Don't let the difficulties of the present moments overshadow the reality of God's promises. God's promises still stand. And God's promises are stronger than our failures.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Beauty and Confusion


Last night as I was preparing dinner this was my view outside my kitchen window. I am constantly amazed by the work God does. If the colors are this beautiful here can you even imagine what they will be like in Heaven? I can't but I like to think about that. I bet there are colors we've never dreamed of and birds that are so dazzling we couldn't take it in if they were here. I bet the music is so incredible that we will simply stand in awe and that the mansion He has prepared for us is more beautiful than any castle we've ever read about.


I went to my back door to capture the moment from there and obviously I'm not a photographer but doesn't the peace just sort of surround you and make you feel like you're in His arms?


On the other hand, this creation that God designed has gotten a little confused. Either that or she is on a different calendar than me. Christmas is over. But you can't tell it by her! She has just now begun to bloom for the season and she is stunning sitting there under my bedroom window. So in honor of her confusion I decided to finish a Christmas wallhanging. :)



The Christmas Cat is a panel I've had for several years and just never took the time to work on. I wanted to begin/practice a little machine quilting so I decided to do this "primitive". I paid no attention to the items on the quilt, like the tree and the packages, except in a general way. I "sort of" quilted around each ornament and package and the tree but didn't care if I stayed in the lines or not - kind of like when I was five years old and coloring. :) It gave me a chance to get a feel for the loosey-goosey feel of having the feed dogs down and gave me some practice time. It was a fun thing to do.

23 comments:

Unknown said...

Amazing photos of peace. Wow!
:)

Unknown said...

Marlene, When my father was passing over he tried to tell us about the colors he was seeing. He said, "I've never seen colors like this before.....Oh, the colors!"

I know God has something spectacular in store for us!

Lori said...

What a beautiful sunset! I can definitely sense the peace you were feeling. I can only imagine how much better heaven will be!

Love Bears All Things said...

Gifts from God to brighten up your January.
I love the wall hanging. I've been thinking of making some small pieces so I can try out machine quilting for the same reason as you. Have to look for some patterns.
Mama Bear

Adrienne said...

Hi Marlene -
I think you're right - there must be colors in Heaven we can't even imagine! Your photos capture the beauty of God's creation so well. And I know it's just a tiny idea of what waits for us over there! Your cactus is gorgeous - we have a few here that don't understand the calendar either. And that wall hanging is adorable. So cute. Thanks for sharing with us today. I find myself humming the song 'I Can Only Imagine' since I looked at your gorgeous photos.
~Adrienne~

Southern Lady said...

What a beautiful glimpse of what God has in store for us, Marlene. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Myra said...

What great photos...and you say you are not a photographer. You've caught the peaceful feeling of the moment. Only a good photographer can do that! 8-)
Wonderful Christmas wall-quilt! My grandma used to have a Christmas Cactus that flowered beautifully. The CC at our church was flowering beautifully before and after Christmas, but it was in sure need of some water... the poor thing... My gram always said the flower quicker in a cool room... don't know if its true?
Happy stitchings!
God Bless! 8-)

em's scrapbag said...

You've have done a wonderful job of capturing the beauty that God has created for us. Just another example of his great love for all his children.

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

What a beautiful view out your windows! A real blessing!

Love the Christmas Cat. It looks so detailed (so to me that = complicated!)

Angie said...

My mum has a Christmas Cactus that can never be relied upon to flower at the given time. I used to have Christmas roses in the garden and they never, never produced until the end of January or even later sometimes.

Your Christmas panel is lovely. It may not have been ready for this Christmas but you will have one less thing to think about for next!

love, Angie, xx

Tracy P. said...

Oh, I LOVE to think about heaven! I love the way you express the part of God's image that he placed in you--His creativity. First through appreciating it with pictures, and then through expressing it in your craft.

Anonymous said...

My Christmas cactus is doing this exact thing! There was nothing blooming at Christmastime, but this week, the buds have come on and will be opening soon! I look forward to its yearly bloom, no matter when it happens!

Janet, said...

Your Christmas panel is beautiful. We got a Christmas cactus this year for the first time. Every time a bloom starts to come on, it dies. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Looks like yours is going to be really pretty.

Mary L. Briggs said...

I think your photos are beautiful! I know that heaven is going to be so amazing that we can't even begin to imagine, even though we try to. When I think of the beauty that we know here and then know it will be so much more~well, as you say, it boggles the mind!

Well, Epiphany was January 6, maybe that's what your Christmas cactus was thinking of?

Love the Christmas project!

Karen said...

The panel you are practicing on is quite cute. You are going about things the right way with a practice piece.
Pretty photos!

Mama said...

Your photos are so beautiful! I've been playing with the one of J. and the ducks, but haven't been able to come up with one thing that I like better than the one you took. I thought a watercolor effect would be cool, but I think it's best just like it is.

Marie Rayner said...

Beautiful pictures Marlene!! I can't imagine how beautful Heaven will be, but I know it will be pretty wonderful! Love the Christmas hanging! Very nice!!

Michelle said...

Yes, just beautiful. I can't even imagine how beautiful Heaven will be.

Teresa said...

I want to come on retreat to your house!!! The pictures are just beautiful and how wonderful it would be to just get a cup of coffee and sit and enjoy that peace.

I like your little Christmas tree wall hanging. I have not seen that panel anywhere else.

Cindy said...

I admit I am having a tinge of jealousy at your view! My view out my kitchen window is where we park our cars and beyond that, a corn field but I do try to see beauty where I can and be content with what the Lord has provided. Be blessed by your view and your ability to create such pretty quilted things!

Anonymous said...

Your post is lovely...and the flowers and the Christmas quilt.
cw

Purple Pam said...

That is one beautiful Christmas cactus. Mine had one little puny blossom. At least I had two blossoms last year! Darling Christmas wall hanging, too.

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

My Christmas cactus rarely blooms before March.

Beautiful pictures. And to have a scenic view to see it in. that's one disadvantage of being in a town with close neighbors.