April 27: Psalm 6:2-3, Fiber Fun, Literary Life, Finding Joy

Hello There, 

Thank you for stopping in!  I was able to stay home for much of the week, which I love.  Yesterday was an my youngest grandson played in an exciting basketball game and then, we had an amazing trip to one of "my libraries", about 25 minutes away.  I'm so excited to show you a "squirrel" that has pleasantly invaded my mind.

So, please, enjoy your favorite beverage as you read on!  

 HERE'S A WORD - Faith...broken faith...faltering faith.  Here I will share a Scripture about these topics.  No judgement, only love.  

I have struggled deeply with this week's message.  It's crucial not to misinterpret verses, but two in Psalm 6 stood out to me. Here goes this week's message!  

Someone shared a simple devotion God called them to do: read five Psalms daily and create a simple list of what God does.

As I read Psalm 6, verses 2-3 popped out to me as I highlighted it in my Bible. 

Here is the Psalm in its entirety:

1 LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger
or discipline me in Your wrath.
2 Have mercy on me, LORD,
for I am faint;
heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.
3 My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, LORD, how long?
4 Turn, LORD, and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.
5 Among the dead no one proclaims Your name.
Who praises You from the grave?
6 I am worn out from my groaning.
All night long I flood my bed with weeping
and drench my couch with tears.
7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
they fail because of all my foes.
8 Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the LORD has heard my weeping.
9 The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
the LORD accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed
with shame and anguish;
they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.

I sensed no anger or wrath from God during my desert experience.  My constant, and admittedly sometimes angry, prayers were "Why?", "Help." and  "How long?"   

Focusing on God's actions changed my entire perspective and focus.     

2 Have mercy on me, LORD,
for I am faint;
heal me, LORD,
for my bones are in agony.
3 My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, LORD, how long?

He has mercy.

He heals.

Perhaps that's why I didn't feel His anger and wrath.  Only He knows why. 

My relationship with Him has deepened and gained more purpose.    

My relationship with others in the desert is a deeply empathic one.

Been there.  

Mercy, grace and a gentle ear are what we need from God's children.   

Healing, and the aforementioned needs, are what we need from God.

If you are in a desert, I beseech you to share your current state with a trusted person who'll faithfully and gently cover you in prayer.  Continue to pray your true feelings. Perhaps, like me, your prayers are "Why?", "Help." and "How long?"

 

If you are praying for someone who is in a spiritual desert, pray for them as you quietly listen to their frustration, hurt, anger, confusion.  Listen and pray, not in judgement, but in concern and love knowing that one day, your loved one will find their way back.  These prayers were my blessing and my way back.

One day we will be able to pray, with full confidence, Psalm 6 in its entirety.  

Go on, my precious one, go back and read it.  

You are loved.  You are not alone.  You are being lovingly prayed for.

  

FIBER FUN  

I've decided to break down my "To Dos" into three categories:

1.  Finish:  Fields of Fancy Month 1 - They are almost finished!  My hands will not allow me to slow stitch as much as I'd like, so I hit the pause button and extended my soft deadline for another week.  I mistakenly made an extra flower, but I'm sure it will all work out.  Liberty Tana Lawn is a dream to work with.  

2.  Focus

- Catching up with the Fields of Fancy which won't be finished for a year, but I'd  like to catch up

I've been "bitten" by a squirrel that I spotted at my monthly sewing meeting!  My friend found this UFO and decided to finish it.  It's a  QAYG project - of which I'm a fan! 

She forgot the name of the pattern, so she allowed me to take photos and post them hoping some of you might know the pattern.  If you do, please let us know in the comments. 

To the best of my memory, these are the steps she taught me.  Any mistakes are mine.  😌

Sew scrappy four patches.  Using a template, cut them, your batting and backing into circles. Layer them with right sides in, stitch them around the 

edge, and turn them inside out.

   

Matching seams, begin joining them matching two seams, then stitch the edges down.  This is the quilting part.  I didn't think to use the same fabric in the photos she allowed me to take, so it may not be as clear.  😏

Stitch those pairs together and keep joining. I'm wondering if topstitching around the edges of the circles is necessary? I'll have to remember to ask her or perhaps you'd know? This is truly a beautifully scrappy project!

3.   Prepare/make a kit

- Connecting Hearts hosted by The Maker's Stash:  Red

During my weekly gathering with my daughter and friend, I basted these red hearts together.  I'll work on stitching some of them together this week.   

4. Be kind = Soft Deadlines which are good for my mental health!  

LITERARY LIFE -   

CURRENT READS. 

Just as I was finishing The B****, I lost it somewhere amongst my stacks of books.  This is uncommon for me - and frustrating.  There are some of you that can relate.  

 

FINISHED

***** All the Flowers in Paris by Sarah Jio is one of the best WWII books I've read.  The courage and strength written about in most WWII books is there along with a fabulous story line, the pacing is wonderful, the well-developed characters are loveable.  This is one book I could barely put down.  Highly recommend.

 ****A Traitor in Whitehall is the first book in the Evelyne Redfern series by Julia Kelly.  I saw it on a book blog, but can't remember where.  If you're the one who posted it, thank you!  It was a fabulous mystery taking place in WWII with as many twists as a bowl of spaghetti!  Just when you think it's solved - read on!  Recommend.  

*** The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade was a raw, difficult book to read for most of the members of my LatinX book club.  For some, it hit too close to home or was simply too raw.  Quade's book sparked interesting discussions and even a debate, which some could say that makes it at least a four star read.  But, for me, a three star read it was.  

FINDING JOY - LeeAnna's I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color helps me consistently find the joy in every life.  She also provides a prompt for us to use.  

This week's prompt is:  Where do you do your computer work, or blogging?  For example, at the kitchen table like me or on your lap in front of the tv? At an actual desk? Do you use a computer or do it from your phone or iPad?  Show us a pic if you can, of your set up for blogging.

I do my computer work and blogging mainly in my "cloffice", a converted the closet in my office to an office.  I like being able to project the screen onto my television set.  

I've included a "real" picture of my work space.

I am enjoying learning Colcha stitching as I work on this Nativity scene

with my friends  at my monthly Colcha meeting.  

I sure appreciate my vintage secretary as now my slow stitching projects are nicely organized!  

Early one morning, as I worked on the blog,

Chico and Chloe were protesting!

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I'll be linking up to 

Deb's Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz

Sunday Slow Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Melva's Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps 

Kathryn's What Are You Reading at The Book Date

Carol's To Do Tuesday posts at Quilt Schmilt

LeeAnna's I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color

Alicia's Rainbow Scrap Challenge at So Scrappy

 Links are in sidebar 😉🠆