Hello there!
Thank you for visiting today! I missed posting last week as we were in San Diego visiting Mama and Daddy. Daddy is now in hospice, but I'm aware that many people live for years at this stage, so I'm still praying for a miracle. Thankfully, except for the expected decline, they are stable. I'll take stable any day of the week!
In this week's post, I'm returning to lessons learned from the classic, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller, who was a shepherd himself, thus enriching this study. Chapter 8 was Psalm 23:4 and what a timely verse it is. Perhaps you'll enjoy reading about the Slow Stitching projects and progress on the Atlas Zipper Bag. I've finished some really great books and am still finding joy in life.
Happy reading to you and as always:
Take good care and, as Daddy says, "Make memories, it's later than you think."
HERE'S A WORD - Faith...broken faith...faltering faith. Here I will share a Scripture about these topics. No judgement, only love.
As I've followed many of your blog posts and read your comments (which I responded to, but did not publish as they felt very personal), I realized that many of us are dealing with family members, or even ourselves, who are critically ill, have been miraculously snatched from the jaws of death or who have passed away. This will be a two-part devotional on our LORD's rod and staff.
I was extremely surprised to discover that "the valley of the shadow of death" translated from the Hebrew text actually means "the darkest valley". (gotquestions.org) In my eye, this is what the darkest valley looks like.
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| https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/dark-valley |
Do you see the light at the end? During my crisis of faith, I couldn't see that light, but, now, I'd like to call it hope. Little did I know that God's rod and staff were there to comfort and guide me.
According to Keller, the rod is chosen thoughtfully and cared for deliberately as it can be used as a weapon when thrown. It's used for discipline, much as the Holy Spirit corrects us. I loved that he wrote the rod is used to separate the sheep's wool to look for problems underneath, much like God goes under our surface to show us our shortcomings and guide us as we correct them. This rod is a symbol of the shepherd's strength, power and authority. All this tells me is that God is there, lovingly correcting and guiding us.
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| https://reasonsforhopejesus.com/shepherds-rod-and-staff-different/ |
According to Keller, the rod is chosen thoughtfully and cared for deliberately as it can be used as a weapon when thrown. It's used for discipline, much as the Holy Spirit corrects us. I loved that he wrote the rod is used to separate the sheep's wool to look for problems underneath, much like God goes under our surface to show us our shortcomings and guide us as we correct them. This rod is a symbol of the shepherd's strength, power and authority. All this tells me is that God is there, lovingly correcting and guiding us.
Pastor Ed Underwood is not stranger to valleys, as he shared in his book, When God Breaks Your Heart. If memory serves me, he wrote that when we are sitting in our anger, hurt and confusion, the LORD simply sits quietly with us. I love that image.
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| https://www.redbubble.com/i/canvas-print/The-Lord-is-Near-Jesus-Christ -Sitting-with-a-Praying-Girl-by-Deebs1973/68222688.5Y5V7 |
In my own valley, I still felt God, though I wasn't quite ready to talk to Him - yet. He knew just what to do with my broken heart, He sat quietly with me, listened to my pain, anger, confusion and hurt. Then, when I was ready, He used His rod to correct and guide me home.
Dear reader, He'll do the same for you and your loved ones, when you/they are ready.
I pray for you to be restored, healed and know this:
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 four categories: Finish, Focus, Prep/make a kit, and Be Kind = Soft Deadlines. FoF stands for the Fields of Fancy BOM I’m participating in, using Liberty of London Tana Lawn fabrics.
Last Week's List
1. Finish
- This week I pulled this small orphan blocks from my Garden Snails Quilt by Bayside Quilt Shops. I plan to embroider a quilt label and attach it - finally! DONE! I think I should have used a walking foot to attach it. Lesson learned.
2. Focus
- Fields of Fancy (FoF) BOM by Intrepid Thread Done ✔️ I was able to complete four hexies! Yay!
Here is my progress thus far.
- Kristina at Center Street Quilts has a five day sew along on her blog for the Atlas Zipper Pouch which I am using as my Focus. My plan is finish Day One for both pouches: quilting the fabrics. Done!
3. Prepare/make a kit - - The next month of Fields and of Fancy ✔️ As I was sorting through the supplies, I realized three embroidered hexagons need to be stitched. They are prepped and ready to go!
