Devotion for the Week...
A little over a year ago, when I started this blog, I hoped that having set a schedule for myself would mean I would actually spend time writing. I wanted to be writing devotions, and had plenty of them started, but I wasn't actually finishing anything. I wanted to change that and figured telling myself that I would post one every Monday would be the kick in the pants I needed to get myself working. And it has worked. I will confess that most of my devotions are actually typed into the computer on Sunday evening, but I'm usually thinking about them through the week so that the typing is just a matter of getting the words from my head onto the screen.
Sometimes, though, my thoughts get a little negative, and I wonder if people would prefer I just stick to quilting posts and get rid of the devotions altogether. Other times I wonder if I'd have more followers if there weren't "religious" posts every week. But then I get a comment on one of the devotion posts from someone who says she really enjoys them, looks forward to them even. That encouragement is a wonderful thing, and really motivates me to keep going with the slightly odd combination that is Devoted Quilter. So if you are one of those who have commented, thank you! I appreciate your kind words so much.
Some people are especially good at encouraging others. I've had several friends who were, or are, always ecouraging me. My husband, Paul, is my biggest supporter and encourager. If you're anything like me, being around these wonderful people leaves you feeling like you can do anything. The list of spiritual gifts outlined in Romans 12 includes encouraging, and I think these people are exactly the type the apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote that list.
Some of us, though, are not so good at encouraging others. I've noticed that I don't have that same ease with speaking words of encouragement. I first realized this shortly after meeting my friend Carol while we were living in Igloolik. Carol is one of those people who exudes positivity and confidence in others. She often affirms others, calling to attention their more admirable qualities. Even now when I read a letter from Carol, I marvel at how she can encourage me from clear across the country. I'm the one who often thinks of encouraging things I could have said, except the conversation is over before I think of them.
The Bible tells us to "encourage one another and build each other up" (1 Thessalonians 5:11) and to "encourage the disheartened" (1 Thessalonians 5:14). It doesn't say only those who are good at it should do it. Though it is listed in Romans 12 as a spiritual gift, in 1 Thessalonians there is no indication that this command to encourage one another should only be carried out by those who are especially gifted. We are all supposed to be encouraging others, especially if those others are feeling discouraged or down.
What is your encouragement personality? Does it come naturally to you, so you find it easy to encourage almost everyone you meet? Or are you more like me, rather less of an encourager than you would like to be?
June 30, 2014
June 26, 2014
Finished Swap Quilt
My Schnitzel and Boo Mini Quilt Swap quilt is finished!
I am so pleased with how it turned out. The quilting in the negative space is my favourite part. The quilt is 24" square, made of four 'Spin Cycle' blocks designed by Gudrun Erla and published in Volume 9 of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.
I'm working on a bookmark using some of the leftover solids, so once I get that finished I'll be ready to put this in the mail. Then I need to order the fabrics I have picked out to make a version of this quilt for us, and start stalking the mailbox for the swap quilt made for me!
June 23, 2014
So
Devotion for the Week...
I've been reading through John's gospel lately and one day last week I read chapter 13. One word really captured my attention in this passage. "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him" (John 13:3-5).
Do you know what one word I found so interesting? The word 'so'. It's not a big word, but it seems to me to be an important one in this passage. It links verse 3 ("Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God") to the rest of the passage ("he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him").
Jesus knew who He was. He was confident of His place in the world, of His value and significance. Because of that, He could willingly do tasks usually reserved for servants, even though His status was far, far above that of a servant. He didn't need to preserve His dignity by only doing things He considered to be "worthy of His attention" and He didn't need to show others they were beneath Him by making sure they did the menial work. Instead, He went down on His knees and washed the dusty, dirty feet of his disciples.
Were the disciples maybe looking around at each other, wondering who would give in and do this yucky job? Maybe they were each secretly thinking "I'm certainly not doing that!" I'm pretty sure that would have been my response had I been there and realized no servant was coming to take care of this necessary, but unpleasant, job.
And then Jesus stood up. I doubt He made a show of it. I know He didn't huff and sigh to let everyone know He was doing it but didn't feel He should have to do it. He simply stood up, got ready and did what needed to be done. Why was He able to do it without worrying about how it would make Him look, or what the disciples would think of Him if He humbled Himself in this way? Because He "knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God."
When everyone's feet were clean, "he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them" (John 13: 12-17).
You should do as I have done for you. In this generation, we don't need servants to wash our feet before we have a meal, so we don't literally have to wash each other's feet. But we are expected to serve one another without worrying about our status, our dignity or what people will think of us. How will we be able to do this? When we know that we belong to God, we worry a little less about what people think of us. When we understand that our dignity comes from being created in His image and that our worth has nothing to do with titles or wealth, then we can serve others willingly, no matter what job it is that needs to be done.
The question now is, do we understand God's definition of our worth well enough to be free to serve others as Jesus did?
I've been reading through John's gospel lately and one day last week I read chapter 13. One word really captured my attention in this passage. "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him" (John 13:3-5).
Do you know what one word I found so interesting? The word 'so'. It's not a big word, but it seems to me to be an important one in this passage. It links verse 3 ("Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God") to the rest of the passage ("he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him").
Jesus knew who He was. He was confident of His place in the world, of His value and significance. Because of that, He could willingly do tasks usually reserved for servants, even though His status was far, far above that of a servant. He didn't need to preserve His dignity by only doing things He considered to be "worthy of His attention" and He didn't need to show others they were beneath Him by making sure they did the menial work. Instead, He went down on His knees and washed the dusty, dirty feet of his disciples.
Were the disciples maybe looking around at each other, wondering who would give in and do this yucky job? Maybe they were each secretly thinking "I'm certainly not doing that!" I'm pretty sure that would have been my response had I been there and realized no servant was coming to take care of this necessary, but unpleasant, job.
And then Jesus stood up. I doubt He made a show of it. I know He didn't huff and sigh to let everyone know He was doing it but didn't feel He should have to do it. He simply stood up, got ready and did what needed to be done. Why was He able to do it without worrying about how it would make Him look, or what the disciples would think of Him if He humbled Himself in this way? Because He "knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God."
When everyone's feet were clean, "he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them" (John 13: 12-17).
You should do as I have done for you. In this generation, we don't need servants to wash our feet before we have a meal, so we don't literally have to wash each other's feet. But we are expected to serve one another without worrying about our status, our dignity or what people will think of us. How will we be able to do this? When we know that we belong to God, we worry a little less about what people think of us. When we understand that our dignity comes from being created in His image and that our worth has nothing to do with titles or wealth, then we can serve others willingly, no matter what job it is that needs to be done.
The question now is, do we understand God's definition of our worth well enough to be free to serve others as Jesus did?
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