Stitchin' Post Satruday--20 June 2009

Another Saturday to share what we are working on needle or craft wise.

It's been a good week around here in terms of making some progress. I'm well on my way to prepping some t-shirts for a quilt. I finished binding a quilt and I got plenty of stitching in as well. Yay!

Here is the quilt that has been finished for ages, except for the binding. Now it is totally bound as well.


And, here is Stargazer at 17 hours. I'm totally loving this piece. Enjoying every stitch I make (and even those I have to frog *sigh*).


So, what are you working on? Please share a direct link in the comments!

In Other Words---I Call Him Lord

“We need to get to the point where we are tired of God just being a resident of our life
and make Him President of our life,
the Commander and Chief,
the One in charge.”

~ David Jeremiah

It is so easy for us to verbalize that God is leading our life, but then act as if we are the ones in control. I believe that the essence of this quote is that we need our words and our actions to line up. We need to surrender to God's control of our life. We need to follow him and him alone.

But I am hung up on the titles that Dr. Jeremiah attributes to God. President and Commander-in-Chief are titles that are given to someone elected to lead our country or a business for a specified period of time. In truth, I believe that is how we often treat God--as someone elected to lead for a specified period of time. We, by our actions, say "God why don't you make the decision of where I go to school, but I'll take over after that" or "God I'll let you choose my spouse but I'll choose how I submit" or "Thanks for providing the job, God, now I'll do the day-to-day." God never asked for only a specified part of my life. He asked for it all.

He didn't ask to be my President, he asked to be my Lord. The difference is subtle, but important. A review of definitions of both words show that they are both leaders over others. The difference is in where their authority lies. A president receives his or her authority by election or selection. A Lord receives authority by position, usually by birth. When I say that Jesus is Lord in my life I am acknowledging that he alone holds a place of power and leadership and that no one else can hold that power of position. It is not for a specified time; it is for eternity.

I agree with Dr. Jeremiah that I need to relinquish control of my life to my Saviour. I want to relinquish control as to my Lord forever and not just for a short period of time.

Karen at In Love W.I.T.H Jesus chose this challenging quote. Please visit to see what others are saying.

Flabbergasted!

It is not often that I am left speechless, but someone out there in blogsphere has rendered me just that.

This post of mine has been selected as Blog Post of the Day at The Rising Blogger.

I have no idea who nominated me, but thank you.

I'm honored.

The timing was a God-sent affirmation that I'm pursuing something that matters when I type out my thoughts into these posts.

And, the sweet words spoken in the announcement post must have been meant for someone else. But again, I thank you.

June Goal Post

June sure snuck up on me! Here is my goal post for June.

May, revisited: huge failure as far as these goals, only accomplised the second and seventh ones! But I had a great month going to London with German, a church retreat and engaging with friends who were moving away. The month was a success, the goals were misguided.

May Goals:
1. Complete 50% Stargazer (a new start! yay)--approx 20% complete
2. Finish Kristin's All About Me RR--done!
3. Work on Bent Creek Season Row--Summer
4. Finish 3 blocks for sampler quilt and pin top
5. Prep T-shirts for T-shirt quilt
6. Quilt Around the World quilt (already pinned)
7. Complete office reorganization--done!
8. Complete closet clean-out (have done mine and girls, need to do German's closet)

So, June goals will look very similar (imagine that!):
1. Complete 50% Stargazer
2. Work on Bent Creek Season Row--Summer
3. Finish 3 blocks for sampler quilt and pin top
4. Prep T-shirts for T-shirt quilt
5. Quilt Around the World quilt (already pinned)
6. Complete closet clean-out (have done mine and girls, need to do German's closet)

In Other Words--Safe or Wild?

What I believe is so magnificent, so glorious, that it is beyond finite comprehension. To believe that the universe was created by a purposeful, benign Creator is one thing. To believe that this Creator took on human vesture, accepted death and mortality, was tempted, betrayed, broken, and all for love of us, defies reason. It is so wild that it terrifies some Christians who try to dogmatize their fear by lashing out at other Christians, because tidy Christianity with all answers given is easier than one which reaches out to the wild wonder of God’s love, a love we don’t even have to earn.”


~ Madeleine L’Engle (emphasis mine)~

I've been observing a debate over the last few days. The issues are complex. The personalities are strong. And, even when they are debating whether or not they are lashing out, at times that is exactly what they are doing. Honestly, it is tiring to observe and I'm sure it is even more tiring inside the circle. But at the heart of what everyone is discussing is "how do we discuss difficult issues about Christianity and still keep people comfortable?"

I don't believe that you can.

And that is spoken from the heart of a people pleaser.

In order to grapple with the depths of what Christianity is all about, you have to get messy. This quote says that we can keep it tidy or we can experience the wildness of what God did for us. More and more in my life I see where I have tried to keep Christianity tidy. I have tried to tie it up in a pretty box with a pretty bow and make people comfortable. And I have wondered why my relationship with God becomes stale.

It is stale because I let it become stagnant and comfortable.

But the heart of Christianity was never comfortable. The heart of Christianity is that wild expression of love that took place on a cross at Calvary. It was not pretty. It was not cleaned up. And it most certainly was not comfortable. But it was exactly what I, along with every other sinner who has ever walked the face of this earth needed. It was a path to salvation.

Scott Krippayne sings in "Tell it Like it Is,"

If you wanna tell the truth
you gotta find someone who'll listen
then expect some opposition
'cause being honest is a risk
so i guess you'll have to choose
is the trouble you uncover
worth the freedom you discover
when you tell it like it is

Receiving salvation is as easy as believing Jesus is our way to heaven. But after that the Christian life is far from easy. It is a sacrifice to daily follow Jesus.
It takes real time and real devotion on our part to learn more of the way of Jesus. The truth is, real dialogue that grapples with what God did for us often leaves more questions that answers. We will never wake up one morning and realize that God has miraculously given us all the answers. He won't. Instead he wants us to learn his ways by walking with him, reading his word, interacting with other believers and serving others.

But when we have grappled with it, when we have embraced the wildness of God's love for us there is one thing that is certain--it is never stale.

When I was a kid, my mom went almost a year that she made all of our bread. Then one day, she put a plain loaf of white bread on the table. We all asked where the bread was. After eating fresh for so long, store bought tasted stale. That is how I want my walk with God to be. I want to experience the freshness and the depth of the relationship so intensely that the moment a counterfeit or safe Jesus is presented I want to detect it as stale. I don't want to ever embrace a stale faith again.

Are you experiencing the wildness of God's love? Take the risk. The rewards are amazing.

