Worship into the Week- Prepare

Worship into the Week

John 14: 1-14

I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life

So many things that the disciples

 just didn't understand.

Their hearts were troubled. 

Jesus brings reassurance.

Not that this time was easy, 

but Jesus tells them even more things

 that cross the lines from current into eternity.

He explains that difficult things are laid out simply.

 It is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

He is all and the only Way. 

Supplies:

Visual Church Year
childrens-bulletin-john-142-51020
Colored pencils

Hymn 

Magazine cutouts

Newness of Life

This tiny little-leafed fern

 has popped out of a pot

 that has looked empty and without life.

I am so reminded of this new life reminder

all over the place in these Spring days.

"We were buried therefore with him
 by baptism into death, 
in order that, just as Christ 
was raised from the dead 
by the glory of the Father, 
we too might walk in newness of life."
Romans 6:4

I am very thankful that small reminders
 bring such great great HOPE.

To My Quarantined Young Mommas

You are moving through these days

 bravely right now.

Encircled by the little ones 

that keep you on the go...

even when you don't quite know

 the direction these days.

One day floats into another 

and only the dimming of the light 

gives a nod- another one down.

These little ones will listen to the stories someday-

of "remember when". 

Like your grandmothers 

told of the Great Depression and 

 World War 2.

You will have "ration" tales 

and empty-stocked shelves at the store.

You have taken to the "Great Outdoors" 

for a bit of respite and a sense 

that all is right with the world.

You have gathered them close and

hugged them tightly.

You have lined them up for family photos 

to mark the time for the generations to come.

You have done the silly faces to get the smiles-

 like all the generations before.

You have hugged them tightly

 even as you allow them 

to spread their wings to discover.

You have hid from them your own fears

 and doubts for this "new world" 

we live in and wondering what the future bodes.

You have allowed them to LIVE LARGE

 in tighter spaces-

expanded their worlds as the parameters closed in.

You have reassured YOUR OWN MOMMA 

that you are strong, true and trusting.

You have burned a light brightly of HOPE that 

reassures beyond human measure.

You have pointed to Scripture truths

 that have walked through the centuries

 to bring consolation-
because you live beyond these tedious days.

Born Again to a Living Hope

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 

According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again 

to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, 

kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded 

through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Dear Daughters of MINE- this prayer for you.

May you see past the piles and the whines

to speak truth to the hearts 

of these littles ones in your care.

May they be blessed by your courageous

 moving into these days with

power beyond your understanding. 

May they know that your steadfast love for them

 is just a little picture of their Father's great love and

the sacrifice of His Own Son for each and everyone.

Be Hope Bringers. Be Joy Spreaders.
 Be Grace Givers.
Be strong in your bravery 

and humbled by His strength. Amen.

I hope you know how very proud

 I am of each of you-

Jessica, Laura and Sara-

 in this Mother's Day story time of today.

love, mom

Worship into the Week- Have Life

 Worship into the Week- 
John 10- The Good Shepherd
The transforming relationship
 with the the One who calls us to abundant life.
"I AM THE DOOR. 
If anyone enters by me,
 he will be saved 
and will go in and out and find pasture." v. 9
"I come that they might have LIFE." v. 10.

 Some time working with adding in

 some tip-ins for this section of Scripture.

A reminder that this is the section

 of text for my Confirmation verse.

This photo from Machaerus, Jordan 
reminds me of the shepherd who gathers His flock.

Supplies:
Visual Church Year
childrens-bulletin-john-109-5320
Watercolors
Colored pencils
Magazine cutouts
Junk mail

The Petrified Forest

 The art of the Petrified Forest 

thanks to a phone App.

The real deal.

Petrified Forest National Park

 is in northeastern Arizona, 

and named for the large deposits of petrified wood.

The park covers about 230 square miles.
After the Southwest became part of the U.S,
 explorers continued to look for good 
east-west routes along the the 35th parallel. 
In 1853, a crew led by U.S. Army Lieutenant Ariel Whipple surveyed along a sandy wash
 in the northern part of the Petrified Forest.
 It became a wagon route, 
and then part of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad
 and other later railroads. 
In 1926, it became a part of Route 66, 
until it was decommissioned in 1985.

 Amazing "petrified" logs 

scattered all over the park.

 A barren- 

almost "moon like" landscape.

This is what a log looks like close up.

The fallen logs are HUGE.

Dinner later with the "guys"

 laughing over YouTube funnies.
A fun day of exploring in Arizona.

Scripture Doodles- April

The continuing of the practice of devotions 

and Scripture doodles 

makes some semblance of normalcy.

I ended up using a different reading

 since the Portals of Prayer

 are over at church somewhere.

I like to actually hold them in my hands

 so haven't gone to online.

I used LIVING the Gospel Life -

Daily Devotions for Christians on a mission- 

by Creative Communications for the Parish.

They were for LENT- 

but it has been good in this season,

 to still be reading the stories of LENT.

May the Lord grant us the wisdom 

to make faithful decisions 

as we work towards the changes

 of "stay at home" to

lesser quarantine.

May we keep our neighbors

 in mind in these days. Amen.

Grand Canyon - Part 2

There is something about making sure you stay at the 

Grand Canyon till the day is over.

There are glimpses 

of the changing palette to come.

 The sky changes depending on the angle

 and the particular spot that you 

watch the diorama changing view.

I would imagine that the weather 

and the cloud cover greatly 

changes this daily event passing.

 The colors in the sky can be as dramatic 

as the changes of the colors 

on the elevations of the canyon.
Research led us to Hopi Point 
as one of the best places 
to see the colors change of the canyon.

But, we were cold and clambered back

 to our cars to escape the wind.

 The colors were transfixing 

as we drove out with the hundreds 

of other night sky seekers.

Memory- etching vistas.

Kaleidoscope  views.

Timeless.

Epic.

Truly Grand.

The Canyon at Sunset.