Sewing in Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  John 14:27

Yesterday I had the opportunity of time.....time for creativity....time to work on a quilt I had started.  I'm in the process of sewing a couple of simple, square styled quilts for my son's bunk bed.  Using recycled denim, leftover fabric, and newly chosen fabric in stripes, plaids, and plains, I'm trying to spruce up, but still coordinate with what's already working in the room.  

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.  Isaiah 55:12

Yesterday was just too beautiful a day to be inside to work on my project, so I decided to act upon an idea that had been on my mind for a while now.  I decided to take my project outdoors.  Barefoot and fancy-free, I happily pinned away under the shade of a tree.  I felt so spoiled and so blessed to be able to do what I desired to do in such a peaceful setting.

As I sat, quietly pinning, I basked in the beauty of our little corner of creation.  Silently, in prayer and praise, I thanked God for the sunny day, the glorious breeze, and the birds' song in the air.  I wondered why the moment felt so rare.....to be so still, so quiet, just listening, just feeling.....no music, no media.....just me and the Lord.....outside together.

Next, I hauled my sewing machine and table out to the patio.....and I began to intersperse my pinning with sewing, row by row.  Every stitch was a delight in the beauty of the outdoors. I felt deep joy in the luxury I was experiencing.  I accepted this time as a gift from the Lord.

My project wasn't deep or meaningful, but practical and useful.  Though simple in design, it was still an avenue for creativity.  It made my heart happy to put together colors and textures in a random and perhaps even quirky way.  Since I had previously sewn together ten rows with seven squares each, my goal for the day was to sew all ten rows together.  My goal gave me momentum to keep on stitchin' until I accomplished my task.

Mission accomplished.....made with memories.

Days like these don't happen every day.  Days like these are gifts from above. We have a part in making each day and moment beautiful.  Sometimes it takes a little effort. Sometimes it takes a lot.  Sometimes the beauty is just in the eye of the beholder.  Sometimes the beauty of a moment is all in our attitude. 

This I'm learning.....in sewing and in life.....Peace has come and He is with us.....everyday and everywhere.....in our rush and in our rest.

For Such a Time as This

Purim is a time for giving gifts of food in celebration.

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish.  And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" - Mordechai - Esther 4:14

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you prosper."  I remember clearly, the first time when I really heard these words, when they didn't just go in one ear and out the other.  Until that moment, my spiritual ears weren't opened.....and neither was my heart.  I had been living with an ideology that put all-things-Jewish off my radar as obsolete and irrelevant.  After all, I was a Christian, and I wasn't Jewish.  I had grown up with a Replacement Theology mentality, believing that the church had replaced Israel as the apple of God's eye.  I believed that we live in a new dispensation, a time of history where the old has gone and the new has come, where grace is in and law is out, because through Jesus, the law has been fulfilled and nailed to the cross.  With this mentality, there was not much reason for me to put a lot of emphasis on Israel. 

The story of one woman's courage.

When I first really heard God instruct me through his Word to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, I had no words of my own, so I simply prayed the words of Scripture.  I knew next to nothing about modern day Israel and Judaism.  In fact, I didn't know any Jews.  Except for one.  I had met a Jewish guy named Mike, who was employed at the recycling center in my neighborhood.  I began to pray for Mike.

When I discovered the Hebrew calendar in my NIV Bible, and began to learn about the Creator's appointed holy days, and the Jewish holidays, I started to look for ways to bless this one Jew, who as far I knew, was the only Jew I knew.  Before each of the biblical holidays, I would study up and learn a bit of the meaning and the background of each occasion, and each time, I would be inspired with one small way to bless Mike. 

My first attempt at Hamentaschen - with rasberry jam filling.

On the Festival of Purim, I was inspired try my hand at a traditional Purim cookie called Hamentaschen.  These three-cornered butter cookies sport a little dash of orange zest in the crust and a sweet center of jam or some other filling.  I thought these treats would be a fitting blessing for Mike and his employer, the owner of the recycling center, whom I had discovered was also Jewish.

Hamantaschen cookies are reminders of Haman, the wicked enemy of the Jews, who was destroyed by his own evil plot, as described in the Book of Esther.  The little pastries are said to resemble Haman's ears or Haman's hat.  In Germanic languages,  the word "tasch" means "pouch" or "pocket," thus the reference may refer to "Haman's pockets," symbolizing the money Haman planned to offer the king in exchange for permission to destroy the Jews.

