus. 

Some resources were available for purchase.

Show and tell included:

Journaling Bible choices- 

including the new 

CPH Lutheran Study Bible Journal Edition.
lutheran-study-bible-journal-edition
AND the new resources from 
Concordia Publishing House
 for use with the small catechism.
make-memory-work-fun

Pat Maier teaching about Bible Journaling 

I was also able to catch up with fellow
Concordia Ann Arbor graduate 
Debbie Zeibart Kolberg 
who teaches at St. John's, Grand Haven, MI.
By Monday morning I had received
 a photo she shared done by a student
 in her 5th grade class. 
They were already using the visual prayer stencils 
and 4 x6 blank notecards 
to start their Bible verse memory project.
Thanks for sharing Debbie!

Met Barb Rudick at the retreat.
 She was the roommate at
 Concordia- River Forest 
of my sister-in-law- Doris Denninger.
Wonderful to meet Barb.

Thanking God for the friendship 
that meets in partnership 
to bring faith equipping tools
 to women and their families-
for the sake of our children, 
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
And for the generations to come-
 The Word of the Lord stands forever.

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Faith Life Living Cards

  In conversations lately since 

Concordia Publishing House

 presented the Catechism teaching cards.

Post here:
visual-faith-luthers-small-catechism

Research is all over the place 

about how we learn.

But the given is:

we don't ALL learn the same way.

As educators and parents 

work for teaching faith life living principles

 in Lutheran schools and homes,

we must also be in conversation 

about the HOW.

Faith Family Rolodex

About ten years ago, 

I found myself needing to find a way

 to help parents REVIEW words 

so that they could teach their children.

Out of those interactions 

came the Faith Family Rolodex.

The story is here:
faith-family-rolodex

Rolodex Faith Words
are in the FILES section here:
DC Metro Bible Journaling

(this pdf is made for the rolodex project-
to adapt it for the playing cards
just tear off the indented part needed for the rolodex)

a deck of cards, 
square punched cardstock to cover card images,
double sided sticky tape,
 Distress ink,
 hole punch and O rings

Out of that resource is an adaptation

of the same faith vocabulary words

 put on Dollar Store playing cards. 

They are punched and placed on binder rings.

What would it LOOK LIKE 

if a family (or school, or Confirmation class) 

were working TOGETHER

to teach the meaning of the words?
Yes, ideal maybe, but Martin Luther's 
prayer for families.

  Just have to adapt the depth
 of the conversation

 in the years of learning with a child. 

This tool might be a help for 

parochial schools working

 with a year by year vocabulary list.

(or if this was part of a 2-3 year 

confirmation program)

A deck of cards works very well
 for this project 
or any Bible Verse memory project.
  They are sturdy, 
meant to be handled, cost effective, and
$1 at the Dollar Store.
They are effective as an additional tool 
for learning because they are visual,
 tactile and kinesthetic 
in the making and later use.
All in all- 
a way to learn that benefits 
multiple learning styles, 
allows interaction with parents,
and helps a leader to add hands-on learning
 to their curriculum objectives.
Supples:
Small tags- Staples
or online here: avery shipping tag

O Rings or binder rings- Staples and Amazon
online here: Nickel binding rings

Tim Hiltz Distress ink for edges
 of vocabulary words and tags
 Wal Mart of any craft store
Online here: Tim Holtz Distress inks
Wal Mart or any Craft Store
Tim+Holtz+distress+inks

3 inch binder ring for hanging  
all word file lists- 
Amazon3-Inch-Diameter-Silver Rings