The Sewing Machine - Block 11...now where would the world be without equipment to sew?? Dresses, curtains, bedding, repairs, baby wear, furnishings...it's a true 'maidservant' in our homes and I'm so very grateful to have a good solid machine to help me create and mend in this wonderfully ordinary life.
Baking Essentials - Block 12...when I was a child watching Nana 'whip things up' in her tiny kitchen, it was like magic. How she could take a few plain ingredients and bring them together in a marriage of flavour and lightness never ceased to amaze my little girl mind, and I knew that when I grew up I wanted to be just like her.
So I chose flour and sugar for the final block in this Joy in the Ordinary project in honour of Nana and the JOY she gave me watching her at work in her little home. We never know what little eyes are watching us as we go about our daily chores, but it is important to remember that if they see us grumbling and annoyed about cooking, cleaning, tidying, and serving our families, they will never want to do it when they grow up for it will be to them a burden that makes mummies (or Nanas) grumpy.
Nana showed me there was JOY in caring for Pop and I, and her little home, so I grew up knowing this was the life I wanted one day too. And God blessed me.
Use the links below to download the free patterns -
Like the first pattern in this series, I chose another Scripture about God being our light in the darkness. So many of us see the world through an ever darkening lens, and it can sometimes be a trigger to fearfulness and anxiety about what's going to happen in the months and years ahead.
But God will always shine His Light to dispel those emotions, if we just trust in Him, look to Jesus - the true Light which came in to the world - and rest in His promises.
As I said in my previous post, I do not know whether I'll continue blogging in 2025..and from today I am taking an extended blogging break for possibly a few months, or even till the end of the year, when I will have an answer for you all. So there will be at least one more blog post later in the year to share what direction the Lord is taking me in...and I am prepared for that to mean the end of the blog, if it be His will. The thing is, until I walk away for a good while, I will not know for sure.
Use the link below to download the second free Promises pattern -
(the first pattern is HERE)
In regard to answering the questions which have come through in emails or comments, I have emailed many of them this week with my responses, but there's a few which I was unable to answer that way so here they are...
Q: How do you make the closure on the button bracelets?
A: As the bracelets are made from felt, I only needed to cut a buttonhole through the felt as felt does not fray.
Q: What Bible do you read?
A: I read a number of translations, though I do not read paraphrase Bibles. Mostly I read the ESV, NKJV, CSB and the CJB.
Q: How do you study the Bible?
A: I read it. Every day, slowly, with a concordance to learn the exact meaning of the words. I also read the Bible in context, so I ignore chapters, but read through in the way it was written originally (with no chapter or verse or headings) to discover the full meaning of a passage/message, which can sometimes run for many chapters without a break.
My husband and I also use the Complete Jewish Study Bible, and the Jewish New Testament Commentary, both which are compiled by Messianic Jewish scholars to teach in depth the meanings behind many of the events in the Bible, especially the New Testament and the teachings and miracles of Jesus as understood by His first century Jewish audience.
For example - after the feeding of the five thousand the disciples gathered up twelve baskets of bread scraps. Over the years I have heard numerous sermons and teachings on this event, each one spiritualised in one way or another, but the simple purpose for that gathering up is that according to Jewish law in Jesus day, the destructions of food was prohibited. In feeding the 5000, our Messiah honours the edicts of Judaism by stating, "Gather the leftover pieces so that nothing is wasted."
These are wonderful tools for really opening up the New and Old Testaments. Here's an interesting observation about the woman with an issue of blood...
Q: Am I still using spelt flour for my sour dough?
A: Not at the moment. Spelt grain is four times the cost of local wheat grain.
Q: Is your sour dough starter made from Spelt?
A: Not anymore. Just regular milled wheat flour.
So my friends, this is a good bye for a while. Let me pray for you...
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for every kind and caring heart which has been revealed to me through this blog over the past fifteen years. Thank You for bringing us together, from far and wide across the globe, to share our lives, our crafts, our recipes, our ups and downs, our prayer needs, and most especially our love for YOU.
Lord, in my absence, may you grow each dear woman here, and myself, closer and closer to the truth in Your Word, and to your Son.
May we shed all those things that hold us back from walking in the bright Light of Your ways, and fill our hearts to overflowing with HOPE, gratitude, repentance, kindness, self-control, courage and selfless love.
May we have Your purpose for our lives revealed each new morn, that we may know just how unique and lovingly created we are by Your design, no matter how many years have passed behind us.
Use us to Your glory, Lord, and keep our minds fixed on the promise of Christ's return so that we do not become foolish and let our lamps go out.
May every heart here know that YOU are God, the God who saves, the God who cares, and the God who sent His precious Son to die for us.
To Him be all Glory and Honour and Praise forever more...
Amen
From my heart to yours...
your friend, and sister-in-Christ,
