Thirsty

As the deer pants for the water brooks,

So pants my soul for You, O God.

(Psalm 42:1)

Last Sunday in our equipping hour at church, we discussed Psalm 63. As I listened to Tim’s teaching, my mind kept going back to verse 1 which says, in part “My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.” (NJKV) This concept of thirsting for God just kept coming back to me.

Water is necessary for life. We can only go a few days without water. Likewise, Jesus, the Living Water, is also necessary for life. When I am thirsty for water, I make getting a drink a priority. Do I do the same with God? Do I drop everything to run to the Word when I feel myself spiritually dry and thirsty?

I was reminded of stories I’ve heard of people lost at sea with no water. They sometimes resort to drinking salt water ... to their doom. The salt water temporarily relieves the parched feeling of thirst, but in the end it dehydrates the person faster than if they had gone without water at all. Likewise, do we reach for counterfeit refreshment instead of the pure refreshment of God’s Word when we feel spiritually dry and thirsty? In the end, these counterfeits will never satisfy.

Going without water for extended periods leaves us in a weakened physical condition. Likewise, going without prayer and Bible reading for extended periods leaves us in a weakened spiritual condition.

This verse struck a chord with me because I have felt lately as if I am living in a very dry and thirsty land. I WANT those around me to thirst after God and so often, I don’t see that desire. This was so convicting because it pointed the finger right back at me. Am I watering the dry and thirsty land I’m living in? Or am I just becoming a part of the parched landscape myself?

Lord, I confess I don’t thirst after you as I ought. Please give me an unquenchable thirst for the pure refreshment of fellowship with You through your Word and prayer. Help me to sprinkle your love to those around me so that the dry and thirsty land in which I live will be a little less parched. Amen.

Finally Finished!

I finally finished Alyssa's quilt today! It was just a few days after her birthday, but she didn't mind. :)

I learned many lessons through this process. One was learned Wednesday when Kay took me to her friend Sandy's to quilt the top and backing together. I learned that the backing is supposed to be several inches larger than the top all the way around. Oops! It still turned out okay, but it would have been easier if I had known that ahead of time.

I also should have sewn the trim to the backing first and then finished on the top. I did it backwards and ended up missing it in a few places and had to go over it. I wasn't happy with it, but Alyssa is very forgiving. She was just thrilled to have it finished to cuddle with! Here are pictures of the finished quilt.



One thing I was pleased with was the embroidery on the back. I hand wrote her name (last name smudged in the picture on purpose for confidentiality), the date, and "Love, Mom" and back stitched over it before we quilted the top and backing together. That way I have PROOF that I made it. :)

Hope Squared

Today I mailed out 7 quilt tops and backs for the Craft Hope project. Since we didn't finish the quilts at the quilting bee, the girls took them home to finish. Below are pictures of the completed quilt tops. The girls did a great job on them!

Purple Paisley (Hannah wanted to keep this one!):


Mickey Mouse:


We called this one the "boy quilt." It has cute outdoor images of animals, trees, etc.:


Daisies (my personal favorite!):


Debbie Mumm:


Cherries:


Crayons: