On this date last year, through Facebook Messenger, I received an interesting message from a woman in Florida about a post I had made to the Immanuel Quilt Ministry Facebook page. You might remember the post. It was a picture of me with the Grandma Puppet and a write-up that we had gone with my friend Annie to serve the homeless.
Every month Annie takes wagon loads of essentials to hand out to the homeless. I went hoping Grandma Puppet could bring a few smiles to the downtrodden, but mostly, I wanted to go and observe Annie at work. The experience left me feeling overwhelmed and humbled. So, I wrote about it and posted it on the Immanuel Quilt Ministry Facebook page on November 8, 2022, tagging Annie in the post. (Post is pictured below.)
Then, eight months later, July 2023, I get this message:
Hi Joni! My name is Pam Mc and I live in Florida. I saw your page on Facebook and read about your ministry. On one of your posts, you mentioned Annie’s ministry to the homeless and to contact you as to how one can reach out to donate. I’d like to find out what types of things she needs monthly so I could physically buy things and send them to her.
I’ve thought long and hard about this and have prayed about reaching out. Annette is not only a sister in Christ but is my first cousin. Once I saw your post about her ministry, I knew I needed to reach out to you.
Immediately, I called Annie to relay the message. She didn’t know the woman, nor did she having any knowledge of having any cousins!
As I would soon find out, Pam wasn’t looing for the Immanuel Quilt, she stumbled upon the ministry page looking for Annie!
I don’t think we will ever fully fathom how choices made today power the events of tomorrow.
It just so happened that two weeks before receiving the message from Pam, I had asked Annie about her father at Bible Study. In the ten years I have known Annie she has often spoken fondly of her momma. But her daddy—never a word about him.
I believe God allowed my bluntly asked question to be a precursor to prepare Annie for what was coming in her life, for that afternoon she went home and thought about her father for the first time in a very long time. Incredibly, two weeks later she wasn’t just connected to a long-lost cousin that she didn’t know existed, but—a sister, too!
Blessed Beyond Measure
Over the last year, Annie, Pam, and Julie have drawn very close. Julie and Pam have been able to fill in the missing gaps in Annie’s memories of her father. Other than one time visiting her father at the age of ten, she had had no contact with her father since she was five years old.
While Annie had been hiding memories in the depths of her hope chest, never to be looked at again, her father held her close to his heart.
Through Julie and Pam, Annie has learned that her father surrendered his life to the Lord, that he became a good, godly man. Not the same abusive man her momma knew. Julie was able to live her life witnessing her father at his bedside praying on bended knee. Mr. Lane became a respected police officer; a man with a heart for serving the homeless—just like Annie.
Undeniably, the most touching and freeing thing that Annie has learned is that she had a father who never forgot her. He kept her photo prominently displayed on the coffee table for all to see. Annie, age 76, a giver of blessings—was delivered a blessing straight from heaven above. Experiencing the overwhelming love of God upon her, Annie was able to release past hurts and forgive her father.
I don’t know why God chose to use the Immanuel Quilt Ministry as a conduit to reunite Annie with her family, but I am grateful He did, and once again, I am in awe at what He has done.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” -Luke 6:38
“Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.” -Proverbs 19:17
“You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the parents sins into the laps of their children after them. Great and mighty God, who name is the LORD Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.” -Jeremiah 32:18-19
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” -James 1:17
It’s interesting that the original post put on Facebook has mysteriously disappeared, however, it remained long enough to do what God intended it to do.
I spoke at the Fillmore Christian Church this past weekend. Their theme, Wonderfully Made, was going to tie in nicely with the story of the Immanuel Quilt. My prayer is always that the glory of the Lord might be seen in sharing His Story.
On the morning of the event, before ever rising, or even waking, I had a vision. I warn you; it will sound a bit weird and a bit funny, but I think you will see there was meaning in it for the day ahead of me.
In the vision I was walking in a hall at Clay County St. Vincent Hospital on my way to see the administrator. While I was walking, I was brushing my teeth!
Okay…I can hear you laughing.
Anyways, before I reached the administrator’s office, she came walking up behind me and put her hand on my shoulder.
The vision pertained to the mission I was going to do that day.
What does an administrator do? Administer. The word minister is right there. The Immanuel Quilt Ministry was going to administer God’s Word.
Synonyms for Administrator are controller, head, chief, leader, and governor. Most of these are also Names of Jesus. I was seeking the administrator (God) and the administrator comes from behind to touch me. This is what I heard:
I’ve got your back! The words from your mouth today will be fresh with cleansing power (symbolic with the toothpaste) to bring healing (referenced with the hospital) to those who will receive the Word.
I have heard many messages on the topic of being Wonderfully Made, but I’ve never heard any that has taken a twist like this. The Scripture shared was 1 Corinthians 12:28.
God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
The Immanuel Quilt showcases more than Names of Jesus—it showcases His different gifts as well. Gifts of healing and helping, of being our refuge, leader, friend, and Savior.
My friend, like the Immanuel Quilt, you have been inspired and designed by God to showcase all the gifts He has given you. You are Unique. Exceptional. Amazing. Awesome. Inspiring. Extraordinary. Beautiful. And—Wonderfully Made!
The Lord speaks in mysterious ways, and for me, it can be in one-word riddles.
Last Sunday afternoon such a riddle came interrupting my thoughts. The word was—emerald. I began scouring my Bible as if searching for hidden treasure and found a gem speaking directly to me. In the Book of Revelation where John is taken into heaven and, in the Spirit, is allowed to see a glimpse of the throne of God, he wrote: And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. -Revelation 4:3
Two days before ‘emerald’ was spoken in my thoughts, I had a dream about rainbows. And here was a verse mentioning both an emerald and a rainbow.
In my dream, I saw what appeared to be a canopy of rainbows arched in like a tunnel style. I could see mature trees, leafed in green, too.
Ezekiel was shown heaven’s throne describing it, as like the appearance of a rainbow and that it was the appearance of the glory of the LORD (Ezekiel 1:28-29).
The following morning, during my prayer time, I asked the Lord for another clue. This time the Spirit said, “Emerald Sea”.
EMERALD SEA
As it turns out, just a few verses down from Revelation 4:3 the word sea is mentioned. In verse six it says: In front of the throne, there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. The sea of glass represents the presence of God!
Of the verse, Elliott’s Bible Commentary led off by saying: There is a sea before the throne of God. The woman appareled in purple. It was a sign for me that I was on the right track for finding the next clue. I wear purple nearly every time I am invited to speak on the Immanuel Quilt.
Unpacking the dream and discovering the meaning behind the clues, Emerald Sea, led to finding a treasury of hope and promise. A rainbow is always a reminder of God’s covenant promise (Genesis 9:13-17) and an emerald denotes the shining glory of the LORD.
CORRECTING OUR TUNNEL VISION
The phrase Light at the end of the tunnel means a hardship or struggle is nearing its end. If you are like me, you may be thinking the journey of late while waiting for promises not yet received to come has been long and dark. In my dream, the tunnel was an open canopy of rainbows. I sense God saying, “Look Up! The tunnel of darkness does not surround you—it’s My glory that does!”
It’s interesting that in the Christian faith, an emerald denotes resurrection and rebirth. What hopes and dreams have you had fallen away? I think God wants to resurrect them.
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” -John 11:40
The final Show and Tell for the week was over. Mom and I had traveled three days across the north west part of Indiana for me to share the story of the Immanuel Quilt to four different women’s groups. We were ready to get home. All the equipment and supplies I need to speak were packed in their appropriate bags ready to be put in the car. But then…I couldn’t find my keys.
Every bag was emptied looking for the lost keys. My purse, the quilt bag, the computer bag, the card bag, the projector bag, the quilt rack bag. No keys.
Mom, too, took a turn searching. No keys.
We checked Mom’s purse, our coat pockets, the restrooms, the trash cans, and the napkins inside the trash cans. No keys.
Numerous times we went to the parking lot searching for that which was lost. But, no keys.
The guests at the event was asked to check their bags, but no extra keys were found.
ABANDONED
Eventually, all the venue workers and guests of the day went home. Mom and I were left on the grounds alone, with no way to enter the car, and no nearby business or restaurant to walk.
I had to make the dreaded call; the call to my husband asking him to bring me the extra set of keys.
The Bible says…
“The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy.” Psalm 145:8 (NKJV)
My husband is a man slow to anger, but, I knew I was about to see just how full of compassion and mercy he truly was. I was 140 miles from home…two hours away!
ADMISSION OF GUILT
Getting Tom on the phone and explaining our situation, if frustrated, he hid it. He demonstrated well the words of Psalm 145:8. Mom and I only needed to wait for two-plus hours for Tom’s arrival.
I thought to call a locksmith. The man came, he opened the door, for a hefty fee. We weren’t going to have to stand outside in the cold waiting. We were hoping to find the keys inside the car, but they weren’t there.
ANGEL OF MERCY ARRIVES
During the afternoon luncheon, a woman asked me to pray with her. She left the luncheon with another woman, leaving her car in the parking lot. Just as the locksmith was pulling away the two women pulled into the parking lot, and recognizing us, asked why we were still there. After explaining our situation, she invited us to her home for a more comfortable wait and visit.
There was no fear. I felt connected to the lady after having prayed with her earlier. So, Mom and I got in her car and off we went.
I did let Tom know what we were doing, and I assured him we would be back at the car by the time he arrived. However, we were having such a nice visit, time got away from us. Tom arrived at the venue, and we were not there. Let’s just say I was giving my husband another opportunity to demonstrate his kind compassionate heart.
THE OUTCOME
Instead of getting home at 6:00 p.m. we got home at 10:00 p.m. One last time before going to bed I dumped the contents of my purse. Guess what I found. My keys!
Oh, how I dreaded confessing this finding to Tom. It doesn’t matter how much mercy and compassion you have been shown in the past, confessing isn’t easy.
I know you must be most curious as to how my husband reacted to the good news. Well, let’s just say probably the same as your spouse would.
No longer hiding his annoyance he questioned how I could have missed seeing the keys inside my purse. He thought we could have at least seen them when dumping my purse the several times that we did. I was grateful for the fresh illustration that had happened earlier in the morning.
Tom was looking for the checkbook and could not find it. I came in and found it exactly where it is always, in the drawer. For some reason he didn’t think the two scenarios were quite the same. Perhaps it was the 280 mile round trip that was making the difference.
All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord. -Romans 8:28
This would include the aggravation of me losing, or being unable to find my keys.
THE LESSON OF THE LOST KEYS
When we were taken to the woman’s house, she asked that I tell her husband the story of the Immanuel Quilt. The entire story. And he saw the handprint of God upon the quilt. He was amazed by what God had done.
In all honesty, I wish this was a chapter of my journey I could erase. But, I can’t. It’s part of this story for a purpose.
I suggested to my husband that this encounter may be a sign that if he is going to end up where I am anyway, he might as well travel with me.
However, I believe the key purpose behind this encounter was to highlight…
“The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy.”
God is the One to whom we can always call and know will come and rescue us.
Thank you, Tom, for your grace, your compassion, and for allowing God to use you to teach us about the redeeming love of God.
Ten years ago, I would have never dreamed this traveling ministry would have me speaking to an audience of 400 people, little lone 400 students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade. But it has happened!
For a long while now I have been sensing God wanting me to share His Story in a unique quilt with youth, and that He had intentions to send me to larger stages. Both came to fruition in one single day.
Novemeber 30, 2023 I was the guest chapel speaker for a Christian elementary school speaking to 400 students, plus faculty members and a few dozen parents.
Though His Story in a unique quilt never changes, tweaking presentations is never ending. For the school it was necessary to adapt the message for a younger audience, and I needed to trim it to twenty minutes.
I began with a five-minute puppet skit. Out of the gate the red-headed puppet, Cam-Man, was a hit capturing the attention of all who were present. Interestingly, my puppeteer was red headed, too, a teacher which just made the kids love the puppet even more.
After the brief exchange with the Cam-Man puppet telling tidbits of the story, I told more bits and pieces of the story that focuses solely on Jesus, including the special features about the Immanuel Quilt being a puzzle and having hidden images.
After chapel, I stuck around school the rest of the day giving eight more talks so that students could hear more of the story, look for the invisible images, and ask questions.
“Why is the High Priest block designed like that?”
“Why is there black in the quilt when you said God told you not to use black?”
“Horn of Salvation is a funny Name.”
I loved their questions, comments, and active interaction. When I would ask a question, most of the class would raise their hand to answer.
Students who had trouble locating the invisible images, I would tell them to look closer. Once they would spot a hidden image I’d hear, “Awe…now I see it!”
Pointing out the Name, Dwelling Place, a boy raised his hand for me to call on him. He confidently told me that God dwells inside everyone. With gentleness I replied, “Not in everyone. He dwells in hearts of believers.”
One boy saw the face of Jesus inside the Gate block. I have had others tell me this, but I hadn’t shared this with the students. By faith the boy saw what is commonly unseen.
Some classes, totally unprompted, applauded what God has done. I pointed out the hidden Lamb of God, they clapped.
When asking the students if the story of the Immanuel Quilt had taught them anything new about Jesus, nearly every student raised their hand in agreement it had.
It was such a rewarding day. I felt in the zone, doing exactly what God had designed me to do.
That evening I was a vendor and storyteller at the school’s holiday mart. My heart melted hearing parents say that picking their children up from school that day all they could talk about was the Immanuel Quilt. Students I had seen earlier in the day had brought their parents to see the Immanuel Quilt. What a blessing it was hearing them tell the story to their parents! It was a bonus to that learn a few students had asked for the book for Christmas.
The Immanuel Quilt is not necessarily a children’s book, yet there is evidence they want it. I think what they are really wanting is proof that God is real, He speaks, and that He is with them, and God is using the Immanuel Quilt to deliver these truths.
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. -Psalm 105:1
The purple thumb drive that stores almost all of the Immanuel Quilt Ministry files—died. The book manuscript, the photos of the quilt, the curriculum, the pattern, the Bingo game, the presentation notes, and the PowerPoint files were gone. And they were saved in no other place.
At the first inkling the thumb drive was about to die, Tom copied the files from the drive onto his work computer and also onto not one, but two, external hard drives. When copying the files, and seeing the folders had been copied we thought all was good. However, after the thumb drive died, and I went to retrieve my files from any of the three locations they had been copied, all that was there were EMPTY folders. It was one of those moments when you cry out to God and remind Him is in the restoration and redeeming business. He was the only hope for bringing the lost back.
I put the dead thumb drive into the computer and took the liberty to remind God that by His breath life is given. I asked that He allow the breath of His Spirit to well up in me, so that I could blow life back into the drive, at least long enough, to get the files secured on a brand new drive.
God heard my prayer and He answered. The thumb drive opened long enough for me to copy every file. Once the task was finished, the purple drive–died again. At that point, it didn’t matter. I was already shouting praises to the Lord for restoring the files back to me. But, the story doesn’t end here.
The following morning, when inserting the new thumb drive into the computer a message popped up on my screen telling me the drive was corrupted. I couldn’t even open the drive! Five-plus years of work gone in a flash—gone in a flash of a flash drive.
I called on my prayer warrior friends and asked them to join me in praying for a resurrection.
I blew into the dead thumb drive, as I had done the day before hoping that God would again bring it back to life. God again answered me with favor. We got it to open only on Tom’s work computer, where we saved every file, opening each to make sure it was saved. We not only copied the files to his work computer, but to his Cloud, two external hard drives, and to two thumb drives!
God retrieved that which was lost.
We prefer these types of incidents not to happen. However, I am grateful we have a God who hears and answers our prayers. That He is the One who rescues, restores, salvages, and revives the dead…with the breath of His Spirit.
The rescue, revival, and resurrection are to bring us back into the intimate presence of God. Hallelujah and Amen.
“The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” –Luke 19:10
The Immanuel Quilt is for Christians and non-Christians alike. If you think that God stopped speaking to His people long ago—You really need to rethink your beliefs.
God continues to speak to His children today—sometimes in crystal clear thoughts, sometimes in new revelations from His Word, sometimes from preachers—from teachers— from fellow Christians, and—in dreams—as is outlined in the book, The Immanuel Quilt.
Joni Wolf takes you on a journey discovering some of the many names and qualities of our Lord and Savior—Immanuel—that she received in a dream from God. Called out of her comfort zone in several areas, Joni proceeded to obey her Lord and one of the most beautiful, intricately detailed quilts was created—by His specifications— that tells once again, the old old story in a new and exciting way. Each precisely designed quilt block tells a part of His story and brings the reader into closer proximately with Jesus.
If you have the chance to hear Joni Wolf’s story in person, go!—It is an uplifting, unbelievable, and incredible story—and if you don’t have that opportunity, read her book—the next best thing! It is written in a format that draws the reader in. It educates, stimulates and creates the opportunity to feel the Holy Spirit at work.
Yes! God is still at work among His people. Don’t miss out on it! Experience The Immanuel Quilt by Joni Wolf. It truly is a true story of one Ordinary Woman, One Unique Quilt, and One Extraordinary God!
Marjorie E. Hopkins – Free lance writer and author of Dying to Meet Him – Wit and Wisdom from a Funeral Director Wife
When Ilene Tucker invited me to attend an event at Grace Baptist Church this past week, never would I have imagined what I was about to experience. She explained it was to be a talk by a lady about a quilt called Immanuel, meaning “God with us.” She even wrote a book about it. A book? What could one possibly write in a book about one quilt?
Joni Wolf is a friendly down-to-earth lady and from the start of her talk, I was captivated by what she was saying. The caption on the cover of her book, The Immanuel Quilt, calls it A True Story of One Ordinary Woman, One Unique Quilt, and One Extraordinary God.” And it was exactly that. As her story unfolded, I began to realize it was not just for quilters–it’s a story everyone should hear. Her faith in God and her love for God’s Word was borne in her obedience to follow His leading into the unchartered territory of designing and making a God-honoring quilt. She explained how God guided each step of her remarkable journey. She offers a real-life example of God’s clear leading in one’s life. It’s a story that gives God the glory. And it offers inspiration and challenge to each and every believer to be willingly used in service for God.
As Joni explained the intricacies of the quilt and the decisions involved with designing and making the quilt,
it was easy to understand why a book was necessary. The names of Jesus lining the outer edges of the quilt were painstakingly narrowed down to 30 from 300. The right fabrics with meaningful colors took time to select. Designs to depict each of the 30 names took careful thought. Each pattern had its own story, a reason to be included, in the making of the quilt.
Needless to say, I came home with her book. It’s a beautiful coffee-table worthy book filled with professional photographs in color by Cassandra Parkins of Inspired Studios. It’s also a Scripture-laden book with over 300 references spread throughout. The introduction is followed by six chapters. Chapter Five is titled “His Story” and, as you turn each page, you will read an individual explanation for each of the 30 names bordering the quilt. You will be encouraged, inspired, comforted, and blessed as you go through the names with accompanying Scripture for each one. You’ll even find God’s plan of salvation explained.
But there’s more. As you move to Chapter Six, “The Immanuel Sampler,” the names of Jesus are repeated to include a personal story for each name. As Joni says, “This chapter is intended to acquaint you with the ways God makes His presence known in our everyday, ordinary lives.” By the end of the book, Joni has achieved her purpose of pointing us to the One who is always with us…Immanuel.
The three days leading up to the Trader’s Point Christian School Holiday Mart, I was sick. I had signed the ministry up to be a vendor in hopes of getting the word out more about this unique ministry, and with the hopes of getting the attention of the school so that I might receive an invite to go and speak to the school body someday. There I was looking forward to going to my grandson’s school, and I was sick.
I prayed, asking the Lord to make me well, in time, if I was to go. Well, He made me well. By 1:00 a.m. the day of the event, all symptoms of sickness was gone. I was good to go!
My first visitor was nine year old Everly. Everly’s mother was a vendor, too, stationed not far from my booth. Everly came to say Hi, to check out my look-alike puppet I had setting on the table, and to find out what I was selling. I explained that I am a storyteller who tells the story of Jesus with a quilt and I told her how the Immanuel Quilt portrays many names of Jesus. I asked if she could tell me any Names of Jesus. I was impressed with her answers, Son of God, and Savior.
I told Everly how the Immanuel Quilt is like a puzzle. Like a trooper she matched Names of Jesus to their corresponding quilt blocks. She quickly identified the block with a cross representing Jesus’ Name, Savior. After playing the matching game she asked, “Do you know that Jesus is building me a mansion in heaven?”
Everly’s mother had spoken this truth to her daughter, yet Everly seemed pleased that I confirmed it’s true. She then said, “I wonder what my mansion will look like?”
I told Everly how God knows everything about her, knowing the things she likes and the things she dislikes. I said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if your mansion doesn’t include some of your favorite things.”
Her eyes lit with the excitment of a child about to tell Santa what they hope to receive on Christmas morning. “I really like dalmations!” I couldn’t help but grin. I said, “Everly, my friend, your mansion will not only probably have a dalmation, it may just have a hundred and one!”
My conversation with Everly was only the first of many incredible interactions that occured throughout the evening. My puppet look-alike was getting the attention of toddlers in strollers, young children, teens, parents, and grandparents and drawing them to the Immanuel Quilt Ministry booth. I lost count of the number of interactions, but Tom can confirm, there were many. All evening, to one person after another, I was telling people about Jesus. There were times when others passing by would catch wind of what I was saying, and stop to listen too.
One group of teens were trying to take a sneak selfie with the puppet. They giggled at being caught. I took the picture for them and then they allowed me to tell them the story of the quilt. They diligently tried finding the hidden images representing Names of Jesus.After spotting the Lamb of God, one said, “Now that I’ve seen it, I can’t unsee it.”
Isn’t this this the heart of God? That once we’ve seen Jesus–His love, His mercy, and His grace, we will never be able to unsee it.
This Christmas the greatest gift we can give is helping others see Jesus.
“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 12:2
