giving timeless gifts...

MAY 28, 2009

Giving Timeless Gifts

I’ve been reading a little devotional book my daughter gave to me. It is Ruth Graham Bell’s Letters from Ruth’s Attic. I’ve been randomly reading them; usually more than one a day. In fact I have read them all! I tend to run ahead and want everything at once. 😦

Anyway, I was touched by Day 17– Giving Timeless Gifts. It tells a little story about some pranksters that broke into a department store only to switch price tags on things. So when people came in the next day, they found fur coats selling for $5, cold cream for $150, umbrellas for $1,000… you get the idea.

The point was, things come into our lives that switch price tags on our values! Material things become more important than the things of eternity! She then goes on to suggest gifts for others that are timeless:

“To your neighbors, nice or not, give thoughtful consideration. Be slow to gossip, quick to sympathize, ready to help– praying all the while that God will give them the necessary patience to live next to you. To your parents, give loving appreciation… to your spouse, give a frank, honest reappraisal of yourself… to your children, give them more of the parent they already have, and make that one more loving. These are gifts of the heart and of the spirit. Those are those you love that long for and desperately need these gifts…”

Ah to be like Jesus! That is what we strive for.  Lord make me a better servant, help me listen to your nudges, follow YOU without hesitation. I love You, Lord. Thank You for all that You have already done in my life through Your Spirit.

almost mother's day...

 (2020... well have I come very far? I think I am where I should be. The continually, I don't get it, Lord, but I don't have to, because YOU get it.)

MAY 10, 2009

Almost Mother’s Day!

Why serve Christ? Not that I am trying to make up my mind, God called me to Himself a long time ago. I’ve had some rough bumps in the road. I’ve had times when I told God I certainly didn’t want to be included in His family and Please Leave Me Alone. Fortunately for me, He didn’t throw me out a long time ago.

Of course I struggle with Doctrinal Things, I am not a scholar, I am a thinker. I don’t study enough. I don’t share my faith enough. I want to love people, pray for people more than I want to study! God gave me the gift of praying– I pray a lot. But still, not enough. The truth is I could never really do enough to pay Him back. Why do I know I am a believer?  I have always known, as long as I remember. No dramatic scene. Plenty of dramatic scenes, but not one that stands out and is called “When I was converted”…

I read historical things in the Old Testament. I see the bloodiness of history. Sacrifices. Wars. Slaughter. Slavery. Wandering. I don’t understand. Isn’t He a God of Love? Yes, and of Grace, and Mercy, and Justice. There is much I don’t understand, maybe I won’t ever.

Bottom line, it isn’t about ME. It is about HIM. I’m a tiny piece in this universe. I don’t know what all is out there. God knows. Are there other worlds? God knows. He, after all, made it. He thought it, He breathed it.

 Why focus on Jesus?

JESUS!! Why did people cast down their nets and follow Him? He didn’t say, you will have eternal life… not then. He said, you will be fishers of men. He didn’t promise any benefits from following him, in fact He told them they would SUFFER! He told them to count the cost. The people He called were just ordinary people. Not the rich of the world.  They followed because of JESUS, not because of the reward they would get!  He didn’t say, I will make you great, I will put you above other men… He said it would be hard. It would include suffering.

And so I will follow Jesus because of JESUS!! He has given me the desire, He has given me the faith, He has granted me forgiveness, He has made me pure. All glory for anything is HIS.

I don’t understand, but I follow.

Lili'uokalani

Speaking of self expression, read about the last Queen of Hawaii, Lili'uokalani. Read her story here:http://www.iolanipalace.org/history/queen.html
A quilt was sewn by the Queen and her companions during her palace imprisonment. See a picture of the quilt here:http://starbulletin.com/2003/03/10/features/story1.html

changes, changes...

well haven't posted in awhile. So many changes in my life, and still dealing with my "stuff". My fabric is mostly together, my yarn is all neatly tucked in containers, but my paper craft stuff has yet to be tackled. When things are in chaos it is hard for me to create. So I move out to the dining room table and work there. :)

I've been busy moving posts from the Quilter's Friend site, which is no longer connected to the site. Another change, it was a good time in my life, but time for change.