Purim or lots were cast for date of demise

Purim, or the Festival of Lots, recalls God's miraculous deliverance of the Jews from annihilation during the times of the ancient Persian Empire, after lots (purim) were cast to determine the day of their demise.  God had orchestrated for Queen Esther to be raised up to the right place, at the right time, to be God's instrument of intervention.  Encouraged by her father-figure, Mordecai, Queen Esther risked her life to intercede before King Ahasuerus on behalf of her people, the Jews.  Ultimately the enemy was destroyed, and God's chosen people prevailed.

Celebrating Purim with a woman's Bible study. 

Purim is celebrated by reading the Book of Esther.  When the story is read, the listeners boo or hiss or twist groggers (noisemakers) to drown out the name of wicked Haman.  Some dress up in costume as one of the characters in the story.  It is a time of celebrating and rejoicing when mourning and sorrow was turned to joy and when the Jews obtained rest from their enemies.   It is biblical tradition to give gifts of food to friends and to give gifts to the poor on this day.

The story of Purim is not just an ancient story to be relegated to the annals of history.  Remember Hitler and the Holocaust, and let us say "Never Again!"  Perhaps today, more clearly than ever, we can see the antisemitic spirit rising against the nation of Israel and the Jewish people.  May we not stand on the side of hate and judgement, rather, let us pray for the peace of Jerusalem.


 Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, addressed the US Congress on March 3, 2015 with these words:

"We're an ancient people.  In our nearly 4,000 years of history, many have tried to repeatedly to destroy the Jewish people.  Tomorrow night, on the Jewish holiday of Purim, we'll read the Book of Esther.  We'll read of a powerful Persian viceroy named Haman, who plotted to destroy the Jewish people some 2,500 years ago.  But a courageous Jewish woman, Queen Esther, exposed the plot and gave for the Jewish people the right to defend themselves against their enemies.

The plot was foiled.  Our people were saved.

Today the Jewish people face another attempt by yet another Persian potentate to destroy us.  Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei spews the oldest hatred, the oldest of anti-Semitism with the newest technology.  He tweets that Israel must be annihilated - he tweets.  You know, in Iran, there isn't exactly free Internet.  But he tweets in English that Israel must be destroyed.

For those who believe that Iran threatens the Jewish state, but not the Jewish people, listen to Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, Iran's chief terrorist proxy.  He said:  If all the Jews gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of chasing them down around the world."

Treats for a Purim celebration.

We would be wise to remember that if Haman had succeeded in wiping out the Jewish nation, there would be no Jewish lineage.  If there was no Jewish lineage, there would be no Jesus.  If there was no Jesus, no Yeshua, there would be no salvation.  Salvation is of the Jews.

Just recently, I've come to really understand a biblical principle that I hadn't fully comprehended before.  It is the biblical principle of the priority of the Jews.  I believe it takes humility to understand this, but if we can put ourselves aside, this truth will make a huge impact on squelching antisemitism and Replacement Theology.  The Bible tells us that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew and also to the Gentile.  Listed below are a few of the ways that show how this is so, and you can read more about it in John Piper's article here. 

• They are the historic chosen people of God.
• They are the guardians of God's special revelation, the Old Testament Scriptures.
• The Messiah and Savior, Jesus, comes to the world as a Jew, to Jews.
• Salvation is from the Jews, since everyone who is saved is saved by being connected to the covenant with Abraham by faith.

 

Purim - when sorrow was turned to joy, when good triumphed over evil.

"I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." - I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." -  God to Abram Genesis 12:31

Let us pray for the peace of Jerusalem.....let us bless Israel!

Lamenting Lent

A cross of ashes on the forehead.....a solemn, penitent, introspective ceremony.....forty days of fasting.....these are some of the practices which make up the celebration of Lent.  A religious experience?.....Yes.  Spiritual and perhaps deeply moving?.....Yes, I know from experience.  But biblical?  Hmmm.

I didn't grow up celebrating Lent, because it wasn't part of my church's tradition.  In fact, for most of my life, I didn't even know what Lent was.  Then over ten years ago, it was introduced in my church, and I went to my first Lenten service.  The service was solemn and reflective and focused on how Christ the Lord suffered for those he came to save.  The sign of the cross made of ashes on the forehead seemed really weird to me at first, but when heard more about it, I started to embrace it. In the service, we were encouraged to engage in the tradition of giving up something for forty days.  That too, I embraced as a way to fix my mind upon the Savior, while tasting a portion of the self-denial that he exhibited on our behalf.


For a few years I participated in Lent and even encouraged the youth of our church to join in the service and the traditions.  But then I came across a calendar in my Bible that I had overlooked until that very moment.....and it rocked my world.

The calendar I found in my NIV Bible was mapped out by the Creator himself.  It was a cyclical calendar of consecrated days which highlighted God's appointed times that He had said were to be remembered forever.  The calendar I found in my Bible contained no Lent or Easter, no Advent or Christmas, nor Sunday days of worship.  It was a Hebrew calendar based on the seasons, governed by the sun and moon that God set in place for this very purpose.  The value in recognizing God's calendar is that it powerfully imparts insight for understanding the Word of God.  

God's holy calendar includes days of feasting and fasting, reflection and rejoicing,  solemnity and worship.....all the things God knows we need to maintain and deepen our relationship with Him.  God's divine appointments are the days that our Rabbi Yeshua/Jesus kept when he lived on this earth.  He showed us how to live to please God.  He affirmed and kept all the words and practices of Scripture in the most perfect and beautiful way.

I am lamenting that I see a growing trend to re-institute the practice of celebrating Lent.  Why the need to add and subtract from the beauty of God's precious calendar when Yeshua himself says to us, "Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you."  Our Messiah, his disciples, and the early believers, including Gentiles who were grafted into the commonwealth of Israel, did not celebrate Lent, but during the Feast of Unleavened Bread they "gave up" bread with yeast, symbolizing the danger of permitting unchecked sin to inhabit our lives.  

My Lenten Lament is that oftentimes man-made traditions replace God's pre-determined, prophetic, divine appointments that he has said were to be remembered forever.  It's as if we have appeased ourselves with lesser things while forfeiting something much more valuable and lasting.  It's as if God's wonderful gifts are just waiting for us.....to taste and touch and see.   Come and eat, you who are hungry.....the blessings await!
 

How about giving up yeast for the Feast of Unleavened Bread?

Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch---as you really are.  For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.  Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

1 Corinthians 5:7-8

The Art of Change

I had been anticipating our lunch date at Cafe Veronese.  Surrounded by funky art, rusty metal paraphernalia from days-gone-by, and chippy-painted-wood structures, the setting was inspiring and creative and insulated from the bustle of the town.  In this peaceful space, with food for body and soul, my dear young friend and I opened our hearts and shared our dreams as we sat and supped and meandered in the hidden garden.

Perfection wasn't the heart of the place or our thoughts on that day.  Rather, our musings were more about possibility in the midst of brokenness, and about freedom to dream, explore, and step forward in faith.  I knew I would find inspiration in spending time with dear Alethia, who possesses God-sized dreams and a heart for the hurting.....and I was not disappointed.  Indeed, I was challenged and encouraged to set out on a new adventure.....beginning with attending an anti-human trafficking event. 

A painting of Cafe Veronese

Following lunch we perused a couple of cool little shops in the downtown whose mission through business and creativity is to bless and serve the community and those in need.  One was Share and Do Good and the other, Oh, Hello Friend, the shop where the anti-trafficking event would be held.  To see before my eyes the the passionate efforts of those doing such altruistic work was really quite moving.

For me personally, the issue of human trafficking has been very heavy on my heart for a few years now.  The feeling is so strong that it gets me choked up every time I mention it.  Although I've desired to do something, I've felt paralyzed about what to do, and so I've failed to do anything at all.....or perhaps I've just been waiting for the Lord's specific leading, timing, and inspiration.  Hmmm.....or has that just been an excuse?.....pondering.

I know I am blessed.....to be a blessing!

The following day, I awoke early, my head filled with artsy ideas, and my heart seeking ways I could help fight slavery.  Moved to my knees with prayer book and pen, I came before the Maker of heaven and earth and committed my ideas to Him in prayer.  

"Lord, may it be that I live for Your kingdom and Your glory.....and not my own!"  Though I feel insufficient and powerless, my God is big and powerful and Mighty to Save!  Because of His great love and His power that lives in me, I can do something.  I can participate in the art of change!

