My Everything Quilt

"Life's not the breaths you take, the breathing in and out, that gets you through the day. Ain't what it's all about. You just might miss the point, trying to win the race. Life's not the breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away." These are the words to a George Strait song. Every time I hear it, my eyes tear up. Because it is so very true. Yes, there are some things in my life I wish were different, but there are also some very special moments that do take my breath away. The moment my husband walks in the door after a business trip and gives me the hug I've been waiting for all week; my daughters telling me good night at the end of the day and saying "I love you"; looking at my pregnant daughter's belly grow with my first grandchild; knowing God loves me and forgives me when I fail Him. Life's full of moments that will take your breath away. Don't let life get in the way and miss them!

One of my favorite persons in the Old Testament is Joseph. I love the whole story. His faithfulness to God, God's faithfulness to him. The reunion with his brothers always brings a tear to my eyes. Then as the book of Genesis closes and Joseph dies, he makes his family promise to carry his bones out of Egypt one day. When Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt after hundreds of years, they do carry Joseph's bones. They also plunder the Egyptians, as God said they would. Less than 100 Israelites went into Egypt seeking food during a famine, and now 100's are leaving a life of slavery. Now the story really gets interesting to me. They have God in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night leading them to exactly where He wants them to go. They come to the Red Sea, He miraculously parts it and allows it to return and drown their pursuers! They become hungry as they wander to who knows where and God provides manna each and every day. They grow tired of ...

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has forgiven you.~Eph. 4:1-3, 31, 32 It seems I can't get away with anything. I begin to have thoughts and feelings of anger, bitterness, and resentment, then wham! I read God's Word and it's in my face. Be kind. Love one another. Forgive. Patience. And the biggy-walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called! I really am glad God is faithful to me. Today I was headed down the pity-party path. With a lot of anger and frustration thrown in to make it interesting. But I sat down ...