Creating a Sacred Space: Preparing an Altar of Remembrance

Hebrew: Mizbeach מִזְבֵּ֫חַ

An altar or place of sacrifice

In the Old Testament, agreements were sometimes ratified through the building of altars.

Throughout scripture we find the people of God creating sacred spaces, from piles of rocks to a Tabernacle and a Temple. And they all have one thing in common—they are places where people encounter God. The altars were built to serve as a remembrance of their encounter with God and his faithfulness in their lives. Altars were built by Noah (Gen 8:20); Abraham at Shechem, Hebron, Moriah and Bethel (which means: house of God) (Gen 12:7-8, 13:18, 22:9); Isaac (Gen 26:25); Jacob at Shechem and Bethel (Gen 33:20, 35:7); Moses (Ex 17:15, 24:4); Joshua (Josh 8:30, 24:25-27); Samuel (I Sam 7:12) and many others. As you study these scriptures, note the encounter with God that each person had.

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Two noteworthy stories:

1) When the Israelites crossed the River Jordan, each tribe was instructed to take one stone from the river bed and they used those stones to create an altar to the Lord. Joshua also created an altar in the river bed itself:

So Joshua called together the twelve men he had chosen—one from each of the tribes of Israel. He told them, “Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity — Year in Review

In December 2014, God pressed on my heart an idea that would take a year-long commitment and some serious sleuthing. And now, 253 posts and over a year later, the project is done! That project was Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity! A play on One-A-Day® Vitamins, the idea was to refill, replenish and renew your creative soul. My goal was to provide you, the creative Christian, with resources to help develop ARTistry, CREATivity & your capacity for BEaUty.

Over the course of the year, I connected with some amazing folks doing creative ministry in many different ways and places around the world. In connection and conversation, I learned that there is a movement of artists and creatives on the leading edge of what many believe will be the next Great Awakening, as artists rise up to take their place to reveal God’s glory on this earth. Will you join those artists and creatives in making his praise glorious? Follow the Spirit’s leading in your life and reveal Christ through the BEaUty you create!!

If you’ve enjoyed Create-A-Day, be sure to like me on Facebook as I will be using that as my main platform for sharing resources of ARTistry, CREATivity, and BEaUty in the future.

In case you missed the excitement, here’s the Create-A-Day 2015 year in review:

Top series:

ADVENTure Prayer Walk: Advent devotional series
Art Journaling series
Why the Church Needs Art video series from Scott Erickson
“7” Virtual Art Walk: Last Words of Christ in Poetry, Art & Song Lenten series with Matt Durbin & Sarah Wells
Readers also enjoyed our book focus, which ran mid-September through October, with Praying in Color by Sybil MacBeth, Let the Bones Dance by Marcia Mount Shoop and Books for Worship Dance garnering the most attention.

Top 20 individual posts:

If you’d like to explore resources from the past year, I’ve grouped them so you can explore by category:

Or you can simply click here and work your way down through wonderful plethora of creative resources! I hope you’ve enjoyed our year of creativity. If you find any dead links, comment and let me know so I can keep these resources as current as possible. Don’t forget to visit again and please use these resources for your church or ministry.

And don’t forget: Make His praise GLORIOUS!!

Blessings of ARTistry, CREATivity & BEaUty, Jody

______________________

Jody Thomae is the author of God’s Creative Gift—Unleashing the Artist in You, a devotional book with Bible studies to nurture the creative spirit within and to serve as a resource for creative Christians, artists, musicians and worshippers. She has been involved in worship arts ministry since 1997, coordinating artistic involvement in church services and regional worship events through dance, drama, poetry and fine arts. She performs, teaches, choreographs, preaches, coordinates and leads workshops in the area of creativity, spirituality and embodied prayer. She has also recently released a devotional CD, Song of the Beloved. Her passion is for the revelation of God to be made more real through the prophetic use of the arts in church and formational ministry. It is her desire to portray the message of Christ’s desperate and unfailing love for His people to help sustain the hearts of the broken and weary. Life scriptures include Psalm 27; Isaiah 50:4-7; and Zephaniah 3:14-17.

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #249 — What is Christmas?

What is the true meaning of CHRISTmas? I know this can be a difficult season for many. There is only one way to be truly fulfilled in this season:

Clayton Jennings is on a mission to #TellTheWorld about the saving love of Jesus Christ. One way in which he does this is through powerful videos like the one above. Another way is through spoken word:

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #248 — Jesus as a Work of Art

Have you ever thought about the “creation” of Christ? Not as God but as a human, a baby, born in a manger, as the scripture says? Who decided what he would look like, his smile, the color of his eyes, the shape of his tiny nose? Did he and God the Father put their heads together and say, “This is what God Incarnate should look like.” Or did God simply say, “Let me surprise you, Son”?

Just some thoughts to ponder as I direct you to a short CHRISTmas devotional called Christ Jesus — a Work of Art. May you be blessed as you consider this most precious gift the world has ever received!

