Monday, November 7, 2016

Marking the Passage of Time!

Marking the Passage of Time


This is my wall calendar from October.
Perhaps you may want to use this process as a way to mark each day with scripture, words of encouragement or lines from a devotion.
This post will tell a bit of the why and how this system works for me.

All of us have many ways to remind us of what days it is. 
Calendars in our pocketbooks, on our phones, on our desks and probably even on the fridge.
When  I taught school "calendar" time from a large colorful wall display was a big part of our class "Morning Meeting" time. We would mark each day with a seasonal object and by the end of the month it was a very pretty reminder of the month that had passed.

As I was changing out my wall calendar in my office I decided that I wanted a meaningful, colorful way to mark the passage of each day. 

I have my trusty planner and desk calendar and Google that keeps me update on all those to do's , places I need to be and people I need to see, along with birthdays, anniversaries.

I wanted a visual reminder of my quiet time each morning. My Devotion time, My morning cup of Jesus!


Each morning I gather my devotions for the day with pen and pencil, the rainbow notepad and double sided tape.


I decide what I want to post on the calendar, and how I want it to look on the notepad. 
I date it and apply double stick tape to the back and place it on the square of the day.


On Tuesday mornings we have church staff meeting first thing. On this day my post was from a devotion shared from another staff member. Her devotion was long and very interesting but the phrase about Gratitude was what I took back with me to start my day.


I leave room for the author of the quote that I am posting.


Simple ways of illustrating a scripture. Using objects along with print helps to break up the space . You will find this scripture on all of my calendars. 


I use fun scissors to cut my note pad pages to fit the wall calendar squares.


I am not in my office on Friday or Saturday and on Sunday I am there long enough to put my purse away. No daily reflections, quotes of encouragement or scriptures are placed on these days but I do mark the passage with pretty scrapbook paper.

Visitors to my office comment on the calendar. I find them leaning to read the posts. Some will even ask to copy something that speaks to them. One family is using this process as a Gratitude calendar for the month of November. A teacher friend is using the notepad idea to document a scripture a day on her personal wall calendar in her classroom. All are great visual ways to share Jesus. It is a vehicle for conversation with someone . An open door for sharing. 

At the end of the month, all of this goodness is transferred to my Children's Ministry planning book. When planning for next October I will have 31 days of reminders of how I marked the passage of each day that God blessed me with. I can't think of a better way to begin planning for His children than to begin the planning with Him!



Monday, August 1, 2016

It's Not Just A Paper Bag!

This past weekend I spent some time with some wonderful ladies sharing with one another, building up one another  and learning from one another.
At our District's Summer Conference, Tending The Flame, members of the Creative Faith Team created a "Visual Faith" workshop, offering ways to document our faith, illustrate our faith and share our faith.
One of the many favorite hands on activities was the "Paper Bag Book".
The Paper Bag Book is a great way to share inspiration, encouragement, scripture and blessings on each page using all kinds of mixed media and craft supplies.
The Paper Bag Book, makes a great gift for any time and is a very simple fun way of sharing the Hope that comes from Faith in Jesus.


Some page examples:


Use fun objects that help to illustrated the message. Above, notice the puzzle pieces are used with the quote "fitting in".
Type a message or scripture on the computer . Print and cute each word out for a different look.
Use alpha stickers ( I see there are some missing on this page..need to fix that)!


Stamps, stickers, and other embellishments draw the eye to the pages.


Pages open up for hidden treasures to be found.

Add photos and cards to the page pockets.


Use playing cards to make unique cards for the book using washi tape, stamps, and free stuff you can print from the web.


Add a picture for coloring. Find this one and others here.


Use a post from a devotion book to share. Mount it on a piece of printed card stock or scrap book paper.


Make your own tags using stamps, paint, stickers, markers...whatever you have around.


Make fun envelopes of all sizes for surprises inside of the pages.


Use wrapping paper, scrapbook paper or paper you make yourself for fun envelopes.


