Philippians 2:14 Part 3. To Do Tuesday. Kudos to My Longarm Quilter!

Philippians 2:14 Part 3
I began this study here and continued it here!  :)
Scripture
Observation
Do everything without grumbling

or arguing?  

Yup.  
Paul clearly states:  
Do
everything
without
grumbling or arguing.
Application
To be clear about what we're talking about, let's see how Webster defines grumbling and arguing.  

grumbling:  to complain quietly about something : to talk in an unhappy way
arguing:  1.  to give reasons for or against something  2. to contend or disagree in words 

Well, Philippians 2 speaks at length about unity, especially in the church. If there is much grumbling and arguing going on, who would want to be a part of that?  

At a Bible Study last week, a man shared this story.  
"I was involved in prison ministry.  There was a prisoner who was completely closed off from everybody. He would watch us carefully, but would not participate.  Somehow, he began to change.  He slowly opened up and came to the LORD.  He also began participating.

I asked him what caused the change.  He told me, "Many groups have come and gone while I've been here.  Your group was different.  I watched you carefully and I liked how you treated each other."

What had he seen with the other groups?  How was this group different? Does how I treat my family, friends and loved ones really affect someone else's decision to accept Christ.

Apparently so.

LORD, help me - 
here's yet another reason 
for me to do 
EVERYTHING 
without grumbling or arguing.  

Prayer
LORD, this seems like an impossible task, 
but all things are possible with You!
Help me to live 
as You would have me live, in a manner that would encourage people to come to You.

I'm such a stubborn one, LORD!
But, You brought this verse to mind, 
so I know You are encouraging me today!  Thank you, my LORD!
Amen.



Dear Friend, this is my truth!

To Do Tuesday.
For some reason, I am not making my sewing goals!  So, this week I'm kissing them - Keeping it simple, Sweetie!
1) Begin and finish my RSC 2017 blocks.
2) Add those 30 hexagons to my Hexagon Afghan.
3) Cut out fabric for my $7.50 Drunkard's Path Block!

Fingers crossed on achieving these goals!

Focus on the Quilting.
How many of you are checkbook quilters? I am and I love, absolutely love, my longarm quilter.  

Not only is Stephanie extraordinarily  talented, she has a heart the size of Texas, a strength I can only dream about and hugs that are worth a million bucks!

In my last post, I showed you my Victory Quilt and told you the story behind it.  Today, I would like to highlight Stephanie's beautiful quilting!

(Please remember that I'm just an average sewist, 

so the piecing is not perfect.  Chemo didn't help.)

Each block had this beautiful
flower centered
right smack dab in the middle.

Then, she shrunk it and 

stitched it in EACH cornerstone!

Please note the quilting 

on the brown fabric.

She quilted each block's border.

I really  played with the colors so maybe the stitching would show up more....

Here's the corner of my quilt.

Can you see the mini flowers 

in the cornerstones?

Gorgeous quilting from the back.

And the completed quilt again!

My husband and son are braving the cold winds to hold it up....

Sammy Whammy...gotta love him!

Stephanie's quilting makes the back just beautiful.

I'm linking up to

Linky Tuesday at 

Freemotion by the River

To Do Tuesday at Stitch All Things

Join the party - 

they are so much fun!  

Philippians 2:14 Part 2 2015 $7.50 Victory Quilt Finished!

Philippians 2:14

Scripture

Continued from here.  

I

never

grumbled 

about

having 

triple

negative

breast

cancer.

Instead 

I prayed 

for 

strength,

courage,

grace,

wisdom,

discernment

to

minister

to the medical staff,

my family,

loved ones,

and myself.  

Something to ponder.

Something to really ponder.

Are we only 

aware of our reactions

in times of great stress?

How about in the little things?

Can God trust me to

live without grumbling?

What would happen if, 
instead of grumbling,

we prayed

for

strength,

courage,

grace,

wisdom,

discernment

to

minister?

Prayer

LORD, how I love You 

and trust You as my loving Father!  

You are so generous to give me 
this time in my life 
when I can 

study, ponder, and apply 

Your Word to my life.  

But, to be honest, 

this morning, 

I feel like 

I've been run over by a God Truck!

Joyfully and with growing awareness,

I'm seeing a behavior 

that needs to be changed.

