Merry Christmas!
It is week 52 in 2017. This is "The most wonderful..." and a wonderfully hard time of year and I pray that you can take some time today to just stop and quiet your mind today.
Just stop, even for just a moment and just breathe. Put down your lists and your phone, step away from your computer, stop whatever you might be doing and go outside and just breathe. Refocus your thoughts. Align yourself with truth and not only find but choose joy in the midst of whatever is going on in your life.
In lieu of a verse this week, turn to Luke 2:1-20. Take some time in the next few days to sit and read the story of the birth of Jesus. Its not cliche or corny for me to say, it is the REAL reason for the season.
As we welcome in a new year and focus on the Promises of God, My hope is that you will be encouraged and confident in the fact that you will be secure in His Promises.
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Week 52 12/24-12/30
The Birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
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If you have not been over to the FB Group in awhile, I have been chit chatting (the post is pinned to the top) and I would love to hear your thoughts. If you are not part of the group, click this link and join us:
Documented Faith FB Group
Documented Faith 2018
This is the heart behind Documented Faith 2018’s theme “Yes & Amen"
"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God."
1 Corinthians 1:20
Weekly Emails
The weekly emails will remain the same
with a promise/verse, a little background, and either journal prompts and/or a coordinating doodle that you can print out and use in your Bible Journaling and Planner/Binder system.
In addition to the weekly email, I am offering an additional component to Documented Faith this year in the form of a monthly Mixed Media project.
The Mixed Media Monthly concept is a way to "step it up a notch" and is something more than just reading a verse in your weekly email. I see it as a collaboration of sorts and an example of what happens when art & faith collide. All of the art, inspiration and ideas and verses for each month will be provided via and YOU put it into action by downloading, printing, cutting, gluing and creating...OR simply downloading, printing, trimming and sharing.
The Whole year...$52.00 for 52 weeks but wait....
just in the nick of time, a $10.00 discount now through December 25th for my Documented Faith Newsletter subscribers. (which comes out to .80769 cents a week) what?!?
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THREE
Creative Soul Camp Retreats in 2018
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My
Creative Soul Camp Retreat
dates at The Whatever Craft House in Newton Kansas for 2018 have just been released and there are THREE!
3 Spots left...
February Guest Teacher
: Jenn McGlon of Noodle & Lou
June Guest Teacher:
You are able to
REGISTER NOW
by making a deposit on any of the retreats. Space is limited to 15 campers per retreat so if you have a friend that would be interested in joining you, pass the info onto them!
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I will be speaking and teaching TWO workshops at the
"Creative Spaces" Crafting Retreat
January 26-28, 2018
at Redwood Christian Park
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A NEW ART & FAITH RETREAT!!!
Bits & Pieces at The White House on The Hill - Round Top, Texas
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The Core Purpose of
Documented Faith
It is not about religion. It is about a personal relationship with Jesus. It is about developing the habit of spending time reflecting, reading, worshiping, learning and memorizing God’s word in a creative way. Documented Faith was created to remind, encourage and inspire each other to record, illustrate, document and journal our everyday moments, how God is working in us and through us, what Bible verses speak to us and how they apply to our situations, reminders and inspirational quotes and most importantly, how our relationship with Jesus and with others is growing. *There is no start date, no finish date, no right way or wrong way to do it...just the gentle, persistent encouragement in the way of an email with a verse that lands in your inbox once a week. That's it.
What you do next is up to you. Some take the verse and create cards and share them with others. Some rewrite it in another translation in the margin of their Bible, some just read the verse.
The Documented Faith community is growing daily and the encouragement and sharing is just amazing.
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Documented Faith Verse Links by Week - 2017
If you missed the prior weeks, here are the links to the PDF's:
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2017/2018 Workshop & Retreat Schedule UPDATED on the
BLOG here
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Stephanie Ackerman Designs
Blog: www.homegrownhospitality.typepad.com
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