Father, thank you for loving me in such an amazing wild deep way that you were not willing to allow me to stay lost in sin. Thank you for Jesus' sacrifice that opens the way to a relationship with you. Thank you that he did not choose the comfortable over the necessary. Help me to abandon myself to the relationship with you. Alert me when someone is presenting a stale faith to me. Give me the courage to reject the safe and tidy for the wild and messy. And help me to show that depth of relationship to others. Amen.

Patricia is our hostess this week. Please come and be blessed.

Marriage Monday---Right for Each Other?

On paper, German and I are totally wrong for one another. Totally. Incompatible.

He the score-off-the-range extrovert who truly needs people around him all the time in order to regroup and re-energize. Me the score-off-the-range introvert who truly needs in the range 21 hours of alone time daily to re-energize. Incompatible.

He the quick to make a decision, easy to make judgments, thinker and me the let's mull it over a while, intuitive feeler. Incompatible.

He the Army brat who traveled the world and me who lived on the same plot of land (although changed houses at age 4) my whole life. Did I say incompatible?

On paper we are not right for one another.

But God does not deal with "on paper" statistics. And in God's economy, we are totally right for one another.

Because I can push him to learn to be content in the quiet and alone times. He can push me to be much more social. He can actually get us to the decision while I can share my intuition about how things may play out. My feeling tendencies balance his thinking. And he took this small town girl and gave her something she always wanted--the world. At the same time I was able to step to his side and be what he always needed--a wife that could support him no matter where in the world the job took him.

Does it matter that we appear to be complete opposites? No, that is exactly what makes us right for one another. Opposites can bring balance, and that is what we do for one another.

I'm so glad God didn't see the incompatibilities, but instead saw how we would complement one another! German is one of the greatest blessings I have ever received. My life would be incompatible without him.

Success in marriage isn't finding the right person, it's being the right person.

Join us at Christine's site Fruit in Season to hear more discussion on this awesome quote and how we are/are not "right" for one another.

Stitchin Post Saturday--on Sunday

Sorry guys, I was enjoying the heat wave yesterday and didn't post my Stitchin' Post.

Here is the little blue devil I completed for a friend's Round Robin.


Next week I'll be focusing on Stargazer once again.

What are you working on? Be sure and post a link in the comments since we are still unable to use Mr. Linky.

Have a great day!

In Other Words--You get what you Aim for

“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in.
Aim at earth and you get neither.”
~ C.S. Lewis

My Bible Study group had an interesting discussion on Friday. We are working through Kelly Minter's No Other Gods study. The lesson was on Abraham's offering of Isaac as a sacrifice. Ms. Minter maintains that Isaac as the child of promise had become, in essence, Abraham's idol. Yet, when God said to Abraham "offer him as a sacrifce" Abraham immediately set out the next morning to be obedient. That's the background for the discussion. But we were talking about how many times when God calls us to give up the "good" things in our life that have become the "most important" things in our life if we are obedient to his call of sacrifice ultimately he allows us to keep what we were called to forsake. The difference is now we keep it in proper perspective to God.

In the obedience of seeking what God wants first (i.e. 'aiming for heaven') we are able to keep the things that make us happy here on earth. Certainly, that is not always the case. There are times that the sacrifices that we make while aiming for heaven are permanent here on earth--but God gives us more in return.

But when we try to hold onto the things of earth instead of being obedient to God? We ultimately end up with neither earth or heaven. The things of earth ultimately pass away. In the interim they lose their luster in our lives. And things of heaven? Well they seem so far away because we chose disobedience. As the quote says we get neither.

Where is your aim today? Aim for the things that God has commanded. The blessings of earth so often will follow! May you feel those blessings today.

Our hostess today is Deborah at Chocolate and Coffee. Go, visit and be blessed!

Stitchin' Post Saturday--23 May 09

Welcome to Stitchin' Post Saturday!


Stargazer at 12 hours, I'm loving this pattern!


This is for a Round Robin. Can you guess what is going to be?


Mr. Linky is not cooperating very well this week, so no links. If you have something to show off, just let us know where in the comments. Have a great holiday weekend!

Walking, Crawling, Running---Just Keep Moving

In the chorus discussed in yesterday's In Other Words, the question is asked "will the love continue if my walk becomes a crawl?" I think that is another of those fears that we all struggle with at some point or another. Somehow we get it into our heads that God's love is dependent upon how much we are doing. We think that if we are struggling then God must be ready to abandon us.

But nothing could be further from the truth. God's love for us is based totally on his character and not on anything that we accomplish.

He loved us before we ever took our first breath.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
~Psalm 139:15-16~

He loved us enough to teach us to walk and to rescue us.

It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them.
I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love;
I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.
~Hosea 11:3-4~

He loved us while we were still unrepentant sinners.

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
~Romans 5:7-8~

He loves us when we are selfish children who are off doing our own thing.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
~Luke 15:20~

He loves us. Period. Full stop. No questions needed.

Certainly, he delights when are actively consciously seeking to serve Him. He calls for us to daily follow him and he wants us to grow in our daily walk with him. But he does not measure how fast that walk is. He does not say, "we made it 3 miles today but you went 6 yesterday so you better pick up the pace." Nor does he admonish us for making great strides. He simply wants the relationship to keep moving.

Relationships ebb and flow. There are times in our marriages or with our kids or with friends that we feel like we are sailing along, learning so much about each other and truly enjoying every aspect of the relationship. Then there are the times that it is really hard work--where communicating is difficult, when grace doesn't flow and when we honestly believe walking away would be best. But when we slog through those rough times we find on the other side the relationship is deeper and sweeter. It has added a layer of foundation that only comes through those experiences.

So it is with our Christian walk. There are times that we are practically running in our relationship with Jesus. We have lots of time to study our Bible, prayer is coming easy and the blessings are abundant. Then there are times that the pace is less frantic and more comfortable. It is still stretching us to grow and there is plenty of prayer and study but at a tempered rate. But then there are the times that it appears to be a hard slog. We just can't hear God as clearly because of pain or busyness or because he is simply asking us to wait. Our prayers may seem to fall on deaf ears. We may struggle just to read a verse or two. In those times, crawling may sound like a dream. We are just persevering. But somehow we keep moving, albeit at a snail's pace.

The good news is that all of those times are absolutely God ordained. He loves to run with us. He rejoices in the daily walk with him. But when he sees us crawling through the time of struggle just to stay with him, his heart delights. It brings him joy to see us not allow the difficulties of the world take away our desire to move with him. And he brings us rest when we persevere with him in the times he is refining us.

This is what the LORD says: "The people who survive the sword will find favor in the desert; I will come to give rest to Israel."
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness."
~Jeremiah 31:2-3~

~~~~~
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
~Matthew 11:28~

Does the love stop when we are crawling? Not at all. In fact, I find that is when he is pouring even more love into me to refresh and restore a weary soul. How amazing is that love!

He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
~Zephaniah 3:17b~

Whether you are running, walking or crawling I hope today you can rest in the love of Jesus. And if you are stuck in circumstances and feel you can't move as fast as you should, please remember that he desires for us to move with him and he will do the refreshing. Bless you all!

In Other Words--Failure

“What if I stumble, what if I fall?
What if I lose my step and I make fools of us all?
Will the love continue when my walk becomes a crawl?
What if I stumble, and what if I fall?”


Chorus from the song, “What if I Stumble?“
Artist: DC Talk
Album: Intermission

I have decided that my next quote is definitely going to be about God giving us a million dollars. Not that I know of any quotes like that, nor do I believe that He regularly does that. But I am certain that practicing having a million dollars would be much more fun than practicing failure. I'm just saying! What a month! And if you don't believe that God still speaks, you need to seriously get involved with the "In Other Words" writers and blogs. What you may not realize out there in blogdom is that these quotes are chosen a couple of months in advance for planning purposes. We don't consult on what quote we are going to use, so there is no planning of a "theme." Yet as they are posted onto our hostess site, time and time again it is obvious that God is weaving a thread of the same colour in and out of all of our lives. Have you seen the progression? "What you believe speaks through how you act" leads into "acting in such a time as this" leads into "trusting God when we can't see the path" leads into "failure". Maybe the thread hasn't been as clear in your journey, but each and every one of these quotes has spoken directly into my life at the moment. Including this week's on failure. So my apologies to those of you who God also chose to use this as a teachable moment.

When I decided to use this quote three and a half months ago it was totally innocent. We sang the chorus in church. I thought about how fear of failing keeps us from moving and how that impacts us in terms of lifestyle evangelism. I thought it would be interesting to hear others' thoughts. Eureka moment--this would make a great "In Other Words" post. So I posted it to the hostesses (thus committing it to the queue) and proceeded on my merry way.

Then the failure happened.

I was given a task to do. Suffice it to say that not everyone who was impacted by the task was thrilled that anyone was doing it. And even more than that, they were not thrilled at how I was doing it. And furthermore, they took huge offense at me personally. And it spiraled into an ugly mess. For an often-in-recovery-sometimes-off-the-wagon people-pleaser such as I am, this spoke one thing into my life.
FAILURE!
I failed to keep everyone happy. I failed to insulate the situation. I failed to keep a smile on each face.
FAILURE!

As we sing those words of the chorus above we are expressing the deepest fears we have. We are saying "God we hear you say 'move out there and do this' or 'live this way' or whatever we hear you say, but we are afraid of hurting your reputation." Hear me solidly on this, God's reputation is not dependent on us. His character is sound and will not change. We can be flat on our face in the mud of failure and He will still be on the throne and He will still be God. But He will also be leaning over, lifting us up, drying our tears and healing our wounds. He knows that we are going to fail. He knows that we are going to mess up. He knows that we will do things that cause people to say "those Christians they...(insert favorite hypocrisy here)." He knows it. And He still choses to use us! Why? Because He loves us. No matter what. All the time. Even before we acknowledged that we were in the mud of failure!

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
~Romans 5:8~

There are some of us who have caught a dream of what God can do in our community. At times, it seems like an impossible dream. The incident of perceived failure was but one task needed in accomplishing that dream. Not everyone around us is ready for the changes that could happen if God moves the way we dream He will. I get that. And I understand that what is perceived as a failure on my part is really just a small piece of a much larger picture. There are places in this that the failure was absolutely, utterly and totally mine. I fully accept that in the days that followed I fell over and over again. I failed to be gracious. I failed to be quick to forgive. I failed to not judge the hearts of others. I failed in tone and speech on more than one occassion. And God has graciously and consistently heard confession and extended forgiveness. Any failure that occurred was mine--and I have had to own it and deal with it before God. But it did not change God's reputation. And it did not change anyone else's reputation. If others take on my "failure" and make it their own, then they will have to answer to that. Could things have been done differently? Absolutely. But I believe with absolute certainty that it would have been a bigger failure to not act than it was to act even if others have labeled it as failing. A failure to ignore God's call to obediently act in faith is bigger than a misstep in attempting to follow Him.

This weekend I've been away at a church retreat. God has spoken into my life about failure in an amazing way. The speaker was using an analogy of the Christian life being like a roller coaster with ups and downs. He said there were highs but there were also places that appeared to be not working so well and we crash into the lows. Then he said that in anything he does, he builds in a chance for failure. He said that it was part of dreaming big. He made the comment that if there was a failure it would make a great story for his grandchildren, but if it succeeded "what a ride!" In the moment, God released me from so many of the "what ifs?" in this chorus. What if I stumble? There will still be a story to tell. What if I make a fool of myself? Oftentimes God uses the foolish things to highlight the best things. Can I really make a fool of someone else? Not unless they allow me to. My writing teacher in college would write "so what?" beside any unsubstantiated point we made in our persuasive writing assignments. I believe that may be the answer God is giving me regarding failing. What if I stumble? So what! It doesn't change who He is. It doesn't stop the love. But what if I succeed and the kingdom of God is impacted forever? Now, that is substantial. That is amazing. And how exciting to be able to say "what a ride!"

What fear is holding you back? Where is God saying "dream big" and you are saying "but what if..."? We are going to stumble. We are going to fail. But God is still God and it will not change who He is. But what if you make an impact for the kingdom? Isn't that worth the risk?

Father thank you for loving us in spite of our failures. Thank you for picking me up each and every time I fail. Thank you for continuing to urge me to dream big and go for huge gains in the kingdom. How amazing it is to me that You would choose to glorify yourself in the mere dreams and actions of someone like me, but you do! And I'm humbled and honored. Help me to never allow fear of what others may think keep me from being obedient. Glorify yourself in me. Amen.

Please sign the link if you have been inspired by this quote to write your reflections. We would love to come and be encouraged by you. I plan to write more tomorrow about the line "will the love continue when my walk becomes a crawl". I couldn't fit it all in today. Please come back!

NB: roller coaster photo is mine; other images are microsoft clipart

Stitchin' Post Saturday-16 May 09

