Pieces & Promise

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11‬ ‭NLT

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Guys…. Something happens to me when I walk into a fabric store.

I don’t know if I can quite explain it, really. It’s an emotional mixture of calm and giddy, paired with a sharp decrease in logical reasoning. I suddenly forget all of life’s problems and get excited for every new line of fabrics that come out. Then, I forget all about the other beautiful fabric I have at home and begin rationalizing the purchases I’m about to make with reasons that aren’t very rational at all:

1. “Someone is bound to have a baby sometime, somewhere- this adorable print will be perfect for that!”
2. “I know I don’t NEED another sewing notion but this coupon makes it too good to pass up!”
3. “This fabric would look great with the other stuff I have! (Even though they won’t be going into the same project. 🤷🏻‍♀️)

And the list goes on of course….

There is just something about the process of creating that seems to put all things into perspective once the cutter starts rolling and the machine starts buzzing. The sounds of my sewing room alone are enough to put my spirit at ease. It’s interesting, isn’t it, the way a quilter looks at piles of broken fabric pieces with stars in her eyes? It seems fundamentally true that someone with a heart to mend and create can always look at brokenness and see building. They can spot fragments and see a future. They admire pieces and see promise.

That is how God sees you, and sees me. He looks at the pieces of us left behind by our own sin and by the sins of others which have affected us, and I imagine He is both calm and giddy; both confident in His perfect skill to mend us, and thrilled by His almighty power to create newness in us. He isn’t the one to have caused our brokenness, but He is eager to begin a good work in us and carry it to completion when we come to Him. He looks at our disassembled state with great plans to give us hope and a bright future. What a comfort it is that our God is one who mends and loves all our broken pieces- and refuses to leave us incomplete!

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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UPDATE:

If you read my New Year’s post, then you know that taking up quilting was one of my resolutions for 2019. I’ve (finally) recently finished my first quilt and thought I’d share with my craft-loving readers. I’d love to know if any of you quilt or craft, so feel free to share in the comments below!

My first quilt, made in crib size for my daughter: