Sewing and Salvation

A few months ago I blew up my sewing machine. Don’t ask. But, I will say it was my husband’s fault. He didn’t get me the right converter. In fact, he didn’t buy me a converter at all. But, in his defense, he did tell me not to use it until we got the right voltage, but that was 11 months ago! And, I took a chance and after the big BANG, some nice white fluffy smoke shot out of my machine.

Now that I have vented, the end result is that a new sewing machine was birthed out of the blow up! The machine blew up. My husband and I didn’t blow up at each other. He is sweet.

My New Sewing Machine!

 

Moving on . . . Last night and today, I used my new machine for the very first time. It was awesome, sort of. First, a good friend came and showed me the ins and outs of this machine. Piece of cake, I thought. And, it was, until the stitching was pulling from the bobbin color on the other side. So, a call to my friend occurred. Thank goodness for friends. Second, I decided to get fancy and use one of those fancy computerized stitches. Yes, it looked awesome, but do you know how LONG it takes to sew something with those stitches? So, luckily, I was able to just use that stitch on one side and go back to the “fast stich.” But, then, I inadvertently sewed two seams opposite of how they were supposed to be sewn. Oh no, I had to get out that pesky stitch remover (ah, yes, they are called seam rippers) and what a hassle. But, when all was said and done and my project was completed, I was pretty happy. Yes, it didn’t fit quite like I would like it to, but I’m not perfect and I fudged a little on my homemade pattern to avoid more work for myself.

Seam Ripper and Other Sewing Tools

 

Upon completion . . . While it wasn’t my first time to sew, I started to think about how God felt the first time he sewed. In fact, it is the only time we read about God sewing in the entire Bible.

“[Eve] was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So, they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.” Genesis 3:6-7.

Later, after God confronts them and explains what will happen, “the LORD God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.” Genesis 3:21.

I wondered how God felt sewing these clothes for Adam and Eve. First, I am sure he felt extreme sadness that he was even sewing. They sinned and he was grieving. But, he was taking them at their lowest point and helping them to move on. That is God for you.  How do we feel when we sin? Sometimes we have friends to help us out of our sin, depression, uneasiness, or whatever we want to call it. Sometimes, we remain in our sin for a long time – sort of like spending all that time on that fancy stitch that took so long for me. But, we can get out of it quickly, but we must decide to do something else, or go a different direction. But, what happens when we mess up and go in an opposite direction from the Lord. Just like when I sewed two seams together incorrectly. I had to make a decision to undo the error and change directions. It wasn’t easy, but the end result was a peace and joy about my project. In 1 Peter 5:7, the Bible says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” God’s Holy Spirit is waiting to rescue and care for you today.

Do you feel you are going in the wrong direction like Adam and Eve did? Have you committed a grievous sin like they did? God wants to help. Just because your mother or grandmother was a good cook or a good sewer does not mean that you will be one also. Do not think that just because your father or grandfather was a good man who served God regularly and spoke of the joy he will have in heaven that you will automatically go to heaven also. You must make that decision yourself.

The Bible says, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3:23. But, we can choose to ask God to forgive our sins, accept his offer to “sew” us up and make us whole. Today, seek God yourself and you will be “sew” happy you did. Let Him press out the wrinkles of your life and allow Him to make you the beautiful person that you were made to be.



Ironing Board and Iron

Author Patti Londa Greene

Awaken Me: A Devotional Prayer Journal (ISBN 978-1-4627-2578-6)

God, It's Me: 181 Days for Young Adults to Become Passionate about Prayer and Bible Study (ISBN 978-1-4627-3821-2)

Depression by Glory C. Odemene / Dedicated to Robin McLaurin Williams

Depression

by Glory C. Odemene

Dedicated to Robin McLaurin Williams

 

 

 

 

Notes before Poem! Scroll down for the actual poem!

 

Have you ever met someone and you instantly knew you liked that person. You just clicked! That happened to me not long ago - I met Glory and we instantly bonded. We have a lot in common, but we also knew we had a lot of differences.

 

As I was putting the final touches on my recently released devotional book, God, It's Me: 181 Days for Young Adults to Become Passionate About Prayer and Bible Study, I prepared myself to ask Glory if I could use some of her poetry excerpts in my own book. I made up a folder showing her exactly how her poetry would be used in the book along with her excerpts that I matched to my already chosen pictures. You know, after 18 years of being a librarian, I felt like I knew how possessive writers/authors/poets could be about their work, so I was understandably nervous when I asked her that one Sunday morning at church at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria. While I was anticipating a possible "No" or a "Let me think about it," I remember Glory's big, brown eyes opening as wide as a raccoon. She was amazed that I was even asking her at all. She immediately said, "YES!" I was thrilled.

