I was five years old when my precious nana taught me how to stitch together blocks of fabric. I would sit in her rocker and prick my fingers bloody sewing straight lines into patchwork squares. Together we made a quilt from scraps of flannel shirts and extra cotton squares from projects long abandoned or finished.
Nothing about the final project was impressive. Only the sheer size and weight of the work was to be admired. Every stitch was a raw fingered labor of inexperienced hands. It was a kaleidoscope of colors and textures bound and backed with a thin ugly colored cotton, but to my eyes it was a masterpiece.
We live lives pieced together with others and the stitches that hold those of us in Christ together are made of grace and hope in God's power to heal, save and change. Sometimes we pull against the threads in a desperate attempt to do life on our own. I've felt the tear of discontent with others tethered by my side and it has made me want to rip the seam and start- far apart from the brothers and sisters bought with as much blood and grace as I.
I think of Jesus in the upper room with his patchwork disciples sitting over supper knowing that one would betray and many would deny. He knew full well that His community would fail Him and yet
He walked forward to lay down His life for them, for us.
He ripped the veil clear in half so that we could be patched together, sewn up and sealed by His Spirit.
I have an aunt who watches t.v. preachers every week while she can see the steeple of the church of her childhood from her front window. She claims it is the same thing and I don't doubt she believes, but I'm just bold enough to dare to tell her that it isn't the same thing. Listening to the Word but not being a part of the Body, His Body, is not the same thing.
Life in the Body of Christ isn't a perfectly straight hem.
No, it is pieced together and there are times when we tear ragged down the middle and pull against the ties that bind. We are only scraps and pieces of torn cloth apart from the whole. It is only together that we are a masterpiece.
The stitches of faith and the real life work of living in community with others is worth it. I know that it may not feel like it sometimes when hearts have been hurt and lives have been burned by community gone wrong and rotten. Piecing together the Body of Christ can be ugly work, and we are desperate for grace to do the hard work of loving and walking with one another.
He sews us up in Him and with every tear He mends us. He has more than enough time and patience to make beauty out of our rags. He has grafted us into His masterpiece and it is together that we make a glorious display of what He has done.
Join me every Friday in September for more in my Stitched Together in Love series.
Oh, but wait! I'm giving away a beautiful piece from a sweet life long friend of mine. Hannah is owner and artiste extraordinaire of Sweet SEA Designs!
Here is a bit more about the lady behind Sweet SEA Designs!
My name is Hannah and I am so blessed to be married to the love of my life. We have three beautiful and sassy girls that are the inspiration behind what I do. I love being able to make fashionable and affordable accessories for others to enjoy.
So what is Hannah giving away? This little beauty custom made for you in red or navy!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Go check out Sweet SEA Designs on Facebook for more amazing accessories to brighten your home and life!
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