Wednesday's Word. Wednesday Wrap Ups. Pressing On.

Hello There,
It's good to be back.  Here's what's been happening since last I linked up!  I've been enjoying many of your blogs and am glad to be back for at least a season!  

Wednesday's Word.
I was reading Psalm 10 the other day and was amazed at the power of this Psalm when I replaced the words referring to the defeated one/enemy with "coronavirus".  I reread the Psalm again this morning and was greatly encouraged as  David's cry of seemingly abandonment transitioned to a cry of praise and victory.
In verse one, he shared his hurt with God:  

Then in verses 2-11 he describes the many injustices he sees as he focuses on the enemy.
But, beginning in verse 12, a change happens as David begins to focus on God instead.  He appears to remember who God is and his heart is encouraged!  He prays for God to move on his behalf!

Finally, in verses 16-17 David is praising God for all he is worth.  

In my Bible, I wrote, "Take that, coronavirus!"  

As my family and I are dealing not only with this issue, but also deeply personal losses during this time, I am learning to 1) let God know how I feel, 2) tell Him of the injustices I see, 3) remember who He is, 4) pray for victory and 4) praise Him with all my heart!

Yes, we are in challenging times, 

but God still sits on the throne.  

Yes, we are being challenged as never before, 

but God still sits on the throne.  

Life with its joys and sorrows marches on, 

but God still sits on the throne.  

Amen?  Amen!

Wednesday Wrap Ups 
During my absence, I have finished a few projects.  I got my Morning Glory Quilt top back from my Long Arm Quilter, bound it with a scrappy binding and love it!  

The pattern is by Kate Spain  and I used her Early Bird collection.  This was our first annual Mother-Daughter QAL project.  It was so much fun that my daughter and I decided to continue the tradition this year.  
Pressing On

Last time my goals were:
1.  Visit Daddy and Mama.✔ via FaceTime
2.  Finish up this month's Stitcher's Garden block and finish up one "tardy" block. X

Wow, rereading these goals reminds me of a simpler time in life.  Now my goals are a bit different.
This Week's Goals
1.  Visit with Daddy and Mama via FaceTime.
2.  Garden 
3.  Make more face masks
4.  Sew for fun.

Take care my dear Reader, take good care!

Check out these fun parties!

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication  (on Wednesdays)
To Do Tuesday @ Home Sewn By Us
Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? @ Confession of a Fabric Addict (on Fridays) 

Your comments are so appreciated!  I read each one and will respond by email to you!  :)

Thoughtful Tuesdays. To Do Tuesday.

Thoughtful Tuesday

Today I would like to share Color Coded Bible Study, a method discussed by Ruth O'Neal at TheMennonite.  I’m going to give you a brief outline, but her post has all the details.  You will need a Bible that you will be coloring in, colored pencils, a pen, a highlighter and a notebook. 

1. Read the chapter you have chosen to study.  
2. Then, follow her suggestions for coloring in various details of the chapter. Sometimes I do this step in one sitting, sometimes over a period of days.  It’s up to you and how the Holy Spirit is working in your heart.
3. Your next step is to read the chapter as if you are the author and journal about who you are, where you are and who your audience is. 
4. Now you’ll read the chapter again, but from the perspective as the recipient.  Journal about the message you are being sent.  During both of these steps, I often refer to my color-coding and the results are amazing!  The depth of awareness increases in even the most familiar passages of Scripture. 
5. Next you move onto following the “bread crumbs” – the extra references in the margins of your Bible.  Ruth has excellent guidingquestions for this step! 
6. The next step is to see what scholars have to say about your passage.  For now, I’m using Biblehub as a reference for this part. Again, seek out Ruth’spost for this section.  Her additional comments will greatly enrich your study.
7. Finally, apply what you’ve learned to your life! 

I applied this to Psalm 1.  Here’s what it looked like. The paper is white - not sure why it came out the way it did, but I like it! 

The framing was just a bit of doodling…..

Here’s what my Bible looked like in May when I did my “dry run”.  When I picked up Psalms to begin this study last week, I gleaned so much more as I journaled! 

 Thank you, Ruth for sharing such a powerful tool!

To Do Tuesday

Last Week's List

Progress was greatly hampered by a misfortune - I cut my middle finger with a rotary cutter.  Yuck!  How I caught my middle finger is beyond me.  I refused to go into the ER and opted to treat it at home with my dear husband doing the heavy lifting.  After several days of Neosporin and bandages, I am down to just a band-aid and alternating Neosporin and fresh aloe vera.  

As it was on the side of the ancillary node dissection and lumpectomy, I called my surgeon who said as long as it doesn't  get infected, I am good.   My PCP said it looks good and sent me off for a tetanus shot.  

I did order the Klutz Glove and will be a faithful user of it!  :)

1) Backpack:  I would like to stitch all around my quilted pieces to seal the edges.  After that, I am going to prepare the rest of the pieces by fusing the various interfacings, making the bias binding, padded handle, straps and strap tabs. I also need to prepare the front flap of the backpack pocket.  It sounds like a lot, but I do not think it will take too long.  ✔ This was before I cut myself.

2) The actual instructions for sewing the Oreo Orca are three pages with tons of pictures.  I am hoping to finish the following sections:  patches, tummy, tail, fin and sewing the top together.  Luckily, there is a "Sew with Me" webpage!  I am getting excited about this project!  X To be added to this week.  I did manage to cut out all the pieces and get some parts sewn on!

