I had two separate but similar dreams. Both related to me conducting workshops and teaching women how to make blocks portrayed in the Immanuel Quilt.
Since the inception of the Immanuel Quilt, women have asked for the pattern. After receiving these dreams and reflecting, I saw that over the last year, my response had changed from, “It’s a unique pattern,” to “If God wants me to make the pattern available, He will let me know.”
Participating in an online Virtual Quilt Show, he sent me a person with the know-how and the willing desire to help make it happen. Corrine Hewitt, a Canadian quilt store owner, quilt pattern designer, and fellow author.
Corrine has created and published 18 quilt patterns. And, she volunteered to help me turn the Immanuel Quilt into a pattern! God sent me a person with the knowledge and know-how just as I had asked.
The day after speaking with Hewitt, another Canadian quilt store owner visiting the VQS bought my book. Since shipping was going to cost $34, I called to confirm if she still wanted the book. She chose to cancel the order but not before admitting she was purchasing the book to host a workshop on making it.
The following morning, I woke with the word “Imitate” in my thoughts. Imitate. Twice, in the making of the Immanuel Quilt God delivered one-word riddles to me, messages from God for me to discern.
The Bible tells us to imitate, or pattern, our life after Jesus.
With each of the previous one-word riddles, another sign from God followed. With the name Immanuel, He put the handwriting on the wall. With the word, invisible, He took me to Scripture to show me why He wanted the quilt stitched in invisible thread. “So, Lord,” I prayed, “Please, just one more sign to confirm this is Your will.”’ That very afternoon, I received an email asking what workshops I offer.
The message came from a woman who had visited the Virtual Quilt Show. She had watched the video I had submitted and, as the program director of a quilt guild, she reached out to see about me doing a workshop for her guild. I called to tell her I offer no workshops, but, that her email came timely to confirm a decision I had been wrestling with. I shared with her all that I have just shared here. She said, “Honey, I am the wife of an Army Chaplain. I know how God speaks and I don’t think He can speak any clearer. He is opening this door for you so that you may share the message of the quilt, the gospel, to an all-new audience.”.
God’s plan for me to participate in the Virtual Quilt Show was to show me the next step to take with the ministry. He wants to do something new with the Immanuel Quilt to reach more people.
The Immanuel Quilt is only another beautiful quilt without the story, right? With that in mind, no pattern will be sold without the book. In addition to the book, the instructions for each block is going to include a devotional on the Name of Jesus the blocks portray.
I hope this news excites you and inspires you to think about what new ideas, opportunities, and perspectives God might be trying to give you. May you be blessed as you seek, and learn, and carry out His plans for you.