We have church plans all weekend and I know that I'm not going to be able to get photos up of my work. I have added another 5 hours on Stargazer and worked on a Round Robin as well, so next week lots of pics. If you have any progress pics to show us, I'd love to see them. Until then, have a great week!

In Other Words Hostess

Tuesday I will be hosting In Other Words. This time I've chosen a chorus by DC Talk which I think speaks to the fears we all have at times about the mistakes that we are all bound to make. I pray that you will be blessed by the things that are written on Tuesday. If the quote inspires you, please write your own post and come back to link on Tuesday.

“What if I stumble, what if I fall?
What if I lose my step and I make fools of us all?
Will the love continue when my walk becomes a crawl?
What if I stumble, and what if I fall?”

Chorus from the song, “What if I stumble?“
Artist: DC Talk
Album: Intermission

In Other Words--Trust in the Darkness

“I learned that faith isn’t tested by how often God answers prayers with a yes
but by my willingness to continue serving Him
and thanking Him
even when I don’t have a clue as to what He is doing.”

Gary House
Seeking the Face of God:
The Path to a More Intimate Relationship with Him

"I know that you are waiting to hear where we are going to need you next."
"Yes, sir."
"Well I can't tell you yet, but I have something big in mind for you."
"ok...."

Variations of this conversation have taken place for a year. In the ebb and flow of business life, transitions happen. Usually, we have an idea of what that transition is fairly far in advance. This one, not so much.

And it has been the most difficult path yet.

In fact, we discussed just last night that if we did not believe wholeheartedly that God was working His plan in our lives, it would be easy to despair.

But we know He is working.

Just as assuredly as when we heard of the job in England and we had an immediate feeling of peace that "this was it." It's easy to listen to God when He gives a resounding "yes."

He is working.

Just as assuredly as when we were coming to grips with a move to a place we had never considered and just days before official announcments should have been happening the entire thing collapsed in such a way that we knew God was protecting us from something. It is easy to hear when God gives a resounding "no."

He is working.

Even though we can't see the path. Even though we have no idea what the next step looks like. Even when the decision makers can't seem to figure out where to next. In spite of all of this, God is working.

And my faith continues to grow. With each step in the darkness, I learn to trust Him a little more.

Sure I love the "yesses". I can accept it when the answer is "no." But in the times where the answer is "just trust me" the relationship becomes so much more intimate. So as much as I'd love a road map of the next year, I'm going to rest in the assurance that He has a plan that I can't see. I'm willing to bank on the fact that next year my understanding of faith will be even deeper. And that is His ultimate goal anyway--to develop my faith.

Are you trusting Him in the darkness?

Loni at Writing Canvas is our lovely hostess for In Other Words this week. The testimony she presents is so encouraging. Please visit her site, and the sites of the other lovely ladies participating. You are sure to be blessed.

Stitchin' Post Saturday-9 May 09

Not much stitching this week. I did finally start The Stargazer by Nora Corbett/Mirabilia. This is my first large start in 2 years except for a couple of round robins. I'm pleased with how it is going, although this scan does not do the colours justice. Here it is at 7 hours of stitching.



What are you stitching this week? What have you recently finished? Come on, share!

In Other Words---Idling to Despair

“Mordecai understood that it is not failure that brings despair,
but unfaithfulness and idleness.”
~Dorothy Patterson, editor of Women’s Devotional Bible
Devotion: Service Through Providence, Esther 3:13-4:17

The writing appeared to be on the wall. There was not much that could be done. The annihilation of the Jewish people seemed to be inevitable.

Except.

Except, Mordecai had not lost sight of the fact that they were God's chosen people. Sackcloth and ashes were the signs of mourning about what was to come. But his words betray that he expects God to act. Not necessarily to save them all, because the language describes a remnant. But God will act.

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
Esther 4:14

And if Esther does not use her position to address the King, then she too will perish--even when God acts.

Acting on what they believe God to be doing demonstrates their faithfulness and not despair.

I told someone recently that (in a specific situation) we have been proclaiming we are called "for such a time as this" not "such a time as a few years from now." We can delay, be idle and end up in despair. Or, we can be faithful to what we believe that God is calling and even if it fails know that God is pleased with the effort. I'll take the latter any day.

What are you idling over? Move forward. Don't despair. God honors the faithful efforts of his followers.

Patricia at Typing One Handed is our hostess this week. Come and be blessed!

Marriage Monday--Seasons

Want this button?

For the summer, Marriage Monday is going to be hosted by its creator Christine at Fruit in Season. This month she has chosen this amazing topic of Seasons in Marriage, which has some truly insightful posts already attached to it. This, I fear, will not be one of those.

I remember when we were preparing to get married we received the advice to wait at least three years before having children "so that you have learned to live as a real married couple and not a honeymooning couple" before the reality of children changed our lives. It seemed good advice, and we did follow it with God's grace and guidance. But the truth is, we crashed out of that "spring" or "honeymoon" stage within five months of getting married. We moved into the "reality stages" of marriage pretty quickly. German was transferred to a new account five months into our marriage and we spent the majority of our first year with him in Alabama and me in Washington state. Nothing like a lot of distance to force the reality of how we cope with pressures.

We have had the winter seasons in our marriage--two miscarriages, job uncertainties, etc.--but they have never seemed long or desolate. Instead, we seem to flow in and out of the different seasons without much change in how we are. In fact, there are uncertainties in our life right now that I believe most would see as winter. Yet, when I asked German last night how he would describe this season, he answered "peaceful." We have children pushing the boundaries of our patience and time, a need to make a change in accounts but no accounts to go to at work, church tension (best word for it) and fluxes in relationships. Yet he calls it "peace" and I would call it "content." It is a good season to be in, despite the roller coaster it could be.

I love watching people who have worked through seasons more systematically. They had their children young and close together, they stayed in one place or ministry for a period of time, they prepared for a future without children at home and were able to enjoy it. Those marriages give me a foundation of what the seasons look like. But I know that we will never go through seasons systematically. We were single longer than most of our friends, we had our children later (they all have college kids, we have primary school kids), we move around so often, we cannot even envision where we might want to grow old together much less how. God has called us to a marriage that will ebb and flow the seasons differently than our friends. I am thankful for that. He, in His wisdom, knew how we as individuals would approach life and gave us to one another to share that life together. How amazing is that!

I don't know what this season is called. But I call it content, and that is all I need.

The Stitching Post-2 May 09

Welcome back to the Stitching Post! I had a lovely vacation in the States and I'm back to some sort of a routine here. I did have a finish whilst I was away--Spring Row by Bent Creek. Sorry, I had to break it up into three pictures to get it all in with any detail.





