Names of Jesus Quilt Top

In December of 2007 I was priviledged to come across the wonderful quilt group, Quilting the Names of Jesus, while searching for faith-based quilting groups on yahoo. I of course joined the group. After all, I only needed the pattern, the study guide book, and oh yes, fabric!

By mid-January 2008 I had purchased the pattern booklet for The Names of Jesus Quilt from Patterns of Faith, and bought the study guide book, Praying the Names of Jesus, by Ann Spangler from a local Christian bookstore. I decided I would just use fabric from my way out of control fabric stash. I was ready to start, on time I might add, on what was to become the most awesome quilting and Bible study journey I have ever done.

Each quilt block represents a different Name of Jesus. The names range from the very common, like Child or Friend to the more glorifying, like King of Kings or The Great I Am. Which brings up my fabric, remember I was going to use from stash...well my fabric stash includes the very common fabrics like you can purchase at Walmart to the more expensive that comes from high quality quilt shops.

Each week we studied a different name of Jesus and made the corresponding quilt block for that name. With each week that passed, my relationship with Jesus grew and grew, as well as my understanding of Him.

For some reason, that I can't remember now, I decided to keep a journal to go along with this quilt/study. And I am so glad I did. During this study I drew so close to the Lord, and learned so very much about the meaning of the different names given Jesus in the Bible. My hope is that my children & grandchildren will read my journal and look at the quilt, and get to know me in a different and deeper way, just as I got to know Jesus in a different and deeper way through the study. And maybe, just maybe it can help them to draw closer to Jesus, too. I must say that this journey, and it was a journey, has had a major impact on me and my life, as well as the way I look at life, and hopefully it will have the same impact on all that read my journal, or those that take the journey themselves.

As a group we shared so many things: Joys, sorrows, prayer, recipes, helpful quilting hints, and wonderful fellowship. I think we all grew by leaps and bounds, I know I did.

I am now carefully deciding on what kind of border(s) to finish my quilt with, I do not want anything that will take away from the blocks themselves. And then, of course, there will be the decision on the quilting pattern to be used.

The moderator, Karen H, of the group was so kind, helpful, and caring. I cannot thank her enough for her time and her efforts. Without her I would have never gotten this quilt to the point it is today. I truly hope she realizes the impact her ministry, through this quilt group, has on the members. I know she will be blessed for her following through on this calling.

Though this journey is not yet complete, I am so very thankful that I started it, and I can not wait to finish the quilt. Can you imagine laying under a quilt, and being covered with 30 Names of Jesus. How Awesome will that be?