Patches of Grace

The Good Shepherd Quilt

Like people, every quilt has a story to tell.

The original Good Shepherd quilt features a large panel of Jesus, the Good Shepherd in the center, surrounded by smaller blocks depicting religious symbols and Relevant Bible stories. It was created by Lisa Brady and Sheryl Shenk, members of the Springdale Mennonite Church in Waynesboro, Virginia, where it is permanently on display.

Several years ago a group of Mennonite women in Iowa created a second quilt using the same pattern which now travels to various Mennonite relief sales as a symbol of God’s love for the children of this world. This quilt is not for sale, but is being used to raise donations to help children who have been abandoned or abused, as well as those who have lost their families to HIV/Aids or are refugees. The clothes, housing and education these funds provide help many of these children to experience a new beginning in their lives.

This second quilt not only leaves a mark on the hearts of those who see it on tour, it deeply affected those who created it. Let me share its story:

Two women appliquéd the quilt while a third hand-quilted the entire piece afterwards. One of the women who worked on the appliqué was an 84 year old woman who was not a Christian. As she appliquéd the various blocks depicting Bible stories around the border, her heart warmed to the Gospel. Sometime later, she became ill. As the woman lay dying, she spoke of how the message of God’s awesome love became real to her as she stitched the appliquéd border of the quilt. Shortly afterward, the Good Shepherd came and led her home with a smile on her face.

It’s not surprising that this particular quilt design should have such a profound influence on its creators. This theme of Jesus our Good Shepherd has inspired paintings, creations in other art mediums, even stories and dramas through the years.

In His teachings, Jesus took a universally known illustration of a shepherd and the sheep, likening it to His relationship with His followers. He is portrayed as the shepherd who leaves 99 sheep in safety and traipses all over the wilderness seeking out the one who is lost so it may rejoin the others in safety (Parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15:3-7*).

In Psalm 23, He is the shepherd-provider who leads his sheep to green pastures where they find ample food and quiet streams where they can drink without fear. His staff is pictured as a disciplinary tool that lets the sheep know they are cared for as they walk the steep paths and in shadowy places.

Jesus calls Himself the “Good Shepherd” who lays down his life for the sheep in John 10:10. He isn’t a part-timer who gets paid to do a job; rather his sheep are his life. He will do whatever it takes to protect them. At night He sits in the doorway to the fold so no harmful thing can get in and none of the sheep can wander off into the darkness.

Shepherds are an important thread running through the fabric of Christ’s life. Even at His birth, the angels appeared to the shepherds on a Bethlehem hillside to tell of the coming of the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.

With the ever-present turmoil in our world, the peace, provision and protection generated by this illustration have immense power to draw hurting and seeking hearts. People desperately long to feel safe, protected and loved.

You don’t need to create an appliquéd quilt block to experience His loving care. The Good Shepherd is always available. Simply call out to Him and He will find you, carrying you home in His loving arms.

* All Scriptures from the New International Version

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Servant Or Slave?

“If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it,” quipped the church lady as she launched into her litany of things she thought the church ought to do.

Outwardly I smiled and nodded my head. Inwardly, I seethed with anger as I inventoried the overworked and under appreciated volunteers in the church who might be able to do her bidding. No, there wasn’t anyone who could take on those jobs. At that point my type “M” (Martha) personality kicked in and I added the items to my own to-do list because I didn’t want her to be offended.

Though I smiled at the woman in the sanctuary, I morphed into the Wicked Witch of the West as I arrived home, taking out my frustrations on my husband and children. Without realizing it, I had somehow become a slave to ministry, rather than a servant of Christ.

What was the difference between the two? Attitude!

Let’s take a moment to look at the process of becoming a slave. Scripture gives us a powerful example in the books of Genesis and Exodus. Joseph, the second youngest of 12 brothers received a dream that he would one day become ruler over his parents and brothers. Because of his position in the family, it was highly unlikely, but in his childish pride, Joseph bragged about it to his family. His brothers became jealous and eventually sold him into slavery to rid themselves of this threat to their inheritances.

Though Joseph lived in bondage in Egypt, he never succumbed to the slavery mentality of hopeless defeat. He kept his attitudes and outlook centered on God, his deliverer. Through a series of God-ordained events, he exchanged his slave’s rags for a ruler’s signet ring, becoming second only to Pharaoh himself.

