STITCHED PRAYERS

Today, I am pouring a poem from my Alabaster Box that came to me several years ago along with some of the whys and wherefores of my little "Comfort Quilts" or "Stitched Prayers". It is more of a blessing to me to be able to create these than for those who receive them. 

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LORD, I offer my life as a prayer

that each day others see Jesus there,

that the Samaritan in me shows them I care,

that I will help someone their burdens to bear,

that with those You send me my sweet Jesus I share,

that I will keep loved ones from Satan's dark lair,

that nothing I do gives You cause for despair,

that to You I am daily a breath of fresh air.

LORD, I offer my life as a prayer.

When I wrote this poem several years ago, I did not realize the full meaning. That did not dawn on me until a year or so ago.

God's Word tells us to "Pray without ceasing". How in the world in this day and time can we "pray unceasing" with the busy lives we all lead? There are children to care for, our jobs, yards to mow, laundry, errands to run, phones to answer, vacuuming, meals to prepare, beds to make, bills to pay-and neither of these can be done in a kneeling position.

Then the "aha" moment hit me, the light bulb came on. All that I do, all that I am, is my prayer.

My prayer for an abundant life for our family is our jobs.

My prayer for good health is the food I prepare and a clean orderly home. Grandson, Travis, loves home cooking and he tells me to "put some love in it, Mamaw".

My prayer for a good day for my children was sending them off from a calm, loving atmosphere instead of one of chaos and turmoil that makes it impossible to settle down and learn.

My prayer for pride and confidence in themselves is helped by keeping their clothes clean so they could feel good in knowing they looked their best and by encouraging them to do well instead of discouraging.

My prayer for a good life was teaching them God's Word and to live a Godly moral life.

I am a great grandmother now. I have raised four children and four grandchildren. I, along with every other parent, have the most influential, most important position in the world. Everything we say and everything we do has far reaching affects as the ripples from a stone when thrown into water radiate from its point of landing.  

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Hebrews 11:1 tells us :"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Several years ago I started making what I call "Stitched Prayers" or "Comfort Quilts". They are small quilts made for those I am praying for-usually for healing. As I stitch, I pray. Now there is no healing power in those little pieces of cloth but there is healing in my faith in God so Stitched Prayers are the substance of things I am hoping and praying for and the evidence of things I cannot see what God is doing.

The thought to create the first Stitched Prayer came while our church was much in prayer for a young woman who was found to have a heart conditon while expecting her first child. I had never seen a prayer cloth so just followed my heart through the making.  

Many have been made since. Some of the ripples I have sent out have come back to me-when one of my children or grandchildren call me with a prayer request. Grandson, Dan, gave his Stitched Prayer to his friend, Ben, who, he said, needed it more than he did at the time because of the death of Ben's baby. It blessed my heart to know that this ripple I had sent out kept going.  

Some have gone into operating rooms. The cross on the piece is raised so it can be felt even if the patient can't see it. It is small enough to be kept in a pocket or purse. One young woman came up to me in the church parking lot and brought hers out of her pocket. She said she always had it with her. I had forgotten even making it for her. The Stitched Prayer had been made for her during a stressful, confusing time in her life when many of us had been praying for her.

The ripples you send can be anything: a note or card of encouragment, a phone call, a pat on the back, a crocheted square, a book, a plate of brownies---------------

Sometimes our ripples are under the surface but because we don't see them doesn't mean they aren't there and at times we are to start with pebbles and work up to stones. 

LORD,

please forgive if when others look at or think of me,

 it is not JESUS in me they see.

God bless you

Carolyn Wainscott

GOD'S MIRACLE-BABY AYDEN

Before I tell you about baby Ayden, my sister's great grandson, I think I need to explain a little about our family dynamics. When one of ours is in jeopardy or need, we gather, as many as possible in prayer. Those who cannot be in the prayer circle physically pray as they can.