What are you working on this week? We'd love to see it.

The May Goal Post

Revisiting April Goals:
1. Finish Emily Jane's quilt--yes
2. Finish office organization--about 85%
3. Work on Bent Creek Season Rows--Spring and Summer--Spring complete (come back tomorrow for pics)
4. Complete Kristin's All About Me RR if arrives--arrived when on holiday so not yet stitched

April is mainly a family month, so not as much goal setting as life living to be done!--Memory making was huge success!

May Goals:
1. Complete 50% Stargazer (a new start! yay)
2. Finish Kristin's All About Me RR
3. Work on Bent Creek Season Row--Summer
4. Finish 3 blocks for sampler quilt and pin top
5. Prep T-shirts for T-shirt quilt
6. Quilt Around the World quilt (already pinned)
7. Complete office reorganization
8. Complete closet clean-out (have done mine and girls, need to do German's closet)

photo credit: digiology found at morguefile.com

More Compassion Posts

More amazing stories from the Compassion bloggers. Wow. Just wow.

Pramanik

Rinky's Treasures (This is an amazing testimony of why it is so important to write our sponsored kids. It doesn't take long--the time to write an email on the Compassion website, but it obviously makes a tremendous difference. Humbling how big a difference a small effort can make.)

Universal Language

God's Shameless Love for the Poor

Our Boy

Dreamers Dream if They Know They Can Dream

Weeping, Praying, Thanking God for the work of Compassion.

In Other Words--Act on What You Believe

"The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel determines the way you act.”
~Rick Warren~

Have you ever observed someone whose actions did not measure up to what they professed to believe? Maybe they talked about wanting to live debt free yet repeatedly used their credit card. Or they lamented the need to get into shape, but never made an effort to get any exercise. Did they say they wanted to be a part of someone's life, yet they ignored invitations to get together?

If you met this kind of person, did you continue to believe them when they spoke of things they wanted to be or have? Or, did you begin to assume that what they said was not really that important to them at all? I'd be willing to guess that it was the latter.

This same principle holds true in my walk with God. I can say I want a relationship, but if I never make any effort to show up at his, oh, million invitations a day, then do I really want it? If I never sit down and read His word, do I truly love His truth? If I never allow Him to take my breath away with a sunrise or sunset, do I admire His creativity? If I never grace the doorway of a church, do I care about His family? Words are easy to say, but our actions betray what we really think and feel.

My pastor often repeats "If what you believe does not affect how you act, you don't really believe it."

It's true.

What are your actions betraying today?

"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him." Matthew 12:33-35

Father God, please take the intentions that I speak and grow them into passions that I feel and actions that I take. Forgive me when I say one thing and then act differently. Continue to draw into alignment my declarations and actions. Allow me to show your consistency when others look into my life that they may know You are guiding my thoughts, feelings and actions. Amen.

Debbie is our hostess this week! Please visit her blog to find other reflections on this quote.

Delayed IOW post, but good reading in the meantime

"The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel determines the way you act.”
~Rick Warren~

My jet-lagged brain is finding it difficult to finish my IOW post. I'll get it posted later today. But in the meantime, this week several amazing bloggers are traveling in India with Compassion. Compassion is an organziation I cannot say enough good about. And these brave bloggers are actually living out what they think and feel about Jesus' call to serve the poor. Go and visit their blogs. You will not be disappointed.

70 Left

Her Name is Lakshmi

Name


Sometimes I'm Miserable, Pitiful, Poor and Blind

Pride and Prejudice

Speechless for the First Time EVER but Compelled to Type

The Flickr Photos of the Trip are here

Why are you still here? Go. Be Blessed!

Stitching Post Saturday--25 April 2009

Taking a Break. Back May 2.

Have a wonderful week!

In Other Words--Who Has the Answers?

“Give yourself permission not to know and be satisfied knowing the One who does.”
by Joyce Meyer, “I Dare You"

Why did God choose to make grass green instead of blue?

I don't know, maybe green is his favourite colour.

Then does he like grass more than sky?

I don't know, but I don't really think he loves any part of his creation more than the rest.

Why do I have to wait until I grow up to know everything?

Baby, you will never know everything.

Then why do I want to know everything?

I don't know, maybe because God created us with lots of curiosity.

If you are a parent, you probably encounter a few dozen/hundred/thousand questions a day that you aren't quite sure of the answer (if you are a homeschooling parent this may be even more!). I have learned that it is perfectly okay to not know the answer. Somethings we may spend some time trying to find the answer (how long will it take for the peahen's eggs to hatch--28 to 30 days) while others I leave it with "that is how God made it." At six and four, my girls are pretty willing to accept that. Not always, but usually.

Not knowing the answers is part of being a child. There are some things that they are simply not ready to understand. I get that. So, not knowing the answers is not something I have really struggled against in my spiritual walk. I am okay not knowing the answers because I know who does.

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
~Isaiah 55:9

There are times I pray persistently, "Lord, I know you have the answers, can you show me a glimpse of what is to come?" But mostly I'm content to wait.

That contentment has come over the years. The more I have experienced the blessing of his timing in my life, the easier it becomes to trust him with the next point of timing. In the relationship I am able to trust when he does not explain himself explicitely. Because I know, implicitely, that he cares for me and has my best in mind.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
~Jeremiah 29:11

Father, help me to live in the contentment of knowing that you hold all the answers. Flood me with a sense of your peace when I begin to try to control the timing of things in my life. May I reflect in my actions my trust in your character. Amen.

Nina at Mama's Little Treasures is the hostess for IOW this week. Please join us there and be blessed!

Stitching Post Saturday--18 April 2009

Taking a Break. Back May 2.

Have a wonderful week!

In Other Words--No Limitations

God’s promises are never affected by our failures. He can use us at any age.
~Michael Youssef from Leading the Way~

I don't know this book. Actually I only know a little about the author that I have scraped off the internet. But knowing the book might help me put some context around these two sentences, which actually seem a little disjointed together. I can easily write about "God not affected by my failures" and I can write about "God using us at any age" but how do the two fit together?

But it does remind me of the Apostle Paul teaching Timothy. He says to Timothy,

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
1 Timothy 4:12-13

Paul reminds Timothy that it is not his age that could disqualify him, it is his actions. And if he is devoting himself to right actions, then he remains qualified.

