Jesus Asked It #3. Fall Into a QAL. Book Date.

Jesus Asked It #3
I hope you're enjoying this study of the questions Jesus asked!  Our second question is found in the Sermon on the Mount as well. 

Love for Enemies

43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighborⁱ and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48 NIV

  

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor (fellow man) and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, ^[n]love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous [those who are morally upright] and the unrighteous [the unrepentant, those who oppose Him]. ⁴⁶ For if you love[only] those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers [wishing them God’s blessing and peace], what more [than others] are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles [who do not know the Lord] do that?⁴⁸ You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48 Amp.

Enemies.

I think we all have them. 

So, what is an enemy? And what to do with our enemies? 

According to Webster, enemies are:  1) one that is antagonistic to another; especially : one seeking to injure, overthrow, or confound an opponent or 2)  a military adversary, a hostile unit or force. 

So what do we do with our enemies?

Jesus tells us in the previous verses:

 As He is preaching this, I can just imagine the crowd’s faces of indignation, confusion and rebellion.  So, Jesus explains via questions:

 As followers of Christ we should take the higher road, or, as is said, “Be the bigger person.” 

Ouch.

I must remind myself that ,

like most things,

loving my enemies

is a process;

progress not perfection

and to

be gentle with myself as well as with others.
Another QAL
So, with so many UFOs and WIPs, I have managed to avoid joining any QALs/CALs this year.  But, Caroline's at From My Carolina Home Teacup QAL had me at foundation paper piece. I want to improve my skills in this area.

Then the Partners in Design bloggers started Fall Into A QAL.  
I resisted.
and resisted.
Then I saw a block in "real life" as a show and tell in a class.  I was hooked.  It's applique - another area in which I've been wanting to improve on as well. 
Sooooo, I didn't make it through 2018 without joining a QAL.....  and that's fine by me!  :)
Here's my fabric pull!  I'm finally cutting into my batiks for a substantial project.  The white one is a fabulous glow-in-the-dark fabric!  I think that's perfect for a fall themed quilt, don't you?

Here's the fabric pull for Block 1!

Knowing that I would need some other colors, a few weeks ago I purchased some brown batik fabric.  

I'm excited to begin these blocks!

Book Date

Reading

Dreams of Falling by Karen White.  

The Prince: Jonathan #3 in the 

Sons of Encouragement series

Don't Throw in the Towel, Hope Again 

by Jana Alcorn

Pastoral by Andre Alexis will be my second book in the 12th Annual Canadian Book Challenge hosted by Melwyk at The Indextrious Reader. 

Finished

Ok.  Hands down, The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison was a read that kept me hooked and even surprised me as the story progressed.  Going into the book, I knew someone was going to die, but I just couldn't see the wife doing the deed herself.  Harrison kept the story moving, let me into the characters' minds and kept me hooked until the last word.  Perhaps one of my favorite parts was the alternating chapters revealing each characters' thinking and perspective on their relationship.  If I gave my books star ratings this one would be a 4.5!  Book one is finished for the the 12th Annual Canadian Book Challenge hosted by Melwyk at The Indextrious Reader. 

The Warrior: Caleb of Francine River's series, Sons of Encouragement was also a fabulous read.  As I go through this series, my faith is growing, just as it did when I read her Lineage of Grace series which is based on the women in lineage of Christ.       

You can see the list of books I've read over at Goodreads!  My user name is, of course, Miaismine!

Linking up to

Monday Making @ Love, Laugh, Quilt

Show and Tell Mondays with Bambi

Main Crush Mondays @ Cooking Up Quilts

Moving It Forward Monday @ Em’s Scrapbag

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? @ Book Date

12th Annual Canadian Book Challenge hosted by Melwyk at The Indextrious Reader.