Create-A-Day #247: ADVENTure Prayer Walk 5 — the CHRIST Candle

ADVENTure is a self-directed prayer walk pondering the true meaning of Christmas. You can read all about it here, as well as learn how you can do this as interactive prayer walk for your church or ministry.

This week is CHRISTmas! Our Savior has come!! Hallelujah! As we consider the true meaning of CHRISTmas we light the CHRIST Candle at the center of the Advent Wreath. The One we have waited for has come!

The Christ Candle

Read: Luke 2:1-7

Meditation:

We typically reflect on Christ in his years of ministry – as a grown man. The man who walked among his people, healing them, teaching them, forgiving them and loving them.

Have you ever stopped to consider Christ as a baby?

an infant?

tiny and helpless?

dependant on others to care for him?

to love him and nurture him? Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #244 — More Advent Resources!

LEAD Advent Resource
Artwork by Vonda Drees

Directing you to LEAD: Living Every day As Disciples to yet another creative Advent resource! Look for Advent & Lenten Resources (under the “Resources” tab) which includes contemplative prayer liturgies and accompanying creative experiences for your use during Advent. Free printables for coloring, downloadable liturgies for bulletins, links to videos — everything is there for you! This is an amazing resource for use in your church, ministry or family!

Another resource added 2018: a free online resource from Brenda Warren of Saintsbridge. 40 Days of Advent devotionals called “Celts to the Creche” is inspired by Celtic and Anglo-Saxon saints. This pilgrimage to the creche in Bethlehem begins November 16. Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #243 — The Voice of the Father

Throughout November and December I’ve been sharing Advent resources, gift ideas, and creative meditations for Christmas.

Yesterday I shared a meditation on the Love of Joseph, the earthly father of the Son of God, for the infant Jesus. I wanted to build on that today with a Father’s Day video created by Christian Comedian, Michael, Jr. Continue reading

Create-A-Day #242: ADVENTure Prayer Walk 4 — Love & Joseph

This Sunday, December 20th is the fourth Sunday of Advent. As we consider the true meaning of CHRISTmas we light our fourth candle of the Advent Wreath; the Candle of LOVE and we think of Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, the man who raised a child that wasn’t his.

Candle of Love: Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus

Read: Matthew 1:18-25

Meditation:

This passage tells us that Joseph was a righteous man. While he was probably disappointed when he first found out Mary was with child, God’s direction gave him reassurance. He walked in that reassurance and raised Jesus as his own son.

Now was Joseph simply obedient or did he grow to love Mary and her son Jesus? As a righteous man, a man of God, I believe he grew to love them both.

Matthew 13:35 tells us that Joseph was a carpenter. As Jesus’ earthly father, he would have taught his son his trade. They spent their days working side by side. Learning to build and hewn and nail.

by Jose Ortega

Thirty years later, a cross would be hewn and built from wood and nails were used to secure the hands and feet of Christ to that cross. The carpenter’s son crucified. Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #240 — Christmas Devotional Experience

Mary and Jesus
by Podi Lawrence

Today I want to direct you to a Christmas Devotional Experience from Soul Shepherding. It can be adapted and used in a variety of contexts, including personal devotions, small groups, family gatherings and worship settings.

According to Soul Shepherding:

In this Christmas devotional we take a journey to welcome Christ to be born anew in our hearts. There are Scripture meditation and prayers to help you identify with eight different characters from the story — including some surprise characters that you wouldn’t have thought of! You can pick one character for the season and keep returning to related Scripture meditations and prayers or you can pick a different one each day. What a blessing it is to companion these characters as they adore the Christ child!

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #238 — Gift Ideas for Art Journalers

Today’s post is for Bible art journalers and other crafty folks, with a Christmas gift idea, a free resource and a blog with great ideas for art journaling! Wow! This one is loaded!

First, the gift idea! I have heard folks say the only thing they don’t like about art journaling in their Bibles is that the 2-3″ margins aren’t big enough, and they don’t like to cover the words of scripture! The soon-to-be-available Interleaved ESV Journaling Bible might be just the Bible for you then! There is a blank canvas to compliment every page! It will be available March 11, 2016 but you can pre-order now at a reduced rate. You can check out all the details on move-the-mountains.com. (I recommend exploring that blog too — great resources and ideas!!)

Second, here’s a resource for art journalers and anyone else wanting to get creative with Advent: free downloadable Advent scripture cards from Displaying Grace blog. They support a wonderfully creative Advent study, also found on the blog. Tons of great family activity ideas and free printables to help make this a memorable and thoughtful CHRISTmas season. Continue reading

Create-A-Day #237: ADVENTure Prayer Walk 3 — Joy & Mother Mary

This Sunday, December 13th is the third Sunday of Advent. As we consider the true meaning of CHRISTmas we light our third candle of the Advent Wreath; the Candle of JOY and we consider the joy Mary must have felt at knowing she would bear the only Son of God, the Messiah, the Chosen One sent to save the people of Israel!

