Psalm 7, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

Thank you all for you sweet comments on my new header.  I was playing with blogger's layout and decided to go for it!  While we're talking about blogging, thank you all for your patience as I grieve Daddy.  I’m finally starting to comment and respond to your sweet comments again! As spring begins to peek around the corner, my joy is slowly returning. It feels strange, but wonderful to laugh, play with my grandbabies, and rediscover joy in everyday life again. It's fabulous to reconnect with all of you! 

I had such a relaxing weekend. Saturday was all mine, and Sunday was a perfect "stay-at-home" day, except for enjoying my grandson’s exciting basketball game.

Then Tuesday arrived.

I was busy piecing Disappearing Nine-Patch blocks when I got distracted. My pointer finger got too close to the needle, and—yup—I joined the "I Sewed Through My Finger Club." It was just the fleshy part, thank goodness, but it hurt almost more than labor!

One Urgent Care visit, a tetanus shot, and a round of antibiotics later, I’m back home. Looking back, I have to laugh: when my husband rushed in to help, my first instinct wasn't my finger.  Instead, I sent him straight to the machine to wipe up the blood before it hit the "great abyss" inside! 

I was able to hand sew for a bit, until my wound re-opened.  I’m taking a small, doctor-ordered break from the machine to let the "fleshy part" heal, but I’ll be back at those blocks soon—with much more respect for my needle!  

Take good care and, as Daddy used to say, 

"Make memories; it's later than you think."

HERE'S A WORD

As I prepped for this study, I simply highlight all the words that describe what God does for us in my Bible.  Then I make a list of them.  I'll follow the same format here. 

I Take Refuge in You

A Shiggaiona of David, 

which he sang to the LORD 

concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.

1 O LORD my God, I take refuge in You;

save me and deliver me from all my pursuers,

2or they will shred my soul like a lion

and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

3O LORD my God, if I have done this,

if injustice is on my hands,

4if I have rewarded my allyb with evil,

if I have plundered my foe without cause,

5then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me;

may he trample me to the ground

and leave my honor in the dust.

Selah

6Arise, O LORD, in Your anger;

rise up against the fury of my enemies.

Awake, my God, and ordain judgment.

7Let the assembled peoples gather around You;

take Your seat over them on high.

8The LORD judges the peoples;

vindicate me, O LORD,

according to my righteousness and integrity.

9Put an end to the evil of the wicked,

but establish the righteous,

O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.c

10My shield is with God,

who saves the upright in heart.

11God is a righteous judge

and a God who feels indignation each day.

12If one does not repent,

God will sharpen His sword;

He has bent and strung His bow.

13He has prepared His deadly weapons;

He ordains His arrows with fire.

14Behold, the wicked man travails with evil;

he conceives trouble and births falsehood.

15He has dug a hole and hollowed it out;

he has fallen into a pit of his own making.

16His trouble recoils on himself,

and his violence falls on his own head.

17I will thank the LORD for His righteousness

and sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Just look at this list of all God does to protect us! 

• Provides refuge
• Saves and delivers us from our pursuers
• Rises up in anger toward our enemies
• Rules over all
• Judges us according to our righteousness
• Searches minds and hearts
• Ends the violence of the wicked
• Makes the righteous secure
• He is our shield
• Saves the upright in heart
• He is a righteous judge
• Expresses His wrath every day
• Does not relent
• Sharpens His sword
• Bends and strings His bow
• Prepares His deadly weapons

At one time or another, we will be falsely accused and pursued by the defeated one through the acts of man. When this happens to us, as it did to David (v. 3-5), we need not act in vengeance or anger. All we need to do is turn in faith to the LORD, who will vindicate us and even change our hearts. Oh, my dear reader, I can write those words with confidence because I had been in this situation—for five long years.

We can confidently ask the LORD not only to judge our enemies' hearts, but our hearts as well. As He guides us, He will also provide a shield to the righteous and save the upright in heart (v. 10). Verses 11–16 are quite sobering, as they describe what will happen to those who are determined to act with evil intentions.

As we face our spiritual enemies' false accusations and pursuit, let us prayerfully go forward with integrity and trust, knowing God is in control. This can be an excruciating time in our lives. 

