1000 Posts

It was on my radar awhile back--  

maybe about 980.

And then it slid by. Right on by.

Yes, the official count is 1008 blog posts.

If you would have suggested that number

six years ago when I first hit publish,

it would have been overwhelming

 to think about the possibility.
So what have I learned in the 1000 posts?

1.    I work out, sort out, mark my life in these posts.

2.    I notice things I'd probably miss-

       with a growing eye for photo taking. 

3.    I started writing these posts for the sake of my family

       having the information, and I still write with that purpose.

4.    Now I know that you can turn your blog posts into a

       published book, so they are also in "hardcopy" form.

5.    There is an amazing online community of bloggers.

6.    It is possible to just keep on writing, and writing,

       without the tug to monetize.

7.    Sometimes the least likely topic will have many, many hits.

8.    Once in awhile, 

       I might be the only person who has read a post.

9.    Words of affirmation and relevancy do matter.

10.  Writing has really helped me to become more articulate.

11.   I didn't expect it to actually be FUN.

12.   I started without any set rules of "must post this often"

        and that is still working out just fine.

13.   My husband has read maybe 10 posts, so he really hasn't 

        edited much of our life in writing. smile.....

14.   I love having the addition of Grandwonders to write about     

        now too.  (stealing that term from my friend Hadassah)
15. The spiritual discipline of writing these posts has blessed
       me in more ways than I can count.

16.   And most of all?  It has been His grace and faithfulness.

                    And so just another post..........

Bible Marginalia- Be Merciful

Bible Marginalia Series- #270

Luke 18:13

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Sometimes it is easy to fall in

  line thinking I am somehow better

 than the next person.

Either by birth, education, 

or accomplishments. 
The story of the Pharisee 
and the tax collector 
sets it out pretty plainly.
A prideful heart does not
 bode well with the Lord.
 I fall so far from the mark.
I cannot meet the demands
 of perfection in any way at all.
I give thanks for such great Good News-
of Gospel grace. 

"God, 
be merciful to me a sinner.
Give me a humble heart in all things.
Let your kindness and mercy 
gently pull me back 
when I move in anyway to exalt myself.
Give me the grace to fall before you as 
you bend my Spirit to your will." Amen.

Supplies:

NIV Noteworthy New Testament

Pat Maier margin

Colored pencils 

Washi tape 

printed doodle card

Spiritual Hymns- from 1829

 I picked up this very tiny hymn book 

in Raleigh, North Carolina this past weekend.

Most of the hymns and songs

 I am not familiar with-

except -Amazing Grace.

It was published in Caroline, Virginia on 

May 2, 1829.

One hundred and eighty eight years ago.
BEFORE the Civil War.
It must have been Caroline County
 as there is no city by this name.
Caroline County
 is 30 miles north of the capitol
 of Richmond and 32 miles  
south of Fredericksburg.

It is the book on the left-

Dover Selection.

It is smaller than any other small books

 that I have on my shelves.

Only the back still
 has the leather cover.

The front opens to the preface.
As I have held this small hymn book 
and paged through the songs,
 I cannot help but wonder 
who owned it and who sang from it.
Who held it as a dear treasure of words to praise
their Heavenly Father?
What pocket or purse gave it shelter?
What strength did it bring to a person of faith?
I won't ever know the answers to those questions,
 but I hope that in gentle care taking, 
it might give testimony 
in another hundred years. 
That a life of worship and praise 
may be connected to another generation
 that stills sings His goodness and love.

That Will Be My Life

Not long ago I spotted this in a store. 
It came home with me.
 A friend said,"This is what you do."

 It has taken me awhile to look up

 just who Elsie de Wolfe was.

Elsie de Wolfe, 
also known as Lady Mendi
(December 20, 1859– July 12, 1950) 
was an American actress, 
interior decorator,
 nominal author of the influential 1913 book-
 The House in Good Taste, 
and a prominent figure
 in New York, Paris, and London society. 
According to The New Yorker,
 "Interior design as a profession 
was invented by Elsie de Wolfe," 
although the praise is not strictly true. 
De Wolfe was certainly the most famous name
 in the field until the 1930s, 
but the profession of interior decorator/designer 
was recognized as a promising one
 as early as 1900,
 five years before she received 
her first official commission, 
The Colony Club in New York. 
During her married life 
(from 1926 until her death in 1950)
 the press often referred to her as Lady Mendl. 
She was born in New York City 
and died at

Versailles, France. 
(Wikipedia)
Once I started checking around-- 
this quote was everywhere.

I DO love creating beauty 
within the sacred space of home.
The change of seasons, 
the flow of the liturgical year,
special celebrations.
But, more than that-
I LOVE creating markers 
that celebrate the gift 
of a faith walk life.
For that is beauty that transcends-
 days, years and even centuries.
It crosses into eternity-
and THAT is truly beautiful.

Bible Marginalia-Strength of My Heart

Bible Marginalia Series- #269

On this day following the killings

 in the church in Texas-

reading Psalm 73.

But, for me it is good to be near God;

I have made the Lord God my refuge,

That I may tell of all your works.

So hard to make sense of any of this.
Humans disappoint over and over.
Only you Lord.
God is the strength of my heart 
and my portion forever.

Supplies:
ESV Crossways Large Print Journaling Bible
Printable Margin- Pat Maier
Prismacolor pencils

Visual Faith- The VRSLY Project-

Whether it is the stunning

 display of God in nature,

or quiet glimpses of His design,

or simple reassurances

 of His majestic plan,

we live by FAITH.

We are reminded about

 this love relationship,

 so that we might 

serve one another in love.

 When life challenges seek

 to overcome us,

we do not walk alone,

 and we are reminded 

that we must learn to REST.

 For in the daily walk we KNOW

 that the Lord is my helper,

 as we pray in the power

 of the Holy Spirit.

 We have armor,

and are refreshed by

 LIVING WATER.

In this month of gratitude reminders,

I give a simple thanks for 

His Goodness to me.

Bible Marginalia- Truth, Free, Grace and Gift

Bible Marginalia Series- #269

Ephesians 2:8

For it is by grace 

you have been saved, 

through faith- 

and this not from yourselves, 

it is the gift of God.

John 8: 31-32

To the Jews who had believed him,

 Jesus said,

"If you hold to my teaching,

 you are really my disciples. 

Then you will know the truth, 

and the truth will set you free."

I like looking at these two verses

 together on this Bible margin 

designed by Pat Maier.

Makes me think about how

 grace and gift, 

and

truth and freedom 

are linked.

Many times simple teachings

 make more sense to me-

when I see them like this.

At least it helps me to remember them.

Supplies:

NIV Noteworthy New Testament

Paperchase markers

Colors pencils

Orange Gelato

Washi tape

this margin can be downloaded in the File section of :
Visual Faith DC Metro