my.sewingroom's blog : fabric, wall hanging

For when I am weak, then I am strong

Linda — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:16:00 GMT

2 Corinthians 12:10 ...For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I remembered those words last night. Why? I think I was actually listening to God for a change. I can be pretty "bullheaded" as Grandma Koller used to tell me. When I graduated from lay leadership training and became parish ministry assistant at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Scottsdale, I had to chose a verse from the Bible. The verse I chose was 2 Corinthians 12:9..."My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." There's that word "weak" again. But my favorite word "grace" is there too. Lately, I've been very weak...physically, mentally, spiritually. But last night and this morning I've realized that I have God's amazing grace and it is sufficient. So if I have God's sufficient grace, then I must be strong!! I've been told by more than one pastor that sometimes when we feel weakest in our faith, it's when we are the strongest in our faith. Thank you Lord Jesus for opening my eyes today. Thank you most of all for Your sufficient grace to make me strong when I am weak. Amen.

All my projects are just about complete that I have with me. I'm back to working on the wall hanging for our Precious Project. Maybe I can get if finished before I go home next week. Oh my, it's hard to believe I've been out here in Arizona for almost 3 months! I am so excited to be going home. I have shipped at least 6 cartons home containing f-a-b-r-i-c-s or things related to my favorite hobby. Bet you can't guess what that would be. I have 3 more cartons almost packed but are waiting till after the QCA/Reap What You Sew luncheon on Friday. I have some Show n Tell for the luncheon. After the luncheon I will have to pack it all up and ship it home.

Not to mention all the birthday stash from 2 birthday clubs. It was like Christmas!!! Thank you to all who sent the wonderful gifts. The fabrics are so beautiful. Tomorrow I will be buying for 2 people on the birthday lists. I'm going to 35th Ave. Shop with Maggie, Marlene and Sheri and then to lunch. It's my first outing other than doctors in almost 10 days. Yipee!! I'm free...well for a couple hours anyway. Then I have to stay in again until Friday. Still fighting the sore throat and still on antibiotics for a few more days. The doctor and my caregiver are trying to build up my energy so I can get on that train next Wednesday.

Also, I need energy because my brother Bill and his wife Jeri are coming from California to visit me this weekend. I'm thrilled because I've never met my brother. You see Bill is from Daddy's second marriage and they grew up in California. I didn't know of their existence until after Daddy passed away 20 years ago. It wasn't until last year that I was able to look up my brothers from that marriage. I now have 5 brothers total! Fortunately, I only grew up with 2 of them. Could you image growing up with 5 younger brothers? Two was bad enough!!! I really do love my brothers...really I do!

Happy Quilting this week! Hugs,

Linda

Psalm 116

Linda — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:05:00 GMT

Good morning, Heavenly Father! Actually I've been up all night again coughing and here it is 5:00 am, no sleep for a second night, and I'm saying "good morning". Well, at least it's positive. God, I haven't been too positive for many months now. I'm overwhelmed with health issues again and it's been so long since I've had a "good" day. The Bible says "ask and ye shall receive". God I'm asking for good days so I can have a positive outlook again. I need that positive outlook. I need to have my strong faith again....I don't know where it went. Help me, Lord Jesus. I'm out in left field somewhere. Where am I?? What happened? Why am I always turning left instead of right?

Psalm 116

¹ I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
² Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.

"I love you Lord. And I lift my voice to worship you O my soul Rejoice....." Amen.

I feel I must apologize to everyone because I've have had a very negative outlook in recent months about my health. Sometimes I become overwhelmed and I can't deal with the pain any more. What I need to do is turn to my God and my faith in my God and try to remain positive. Afterall, I'm still on this side of the grass, aren't I? I have survived 4 years. So why give up now? We Kollers are fighters and survivors. As Grandma Koller used to say "Linda, you are bullheaded!" Ok, so why be different now? I'm not after people's pity, prayers yes. So.....Onward Christian soldier!

