Christmas Declaration

Merry Christmas!  This declaration is from the Christmas Eve service at Parkside Church in Ohio:

As followers of Jesus Christ, living in this world-

which some seek to control,

But which others view with despair

We declare with joy and trust:

Our world belongs to God!

God remembered His promise

to reconcile the world to Himself;

He has come among us in Jesus Christ,

the eternal Word made flesh.

He is the long-awaited Savior,

fully human and fully divine,

conceived by the Spirit of God

and born of the virgin Mary.
We long for that day when Jesus will return

as triumphant king, when the dead will be raised

and all people will stand before His judgment.

We face that day without fear,

for the Judge is our Savior.

He will heal our hurts, end our wars,

and make the crooked straight.

Then we will join in the new song

to the Lamb without blemish

who made us a kingdom and priests.

God will be all in all,

RIghteousness and peace will flourish.

Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus.

Indeed - He saved us from our sins - this is everything - this is the point:

He saved us from the wrath of God, which we all deserve because of our sin - we earned that wrath

YET, Christ lived that perfect life without sin that we need, yet are incapable of

AND He presented Himself as the perfect sinless sacrifice as payment for our sins.

Doubly blessed - He paid the debt for sins, AND lived that perfect life for us - Oh receive Him as your Savior! and live no longer under condemnation, but as a child of God - both born as His child and adopted into His family.

Titus 3:4-7

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

Matthew 1:21

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 

Romans 5:9-10

 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 

 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

2 Corinthians 5:20-21

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Galatians 4:4-7

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Number 10 (of 12) crazy quilt block

Finished block number 10 for the crazy quilt journal project (2016) - pushing along!
  
Incorporated 7 stitches from Take a Stitch Tuesday

(upper) #72 basque stitch, #77 pistil stitch; (right) #71 alternating up and down buttonhole stitch; (around words) #76 whipped chain; (left) #69 magic chain; (center) #78 feathered up and down buttonhole; (bottom) #74 buttonholed cable chain

stitches can be found here  in the middle of the page.

Thank you for stopping by my blog!

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. hebrews 10:35

Stitches

Stitches used here are  #69 magic chain,#74 buttonholed cable chain, #78 feathered up & down buttonhole stitch, #72 basque stitch,#77 pistil stitch all from the Take A Stitch Tuesday challenge at pintangle.  

I have learned many stitches from this challenge, and am encouraged by seeing other embroidery work.

here is the block:

I continue working on my Crazy Quilt blocks for the 2016 challenge - better late than never :)

~apologies that the photos are not up to par!~

thank you for stopping by!  Please leave a comment - thank 
you!

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Hebrews 10:35-36

Added green

Forgot to update with a finished photo - now blocked.  The added green is a nice touch :)

Happy New Year~!

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22-23

Crochet doily..

This is an unfinished small "doily" I am crocheting...
almost looks like a rose with wings.  It will look lacier once it is blocked and set; will post photos when it is finished.

The crochet pattern is free from BellaCrochet; I am using size 10 crochet thread.

This I know...

By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. psalm 41:11

When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. psalm 56:9

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 2 timothy 1:12

Christmas Crochet

little crochet christmas tree...

looks a bit like a hat ;)  but it is a tree (egg warmer) with a star on top...

Christmas...Thank you Christ Jesus for coming and saving us....for keeping all your promises

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Hebrews 1:1-4

Crochet Tree/egg warmer pattern free at  GarnStudio,
I used aunt lydia #3 cotton crochet thread in off white...it is what I had on hand :)

Rejoice! (also register for CQJP2017)

crazy quilt block 9

continuing with the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2016- 

And registration is now on for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2017.  I encourage you to register; it is a nice project to work on through the year, and at the end, have 12 blocks for a finished project.

remember - Rejoice Always!  Especially at Christmas, Think upon CHRIST 
God sent His Son - God came to US!! Christ has come, paid it all - receive the free gift of salvation and rejoice evermore!  

And pray without ceasing :)

Mouth

continuing to work on crazy quilt journal project for 2016....
(sign ups for 2017 will occur soon - please sign up, it is a lovely project to work on)

my theme for 2016 was a USA patriotic theme, as this is an election year...

four  more blocks to go...then sewing it up all together.

This quote was chosen as I am called to speak up the truth (especially when people do not want to hear it), and to remember that the Lord is the One who strengthens me - who strengthens us :)

Thank you for any comments ~ I always appreciate hearing from people!

many of the stitches I use are part of the Take A Stitch Tuesday challenge on pintangle

Stepping Out

Crazy Quilt Block #7  2016


working and progressing through the crazy quilt blocks

Sewing little stars and beads, working different stitches....

working in red, white, blue with gold accents for the colors of the USA, during 2016 this election year...

And trusting in God alone as I step out to volunteer for the campaign...

