Talents

[abbiejean]

In scrolling through the various forums, threads, blogs and chat groups, I've noticed that many enjoy a talent or special ability.

Some sing. Some write songs. Some play instruments or write music to be played.

Others write.

Some draw or paint.

For the majority of people when you think of talent or ability, you think of the above.

Well, in my heart and in my way of thinking, God can use anything that we have as a talent or ability and bless it as a ministry or to encourage or to help someone else.

My other two threads - For Fun and For Fun Part 2, and bless those that read 'em and did answer, didn't get many responses. That's okay. I don't respond to everything on here either. Or maybe I was to respond back to what was posted. If so, oooppps. Sorry.

Am hoping that others will share what they enjoy doing for others, what they use or consider a God-given talent.

I sew. I bake. I write.

With my sewing I enjoy working with a sewing machine and serger. I sew garments, baby items, 18" doll clothes, items to personalize my home such as quilts, table runners, towels (those with the toppers) and many of these sorts of things have been given as gifts just because to say, "I care and Jesus Loves You."

I also enjoy handwork such as counted cross stitching, embroidery, crewel and have given items of this sort away as gifts.

I live in an apartment complex and I like to bake and cook for others.

With my writing, when the Lord lays it on my heart, I get a card and share a scripture or two and send it.

I know last night when I was looking through posts, I came across a member who had revamped a coat with her sewing skills. IT. WAS. BEAUTIFUL. What a talent. Was probably what got me to thinking about all this.

I've seen artwork. Read songs and poetry.

Who else does that sort of thing? Do any of you have a unique or really special talent/ability?

I am just posting this as a way to interact and share, to get to know some of you.

 

[Toska]

I took one of those tests to determine what my spiritual gifts are. My gifts are mercy and compassion. I am the person who always wants to help others. If someone seems lonely or out of place, I try to make them feel more comfortable. If someone needs help with something, I am the first to volunteer. My heart reaches out to those who are less fortunate than I am. When we have visitors at church, I am one of the first people to greet and welcome them. I want everyone to feel at ease wherever I am.

I am a high school teacher and I am drawn to the kids who seem to have the worst home lives. I pray every day that I can reach just one of those kids, help them see that they can break the cycle and have a better life. I have kids that are in gangs, are constantly moving because they have been evicted, have no relationship with either of their parents.....things like that. I try to do small things to let them know that I care and hope to build a relationship of trust with them.

I do not play a musical instrument, I cannot sing, I don't write poetry or novels or stories.

I also love counted cross stitch, it is so soothing to get lost in cross stitching. I am an avid reader, I read a variety of types of books.

I am also a card sender. If a particular person is on my mind, I will send them a card to let them know I am thinking about them.

I love to ride mountain bikes and go fishing with my husband. We live in a very beautiful area and being outside is glorious.

I spend a lot of time training my dogs. One is a Frisbee dog, she is amazing! She once made 20 catches in a row.......that is pretty good considering the wind and my bad throws The other dog likes to retrieve training dummies and catching tennis balls. She is hilarious, so clumsy sometimes. But, she never gives up and has made some amazing catches. My two girls bring a lot of joy to my life.

Thank you for the interest in what others like. I look forward to reading what others post so I can get to know them a little better.

 

[abbiejean]

Toska, woke up this morning thinking about this thread. Appreciate that you "visited" and shared. It's nice to get to know an individual from "tidbits" that they share about themselves in their posts. Allows one to see who they are. Helps to understand and see where they are coming from when they respond to various threads/posts.

I enjoyed teaching and loved working with students. Tutoring was my favorite though.

I don't play a musical instrument. My late (I so HATE that word, he was never late for anything) husband paid for piano lessons for me until he died of cancer. Never continued. I like instrumental music especially the piano, guitar and violin. I used to sing but since getting sick and have my voice change (or so it seems) I can no longer sing 1st soprano.

