A Psalm of Peace in the Storm

In the writers’ group that I’m in, we are given weekly writing challenges. Last week’s challenge was to write a psalm of thanksgiving. This one came about after reading Psalm 69 and recalls a white-knuckled driving experience I had. With all that’s happening in our world today, I think it speaks deeper.

Peace in the Storm

 The storm clouds have opened and deluged me. The river has flooded and my way leads between deep chasms of dark water. Night envelops me. A front headlight of my car has gone out, while the oncoming traffic blinds me. The humiliation I feel at my own fearfulness overwhelms me. Oh, Lord, as I press forward with dread, will You come to my aid? Reach down, guide me and bring me to safe, well-lit streets.

I am reminded that, yes, Your faithful saving presence is always beside me. Your light fills my soul. You bring me through the darkness and keep my head above the high splash of road-width puddles. Although I cannot see what lies ahead, praise flows from my lips for You are delivering me.

As I peer through the unending wild whipping of the windshield wipers, when they seem to make no headway on visibility, You bring peace to my heart. You hear my cry and know my voice as a shepherd knows his sheep.

When Your Name is on our lips, Abba, You hear the cry of those drenched by the

rain; You do not despise Your rain-soaked people. You are our umbrella of light and peace and safety. Let all those who travel on dark country roads give You thanks.

Have Glue Gun, Will Definitely Dribble

Give me a hot glue gun and things get sticky. And stained. Yep, when you dribble glue onto fabric and leave it there when it goes through the washer and dryer, a stain will remain. Well, maybe you don’t dribble glue, but I certainly do. Me and glue, we have a touchy relationship. I need it for craft projects but oh, how I hate it. Because it insists on spreading itself around where it doesn’t belong.

Aaaanyway, that’s how my favorite v-neck pink top was ruined. I hung onto it though because I just knew that I could come up with some way to use it. Years ago some fabric paint and a stencil came to my rescue on another t-shirt I liked. Wasn’t in the mood for fabric paint this time, even if I hadn’t thrown it away when it got all cloggy.

Tossed around the idea of appliqué and just as quickly tossed it out. This shirt is sort of stretchy t-shirt fabric and I couldn’t figure out how to put a non-stretchy appliqué on it and not end up with puckers or something.

A couple of years passed.

Then sorting through a drawer I found embroidery floss. Used some to spice up a jean pillow I was making. Held the thread up to my pink shirt. Hmmmm.

And I began to stitch. One petal at a time.

Backed up each flower with a tiny piece of old cotton sheet on the underside of the shirt to give stability.

It took a long time because my finger joints don’t get along well with fine hand sewing anymore.

As I stitched I thought about what God does with the staining experiences of my life. Stains incurred by me willfully decoupaging myself with the glue of pride and its counterpart shame, as well as stains in the form of lies sticking to me, telling me about who I am.

The little daisies taking shape under my fingers spoke to me of God’s mercy transforming those stains into beauty—His beauty.

I added a few petals here and there where there were no stains. God’s grace decorates my life with friends who care and provide.

Embroidery is a quiet, peaceful art. Christ sews in His perfect peace and underneath it all, His Word gives me stability.

So delighted to be able to wear my favorite pink shirt again. Even more so now that it reminds me of spiritual truth.

And look! I didn’t spill any sticky stuff in this creative blog project!