Philippians 2:16 Part 2. Hexagon Afghan Trick & To Do Tuesday.

Philippians 2:17
Scripture

Observation

Paul's eyes are on the bigger goal - the bigger purpose of his life - bringing people to Christ.  He realizes that his life on Earth is temporary, but his eternal life is exactly that --- eternal.  He doesn't want to arrive to the party without a "hostess gift":  The ones who came to Christ via God working in him.  


Plus, I see he needs a bit of a need for encouragement (or perhaps reassurance?).  He wants to be sure that all his labors, his work for Christ, his suffering has not been in vain - for naught.


Application
Honestly, I was prepared to move onto verse 17 today, but my good LORD stopped me in my tracks.  He gave me a peek into Paul's heart.  

I've always seen Paul as strong and confident.  However, as strong or confident we may seem, we all have our vulnerabilities.  

Maybe, just maybe, this sentence tucked away in verse 16 is showing a bit of his own vulnerability......

Today, my "take away" from verse 17 today is simple:  
1) Paul is most definitely an exhorter.  
2) Paul has needs and desires - one of which is to be sure his life, suffering, work has not been in vain.

Here's the big take away:
Our pastors are the same.  They need to be encouraged as well - and not just on Pastor Appreciation Sundays!

Was there a sermon that touched you?
Or even just a sentence they spoke?
Send him/her a note and let them know.

Is there a characteristic you love about your pastor?
Send him/her a note and let them know.

WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE 

OUR SPIRITUAL LEADERS!

Be it our pastors, deacons, or even our husbands/fathers.  

In my opinion, there's nothing like a note that they can read over and over again when they are discouraged.  

Gotta go.

I have a note to write.

Prayer

LORD, You have never failed to surprise me during this study.....and I thank You for that!  You are amazing!

Please encourage our pastors - and our spiritual leaders whenever they need it. Work through us to be Your instruments of encouragement by giving us discernment, wisdom and commitment to encourage them.  Amen!

Hexagon Afghan Trick

&

To Do Tuesday.

My work continues on my Hexagon Afghan!  Here's the progress I made this week!

 I almost met my To Do Tuesday goal 

of adding 30 more individual hexagons!  

I got to 27!  

I finding that if I crochet these hexagons

and then add them to the afghan,

it goes so much faster - 

at least mentally!

I'm loving this method!

Another To Do Tuesday Goal

was to cut out my $7.50 blocks.

I'm halfway there!

I did meet my goal of 

completing my Teal Blocks for RSC!

This week's To Do Tuesday Goals are simple:

1) Finish my BOMs - 

the $7.50 and Drunkard's Path

2) 30 more individual hexies added to the Hexagon Afghan.

I'm linking up to

Hookin’ On Hump Day at

Petals to Picot

And

Moogly

Oui Crochet Community  

Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River  

To Do Tuesday at Stitch All Things.    

Philippians 2:16. RSC 2017 - Teal/Aqua. Tip For Quilty 365.

Philippians 2:16.
Scripture




Observation
This verse certainly needs to be read in context.  










I posted about verse 14 here, here, and here.  If you like, check out verse 15's post! 


So, how can we do everything without grumbling or arguing?  By holing firmly to the Word of Life - God's love letter to us - the Bible.  Spending time in His Word.  

Application
I'm finding that as I'm feeling healthier, I am busier, more active.  This definitely leads to making it easy to make God second in my life.  I must improve in this area because...

His Word 
changes me,
strengthens me,
speaks to me.

So, I encourage all of you to make time for His Word.

Here's some ideas I had.
Instead of sewing in the doctor's office, read the Bible on my phone.

Listen to a chapter or two as I go for a walk or hand sew because it's during these activities I can really listen to Him.

Listen for His voice as He gently calls me to spend time with Him. 

Gently share what I'm learning.  As we know, when we teach others, the lessons go deeper into our own hearts and minds.
(By the way, this works in the classroom, too!)

Prayer
LORD, You know what kind of day today has been, but wow!  What a wonderful ending!  Thank You!  You are amazing, wonderful, gentle and so tender with me! Help me  to incorporate what You are wanting me to learn into my daily life! Help me not to let You down.  You are the best, LORD!  Thank You for all that You're doing in my life!
Amen.


RSC 2017 - Teal/Aqua
I finished February's RSC 2017 squares! Here they are!

 Have you noticed my blocks 

don't look very scrappy?

 I've always like string quilts.  

In fact, I decided that 2017 

would be the year 

I'd participate in 

the RSC Challenge & make a string quilt.  

So, I went through my stash and cut up a variety of strips in preparation for my first real string quilt.  

And I'm having so much fun!


Tip For Quilty 365
As of March 1, 2017 I've picked up my Quilty 365 again!  Part of this process means I have to figure out how many squares I need to make up. Counting days on a calendar is not appealing at all!

Here is a great website to help me figure out how many blocks I need to make! All I have to do is enter the last date I made a square - November 9, 2016 and February 28, 2017! 

And find out I have 117 squares to make up!  


                     

Yup, I can.  To prepare, I made this box of squares.  

After reading how others are making their quilts, I realized 
1) this will be more than one quilt, 
2) I will be learning a lot about quilting,
and
3) I need to be gentle with myself during this process.  

I truly believe that God is trying to teach me something via Quilty 365.  