As You well know, 

I'm pretty talented at grumbling!

So, LORD, help me to begin 

this new "grumbling-free" journey.

Please help me to

pray instead of grumble, 

to lean on You, instead of myself, 
to encourage rather discourage,

to eagerly watch You work things out,

instead of doing it myself.

To trust You even more.

Abba Father,

I love You!

And I know You're 

sitting right next to me grinning.

I'm grinning with You.

Kinda.

I Love You. :)

Amen.

2015 $7.50 Quilt Finished!

In my hometown, we are blessed to have a local, brick and mortar quilt shop: 

Bernina Sewing and Design. 

It’s a non-alcoholic version of the TV series, “Cheers”.

Everybody knows your name.

They will drop everything to

hug you,

pray with you,

laugh with you,

or

cry with you. 

I love them. 

I really do.

And they love me.

They really do.

In 2015 I joined their $7.50Club .One can literally make a quilt top for $7.50!  

2015 was also the year of the fight for my life.  Completing a block every month was difficult. Tears, late nights, phone calls to friends for help, chemo side effects and fatigue were certainly involved.

But so was God, determination, courage and love.

I presented this quilt to my dear husband

as a thank you/36th anniversary/Valentine's gift.  I told him how much I appreciated him taking care of me.

I remember him 

waking up for work at least 45 minutes early to feed me at least a quarter of a thin bagel with an egg on top,

gently bathing me,

tenderly holding me as we both cried,

ferociously battling the insurance company,

tirelessly driving an extra 1.5 hours a day for six weeks to stay with me in our hotel during daily radiation treatments, 

and not one grumble.  

I am so very blessed!

My husband and son holding up the quilt on a cold, windy afternoon.
My Sammy is supporting their efforts!

He shed a tear or two when I gave it to him.  So did I.  

The backing is made from my favorite fabric used in the quilt.

I'm linking up to

A Quilter’s Reading Garden

Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Finished or Not Friday 
at Busy Hands Quilts

Main Crush Mondays

Monday Making at Love, Laugh, Quilt

MovingIt Forward Monday at Em’s Scrapbag

Philippians 2:14 Part 1. Surgery Update. Mason Jar Cosy. Speaking of Mason Jar Meals....

Philippians 2:14

Scripture

Observation

Everything?   

Yes.  

Paul, 

in his usual style of writing in absolutes 

made this act of character development clear:  

Do Everything

Without

Grumbling or Arguing.

Grumble: to mutter in discontent; 

the act of complaining in a low voice

Application

Even as I write about this verse, 

I find myself wanting to grumble!

Really?  

EVERYTHING?

YES.

EVERYTHING.

My first thoughts 

are how I've grumbled about 

the little acts that irritate me.  

They are too meaningless to even list.  

Then I recall that, 

after teacher staff meetings or 

when new demands were announced, 

we would grumble.....

and I've begun to regret that.  

Lately, I've been thinking about 

how those grumbling times were 

such a waste of time!

Circumstances were out of our control!

We could have been coming up with solutions instead!  

Then, I read today's verse:

The irony that the reference numbers, 2:14,

are the same numbers 

as the date of Valentines Day 

is not lost on me.

I noticed something else.  

I

never

grumbled 

about

having 

triple

negative

breast

cancer.

Instead 

I prayed 

for 

strength,

courage,

grace,

wisdom,

discernment

to

minister

to the medical staff,

my family,

loved ones,

and myself.  

Something to ponder.

Something to really ponder.

Surgery Update.
I'm getting better and better after cataract surgery!  I'm seeing so clearly now and back to sewing!  Yea!  Here's a little something I crocheted while recovering!

Mason Jar Cosy

Did you see this coming when I started posting about Mason Jar Meals?

http://littlemonkeyscrochet.com/mason-jar-cover-free-pattern/

This free crochet pattern for mason jars is from Little Monkey's Crochet.  I chose it because the pictures are so pretty!  Additionally, it is a very easy beginner pattern!  Plus the pattern covers sizes for quart AND pint size jars!  Win-win! Seriously, stop by and check out her blog!

Thank you, Rebecca, 

for such an awesome pattern!

Here is the one I made!

More may be in my future!
Great use of the bit of leftover yarn 

from this scarf!

