Thursday, December 31, 2020

"The Quilt Holes"





As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls. 

Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles, an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life. 

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labelled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all. 

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. 

My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air. 

Finally, the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me and nodded for me to rise. 

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I had not had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life.. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me. 

And now, I had to face the truth.. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was. 

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. 

An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes. 

Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, 'Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. 

Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.' 

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through! 

God determines who walks into your life...it's up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay and who you refuse to let go.'

Author Unknown

WHAT YOU FEEL. YOU WILL ATTRACT.


GO THE EXTRA MILE TO AQUIRE WHAT YOU WANT TO BOTH ATTRACT AND GIVE AWAY.


ATTRACT WHAT YOU EXPECT.
REFLECT WHAT YOU DESIRE.
BECOME WHAT YOU RESPECT AND MIRROR
WHAT YOU ADMIRE.


ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IF YOU HAVE GOT ENOUGH NERVE.


WHATEVER IS GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL....
DO THAT.


THE FUTURE YOU SEE IS THE FUTURE YOU GET.

 MY MISSION IN LIFE IS NOT MERELY TO SURVIVE, BUT TO THRIVE; AND TO DO SO WITH PASSION, COMPASSION, HUMOUR, AND DEFINITLY WITH STYLE.
I HAVE WORKED SO HARD THROUGH THE YEARS KNOWING WHAT I WANTED OF LIFE BUT THINGS JUST DID NOT FALL IN PLACE.
NOW I LOOK BACK AND MY LIFE HAS BEEN LIKE A PUZZEL, SOMETIMES PIECES DID NOT FIT OR TOOK AWHILE TO FIND THE PIECE THAT FIT SO I COULD CARRY ON WITH THE PUZZEL. 
MY PUZZEL AT THE MOMENT IS HALF COMPLETE, I CAN SEE THE PICTURE NOW. THE PICTURE IS PERFECT. IT IS BETTER THAT WHAT I IMAGINED OR WISHED.
THE MOMENT I SURRENDERED AND LET THE HIGHER POWER TAKE OVER COMPLETELY, THE PIECES STARTED FALLING IN PLACE AT TIMES I LEAST EXPECTED.

FABRIC PAINTED CUSHION COVERS


 Fabric painted cushion covers using acrylic paint. I did experience painting on a piece of material, ironed then washed the fabric, the paint did not smudge. The same technique I used with other fabric paints I got same results and works out cheaper as I used lots of paint. I used stencils for these cushion covers.




FUNNY - JAPANESE DOCTOR.


 

Love this Japanese Doctor! 

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Heart only good for so many beats, and that it... Don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster. Want to live longer? Take nap.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake? 
A: Oh no. Wine made from fruit. Fruit very good. Brandy distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made of grain. Grain good too. Bottom up!

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of one, sorry. My philosophy: No pain...good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU NOT LISTENING! Food fried in vegetable oil. How getting more vegetable be bad?

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: You crazy?!? HEL-LO-O!! Cocoa bean! Another vegetable! It best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming good for figure, explain whale to me.

Q: Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is shape!

Well... I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And remember:

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO-HOO, what a ride!!"

AND......

For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.

CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

 

A MESSAGE BY GEORGE CARLIN:

 

ISN'T IT AMAZING THAT GEORGE CARLIN - COMEDIAN OF THE 70'S AND 80'S - COULD WRITE SOMETHING SO VERY ELOQUENT...AND SO VERY APPROPRIATE...



THE PARADOX OF OUR TIME IN HISTORY IS THAT WE HAVE TALLER BUILDINGS BUT SHORTER TEMPERS, WIDER FREEWAYS, BUT NARROWER VIEWPOINTS. WE SPEND MORE, BUT HAVE LESS, WE BUY MORE, BUT ENJOY LESS. WE HAVE BIGGER HOUSES AND SMALLER FAMILIES, MORE CONVENIENCES, BUT LESS TIME. WE HAVE MORE DEGREES, BUT LESS SENSE, MORE KNOWLEDGE, BUT LESS JUDGMENT, MORE EXPERTS, YET MORE PROBLEMS, MORE MEDICINE, BUT LESS WELLNESS.

WE DRINK TOO MUCH, SMOKE TOO MUCH, SPEND TOO RECKLESSLY, LAUGH TOO LITTLE, DRIVE TOO FAST, GET TOO ANGRY, STAY UP TOO LATE, GET UP TOO TIRED, READ TOO LITTLE, WATCH TV TOO MUCH, AND PRAY TOO SELDOM.

