Freed to be a Slave!

 My small group is currently going through the book of Galatians, and it has been a pretty tremendous blessing to me, especially as someone who spent several years in a slightly legalistic church. We discussed the first half of chapter 5 this week, and the simplicity of the marvelous conundrum of us being freed from the bondage of sin so that we are free to become servants (literally slaves) to others (and ultimately Christ) has been so beautiful and inspiring to me. The entire section is incredible, especially the emphasis on the danger of relying on works of the law (works-based salvation) versus resting in God's saving grace by the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:1-6), but what I want to focus a bit more on is the following:

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Galatians 5:13-14 (English Standard).

As born-again believers by the saving grace of Jesus and His transforming Spirit in our hearts, we are no longer in bondage under sin! There is no condemnation for us (see, e.g. Romans 8)! This isn't to say we are now perfect people; on the contrary, we still fall into patterns of sin (self focus; pride; anger; laziness; you name it, really). We are no longer bound or defined by these failings, though! They have no grip on us! The funny thing about this new freedom is that the Holy Spirit has not only freed us from the bondage of sin, but has actually filled us with a new heart, a heart that desires to use its freedom to be a slave to Christ and His people! 

Personally, I can be quite self-centered as opposed to Christ- or other-centered, but reading these words and being reminded that I am actually not bound to myself has been a liberating reminder! I pray for the grace to use my freedom to truly put off my reoccurring sins which cling so tightly (see, e.g. Hebrews 12:1-2), rest in Christ's grace, be filled with the Spirit, and love and serve others!

Sisters on the beach earlier this month 

Hold fast to Jesus!

Sonia

Treasuring the Auntie Life

Being an auntie is seriously one of life's biggest earthly blessings. Living with two of my two nephews and four nieces and watching them grow up multiplies this blessing by about eight. <3 Kiddos grow up so quickly (and I'm not even a mom, and can't imagine how much quicker they grow then!), and I don't want to ever, ever look back and regret not giving them hugs and saying "I love you" at every opportunity. There isn't much to this post except an encouragement to treasure every day. And to share a few pictures from a quick, unplanned photo "session" my sister did of Ems and I when Ems was feeling snuggly and looking especially darling.

Scattered Thoughts About Psalm 139 and the Incredible God we Serve

Over the past few weeks, I've been mediating on Psalm 139:16, which says "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." (English Standard). 

Psalm 139 is one of the most well-known passages in the Bible, but verse 16 has really been hitting home lately -- he has FORMED every. single. one. of our days. Taken with the rest of the chapter (which discusses God's complete knowledge of our hearts and lives, his constant presence, and His protection of His children), this is bit scary and a lot encouraging. Jesus didn't just foreknow our lives (see what would happen); he literally formed every day -- He has created us for good works! See Ephesians 2:10. We have the "freedom" to follow Christ or not (free will); yet at the same time Christ has formed our days knowing exactly how we will respond. We are bound by His plan yet free to choose whom we will serve. A little bit mind-boggling. 

While my simple mind can't truly grasp these incredible (apparent) semi-contradictions, my responses are actually found in verses 6 and 23-24. First, incredible wonder: "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it." In other words, "wow. I can't even." Second, a desire to freely be able to proclaim to the God of the universe "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." 

I may not understand this conundrum of being free yet bound (maybe a more learned theologian can), but am praying for grace to live a life of wisdom and devotion to Christ (see, e.g., Ephesians 5:15) that is centered on loving Him first and others second, while also resting in His promise that He has formed every day and will use me, despite my failures, to further His glory and also bring me safely to Himself (see, e.g., Romans 8:28).

 

Of Masks and Men

 Okay, I couldn't resist that title...This post is mostly about masks and less about the men (or women) who wear them.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still in mighty swing, the "new normal" is looking to be the "permanent" normal, at least for the foreseeable future. The office is still operating with many staff working from home, but my department has most of its staff coming in on alternating days. Masks are required whenever we leave our workstations or when someone is fewer than 6 feet from us. Now that I'm in the office 2-3 days per week, I saw the need to have a number of masks for myself, and was also inspired to make masks for my family. 

Being a very novice seamstress (I had a sewing class like 12 years ago and have made like 3 simple quilts since then), I wanted to find a pattern that wasn't too complicated but that also produced a quality and comfortable mask. Let's just say it took a while to find a decent pattern.