My walls here in my home are filled with framed cross stitch. I think I own about two or so pictures that I've bought to hang and decor. Have plans to make a quilt and window coverings. Want to make some table runners as well. Being that you enjoy counted cross stitch, do you have favorite designers? I do. Diane Graebner, Little House Needleworks, Paula Vaughan, Stoney Creek. I like working with 28ct evenweave, stitching 2 over 2. Use DMC but have started to use some overdyes such as GAST and WDW. Like working with beads and buttons with my cross stitch.

I love cards. Love getting them and I belong to an exchange where we are busy sending cards throughout the year. I like sending too. I could spend a whole afternoon in a card store, just reading the cards. LOL

I love to fish, used to hunt, love the mountains and large bodies of water such as a lake. My sister owns a 3 bedroom cabin in northern Minnesota and it is beautiful there. Twelve acres of timber. To see evidence of bear, wolves, fox, deer, moose and any other critter is nothing. Kind of neat actually. LOL I love songbirds too.

I like dogs. Have always wanted a male golden lab named Clancey. LOL A teacup Yorkie would be nice too. Just where I live, no dogs allowed. I own a kitty or rather, she owns me. LOL

Again, thank you for sharing.

Oh almost forgot, like reading what you've shared in many of your posts. I'm still learning "the ropes" of how to navigate this site. Sure seen and read some....hmmmm.... "interesting" things. LOL

 

[Toska]

I like threads like this. It gives us a chance to get to know each other a little better. I only wish more people would answer. It does help to have a little insight to people's likes and dislikes, their talents and abilities, to better understand the comments they make in various threads.

I am very sorry about your husband. You are so young to be a widow. I can understand you not keeping up with the lessons after he was gone. It would be a constant reminder of him and probably very hard on you to continue. If you don't mind me asking, what illness do you have that has caused you not to be able to sing any longer? If you don't want to answer, I understand completely.

I don't really have any favorite designers for counted cross stitch. I tend to choose what I am going to do based on the content. I love nature scenes and animal scenes. Two of my favorites that I have done are close ups of wolf eyes and tiger eyes. They are really beautiful. I have done ones with fish, deer, and ducks for my husband. I have made hand towels for just about every member of my family. I love to stitch dogs, too. Most of the things that I cross stitch are given to other people. I love to find the perfect thing to stitch for a person and then frame it and give it to them. (I did keep the eye ones that I mentioned, though)

I also love getting and giving cards. There is something so special about a person taking the time to write a note in a card and mail it. Especially in the technological society we live in today, most people send messages by e-mail or facebook or some other type of technology. A handwritten card really warms my heart.

Wildlife! I love sitting on my back porch and watching the wildlife. I am so fortunate to live in the country. I see deer all the time. Every year, we have baby deer. I love to watch them playing. We also have wild turkey, ducks, and geese that spend a lot of time on our property. I am also obsessed with hummingbirds. I cannot wait for spring so I can fill my feeders. I have 8 feeders right now and will probably add a couple more this year. There are days that I have over 20 hummingbirds buzzing around the feeders--that is beautiful to watch.

I am very fortunate to live less than 10 minutes away from one of the most beautiful lakes in the country. We spend a lot of time on the lake fishing. The lake is surrounded by national forest so people cannot build homes on the lake. I love the peace and quiet that surrounds us when we are on the lake. We can see and hear all of the wildlife.

I am thankful that you like some of the things I have posted. I know what you mean about seeing some interesting things being posted. I try to stay with the more positive threads. I don't want to get into and argument or debate with others. I want to enjoy the fellowship here without any stress.

God Bless, I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

 

[abbiejean]

