Monday, July 7, 2014

Just Like Stitches...


My embroidery project has been laid aside after I finished the little flowers, stems and leaves I was working on...  All that remains to be done now is to add the rest of the embellishments and sew it up – I do promise to share photographs very soon!

Thus, with embroidery on the hold for the time being, I have turned to cross-stitch as a means of brightening up an otherwise dreary afternoon or evening…

 
 The cross-stitch kit currently lying in my work basket is one of a teddy bear seated on a desk with 'My Room' stitched at the top – I have a feeling this will make a beautiful Christmas gift for a certain sister who just loves teddy bears...

But, being a crafter with far too many projects on the go (can you relate?), I very seldom find a moment to add a few more stitches to this little piece of work – it takes me sometimes months to complete a simple picture and often I find myself pulling out more stitches than I've put in.
  
It can be disheartening to behold an unfinished picture, knowing that there are still many, many hours of love to be poured into it yet...

I catch myself wondering why I insist on undertaking such a project...

But despite all the patience and commitment it requires, it gives me a deep sense of satisfaction to see the stitches gradually coming together to form a beautiful picture...


The various colours and stitches used in a cross-stitch chart creates an eye-catching masterpiece, but it is only at the very end we see the result of our many hours of work.

 And isn't it just the same with our earthly lives? 

Today, I face battles that leave me weak and weary and feeling like I am unable to take another step...

Each 'stitch' in my life picture is sometimes painful, and I feel despondent to see how odd and incomplete it looks...
Will it ever be beautiful?
Will I ever be complete?

But Philippians 1:6 says…
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

I can rest assured that whatever battles I may be required to face or whatever characteristics I lack and still have to attain, will take me the rest of my days on earth to learn!

 

My life - and each of your lives, is just like the cross-stitch project in my work basket.  They are incomplete and imperfect, but one day they will be beautiful...


Jesus loves us even when we feel like our lives are failures and our efforts to be more like Him are futile.

He knows how we try and fail and how difficult it is to remain joyful under testing fire.  And He isn't finished with us yet – He will continue His work in us until we are beautiful and our lives are complete!

And it is a great comfort to know that, unlike me and my poor dear cross-stitch projects, Jesus isn't going to leave our lives lying in His 'work basket' until He feels like helping us out - He is working in us every moment of every day!


May I encourage you (just as I have to encourage myself) to hold onto Jesus – His work in you is not done yet...

There are still many, many stitches that need to be added to our lives to make them the beautiful and lovely pictures they will one day be...

...And He is stitching all the time.


“We could never learn to be brave and

patient if there were only joy in this world.”



~ Helen Keller

Sharing with:


Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth
 
a-wise-woman-builds-her-home

~ Blessings ~ 


12 comments:

Urban Homestead South Africa said...

A beautiful post, Kelly-Anne.

Kelly-Anne said...

Thank you, Aunty Wendy - so lovely to have you stop by today:). Blessing to you, Kelly x

Sadie said...

Hi Kelly-Anne, I awarded you the Liebster Award. You'll find the tag questions on my blog: allthingscharmingandlovely. I absolutely love your blog!
~Sadie

Kelly-Anne said...

Dear Sadie, thank you so much - I am honoured:). I enjoy your lovely blog, too - I hope your music is going well? Blessings and love, Kelly-Anne

Tane Hannah said...

This is such a BEAUTIFUL post, dear one! I can see how God is using your writing skills for good. I can relate so well, and I loved reading it. Thank you so much, for you did encourage me, and this is exactly what I seem to be going through at the moment - just to know that someone is going through it as well, helps so much.

Kelly-Anne said...

Dearest Tane, I am so blessed to know that this post encouraged you - all the praise to Him who is faithful! You will be in my prayers my friend! Love and hugs, Kelly xx

Unknown said...

What lovely thoughts, we are all unfinished masterpieces - for God does not create mistakes or blemished works. Thank you for sharing and for stopping by at the Ten Acre Homestead.

Kelly-Anne said...

Thank YOU for sharing - I love how you put that...'God doesn't create blemished masterpieces' and that is a comfort indeed:). So lovely to have you visit today! Blessings, Kelly-Anne

magnoliasntea said...

Hi Kelly-Anne,
This lovely post puts me in mind of a book I'm reading just now, Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss. It's a good book as it is a journal of a young lady's struggles with her own character (before and after she accepts Christ as her Savior) and how it affects those she comes in contact with. Here's an online link to a free copy if you haven't read it. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2515
Have a wonderful day!

Kelly-Anne said...

Oh, thank you - how lovely! I've been wanting to read that book for some time now so I appreciate your sharing that with me:). Thank you for stopping by today! Blessings, Kelly-Anne

JES said...

Just lovely Kelly-Anne, I think that we are His masterpieces though it is hard to believe sometimes because we feel worn and tattered. Thank you for this reminder that we are works of art :)

Kelly-Anne said...

So true... Lovely to have you visit today, JES:). Blessings! Kelly-Anne