Advent Words: K is for Kingdom

K is for Kingdom

"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:32-33

"But about the Son he says,“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom." Hebrews 1:8

Throughout the pages of the Old Testament are woven the promise of a king who would come and rule in justice, righteousness and mercy. He would be a Redeemer King who would rescue God's people and bring them promised salvation. 

The promise of the coming king would first be made to David, that this king would come from his descendants: 
"He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son...Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever." 2 Samuel 7:13-14, 16

The prophet Isaiah continued to proclaim God's promise of a king:
"For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this."
Isaiah 9:6-7

The arrival of the Messiah inaugurates the reign of the promised king. In the gospels, and especially Luke's gospel, the use of the term the "kingdom of God" is frequent throughout the book. The kingdom of God is used to refer to God's rule and reign, and more specifically in the gospels, to God's reign in the hearts of men. 

Let's take a brief look at what Luke tells us about the kingdom of God:

We are told in the very beginning, with the angel's proclamation of the arrival of God's Son, that the Son "will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:33

Jesus spent his life on earth preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom. Luke 4:43, 8:1, 9:11, 6:16.

To the poor He promised they would possess the kingdom. Luke 6:20

To the disciples He revealed the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom. Luke 8:10

He sent the Apostles out to preach the kingdom and show the kingdom's power with healing. 9

Luke 9:2, 9:60.

Jesus proclaimed the kingdom was here now, yet was also coming in the future. Luke 10:11, 11:20, 17:20-21, 21:31.

He called His followers to seek God's kingdom first, before all else. Luke 12:31

He proclaimed that the kingdom belonged to children and to those who were childlike in receiving it: Sincere, open, fully trusting and completely dependent on God. Luke 18:16-17

Jesus proclaimed that God is pleased to give His followers the kingdom.

Blessed are we, whose God is the Lord, for we have a righteous, just and merciful King, who has brought us into the the kingdom of God!

Into our hopes, into our fears
The Savior of the world appears
The promise of eternal years
Christ the Messiah

He shall reign
Forevermore, forevermore
And He shall reign
Forevermore, forevermore
Unto us a Child is born
The King of kings and Lord of lords
And He shall reign
Forevermore, forevermore
He Shall Reign Forevermore by Chris Tomlin

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.

Check out my Pinterest board for this challenge and see some of the wonderful and diverse creativity of Advent Words 2018 participants. https://www.pinterest.com/marynbtol/advent-words-2018-challenge/

2018 Everyday Journal Set-up

I announced this past week (here) that I am co-leading a group with my friends Bernice and Valerie about using an Everyday Journal. After some great discussion in our Facebook group about how we are going to use our journals, I thought I would share my journal set-up and how intend to use it - or rather, them, as I have two! I started using a Traveler's Notebook last year and I am hooked! So in addition to using one for my calendar and life and work/ministry planning, I am also going to use one for my creative life this year.

The Traveler's Notebook system was designed by Midori in Japan and is composed of using a variety of inserts held in place by elastic bands that are attached to the spine of the notebook. I am using the standard size which has inserts that are 4.24 x 8.25". My current set-up in my Everyday Journal has 3 inserts - one with blank stationary paper where I am keeping track of notes and ideas for my art journaling. I ALWAYS need an insert for dumping notes and ideas in. Sometimes they spark like fireworks in my head and I just have to get them down on paper for future reference.

The other two inserts in my Everyday Journal are made with a heavy sketch paper. It's about the weigh of cardstock. I have a third which is the one I am working in currently. This is another feature I like about the Traveler's Notebook - you can take the inserts out which makes it easier to do art in.

Here is my plan for my Everyday Journal:

• I like blank pages because I don't like to plan too far ahead. I do art as the mood strikes and I don't want to be hemmed in with pre-printed and ordered pages. I use the sketch paper insert or, sometimes, a watercolor paper insert because I don't like white pages. Although I am drawn to the pages with white backgrounds I see on Instagram and Pinterest, in the end I usually cover my pages with painted paper or ephemera, so I need the heavier weigh paper to hold it all.
• I am going to do a hodge-podge of thing in my Everyday Journal: art journaling, memory keeping, nature journal, travel journal, commonplace book. I am going to keep notes and progress on my word for the year (flow), notes about spiritual formation and soul care, Bible study notes, quotes from books I'm reading, etc. What you won't find in my Everyday Journal is a calendar. That is what my other Traveler's Notebook is for. More on that later.
• It will be eclectic in style. As I've said before, I have creative ADHD. I like a variety of creative mediums and I go with the flow! In it you will see: lettering, art journaling, mixed media art, lists, collage, paint, photography, and on and on. 