There have been times when we could not get together so we are praying individually because Jesus said that where two or three are gathered in His name, He will be in the midst, so He is in our midst even when we are gathered spiritually.  Always in the circle is our matriarch who is 91 this year.

 Ayden's saga I started several days ago is being replaced with this first hand account from the heart of my nephew, Gary Lee. He is Ayden's grandfather and they absolutely adore each other. 

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AYDEN BENJAMIN POPSON by Gary Monds, Jr.

Ayden Benjamin Popson was born on May 11, 2010 to Maria Carmela Monds Popson and Adam Popson 1V. Ayden is my grandon, the first grandchild born into my family by my first born daughter.

As you can imagine, he is very special to us. From the time he was born he has been the center of attention in my household. Myself, my wife, Linda and my second daughter, Mandy, have been overjoyed with his presence.  Maria and Adam have proven to be great parents and Ayden is one of the happiest babies I have ever been around. Ayden progressed with his motor skills, crawilng and had begun to pull himself up in the beginning stages of walking.

Ayden's pediatrician, Dr. Maryann Merling, had him on a schedule for wellness checkups at three, six, nine and twelve months. During his six month checkup she noted the diameter of his head was in the severnty percentile and put this situation on watch. At his nine month check up his head diameter reached the ninetieth percentile. This appointment was on February 14, 2011. At nine months and three days old, Dr. Merling scheduled Ayden for an ultrasound for Feb. 16th. She seemed very concerned with his diameter and the form of his head. Ayden was such a good baby, he hardly ever cried and was always smiling and very active. The famly just could not believe anyting could possible be wrong and therefore we were not overly concerned with this.

On Feb. 16th, his mother, Maria, Grandma Linda and aunt Mandy headed out for his ultrasound in northern Kentucky. Adam and myself both had to work that day. Adam had been laid off for some time as a carpenter and had just recently landed a new job with Kokosing and did not have any time off built up and financially needed to work for the reason of just coming off of a lay off. The test was completed and Ayden and the women headed home. On the way they stopped to eat and then stopped for clothes for Ayden because he was outgrowig everything he had. They had finished all they set out to do that day and were headed home to Blanchester. Aunt Mandy, 17 years old, was driving at 5:10 pm through Goshen, Ohio when Maria received a phone call from the radiologist. He stated that he read the ultrasound and that he saw a mass that is most likely cancerous in little Ayden's brain. Linda immediately called me with the terrible news and asked me to talk with Maria as she was frantic. Very concerned about my whole life coming up the road in that car, I headed down highway 28 to meet them and see them home safely.

That evening was very, very difficult to get through. Things just didn't seem real and Ayden was his typical self, laughing and playing. Arrangements were made with the hospital to set up the MRI. The following morning Adam had to return to work. We were very concerned for his safety, going to work on a construction site with all this on his mind. The hospital contacted Maria early and told her not to feed him and get on the way for testing. So on Feb.17th we headed for Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio for an MRI. At nine months old, an MRI on the brain that takes three hours requires anesthesia. Upon arriving at the hospital, Ayden was signed in and soon taken back. With Adam at work, Maria wanted her mother and me to go back with them. It was at this point, sitting in that room waiting on a stranger to come and take my grandson and put him to sleep with drugs for three hours I realized something that has changed me for life. After being married for 23 years and having two daughters of my own, I thought I knew how strong a father's love can be. You see, when you have your own kids you miss a lot of things because you are always so busy getting life started. I am noticing things with Ayden that I know happened when my girls were little and I missed them, right in front of me. What I realized was I never knew how much I could love another human being until this baby was born and this helped me to understand God's love for us.

Right before they came to take him back I gathered Maria and Linda around Ayden and said a prayer, begging God to heal him and make this go away. When they came to get him, we stood and watched them carry him away, all three of us standing there thinking that we would rather give our lives than to see him go through this. We headed out to the waiting room to be greeted by many family members. Approximately 4 hours later they called us back to see him. He was just coming around and was not happy. Shortly after coming out of the MRI they moved him to a room for the night. We waited for the surgeon to report before heading home. Dr. Stevenson came in to see Adam and Maria and told them of his diagnosis. He did not believe the tumor was cancerous due to the fact that it was attached by a large blood vesel and not attached to the brain itself. The tumor was believed to be in the liquid space in the center of the brain and approximately the size of a racquetball. He was to spend the night in the hospital and start taking steroids to reduce swelling, go home the following day and return in one week for surgery.

Everything I have just talked about was only two days long. You can imagine what the next week was for the family, with the anticipation and horrifying worry of what was going to happen. Adam's company gave him a temporary layoff so that he could be with his family for this period. By Saturday, Ayden's head was noticeably smaller due to the steroids. We all took turns spending the night with one another so that Adam and Maria could get rested up for the long weeks ahead of them and the fact of the matter is, no one wanted to be away from him for one minute. During this week of time all  anyone could do is just sit and stare at him and wander why this is happening.

On Thursday, February 24, 2011, Ayden needed to be at Children's at 6:00 am. We all headed that way absolutely scared to death. As we sat in the waiting room with Ayden and waited for them to take him to surgery, he was playing with my hat and didn't have a clue what was about to happen to him. I wanted to be able to talk to him and tell him what was about to happen and that he would be okay with God watching over him. The surgery was supposed to take around eight hours. The hospital was very good abut keeping us informed each step of the way. The whole family was there in support along with Brother Bill Webb and Charlie Tissancer for spiritual support. The surgery only took five hours instead of eight. Dr Stevenson came out to talk to the family and stated the tumor was actually the size of a tennis ball  but everything went better and quicker than he ever would have expected. he stated again that he did not think it was cancer and a few days later when the test came back verified his thoughts. It was not cancerous.

When we were able to see him in ICU that evening it was the most difficult thing I have ever experienced in my life. To see him in this way made me very angry and unable to control my emotions. I spent the next few weeks still angry as I  watched my daughter, grandson and son-in-law go through this experience. I kept my faith in God and asked him every day, all day, to help. About two weeks in the hospital had gone by and Ayden was becoming more alert and when he finally smiled at us I knew then he was going to get back to normal. Linda and I made the trek to the hospital every day for the thirty six days and Adam and Maria stayed at the hospital all but two nights of the thirty six in which  Linda and I stayed to let them go home and relax. On Apil 1st. Ayden was released to go home and is now continuing his treatments of physical and occupational therapy. He has made major strides to a full recovery and is expected to recover 100%. God blessed us with this baby and has now blessed us again by allowing us to keep him and have him healthy. I honestly believe that Ayden has a special purpose in his life. He has already taught me more than I have learned in 43 years of life and has kept thousands of people on their knees praying to God for his healing and their prayers were answered. God is great and through this experience for many of my family and friends has drawn closer to him. I thank him every day and continue to pray for Ayden and a full rehabiitation and that God will use this life experience for Ayden to save many.

We love our families and want the best for them. Sometimes families go through experiences that really grab a hold of them. This experience grabbed us, holds us and will continue to squeeze us for a long, long time. It has drawn us closer to one another and most importanly even closer to God.  

--------------Gary Monds, April 16, 2011----------

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
JOHN 14:13-14

Gary forgot to tell us that the surgeon said the reason Ayden did so well was the backing and prayers of all his friends and family. The waiting room was full while the tests and surgery were being done and someone was always in the room with him for the whole 6 weeks. He said some children don't have anyone with them.
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He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
PSALMS 91:4

Ayden with Mom-February 17 before tests

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after surgery

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

And not only so, but we glory in tribulation also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience.

And patience, experience; and experience, hope.

