Bible Journaling - Consider the Water Lilies

Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
-Psalm 46:10

When I think of stillness, water lilies come to mind. Specifically, one particular pond in the middle of the city. There is a restaurant in Houston with an impressive water lily pond. It's a sight to see-- both mesmerizing and calming. Sometimes if I am in the area, I stop by just to stand at the rail and gaze at the stillness.

The jewels of the pond, as they are called, are rooted in rich muddy soil in very quiet water. They require lots of sunlight to thrive, opening in the morning and closing at night. I like to think that we are like the water lily, "rooted and grounded in love" (Ephesians 3:17), with a peaceful countenance (Numbers 6:26) and unswerving, ultimate assurance (Hebrews 10:19-23), focused on the light (John 8:12).

Consider the water lily and be still.

Praying in Color

Hello, friends!  I am putting together my faith journal and am collecting printables for prayers and gratitude.  I made a half-page size printable for praying in color that I thought I'd share.  My binder is a half-letter size, so the file is set up to print two on a page.  There are little honeycombs to color in and a few lines at the bottom for notes. (Click on the image to download.)

Curious about praying in color?  Check out my periscope below and visit prayingincolor.com.

Enjoy!

Ash Wednesday Altar- Worship Arts

Our church recognizes Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent when we prepare for the resurrection. For many, this ushers forth a period of fasting and spiritual discipline.

From The United Methodist Book of Worship-

“Ash Wednesday emphasizes two themes: our sinfulness before God and our human mortality. The service focuses on both themes, helping us to realize that both have been triumphed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 “During some Ash Wednesday services, the minister will lightly rub the sign of the cross with ashes onto the foreheads of worshipers. The use of ashes as a sign of mortality and repentance has a long history in Jewish and Christian worship. Historically, ashes signified purification and sorrow for sins.

“It is traditional to save the palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday service to burn to produce ashes for this service. Sometimes a small card or piece of paper is distributed on which each person writes a sin or hurtful or unjust characteristic. The cards are then brought to the altar to be burned with the palm branches. The ash cross on the forehead is an outward sign of our sorrow and repentance for sins.”

 



 For Ash Wednesday, I re-used the canvas scrolls which were part of the Living Banners last year. I flipped the strips over and weaved them together on the altar, then let the ends hang over the front. On each, I painted a black cross in acrylic paint with a dry brush technique to resemble the ash crosses administered at the Ash Wednesday service. The strips are just pinned together, so they will be available for future use.

 The area above the chancel which normally is draped with banners, is left blank. On the first Sunday in Lent next Sunday, the purple banners will be displayed. (Purple being the liturgical color for Lent.)

For those who observe Shrove Tuesday with pancake dinners, enjoy!

 For more on the United Methodist Church’s service of ashes, click here.

Bible Journaling - The 15th Psalm

Hi, chickadees! This bible journaling page is very special to me. I dedicate this page in honor of all the Alpha Delta Pi diamonds who have helped shape my life and in honorable memory of those before who were trail-blazers for women in higher education and the ideals of Christian womanhood.

Those ideals of a Christian in relationship with God are further illustrated in the 15th Psalm from the King James Version, our sorority's official scripture:

Psalm 15 King James Version (KJV)

15 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.


The visual elements in the page include our open motto, "We live for Each Other", our official colors- azure blue and white; and the woodland violet our sorority flower. The velvet leaves are from my late grandmother's craft box.

The links below are from the actual creation of the page- in two parts because of course, technical difficulties!  In the introduction, I gave a brief commentary on the history of Alpha Delta Pi.  I hope you enjoy it!  And, you better grab a cuppa and settle in because they are long!

And after a brief technical glitch...