I remember way back when I was preparing to go to seminary. A church endorsement was needed for the application, and the fact that I was a woman was making that rather tricky. Finally I met with the leadership to attain their "approval." The pastor, a highly respected and gifted leader in the Southern Baptist Convention, eventually asked the question on everyone's mind: "Little lady, what exactly do you think you can do for God?" I took a measured breath and asked something about what any of us could do for God and the question was then finished "....since you are female?" Another measured breath and God gave me the answer. I said, "I'm not really sure. All I know is that God created me female and placed me in a Southern Baptist home and now He is drawing me to seminary. I don't know what I can do for Him, but I believe He is big enough to figure out those details." A few seconds of silence incurred and then an unanimous vote to endorse me was given. My gender could have been the stumbling block, but God was so much bigger than that!

Yet in every ministry position I took, I always felt that there was someone watching to see where I messed up. They were waiting to relate my failures to my gender and thus discredit any woman working in any ministry. Likewise, I believe Timothy must have felt that way--that people were just waiting for him to fail so they could say "see he's too young." But the truth is, we all fail. We are human and we are sinners and we all make mistakes, sometimes we even make huge mistakes. But it is not because of our age or our gender or ethnicity or our cultural upbringing or any of the other things that others may want to pin it on. It is because we are what we are---sinners saved by grace.

We should never be afraid to step out and do the things that God is calling us to do. It is true, we may fall flat on our face at times but his grace is sufficient to cover those times. And he is faithful to complete what he starts, irregardless of how many times we fail in the process. That's what grace is!

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
~2 Timothy 1:8-10~

Today's hostess is Karen at In Love W.I.T.H. Jesus. Please join us as we gather at her place today. You will be blessed.

Happy Easter

THE LORD IS RISEN!!!

CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!

HAPPY EASTER

Stitching Post Saturday---11 April 2009

My deepest apologies about last week's Stitching Post. No excuses, I simply forgot to post it. *sigh*

Here are my finishes for this week (okay, the last 2 weeks):


A homestead for a friends Neighbourhood Round Robin combining elements of 4 designers.



A quilt for a friend's new baby girl. You can't really tell but the quilting is random squiggles to look like the bee flying.

Thanks for stopping by. Please add your link to your latest stitching progress!

Toothless Wonder

Jewel lost her first two teeth a couple of weeks ago. Luckily the tooth fairy pillow had been finished the night before! She has two more that are wobbly. She is so funny with wanting them to all come out at once (although she was disappointed that her corn on the cob had to be cut off the cob last night due to not being able to bite into it, lol!)

In Other Words--Heavenly Perspective

“Heaven must be in me,
before I can be in heaven. ”

by Charles Stanford

What does it mean to have heaven in me? I believe that it means that we must see the world through the eyes of heaven. We should be so focused on where we are going that people can see the peace that comes with that. It is living our life as a journey to the Father.

That does not mean that we become so "heavenly minded that we are no earthly good." Absolutely not. Jesus as he walked this earth never lost sight of where he was going, but he also did not ignore the needs around him. In fact, it was in knowing where he was going that he could put perspective on the needs around him.

We are living in a day and age where needs are great. Emotional needs, physical needs, security needs, financial needs all pull at us. It would be easy to become discouraged and say that there is no use. It would be easy to think that any effort on our part is such a small drop in a big bucket that it is really not needed. When we are focusing on earth and not heaven, the problems seem insurmountable. But when our focus is on heaven, we are able to see God at work and that he is truly greater than anything that can befall us here. Perspective. Keeping heaven in us allows us to keep perspective.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
~Matthew 6:19-21~

Father God, help me today to keep a heavenly perspective. Help me to see the hurting people around me through your eyes. And if it is your plan, allow me to be a part of easing their pain and allowing them to catch a glimpse of you. Amen.

Denise is the hostess today for In Other Words. Please join us at Shortybear's Place for more perspectives on today's quote. Have a blessed day!

Marriage Monday--Friendship in Marriage

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We spent the weekend in London with old friends. It had been ten months since we last saw them at a party, but more than that since we had any quality time together just the two families. So this was very much a renewing the friendship type weekend. We had a wonderful time. We ate together, laughed together, learned a little at the science museum together, worshiped together, and even shed a few tears together as we parted. It was good, really good.

As good as it was, all of us would admit that there were some thoughts of concern before we got together. Would the friendship still be easy? Would we still have things to talk about? How would the girls react since they hardly know them? Although we really wanted to see each other we had to wonder if it would be the same.

(for the record, it was)

That is something we never have to worry about when our friend is our spouse. Where the ebb and flow of life can pull other friendships apart, it only serves to strengthen the friendship in a Christian marriage. Those life experiences become more of the bedrock upon which the friendship is borne.

We've seen that the past few months. With the pressures of economy, work, kids, home life and the like it would be easy to pull apart. Friends we would normally see fairly often, we see infrequently as they are also in the midst of pressures of life. Those friendships will remain, but be a little more distant because of the demands of life. But the marriage friendship? It gets stronger and stronger as we share life together and as we seek God's hand in the decisions. We find more time to really appreciate just being together, just getting in the car and driving together, and just praying together and for each other. The foundation grows.

Friday night we wandered through London together. We didn't say much, we just walked together enjoying a beautiful evening in a bustling city. When we got back to the hotel German commented that it had been a perfect evening. We didn't need to talk. We didn't need to think about anything important. We just needed to be together. As he put the girls to bed, Jewel prayed and said "thank you God that we could have fun together tonight in London."

My girls saw it--just have fun being together.


That quiet togetherness is the essence of Friendship of Christian Marriage, at least it is for us.

Want to read more about friendship in Christian Marriage? Join us at Chrysalis' place for more reflections.

April Goal Post

Revisiting March goals
1. Finish NRR thatched house section, road and begin Texas windmill--still finishing thatched house backstitching, not started TX windmill
2. Finish Mystery Quilt II by March 15 (absolute deadline is 29th!)--done March 13
3. Stitch house on Robin's NRR--complete March 30
4. Complete Kristin's All About Me RR if it arrives this month--did not arrive
5. Complete baby quilt for Emily Jane--80% complete
6. Finish office clean up and organising--uh...no
7. Prepare for Easter trip to States--preorder any items that need to be delivered to Dad's--done
8. Sign up at leisure club and take girls swimming at least one time a week outside of their normal lessons--done
9. Begin new Bible Study (No Other Gods) and continue to write mentoring material as able--yes

April Goals:
1. Finish Emily Jane's quilt
2. Finish office organization
3. Work on Bent Creek Season Rows--Spring and Summer
4. Complete Kristin's All About Me RR if arrives

April is mainly a family month, so not as much goal setting as life living to be done!

photo credit: digiology found at morguefile.com

In Other Words---Healing a Broken Soul