ROMANS 5:2-4

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Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

HEBREWS 11:1

being kept motionless

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For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

PSALM 91:11-12

                                               probably wondering what in the world is next

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                    Finally, Mom gets to hold him                                               

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Cuddling with aunt Mandy

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                               Grandma Linda loves him                                                                                       

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Great grandma, Jackie, gets a turn

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Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

PSALM 63:7 

No one else counts when Papaw Gary is around

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Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

HEBREWS 1:14

Ayden had great doctors and nurses

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Rejoice evermore.

Pray without ceasing.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus  concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Dad and Mom didn't leave the hospital for 6 weeks except for 2 nights

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"and a little child shall lead them."

ISAIAH 11:6

At last, getting to sit up and play

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She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

PROVERBS 31:26

Great, great grandma Gibby , our 91 year old matriarch, always praying for all of us

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Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
MATTHEW 18:10

first trip out of his room in five weeks

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Here is Ayden on April 3, two days after being released from the hospital in his new covered wagon going to see the horses with great grandparents- Gary, Sr. and Jackie, grandparents-Gary, Jr. and Linda, parents-Adam & Maria, cousins-Rob, Jenna & Kendall with great aunt Carolyn videoing

As Told By The Quilt-"THE BREAKING NEWS"

"THE BREAKING NEWS" is one of my quilts that was in the planning book long before it actually came into being. The original idea was sparked by a clipping from a newspaper which is still in the planner and has changed little from its inception. The clipping is a figure of Christ weeping over a modern day city.

"News" items have been chosen and put into the planner-some as they happened, some from the past, some as brought to mind-and some that were planned and even blocks made but somehow did not make it into the quilt. I did not realize this until the work was done and the blocks were not included-evidently they were not to be there.

I imagine God looking on  this world and how heartbroken He stays with all the wars and rumors of wars, His children being abused, corrupt world leaders, and on and on and on.

Though all the horrific news causes Him great despair, we break His heart daily  by our rejection of His Son, by not following His Word and by our disobedience.

The back of "THE BREAKING NEWS" portrays how our lives seem to be a puzzle with missing pieces but

God gave us "THE ANSWER" and our lives would be so much easier if we just followed the guidelines He has given us in The Ten Commandments. He loves us and if we love Him, He tells us we will keep His commandments-John 14:15.

He tells us in Isaiah and Jeremiah that He hears us even before we call out to Him and He will answer when we are in need.

Jesus tells us in His Word that He is the way, the truth and the life and came that we might have abundant life.

I thank God for allowing me to create this work for Him.

EMMA'S QUILT

Each of us has treasures [talents,gifts] we have been given to pour out on others. Some we regard as not important enough to share because others' talents seem so much more significant. No matter how small or unimportant we may feel our talent[s] is, we need to use it so it is not lost as the unused talent in Jesus' parable [Luke 19].

In our online Bible study, our moderator/leader, made the statement she had been thinking on Psalm 90:17-"Bless the work of our hands" or "establish thou the work of our hands upon us, yea, the work of our hands establish thou it".  Quilting is the reason I feel a connection with this group. Most of us are quilters and some are making a block a week so it is somewhat like an oldtime "quilting bee" even though we are scattered all over the world and don't know each other personally. "The Work" of the hands of many in this group is going on to others. Some doubt has been expressed as to the time spent quilting rather than in other activities that might be more beneficial so Carol was telling us that what we do is beneficial if we ask God's blessing on our work and do it for His glory.

One of our group asked for prayer for her 3 year old granddaughter, Emma, who is in treatment for leukemia. She posted a photo of that beautiful, smiling little girl with no hair that just touched my heart. Jesus told us that where two or three are gathered in His name, He would be in the midst. Even though we are not all together physically, we are together in mind and spirit praying for this little girl as we have prayed for other requests.

One of the treasures that God allows me to share is my prayer quilts, [comfort quilt, stitched prayers] and I felt that Emma should have one. There was one last set of printed Bible verses on fabric that I had done  to use for these children's quilts and that was Emma's. A pink fabric was chosen to finish it out for her and there was even a matching soft doll of the same fabric.

