Visual Faith- A Changed Life!

 Sometime we have shared common experiences

 in a retreat, workshop, or conference.

But then we don't have a great way

 to follow up and check in with those

 who we have "BEEN WITH."
What was their "take-away?'
What happened since our time together?

This week I received an email

 from Sandy Helmuth from Nappanee, Indiana.

 She joined us in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

 at the Women's Retreat hosted

 by Messiah Lutheran Church

 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Dedication of Sandy's 

Counting Gifts Journal

"Dear Connie, I cannot tell you how much my life

 has been changed since the Women's Retreat

 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 

Thank you for investing in me!

 I am meeting with a friend several times

 a month to journal together. 

Plus I journal everyday in my 

Prayers by the Month

 and Counting Gifts (Year of Grace) journal.

I bought an INSPIRE Journaling Bible

 that I enjoy coloring.

( An INSPIRE Bible has preprinted words

 and images to color. 
Unfortunately they are backordered everywhere,
 but you might find one hanging out
 on the shelves of your local book store.) 

A colored page with a bit of embellishment.

Here is a page where 

 Sandy prayed over her Granddaughter - 

with images of some of her favorite things.

"Then the Holy Spirit got ahold of me 

and I have been drawing almost daily. 

So life is changing for me. 

Here are some of my personal creations.

  I have done many, many more. 

Pinterest is a wonderful resource for ideas."

I am also very excited to tell you

 that I am going to lead 
a small group of women

 in the fall at our church.

 I am so excited!! 

 I have copied doodles (Tangles) from Pinterest

 so we will start with that for teaching Visual Prayer.

 I will be asking for more help and coaching

 as I prepare for that.

Blessings to you! Hugs and love in Christ Jesus! "

Sandy Helmuth (from Nappanee IN)

Want to learn more about Visual Faith? 

That includes Visual Prayer and Bible Journaling. 

 See you at the Southeastern District- 

Tending the Flame Event. 
For more info--
Creative Faith at Tending the Flame-2016


We give thanks to Sandy for sharing a bit
 of the story of what the Holy Spirit
 is doing in her life right now.
 Drawing her close to HIM.
Praise the Lord.

Faithbooking at Concordia- Conover, NC

Belinda Bost tells a bit about the gatherings

 at Concordia Lutheran Church,

 in Conover, North Carolina.

"FAITH booking is simply creating

 your own spiritual autobiography.

 To creatively document a faith walk,

 values, beliefs,wisdom and stories 

using photographs, scripture,

 decorative paper and art/craft supplies. 

We gather each week. 

Sometimes there are 2 or 3 

and other times 10 to 12. 

It is very flexible with a set time and place and

a come when you can arrangement

 that everyone enjoys.

This group has grown by word of mouth 

and has become a popular girls night out.

Friends bring their own craft/art supplies 

that they share with each other. 

We also have a table set up with 

general supplies, glue, scissors,

 markers, paint, paper. 

This is helpful for any newcomers

 who are unsure of what to bring. 

In addition we have a resource table

 where we make available free journaling

 info that we find on the web.

We call it treasure hunting. 

Each week everyone brings in something 

they have found of interest 

using the different journaling/faith art sites. 

I choose a theme for us each week 

and offer scripture and lead a short devotion

 tying the two together. 

We take time to share how the theme relates

 to each of us personally 

and then we begin the process 
of documenting and illustrating our pages.

Some friends document in their Bibles

 using the margins, 

while others prefer to use art journals

 or their own hand made journals.

We also enjoy making faith art cards 

to be used as book marks

 or as an insert to a get well,

 happy birthday or miss you card.

 We use our stash of scrapbook paper

 to make our own envelopes!

We share our testimony 

while leaving a legacy of faith

 to hand down to the next generation."

An assortment here of teaching helps

 and materials for make and take.

Belinda serves as a Visual Faith coach

 and we give thanks for her gatherings 

and mentoring in North Carolina

 in the Southeastern District.

Mary Durkin- Observing Sabbath

Mary Durkin and daughter

Mary describes a bit about sharing

 Sabbath with her family.

This past Sunday our family set aside

 an intentional Sabbath Day.

We began by praying and

 then choosing verses

 to journal in our Bible.

We gave our kids-

 daughter- age 13, 

and son- age 9

verses to read.

Together we journaled, created, 

and discussed God's Word.

Each person did something.

But the best part 

is that each of us grew in God's Word-

and grew closer as as family.

Mary is exploring and experimenting

with family discipleship with some new formats.

We give thanks for the heart 

of adventure in family faith life formation

 in the Durkin household. 

Mary is a 4th grade teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia

and her husband John- 

is the DCE at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church,

 Springfield, Va.

In her "spare" time Mary enjoys reading,

playing games with her family, and

Bible Journaling, 

Recently she has added

 a very leisurely pace of training 

for some future marathon- somewhere.

Sirpa Quinn-Bible Journaler

Sirpa Quinn

Many members in the Southeastern District
 have been helped by Sirpa in the District office.
Sirpa has been experimenting 
with Bible Journaling 
and also with digital margins.

Here are some Bible margins ready to go.

  Add right into the margins of your Bible, 

or mount on cardstock 

and use as a book mark.

A recent gathering of Bible journalers practiced 

using  watercolors and adding in flowers.

Above are a few of Sirpa's design work.

Some washi tape in the margin

Psalm 96

A look at Colossians 3:12-17

A thin line of acrylic paint 

(applied with a credit card edge) 

over a paper design

 leaves a wonderful embossed margin.

Sirpa supports the Bible Journaling community

 of DC Metro Bible Journaling
DC Metro Bible Journaling

that gathers at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

 in Springfield, VA. where she is a member.
The 2 pdfs in this post
 have been added to the FILE SECTION
 of the above FB group.
She also actively seeks to bring Visual Faith tools
 to members of the Southeastern District.

Sirpa is an experienced artist
 in many mediums as well as an avid gardener.
She loves spending time with her two grandsons.