Candle of Joy: Mary, the Mother of Jesus

Read: Luke 1:26-38 & 46-55

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #234 — Nativity Suite Poetry for Christmas

Go ahead and rise, stars.

“Simeon’s Moment” by Ron DiCianni

Whisper about the origins

of the universe, your secret,

holy fires. Tonight I will remember

the child I held to my chest.

I will pull my cloak to my face

and drift in the sweetness of milk.

from Simeon by Tania Runyan (Lines 25-31)

Create-A-Day #232: ADVENTure Prayer Walk 2 — The Shepherds’ Peace

This Sunday, December 6th is the second Sunday of Advent. As we consider the true meaning of CHRISTmas we light our second candle of the Advent Wreath; the Candle of PEACE, and we consider the shepherds who came and worshiped and wondered at Jesus’ birth.

Candle of Peace: The Shepherds

http://www.seetheholyland.net

Read: Luke 2:8-20

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #230 — What is Advent?

I’ve already been posting ideas for CHRISTmas and Advent. For some, Advent is this vague concept that their church may or may not acknowledge or celebrate. For others, they are very familiar with Advent and are well into plans for the first Sunday of Advent coming this weekend. For those in both camps, I’d like to direct you to this great article by Reverend Dr. Mark D. Roberts. Continue reading

Create-A-Day #229: ADVENTure Prayer Walk 1 — Hope & the Wise Men

ADVENTure is a self-directed prayer walk pondering the true meaning of Christmas. You can read all about it here, as well as learn how you can do this interactive prayer walk for your church or ministry.

This coming Sunday, November 29th, is the first Sunday of Advent. As we consider the true meaning of CHRISTmas we light our first candle of the Advent Wreath, the Candle of HOPE, and we consider the Wise Men who traveled across many miles when the star appeared in the sky in the east.

Candle of Hope: The Wise Men

Read: Matthew 2:1-12

Meditation:

The Wise Men were men of knowledge and HOPE. Their knowledge gave them the information they needed to discern the coming king and where they would find Him. Their HOPE gave them the desire to seek after Him.

They followed a star – a brilliant light in the sky – and it led them directly to the “King of the Jews.” They sought hard after Him, and they found Him. They brought Him gifts and worshiped Him. Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #228 — The Advent Door

The Advent Door is the blog of artist, author and minister Jan Richardson. For several years now Jan has posted weekly Advent meditations with her artwork and poetry. The meditations are based on each year’s lectionary cycle. You can sift down through the posts and be inspired by her BEaUtiful artwork and thoughtful poetry, just make sure you hit ‘older posts’ at the bottom to continue down through the posts she has made over the years. She has much to share to take us through the CHRISTmas season. Resource ideas for corporate or personal worship — a great way to prayerfully and intentionally move through the season. Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #223 — Interactive Advent Candle Lighting

Looking to add creativity to your Advent Candle lighting in your church services?

Looking to get your worshipers more involved in the Advent Lighting instead of just watching from their pews?

Sending you over the Still Waters blog again where Pastor Theresa’s Advent Candle Lighting post has great ideas to make it more interactive and creative! She has two different ideas with S candle row pictures, supply lists and instructions so you can see exactly how to duplicate it for your own church or ministry event. Check it out today! Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #221 — Why Advent is Important to Artists

“My encouragement to all artists of faith is to see every creative act you do during this Advent season as a breathtaking remembrance of God’s loving incarnation to us.” ~Manuel Luz Continue reading

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #220 — Creative Flourishing in the Desert Online Retreat

As year-end approaches, I will begin to post ideas for Advent, as well as a few Christmas gift ideas for the creative Christian. Today’s post is an example of a gift idea! So pass this along to your spouse, mom, grandma or friend with a “hint, hint” so they get the idea! 😉

Creative Flourishing in the Desert is a six-week self-study, online retreat offered by Christine Valters Paintner of the Abbey of the Arts. Based on the wisdom of creative Benedictine Abbess St. Hildegard of Bingen, weekly themes include: Viriditas (the “greening” power of God); Body, Soul, & Senses; Incarnation; The Greening of the Virtues; Holy Wisdom; and Music and Integration.

Museum – Hildegard von Bingen

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #219 — ADVENTure Prayer Walk

ADVENTure is a self-directed prayer walk we did several times at church on our college campus. It includes scriptures and short meditations combined with an activity at each prayer station designed to help ponder the true meaning of Christmas.

The church is set up with four candles around the outside of the room to represent a traditional Advent wreath. Another candle is positioned in the middle of the room to represent the Christ candle. These candles become the prayer stations where there are scripture meditations and supplies for an activity associated with each scripture passage. Continue reading

Nurturing the Creative Spirit Within

Inspiration, Resources & Bible studies from Jody Thomae

spirituality

Creating a Sacred Space: Preparing an Altar of Remembrance

Hebrew: Mizbeach מִזְבֵּ֫חַ

An altar or place of sacrifice

In the Old Testament, agreements were sometimes ratified through the building of altars.

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity — Year in Review

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #249 — What is Christmas?

Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #248 — Jesus as a Work of Art