 

You see, Glory is the type of person who writes for the Lord. She gives him the credit and all the "glory." She even encourages people to share her God-inspired poems.

 

It is in this spirit, I am sharing Glory's most recent poem titled Depression. It is written for all who have or will ever encounter depression in their lives. As you read this poem you will see that the catalyst for this poem was the recent passing away of the well-loved comedian Robin Williams.

 

----------------------------------------------------

 

Depression

by Glory C. Odemene

Dedicated to Robin McLaurin Williams

 

Out there, it’s labeled bane of geniuses, cross of the consummate

Price for being bequeathed with exceptional talents: folks jump

As judges on the reckless wagon driven by this accomplished

Fellow who should know enough to be a role model but that also

Is an affliction; perpetual pressure to always smile, act nice and right

But hello this is reality not Broadway! Yet he contends crushing guilt

In lonesome cell whose innards scream, “Turkey!” at a dignitary.

Drained of joys for stellar feats, the global champion is whipped

A wimp in his own universe and unknown to the all-knowing world

The remote control is beyond his reach: he can’t predict how

His channels switch; no idea when dark days descend or duration

Of his sentence in that gloomy jail where struggle and strive all he

May, it seems he never can wear out that awful, unwanted skin.

Triggers range from tragedies to nothing, the sun suddenly goes south

In the middle of his day and like rag, the jewel is tossed into a hole.

He may appear surrounded and smiling but within he’s achingly alone

Flailing like a drowning man whose gasps show up as deviations on

The chart of trendy expectations. He grapples whatever his hands

Can find, seeking a reason, a means, to hope or not. A kind word

Could be the lifeline that keeps his head above, respiring when he

Would have been expiring, if aid’s arrival proves timely.

A bland-cold stare, mere rebuff that ignores his silent cries

Of desperation are sharp enough to cut that rope of hope.

It is not about privileges, positions, and possessions

It is a dreadful suit he wears all his life. Though glamor shields it

He yet feels it in those places where no other can see or tell.

Desperate for escape, he courts drugs, marries alcohol

Even changing locations appeal but fleeting thrills wane too soon

And he wakes to the revulsion of complicated addictions.

Experts and the ignorant diagnose and prescribe, tagging it

With tongue twisting labels that promise him no ease so alone

He either silently battles the monsters until end pays him a visit

Or he goes the way of bizarre and the world is shocked, more

By its perennial indifference than the fruits of his queerness.

The least to do today is exit the judges’ hub, extend kindness

To all you meet: you don’t know the monsters they are battling:

Just one word, one move, can make that difference between life

And death: everyone you meet is in warfare, your vote counts.

© Glory C. Odemene, 2014

(Dedicated to Robin McLaurin Williams)

 

Glory's Comments:

 

I remember growing up. I used to have dark days. It carried labels like, “Melancholy,” “Depression,” among others. It is considered the blight of the talented and a norm. You didn’t have much choice but to live with it. And I did for many years until the LORD broke through and delivered me. Sometimes, it just happens and down you sink. At others, it may be just a look you are not comfortable with, an unkind comment, or even being ignored, that triggers it. You have no control over when it descends and how long it lasts. Until you wake up one day and the sun is up, and following that lead, you crawl out to discover that all around is cheery once again.

Recently, I went through tragedies and instead of the typical accusers that make you feel wretched despite your achievements or tend to strangle you with guilt for errors, I was invaded and besieged by fears. They showed up in everything, every time, and everywhere I turned. I looked like I do every day, smiled as usual but deep down were cries no ears could hear. My world was crumbling but to everyone else, I was the same. God helped me walk through without hitting that dreaded bottom. It has been 14 years now and counting and I have never set my foot in that pit of a prison.

We are often so consumed by our personal pursuits that we become inured to the travails of those around us. Just like love and encouragement have helped many conquer their battles, our indifference and insensitivity can complicate matters for the weak. If only we can learn to stop and think again before we shoot. Imagine how much difference that will make in a world where the broken are trampled on every day? From experience, I know of only one cure that delivers without side effects, no relapse, and not at bank-breaking cost: Jesus: And whoever the Son sets free, is free indeed.

