Philipppians 4:21. To Do Tuesday on a Friday!

Philippians 4:21
Scripture

Observation
To greet all of God's people...so loving to let them know Paul is thinking of them.  Also, can you imagine the brothers and sisters who are with Paul, perhaps even listening as he may have dictated his letter?

I wonder if many of these had family who heard the greetings?  Greetings filled with love sent via the pages of a letter.  Beautiful.

Application
In this age of technology, we seem to be losing the art of letter writing.  Perhaps I need to pick it up again....

Also, I've noticed that whenever I'm on the phone with loved ones, especially my parents, we end our conversations sending greetings to everyone in our two homes - as well as saying, "I love you."  In fact, during my daily calls to Dad, "I love you," are the last words we say to each other.  Greetings filled with love.

Prayer
Father God, thank you for the word "greetings"!  I love envisioning Paul sending his greetings as well of those of the brothers and sisters who are with him.  I'm so grateful that I can still share greetings of love with my parents.  Thank you, Abba, for that gift.  Amen.

To Do Tuesday
Last Week's List 

1) Even though I'm working more this week, I think I'll be able to finish the second Tumbling Blocks prototype. This one is going much better!  Done!

2) Finish crocheting five blue and yellow flowers of the Maria's Blue Crayon Spring Granny Afghan Crochet ! I wonder if adding starting to join them is too much for my hands?  We'll see......  Done!

3) Use up the rest of the strings for the CIL blocks. Done!

4) Make progress on Prayer Shawl #7. This week our Cancer Care Group meets, so I'll be able to work on this one.  I usually reserve this project for this meeting night.  Done!

5) Pray my prayer and memorize Genesis 50:20a  A friend at church recommended using Post-It notes all around the house to memorize Scripture.  I'm going to try that.  LORD knows I have enough of them! Done!

This Week's List
Being that my last To Do Tuesday was 2 1/2 weeks ago - of course it got finished - thankfully!
Here's my new list which will be short because Tuesday is just around the corner!

1) Do a fabric pull for the new Y-seams Tumbling Blocks prototype with my new Accuquilt Die. 

2)  Finish joining Row 2 of the Maria's Blue Crayon Spring Granny Afghan Crochet.


3) Do a fabric pull for the new CIL block drive.  

4) Finish the Felt Nativity Calendar.

  I only need 3 more ornaments!

 I hope you check out these fun link ups!  

To Do Tuesday 

@ Stitch All Things

Can I Get a Whoop! Whoop!

@Confessions of a 

Fabric Addict 

Finished or Not Friday 

@ Busy Hands Quilts

Finish It Up Friday 

@ Crazy Mom Quilts

Crystal Twaddell’s

Fresh Market Friday 

Philippians 4:19. Friday Finish - A Fun Journal Cover

Philippians 4:19
Scripture

Observation
Paul was so grateful for the gifts the Philippians sent!  We discussed how important tithing is and I shared when we first started tithing roughly 30 years ago and another view on Philippians 4:18 here.  Philippians 4:19 is our promise - God will supply all our NEEDS.  The awesome part is that He will supply all our needs according to HIS riches and glory!  Therefore, there is absolutely no way we can outgive God!  Application
Honestly, it has took me a while to trust this verse.  Many times God would nudge me to give at church or somewhere or even to someone else.  I wouldn't out of fear that we would fall short at home.  
However, as my faith grew, I did begin heeding His call and we never, ever fell short.  
Prayer
Abba, thank You for the opportunities You have given me to bless others.  You are amazing in that we never fell short.  Forgive me, I pray, for the times I was disobedient.  Now, I'm grateful that You have taught me to be not only a cheerful giver, but a faith-filled giver.  Your patience with me has allowed me to grow in You.
Thank You, dear Abba! Amen. 

Friday Finish

Do you like 

my new journal cover?  

It was fun to make as I used my Accuquilt Fun Flower Die

and 

practiced my applique skills.  

Actually, it's for my granddaughter.  There's so much I want to say to my grandchildren, but with the oldest being only 8 years old, they might not understand.  So, I write them notes in these journals.  One day they'll read them and perhaps understand.  I've decided to print out photos we take on regular copy paper and include them in our journals.  