Step one in making the hexagons is matching fabrics. The kit includes enough Liberty fabrics to make six hexies, a panel of Acufactum fabric to fussy cut, backing fabric and the embroidery panels. In addition, I purchased a bit more of the Liberty fabrics to simply play.
The first step is matching up backings with the fabrics I'll be using for the floral hexies. So today, I matched up my "scraps" with backing and the Acufactum fabric.
Here are the Actfactum fussy cut fabrics with their bindings.
4. Be kind = Soft Deadlines - which are good for my mental health!
This Week's List
1. Finish - I've pulled out this "What is Love" cross stitch that I made for my husband. I finished it back in the 80's! It's high time to add a border to it and take it in for framing.
2. Focus -
- Fields of Fancy (FoF) BOM by Intrepid Thread - Prep the applique pieces for the six hexies
- Atlas Zipper Case - Day 2: make bias binding
3. Prepare/make a kit -
- As many of you have probably noticed, I love organizers for hand sewing projects! Truth be told, it's a bit of an addiction. I purchased this Jet Set Sewing Station kit by Jessie months ago and it popped out of my "Finish" box begging for me to at least do a fabric pull.
4. Be kind = Soft Deadlines - which are good for my mental health!
LITERARY LIFE -
CURRENT READS
FINISHED
**** I learned about the Lighthouse Library Mystery series by Eva Gates from Kathryn at The Book Date, and I'm so glad she shared! Shot Through the Book is the most recent, though I hope not the last, book in the series. I have enjoyed following the lives of Lucy, the protagonist, along with the rest of the characters. This one shows how sad political ambition can be. The last line of the book is a definite cliff hanger! Recommend.
***** I have thoroughly enjoyed several of Matt Haig's books and The Life Impossible was no exception! As Grace, a retired math teacher, searches for answers regarding her friend's death, she find so much more along the way: peace, wisdom, healing and a new life. Highly Recommend.
***** I rarely read suspense books, but Alex North's The Man Made of Smoke was a definite five-star read! North had me from the first page to the last. The pace was superb, characters well developed and the suspense level was "light"; meaning I could listen to this book at night without having nightmares! Highly Recommend.
***** How We Learn to Be Brave by Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde is a book well worth adding to your library. She begins with her reaction to a certain president using "the Bible as a prop" and went onto transparently share her journey to bishop. I was deeply impressed by her transparency, her love for all people and, especially her courage. Though I am culling my library, this is one book I'll be adding for the re-reading experience. Very Highly Recommend.
MAILBOX MONDAY - is a gathering place for readers to share books that they
added to their shelves or E-reader the previous week.
This book has long been on my "Currently Reading" list yet one event after another led to a delayed reading experience. Before we went to San Diego, I turned in all my library books and thought, "Well, maybe one day I'll be able to read it." Then, the day before we left, a copy arrived in the mail from Paperbackswap! I was so excited!
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: Do you like shopping at garage sales? Flea markets? What is a really good one? Do you shop at thrift stores?
Yes to all shopping opportunities! In fact, the day before we left to San Diego, I picked up this vintage Singer (285?) for half price! Did I need another sewing machine? No. But I joyfully brought it home. Funny, the Sunday before picking it up, I had just read Kathy's page, "The Herd", over at Kathy Quilts. I guess I'm starting a "herd" of my own! 😉
In keeping with the Mediterranean Diet, I learned how to make this Quinoa/Brown Rice dish. I used a packaged quinoa/brown rice and added a bit of every vegetable in my fridge. It is healthy and delicious - a combo that can't be beat!
One of my sweet sisters-in-law gave me a beautiful water glass from Starbucks. I accidentally dropped it, but the lid was undamaged. I asked my husband if he could make it into a combo thread stand with a needle minder. Here is the happy result!
Check out his picture of a monkey flower my granddaughter sent me! It's called a Dracula Orchid.
Enjoyed this post?
Here are the parties I sometimes link up to:
Sundays
Oh Scrap! @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework
Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts
Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz
Mondays
Mailbox Monday @ I'd Rather Be At the Beach
Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps
What Are You Reading at The Book Date
Tuesdays
To Do Tuesday posts at Quilt Schmilt
Thursdays
I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color
Fridays
Off the Wall Fridays at Creations Art...Quilts...Whatever
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