Appreciate the kinds words regarding the death of my husband. He died in 2001. I've been in a committed relationship since that time, but I wish for a lack of better way to say it, I wish I knew what to do with "him." LOL I mean he's dead, my heart has healed from the grief and loss and I've moved on, but he was a good man (something I didn't have in my life prior to that and my dad wasn't exactly one to show or teach or be a mentor when it came to knowing how to "select" the "one." Don't get me wrong, I loved my dad and he gave me some wonderful lessons and taught me other things, but was lacking in that area.). If I say late husband, he wasn't late. If I say deceased that sounds so morbid. If I use his name seems like he's alive, he's not he's dead. For the little time we had together I was loved in a way few women ever experience. He was a godly man, loved God and showed it, lived it, taught it and yes, preached it. His love showed me the depth of God's love for the church. It was a real I Cor 13 type of love. For some to hear a former spouse talked about it would sound like the person hasn't moved on. I have, but what I want to keep in my heart is maybe, and it just now came to me as I am typing this, maybe it's his example. His love taught me - how to love and be loved. We had a lot of laughter and besides being man and wife we were friends. We had a deep intimacy with our communication. I miss that the most. I could say "babe, I'm scared" and he would just hold me and wait for me to tell him why I was scared. We didn't hide anything. What I saw was who he was. He could be himself and I was myself, no pretends. And in being real here, I long for that...again. Would probably fall over in a faint if it happened LOL but our lives are tapestries woven together with cords of God's love. Who knows. I sure don't. Mercy...did my fingers talk or what?? LOL

I have a few physical stuffs LOL that I "contend" with but God is healing and I praise Him for that. I have fibromyalgia and a condition called sleep apnea where I can stop breathing in the night. And have. One of the reasons I feel my kitty is a blessing is because she knows. Don't know how she does, but she does and she meows until I wake up and acknowledge her presence. With my voice, to be very honest, not sure what's happen. Doctors thought I had a mild stroke in 1997, but I haven't had anything since that time and it was around that time that I began to notice a change in my voice. I still sing. Poor Gracie, I put on worship music and sing along, but I am unable to reach the high notes like I could before. Again, don't know what happened. All I know is there's been a difference.

With my sewing/stitching I do the same - based on the content and especially the colors. I like things that give God the glory and in some way would touch the heart of the one reading it. To encourage or uplift.

Watching wildlife would be spectacular. Watching the songbirds is fun too. I had hummingbirds as well last spring. When I first saw them, thought they were dragonflies. LOL My sister wants me to visit her this spring at her cabin. Where I live, I see fields. Lots of them. When I'm out and about, I see herds of cattle, pigs or sheep. Some horses. Some chickens. I was raised in a small farming community and like small towns. Would love to live near the mountains. Love the mountains.

Enjoyed your post. I don't think I've turned off private messaging (still learning how to do stuff) as I have gotten emails. Feel free to email if you want.

Be blessed in Jesus

 

[Toska]

What a beautiful tribute to your husband who is waiting for you in heaven. It sounds like you had something very beautiful and rare in this day and age. You are definitely keeping his example alive. You are obviously a loving and caring woman, anyone who reads your posts can see that. Don't worry about your fingers talking so much. I enjoyed reading about your husband a lot. I know he is smiling down on you for being the person that you are.

Ugh, fibromyalgia. I feel for you. I have known a couple of people with that and they have told me the pain can be terrible. The sleep apnea is a scary thing. I am so grateful you have your kitty to take care of you. Animals are amazing to me, the way they know something is wrong with their human is wonderful. I am sorry about the change in your voice. I cannot sing for the life of me but, I don't care. I love singing my praises to God. I joke with my husband about feeling sorry for him having to listen to me sing at church but, he is really sweet about it. We joke about it but, he never belittles me for my terrible voice

 

[abbiejean]

Thank you, Toska for your last post. Appreciate the kind words.

Been thinking on a few things since I started this thread and to be honest don't think I will continue it. After my husband died I was alone for eight years and then was in a not so good relationship (was deceived by someone claiming to be a Christian but wasn't) that ended August 2012. I enjoy fellowship and meeting new people. I like to write and share from my heart.

You were kind to post, was hoping more would share. With my three threads that I started few responded. I guess my topics aren't interesting. I guess some aren't into sewing and books and cats. LOL Not sure if I will do other ones (threads).

Anyhow...just wanted you to know I read what you said.

The Lord bless you and those you hold close.

Abbie Jean

 

[Toska]

I am truly sorry that more people did not respond. I enjoy threads like this. Thank you for letting me know that you are not going to continue with it. I am glad that I got to know you a little better.

God Bless.