Here are some more covers of my personal journals.

My personal journal

I used to use this 

washi tape journal 

for Bible Journaling....

I'm not an artist, but I try..... :)

 When I was first diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer (in Nov. 2014), a dear friend recommended I keep notes of doctor appointments, labs, personal notes, etc.  This was my lifeline for a bit.  

Sometimes, when reading a book, I come upon life lessons.  They go in here.

Can you tell 

how much I love journals?  

Heart Encouragement  Thursday

@ Crystal Storms

Faith on Fire @

Fuel For A Wildfire Faith

A Quilter’s Reading Garden

Crystal Twaddell’s

Fresh Market Friday

Oh Scrap! 

@ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Can I Get a Whoop! Whoop!

@Confessions of a Fabric Addict 

Finished or Not Friday

@ Busy Hands Quilts

Finish It Up Friday

@ Crazy Mom Quilts

Show Off Saturday @ 

Sew Can She 

  
Thank you for commenting - 
you made my day!

Philippians 4:17. Double Duty Table Topper. Tumbling Block Help Please.

Philippians 4:17
Scripture
Observation
Paul knows that God will bless those who give.  So do I.  I've lived it.  Yes, he certainly appreciates the gifts, the care and the thoughtfulness the Philippians showed him.  But, he knows that we can't "out-give" God.  


Application
You know, 
I see this verse about receiving gracefully.  
It's so easy 
to give, 
to be there when a loved one needs us,
to help a friend.

But what about 
when we 
are on the receiving end?  
Do we
receive gracefully and gratefully?  

Or do we feel "bad" 
about receiving?  
To be honest, I sometimes do.

But, I'll be learning.
Because others are blessed when they give - 
even to me.

I want my loved 
ones to be blessed by God, 
not just by me.
Then, their faith 
will be strengthened 
as they give.  

Just as mine has been.
That alone is a blessing in itself!

Prayer
Father, wow...such a huge life lesson from 17 words:  
Receive with grace
that others may be blessed.
Thank you, Abba!
Amen.

Double Duty Table Topper
When I saw this tutorial at 
Karen from Sister of the Great Divide, I was hooked!  It works wonderfully on my round table and, because I used a backing fabric that can be fall or Christmas, 

it saw me through the holidays!

Maybe I'll remember to make some for every season!

Thank you, Karen, for such a great tutorial!

Help, Please!
Ok.  I want to make my son a quilt.  I asked him to choose a pattern and he did:  the tumbling block quilt.  I loved his choice!  I found this tutorial and got to work.  

I did pretty good as you can see.  Here was part of it on my design board. 

I "kinda" noticed that some of my green parallelograms 

were cut a bit wonky, 

but ignored them.   

Friends, don't do that.

Your quilt will turn out like this:

hardly a point matching.

Now, I'm definitely determined.

I'm making another tumbling block baby quilt.

Yup.

Now I know:

1) be careful with cutting

2) be careful with color placement.

3) I will do this!  :)

To address the cutting issue:  

Yes, I must be more careful.  I wondered if my Accuquilt could rescue me....

I own an Accuquilt with various dies and the 9" Cube.  Surely there must be a combination of dies that would help make a tumbling block square?  

Any ideas?  I sure would appreciate any help you can offer!

Linking up to

Oh Scrap! @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Can I Get a Whoop! Whoop!

@Confessions of a Fabric Addict 

Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hands Quilts

Finish It Up Friday@ Crazy Mom Quilts

Philippians 4:12 - 13. Covered In Love Blocks. Book Date.

Philippians 4:12
Scripture

Observation
Verse 11 stated that Paul learned to be content whatever his circumstances.  He goes onto to say in this verse that he 
- knows what it is to be in need and to have plenty; 
- he learned the secret of being content in any and every situation
- whether he is fed/hungry or living in plenty/in want.  

Regardless of his circumstances, he has learned the secret of being content.  

Application
Wow.
Who of us can say that regardless of our circumstances, we have learned the secret of being content.  What is that secret? 
My heart cries out to know it.
What is that secret?!!
Here it is:

I. Can. Do. All. Things. Through.  Him. Who. Gives. Me. Strength.

ALL THINGS.

Even find contentment in the midst of great trials.  
We can do this - moment by moment - one day at a time.
Be gentle with ourselves.  

As I go through my trial, I have a prayer I'll be praying.  A friend taught it to me.

Perhaps there is some a problem that is 
- completely out of your control, 
- or perhaps you need to walk away so that God's will will be done.  
Your heart is broken.
You have no power in the situation.
It's time to let go and let God.
And it's so excruciatingly difficult and painful.

My dear reader, God can be trusted, with our
fears,
pain,
emotions, 
loved ones - 
everything.

Prayer
Abba, I praise You for Your leading, for Your strength, for You.  As I walk through the valley, I know others are walking that way as well.  Bless us with courage, strength and peace my LORD.  Let us lean on Your everlasting arms and recieve Your comfort and joy - for it is Your joy that is our strength.  Let us learn to be content in all circumstances.  Let us learn and see that we can do all things through You who strengthens us!
Amen.

Covered In Love Blocks
Tonight I finished these 12 blocks for Covered in Love. 

I still have some strings left, so next Monday, I'll be making some more!  I wrote about this wonderful charity and my reasons for participating here.  

Perhaps you have time to make a few string blocks?

Book Date

https://www.goodreads.com/
book/show/41958.
Nights_of_Rain_and_Stars

I'm still enjoying Nights of Rain and Stars by Mauve Binchy!  I just love the characters and can hardly wait to see where their lives will end up!

https://www.amazon.com/
NIV-Story-Audio-CD-Continuing/
dp/0310421772

Our church is reading The Story The Bible As One Continuing Story of God.  Also, very enjoyable.  I really like the comments interspersed throughout the pages.  



Linking up to

Monday Making @ Love, Laugh, Quilt

Main Crush Mondays

@Cooking Up Quilts

Moving It Forward Monday @ Em’s Scrapbag

Showand Tell Mondays with Bambi

It’s Monday!

A Quilting Reader's Garden

What Are You Reading? @ Book Date

Philippians 4:11. Covered In Love. 2018 Library Love Challenge.

Philippians 4:11
Scripture

Observation
I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  

Whatever. 
The. 
Circumstances.
Application
To be content whatever the circumstances?  Think of Paul's life:  
flogged
imprisoned
beaten
stoned
shipwrecked
lost at sea
hunger
cold
under constant threat
(2 Cor. 11:16-30)
Yet, he learned to be content in 
WHATEVER
circumstance.
As we journey into 2018, can we 
seek at least 30 seconds of contentment every day?
joy?
gratitude?
Sometimes, even this can be so difficult to do as we are buffeted by life.
Maybe, just maybe, if we can achieve this goal every day for 30 seconds,
the next week will find us doing it for 45 seconds,
60 seconds,
15 minutes
and so on.
Baby steps 
to contentment.

Prayer
Dear LORD, You know how hard we fight to be happy, but to me, joy is more important.  For when we have Your joy, we have strength Nehimiah 8:10.  Please give us strength to spend 30 in a state of contentment every day - regardless of our circumstances.  Lead us out of darkness into Your light.
Amen, my Abba, Amen.

Covered In Love Blocks Finished
As I perusing my "drafts" in blogger I found this post!  Unbelievably, (or not so much in my case!  :D), I forgot to share this finish with you last year! 

I was able to make the 20 blocks for the August/September Covered In Love Block drive!  Yea!

For those of you new to this project, Kat is a nurse whose mission it is to help families as they say goodbye to their loved ones.  Nurses or hospital chaplains deliver a quilt to the dying patient and cover them with this gift of love.  Then family members have a transitional item to take home with them.  This quilt will provide incredible comfort in the days and years to come.  I know.  You see, when my mother-in-law was dying, my daughter bought a simple quilt from Target that, 10 years later, still brings my husband great comfort when he is feeling down.

So, to honor her memory, I make blocks for Covered in Love.  