Remember I mentioned I had been in this situation?  In the end, not only did God mercifully give me victory, but my heart was changed from one of anger and indignation to one that began praying for His mercy and grace toward my enemy. Only then did I become a victorious warrior for my family and for myself. I pray that we will not only be warriors, but victorious ones who are steadfastly holding onto God's promises in the midst of our battles.  

Please know this:  

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

FIBER FUN

I broke down my "To Dos" into three categories:  Finish, Focus, Prep/make a kit, and Be Kind = Soft Deadlines.  FoF represents the Fields of Fancy BOM, which I'm doing with Liberty of London Tana Lawn fabrics.  FBF represents the Flower Box Friends BOM

Last Week's List

1.  Finish - I am once again pulling projects from my little pink plastic case.  

 - the third pen holder Not done.  

2.  Focus - 

- FoF BOM:  finish binding one hexie; begin the EPP sewing and bind another hexie Done!  Thanfully, this was part of my Sunday Slow Stitching!  The flower on the bottom row is very time consuming as it has those tiny leaves.  Just the same, I'm pleased with the results.  

Here’s what prepping each EPP for this project. 

 By the way, I don’t normally drink soda. The Pepsi can is the 7.5 ounce serving - perfect for a portable trashcan!   One of my grandfather‘s many jobs was as a Pepsi-Cola distributor, so we called him “Grandpa Pepsi”.  

- Complete 15% of the Darth Vader ornament

- QAYG quilt - plan and photograph the next section to add

- FBF:   I'll be picking up this BOM at a later date

- Disappearing Nine-Patch:  finish stitching and pressing the new blocks

3.   Prepare/make a kit

- for Grandson #3's cross stitch ornament

He requested a T-Rex ornament, so my husband and I finally ended up choosing this pattern by   To ensure I am getting an original pattern rather than a copycat, I only purchase cross stitch patterns that include the color AND black and white patterns.    Not Done.

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

This Week's goals

1.  Finish - I am once again pulling projects from my little pink plastic case.  

 -  - the third pen holder I highly recommend cutting the fabric One change I would make is to sew a scant 1/4" seam.  

2.  Focus - 

- FoF BOM:  finish binding one hexie

- Maybe complete 10% of the Darth Vader ornament

- QAYG quilt - maybe join the row to the main piece or make a section to add at a later date

- FBF:   I'll be picking up this BOM at a later date

- Disappearing Nine-Patch:  Finish joining the blocks  together

3.   Prepare/make a kit

- for Grandson #3's cross stitch ornament

He requested a T-Rex ornament, so my husband and I finally ended up choosing this pattern by   To ensure I am getting an original pattern rather than a copycat, I only purchase cross stitch patterns that include the color AND black and white patterns.    

- for my only grandaughter's cross hand embroiderede ornament

She requested a beautiful floral arrangement by EmbroideryArtbyNatCA.

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

LITERARY LIFE   

MAILBOX MONDAY - is a gathering place for readers to share books that they added to their shelves or eBook readers the previous week.  Some of these books were recommended by you!  Do you see your reads below?  Thank all of you for sharing!

Here's what I've picked up this week.

ereaderiq.com I'm starting to post these titles on Instagram on the day I acquire them as the deals are short-term.

These are other books I've picked up this week.

**** The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins is helpful for anyone who struggles with the urge to "fix" others, worries about what people think, or feels blocked in reaching their goals. I found it to be a refreshing reminder of lessons I’ve learned in the past, but delivered from a new perspective. While there were a few points where I disagreed with the author, I still thoroughly enjoyed listening to her narrate this powerful book. Robbins not only backs up her theory with research but also provides clear, realistic examples of how to implement it in daily life. Highly Recommend.

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.  Here's this week's prompt:  What was the worst haircut you ever had?

This one had me chuckling because my worst haircut was when I tried to cut my hair!  Back then I had long hair that feathered back.  As a new mother, it seemed a easier to cut it myself.  I got the scissors and made a deep horizontal cut.  Yikes!  Luckily, my hairdresser took pity on me and fixed it within a few hours!  

My husband and I loved this sticker we found at Coas, our local bookshop.

Your comments are so appreciated! 

I read each one and will respond by email.

You can also expect a visit from me as well!

Here are the parties I sometimes link up with:  

Sundays

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