Beginning masks attempts. The black one (my very first) actually turned out okay (albeit not quite what I wanted), but the sewing machine needle broke so it was almost entirely by hand, so the stitching isn't the neatest. The larger orange one I have named "The Duck Mask" (you'd know why if you tried it on). The blue one was just weird, in addition to the straps being too short despite following the pattern.

After 4 masks, I asked my coworker to share her pattern for masks that have a ribbon ear strap that a wearer can adjust. While I've since better "perfected" my pattern and the steps I take, here are enough details for any other eager novice seamstresses to come up with a nice, breathable, and fairly quick mask. 

Supplies: rotary cutter, scissors, pins, one 8" x 14" piece of fabric (8" x 15" if you are not cutting on the fold/using two different pieces of fabric), two 2" x 6" strips of fabric, 1/2 of a pipe cleaner, and two 16" pieces of ribbon.

NOTE: Press well after each step and after prepping each pleat! 

Step 1: Anchor the Nose Piece. Zig-zag stitch a half piece of pipe cleaner (cut in half and then folded in half and twisted together a bit) to the top of the 8" side of your large piece of fabric. All this is doing is anchoring the little nose piece (if you don't care about a nose piece, ignore this step).

Step 2: Sew the Mask Body. Sew the entire mask together, right sides together, leaving about a 2 inch hole along one of the sides so you can then turn it right-side out.  Clip the sharp corners. Turn right side out and press the edges.

(picture of the hole showing here, from a different mask I made)

Step 3. Create Pleats.  These are a pain to do, but it's important they're as even as possible. Also, be sure the pleats on the front of the mast are facing down. Make the pleats one inch apart and one inch tall (see video attempting to describe the pleats).

Step 4: Sewing Pleats Together. Sew around the sides and top of the mask to hold the pleats together, ensuring that when you come to the nose piece, you sew below the nose piece while also NOT sewing the back of the first pleat down to the top of the mask.

(avoid sewing the top of the first pleat when you're sewing beneath the nose piece)

Step 5: Preparing and Sewing the Ribbon Casing. Sew the 6" strips to each side of the mask, folding over and stitching the tops of each casing before sewing to the sides of the mask (see below and videos). 

(sewing the top edge of the casing before stitching onto mask body( stitch to the front side of the mask))

(sew to mask body and press thoroughly)

(fold ribbon casing edge and press it down; then, pull it over to the front side of the mask)

(sew the remaining side of the casing to the back side of the mask, keeping pretty close to the edge (see where my needle/pressure foot is positioned)).

Step 6: Finishing Touches. You've got your mask, minus the ribbons! Cut enough ribbon to go through the casing you created on each side plus excess to adjust the size of the mask (I think I use about 16 inches for each side). Then, using small screw driver or a wood skewer, bring the ribbon through the casing on each side. After you've tied the ribbons to enable the mask to fit your face, you can hide them by tugging them through the casing.

(hiding the ribbon edges)

Here are pictures of the finished product.

My grandpa and I, sporting our new masks (I call mine the Black Mumba). When I showed him how to hide the ribbons in the casing after adjusting the size, he proclaimed "Why would I do that? Than no one would know it was home-made!" Also, he's one of the manliest and toughest people I know, but he couldn't be more pleased with his goats. :)

A Reminder that My "Wants" are Not the Same as My "Needs -- and that God is Faithful to Provide!

You know those days when you pick up a book you've been procrastinating to read, and then the words hit home and address exactly what you've been struggling with, as though they were written  just so you could read them that day? That happened to me yesterday evening. 

I purchased New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp several weeks ago, and opened it for the first time last night, turning to the devotional for July 10; the topic was essentially "want" versus "need" and God's provision for the same. The opening quote for the entry was "You once desired it, but now you're persuaded that you need it. Once you've named it a need, it has you."

Almost without realizing it, I've begun to (again ::sigh::) allow certain "desires" (or "wants") in my life become "needs" that are leaching away at my joy, contentment, and belief in God's loving provision. While I "know" God has my best for His glory and my good in mind, my deep-rooted "wants" have rusted this knowledge in my heart and begun to erode my faith in His provision.

Tripp writes:

There is nothing evil about desire. God created us with the capacity to desire...Yet it is very hard for sinners to hold desire with an open hand. It doesn't take long for our desires to morph into demands ("I must"). The thing that was once a desire is now taking hold of us. We're less willing to live without it...Then demand morphs into need ("I will...")...We're now convinced that it would be impossible to live without it. It is now in control of our hearts. We think about it all the time. We are fearful when we're without it. We plot how to keep it in our lives.