Will Not We Fear

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore, will not we fear.....

crazy quilt block part of the 2016 crazy quilt journal project

stitches used can be found via pintangle, and excellent resource

Save LORD

Looped Cretan Stitch, doubled and beaded with pearly #8 thread; part of Take a Stitch Tuesday

crazy quilt blocks continue

crazy quilt blocks continue, this is the third block for the Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2016     firework like flowers on the lower edge are Berry Stitch, in pearl cotton thread; the royal blue and red chains are the Chained Cross Stitch, in Pepper Pot silk thread...

detail around verse is Chained Cross Stitch in pearl thread #8 with beads

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear...psalm 46:1-2

TAST Take a Stitch Tuesday Challenge Stitch 45 Berry Stitch

Berry Stitch in pearl cotton #5 ~ 3 different blues surrounding white...

filling in with more Berry Stitches  :)  learn theBerry Stitch and more at pintangle

And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.  deuteronomy 31:8

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. john 6:36

 trust in Jesus Christ :)

Just One Crop....

originally posted June 14, 2011

Under The Mighty Oak http://www.etsy.com/shop/BehindthePicture

The Crop of Acorns

There came a man in days of old
To hire a piece of land for gold,
And urged his suit in accents meek:
"One crop alone is all I seek;
The harvest o'er, my claim I'll yield
And to its lord return the field."

The owner some misgivings felt,
And coldly with the stranger dealt;
But found his last objection fail,
And honeyed argument prevail;
So took the offered price in hand,
And for "one crop" leased out the land.

The wily tenant sneered with pride
And sowed the spot with acorns wide;
At first like tiny shoots they grew,
Then broad and wide their branches threw;
But long before those oaks could climb,
And finally reach their forest prime,
The cheated landlord moldering lay,
Forgotten, with his kindred clay.

O ye whose years, unfolding fair,
Are fresh with youth and free from care,
should vice or laziness desire
The garden of your souls to hire,
No bargains make - reject the suit;
Don't let one seed the soil pollute.

My child, the first approach beware;
With firmness break the evil snare
Lest, as the acorns grew and throve
Into a sun-excluding grove,
Thy sins, a dark o'ershadowing tree,
Shut out the light of heaven from thee.

L.H. Sigourney

Quilt Block CQJP challenge

crazy quilt block for crazy quilt journal project 2016  :)  see more beautiful blocks here 

great resource for stitches and information at pintangle

bow

working on Crazy Quilt Journal Project 2016

in your patience

sheep by Rigel

In your patience.........

condo rice/code pink 2007

possess ye your souls.   Luke 21:19

Character matters

photo by dMagnus

 Leopards do not change their spots.  Even if they act or look like kitty cats.... 

photo by Tambako the Jaguar

Values and character are observed over time, especially when choosing a candidate...looking at someone who says what you want to hear & gives you that emotional rush, while disregarding how they  live & act is like looking at that adorable  leopard lying there gazing at you,& thinking...

photobyDennisJarvis

"they won't bite me."

Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. Jeremiah 23:13

standing up...

As we go about living, we are showing who and what we fall in line with daily.....

if you drink coffee....

Coffee Bear by Fiona Henderson

coffee is probably something you like and think it is ok to drink, no?   I like coffee...and coffee bears too :)

How about dogs ?- always a great topic of conversation

photo by Raven Underwood

Politics and Religion on the one hand, are topics lots of people want to stay away from...divisive, almost certainly, no?

but standing up is important, being a light that shines in a dark world....

photo by Tamilis Olivera

... standing up will mean that  people call you divisive, and want you to go along to get along....but that is not standing up for the truth or being a light, is it?  don't be afraid to be hated when you stand up; you are not the first......

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. john 3:19-21

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. john 15:18

what's free?

making an easter card

quoted from a Good Friday missionary update I received from a family serving as missionaries in very rural China.

"The common US expression “Freedom isn’t free” describes how the blood-and-tear sacrifices of our militaries over two and a half centuries have secured for our citizens a freedom all can enjoy, though most do not fully appreciate its cost. In like manner, believers across the world enjoy a freedom in salvation which, although free for the taking, was never free for the giving, and most do not fully comprehend or appreciate its true cost.

If ever inclined to do so, sinful human beings can forgive others who’ve wronged them, simply “out of the goodness of the heart”; yet this is something that God could never do. Such arbitrary, inconsistent, and likely short-lived “forgiveness” finds little comparison to the forgiveness God offers (Matthew 18:21-35), for it truly costs us nothing. In reality, our holy and just God could never forgive sin simply because He’s kind and loving, for it is neither kind nor loving (nor holy nor just) to let a debt of sin go unpaid. God’s forgiveness had a cost: His forgiveness finds its kindness, love, holiness, and justice in the work of Jesus Christ, in the shedding of His Son’s own precious blood on the cross (Hebrews 9:22).

We often (redundantly) describe salvation as “God’s free gift,” and Scripture also speaks of our having been “freely justified” (Romans 3:24, ASV) and how God will “freely give us all things” (Romans 8:32, ASV; 1Corinthians 2:12, ESV), yet these descriptions are fully people-centered. We must never forget that—divinely speaking—our justification was far from free. At great expense to Himself, God provided the world with a Gift, the life of His own dear Son. In His death, Jesus “paid the ultimate price” for our redemption, and this cost—having satisfied our sin debt outstanding—is the very basis of divine forgiveness.

Christ’s sacrifice was so complete that when He “bought us with a price” (1Corinthians 6:20), His payment didn’t simply save us at a moment in the past, but instead continues to save us even now (1John 1:9). The death of Jesus Christ so many “Good Fridays” ago is truly the lynchpin to all history, human and divine, for it is the epitome of God’s immeasurable love, the declaration of His impossible mercy, and the foundation of His every grace. So as you celebrate this historical event this week, please remember: although it has cost us nothing, spiritual “freedom isn’t free.” "  AF family

Directly quoted from a missionary update I received; this family serves as missionaries in very rural China