Monday, December 19, 2016

Philippians 2:2, Day 8, Gift 8: Felt Lunch is Finished! PIcture Heavy! :)



Philippians 2:2
SCRIPTURE
OBSERVATION
Yet again Paul points out the importance of unity with the phrases “like-minded”, “same love”, “being one in spirit and “of one mind”.  In fact, he says his joy would be completed by their unity.
APPLICATION
Unity is essential in the church if it is to survive.  We sometimes shoot our wounded from our high horses. 

If we can just learn to respond with
encouragement
comfort,
tenderness
and compassion
what a difference it would make!

Sometimes, unity cannot be achieved for a variety of reasons.   There are times when ties must be cut such as in toxic relationships or to protect the vulnerable.  There are many Scriptures to support this. 

Let’s be honest, we all probably have someone in our lives we have had to cut ties with.  But, let’s search our hearts, forgive them and, yes, even pray for them with tenderness and compassion.

PRAYER
LORD, help me to live this challenge out.  There are those I miss in my life and I’m sure my readers have the same situations in their lives.  Comfort all involved and let us all know and show tenderness and compassion. 

Let our churches have unity that Your goals may be achieved.  Amen.

Day 8, Gift 8:  Felt Lunch
Hello there!  Man, have I’ve been sick!  But, you know what?  There’s nothing like slow stitching to chase bronchitis and sinus infections away!

After almost a year, the Felt Lunch is completed!  Everything is hand stitched except for the "ridges" on the chips. Just a reminder, I found the pattern here.
Now for the pictures!
A sandwich starts with bread,

 and add your meats.

Mayo or mustard?
I like both!

American or Swiss cheese?
How about some lettuce?

Do you like tomatoes on your sandwich?


How about some of Ama's
special chips?
Tada!  Lunch is served!

I'm linking up to
at the Creative Side

Join the parties! 

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Philippians 2;1b. Day 7, Gift 7

Philippians 2:1a (Part 4)
SCRIPTURE
OBSERVATION
Tonight I’m focusing on
“if any comfort
from His love,
if any common sharing
in the Spirit,
if any tenderness and compassion”.
Philippians 2:1b
I just noticed the order of these words:
encouragement
comfort
common sharing
tenderness
compassion.
It’s almost the steps we go through when we first give our lives to Christ.
Many will encourage us in our new walk.
Then, as we become hurt or possibly confused by trials, we receive comfort.
Then, we learn unity.
Finally, as we mature, tenderness and compassion become definite parts of our very being. 
But first

we are in situations that require
encouragement and comfort.

That spells trials to me.

Then, as we receive encouragement and comfort, we begin to learn the value of unity because other’s united to encourage and comfort us!
Finally, we learn to show tenderness and compassion.
It’s a journey, a walk with Christ. 

APPLICATION
I can only say that I cannot imagine not having
ANY
encouragement
comfort from Jesus’ love,
or unity
in the Spirit,
or tenderness
and compassion.

Readers, today yet another dear friend –
who has survived breast cancer multiple times - told me that during a completed unrelated medical emergency, CT scans revealed a lesion on her kidney. 

As I type these words, I’m thinking, 
“Really, LORD?  Really?  How many friends diagnosed with cancer does this make in the last two months?  Six? Seven?  And two of them are terminal.”

But, then this Scripture popped into my head:




And I realized:
I’m focusing on
how very big the problem is,
and
it is huge.
No doubt about it.

BUT

I need to be focusing
on how very big my God is.
And He’s big.
Really big.
Really Really Big.

So, my dear friends, 
Hold on.
Hold tight.
And just be held.
Just. Be. Held.  



PRAYER
Father God,
You are huge.  
You are powerful.
You are wise.
Please take these big, painful, scary problems and squash them like a bug.
And, Father?  
Please encourage and comfort my friends.
Please bring unity to their families, friends, and doctors that they make work as a team to have the victory!
Please let Your love, tenderness and compassion be the rule in each of their situations.
In Your precious Son’s name I pray.
Amen.



Day 7, Gift 7
So, I’ve been doing a lot of cutting out felt and slow stitching on my grandbabies felt lunch.  It would make for boring pictures, so, I’m going to show you something I made a while ago. 

My husband and I were “shopping” in my gift tote.  Most of us have one.  It’s a tote filled with projects we’ve made throughout the year as gifts. 
My husband chose who would receive this tote. 

And I agreed. 
It’s a perfect choice.
He’s pretty smart, my man is. 

Here’s the post where I wrote about it.  It was a practice block for the $7.50 BOM held in Las Cruces, NM by Bernina Sewing and Design.  I had never made a Drunkard’s Path block before, so I made a practice block 
and then turned it into a tote.

So here you go:  Day 7, Gift 7. 

I’m linking up to


Oh, I have some exciting news to share in my next post!  
High Quality Excitement Blank Meme Template

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Philippians 2:1a (Part 3). Day 6, Gift 6: Scarf Tuesday To Do.

Philippians 2:1a
SCRIPTURE
OBSERVATION
We receive encouragement from being united with Christ, but exactly what is encouragement?




Definition of encouragement

1:  the act of encouraging :  the state of being encouraged
2:  something that encourages

Ok.  It’s an act or state of being encouraged. 

So what is encourage?

Definition of encourage

encouraged

encouraging

1.            transitive verb
1a :  to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope :  hearten <she was encouraged to continue by her early success>b :  to attempt to persuade :  urge <they encouraged him to go back to school>
2:  to spur on :  stimulate <warm weather encourages plant growth>
3:  to give help or patronage to :  foster <government grants designed to encourage conservation>
In this case, I’m going with definition number one: 

to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope.

If we have any
courage,
spirit
or hope
from being united with Christ….wow.

APPLICATION
Encouragement Card - Every Storm - Art for Women - Quotes for Women  - Art for Women - Inspirational Art
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Again, as I stated here when we focused on the word “if”, it’s a choice.  Once we accept Jesus into our lives, He offers us
courage,
His Holy Spirit
and
hope.

Even in the darkest of times.
Even during the holidays,
When, for some, it can be a difficult time of year.
I understand.
I get it.
Remember, during the holiday season of 2014, I was
reeling from the shock of being diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer,
telling my family and close friends,
and
fighting with my insurance company.
As a child the holidays were not pinic either.
BUT
Jesus offers
courage,
His Holy Spirit
and
hope.
Can we,
dare we
reach out for such gifts?
Yes, my dear reader, emphatically,
YES!
Because….
We will feel His Joy,
Not our own human joy that is so fleeting,
But
His Joy.
And it is His Joy
that is our strength.
Nehemiah 8:10

PRAYER
LORD,
This holiday season
my friends have a deep need of
Your encouragement,
Your courage,
Your Holy Spirit,
Your hope.

My heart breaks for two friends, LORD
because just this past weekend,
they were both were newly diagnosed with cancer!

And another is facing terminal cancer.

And several more are battling this hateful disease.

Father, be with them and their families.

Let us not run from them,
but run to them with Your joy,
which is our strength.

Be with those who have lost loved ones
And are so missing them during this time.
Comfort them.

Help us to celebrate the birth of Your Son with
encouragement, 
courage, 
hope 
and joy.

For this I thank you and praise You!
Amen.


Dear Friend, 
this is my truth!


Day 6, Gift 6: Scarf 
So, I decided at the last minute to make my 6 year old grandson a scarf.  My daughter chose the color, I chose the pattern.  Tada!  Here it is!  Yes, it’s arranged more as a girl would wear it, but I love it!  And it’s a stash buster as I used part of a ball of Caron's Simply Soft yarn!  J  Win-win!

Here is a close up of the pattern.  It was really easy:
 

Chain 75.
Or you can do a 75 Foundation Double Crochet to skip all the chains!  Here’s a link to a great tutorial from New Stitch a Day.  They have both PDG and video formats.

Row 1-2:  Double crochet in each stitch.
Row 3:  X-Stitch across the row.  Here’s a link to this stitch’s tutorial.

Repeat rows 1-3 till it’s the width you like!  And that’s all folks! 

Easy peasy!

Full disclosure:  I sometimes double crocheted 2 rows, sometimes 3.  It’s really loosey goosey and up to you! 

I love using the X-stitch because, for me, it stands for the hugs and kisses I want to lavish on my loved ones! 


Have an awesome day, Everyone!


Tuesday To Do
Last week I focused on trying to feel better from a cold so my Tuesday To Do List was non-existent.  Here is this week's list:


To Do List for 12/13/16
Christmas Hand Sewing
Felt food

Christmas Sewing
My grand-dog’s Christmas gift
Secret Sewing for a friend’s Christmas gift

Crochet

Finish Baby C’s Hat


I’m linking up to

and 


Monday, December 12, 2016

Philippians 2:1a (Part 2). Me? A Give Away Winner? :) Day 5, Gift 5: More Tortilla Warmers

Philippians 2:1a (Part 2).
The rest of the story continued from here.

  APPLICATION continued.
Now, turning to Him is almost an automatic response. (I’m only human after all!)



Are we will to receive encouragement

from being united with Christ,
comfort from His love,
common sharing in the Spirit,
tenderness,
compassion?


During times of suffering,
it is so much easier
to ask, “Why?”,
instead of asking,
“How can You use this trial?”,
to become bitter,
instead of better,
to become fear filled
instead of faith filled.

High Quality Woman Praying Blank Meme Template

May I encourage you to try
Faith-filled acceptance –
even if it’s a tiny
mustard seed faith?


May I encourage you to try
to asking,
“How can You use this trial?”,
instead of asking
 “Why?”; 
to become better,
instead of bitter,
to become faith filled
instead of fear filled.

PRAYER

LORD, as we know, there are times when we automatically turn to fear instead of faith.  But, eventually we turn to You!  Please, LORD, You know what is going on in my family’s, friend’s, and reader’s lives!  I ask You to help them to remember to recognize and accept all the encouragement, comfort, tenderness and compassion Your Holy Spirit has to offer.  I thank You for all of these that we have available to us in times of discord or suffering.  Amen.

Me?  A Give Away Winner?!  ðŸ˜Š
Have you heard of Amy's Scrapspot?  Well, if not, you just have to check out her upbeat blog!  She was having a jelly of a give away - a jelly roll!  And guess who won?!  
Me!


Yup, that's right!  I won a give away! 

And I thought it was all mine - 
until it came in.  
And then I realized 
these were the perfect colors 
for my daughter.  
https://amyscrapspot.blogspot.com/2016/11/giveaway-that-will-make-everyone-jelly.html
She is a stay at home mommy to four little ones under the age of 7.  She sacrifices so much for my grand babies, I just had to bless her, so I did. 


You should have seen the smile on her face!  Shes already making plans for the quilt she's going to make!


Thank you, Amy!  
You blessed both of us!  
Thank you for making my baby smile.  



I encourage you to stop by her blog for a chance to win this jelly roll!
Baltimore Blues JELLY ROLL by Barbara Brackman for Moda


Day 5, Gift 5:  More Tortilla Warmers
Here are some more tortilla warmers made from my larger scraps!
 Remember the tutorial I used? 

Did you spot my mistake?  Yup, I forgot to line the inside with unbleached muslin!  
Ooops!

I went ahead and remade them.



My daughter and I will be keeping the first two for ourselves.  After much debate and texting her and a friend, we decided they would be safe as the fabric dyes should wash out with the first washing.