Friday, November 30, 2018

Advent Words: A is for Arrival


Welcome to Advent Words 2018!


A is for Arrival

"And the glory of the LORD will be revealed" ~ Isaiah 40:5
Today's readings are Isaiah 40:1-5 and Revelation 22:20.



The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning coming or arrival. The season of Advent is the time leading up to Christmas that is both a time of remembrance and anticipation. We join with the ancient Israelites in their anticipation of the coming Messiah, the Christ. But their anticipation is our remembrance. We look back on the events leading up to the birth of Christ, celebrating the arrival of what they anticipated and longed for. We join in their anticipation and longing as we look ahead, waiting for the arrival of Christ's second coming, when He will come for His people. It is because of this looking back and looking ahead that Advent has been called a "two-fold gaze". For Jesus is both Emmanuel ~ God with us ~ now, and He is also coming soon.




Advent is a season of waiting, longing, reflecting, and preparing ~ all based on the hope we have in Christ. Augustine said, "The whole life of the good Christian is a holy longing. That is our life, to be trained by longing. You do not yet see what you long for, but the very act of desiring prepares you, so that when He comes you may see and be utterly satisfied." The Advent season is a time to slow down and join with the Christians of past ages as we anticipate the Christ's arrival. We, the church, are His Bride, and Advent is the time we set aside to prepare for the arrival of our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.

   "The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life....He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." ~ Revelation 22:17, 20



Share your creative response to the Advent Words challenge in our private Facebook group  Join here:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wordschallengegroup/

If you belong to the Everyday Journal group that I co-lead with Valerie Sjodin and Bernice Hopper, Advent Words will be our theme for December.

Share on Instagram and other social media with the hashtag #adventwords2018.


Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Advent Words 2018 A-Z Coming Soon!


Our Advent Words challenge is just two days away! Are you ready to join us? Advent Words combines  two of my top passions in life: Bible study and art. During a Words Challenge participants are provided with a daily Bible study/devotional for each word in the challenge. You are then encouraged to respond creatively with any creative practice they choose -art journaling, collage, photography, poetry, digital art, scrapbooking, calligraphy - whatever way you choose to interpret the word and Bible study creatively.

The Advent Words challenge is a great way to slow down and pause in a season of busyness. Take time daily to focus on faith and God in the Advent and Christmas season. Here's how you can join us:
  • The daily Bible study devotions, along with how I responded creatively, will be posted on this blog each day beginning on November 30. You can follow this blog by email or there will be daily links to the posts in the Words Challenge Facebook group
  • Respond with whatever creative practice you choose: art journaling, mixed media art, scrapbook, photography, digital art, poetry, creative writing, calligraphy - any way you choose! As you take in the Scripture and devotions into your heart and mind, let it sink even deeper as you practice creatively with your hands.
  • Join the Words Challenge Facebook group where you can share your art and ideas and join the conversation through the Advent season and beyond.  I host a number of Words Challenges throughout the year. Join here:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wordschallengegroup/
  • If you belong to the Everyday Journal group that I co-lead with Valerie Sjodin and Bernice Hopper, Advent Words will be our theme for December.
  • Share on Instagram and other social media with the hashtag #adventwords2018.
  • In the days before the Advent season begins reflect and prepare: choose the creative form you will use for your daily practice. Make a journal if that fits your creative form.You can see my journal in this post.


Download the calendar by clicking on the photo. If you would like to download and print the calendar without the background photo you will find it here.

Friday, November 23, 2018

Advent Words 2018


The Advent season is just days away. As much as I try to slow down it seems the year just flies right by! As we approach the Advent season, I'm thankful for the creative practice I have embraced over the past few years. In the midst of busyness, creative practices of faith and art help me slow down and delve deeper into the real meaning of the season, and I find my place with Christ followers over the ages in this season of hope and joy. That is the intent and hope behind the Advent Words challenges.

Join me November 30 - December 25 for Advent Words 2018 A~Z. We will begin a few days before the official start of Advent to allow for 26 days in order to go through the alphabet. At the end of this post you will find the Advent Words 2018 calendar which you can download for your personal use.


Over the years I have used a variety of ways to art journal through Advent. 

My first year, 2011, I made a journal and did a mix of paper and digital art. 




For the next few years I didn't make a dedicated journal for Advent. But I returned to that practice in 2015, when I used a vintage Rolodex and made my Advent art on Rolodex cards.



In 2016 I took an old pressboard report cover and made a journal with dutch door pages. That year I used Kris Camealy's Advent book, Come, Lord Jesus: The Weight of Waiting, to guide my journay through Advent.




Last year was the beginning of my Words Challenges with our first Advent Words. I altered a small book and inserted a binder mechanism to make my journal.




This year I have made a Signature Journal with a mix of watercolor paper and various types of vintage papers. Signature Journals are one of my favorite types of journals to make. I used one for our Colossians Words challenge this summer and have a class available for anyone interested in making their own.










Would you like to join me in slowing down and pausing in the midst of holiday busyness and take time to spiritually and creatively journey through Advent? Here's how you can join me:
  • I will post daily Bible study devotions, along with how I responded creatively, on this blog each day beginning on November 30. You can follow this blog by email or there will be daily links to the posts in the Words Challenge Facebook group
  • Respond with whatever creative practice you choose: art journaling, mixed media art, scrapbook, photography, digital art, poetry, creative writing, calligraphy - any way you choose! As you take in the Scripture and devotions into your heart and mind, let it sink even deeper as you practice creatively with your hands.
  • Join the Words Challenge Facebook group where you can share your art and ideas and join the conversation through the Advent season and beyond.  I host a number of Words Challenges throughout the year. Join here:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wordschallengegroup/
  • If you belong to the Everyday Journal group that I co-lead with Valerie Sjodin and Bernice Hopper, Advent Words will be our theme for December.
  • Share on Instagram and other social media with the hashtag #adventwords2018.
  • In the days before the Advent season begins reflect and prepare: choose the creative form you will use for your daily practice. Make a journal if that fits your creative form.

Click on the calendar photo for a downloadable PDF.
Words are powerful.  We use them to describe, inspire, explain, express ourselves, criticize, encourage...Words can help direct our thoughts, positively or negatively. They can tear down or build up. Join the Advent Words challenge this year and let God's Word deepen your faith and build up your spirit.