Because of the challenge set before me by Alethia, I went to the
 Anti-Human Trafficking Event at Oh, Hello Friend.  We heard stories of captivity and rescue, and learned much about the issue from Destiny Rescue, an incredible ministry.  All my tears from last night resulted in a headache this morning, but it was so worth it.  It was a beautiful evening full of reality, and hope, and lovely people, and opportunities.   
We were inspired with many ways to get involved.
So glad I went.

Sales of jewelry and other items were for sale for the cause.

I met these sweet student activists.

We wrote encouragement notes for the rescued victims.

Patch Attach

The not-so-perfect or pretty side of my patch.

I admit that it's a fact that I have a hard time getting rid of stuff and that I hate seeing perfectly useful things being thrown away in the garbage.  The way I figure, waste is bad for the environment and besides, one man's trash is another person's treasure.  Go ahead.....call me sentimental or frugal or perhaps even a hoarder.....yikes!  

Wherever I can, I do my best to recycle, re-use, save for a garage sale or give away.  For example, I never just throw away junky T-shirts.....they become throw-away rags that can be used to wipe up greasy stuff in the garage.  Old socks are great for cleaning blinds or fan blades, and if they get really dirty, then I toss them instead of wash them.   Another thing I save for re-use is denim jeans.  If they're in good condition, I tend to pass them on for someone else to wear, but if they're worn, I save them for projects like quilts, tote bags or decorative items (see them at My Reformed Denim or Rags to Riches or Dedicating my Heart).

My old pants with possibilities.

So all this is a little background on my latest  project.....patching up some favorite comfy pants.  I bought these cargo-style pants years ago in two different colors and have absolutely loved the way they felt and fit.  When the beige pair saw their demise, I snipped off the cool metal buttons before I threw them away.....who knows what use I'll find for them someday?  But these faded gray pair with the hole in the leg and the frayed cuffs, I have continued to wear.

I don't know about you, but when I'm wearing clothes that are super-cute and nice and new, I feel a little stifled as far as getting stuff done around the house, but when I'm wearing clothes that aren't so perfect and that are maybe even a little junky, I feel that the possibilities are endless for what I can accomplish.  Hence, I felt it was worth it to patch up my holey pants.....and I had the perfect fabric saved for just such the occasion.

I cut patches from my old, torn cords.

A pair of old ripped cords came in handy as the patch material for my cargo pants.  I had saved these because I loved the soft texture and the rich color of the deep rose corduroy.....I figured they had to be good for something .....something heart-shaped.....of course!  I cut a free-hand heart to cover the hole and then used that first piece as a pattern for cutting a second patch as a backing.  I cut the design out of a piece of fusible webbing too.

Ironing on the patch.

Snipping off the frayed threads.

Next I cleaned up the hole by cutting away the frayed threads.  Then I created a little heart-shaped fabric sandwich on the hole with fabric under the hole, and fusible webbing and the heart-patch over that.  Since fusible webbing takes moist heat, I plugged in the iron, and moistened a cloth to layer over my patch, then held the iron over the area for a minute or so until the patch was attached.
 

Final step - sewing on the patch.

The final step in the process was sewing around the edges of the heart.  I considered zig-zagging too, but decided against it in order to let the edges fray for a little more texture.  Turns out I didn't make a great fabric sandwich as the backing fabric didn't quite cover the hole, but that's no biggy, no one will ever see it.
 

Project complete!

Most importantly, I consider this project to be a successful experiment.  I figure that what I practiced this time for patching a hole could be done just for embellishment on some other item some other day.  The creative ideas are endless.  After all.....I've got lots more rose colored corduroy ready and waiting!

Hanukkah Nights

Eight little candles

Hanukkah means "dedication." 

all burning so bright,
as we come to the last
of our Hanukkah nights.

We started with one candle.
Then we lit two.
With each night the light
of our Hanukkiah grew.

We ate oil-fried and cheese foods,
all very symbolic.....
latkes and french fries,
even Chinese and cheesecake.

During Hanukkah nights
we recalled brave, godly men
and women whose lives
were dedicated to Him.

They valued the Torah
much more than their lives.
They lived for the Kingdom.
For God's Word they did fight.

So too, may the Light
in our hearts burn with passion,
proclaiming the Living Word
descended from heaven.

For we are His temple.
Yes, we are His lights.
His glory shines out from within 
hearts fully dedicated to Him.