“For most of this century we have wrongly defined soul wounds as psychological disorders and delegated their treatment to trained specialists. Damaged psyches aren’t the problem. The problem is disconnected souls.”
by Larry CrabbConnecting:Healing Ourselves and Our Relationships

I have a lot of respect for Larry Crabb as a writer about psyche and relationships. And, I do see the point that he is making in this quote. Too often we jump on a bandwagon of the latest psychological fad and miss the underlying issues of where a person is hurting. Helping people find a connection between their deepest needs and the Creator who created those needs can indeed solve many of the issues out there.

Many of the issues. Not all.

And I feel compelled to say that we as the church are not always welcoming of people who truly have those diagnoses and truly need a trained professional's help in learning to cope with life. Of course, you might expect that kind of statement from me since I am a trained counselor. I am well aware that many of the people I've provided an ear and advice to over the years needed a relationship with Jesus more than they needed a relationship with me. But some of them needed a trained professional to help them see their way through.

Sometimes, even in the midst of our relationship with Jesus, we need professional help. I know that was true for me. I knew that the scars I needed to deal with were soul scars. And I first went to my church who could only give me the answer "just trust Jesus for that." And then I went to a Christian counselor, who could only say to me "just trust Jesus for that." It took a secular counselor who wasn't afraid to challenge "just trust Jesus" who helped me get to the source of the scarring, find a way through that pain and finally be able to "just trust Jesus."

It's true, many of the issues are soul brokenness. But we have to be willing to help people get to the broken place before we can expect them to heal. Sometimes it takes a professional to do that. I wish that more "counselors" in our churches could get past the fear of the messiness of what soul brokenness really looks like in order to help restore people. It is true that we need to "trust Jesus" but sometimes we need help in reaching that point.

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
Psalm 34:17-19

Father God as I come along people in my every day routine, help me to recognize the brokenness of the soul that causes them to behave the way they do. Help me to be an instrument of your healing and connection in their life. Amen.

This week's hostess is Esthermay at The Heart of a Pastor's Wife. Come, visit, and be blessed.

In Other Words--Sharing Burdens

“To ease another’s heartache is to forget one’s own. ”
~Abraham Lincoln~

It's been a rough week around here. One of the things leading to my blogging break didn't happen. It was supposed to be a weekend of celebration; but instead has been filled with frustration and disappointment. We're okay, but we are emotionally bruised by the battle that has been waged. Yet, in the middle of it all, we have had moments of forgetting how bad it looks.

How, you may wonder, do you forget when things just look hurtful? By keeping our perspective on the bigger picture and where God is working. And, by not allowing our pain to keep us from caring for others who are in pain. I will not engage in a political drama here, but we have a good friend who is an exec in a certain insurance company in the news. Our hearts break for him, especially since he had only arrived in this job a month before the media storm of problems. God has in the midst of our emotional roller coaster continually reminded us to pray for him and his family in the firestorm they are facing. Somehow what we face doesn't seem so large. At the same time other friends have been informed that their jobs are not secure. Again, prayer and loving support takes the focus off of us and onto God and his purpose in others' lives.

There's been a lot of heartache to share the past few weeks. Marriages breaking apart, job worries, health scares, parenting difficulties, and the list goes on. In these coming days we can expect even more heartaches to be visible. But we can share in those burdens. We can keep God's perspective on them. And in the process we will be less focused on our own. Focus on God instead of self. That is the main thing God desires.

Who do you need to reach out toward to share their burden? Do it. And, if someone reaches out to share yours, accept it. You may be helping them more than you know.

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40

Our hostess this week is Susan at Forever His. Please visit the others who are writing on this quote and be blessed today.

Blogging Break

I'm taking a brief blogging break! There are many things happening at the church the next 15 days that we are integrally involved. I can't seem to put thoughts together outside of those events. I'll be back as I can!

Stitchin' Post Saturday---14 March 2009

Welcome to another Stitchin' Post Saturday!

This week I finished Mystery Quilt 2!!! Yay! In a couple of weeks I can show pictures. I've also sent Mystery Quilt 1 to its new owner, so when it arrives I can show it.

Here are the current Works in Progress:


I've been working on this Neighbourhood Round Robin (NRR) on and off (mostly off) for a couple of years. I have almost finished my "England" block. Here is the current status picture. I think I'll finish it this week. The pattern called for grey shadows at the top of each panel, but the grey was just too dark and it did not do the house any justice. So yesterday was spent frogging (ripping out) all of the grey and replacing part of it with a dark cream and filling in the rest with ecru. Got about half of what was ripped out replaced.


Here is a quilt top that I'm working on for a friend's new baby. I'm going to add some yellow "dots" to the white square centers to continue to the play of daisies. Then I just need to sandwich it and quilt it.

Thanks for looking! Please link to your latest stitching accomplishments so we can come and oooh and aaah.

Have a great weekend!

Stitchin' Post Saturday--March 7, 2009

Time for another stitching update. Unfortunately I can't show what has taken up most of my time this week, since it is the mystery quilt that cannot be pictured until it is delivered. But suffice it to say the 5000 or so hand applique stitches are now done! The borders were added last night and today I will sandwich it and maybe even get the quilting done. It should be fairly simple machine quilting.

One thing I can show is this sweet little pillow I stitched up this week. Jewel will probably make use of it by the end of the week, so timing was of the essence. I still need to hand stitch the opening closed and add a handle, but that won't take long. ;-)


What are you working on? We'd love to see it. Sign in with your link so others can come oooh and aaah.

Stitchin' Post Saturday Participants

1. Miriam Pauline

2. Kristin/Dragondreamer\'s Lair

3. Margaret

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In Other Words---Just Obey

Welcome to Tuesday's In Other Words. I'm so excited to be hosting this week. I have discovered that I need to be very careful in the quotes I choose, because God will give me plenty of opportunities to practice what I write. And writing about obedience....well, you can probably guess how the last week has been. But it is all good when God is at work! Please make yourself at home. Mr. Linky should be working at the end of the post, so please link to your thoughts on this quote as well. And without futher adieu...

"God does not speak simply to be heard.
He speaks to be obeyed.
Obedience is the Alpha and Omega of discerning God’s voice.”

by Priscilla Shirer
Discerning the Voice of God: How to Recognize When God Speaks, p. 174

A million times a day, it seems, I hear myself say "I don't like talking to myself." It is what I say to my children when they are clearly not listening to me. I know that they are not listening because they are doing their own thing and not acting at all on the words I say. They may be nodding their heads in agreement, but their actions demonstrate that they are not hearing. And as their parent, I want obedient listening not just nodding listening.

I wonder, how many times a day God tries to say to me "I don't like talking to myself." I wonder if he is able to see in my actions that there is a connection between what he says to me and what I do. I just wonder.

I suspect he sees this forty year old child much like I see my own children...self-absorbed and slow to obey at times. *sigh*

Scripture says to us that obedience demands immediate action. It is the first thing that God desires. It is the last thing he desires. It is everything in between. The Alpha and Omega. The A to Z(ed) of hearing. God wants to see our obedience.

Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. James 1:22-24 (The Message)

I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.
I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
Psalm 119:7-9

He who obeys instructions guards his life,
but he who is contemptuous of his ways will die.
Proverbs 19:6

Father God forgive me when I am slow to obey. Cleanse my heart of the selfish desires that cause me to nod agreeingly, but act independently. May I see that your call is to be obeyed immediately, instinctively and without argument. In Jesus' name...Amen.

Be blessed this week! Please visit the other participants and encourage them on this journey of obedience.

In "Other" Words Participants

1. micey 2. Loni 3. Tracy @ Thirsty for Him

4. Denise 5. Debbie @ Heart Choices 6. Karen Gillett

7. Manda @ LambsInHisArms 8. Chocolate and Coffee

Learn more about In "Other" Words here.
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March Goal Post

Here is the progress on February goals:

February Goals!
1. Finish Rosewood Manor Flag Sampler--finished on 26 February
2. Finish Mystery Quilt--finished on 15 February
3. Get 2/3 roof on thatched house stitched (currently 1/3)--completed roof and half of landscaping
4. Finish 2008 filing (otherwise known as re-find the office!)--about 2/3 complete
5. Get Jewel set up for piano lessons--started last week
6. Find an online class to learn more about my DSLR camera--found one, Thanks Iris!, but the class sold out on the first day and I didn't try to sign up until day 2. I'm on the mail list for the next class.

Now for March Goals:
1. Finish NRR thatched house section, road and begin Texas windmill
2. Finish Mystery Quilt II by March 15 (absolute deadline is 29th!)
3. Stitch house on Robin's NRR
4. Complete Kristin's All About Me RR if it arrives this month
5. Complete baby quilt for Emily Jane
6. Finish office clean up and organising
7. Prepare for Easter trip to States--preorder any items that need to be delivered to Dad's
8. Sign up at leisure club and take girls swimming at least one time a week outside of their normal lessons
9. Begin new Bible Study (No Other Gods) and continue to write mentoring material as able.

Marriage Monday---Glory

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Welcome to March everyone!! Being the first Monday of the month, it can only mean one thing....Marriage Monday. Today Jennifer at A Pair of Bartletts is hosting us at her place around the topic of "The Glory of Christian Marriage."

The freedictionary.com defines glory this way:
glo·ry (glôr, glr)
n. pl. glo·ries
1. Great honor, praise, or distinction accorded by common consent; renown.
2. Something conferring honor or renown.
3. A highly praiseworthy asset: Your wit is your crowning glory.
4. Adoration, praise, and thanksgiving offered in worship.
5. Majestic beauty and splendor; resplendence: The sun set in a blaze of glory.
6. The splendor and bliss of heaven; perfect happiness.
7. A height of achievement, enjoyment, or prosperity: ancient Rome in its greatest glory.8. A halo, nimbus, or aureole. Also called gloriole.

Great definition, but what does it have to do with marriage? I would contend, that actually all of this has to do with marriage. Marriage is one of the places where God displays His majesty and purpose for human relationships. God established marriage way back in the garden and has used marriages since that time to populate the earth, bring each other comfort, demonstrate His forgiveness (see Hosea), and bring joy. If you ever doubt that romantic love is glorifying to God, then you just need to read the Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon depending on your tradition) to see a Biblical exposition on the glory of love.

But for my purposes, I'm going to focus on that third definition above, "a highly praiseworthy asset." We live in a culture that more and more is willing to throw away relationships. If it gets difficult, society tells us just get out. Marriage rates have dropped as people opt for "partnerships" that are easier to dissolve. In the past few months I've been shocked on a half dozen occassions as people who have been together forever have announced their engagement--I thought they were married, by a Christian friend who has announced her wedding--in 2010--but that they are going to live together until then, of friends who have separated after 12 years because they "now love someone else" (actually this has happened four times in five months, 12 years being the minimum years together). Marriage is fast becoming an endangered species. But the Bible contends, that it is a highly praised asset.

Although most of us participating in this meme by writing or coming to read the entries would agree that marriage is a highly praised asset, we often don't treat it as highly praised. We take the irritations of our marriages and make them the gossip fodder with our friends. We quietly bash how our husbands don't do enough around the house. We complain about the minutest of details. Is it any wonder that the world doesn't want to make such a commitment when all they hear is the negatives about that commitment? It only takes one person to turn that tide of negative talk. Over eighteen months ago my accountability and prayer partner and I agreed that we would not say critical things about our husbands in anyone's company. It began with us. We could ask for prayers of blessing and discernment but we could not ask anything in a "make him do what I want" way. We knew that there would be things that irritated us. Our catch-phrase text for prayers during that time was "pray for me to submit." We acknowledged that when little things were bothering us it was us that needed the prayer to change not our husbands. Instead we focused on praising how they provided for and loved their families. I can't speak totally for her, but I can say that focusing on the praiseworthy asset of marriage has improved my marriage greatly. It spilled over into other friends lives. In a setting if someone complained about their husband, my friend or I would say something positive about ours....and everyone followed suit. The negativity tide was turned. Marriage is a praiseworthy asset, so we should praise it!

This past week has been rocky in some relationships. The Accuser has attempted to have a field day destroying relationships and causing divisions. In the midst of it all I was feeling very much attacked. I texted German at work to let him know I needed to vent when he had a few minutes to listen to me. I knew that I just needed to let off steam in a safe, permitted manner. He rang me back within five minutes. He listened, he gave godly advice and I felt better. But he did more than that. He immediately closed things up at his office and came home in the middle of the day. He decided it was more important to be with me when I was upset than to sit at his desk. That act of support meant more to me than anything else he could have done. It was a clear example to me of the sacrificial love he has for me. On that day, God was glorified in our marriage in a very simple act. German still accomplished all of his work, but he did it from home where he knew he needed to be. I didn't even know I needed him at home until he walked through the door. That is why there is glory in marriage. It exemplifies the way God wants us to relate to one another. It is a cruciable of expressing sacrifical love and is a picture of what Christ is willing to do for us.

How is your marriage a praiseworthy asset? Have you told your spouse? Share with them your praise for being married to them. It will make their day....and it will make yours too. Praise is medicine for the soul!