In need of Mercy

“All The People Said Amen” Matt Maher

You are not alone if you are lonely
When you feel afraid, you’re not the only
We are all the same in need of mercy
To be forgiven and be free
It’s all you got to lean on
But thank God it’s all you need

And all the people said Amen, whoa oh
And all the people said Amen
Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends
And all the people said Amen

If you’re rich or poor, well it don’t matter
Weak or strong, you know love is what we’re after
We’re all broken but we’re all in this together
God knows we stumble and fall
And He so loved the world He sent His son to save us all

And all the people said Amen, whoa oh
And all the people said Amen
Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends
And all the people said Amen

Blessed are
The poor in spirit who are torn apart
Blessed are
The persecuted and the pure in heart
Blessed are
The people hungry for another start
For this is the Kingdom
The Kingdom of God

And all the people said Amen, whoa oh
And all the people said Amen
Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends
And all the people said Amen (yeah)

And all the people said Amen, whoa oh
And all the people said Amen
Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends
And all the people said Amen
And all the people said Amen

“We are all the same in need of mercy
To be forgiven and be free”

So I’m driving home alternately listening to the radio and enjoying the autumnal color. I tune into the radio to pay attention to the driving and then all that gorgeous color. And by gorgeous I mean well, everyone has their definition of gorgeous. The colors are a bit subdued this year perhaps because of a lack of water? Perhaps because they’re early? Perhaps because we’re in for a particularly cold winter? Who knows. Okay I’m sure someone does, I’ve heard different theories but it’s different and lovely.

In one of those tune in and concentrate (look color) moments I heard Matt singing that part of the song and I tuned into my heart. Over the last few days I’ve been praying for wisdom. Over the last year as I’ve pondered various things that prayer for wisdom has been present for so many reasons. I have to be very careful that the pondering doesn’t become negative thinking; thinking that God has abandoned or is not listening to my prayer. I need to trust that there is some reason.

As I drove home today it kinda became clear – some of what I’ve been thinking and praying about. Some of the moments that have been fresh in my mind for a while like little vignettes in a movie telling some back story to whatever is going on now.

And then I tuned into this:

Weak or strong, you know love is what we’re after
We’re all broken but we’re all in this together
God knows we stumble and fall
And He so loved the world He sent His son to save us all

Reminders. Gentle, loving reminders that things aren’t always what they seem.

I’m working on a quilt right now and have been worried about stitching my current angst in there and then I realized this is partly why I quilt. To have time to think and pray and work through these things. Whatever I’m quilting has stories and memories for me that will always be there but will not necessarily be evident to the viewer. I forget that. It’s the clearest in Moon Over Manhattan – this needed to be a special quilt. I poured all of my best skills into that quilt. I poured my heart into that quilt. When it was rejected from the show I hoped it would be in it was hard. Instead of ending my quilting journey there I’ve kept going. Working on improving skill.  Not worrying so much if I’m an “artist” just trying to hone this God-given skill in quilt making.
I’ve embraced that moment as essential to my journey as a quilter. It was a growing moment beyond because I didn’t give up. Growing moments happen sometimes in ways we weren’t expecting. I’m embracing this moment as essential to my growth as a quilter.

Love. Forgive. Breathe. Pray. Quilt.

God bless!

Teri