That's pretty much how I will use my Everyday Journal. Not too structured - I save that for the other journal. In my other Traveler's Notebook I have four inserts: a monthly calendar insert.

A commonplace insert where I write down notes from various places - things that are significant and that I don't want to forget.

Then I have an insert for details. I keep track of what needs to go on our church website, my blog, details for my Etsy shop, etc. I have these great little stick on, writable tabs that I found at the office supply store. They keep my notebooks organized!

And finally I have the workhorse insert. This is an insert with a page spread per week where I jot down the details of what needs to get done each week. This is mainly for my job/ministry. This insert has taken the place of all the post-it notes I used to keep so I wouldn't forget things!

That's my set-up for life and work. It's highly organized and helps me juggle all of the balls I have up in the air in my busy ministry job. My two notebooks are a contrast of my personality! I am an INFJ on the Myers-Briggs Type. In my work world I function quite a bit out of the J (judging) - I like things orderly and structured. I like that at home also but because I am an Introvert and I work in a people heavy job, I restore my energy with things like art, where I can be creative and by myself. And I have found over the years that when I play I don't want to be as structured - although quite a bit of structure still exists by my nature! 

Later in the week I will post about my word for 2018 and my intentions with it.

Here are some of the products I use:

I get my calendar inserts and some other inserts from Yellow Paper House on Etsy.  Other products can be found on Amazon:

A note about Amazon links on my blog:

I am giving Amazon affiliation a try, which means I receive a small percentage off slals made through clicking on the Amazon links found on my blog. There is no additional cost to you.

Retreat and Surrender

Isaiah 30:15

Rest. 

Repentance - or "returning".

Quietness.

Trust....

Last weekend I attended a retreat called Refine. It wasn't what I expected. Most retreats I have attended in the past had sessions and workshops throughout the day and we were filled with information to process in our downtime. This retreat had limited information or content and was filled with downtime, a two-hour art journaling session, worship and some guided reflection time. At first I was a bit put off by the lack of content - isn't that what we pay for on a retreat, after all? But as it turned out, the way of this retreat was just what I needed. It was just what God had in store for me.

I have been in a slump, a dry place, especially creatively, since late January. We dealt with a family crisis throughout the month of February which drained me emotionally. Add to that a week of illness in the midst of it and I have struggled to regain any sort of creative energy. And then the time for this retreat came along. On Friday evening Kris Camealy, our retreat host, laid out the weekend and shared her heart for our time. Using Psalm 66:1-12, and especially verse 12, Kris laid out the theme for our weekend as "a place of abundance".

"For you, God, tested us;

    you refined us like silver....

we went through fire and water,

    but you brought us to a place of abundance."

Psalm 66:10 & 12

She called us to open our hands and release whatever we are holding onto that is holding us back from experiencing the abundance and freedom God has for us. On Friday evening and early Saturday morning I spent a good amount of time reflecting and journaling about this passage and the state of my mind and heart. And slowly I began to feel filled and rested. And then came the art journaling session led by Christine Hiester. 

Oh, the art journaling session.....Christine started  in a time of prayer and reflection to lead us into our art journaling time continuing the theme of open hands. My creative slump began to lift as ideas and images began to fill my mind. We filled our journal page, writing down the things that are holding us back, keeping us stuck, not allowing us to move in God's freedom. Then we covered our writing with paint and paper and and let the art flow! I felt so released and filled with creative energy! When the two hour session ended I quickly ate lunch and returned to the art room to keep going. When the afternoon art session began I simply switched rooms and made art until dinner time, feeling so refreshed by the creativity that filled my heart and my mind. I felt restored!

Over the past months, as I felt lost in this emotionally draining time, I didn't do the things I normally do to process life - journaling, art, blogging - I even had to miss scheduled times with my mentor during this time. I felt stuck and couldn't focus for long on these things that usually bring me life and energy. But this weekend in the midst of pine trees and the sacred surroundings of a retreat center that was once a convent; in the midst of a community of women, times of reflection, worship and downtime, God pulled me out of my slump and restored me. I am refreshed. My ability to journal and make art and blog has been renewed and I feel like...Me. A rested and restored me.

Since early January the word surrender, or synonyms such as let go or release, have been popping up everywhere. In songs, in books or blog posts I read, in Sunday morning messages. It popped up again at the retreat and became a theme for my weekend. 

On Friday night Kris said:

"The way to a place of abundance is through surrender."

My word for this year is "whole", and I have had a sense through the first few months of the year that "surrender" is going to play a big part in living out this word.

