What's New...

...with Sewing Seeds & Seams?

Well, a lot of changes have been going on and I figured I needed to post a quick update.
The Lord has slowed my pace down quite a bit as far as the Sewing Classes go. I am, at this time, no longer teaching at the Homeschool Co-op and I have not been teaching regularly at home either.
The Lord has had me focused more on my family-- teaching homeschooling, and ministering to my family in various ways.
I've also been teaching girls at my church things that the Lord has/had revealed to me to encourage them to keep a deeper walk with the Lord.
I feel that the sewing classes prepared me to speak as the Spirit led me, and to feel comfortable teaching and talking to girls.
This new phase of encouraging girls and helping my family in more and more ways is very exciting for me and I look forward to posting more.
As far as sewing goes, I'll still be sewing on my own and finishing projects for others, which I'd still like to share with you all!

Many Blessings in Christ!

Basking in the Son

Today the Lord gave me a unique picture of living in His presence. Lately, I have had a feeling of discouragement when I read the Lord's Word. I knew that this was not right and I got on my knees and sought the Lord to find out why.

I tend to be a perfectionist in areas in my life; this is something the Lord is trying to weed out in me. I know that the Lord created me with an attention to details, but I allow Satan to get a hold when I take it too far. The Lord showed me that this is what I was doing in my time in His Word. I became so caught up in trying to be "perfect", that I missed out on the truths the Lord was trying to show me. He wants me not to just read about Him, or work for Him, but to walk with Him and talk with Him, cultivating a sweet relationship. I was so caught up in an agenda of what I needed to become rather than enjoy my Lord.

That's when the Lord gave me the picture of the lizard. A lizard is cold-blooded so it has to spend time in the sun to regulate its body temperature. The lizard could spend time in his little underground hole studying about the sun and drawing pictures of the sun for the other lizards to see, but he's going to die of hypothermia if he doesn't get in the presence of the sun.

That's how we are, we can learn about the Lord, minister to others about the Lord, and try to develop Godly qualities, but we will wither Spiritually if we are not "basking" in our Lord's presence!

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Revelations 2:2-4

(Photo credit- Allposters.com)

Dust of the Actual

In reading Things As They: Mission Work in South India by Amy Carmichael, I came across a phrase that has radically changed my thinking. It has caused me to more clearly see things in the Spirit rather than in the flesh.
Although, Amy Carmichael uses this phrase to describe her mission work and the struggles that she faced; I believe that it is very applicable to our lives. She first heard this phrase in a poem and a portion of that poem is written in the quote; but she puts the meaning into the phrase that gave me insight.

"Finally, I should explain the book's character[poem portion] "Tell about things as they actually are; so said the Two with emphasis. I tried, but the Actual eluded me. It was as if one painted smoke, and them, pointing to the feeble blur, said, "Look at the battle! 'the smoking hell of battle!' There is the smoke!"

The Poet's thought was not this, I know, when she coined the suggestive phrase, "The Dust of the Actual," but it has been the predominating thought in my mind, for it holds that which defines the scope and expresses the purpose of the book...It does not show the Actual Principalities, Powers, Rulers of the Darkness, Potentialities, unknown and unimagined, gathered up into one stupendous Force-- we have never seen it. How can we describe it? What we have seen and tried to describe is only an indication of Something undescribed, and is as nothing in comparison with it-- as Dust in comparison with the Actual."

In another place she writes:

"These deep-rooted ancient and strong philosophies are formidable enough, when rightly understood, to make us feel how little we can do to overturn them; but they are just as "Dust" in comparison with the force of the
"Actual" entrenched behind them. Only superficial Dust; and yet, as in every other case, nothing but the Breath of God can blow this Dust away."
(emphasis and things in brackets added)

These quotes and more have taught me to see past what I can "see" with my physical eyes to what is really there-- the Actual. That in all situations of life,

"...there is Something greater behind it. It is only the effect of a Cause-- the Dust of the Actual."

The "Actual" is the Lord and His army, Satan and His army, and the souls of men.
I have learned to look past the "dust" of others (there flesh and actions) and to look to what is really there, the forces behind what they do and to them as a person.
I have learned to look past the "dust" of situations and seek the Lord to see what is "actually" there, the root issues, the will of the Lord, the workings of the Lord in bringing about His kingdom, and the vices of Satan.

We need to start living in this Heavenly mindset, because this earth and
all the things of the physical nature do not matter; only the things of the
Actual do!

" For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Ephesians 6:12

Intercession

This video was so encouraging to me. It reminded me of the big picture, which is not about myself, but how I can best serve the Lord. It shook me from the apathy of my "own litttle world" and reminded me that there is indeed a dying world out there.

‘It’s not your skin and how you can save it ~ it’s how you can spend it for His glory.’ – Eric Ludy

"And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."

Isaiah 59:16

Wait on the Lord

"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might

He increaseth strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;

and they shall walk, and not faint."

Isaiah 40:29-31

This is my Mom's favorite verse; I remember hearing it when I was younger. When the Lord led me to read it the other day, I realized the full impact of these precious promises. The Lord gives power and more strength to those that don't have any to begin with. The youths, those who we look at in the world that seem to have everything we could wish for, will one day faint and be weary. True strength lies in whom we put our trust in- the Lord. When we "wait upon the Lord" we are relying upon Him and He gives us renewable strength; strength that keeps getting stronger and stronger.

I don't know what you may be going through today- maybe it's physical strength that you feel you are lacking, maybe you feel like you lack the strength to finish a tough project, or maybe you lack the Spiritual strength you need to face a hardship in your life. If you rely on yourself you will lack ability just as the select youths (the best athletes of the day). Rely on the Lord-Wait on Him and He will renew your strength and give you everything you need!

(Picture from Allposters.com)

Sewing Post

Finally a post about sewing;
but, not my own sewing though.
Lately, I have been doing a lot of writing so I have not spent too much time behind my sewing machine. I miss it dearly so I will be soon!

I wanted to share a tutorial with you from a young lady whose blog I have enjoyed very much. This Tiered Skirt Tutorial is great for beginner and experienced seamstresses alike, because it does not require a pattern, and only requires that you know how to gather and sew straight lines! I have made a couple skirts out of this and I really like them. I would post a picture, but they are getting quite worn, time to make some more!

So, I hope you'll try the tutorial and enjoy!

Ashes to Beauty

This song really sums up what I have been thinking about lately. When I was younger, and even at times now, I struggled with a poor self image. I always wanted to know how I could make myself beautiful. I always did things to fit in and make myself "likeable" to other people. I found everyone of my efforts to be fruitless; outward vanities couldn't make up for the pain I felt on the inside. As it says in:

~Proverbs 31:30~
"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. "

I realized that beauty on the outside could not fulfill what I was lacking on the inside- true beauty. True beauty comes as we completely give ourselves to the Lord and die to our flesh and live for Him. This beauty can never fade, never be taken away, and never be measured in a beauty pageant. This beauty is lasting and fulfilling and real. As you listen to this song may you see that at the foot of the cross is where we can really trade our ashes of mourning for beauty- Real Beauty!

~Isaiah 61:3~

"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. "