 The white fabric is a glow-in-the-dark fabric!

3) Continue making those pretty, green flowers for my Spring Granny Square Afghan! X Crocheting was out of the question, maybe this week?  I did however make these yo-yos!

4) Finish the flimsy for Comfort Quilt #3.  X

5) Make more four patches - of course! X

This Week's List
will look a lot like last week's list.  

1) Backpack:  Hopefully get through at least 1/2 of section 3's instructions.

2) Oreo Orca:  I would like to finish the  tummy, tail, fin and sewing the top together.  The "Sew with Me" webpage is helpful!  

3) If I'm able, I would like to finish the green flowers for my Spring Granny Square Afghan! 

4) Finish the flimsy for Comfort Quilt #3.  

5) Trim my four patches.

Hope you will visit and link up to these great parties!

 To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things

Linky Tuesday @ Freemotionby the River

Trekking Thru The Week @ Trekking Thru

Slowing Down. To Do Tuesday. Another Finished Flimsy.

Hello There!  
I hope you all are doing well and enjoying Spring weather!  Here in Southern New Mexico we are expecting our high temps to be in the lower 90's already!  Yikes!

Slowing Down.
Late last week, I noticed that I'm having a "fibro flare up" - fibromyalgia has decided to rear it's ugly head again.  With end of the semester obligations, the timing is terrible - but then again - there is never a perfect time!

Instead of barreling through, I've decided to take care of myself.  One way of self-care will be writing "mini posts" instead of my usual full posts.  I'm sure you all understand and perhaps can be blessed by this Scripture:
   Blessings to you all!

To Do Tuesday.
Last Week's List:

This week's To Do Tuesday List:

1) Catch up and keep up with my Quilty 365 Oh oh!

2) Continue crocheting my Granny Squares Cardigan!  Done!

3) Begin a baby quilt with the scraps from the Simple Scrappy Sampler! Done and finished!

4) Continue stitching my Fabri-Flair project!  Oh oh!

This week's To Do Tuesday List:

1) Catch up and keep up with my Quilty 365 - for reals already!

2) Comment on last week's linky parties.

Then, health permitting, 

3) Continue crocheting my Granny Squares Cardigan!  

4) Begin a baby quilt with the remaining layer cake squares from the Simple Scrappy Sampler! Can you believe there's still some left?  

5) Continue stitching my Fabri-Flair project!  

Let's be real....Probably just #1 and #2!  :)

Another Finished Flimsy.
After finishing up the Simple Scrappy Sampler, I wanted to also finish up using the leftover fabric, so I started  this baby quilt!  

 I added a white border,

then a pink border!

Aren't my friend's shoes so cute? :p

The backing is Kate Spain's Paradiso with parts of the remaining layer cake in the middle!

My sweet daughter

will be quilting 

this one for me

and adding the binding - 

which will probably be purple!

I'm linking up to

Moving It Forward Monday @

Em’s Scrapbag

Fiber Tuesday at

The Quilting Room with Mel

       To Do Tuesday @ Stitch All Things

Linky Tuesday @

Freemotion by the River

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication

Facing My Artistic Fears. Bible Journaling. Psalm 46:1

Facing My Artistic Fears

I so enjoy cruising on the Internet admiring the various methods of Bible journaling.  I’m sure you’ve heard of it, but if not, a quick web search will show you how therapeutic and beautiful Bible Study can be.  Adding art can only enhance our time with God…..right?

I really want to get into this type of Bible Study!  I have the journaling Bible, the nice colored pencils and such.  But, fear keeps me from actually journaling IN my Bible.

I don’t want to ruin it.

I don’t want to do it wrong.

Fear Will Not Control Me

Or

My Time With God.

I had always heard this acronym and I love it!

http://ann-vu.com/post/49236937438/fear-is-nothing-but-false-evidence-appearing

But then a quick Google search yielded this acronym and I love it, especially for today’s purposes. 

http://quotesgram.com/life-of-fear-quotes/

I want to Face Everything And Rise! 

I'm fearful, but I want to beat down that fear.

So, I'm going to go for it.

Bible Journaling With Stickers

Then I saw this blog entry by Rachel Wojo.  Have you heard of her?  I have participated in her powerful monthly Bible Reading Challenges.  

http://rachelwojo.com/study-bible-stickers/

When I read her entry, I thought, “I have stickers, I can draw those designs….I can do this!”

So, I am.  

I might even be courageous enough to share them with you.

Maybe...........

And then I found this website!  I absolutely relate to 
Jenny!  My art skills are similar to hers.

She made some deep points:
Bible Art Journaling is not about perfection - it's about spending time with God.

Amen!
Off I go to grow and spend time with Him.  

Psalm 46:1

Here is another scripture I added to my Alphabetical Scripture Memorization Cards.  Thank God He is there - an EVER PRESENT help in times of trouble.  Are you facing trouble today?  Are you feeling a bit lost and unsure.  

He is your ever present help.  

He hears your cries in the deep, dark night.  

He hears you.

Yes, you.

When He starts working, power moves in your life.  

Peace comes.

Even if our circumstances don't change, 

He brings the peace that passes all understanding.

http://lighthousebiblestudies.com/katy-kauffman-blog/guest-post-erin-elizabeth-austin-it%E2%80%99s-wonderful-life

Trust Him, go ahead!  What do you have to lose?

Dear Friend, this is my truth!