A Renewed Hope

I decided to pick up quilting again, now that I have my own huge craft room and I
needed some new bedding. 

Guest Bedroom Argyle Pattern
 

Most of the home decorating was done in the recently added part of the upstairs and I
was looking for a new project to enjoy in my newly organized and spacious room. 

Back in the fall I had decorated my craft room with a pretty Moroccan print made of
gold, black and a brownish-gray for the valance and add a throw pillow of the same
fabric.  On the walls I  used Gran's pencil sketches blown up on large canvas.  I
wanted to keep it fairly neutral since it was a walk through room and yellow and
grey seem to be a go-to color combo currently. 

As the queen size quilt came together for the spare bedroom,  I needed to find
fabric for the backing. This warranted a trip to the quilt store. If anyone knows
me, a trip to a quilt store is like putting a kid in a candy store with all of the
beautiful colors and prints.  Of course I found a jelly roll of modern prints as
well.  Since I had never tried a jelly roll quilt I thought I would try out one pattern
as a great addition for my upstairs little throw when I'm chilly.

Moda Jelly Roll

The fabric sat for a good month while I finished hand quilting the original queen.
But two weeks ago,  I had some extra time and I decided to get started.  Naturally,
I chose a chevron Art Deco pattern using all the grey, black and gold colors in the
roll.  I only barely got started before my grandmother was in the hospital in
Dallas.  So, there it sat for another week. 

With so many troubles on my mind and the after math of tornadic destruction just 2
hours north of us, I cut and pieced and sewed with a heavy heart. Sewing is so good
for a time of prayer and thought.  There were many mentioned as well as my own
emotional well being.  Little did I know I was sewing God's answer for me. 

Today I went to my last BSF meeting today and it was "Share Day"-- meaning you share
what you learned, appreciated or what God taught you through the study.  One lady
spoke of Genesis 1 and specifically verse 2-3.  It stayed with me and resonated in
my head later this afternoon as I was finishing putting the pieces together.

Art Deco Chevron pattern

The verses speaks about the Spirit hovering over the darkness of the deep.   That is
exactly what I have felt like over the past week.  I have been deep in darkness but
have also felt the Spirit hovering over me knowing He has been there the whole time
in control--from the beginning.

But, as I remembered verse 3 looking at my finished quilt God smacked me on the
forehead.  Let there be light!  There is hope!  And then I was taken to John 1. 

Because the Spirit is with us today and hovers over us--no matter what happened, is
happening or will happen--we can have hope because the Light always overcomes the
darkness. 

What a reassurance that is!  We can have hope no matter how bad things seem.  (See 1
Thes. 4:13)

I typically have a hard time coming up with a creative quilting idea once the
piecing of the top is finished.  But, this time I knew exactly what design it needed
to be--a sun (son) with rays of hope.


Pattern to be stiched as the quilting

Maybe this speaks to you right now but truly this was a reminder to me because
usually I give away quilts or they are for some specific purpose.  This one was
always going to be mine though.  It was God's little quilted reminder  just for me.

Just remember that His Spirit is always hovering over you no matter the
circumstances and He has the ultimate plan in mind for all things to work for the
good of those who love Him. 

Teaching Moments

Cavett's alarm clock has been on the fritz.  Over a period of a week, his clock ends up at least ten minutes early.  Tonight, I decided to switch out his alarm clock with the one in the guest bedroom.  As I was looking for an appropriate radio station for the alarm, I must have happened upon NPR/Classical station on this day of  Jewish New Year-Rosh Hashanah.  They were playing Leonard Bernstein's Chichesther Psalm.  We caught the tail end of the first movement and he was enticed listening to the joyful percussion and mixed meter of the 100th Psalm.  Seriously, make sure you watch to the end of this!!!!

. עִבְדוּ אֶת־יְהוָה בְּשִׂמְחָה; בֹּאוּ לְפָנָיו, בִּרְנָנָה. דְּעוּ-- כִּי יְהוָה, הוּא אֱלֹהִים: הוּא־עָשָׂנוּ, ולא (וְלוֹ) אֲנַחְנוּ-- עַמּוֹ, וְצֹאן מַרְעִיתוֹ. בֹּאוּ שְׁעָרָיו, בְּתוֹדָה-- חֲצֵרֹתָיו בִּתְהִלָּה; הוֹדוּ־לוֹ, בָּרְכוּ שְׁמוֹ. כִּי־טוֹב יְהוָה, לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ; וְעַד־דֹּר וָדֹר, אֱמוּנָתוֹ.

Hari'u l'Adonai kol ha'arets. Iv'du et Adonai b'simḥa Bo'u l'fanav bir'nanah. Du ki Adonai Hu Elohim. Hu asanu v'lo anaḥnu. Amo v'tson mar'ito. Bo'u sh'arav b'todah, Ḥatseirotav bit'hilah, Hodu lo, bar'chu sh'mo. Ki tov Adonai, l'olam ḥas'do, V'ad dor vador emunato.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God. It is He that has made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Come unto His gates with thanksgiving, And into His court with praise. Be thankful unto Him and bless His name. the lord is good, his mercy everlasting And His truth endureth to all generations.

I had to continue listening--the second movement was on the way...
Not only was this a lesson on musical form and text painting, but we got a refresher course on the 23rd Psalm.  Unfortunately, this recording was not the best I had ever heard, but it served the purpose of showing the Lord's comfort and protection and the trust David had in Him as compared to the "evil" part B of Psalm 2.   But, again the love and blessings of the Lord prevail.  We also discussed the name "Adonai" for God. 

בִּנְאוֹת דֶּשֶׁא, יַרְבִּיצֵנִי; עַל-מֵי מְנֻחוֹת יְנַהֲלֵנִי. נַפְשִׁי יְשׁוֹבֵב; יַנְחֵנִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־צֶדֶק, לְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ. גַּם כִּי־אֵלֵךְ בְּגֵיא צַלְמָוֶת, לֹא־אִירָא רָע-- כִּי־אַתָּה עִמָּדִי; שִׁבְטְךָ וּמִשְׁעַנְתֶּךָ, הֵמָּה יְנַחֲמֻנִי. לָמָּה, רָגְשׁוּ גוֹיִם; וּלְאֻמִּים, יֶהְגּוּ־רִיק. יִתְיַצְּבוּ, מַלְכֵי־אֶרֶץ-- וְרוֹזְנִים נוֹסְדוּ־יָחַד: עַל־יְהוָה, וְעַל־מְשִׁיחוֹ. נְנַתְּקָה, אֶת־מוֹסְרוֹתֵימוֹ; וְנַשְׁלִיכָה מִמֶּנּוּ עֲבֹתֵימוֹ. יוֹשֵׁב בַּשָּׁמַיִם יִשְׂחָק: אֲדֹנָי, יִלְעַג־לָמוֹ. תַּעֲרֹךְ לְפָנַי, שֻׁלְחָן-- נֶגֶד צֹרְרָי; דִּשַּׁנְתָּ בַשֶּׁמֶן רֹאשִׁי, כּוֹסִי רְוָיָה. אַךְ, טוֹב וָחֶסֶד יִרְדְּפוּנִי-- כָּל־יְמֵי חַיָּי; וְשַׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית־יְהוָה, לְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים.

"David" and sopranos (Psalm 23) Adonai ro-i, lo eḥsar. Bin'ot deshe yarbitseini, Al mei m'nuḥot y'nahaleini, Naf'shi y'shovev, Yan'ḥeini b'ma'aglei tsedek, L'ma'an sh'mo. (sopranos) Gam ki eilech B'gei tsalmavet, Lo ira ra, Ki Atah imadi. Shiv't'cha umishan'techa Hemah y'naḥamuni. (Tenors and basses (Psalm 2, vs. 1-4)) Lamah rag'shu goyim Ul'umim yeh'gu rik? Yit'yats'vu malchei erets, V'roznim nos'du yaḥad Al Adonai v'al m'shiḥo. N'natkah et mos'roteimo, V'nashlichah mimenu avoteimo. Yoshev bashamayim Yis'ḥak, Adonai Yil'ag lamo! (sopranos (Psalm 23)) Ta'aroch l'fanai shulchan Neged tsor'rai Dishanta vashemen roshi Cosi r'vayaḥ. "David" Ach tov vaḥesed Yird'funi kol y'mei ḥayai V'shav'ti b'veit Adonai L'orech yamim.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me beside the still waters, He restoreth my soul, He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk Through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, For Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff They comfort me. Why do the nations rage, And the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His anointed. Saying, let us break their bonds asunder, And cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens Shall laugh, and the Lord Shall have them in derision! Thou preparest a table before me In the presence of my enemies, Thou anointest my head with oil, My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy Shall follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

Oh, how music moves me!  How blessed we are to have this ability of expression and way in which to worship God and to understand Him better.