I'm ready to learn.

I'm linking up to

Main Crush Mondays at Cooking Up Quilts

Monday Making at Love, Laugh, Quilt

Moving It Forward Monday 

at Em’s Scrapbag 

Scrap Happy Saturday at So Scrappy

Slow Stitching Sunday. Quilty 365

Slow Stitching Sunday.
I almost got my entire first row of my Grandmother's Flower Garden sewn together!

  My hands gave out at the last two seams!  I'm still rejoicing over getting so much done on it!  

Quilty 365

My Quilty 365 has fallen to the wayside - again.  I've picked it up again.  Here are my days for March thus far.  I am loosely basing my color choices on these color selections for a crocheted mood blanket that I lost interest in before I even started it!  :)

UPSET

MOODY

HAPPY

PEACEFUL

SAD

SICK/BAD DAY

The last time I worked on this was back in November!

I'll probably KISS 

(Keep It Simple, Sweetie)

this project and 

pick some random colors 

for those months.

From this point forward, 

I'll use the chart above, 

noting the reason 

I chose those colors in my date book!  Again, KISSing the process!  

Hopefully, I'll have more success 

keeping my commitment to this project

using this method!

Linking up to

Kathleen's Sharing Sundays

Kathy'sSlow Sunday Stitching

Philippians 2:15. Covered In Love

Philippians 2:15
Scripture
Observation
Doing everything without grumbling or arguing can be difficult.  But, look at the reason why God asks us to do this!  

So that we may become 

1) blameless

2) pure

3) children of God

4) without fault in a warped and crooked generation

5) to shine among them like stars in the sky.

We become.

This is a process.

As we learn to do EVERYTHING without 

grumbling or arguing,

we become all these things.

It takes time.

And it's worth it.

Application

These last few days, I've kept this Scripture in the back of my mind. 

God has helped me to control 

even my thoughts so as not 

to grumble mentally or argue.  

Guess what happened in my heart!!!!

My empathy, love, understanding, tenderness, patience and gentleness 

grew even more!

I learned that if we focus on the negative,

we receive negative.

But, my dear reader, if we learn to focus on building the character of Christ in ourselves, 

We become free.

Prayer
LORD, thank You for this time together!  I am learning so much from this study and pray that others are blessed as well.  Help me to remember what You are teaching me that I may live it out.  When I fail, gently help me to ask forgiveness and to forgive myself!  Father, life is so much more pleasant with grumbling or arguing!  Thank You for teaching me this lesson!
Amen.
                                     
Covered In Love

I finished my January/February 
Covered in Love blocks.  
Kat's tutorial was so easy to follow!

My blocks seem to have a 
mind of their own 
as they chose their finished sizes!
My daughter suggested that I add

1/8" to my cuts 

so that my blocks won't be too small.

How do you all manage this quandary?

I am learning so much via Kat's 
Covered In Love Block Drives!
They fulfill such an important need!
Here is the tutorial for the 
March-April drive 
just in case you're interested!

I'm linking up to

Can I Get a Whoop! Whoop!

atConfessions of a Fabric Addict 

Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Sew Some Love at Kat and Cat Quilts 

The Blessing of a Quilt.

Philippians
My husband is sick right now, so my time has been devoted to him.  I'll continue this study as he improves.  It's not serious, praise God!  He just needs some TLC.  😊


Perhaps you are so tired of seeing this quilt, but I have one more story to share and it will be illustrated with the various blocks of my Victory Quilt.  

Grab of cup of coffee, relax, and enjoy!

By the way, if you just found me, you can read the entire story about this special quilt here and here.  

The Blessing of a Quilt
I have always felt in my heart that when I give an afghan/quilt to someone, I'm blessing them because I've prayed for them as I create. Not the entire time I'm creating, but I do pray for them.  




While my husband and I were in the Emergency Room yesterday, God was raising up prayer warriors.  One of them was Rebekkah Guider (heaven_on_art). Other than liking and commenting on posts, we really don't even know each other!   Do me a favor and check her out - she's amazing!

She gave me permission to share our conversation, so I go forward with joy and confidence.  


She gave me a new

perspective on quilt the quilt I made my husband:

"He (my husband) was and is your covering...but, 

the intricate quilt you made him

is from Jesus.  

It represents that you cover him as well.

That you hold his heart

and care for him...

that you cover him with prayers."

-Rebekkah Guider 3/2017

I needed those words for a few reasons.

I tend to see how others give to me, but I don't always see how I give to others.

My dear reader, 

be encouraged!

Know that whatever 

quilt, afghan, even a charity quilt block 

you give 

is a covering of your love and 

blessing on the recipient.  

It doesn't matter if 

they truly appreciate your gift 

because they are already covered by love.

Quilters, 

crocheters, 

knitters, 

weavers, 

creators of coverings,

our gifts are 

covering the world

with love.

By the way,

all you bloggers out there

who so generously share your tutorials,

are contributing to this!

Thank you!

Thank you, LORD, 

for this revelation

and encouragement.

I pray I never doubt and 

always remain humble

by the opportunities You give me

to cover Your children with love - 

Your love and mine.

Amen!

Dear Friend, this is my truth!

I hope you have enjoyed

reading this installment 

about my 

Victory Quilt!

I'm linking up to

Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Needle and Thread Thursday at 

My QuiltInfatuation