WE HAVE MULTIPLIED OUR POSSESSIONS, BUT REDUCED OUR VALUES. WE TALK TOO MUCH, LOVE TOO SELDOM, AND HATE TOO OFTEN.

WE'VE LEARNED HOW TO MAKE A LIVING, BUT NOT A LIFE. WE'VE ADDED YEARS TO LIFE NOT LIFE TO YEARS. WE'VE BEEN ALL THE WAY TO THE MOON AND BACK, BUT HAVE TROUBLE CROSSING THE STREET TO MEET A NEW NEIGHBOUR. WE CONQUERED OUTER SPACE BUT NOT INNER SPACE. WE'VE DONE LARGER THINGS, BUT NOT BETTER THINGS.

WE'VE CLEANED UP THE AIR, BUT POLLUTED THE SOUL. WE'VE CONQUERED THE ATOM, BUT NOT OUR PREJUDICE. WE WRITE MORE, BUT LEARN LESS. WE PLAN MORE, BUT ACCOMPLISH LESS. WE'VE LEARNED TO RUSH, BUT NOT TO WAIT. WE BUILD MORE COMPUTERS TO HOLD MORE INFORMATION, TO PRODUCE MORE COPIES THAN EVER, BUT WE COMMUNICATE LESS AND LESS.

THESE ARE THE TIMES OF FAST FOODS AND SLOW DIGESTION, BIG MEN AND SMALL CHARACTER, STEEP PROFITS AND SHALLOW RELATIONSHIPS. THESE ARE THE DAYS OF TWO INCOMES, BUT MORE DIVORCE, FANCIER HOUSES, BUT BROKEN HOMES. THESE ARE DAYS OF QUICK TRIPS, DISPOSABLE DIAPERS, THROWAWAY MORALITY, ONE NIGHT STANDS, OVERWEIGHT BODIES, AND PILLS THAT DO EVERYTHING FROM CHEER, TO QUIET, TO KILL. IT IS A TIME WHEN THERE IS MUCH IN THE SHOWROOM WINDOW AND NOTHING IN THE STOCKROOM. A TIME WHEN TECHNOLOGY CAN BRING THIS LETTER TO YOU, AND A TIME WHEN YOU CAN CHOOSE EITHER TO SHARE THIS INSIGHT, OR TO JUST HIT DELETE... 

REMEMBER; SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOUR LOVED ONES, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE AROUND FOREVER.

REMEMBER, SAY A KIND WORD TO SOMEONE WHO LOOKS UP TO YOU IN AWE, BECAUSE THAT LITTLE PERSON SOON WILL GROW UP AND LEAVE YOUR SIDE...

REMEMBER, TO GIVE A WARM HUG TO THE ONE NEXT TO YOU, BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY TREASURE YOU CAN GIVE WITH YOUR HEART AND IT DOESN'T COST A CENT...

 REMEMBER, TO SAY, 'I LOVE YOU' TO YOUR PARTNER AND YOUR LOVED ONES, BUT MOST OF ALL . . . MEAN IT. A KISS AND AN EMBRACE WILL MEND HURT WHEN IT COMES FROM DEEP INSIDE OF YOU.

REMEMBER TO HOLD HANDS AND CHERISH THE MOMENT, FOR SOMEDAY THAT PERSON WILL NOT BE THERE AGAIN.

GIVE TIME TO LOVE, GIVE TIME TO SPEAK! AND GIVE TIME TO SHARE THE PRECIOUS THOUGHTS IN YOUR MIND.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: 

LIFE IS NOT MEASURED BY THE NUMBER OF BREATHS WE TAKE, BUT BY THE MOMENTS THAT TAKE OUR BREATH AWAY.



 

HAPPY 2021, MAY THE YEAR BE FILLED WITH BLESSINGS




THE SERENITY PRAYER

GOD GRANT ME THE SERENITY
TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE;
COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN;
AND WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

LIVING ONE DAY AT A TIME;
ENJOYING ONE MOMENT AT A TIME;
ACCEPTING HARDSHIPS AS THE PATHWAY TO PEACE;
TAKING, AS HE DID, THIS SINFUL WORLD
AS IT IS, NOT AS I WOULD HAVE IT;
TRUSTING THAT HE WILL MAKE ALL THINGS RIGHT
IF I SURRENDER TO HIS WILL;
THAT I MAY BE REASONABLY HAPPY IN THIS LIFE
AND SUPREMELY HAPPY WITH HIM
FOREVER IN THE NEXT.
AMEN.

--REINHOLD NIEBUHR