I use the cover for both the Overnight Oatmeal as well as the hot soups!  You can find the recipes, as well as this pattern my Pinterest  board.  

Speaking of Mason Jar Meals....
This is the third week my daughter and I have been enjoying mason jar meals.  I've learned a few lessons that I want to share with you.  
Mason Jar Salads
I stopped adding salad dressing to the salads, instead adding it after I pour it into a bowl.  

• Since I eat my salads at home, it's easy.  For some reason, the taste of the salad dressings seemed to overwhelm the fresh veggies.    
• My daughter continues to add dressing to her jars and loves it!  Personal preference!  :)
• I'm cutting up the extra celery, carrots and bell peppers as a quick snack.  

Overnight Oatmeal

These are my favorite!  I am using frozen fruits because they seem to hold up better.

• Plus, as they defrost, their juices add to the yumminess!
• Adding a sprinkle of ground cinnamon, nutmeg and/cloves adds an extra taste of goodness!  
• Cooked barley works as well!
• Quaker oats has this link for recipes!

Mason Jar Soups

I started experimenting with soups about two weeks ago and am really liking them!

• Deciding how much and which soup base to use is definitely a Golddilock's type of journey.
• The first week I added about a teaspoon of Better Than Bouillon base to a pint jar.  It was way to much for me.
• This last week I added a smidgen with some Consomate de Pollo by Knorr(chicken bouillon).  Not enough spices......oh well.  Next week will be "just right", right?  :)
• I used cooked barley as well and it was
  
  delicious.  However, I might have packed my ingredients too tightly because it was harder to heat up.  No biggee though.  I still have four jars to enjoy, so I'll probably pour them into a mug and add the hot water.  

I am eating a TON more fresh produce and even buying more!  

I finding Mason Jar Meals an easy, healthy way to prepare meals for the week.  This works wonderfully for people who work outside/inside the home!

I encourage you to try them!

I'm linking up to

Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

MovingIt Forward Monday at Em’s Scrapbag

Needle and Thread Thursday at My QuiltInfatuation

Comfort. A Finished Scarf.

Just a note:

My posts will be short and minus the Philippians Bible Study for a while.  I'm recovering from cataract surgery and I'm finding the computer is hard on my eye!  

I'm trying my surgery sunglasses and they seem to be helping!  :)

I'm blessed to be recovering in the comfort of my home and oh so loving family and friends!

Comfort

https://img.clipartfest.com/106ed6192fccccf5bb1ab8048b7b9445_80d076e622f3444bd1a0145d1d88ec-friends-hugging-each-other-clipart_500-478.jpeg

Isn't is so humbling how the Lord 

cares for us, 

loves us each individually 

with all our quirks and faults.  

He rejoices over us, 

He provides for us, He comforts us. 

I am so blessed!

A Crocheted Finish!

Well, I finished this scarf that I started last week.  It's so pretty!  I love it!  Naturally, I lost the pattern on my Pinterest Board! But, I'll update this post when I find it!  :)

I'm linking up to

Oui Crochet Community

Linky Tuesday at

Freemotion by the River 

Hookin’ On Hump Day at

Petals to Picot

And

Moogly

Surgery. $7.50 Club. Thank You

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/86061042855804248/

Surgery
Well, I had the cataract surgery this afternoon.  I wasn't as freaked out as I thought I'd be!  Yea!


                                                                                             
I found this on Pinterest....I realize it's not a source to be cited, but I couldn't find the original author.  Either way, it made me smile!



$7.50 Club
Here is this month's $7.50 Club Block! 

pieces cut out

finished block

Yes, my finished block could be pressed better - and it was.  Somehow the contents of my purse attacked it!  

http://www.dumpaday.com/funny-pictures/huge-funny-picture-dump-of-the-day-95-pics/

Next month's color is YELLOW!  

I LOVE YELLOW!

Thank You!

Isn't the quilting community awesome? Thank you for your input on my crazy quilt blocks.  

I still have some time to ponder....while I finish my Leader/Ender......

You all are amazing!  

http://www.myluxefinds.com/2015/03/style-guide-bando-fun-girly-accessories.html

I will leave you with a cheerful song!

Linking up to

Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts

Main Crush Mondays

Monday Making at Love, Laugh, Quilt