Through this past week as I have reflected on the retreat, I have had a deeper awareness of things I have known about myself. Sometimes God has to tell me things a few times before they sink into my heart. Repeated, gentle, loving reminders. My creative slunps are usually not about a lack of creativity. They are usually an indicator of a deeper draining within me. I have become aware of how intricately connected my spiritual, emotional and creative health and energy are. When I'm drained emotionally I find it difficult to write in my journal and read the Bible, and even at times to pray. When I'm not writing in my journal and connecting to God through His Word and prayer, I find that my emotional and creative energy are impacted. So, the best prescription for me to remain healthy is to keep my heart and mind connected to God through His Word and prayer and writing in my journal, and then processing it all through art.

"Come and hear, all who fear God,
And I will tell of what He has done for my soul." Psalm 66:16

We did a great exercise while at the retreat. We were asked to write down the baggage we brought with us onto pebbles. Things that were holding us back, things we didn't want to take back home with us, We were then told to leave them somewhere in the retreat grounds...leave them and don't take them back home.

Rest

Repentance

Quietness

Trust

Salvation

Strength

Surrender

Whole

In the Waiting - Guest Post for Kris Camealy

Yesterday I had the privilege to write a guest post on Kris Camealy's blog for her new book, Come, Lord Jesus. I have been a member of her pre-launch team for the past few months, reading the book in advance, and now promoting it here on my blog. Pop over to Kris' blog to read my post. But don't forget to come back here to read about my Advent plans!

For a number of years I have used art journaling to help me slow down the Christmas season and really immerse myself in the Advent experience. I will generally use an online devotion or book as my prompts and then make art in my Advent journal as a response. This year I intend to use Kris' book of daily devotions. 

I have made an art journal for Advent in one of my favorite manners: I altered an office supply item. I took a pressboard report cover and altered it's layout to make pages that open like a dutch door does.

I have had a blast making this journal and using Kris' book for my art prompts. You can follow along on my blog. I'll post daily beginning on the first day of Advent, November 27. I am also going to offer a free tutorial on how to make this type of journal. It will be available here on my blog a week or so before Advent begins. PLUS, I have enough materials left to offer a few limited edition kits for this journal. The kits will  include a pressboard report cover, the paper to cover the covers (in a choice of two patterns), the mini prongs which make the dutch doors, 14 pieces of vintage book pages for the background papers, and the instructions on how to make the book.

All of this for $12.00! As I said, the kits will be available in my Etsy shop probably in the next week or so. I currently have 9 available and may have 5 more in addition to those. The number I have available is based on the cover paper I have on hand. If you are interested in claiming a kit in advance of the release of them in my shop then send me an email at marybrack@gmail.com.

If you are interested in reading Come, Lord Jesus through Advent there is also a four-week Advent book club taking place on Christina Hubbard's website, Creative and Free, beginning November 27.  I plan to participate in the book club as well as my art journal.

So, those are my plans for Advent this year! Check out Kris Cameally's blog. If you go back over the past few weeks you can read what other guest writers have to say about the book and about waiting on God in general. Watch here for the release of both the Advent journal tutorial and the journal kits in my Etsy shop. Plus, why not take a minute and share with me in the comment section below how you slow down and experience the Advent season. What are your Advent traditions?

June in Review

Summer is here and the busyness of the school year winds down for just a bit. It amazes me when I think about the fact that my daughter graduated from high school 18 years ago! The first year after she graduated it felt strange not to have the school year dictating our schedules and our calendar. We got past that - along with numerous other empty nest transitions! But then our church began a ministry to the elementary school nearby, and I soon became the leader of that ministry, and over the past 11 years I find that the school year once again has the greatest impact on my schedule and calendar! So, while I am not a teacher or a school employee, I find I release a huge sigh in June when the calendar and the schedule slows down for a while.

Light and Sight

Last month I shared about a journal I made to record what I saw when I was studying John 9 about Jesus healing the blind man. I recently wrote an article for our church blog about my study for John 9 and I thought I would share it here as well.

Our church is journeying through the Gospel of John. When we study and read and hear messages in the context of the whole book we gain a much deeper understanding of the author’s intent. We get the whole story and we are able to better grasp how those who were there would have understood what was said and done. When we simply pull out certain passages or verses on their own we often miss out on a greater significance found in the context. One theme that has appeared as we have journeyed through the Gospel of John has been how John records Jesus’ use of the Messianic passages from the Old Testament to make clear that he is the Messiah. The Jews of the first century would have understood the significance of both Jesus’ words and his actions because of their lifelong hearing and understanding of the prophecies and signs pointing to the Messiah’s arrival. They were steeped in a longing and waiting and watching posture for the appearance of a Savior who would bring them freedom. A few weeks ago two members of our study team each spoke from John 9:1-41 (here and here) which gives the details of Jesus healing the blind man and the response of this event from the Pharisees, his parents and others. This chapter in the book of John is full of references to the Messianic prophecies. As I studied for Creative Team (this team studies the passages for the message and helps plan the service) for this chapter in John I got “rabbit-trailed” by the references to “light and sight” and I trailed them throughout the Bible, especially in relationship to Christ. In the Old Testament the giving of sight to the blind – both physical sight and spiritual sight – was a sign of the Messiah and the Messianic reign. Light in the Old Testament was often used as a metaphor for God’s salvation.

 Do you see what I see? 

We use many “light” and “sight” sayings in our day to reflect our grasp or understanding of something: I see, see the light, shed light on, bring to light just to name a few. At times we have light bulb moments or see things in a new light. Read the following passages and “see” if you can hear Jesus’ words and view His actions in a “new Light”. Hear them as the first century Jews would have. Look for the signs of the Messiah – the Christ, our Savior. (Note: this is not an exhaustive list)

 “Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them – he remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free, the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.” Psalm 146:5-9 

 “The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1 

 “You, LORD, are my lamp, the Lord turns my darkness into light.” 2 Samuel 22:29 

Of the coming Messiah Isaiah says, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light, on those living in the land of darkness a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2 

 “In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. Once more the humble will rejoice in the LORD; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 29:18-19

A song of the joy of the redeemed when the LORD brings the reign of the Messiah: “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “be strong, do not fear, your God will come, he will come with vengeance, with divine retribution he will come to save you.” Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer and the mute tongue shout for joy.” Isaiah 35:3-6 

Of His servant, the Messiah: “This is what God the LORD says – the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open the eyes that are blind, to free the captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness…I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.” Isaiah 42:5-7, 16 

 “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6 

And then Jesus is born. His parents take him to the temple to be dedicated to the LORD. In the temple was an elderly man named Simeon, to whom the Holy Spirit had revealed that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah. When Simeon saw the baby Jesus “he took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all nations: a light of revelation for the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Luke 2:28-32 

Jesus, now an adult, stands in the temple and reads from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:17-21 (Jesus read from Isaiah 61)

John the Baptist sends his disciples to Jesus to ask, “Are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Luke 7:20-22 

Now we come to the Gospel of John. Read with the previous verses in mind: 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind…The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” John 1:1,4,9 

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 

In John 9 (you can read the full chapter here) Jesus heals a man born blind. The Pharisees question the man about Jesus. “They said, “We know this man is a sinner.” He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”….”he opened my eyes.” John 9:24-25, 30. 

“Jesus said, “For judgement I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” John 9:39 

“Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” John 12:44-46 

For those of us who follow Christ on this side of His death and resurrection: 

  “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness”, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 

 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Did you see what I saw? After reading these passages did you feel the impact of what Jesus’ words and actions would have had on the first century Jews? Doesn’t it make you wonder why the Pharisees, the very ones educated in the Scripture, couldn’t see clearly that the Messiah was right there among them? Yet all of their education and tradition did not enable them to see that Jesus was the Messiah. Seeing Jesus for who he really was took faith. The blind man grasped that. After reading these passages, and then reading that the Pharisees still could not see the Messiah right there among them, it makes me wonder: What am I blind to? What things does God put right in front of us and yet we fail to see them clearly? I encourage you to dig into Scripture and get “rabbit-trailed” from time to time and see where it takes you.

I'm starting to fill in the journal pages with my study notes and will share over the next few weeks. Taking what I study in God's Word and making art journal pages is a way of reflecting on the Word and taking it deep into my heart and mind. I love how Bible study is  a creative spark for me and how it gives me emotional and spiritual energy. 

My Light and Sight journal

Meandering 1.13.2015 and DLP

I am finally getting around to posting the last of my 2014 Documented Life Projects pages. I must admit that I am quite pleased with myself. I have admitted in the past that I am a great started of projects but not always a very good finisher. I completed the full year of weekly pages for DLP! I'm so thrilled!!!

Week 48 page spread

Week 49 page spread

Week 50 page spread

Week 51

Week 52

Last page

Dlp Journal Volume 2

This has been a great project and I have made a lot of art friends in the group. I'm going to follow along with DLP 2015 and the new group Documented Faith. I may not complete each week's prompts since Take Me Deeper and Logos365 will be my main focus. I plan on incorporating them into my Take Me Deeper journal which I think will be in four volumes this year, one for each quarter.

Take Me Deeper WEEK 2:

Our devotion this week focused on our need for vulnerability in spiritual transformation. Our culture views vulnerability as a weakness of character. But I think being vulnerable takes great strength. We risk opening ourselves up and revealing who we are, trusting that God will work in and through our weakness. Our passage was 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.