The Perfect Scarf

Psalm 139:15

My frame was not hidden from you when I was being formed in secret and intricately and curiously wrought as if embroidered with various colors in the depths of the earth, a rregion of darkness and mystery.

One day, a seamstress made a beautiful scarf. It was hand woven of the finest purple silk and embroidered with pure silver thread.
Seamstress loved the Scarf and kept it close to her at all times.
Then, one day, a Friend of Seamstress was admiring the beautiful Scarf. Loving her friend and desiring to bring her joy, Seamstress gave Friend the beautiful Scarf.
Friend took great care of Scarf, but it was not always at her side. Seamstress noticed, but said nothing, trusting Friend to take good care of Scarf.
But Friend allowed strangers to love Scarf. Soon, Scarf became dingy and stained. Her edges began to unravel as Friend tried washing her in water using harsh soaps and perfumes, saying, “She smells beautiful.” But Scarf was beginning to feel neglected and abused.

One day, and Enemy to Friend came over and tore Scarf and cut her into small pieces. Broken and abused, Scarf was thrown out with the trash.
Seamstress watched in pain as Scarf lie in the street being trampled on; her pieces scattering. Scarf grew cold, lonely and afraid.

But, Seamstress had a young daughter who still loved Scarf. Daughter began picking up pieces and bringing them to Seamstress.
Seamstress took out her silver thread and began piecing Scarf back together. As she touched each piece, it became clean and like new again.

When all of Scarf’s pieces were sewn back together, she felt stronger and better than before. Seamstress had even sewn gold to seal her frayed edges.
Scarf was more beautiful than before and though many desired her, she chose to stay in the security of the Seamstress.

Our hearts and lives can sometimes be like the purple scarf. We are beaten and bruised, torn and trampled, but Jesus will pick up our pieces and bring them to Father to sew back together.
Our hearts become laced with God’s gold and we are now more beautiful than the original product.

I thank you Lord, for the pain that brought Your gold thread of perfection into my life. Thank you, Father, for caring for me so much that You sent Your Son to seek for me. You saw me a perfect. You felt the pain of each word, each stain, each rip. You still saw me as perfect as I lie in the gutter moaning and lonely. Jesus found me and I am now a new creation, better than before. I am beautiful.

Copyright Leah M. Jones (c) 2001

Temporarily Unavailable

Hello to the few people that read my blog.

I probably wont be writing much for a while. Oh, I may write once a week, but I’m not even sure of that. Just taking some much needed time with the Lord.

Heart Pangs

I do not know how women read romance novels.
Honestly. I don’t. And I am a woman.

I had never even desired to read one. Then Misty handed me Kelly’s copy of Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.

*sigh*

I read it in 2 days. 2 days. Two heart wrenching, heart pounding days.

My heart still aches from it. Not because of the ending, no the ending was just fine.
It was all the stuff in the middle. It was the similarities between me and her. It was the pain in Michael as he went back three times to retrieve his wayward wife. It was the agony he felt when she left the last time.
How could she? How could I?

How can I run from the one who was with me through it all. Held me in the pain. Felt every blow I’d ever received? How could I run from God? How do I keep running from him, and why?

My heart aches for Him. I am grieved at my wayward heart. Will I ever learn? Will I ever know the freedom He offers?

I came to Christ when I was 11 years old. Full of love and innocence. So naive. So full of life and love.

Like Michael, I had to go through a test, a trial. Unlike him, I failed. I failed miserably. How could God take me back? But he did. He took me back a few times.

Like Angel, I run every time my Savior gets too close. Every time He gets close enough to peer into my soul and feel my pain. Every time I start to fall in love with Him. I run. I feel trapped and insecure.

Like Mara, I have been bitter. Overwhelmingly so. So bitter that I’ve lost all feeling.

Like Amanda, I look to my husband for comfort. Protection. Security. I’ve looked to him for everything. To fill me up. To make me happy.

Like Michael, my husband cannot fill the void in my soul. He cannot sustain me and protect me everywhere I go. He cannot go into the secret places of my mind and heal those wounds.

Like Michael, God lets me go. He waits.

Like Duke, the ugliness of the past hovers over me, whispering in my ear. Taunting me. Questioning why God would allow me to go through such pain if He loved me so much.

And I cower. I shield my face as I expect to feel the blow of God’s wrath. But He never strikes. He sees the pain in my eyes. He holds me. He is not like those who have hurt me.

Have I relinquished control? Have I found freedom in His arms. Have I found the top of the hillside… all He has promised? Do I trust Him? Really trust Him?

For that matter, can He really trust me? Am I really worth all the trouble? Why would He come back for me time and time again? Has He grown tired of retrieving his wayward wife?

How could I ever look Him in the face again?

I must be the plague!

Am I so difficult a person to be around that people who have called me ‘friend’ for a decade stop inviting me to parties?

Not the first time. I’m sure not the last.

Every time it happens, I want to spend less and less time with them.

*sigh*

You know it has been hot when…

You son says, “Dad, I don’t need to wear shorts. It’s only 91 degrees outside.”

*Sigh*

This has been a long week of understanding for me.

After a death of someone that I had broken ties with and the death of someone my sister knows, God has really spoken to my heart.

It is easier for me to see God’s heart from this point of view. How sad He is.

Then, today… Rain. Tears from heaven, maybe?

This can’t be good

Robot Soldiers

The robot soldier has been a dream at the Pentagon for 30 years. And some involved in the work say it may take at least 30 more years to realize it in full. Well before then, they say, the military will have to answer tough questions if it intends to trust robots with the responsibility of distinguishing friend from foe, combatant from innocent bystander.

Even the strongest advocates of automatons say that war will always remain a human endeavor, marked by death and disaster. And supporters like Robert Finkelstein, president of Robotic Technology in Potomac, Md., are telling the Pentagon that it could take until 2035 to develop a robot that looks, thinks and fights like a soldier. The Pentagon’s “goal is there,” he said, “but the path is not totally clear.”

Robots in battle, as envisioned by their builders, may look and move like humans or hummingbirds, tractors or tanks, cockroaches or crickets. With the development of nanotechnology – the science of very small structures – they may become swarms of “smart dust.” The Pentagon intends for robots to haul munitions, gather intelligence, search buildings or blow them up.

This news report is true. It was reported on Fox News on Hannity tonight.

I don’t even know what to think about this. The time is soon coming when robots will only distinguish between the friend or foe if the friend has some kind of identification.

This can’t be good.

Chicken or Egg?

So, I was reading this thread about which came first.

I do not completely understand the theory of evolution on this one, saying the egg came first because the creature inside was a mutation. This is not logical or rational thought.

In all of creation, when there is a mutation or abnormality, nature takes care of the offspring. This is not an easy pill to swallow. What I mean here is, nature will abort or destroy the mutated offspring.

Time and time again, this question is posed. If you believe in evolution, the egg comes first. If you believe in creation, the chicken comes first.

Here is another thought: In evolution, man a consequence. In creation, man is the climax.

Passionate Spirituality

Dancing Lessons from King David!

Well worth the read.

Proverbs 31

Thank you, Lord, for making me a Proverbs 31 woman. Help me where I am lacking. Amen.

10A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman–who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.

11The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.

12She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.

13She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].

14She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household’s food from a far [country].

15She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.

16She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.

17She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.

18She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust].

19She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].

21She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.

22She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].

23Her husband is known in the [city's] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

24She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service].

25Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!

26She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].

27She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.

28Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying],

29[c]Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

30Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!

31Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!

Amplified Bible