Project # 2

Yet another sewing post!

I started out with this fabric and notions. When did corduroy get so soft? I am really loving the idea of soft and sturdy jumpers for my little princess.



Decided on a bodice (this is the only pattern piece I used).



I finally learned how to make a double ruffle. If you do them right they look so professional!



I love the finished product. I like this one much more than the last dress I made.





My little Princess showing off for the camera.

sewing!

I love to sew. It is so fun for me. I am learning with each new thing I make.

Last winter I couldn't find any little dresses that were very warm that were not outrageously priced. So this winter I am going to make some very warm jumpers. Last week I went to our local fabric store and picked up this flannel fabric.



I thought that I would want to make a jumper kind-of like this one. But I only half used the pattern. I only I looked at the directions a couple times :o)



I sewed a strip of brown flannel on to a section of the main fabric before I cut out the sections of the skirt.



I wanted to duplicate the bottom of the skirt in the pattern so I only sewed halfway down then sewed in sections of white flannel.





I lined the bodice with white flannel to make it nice and toasty warm.



These are my favorite tools right now. I love how much easier it is to make straps and ties with them.



Finished! Matched with a cute white shirt underneath, it's perfect, right?



Except when I put it on my sweet girl it just didn't look right. The shoulders were a little too wide.



So I hand gathered the shoulder straps and put a decorative tie on them and now it fits her perfectly.



Finished and ready for the cold days of winter.

be my everything

we sang this song at church yesterday and it shook me. I of course was crying. this is what I want so badly. this is my prayer.



God in my living
There in my breathing
God in my waking
God in my sleeping

God in my resting
There in my working
God in my thinking
God in my speaking

Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything

God in my hoping
There in my dreaming
God in my watching
God in my waiting

God in my laughing
There in my weeping
God in my hurting
God in my healing

Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
You are everything

Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
Be my everything

discipline

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:7-11

God I pray this be so.

I pray that my heart is open to his discipline so that He may increase my righteousness. How often we view discipline from God as something bad. It's ironic that when I discipline my children I realize that I must do so so that I can help them learn lesson to become wonderful adults. I teach them right and wrong, I teach them respect, I teach them the proper way to treat each other, I teach so much that I can not write about in a simple blog post. I don't expect my children to know already know these things. I realize that it is my job to teach them through instruction and sometimes discipline. I realize that some lessons must be taught over and over again before it is cemented in their little heads. I only get frustrated when one of my children does something that I know, they know, is very wrong.

Is it the same with God? Some lessons must be taught so that we can reap the benefits of his teaching and instruction? He knows that some lessons He has to teach us over and over again? That He only gets angry when we willfully disobey Him? That because He loves us as a father that his patience is more than we can imagine? I believe that it is so.

How wonderful a picture of our God! A loving father that is just trying to shape us into the best we can possibly be.

God, I know that sometimes I hide when you try to discipline me. Help me to somehow accept your discipline so that I may "produce a harvest of righteousness and peace" in my life.

staying relevant

I've been thinking lately about the church being relevant in the world. I have been starting to realize that maybe the more important issue is individuals being relevant to those around them. Maybe that really is more important of the two issues. When someone walks into a church they know why they are there. People don't normally wander into a church because they wonder what all this "christian stuff" is all about. It might happen, but I believe it is rare.

On the other hand individuals that we work with, people we become friends with, neighbors or even family see us. They get to know us. Instead of an institution they see an individual. A church as a whole is a place for corporate worship, fellowship, community, ministry, instruction, etc. An individual is a chance for others to see on an individual basis who and what Jesus is.

So how do we stay relevant to those around us? Do we talk about loving Jesus every second we can? Do we witness every chance we get? I strongly believe the answer is a resounding NO!

If we look at Jesus' example time and time again He met people where they were. He went into a house that shocked others, He met someone in their most desperate hour, He shocked and dismayed the local leaders with His ministry. He considered the individual much more important than the sanctity of the religion of the time.

I think we have to realize what are the societal rules and religious rules of our day. I think we also have to realize what our own personal limits are. Is it wrong to go into a bar and have a drink with a coworker? I really don't believe so. While it is wrong to go get drunk with the coworker I see no harm in going to relate to someone you work with. What if said co-worker has never met a follower of Christ willing to come to them? What if the only way that that co-worker will open up to you is if you come down to their level and show your human side?

The question that needs to be asked is what is going to help you with this friend, co-worker, family member, etc? What can I do to become relevant to them? One MUST use discernment and examine their own heart as to what the boundaries are and what will help you reach out. Fortunately I believe we don't often need to push our personal limits to become relevant.

I think that showing your human side is the crux of staying relevant to those around you. While it is exceptionally important to show your divine side I think it needs to be that. Showing. Not talking. Because as we all know actions are more important than words. Being an everyday witness. However you decide to show your human side is up to you. I believe that those that know you love Jesus will ask you on their own about Him when they are ready.

My husband and I have often experienced this more often than not in our ministry. If we come down to someone on their level they will spontaneously ask about Jesus. We invite them over for dinner, we set up play dates with their kids, we give someone a ride to work when their car breaks down, we listen to family troubles and just listen. Eventually people realize that we have something that they want, that we have qualities the they appreciate. Suddenly a door is flung open wide because of the work of the Holy Spirit prompting their hearts and they start to ask questions.

So when everyone is asking 'how do we make the church more relevant?' I feel the question that should be asked is 'how do we make ourselves more relevant?"

So how do you make yourself relevant?