For January and February Kat from Kat and Cat Quilts has brought back my favorite blocks for Covered In Love - string blocks!  Here is a sampling of blocks my daughter and I made last time:

 We left them at the 10.5" requested,

 played with layouts,

and I learned how pretty a constant color in each block just pops.  

I wonder if you might have some strings needing a home?

2018 Library Love Challenge

After much patience, I have finally finished a novel!  This is a huge achievement because during and after chemotherapy, reading books was such a challenge!   After much patience, perseverance and re-reading, I finished my first book, The Red Tent by Anita Diamant!

To the best of my recollection, I started it in Sept/Oct 2017 and finished it in early Dec.  It took a while, but I did it, praise God!  
To mark this special occasion, I decided to join the 2018 Library Love Challenge.  

I heard about it at Irresponsible Reader.  This challenge had me at "support your local" library.  I'm all for supporting local businesses and organizations.  

My next read is Maeve Binchy's Nights of Rain and Stars.  I'm also thoroughly enjoying this one as well!

Linking up to

Monday Making @ 
Love, Laugh, Quilt

Main Crush Mondays

@ Cooking Up Quilts

Moving It Forward Monday @ Em’s Scrapbag

Show and Tell Mondays with Bambi

It’s Monday! WhatAre You Reading? @ Book Date

Philippians 4:8 Part 2. Craft Project Management System. Quilty 365.

Philippians 4:8 Part 2
Part 1 Part 3
Scripture
Observation
A list of what to focus on, what to think about.  Each attribute is considered excellent and praiseworthy.  
Application
So, lately I've been pondering this verse - a lot.  It would be wonderful if we could always think on these things, but the truth is we can't.  

Life happens.

Consequently, 

our thinking gets distorted.  

So, what do we think then?

That's what I've 

been thinking about.  

What do we think then?

What do you thinkthen?

What do I think then?

Sometimes, 

my thinking is just the opposite of this verse.

I've decided to combat my 

negative thinking 

with God's Word.  

A quick search of 

"You Say, God Says"

showed many cool printables.

Here are links to a few.

Hashtag En·Courage 

Faith Filled Food For Moms

Meet Penny

Grace, Faith, Glitter

(with a cool mini tutorial on making your own Scripture cards)

May I encourage you to memorize Scripture?  Friends, I firmly believe that, combined with praise and worship music, this is one of the major ways to encourage ourselves, to fight the enemy and to live out Philippians 4:8 victoriously.  

Prayer

LORD, I need a way to live out Philippians 4:8.   For so many of us, it's so much easier to negative, ugly thoughts.  Help us to fill our minds with Your Word.  Help Your Word come to our minds in ALL times that we may live victoriously all the time.  After all, I've believed for many years that 

You are good all the time and

all the time, You are good!  

Amen!

Simple Minds

Here's a funny story.  I used this mind map - Simple Mind+ - as my craft project management system.  I worked my way from 0% to 33% finished WIPs!  I don't know hat got into me, but I forgot about it and used a different system this year - 

with no way to track my progress.  I've decided to go back to Simple Mind+ again starting September 25, 2017. 

I was able to go through all my projects - again - and found a bunch more WIPs!  I've also decided to be happy about them - even though my WIP now number at 63!  Remember Philippians 4:8?  God's timing is perfect.  

I already finished a boot cuff set, so my completion rate is a whopping .015%!  I have a long way to go, but it's better than 0%!  (All encouragement is gratefully accepted!)  :)

Quilty 365
Well, on September 11, 2016 I started quite accidentally the Quilty 365 journey.  I finished it this month.   It's been fun and I look forward to making a quilt out of all my squares.  Here are August's and September's blocks!

How exciting it that?  It's been a real journey as this was the time I was recovering from chemotherapy during this time and sometimes it was really hard to keep up.  

But I did it.  
Sure enough, I did it.
By the grace of God, I did it.

God is good all the time; 
all the time, God is good.

Linking up to:

Midweek Makers @

Quilt Fabrication

Needle and Thread Thursday @

My Quilt Infatuation

Heart EncouragementThursday @ Chrystal Storms

Hookin’ On Hump Day @

Petals to Picot

And

Moogly

I Like @ NotAfraid of Color