 

[BELIEVE]

Thank you, Toska for your last post. Appreciate the kind words.

Been thinking on a few things since I started this thread and to be honest don't think I will continue it. After my husband died I was alone for eight years and then was in a not so good relationship (was deceived by someone claiming to be a Christian but wasn't) that ended August 2012. I enjoy fellowship and meeting new people. I like to write and share from my heart.

You were kind to post, was hoping more would share. With my three threads that I started few responded. I guess my topics aren't interesting. I guess some aren't into sewing and books and cats. LOL Not sure if I will do other ones (threads).

Anyhow...just wanted you to know I read what you said.

The Lord bless you and those you hold close.

Abbie Jean

dearest sister abbiejean.

god bless and much love.

please don't stop starting or making new threads.

i just found this one... and i as well read your posts here along with toska.

it doesn't matter about how many come and post in your threads... look at it more that god is bringing those who wish to post with you and share from their hearts as our father protecting your heart and bringing love to your thread rather than the chaotic mess of attacks and im right you're wrong which benefits no one.

this on the other hand is a beautiful and loving welcome to all here on christian chat...

no fighting, no arguing, no this or that... just love and reaching out and sharing a piece of ourselves to our bigger family... our brothers and sisters in our lord jesus christ.

many blessings unto you dear sister abbiejean.

god bless and much love.

 

[abbiejean]

God bless you too, Toska.

Thank you, Believe. Appreciate what you shared.

 

[PopClick]

Abbiejean, what you wrote about your husband was beautiful. I really enjoyed seeing it, and I've enjoyed your other posts as well. It's great that you like to sew! What are you making now? What kind of sewing machine do you have?

I might be the one who made the coat you mentioned (it was black, white, and gray), but either way, I really do like sewing a lot. I've been sewing since I was 12 or so.

 

[abbiejean]

Yes it was you Popclick. I saw the coat you made and it's beautiful. Such a talent.

My mom didn't teach how to sew. I learned to machine sew in a required Home Economics class in junior high. I learned how to do handwork such as embroidery from my paternal grandmother who was a farmer's wife and would mail order her sewing supplies.

With my hand sewing I do counted cross stitching and currently have five projects I'm working. I rotate them as I tend to get bored working on the same one for a length of time. I work on one for while then I pick another one and work on that for a time. I have LOTS waiting to be done as in I have all the fabric, thread and charts ready to start a new one, but I want to finish one of my current ones before I start a new one. With my embroidery I have two different quilt block sets I am working on. One is a sunflower and the other is an iris. I have 13 of the 15 sunflower blocks done and 15 of the 30 iris blocks done. Once all the blocks are completed, I will make quilt tops and have someone long arm (machine quilt) quilt them for me. I also have a three piece crewel set I am working on. It is called Life is Fragile Handle With Prayer. The design has wildflowers and birds. Is very colorful.

With my machine sewing, I sew garments for myself, young children, babies and newborns. I also do 18" doll clothes and decorative items for my home such as quilts, towel toppers, table toppers, window coverings that sort of thing. Currently I am sewing little tooth fairy pillows for a woman who contacted me via my blog. She wants them done up for her grandchildren. With the doll clothes I make for five little girls. Three in Australia and two here in the states.

I, too, like you, enjoy working with color and designing. Enjoy taking a pattern and tweaking in various ways so the finish product is one I can say, "This is an Abbie original."

A few of the doll outfits I've sewn that my favorites so far.











Baby sleeper



Towel toppers

 

[abbiejean]

With handsewn work, some of my favorites thus far include

counted cross stitching...

 

[just_monicat]

beautiful!

 

[AgnusDei]

A truly handmade art that makes God's smile to increase more and more

 

[Toska]

Those are so beautiful. You are a very talented woman! I especially love the last 2 cross stitches that you shared with us although they are all excellent.

Thank you for sharing this with us.

 

[abbiejean]

Thank you just_monicat, AgnusDei and Toska.