With his brothers, it was another story. When famine ravaged the land of Canaan, Joseph’s family came to Egypt seeking help. The entire family eventually moved into the land of Goshen in Egypt, relying on Joseph to provide for them. Rather than returning to Canaan once the famine was over, they chose to remain in Egypt, still basking in the good graces of the rulers.

However, in the years following the death of Joseph, the new Egyptian leadership viewed these Israelites as a threat. They were forced to work for food and shelter becoming a source of free labor to build the great cities of the Pharaohs. As hatred against the Israelites mounted, the workload increased as well as the harshness of the punishment if they refused. Over the years, Israel’s spirit was broken by servitude. They developed a slavery mentality – living a life of fear, punishment and death which caused a hopeless dependence on the Egyptians for their meager existence.

Consider the life of forced service. There is no freedom of choice as their actions are dictated by the needs or whims of others. They receive no payment for their services other than the barest necessities to keep them alive. They lose their dignity and worth as a person – they are a disposable commodity, rather than valued human lives. Fear, anger, rebellion and bitterness eventually give way to an all consuming hopelessness.

Paul paints a slightly different picture of service in Philippians 2:5-8 ^“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (NIV)

Being Christ-like in our service is nothing like the forced servitude of slavery. Christ was humble and obedient – He worked hard at difficult tasks and even died, but it wasn’t out of hopelessness or fear of punishment. The difference was His deliberate, loving choice to do it!

Paul admonished us as Christians to be servants like Christ – to give our all willingly – even if it’s difficult; even when there are few rewards. Learning to think differently about serving others hasn’t been easy. I was conditioned to be silent and compliant; to please people at any cost because of difficult experiences early in my life. Those characteristics were reinforced by hurtful experiences in ministry. My slave mentality led to increasingly difficult episodes of mental and emotional burn out.

Ultimately, there came a time when I had to step aside from all leadership positions in ministry to rest and regain my focus. Christ brought me to the bottom of my barrel so I had to look up at Him. That’s when He taught me how to really serve others without being a slave to that service.

1. I must make a prayerful choice to serve. Just because something needs to be done doesn’t mean I’m the one that has to do it. He taught me to choose my involvements wisely, examining my abilities, time and motives before accepting any positions or responsibilities.

God is the giver of my abilities – it only makes sense that He intends me to use them rather than stressing out because I’m doing things I’m not equipped to do. If He asks me to do something new, I usually find He has already begun giving me the skills I need – He just has to bolster my confidence.

I must always pray about my involvement. Perhaps God really wants Mrs. Good Intentions to start the visitation ministry she suggested – but maybe she needs my encouragement and not my hands.

2. I must count the cost before blindly agreeing to take on more responsibility. Everything in life has a price tag – but not always a monetary cost. Many things require our time or talents. I need to assess each situation and answer the question - can I afford the cost? Am I willing to give what is required?

If I feel God does want me to do something that will require a big investment of time, money or talent, knowing what I may run into ahead of time allows me to plan better. Preparation eases my anxieties about it. Knowing I have willingly chosen to do it makes a world of difference in my attitude.

3. I must be alert for opportunities to serve by looking at life through Christ’s eyes. When I’m busy slaving over those old people-pleasing activities, my spiritual and emotional energy is depleted by anger, frustration and bitterness. I drift farther and farther away from the sound of His voice until I feel depressed and disillusioned – drowning in ”busyness.”

By making a strong relationship with Him my top priority, I’m learning to recognize the God-given opportunities for service that come across my path. I’m happier and healthier in my mind and heart when I’m doing what He wants me to do because He knows what I can handle. He’ll never ask more of me than I am able to give. When the jobs He gives me are difficult – He’s ALWAYS there to help and encourage, pulling together with me rather than cracking the whip at my heels.

I’ve learned the value of servanthood – I’m far happier when I’m doing things for the Lord. But thankfully, He’s working to help me cast off my slave mentality which saps me of my energy and drive.

Take some time today to look at the things you’re doing. Do you frequently complain about “having to do” certain things or too many things? Are you bitter or angry because no one else is doing anything? Perhaps it’s a sign that you’ve slipped into a slave mentality which is robbing you of the joy Jesus intended you to have in our service to Him.

Father, thank you for the joy of serving You. When I’m tempted to complain or feeling overwhelmed, help me take the time I need at Your feet to examine my heart. Give me the courage to cast off the chains of slavery which drain me of my life and my love for others. Help me always to serve You with a willing heart! Amen.

indianabon@juno.com