Scrappy Quilt

This year, I finished making my first quilt. I’ve had a long-time yearning to make one. I found a method that uses fabric scraps to produce the quilt. This appealed to me more because I find a sense of satisfaction in the creative process of repurposing things versus discarding them.

A table full of scraps did not look attractive or charming whatsoever. It seemed daunting and a bit doubtful of a finished product. But I rationalized, there won’t be a waste of a lot of dollars in fabric if my starter quilt doesn’t turn out.

The mound of pieces from a vintage [a nice word for old] bedsheet, strips of my husband’s shirts, and other remnants were soon transformed from a mess to completed squares. Of themselves, there was no significance or function in the odds and ends. But sewn together there is beauty, function, and purpose.

God’s Perspective
Gazing upon the finished work caused me to ponder a thought about life. Do the scraps [mistakes, regrets, and failures] of life bear a resemblance to the start of this project? Do they almost look like a trash pile?

I smile because God is the ultimate in creatively repurposing. God saw enough beauty in the collective scraps of our lives to leave Heaven and reside with us.

“Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14, CSB).

“See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel” (Matthew 1:23, CSB).

Scraps
Our scraps will be pieced together by the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ. The thread of his blood unites and transforms our mess into a thing of beauty. Read how the apostle Paul describes that transformation. Bold emphasis added by me.

“At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians 2:12-18, CSB).

Function and Purpose
King Solomon stated a simple and direct summary of life’s purpose.

“When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, CSB).

Immanuel—God with us upcycles our scraps into a thing of beauty, function, and purpose.

Prayer
Father God, thank You for reconciling us through Jesus. Thank You for renewing our messes to be useful and beautiful as we surrender to You. Holy Spirit, help us to fear God, who is righteous and just so that we will obey Father’s commands. Create in us a pure heart that will magnify Your name. Amen.

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Winners from A Prayer Tool Giveaway
I had only three entrants. Congratulations to these three they will each receive a free giveaway.

David author of David’s Daily Dose and All Haiku.

Gary author and photographer of Gary Fultz and God’s Ways Are Different.

Mama Lava author of Mama Lava’s Back Porch.

If not already a reader or follower of their blogs I encourage you to click on the links and check out their writing. Remember to congratulate them on being a prize winner.

Quilt photo by Manette Kay.