Advent Words ~ Day 1:Come

 

Advent Words Day 1: Come

"At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Luke 21:27-28

Today is the first day of Advent 2020. The word advent comes from the Latin word 'adventus', which means arrival or coming. Advent has been called "a two-fold gaze"; looking back we remember that Christ has come, while getting in touch with the longing the Israelites had for the promised Messiah. Looking forward we anticipate Christ's promised return, His Second Coming. Then, as now, the cry of Advent is "Come, Lord, Come".

The anticipation of the Israelites, waiting for the Messiah to save them, is our remembrance. We look back on the events leading up to the birth of Christ, celebrating the arrival of the One they had anticipated and longed for. We join in their anticipation and longing as we look ahead, waiting for Christ's return, when our deepest longing to see Him face to face will be fulfilled. Jesus Christ is both Immanuel - God with us now - and the One who promises, "Yes, I am coming soon." (Revelation 22:20)

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 Christ-followers of ages past 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 the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes 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

 

Would you like to join the Advent Words Challenge? Here's how:

• I will post daily Bible study devotions, along with how I responded creatively, on this blog each day beginning today. You can follow this blog by email or there will be daily links to the posts in the Words Challenge Facebook group, which you can join HERE.
• 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. 
• If you belong to the Everyday Journal group/livingyourord2020 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 #adventwords2020.

You can download a printable version HERE

Prepping For Advent And Beyond

 Prepping For Advent And Beyond

I finally finished my journal for this year's Advent Words challenge. It's actually the second one I made. The first was made with old book covers and a few signatures, but it just wasn't going together right. So I put it aside and started over with a simple one signature pamphlet journal. I covered the pages with painted papers and some patterned papers. I decided to number my pages this year using gold painted paper. I'm ready to begin the challenge on Sunday! Would you like to join me? I will post daily devotions and art to go along with the daily Advent Words. I invite you to respond to the words and Scripture readings with any creative practice you choose. Post on Instagram using #adventwords2020 or in our private Facebook group: Words Art & Faith Challenge Group

This year's Advent Words calendar can be found at the end of this post.

I also added a list of the Advent Words to my Everyday Journal.

For some time I've been thinking about how I want to set up my Everyday Journal for next year. I haven't decided on a word of the year yet, but I did know that I wanted to do something with weekly page spreads. I didn't do much of that type of journaling this year because I just didn't find the right kind of set up. I don't connect much with doing the the planner style or something like a diary. I'm more interested in something like a visual commonplace book. A place where I record quotes I like and passages from books I'm reading and notes from Bible study or sermons, bird watching notes, and notes about things I find when I go thrift shopping, little bits of collage, things I'm grateful -  the things that make up MY life.

So I made a template to use as a guide for laying out my weekly spreads. 

Along with a monthly title page and various pages through out the year about my word of the year, I now have a plan for journaling in 2021. My Leuchtturm journal I used this year is only half full so I'm going to continue using it next year. As journaling and art challenges come up I'll make separate journals for those.

If you choose a word of the year or keep an Everyday Journal I am part of a group of women who share their art and their faith with each other. We supply ideas for helping each other live out our word of the year. Join us! Living Your Word of the Year Facebook Group

Click HERE for a printable version

Introducing Advent Words 2020

 

In a year where daily change has been the norm, there are some things that do not change, such as calendars. In just a few short weeks the Advent season begins. I, for one, am pleased to have something to focus on that feels familiar and full of hope. I am ready to embrace a season that reminds us that in this time of constant change, Advent helps us focus on what does not change.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ~Hebrews 13:8

"He has come and is coming. One day, He will come again." ~Kris Camealy. 

I need this break from the chaos, to take time to slow down and focus on Scripture and art and the promises that the Advent season envelops us in. 

Would you like to join me? Here's how:

• I will post daily Bible study devotions, along with how I responded creatively, on this blog each day beginning on November 29. 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. 
• 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 #adventwords2020.
• In the weeks before the Advent season begins reflect and prepare: choose the creative form you will use for your daily practice. Make or buy a journal that fits your creative form.

I, actually have not decided what type of journal I will use this year. But I have made the calendar!

You can download a printable version HERE.

Art Journaling Lately

 

Art Journaling Lately

This morning I received an email from Holly Schrader. Holly teaches middle school art in Stevensville, MD. Holly came across my "I Am" mosaic art journal page while looking for ideas for an art lesson focusing on social emotional issues. 

Holly adapted it to fit her lesson and this was her students first project of the year. Holly also submitted one of her students projects to a virtual student art show that was hosted by the First Lady of Maryland. Each county was allowed 2 entries and out of 24 counties her student's work was selected! You can see the sample Holly made for her students below along with the artwork her student, Chloe, won the award for. I love it when something I make can spark creativity in others. And I REALLY love it when they share their stories and art with me! Thank you Holly! And congratulations to Chloe!!!

Chloe's project

Mrs. Schrader's example

I am slowly trying to finish my 100 Day Project. When I took a break from it to do the Thessalonians Words Challenge I had 19 days left. I am now down to 9. I have not been working on it steadily, but I intend to finish it! My project this year has been #100daysoffoundwordscollage. Here are a few of my favorites from days 1-50. All of my pages from the 100 Day Project can be found on my Instagram feed (@foundonbrighton).

Day 38

Day 33

Day 39

Day 41

Day 43

Day 4

Day 10

Day 12

Day17

Day 21

Day 23

Day 90

I had a few projects in mind for September, but honestly there hasn't been a lot of art time this month. I've taken on a new project at work helping with resources for families in our school district while we are doing remote learning and the development phase of that has taken a lot of time. I have also been getting out of the house more and going to estate sales. I ran into some great ones so make sure you check out my Etsy shop. I'm always adding more items. Especially vintage books, papers and office supplies to use in collage and art journaling. 

I hope you are enjoying the start of fall - my favorite season! And I hop everyone of you is healthy and safe. Thanks for following my creative journey!

Thessalonians Revisited

Thessalonians Revisited

It's been a little over a month since I last posted here. Once I posted my last post for the Thessalonians Words Challenge, I took a break from my blog. I often find after posting daily for a month straight that I need to take some time off from it.

That is not the case for making art. I don't often find a need to take a break from it for the simple reason that making art and getting creative are a vital part of my life. My time spent in creativity is like nutrition to my spiritual, emotional and mental life.

I haven't left the Thessalonian letters yet. In addition to the Words Challenge I have also spent the summer doing a Bible study through these books with a few friends. We have just a few more weeks before we complete 2 Thessalonians. 

I have found so much encouragement in these letters for the times we face. I have found over the past few years that I cannot align myself with either of the two major political parties in the U.S. Both have such glaring faults and both seem to be leaning toward the extreme ends of the spectrum. Which, I believe, is what is causing such extreme divisiveness in our nation. That divisiveness is in direct contrast to how Christ calls us to live in the world, and it deeply saddens me.

I find myself often, through this Bible study in Thessalonians, seeing a clear call on how followers of Christ are called to live:

Encouraging one another to live lives worthy of God; encouraging, strengthening and building each other up in times of crisis; increasing and overflowing in love for each other and for everyone else; living in peace with each other; being kind to each other and to everyone else; being joyful, continually praying, living with gratitude. *

What I haven't found in Thessalonians is fighting with each other and using hateful language on social media, hating people who disagree with you politically, putting national rights before our call to sacrifice and to serve and love others, hating those who look different than you, being unkind to people simply because of their political views, their skin color, or their economic status - I don't find any of these in the Thessalonian letters, or for that matter, anywhere in the New Testament where we take our call on how to live as Christ's followers.

I can get upset easily about the divisiveness that is plaguing our nation, and even our churches, but I have been trying to use these admonitions from Paul to remind me of who I am and how I am called to live. We need to stand against the inclination to allow thing like politics and racism divide us and cause us to hate. We must love, and let that be what guides our words, our attitudes, and our actions. Would you join me in this? If we live this way, imagine what can change!

I had originally planned on doing the Thessalonians Words Challenge in my junk journal, but then had changed my mind and did it in my everyday Leuchtturm journal. I had made a collage of the Thessalonians words in my junk journal before I began doing the daily challenge posts and art, but I forgot about it until I picked up my junk journal to begin a new challenge. It was a pleasant surprise!

My Leuchtturm journal started getting pretty chunky after the words challenge.

Later this week I'll delve into the other ways I have been keeping my art practice active. Blessings to you all!

*1 TH 2:12, 3:2-3, 5:11; 1 TH 3:12, 4:9, 2 TH 3:3;  1 TH 5:13, 5:15, 5:16, 5:17, 5:18.