Tripp goes on to describe how this need forms into expectation, which then turns into disappointment in God, followed by self-entitled anger toward him. 

We can't believe that God would say that he loves us yet not meet this "need." The fact is, God has been faithful to all that he's promised us, but this desire that morphed into a need is not something he's promised to give us...Because we now judge God as unfaithful, we quit trusting him as we should and let go of our good habits of faith.

God doesn't promise us earthly possessions, physical health, or relationships; He promises something much, much better: what we need. 

This is an incredible truth, and one I pray for God's grace to hold onto. I pray for the strength to look to Jesus while holding an open hand to my desires -- He does not withhold any good thing from his children! In fact, the more we trust and delight in Him, the deeper He transforms our desires to align with His will! 

"Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 (English Standard).

“…your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:8b (English Standard).

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:30-33 (English Standard).

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? . . . I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31-35, 38-39 (English Standard). 

Life During COVID-19

During this strange COVID-19 pandemic situation, I've had the opportunity to spend time with family, work on a few projects, and go on several adventures, and decided to document some of it here. Life doesn't stop just because there is a pandemic and the world is practically "shut down."

1. Family Time 

 This brother (16) has been growing like a weed lately, and when we accidentally matched a few weeks ago, he grudgingly agreed to a photo to 1) document our matchiness and 2) show just how much he's grown.

 Ending many evenings watching a TV show with my sister and brother-in-law and snuggling their youngest, Baby Chloe.

 Braving Costco for the first time with this sister (we had so much fun, honestly; it was amazing to be among people! The masks couldn't even put a damper on our excitement)

 These sisters and I went on a Memorial Weekend trip to the mountains, and had a lovely time going on a short hike, having lots of snacks, watching a few movies, conducting a spontaneous dance party, and staying up late talking.

 Silly group picture from our weekend trip.

A close friend and I "social distancing" running together this morning. My physical therapist finally cleared me for running 1 minute and then walking 10 -- six months post car accident, but at least it's progress!

2. Projects

 Playing around with cooking some more. The latest cooking adventure has been figuring out different ways to prepare fish. Working from home means I have more time to actually prepare real meals!

 Gluten free baking adventures! These are cinnamon rolls (before going into the oven, I think); they turned out amazingly well, and you couldn't tell they were gluten free.

 More gluten free baking adventures: dinner rolls (also super good)

Gardening! This is about 2/3 of my "garden"; the slugs got to my basil in the front yard, but we had the yard treated for slugs shortly thereafter, so I am hoping it will revive...

3. Miscellaneous "Adventures

I went into the office one day about a week or so to work on clearing some of the piles that had accumulated on my desk, and it was a bit overwhelming, to say the least. Wearing a mast was also a bit strange, but kind of exciting at the same time. 

 The conclusion of my second year of Russian classes was via Zoom -- and honestly, it wasn't really an issue. So thankful for the opportunity to take two years of classes! However, I feel like I still don't know hardly any Russian...

 Many, many Zoom and FaceTime calls with lovely people!

Driving two hours to watch the sunset on a Friday night. 

A Lesson From My Teacup Garden

Two weeks ago today, I planted a little herb "garden" on my bathroom window sill, and checked it eagerly every day (possibly multiple times a day...) for any green buds to pop through the dirt. 

To my tremendous joy, six days after planting, I saw the first hints of green popping through. As the day progressed, a couple more little plant babies popped through. Today, there are several happy little stems in all three pots, eager for sunlight. 

As I was checking on my plant "babies" (yes, I discovered I'm "that" lady) a few afternoons ago, I noticed that the stems were angling toward my open window, being guided out of the dirt by the sun and fresh air (yes, I also leave the window open during most of the day so they get daylight...and yes, it does get chilly in there). I turned the pots around in hopes the stems would straighten up a bit and not grow crooked. A couple hours later, the plants had angled toward the window again, in the opposite direction. And so, I've been "rotating" the teacups around throughout the day to encourage my herbs to grow straight and tall. 

Here we come to the crux of the matter: my little herbs, drawn out of the dirt toward the sun, reminded me of life. We are little humans, growing in a crooked and dark world, but as long as we look to the Son, we will grow strong and healthy in our faith. He lifted us out of our darkness and into his "marvelous light"! See 1 Peter 2:9 (English Standard).

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Hebrews 12:1-2 (English Standard, emphasis mine).

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16 (English Standard).

I hope this simple story of my little teacup plants, looking to the sun for growth, will encourage you to look to the Son for salvation, endurance, and encouragement.

Hold fast to Jesus!

Sonia