A Little Stitching, a Crafty Project, and some Hope

I have not stitched nearly as much this week, but I am on #16 of 24 on my Christmas calendar. If I can continue with that pace I should finish them all in July which is my goal.

I also did a craft project. Now, I am not the most crafty person and it is nowhere near great but it is better than what was it was.

This lampshade was just plain dirty. It has always been a cute lamp which is a small scale match to the larger table lamps in the room. The shade was just the cheapest little thing and was quite frankly yucky. I have tried to clean it but it is a magnet for dirt. I tried to find a new one over a year ago, but to no avail. Kind of a weird size. I would love one of those pleated lamp shades that I have seen for outrageous prices on Etsy, but not for the prices.

I decided I couldn't mess it up anymore than it looked so I went for it. I had the fabric, so I traced out a shade cover and sprayed it with Aleene's Tacky Spray which I also had. I was able to fold down the back seam and then glue it down with Aleene's Tacky Glue and I tried to trim the top and bottom neatly and folded over and glued them down as well. The edges were not finished.

I could have left it alone, but I saw one in a magazine with some cording, so I tried to do some. I really think I could have used a little lighter blue and maybe 4 strands of blue and 2 of the ecru, but you know it was a first time. It looks better than it did and I had all the materials, so I am happy with it.

Last Saturday, Jeff and I got up very early to go with Lindsay and Tucker to the Gulf Breeze zoo. Tyler had to do something else, so we gladly filled in. We are so lucky to have a nice zoo so close to us. It is small but a good one. It was not crowded when we went, but by the time we were leaving, it got VERY hot and the crowds were rolling in, so our decision to get up early fared us well.

Lindsay has always been a zoo lover which is so surprising since she is totally girly girl. Tucker loved it and his mama was as much fun to watch as him. He was not afraid at all of the goats and let them eat right out of his hand. I credit that with constantly feeding dogs.  He was a bit more intimidated by the larger animals AND the train ride.

I have had a rather long week. Mother is doing much better with her shingles so that it is a blessing. Tyler's grandmother passed away so Lindsay and Tyler had to go to Atlanta. I kept Tucker here as she had passed away from Covid. She was 91 and had fallen in her assisted living facility. She never was able to recover. This happened right about the time of the lockdown in March. She was in a rehab facility and came down with pneumonia and then the virus. It was tough on Tyler's mom and her sisters because they couldn't see her until the end. She never really fully understood what was going on. Tough times for sure people. 

I am no spring chicken. I was more than happy to help but keeping one the whole day and night is a lot. I have no idea how so many grandparents are raising their grandkids. 

*******HOPE*******

I really have been digging into the God's Word instead of the world's views. I am not there yet with no fear, but I am here to tell you that it is helping. I am on a mission to stop this craziness of fear. I know better than this fear thing. Yes, I know these times are different, but as a follower of Jesus I should not be acting like the rest of the world.

Once I decided that I would tackle this fear thing head on, I have come across so many interesting reads, so many wonderful verses, and a great sermon by my own pastor this past Sunday that have affirmed that I need to keep up the focus. The Lord met me and has guided and helped so much.

Now, don't think for a second I have it all together. I have my own share of worries for which I will leave mine off because I want to start focusing on hope not worry.

I read a wonderful article, well actually several in the latest issue of Decision Magazine. You can read it online for free. 

I also had decided to do a study of Ephesians which led me to read the section of Acts where Paul was in Ephesus before I tackled Ephesians. A couple of verses really struck me in Chapter 19 especially the latter part of that chapter which  just reminded me trouble and chaos have abounded forever. While it is new to us as blessed Americans the chaos is not new. You can read it if you choose, but the people were in the streets yelling for "two hours." I thought it quite funny that several versions reiterated the two hours and they were quieted by a mayoral figure who told them they would be accused of rioting by the Roman government and that there were proper channels with which to be heard.

The piece of inspiration I am going to share is part of the message from this past Sunday. The Scripture was from Hebrews 11 and 12.

A few notes worth mentioning from the sermon.

He used the analogy of twisting a lens on a camera to focus what is right in front of you to be very clear and yet the entire image especially the background can become blurry. 

We can come so focused on the news of the day and the troubles right in front of us that we don't see what is in the background. We are so focused on what is right in front of us that we can't see God.

However, when we choose to spend time with God we can change that perspective. When we read the Bible, pray, sing praises that lens can give us a different perspective. We begin to see what Jesus has done for us. Now, I am shortening an entire sermon into a view paragraphs, but we see the truth of what He has already done for us. 

The things right in front of us lose focus. We fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer or author and the perfecter of our faith.

Faith is trusting the One who is faithful.

Hebrews 12:1-2 says....

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  [a]fixing our eyes on Jesus, the [b]author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Then I saw a piece on the new Mars  rover called Perseverance scheduled for launch this month.  I love the name....I want my focus to be on the virtue of persevering with faith.

I am working on trying to keep a positive attitude and stay focused on the Lord. I am fully admitting it has been hard with the news and the worries of the future, but I simply must try and be hopeful. 

Well, that is it for this past week. I have read many things this past week that have inspired me and maybe at some point I can share more. I am in the thick of things too, folks. I have a cousin on death's bed and that is weighing on me, but she is a Christ follower. That is comfort.

Persevering...and trying to do it with hope,

Sandy