Nothing and I do mean nothing has kept me from the sewing machine! I've made 2 pillowcases and 2 placemats for my little Indy. I'm looking forward to getting home. Indy will come home on March 3. I'll have a week to get everything ready for him. I just picked up some more fabric so I can make him a traveling mat to lay on. He will be a spoiled service dog. I also have fabric to make a quilt for the living room sofa for him to lay on.

I just finished another block that our alzheimer's qulter had started. I made it into a pillow that will go to her daugher who is in 4th stage breast cancer. Please keep the daughter in your prayers as she is not doing well I'm told. Our alzheimer's quilter was in church last Sunday and had a beautiful smile on her face. She was so precious. I'm taking the 2 quilt tops home to quilt. The only project left is the wall hanging. I hope to finish before I leave, but I have a pretty full schedule these last 3 weeks.

The Renaissance Festival is rapidly approaching. Jim has started working on a new reversible coat. Not as flashy as last year's coat, but classier. This week I made the pants...just have to make buttonholes yet. Today we are having some friends over for a sew-in...probably more visiting than sewing. I believe we are suppose to start on Sheila's costume. Actually we are just embellishing last year's costume. But what an embellishment!! A corset and overskirt in one. Oooolala! My costume gets no changes. I'm the fair maiden who has been captured by pirates. In a half hearted soft voice says "Help, help! I've been captured by pirates!" We have a lot of fun for the day. Wish I could find the photo of the gang to post. We're quite a motley looking group.

Several women at church have given me fabrics and asked me to please make quilts to be auctioned. The proceeds to be used to purchase items needed for the church. One lady gave me some red, white, blue fabrics and I told her they would make a nice valor quilt. She mentioned that she had a grandson in Afghanistan. So I'm now making a quilt for his family. I'm so priviledged that these women trust me to take on these tasks. I truly have my work cut out for me this year. Not to mention a few of my own quilts to finish up and my UFO pile.

Many thank yous for the birthday wishes yesterday. I belong to 2 birthday clubs and I am going home with a handsome stash of 30/40's, blues, greens, and purple fabrics. I believe I now have enough 30/40's with what I've managed to collect to make the Eleanor Burns sampler quilt from the "Egg Money" book. With the greens and purples I can now make both the pansy table topper and table runner for my bedroom.

I have enough to keep me busy. Plus, I'll be busy training Indy. I hope to meet some of you quilty friends in Ohio this year. Happy quilting!

PS. Don't forget the QCA/RWYS Luncheon on Feb. 17! Bring Show n Tell.

Precious RWYS Project cont.

Linda — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 12:31:00 GMT

I was able to purchase nearly everything needed to complete this most precious project. However, I couldn't find a suitable quilt stencil for the wall hanging. We were only able to go to JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby yesterday. I need to get to a quilt store. Hopefully, that will happen on Monday. I would like to complete the items that are near completion first before starting on the lap quilts. God may have other plans. I might end up doing the lap quilts first. I was surprised to find all the fabrics I needed yesterday. God is so awesome. I had no coupons for JoAnns and the check out clerk asked what I was doing. While I was explaining the project to her, she found some coupons saving me $40 and brought my total down to $95!!! Praise Jesus! Now I need a lot of prayer to complete the work and do it justice. I hope to start on it today after church or tomorrow morning. I may take the day off and go visit friends here in the neighborhood.

Today is the children's Christmas program at church. I understand we've had some younger families join the church this year. So I'm really looking forward to seeing their Christmas program. Happy Sunday everyone! Next Sunday is Christmas. If I don't get another blog in this week, everyone have a blessed Merry Christmas!

Lord Jesus, please wrap your comforting and healing arms around my 2 grandchildren Hanna and Quinn that they will be better to enjoy Christmas. Please protect baby Cora, mom Heather and dad Mark that they remain healthy. Thy will be done. In Your Name I pray. Amen