There is a pocket to fold the quilt up into and to put a book. I keep books to go along with the quilts.  Emma can also stick her little feet into the pocket to keep them warm and covered.

During the whole process of making the quilts: cutting the fabric, sewing it together and especially during the quilting [stitched prayers]-prayers are going up for the child the quilt is intended for. The message of the love of Jesus that is sent in the fabric seems to give the child a sense of peace and calm.

As "Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen"  tells us, my quilts are the substance of healing, peace, love hoped/prayed for and they are the evidence that God is already taking care of that child.

So, Emma, your quilt is to help you to always remember that Jesus loves you. He is with you, taking care of you.

EMMA'S QUILT

  

MEGAN'S MINISTRY--"HEARTS OF GIVING"

Megan's "Alabaster Box" contains her precious ointment of caring for the less fortunate and she is pouring it onto their heads even though she will probably never see any of them. 

Her mother, Diane, makes sure that the home schooling agenda is filled with  lots of diverse learning activities that includes volunteer work, learning about other countries from first hand experience of missionaries and working with the hands in creating arts and crafts. A couple of years ago, knitting and crocheting were on the list and have become a passion for Diane and Megan along with Megan's fellow students and best friends, Avery and Ashley, and their mother, Diedre. They all simply love to crochet but a household can only use so many crocheted items and Diane's husband has been in fear of coming home to find crocheted curtains at all the windows.

So from this love of crochet "Hearts of Giving" was started by Megan with mom, Diane, as Megan says because she wanted to make a difference in the life of a child. They were all greatly touched by missionaries stories and pictures of the plight of children. They began making blankets and Megan recruited Avery and Ashley to help. 

Hearts of Giving sent blankets of love with a missionary to Gressier, Haiti for 32 children who are sleeping on a dirt floor in a 2 bedroom house. Rain gets into the house through the roof and walls and with these blankets, Megan says that at least they will have some padding from the ground. 

The local Red Cross has also received blankets and crocheted wash cloths to be given to children who have lost everything in a fire, flood or other disaster. 

When asked to help with Hearts of Giving, the ladies of Switzerland County Homemakers surprised the girls with 663 squares-enough to make 26 blankets. This has been a great boost and encouragement because other organizations have expressed needs to Hearts of Giving and Megan and her group don't say no. 

While volunteering at the Mathew 25 Ministries putting together hygiene kits for disaster relief in 30 countries, these families found that there were no washcloths and this is where the crocheted washcloth idea started. As Diane was telling me, they are 100% cotton and very sturdy.  At this writing, they have almost 100 washcloths packaged in plastic bags to be put into the kits.  

As I talked with the girls and their mothers, fingers were busy crocheting  getting more blankets done because of another great need they have been asked to help fill in Malawi. The Grove Church in Arizona is planning a mission trip to deliver shoes to the impoverished children there and have asked Hearts of Giving for blankets for children of widows there. 

These young people touched my heart and lifted my spirit to see the diligence they have in helping to fill the need for warmth when they could be watching tv, listening to an ipod, playing a game or other activity to keep from being bored. I don't think they are ever bored and they all were having a great time together in this common goal of helping others.

Having seen the desparation of children around the world through missionaries' eyes has left a deep impression on these beautiful young ladies. Even though they are only 15, 14 and 12,  live in wonderful homes and have never been without any necessity, Megan lets not a scrap of yarn go to waste. If a piece of yarn is not long enough to complete a block or row it is crocheted into a scrap blanket that is kept handy so the ends can be crocheted into it even if it is only a few stitches. It should be the most interesting thing that is turned out.  

You can help Hearts of Giving with: 
yarn,
7"x9" crocheted blocks in patterns of your choice or
crocheted blankets in patterns of your choice

 Send them to:
Diane & Megan McCarty
P.O. Box 63
East Enterprise, Indiana  47019 

For more information see:www.loveteachingx2.com/HOGM.html