<3 Kim

Let us dedicate our hearts to Him!

Last year, I shared with greater detail some of my Hanukkah experiences 

and the way this new-to-me celebration touched my heart.....in Dedicating my Heart.  

The Mystery of 11-11

One in Messiah

Today is November 11.  While I know this is just another date on the calendar, there's something about the number 11-11 that tugs at my heartstrings.....reminds me of something important.....something important for me to share.  This story of mine, about the number 11-11, may sound a little crazy when you read it, but nevertheless, I pray you will appreciate my experience and find my conclusions to be of interest.....

The date was 7-11-11.  It was a summer evening when I met a dear friend at a local coffeehouse.  We talked for hours, catching up and chatting about the way the LORD was working in our lives.  At the end of the night, while walking out to the parking lot, we discovered that our sons were sharing similar experiences.  

Previously, each of our sons had shared that they were randomly seeing the number 11-11.  The repetition and oddity of this had left each one of them feeling a little disconcerted, and we moms, had taken their feelings to heart.  Normally, I steer clear of any kind of superstitious thinking, but this time the enemy sucked me in, and I experienced fearful thoughts and feelings of dread.  I knew my fear was not of God.  I knew that our God tells us to cast off anxious thoughts and trust in Him.  I knew that.....and yet, to my shame, I worried.
  
Separately, each of us mothers had asked our sons to pray.  Each of us had encouraged our sons to ask God to reveal His message, if indeed there was a message to be understood.  I don't know if our sons did pray for revelation, or if they did believe that God might get their attention through such strange methods, but separately, each of us mothers had told our sons that our God is not random.  He is precise, omnipotent, purposeful and providential.

In the coffeehouse parking lot, my friend and I prayed for the LORD's protection and for His leading for our sons.  My friend said she would look up scripture references that might give insight to the strange numbers.  I told her that I would wait for what God would show me. 


Then we went our separate ways.  My friend started her car before I got to mine.  Excitedly, she waved me over and asked me to guess what time it was when she started her car.  She told me it had been 11:00 p.m.  After what seemed only a few minutes later, I got in my car to find 11:11 staring at me!  I honked the horn at my friend, who had started to drive away, and shared the crazy news.  Though, I don't like to over-spiritualize events in my life, we did marvel together at this strange happening and wondered if God was trying to show us something.  

The next day I received a couple of e-mails links from my friend.  The first was about end-times prophecies, and the second was about something I can't remember.....but it quoted a Bible verse that I had been running across repeatedly.  Until that moment, I hadn't noticed where it was found, but this time the reference numbers that caught my eye were 11:11!  This time, this verse stood out to me as being of particular importance.

The passage in the second e-mail was Romans 11:11 which states, "...salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious."  I began to ponder the meaning of this.....for me.....and for my son.  The LORD had already lead me to study the feasts of the LORD.....days that most people think of as Jewish holidays.  I had already begun to see that these God-appointed feasts/holy days of celebration found in Leviticus 23 are of great value.  I had already started learning that these biblical and holy celebrations were prophetic and intimate celebrations of joy and worship, centered on Messiah, and were a time of great blessing for both Jews and Gentile believers alike.  

My son, who was seeing 11-11 everywhere, was the only one in my family who had been willing to discuss whether God may be inviting Gentile believers back to the biblical feasts.  I wondered.....was God directing my son and me to a ministry of reconciliation with the Jews?  

 

In these end times, in this eleventh hour, my heart's passion is to be a part of the reconciliation process between Jew and Gentile.  Not that I yet know how I can do this, but I do believe the 11-11 mystery elicited increased passion in this reconciliation and validated the value I was finding in studying God's appointed feasts/holy days of celebration.

I now feel called to let go of many of the traditions I have grown up with, and I am compelled to learn more about the biblical and holy feasts with the goal of celebrating them as Messiah did.  I want to uncover the meaning of these appointed days through the lens of the Messiah.  I want to experience what it really means for Jew and Gentile to be One New Man in Messiah, our living Torah.

Thus far, this journey has been fulfilling one, but I do admit that in these crazy days, I harbor fear for what the future may bring.  Holding on to the One who holds the future.....this is where I find my peace.

 
* The paintings above are just a few of the elements of a 3'x4' painted canvas that I designed to represent the interests and values of my family.  The "Heartstrings" design is a little 21/2" x 31/2" painting.