Stitched together in unity

On Sunday morning I asked God to give me a picture of "the Church" in my mind. I just wanted to hear Him speak to me and I wanted to understand the Church better somehow. I closed my eyes and waited. And a few seconds later I saw a picture of a quilt. Not exactly like this one -- but close...lots of colors, fragments (almost scrap-like), but sewn together in a quilt that was quite pretty. It didn't have the strong lines of this quilt or a border but it was just as colorful.

I got tears in my eyes almost immediately. About 2 years ago I was in a meeting and people were sharing what they imagined about the Holy Spirit. I said (out of "nowhere" that I thought the Holy Spirit was like fine stitches....a sewer. I honestly did not know why I'd said it - wasn't sure I even had a strong feeling that it was true. But out it popped from my mouth. I kind of linked it to the scripture in Psalm 139 "you hem me in behind and before.."I had never forgotten this.

So when God showed me a picture of a quilt, I immediately understood that the thing that ties together the loose scraps of communities of believers all over the world is the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit sews and stitches t5ogether the Church -- the Church which might appear as loose scraps actually becomes both beautiful and functional through the work of the Holy Spirit.

And God knew that I would recognize this in what He said to me...baked-in encouragement that I hear His voice. I've been asking-for and needing this kind of encouragement lately. This was just a clear example of his kindness to me.

A conversation overheard....

Andrew: "Shhhhhhh!!! Luke - I'm trying to watch Curious George."
Andrew: "I said shhhhh! Please, Weegs, be quiet"
Luke: (Yells again)
Andrew: "Luke - this is the last time I'm going to tell you..."
Luke: (ah, ah, ah, ah)
Andrew: "...or I'm going to have to put you outside by yourself."

Psalm 100

Every now and then I ask God again - "how do I worship you?" I just ask Him for a tutorial again to re-learn how I can come to Him in worship. 2 Days ago I ended up reading Psalm 100. And it was just that - a tutorial on how to worship... it's short so I'll put it here:

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

So my Worship 101 is:
Tell Him what makes my heard joyful and glad
Thank Him for where I see Him in my life
Repeat as needed: Baaaa...baaaa
Take time to remember where the Lord has been faithful and loved me.
Sing a song to Him.

Here's what I wrote down this morning:
Friends gathering for Easter - I'm so excited about this! New babies! Spring blossoms! Sunshine! Woods! (Remember that trip for work up to Big Bear Mountain and how thick your Spirit was around me? - Boy! I really felt you on that trip). Oceans! Rest! Chocolate! Books! Fuzzy socks! Rocking sleepy babies! New pictures of my boys! Dates with my husband! Hearing your voice! (Thanks for gently correcting me even when I hear you wrongly - I know I can be confident in You even when I'm off!). Experiencing your Spirit! (Remember that time you had Kathleen pray for me?! You never leave me, even in my darkest hour). Cinnamon rolls and leisurely breakfasts! Fires in the winter! Having dinner with friends! (Remember when you gave us the idea to throw a big wedding for our friends - how awesome was THAT dinner?!). Thanks God for being faithful to me even in moments of unbelief...how Good are YOU.

My First Vegetable Garden

There's a story here. About 2 years ago I first entertained the thought of putting in a garden. And quickly dismissed it. I've never been able to keep plants alive for very long. I get annoyed with their neediness (yes, I see what I just wrote. I know there's stuff in that one.)

But the thought just wouldn't let go. When it came back to me the next year (which was last year), I again pushed it off. But this time I was pretty sure it was God. I just thought to myself "does God know me? this is ME we're talking about." I happened to share this desire with my friend Kate who promptly shared a dream that she (or maybe Ben?) had where they were helping us plant a garden. And I thought "boy God does seem to want me to do this." And yet I didn't do it.

So here we are. Last night I repented for being so slow to follow God. And for not planting the garden. So today I have been researching what to do on a "gardening for kids" website. I figured that level of information would be just-about-right for me. I was right. Even what was said there seemed too much. But I'm pressing ahead. I'm following through. And following God into my first garden.

I'm thinking tomatoes, green beans, basil and cucumbers this year. Is this too much? Not enough? Feedback desired. But think to yourself "what would I tell my 7th grader who wanted to plant a garden?"

And also: here's the scripture that keeps ringing in my ears as I begin...it's called The Parable of the 10 Virgins. It's in Matthew ch 25...

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'
9" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

Wednesday freedom

There's something happening for which I'm really grateful: I get a sitter now every Wednesday from 10am-2pm. As of last week.
Bill and I have been doing a marriage study (it's a great one...thanks Dora and Steven!). And one of the weeks talked about how husbands can equip their wives and give them freedom and authority to pursue their gifts and dreams. During this talk we both agreed that God seems to be poking at me lately to do 2 things -- spend time with other women (shepherding/mentoring) and say yes to opportunities to teach. The only problem is that both of those things require time. Time away from the kids. Time to think. Time to write. Time to just be with other women (fully) and/or be with God (fully).

So? Bill agreed that we could spend the money for me to have a sitter every Wednesday for a few hours.

This has been an interesting act of receiving for me. I didn't know that I had something in me that said "you shouldn't be spending any money for a sitter unless you're bringing in money for income." Wow. I shared that with Bill and he said ...uh...NO. He told me that my freedom was worth this and that I should go for it. So I am.

The biggest part of making this happen was DECIDING. Just making a decision and then GOing. I've been asking God to show me how to pursue my dreams without a hint of performance. And maybe this is a good example of it: sharing my dreams with Bill, receiving freedom from him to go for it, committing to actually follow through (to people who would hold me accountable for actually going and getting a sitter!), and then moving through the discomfort of receiving. And choosing to receive it despite voices that tell me different.

