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Joni@ImmanuelQuiltMinistry.com

Wonderfully Made

Wonderfully Made

Jul 2, 2024 | IQM Journey

July 1, 2024

Wonderfully Made

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!

NOTE* Click here to listen to Wonderfully Made audio message.

 

 

 

 

Lost Keys

Lost Keys

Feb 13, 2024 | IQM Journey

 

4.13.16 Northern Indiana

ROAD TRIP

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.

Traders Point School

Traders Point School

Dec 7, 2023 | IQM Journey

God is Good!

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

Want to see a video of me speaking at the school? Check it out here.

Holiday Mart

Holiday Mart

Dec 1, 2022 | IQM Journey

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

Weak and Weary

Weak and Weary

Oct 19, 2022 | IQM Journey, Musing

One a weekend I was scheduled to speak, Tom and I had the three youngest grandkids staying with us. While I would be speaking, Tom would be watching the kids– without me.

The moring of the event, chaos and busyness of trying to do all that I could before leaving the house, I had all of twenty minutes to get myself ready. My morning was rushed and void of quiet time with the Lord, and I was running on four hours of sleep. Weary and worn, I felt inadequately equipped to go and serve the Lord. Saying a quick prayer, I asked the Lord to carry me through.

Five-year-old Grayson asked where I was going. Telling him that I was going to a church to tell women about Jesus, I asked what he thought I should tell the ladies. He said, “Tell them Jesus loves them. That He loves them so much that He died on a cross for their sins. But that He is not dead now. He lives in heaven with His Father and, someday He is going to come back for them to take them there to live with Him and His Father.”

Though I had no quiet time to spend with the Lord, through the lips of my grandson, God spoke.

I gave the message Grayson told me to give, and taking his advice to have a puppet sing, Grandma Puppet sang, This Little Light of Mine. 

A high school sophomore told me she loved the story that I shared.

The trend continues of God showing His hand at work in the youth.

Later thanking God for carrying me through, I heard him whisper, “I always do.”
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Char-broiled Burgers

Char-broiled Burgers

Oct 11, 2022 | IQM Journey, Vision

During a trip to speak to a women’s group, Tom and I incorporated into it a mini vacation to Branson Sight and Sound Theatre to see Jesus. The opening scene started at the Sea of Galilee and looked very much like what Tom and I saw when we ourselves stood on the Sea of Galilee.

Before leaving home, I began praying that the words I speak be words given me by the Holy Spirit. The night before we were to leave I was given a vision while I slept. I believe it was a vision was from God showing that He would honor my request. As I explain the events that unfolded over the course of the week, I’ll let you determine if He did.

In my vision, I saw a burger cooking on a griddle over an old cast-iron cook stove. While it was still cooking the griddle was pulled out from under the burger, as if by some invisible hand, and the burger flipped up and over onto the open flame. End of vision.

The event for which I was going to speak, the theme was Jesus, the Thread of Time. Jesus is the Ancient of Days. The antique cast-iron stove represented God, the Ancient of Days!

Scripture refers to the Word of God as solid food good  for the soul. I was going to deliver the Word of God. The burger represented the Word of God, solid meat.

My words would not fall flat (flat griddle), but that He (the arm of the Invisible God) would flip them so that they would be char-broiled (open flame) Words from the Spirit.

To fifty people at the Concordia Lutheran Church Women’s Ministry League dinner, I told His Story in a unique quilt. The comments I received was thanks for speaking of the Holy Spirit.

The next morning at our hotel, one of the workers was outside on his break while we were loading our luggage back into the truck.  The young man, who looked to still be in his twenties asked where we were from, and where we were heading. When I told him I am a speaker and was in town for an engagement the previous night, he asked what I speak about. I told him about this traveling ministry of  which he said, “Oh, man! God just keeps doing this to me!”

I learned Ryan is a believer. He and his friends get together every week to pray. He said he would be praying for the Immanuel Quilt Ministry. What Ryan meant by his comment is that God keeps putting people in his path who have ministries. God placed me there in his presence for the Spirit to iniate a conversation and affirm for Ryan that he is being called into ministry!

At the Sight and Sound theatre, an unexpected opportunity arose for me to talk about Jesus with my elbow neighbor seated next to me. The tall Texan and his wife while waiting on the show to begin, passed the time by looking at one of the postcards of the Immanuel Quilt and trying to figure out which Names of Jesus the blocks represent. Jesus was playing before the show began.

On Saturday I had a booth at a craft fair where to several folks I spoke about Jesus sharing tidbits of the Immanuel Quilt story. To a veteran, the Faithful and True tugged at his heart. To another, the border of the quilt spoke Jesus’ Name, Banner. To another the Name, Dwelling Place resonated great reverance for the Lord. One after another, the Spirit was speaking to individuals through the Immanuel Quilt.

It seemed everywhere I went last week I was seeing the hand of God at work.

As uplifting as it was to witness all these encounters, what brought me the most joy was meeting two girls who separately came to the craft fair.

The first was a fourteen-year-old who showed maturity beyond her years in her walk with the Lord. She just kept coming back to the booth to hear more of the Immanuel Quilt story. In the end, she purchased a book for her brother telling me that she knew it would help him draw closer to Jesus. She already hears God speaking to her, and he is telling her she will have–a ministry!

The other girl was around five or six years old. I had Grandma Puppet with me and when I saw her approaching, I put the puppet on my arm. As she got closer to me Grandma Puppet spoke to her and said, “Hi! What’s your name?”  The bright-eyed girl engaged in a conversation with the puppet. Grandma Puppet sang Jesus Loves Me for her.  The girl shouted, “Sing it again!” I asked the girl to sing along with the puppet, but she said she didn’t know the song. So, using my raw ventriloquism talents I started another round of Jesus Loves Me, and to the girl’s surprise and mine, her mother and grandmother joined the puppet in singing the song! With much delight the girl one more time said,  “Sing it again!”

Though I no longer blog the journey, I couldn’t wait to tell you << Test First Name >> about all these encounters of God at work. There is hope for the future! There are people hungry for the Lord and a young generation who is excited to sing His praises!

Thank God for char-broiled burgers!