 

Glory!

Please feel free to forward/share this blog with your friends and family. And, we would love you to comment!

 

To read more of Glory's poetry excerpts, check out . . . http://amzn.to/1o4cm8x

 

www.PattiGreene.com



My Book with Pinterest Pics! Awaken Me: A Devotional Prayer Journal



Hello Friends,



One day I was sitting on the couch and I thought it would be a cool idea to take all 365 topics from my book Awaken Me: A Devotional Prayer Journal and turn them into a Pinterest Board. Okay, it sounded like a good idea AND it is! However, it took FOREVER, but I finally finished it.

http://www.pinterest.com/pattigreene13/awaken-me-a-devotional-prayer-journal-by-patti-lon/

Check out my Awaken Me board and you will get an idea about the topics and Bible Scriptures in the book. You could make a Bible Study lesson out of this board or just have fun browsing through the topics.

And maybe, just maybe, it will motivate you to want to learn more about prayer and Bible study. If so, Awaken Me is available on amazon.com, and bn.com, and select bookstores. My prayer is that through this board or book, your walk with the Lord will deepen and mold you into the person He wants you to be. He loves you.

Patti Greene

Awaken Me: A Devotional Prayer Journal by Patti Londa Greene

Board includes the Biblical phrases contained in this 'God-Inspired' devotional. A powerful, 365-day, undated, devotional prayer journal with gripping Bible words, suggested readings, and daily pages for your thoughts and prayers. Available at amazon.com and bn.com. ISBN 978-1-4627-2578-6.

Awaken Me

Check in on PattiGreene.com often as postings will be new and updated frequently.
 

Awaken Me: A Devotional Prayer Journal

Awaken Me: A Devotional Prayer Journal

by

Patti Londa Greene

 

 

 

 



 Welcome to my NEW BLOG PAGE! I am so glad you visited!

 

Please check back often to see what is new and exciting.

My plan is to make this blog an interesting and informative blog on a

variety of issues of interest to people from all walks of life and cultures.

 

Patti

I recently had a very special book published – Awaken Me: A Devotional Prayer Journal. The reason this book is so special to me is because the Lord has been preparing me for 40+ years to write this book. I was inspired to write this devotional prayer journal after realizing that maybe, just maybe, my experience of keeping track of my prayers, might be just what others might need.

Most of my prayer journaling took place in very plain and simple notebooks or binders. I changed my approach in journaling over the years until I found what worked for me, but I still change it up yearly as I feel like it.

 

 Awaken Me is a product of my conviction that prayer and Bible Study go hand in hand. So, I wrote this book to help others start or continue their walk with the Lord through their praying, prayer journaling, and Bible Study.

Psalm 118:8 states, “It is better to take refuge in the

Lord than to trust in man.”

 

Because of this verse, I am convinced believers must be armed daily in prayer and the Word of God. God is the one who understands all our dreams, concerns, hurts, and disappointments. So why shouldn’t we create a deeper intimacy and relationship with the Lord through personal prayer and Bible study to gain His perspective on our lives and the lives of others?

Life has its ups and downs. God knows that. But He sent His son, Jesus, to die for our sins, freeing us to love and have a deep intimacy with Him. In this prayer journal, you can be completely honest with the Lord and see how He can enlighten and transform you through His Word so you can feel confident you are living God’s plan for your life.

For the forty years I have kept journals of my prayer requests, I can confirm how faithful God has been in choosing to answer my requests. I have been amazed, entertained, transformed, terrified, enthused, and completely fulfilled in seeing what He has chosen to do in my life. Taking what I have gleaned in those forty years of prayer journaling, I have produced this 365-day prayer journal in the hope you will grow deeper in your love for the Lord and be able to discern His will in whatever twists and turns you face in your life.

While reading through the Bible recently in search of God’s will on a matter, I was enthralled by some of the beautiful and intriguing word medleys in the Bible. I highlighted these words and phrases, and the result is this workbook formatted devotional prayer journal.

Whether you choose to read just one Bible verse during your quiet time or read the entire suggested chapter, you will gain an organized, systematic, and chronological study of both the Old and New Testaments, starting in Genesis and ending in Revelation.

Awaken Me: A Devotional Prayer Journal by Patti Londa Greene can be purchased at CrossBooks.com, amazon.com, bn.com, and many bookstores.