Now that I've done it twice I'm hearing those voices on my way out the door and feeling that lurch in my heart 'is this really ok?' 'is this selfish?' 'are my kids ok with a sitter?' 'am I missing out on good time with them?' And then I just leave anyway. Because Bill, God and my friends have said this is good.

Well, I'll keep you posted. But I think we're off to a good start.

It's here...it's gone

Spring, that is. Over the weekend I kept thinking I needed to post about how good the nicer, warmer weather was feeling. It brings me new life. But before I've gotten around to it - it's gone again! So today the high temperature was 39 degrees but I'm going with the message of the season...HOPE. Spring brings hope - and so therefore, I hope it returns quickly. In the interim -- here's what spring looks like at the Pattersons: strollers, wagons, yards and playgrounds. On Tuesday Luke had his first mouthful of sand. I think that's a babyhood rite-of-passage or something.

A few spring favorites of mine are: dusk that's warm enough for a walk, the cherry blossoms in Ault Park and three-quarter-length sleeves. But spring shoes are always a problem for me. Most of my friends just bust-out the flip-flops, but I have a hard time doing that until about May... so boots are out and flip-flops are out. That's a problem. So I bought some alligator-print-ballerinas at Target. And no, Vickie, I don't care if you go and get the same pair. Just hurry because they were flying off the shelves like hotcakes.

The Harvest

Just following up my last post...here's the latest. I was reading in my bible yesterday and here's what jumped off the page at me:
Galatians 6:8-10
"The one who sows to please his sinful nature (hey hey - our FLESH!), from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people..."

From this passage God impressed on my heart that now is a time that He wants me to harvest, so I'm not to grow weary of doing good. The time for harvest is NOW. And Jesus makes it very clear that the harvest being spoken of here is MAN.

Matthew 9:36-38
36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
In Haggai (yes that is a book in the bible), the harvest is talked about as an important indicator of whether or not our ways, priorities, time and efforts have been wisely spent.... It says in Haggai 1:5-7
"Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways."
My flesh can so easily take me into places and ways that are thoughtless or selfish - ways that would lead me to "plant much but harvest little."

Anyway -- all this is a follow up to my last post to say that the Lord is speaking to me about being diligent in doing good to others. Not to be a do-gooder, but because it is part of a harvest that he is bringing about. Do not grow weary...the harvest is near!

Oh - and P.S. Remember the name Teresa means "Harvester."

Goin' off-course

I had 2 experiences this past Friday that really drove home to me about how strongly my human nature (i.e. my "flesh" according to the Bible) pulls on me AWAY from the opportunities that God extends to me for adventure in the Kingdom every day... here's what's happened to me this past week:

I was on the treadmill at the YMCA. I looked over my shoulder and saw a trainer named Teresa who works there. I hadn't seen her in almost a year. I'd never worked personally with her but I used to come at a time when she met her clients...so I'd overhear her and sometimes we'd even chat or exchange pleasantries. Eventually I blossomed into full pregnancy with Luke (making it more and more difficult to work out!) and she was SUCH an encouragement. She'd say "there's that mama -- doin' good things for her baby" or "do you know how much better your delivery will be because you're on that treadmill?!" or "man - you're hot for 35 weeks!" I had often wanted to thank her and bless her in that gift of encouragement. I just never saw her again. Until Friday.

But I was 7 minutes into my workout -- just starting to sweat. I thought to myself "she'll probably still be there in 30 minutes, I'll just talk to her then." But I felt God urging me to hit the stop button and do it NOW. I even sensed he was saying this was my last chance. (We actually are about to move gym memberships!) But I resisted for at least 3 more minutes...I kept saying that I deserved uninterrupted time on the treadmill...that this was MY time...that I'd find her some other day...that I just plain didn't feel like it.

Well - I did get off. I couldn't stand it anymore. I walked over, talked with her, told her I felt she had a gift and explained the ways it had blessed me. I know it mattered to her - I could see that. I felt good that I'd (eventually) obeyed. And as I got back onto the treadmill, I heard God telling me that it was my FLESH that was resisting.

Later that night I was driving home alone just as it was getting dark. I saw a young woman stick her thumb out on the side of the road. (Linwood Ave - an odd place to hitchhike!). Something just wasn't right there. So I immediately asked God if I should pick her up. I heard YES. And then 2 miles later I will still resisting -- "it's not safe" "I'll be late getting home" "Bill won't approve" "am I just crazy here?" "that wasn't God!"

So I turned around and went back for her.

Ohmigosh!! As I'm writing this I am realizing that her name was also Teresa. Weird. I just left this post for a minute to look up the name meaning...it means "Harvester." Any thoughts?

So anyway -- she thanked me many times and we ended up having a conversation about her ex-husband (who happens to live in my neighborhood!). I told her that the Lord is ALWAYS for our marriages. And I told her that He is watching out for her because He told me to come back and get her. She seemed quiet after that and told me that she keeps getting "signs" to go back over to Anderson. I don't know if she meant her marriage or not but I felt that was what she was saying.

As I processed both this things I simply felt that God was pointing me to my flesh. My flesh is what I keep hearing. I want these so-called adventures-with-Jesus but I'm in my own way. My flesh desires to keep the status quo - to stay-the-course, to get what I "need" or want in the moment, to be selfish or simply to lack a presence of mind...and most of all - my flesh hates to be interrupted and taken off-course.

I'm not that interruptible sometimes. I want to be, but I tend to go back towards my schedule, my needs, my workout, my, my, my, my, my....

I never linked that to the feeling that I sometimes have of just trudging through one day upon the next and wondering where the heck is my adventure with God.

Friday woke me up to a whole new season of being interrupted. And being excited about it.