My Refuge

I can't go into detail now, but this is weighing on my heart and someone dear to me needs to read it. 

When it seems your world is collapsing and everything is against you and it is storming all around, it's so good to know that we have a refuge from the storm, a shelter from the shade.  Thanks be to Him who will protect us and guide us along the difficult path.  He will always be there.

"The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble." Psalm 9:9

"God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.

Let the oceans roar and foam.  Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!" Psalm 46:1-3

"But you are a tower of refuge to the poor, O Lord, a tower of refuge to the needy in distress.

You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat.

For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall,

or like the relentless heat of the desert.  But you silence the roar of foreign nations. 

As the shade of a cloud cools relentless heat, so the boastful songs of ruthless people are stilled."

Isaiah 25:3-4

Know that you are loved by a just, omniscient, faithful, merciful and mighty God who has the ultimate plan--the one we should seek.  

The Countdown

We begin today the count down of "Back-to-School."  I found this idea in the 2009 August issue of Family Fun Magazine and thought we'd try it out.  Each day Cavett has a little surprise to open.  It's mainly school supplies for his desk here at home--pencils, erasers, pencil box, markers, dry erase lined writing board, etc. 

We began the early bed times last night and also added in the alarm clock this morning. 

It's bittersweet.  He's growing up, but this also means I am growing up too.  With more responsibility for him, comes more outward, public responsibility for which I am "graded"--meaning no heading out of town every Thursday for the weekend, getting up earlier and having lunches made everyday, making sure he has all his homework done. 

It will all be good for him, as well as me.  Just as Judah took on the responsibility and asked his father to take Benjamin to Egypt to see Joseph, God has given me this privilage and I will take my sons on this journey into the big picture of life and be responsible for them both. 

It is time and we are ready. 

Then Judah said to Israel his father, "Send the boy along with me and we will go at once... I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life.  Gen. 43: 8-9

The Great Debate

Hiding God's Word in My Heart by Cavett Christian Hill

Make Your Own Book

The good:  Today Cavett completed his masterpiece book he's been working on all summer long.  We took the Psalty the Songbook Song "I'm Gonna Hide God's Word in My Heart," and illustrated it.  It was great fun and a learning experience delving into figuring out what all those verses really mean.  You can get a good preview from the above demo and even order your own copy if you are interested. 

The bad:  Sunday School today was a disaster.  Somewhere in the course of the class there was discussion of Santa Claus.  How this even happens, I'm only guessing that it went something like, "Are y'all ready for school to start"...Halloween, Thanksgiving, and then Christmas.  It's all "He said, She said", but here's what I learned from a conversation with the teacher afterwards. 

Cavett proceeds to tell the class of first graders and Kindergartners that there is no Santa Claus and that it's really the Mommy's and Daddy's that get up in the middle of the night and give you the presents.  While he has it right, he was chastised for his beliefs and the teacher was disappointed that he had ruined it for her daughter that was in the class as well as everyone else.  Turns out these might be fairly tough kids and they took him on for a 15 minute debate.  The teacher was in the end empathetic toward Cavett in that she seemed to think that he took it  very personally and felt that no one was listening to him.   But, she also emphasized the fact that we needed to have a lengthy discussion about how we need to teach him that we shouldn't ruin it for other kids (which I thought we had covered already.)

I kind of feel bad, but at the same time, not really.  It's such a convoluted subject.  The very idea of Santa Claus is well and good in that he was a man that cared more for others than himself, but what we have turned him into and how commercialized the entire season is disgusting. 

How can we have our kids believe that Santa Claus is still around today doing this for kids, and later in life turn around and say it is false.  It's just the opposite of what we want our kids to believe about our Saviour!  Not to mention the fact that Santa Claus isn't at all fair, in that poor kids don't get what the rich kids get.  

Shouldn't we stand up for what we believe, especially in church? Call me Scrooge, but I'd rather see my children singing "Happy Birthday to Jesus," and being thankful for what God has provided our family with and sharing with others than making out wish lists, bribing them to be on the "good list" for one month a year and gloating over all that "Santa" brought them.  I wish to instill a love of their Lord and celebrate his birth rather than focus on the commercialism of Christmas. 

This is the my main job as a parent-lead them spiritually. 

Don't get me wrong, it's all fine if YOU want to do it, and we still enjoy some of the "fun" of the Advent season.  But this is how we roll.  I'm very sorry if my child spoiled it for your child and you have to answer some tough questions to keep them believing until they are 21.  But try emphasizing that all things come from God, no matter who gives them to you.