Another idea for envelopes.

Look around my Paper Bag Pinterest board for more ideas.


Share your Faith!!
Make a Paper Bag Book and fill it full of Hope and Love..give it to someone!
LET OTHERS SEE THE LIGHT OF JESUS IN YOU!







Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Creative Faith



Creative Faith....it can be a way to tell your faith story. It can be a way to document what the Lord is doing in your life. It can be a way to share the Peaks, the Pits and the Praises. 

My Creative Faith finds it's way into my bible, my devotion books, my journals, my day planner, cards I make for friends. Praying In Color and Visual Prayers are other places where I can share what is in my head and what is tugging at my heart strings.

Shanna Noel founder of Illustrates Faith and The Journaling Bible Community describes illustrating your faith this way: " God created us to share and use our gifts and talents in different ways to glorify Him.  He allows us to see the world through a colorful, beautiful lens.Use your gifts to share the Gospel. Paint, write, record what God has on your heart. This is your love letter to God. It is about honoring what God is doing in your heart".


My bible has a place in my foyer ....it is almost the first thing I see when I come in and go out each day. It is almost the first thing friends and family see when they come to visit. Most stop to look and most will ask questions.....a perfect time to share other pages and to share why I do what I do!


I enjoy adding mixed media to my favorite devotional pages. The tag bookmark can be flipped over to expose the complete text on the page or it may find it's way into a friends card.


Speaking of bookmarks.....recycle and repurpose those large flash cards that the kiddos have outgrown.  These make great additions to a greeting card or gift basket. Giving friends some Jesus!


This is the inside cover page of my Legacy of Faith journal I am keeping for my granddaughter......sharing with her my faith walk, my story and what the Lord has done in my life. One day she will read it and hopefully want to share her own story.


My daughter was going through a really hard time and I had so many things that I wanted to say to her but I decided to create something that she could, hold, read and touch...reminders of faith, hope, love and forgiveness. After I completed the paper bag book I found that I had renewal myself!


Pages in my daughters paper bag book offer comfort, hidden and waiting to be found.


There is Hope in my bible. My story is there. It is Gods revelation to me of His glorious plan for my salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. 
In most Journaling bibles there is an invitation printed to record thoughts and  interact with the Scriptures. The margins are designed for you to write observations, reflections,prayers, notes and journal entries. I just add a little color!


You may not be comfortable adding anything to your bible and that is A-OK! Create a FAITH book!
Illustrate your favorite scripture verse or hymn. The Solid Rock was one of my Grandmother's favorite hymns. These two pages are in memory of her.


Creative Faith....wherever you put it, someone , someday will find it and read it and will be blessed by it.
WE WERE CREATED TO CREATE!

The following photos are some of my Creative Faith creations. Enjoy. Be Inspired.












Thursday, March 24, 2016

War Room ~ It can be a place....



Have you seen the movie War Room?
War Room from the award wining creators of Fireproof and Courageous explores the power that prayer can have on marriages, parenting, careers, friendships and other areas of our lives.
After this movie many folks were inspired to create their own War Room or a place in their homes to have a personal prayer life.

War Room!

It doesn't have to be a room ~  it can be part of a room.
It can be a large very worn chair where the princess Boston Terrier dog sleeps at night.
It can be a place where you open the blinds and wait for the sun to come around and beam on your shoulder in the morning.




It can simply be a place where all of you stuff is that give you faith, hope and love each day.



It can be a place where you write down words that inspire you......


....words that you want to remember and share.


It can be a place where you end the day...to reflect and to pray.


It can be any place where you put on the armor of God and prepare to fight the good fight . A place to come to Him in your brokenness . A place to confess your sins and ask forgiveness. A place to give thanks , praise and glory.
IT CAN BE A PLACE.....ANY PLACE !

Read the Bible each day. Let the word of God mold you into a powerful person of prayer.
~War Room~


I saw this on Pinterest and thought this would be a good place to share it.