PopClick, forgot to answer your question. I have a Viking sewing machine and serger. Expensive machines, but I saved my money and bought them one at a time. The sewing machine is computerized and has quite a few nice and very handy features. The serger is a four cone one and has two cutting blades. One comes down from the top, another comes up from the bottom. Have used alot of thread with the both of them. I sew with Mettler thread in my sewing machine and Maxi-lock thread in the serger.

I don't consider myself a pro with my sewing, as I am learning. Didn't do alot of machine sewing prior to 2011 it was only after my sister asked her to make doll clothes for her wee little nieces and sent me EVERYTHING (pattern, fabric, notions) to make the outfits did I start really spending quality time at my machines. When I sew, I have my christian music on, Gracie nearby, the blinds open at the windows so the sun streams in and I get totally lost and time pasts as I work on my sewing projects. Is very relaxing and dare I say, very therapeutic. My sister is a seamstress and I've been blessed by things she has made for me. She made me jumpers when I was student teaching that I would wear and the little ones would comment on such as hearts for valentine's day, shamrocks for st patricks day and so forth. She made me a lined fleece cape two years ago. She does period costuming. Think American Civil War or Victorian Era gowns. She has gift with her sewing. She can see something, get it in her mind and go into her sewing room and design it and sew it. She's good. Her and I are very close as sisters. Miss not being near her as in being in the same state or same city.

 

[just_monicat]

abbie, i wanted to say just how much i admire how you are "blooming where you are planted" -- to use your phrasing. i love that you are using your talents in a way that draws people back to Christ. the one craft that i really do love and have worked on quite a bit is calligraphy. i love the written word -- perhaps so much so that i love the art of writing it. i will have to take some pictures of some of my projects . specifically, i love writing calligraphy as a wall border, in cards of encouragement. my house has a few of those very embellishments. : )

i'm one of those people who has mediocre abilities in several crafting areas, and i am always so struck with admiration when i see someone who has truly taken whatever talent they were given and practiced to bring it to another level entirely. when i was in high school/college i was involved in a few small choral/choir groups, and was a decently good singer. i've also been involved in church choir, but honestly, it's not where my heart is.

you bringing up your singing and "poor grace" made me think of a story. ok, fast forward a few more years after college, and i was church hunting in a new city. one of the smaller churches i attended one sunday had a choir of about 20ish people who began performing. it was obvious that they weren't that good - ability/sound wise. a couple weeks later at the christmas production, i was almost horrified. several of their soloist were way off key, and gave new meaning to the word "pitchy". i remember being embarrassed for them.

several days later, i had been reminded of that christmas program, and i was really chastised by the Holy Spirit for my thoughts. "how can you sit in your pew and criticize men and women who are sacrificing their time and pouring out their hearts in worship and praise?" i remember feeling flushed with real embarrassment as i realized that if we all waited (or passed on opportunities to serve God) until we were "talented" enough for others to recognize our abilities, how many blessings and opportunities would we miss out on? as i was thinking back, i remembered how they all sang with such warmth and smiles. they weren't miserable. they were genuinely sharing what they had to give, regardless of the "size" of the offering.

it's a story that has kind of changed my life in several ways, because it was such an opportunity to reflect upon myself. i have always been really hard myself, someone who started out feeling like she had no choice but to measure up, overachieve, be the best. never fail. be worthy of love.

thankfully, God has humbled me in a number of ways that have broken me free from a lot of that. being single has probably taught me more in that area as well, to be content, to listen (and obey!) when He's told me that it's time to not date/pursue a relationship. and to be obedient and serve in ways that i'm not comfortable or necessarily feel "good enough" or qualified to do when i feel led by Him to do just that.

thank you for so freely sharing of yourself here. i really admire that.

 

[Toska]

@monicat, thank you for sharing that story. I find that when people share stories like yours, it makes me take a long look at myself and my thoughts.

I also attend a very small church, we don't even have enough people for a choir. We have a few people that have formed a "praise team" and they sing before the service each Sunday. As I watched the people who were singing, I was transported by the joy on their faces as they sang praises to Christ. We do not have the best singers at my church but, the amount of love that goes into each song they sing is so beautiful. I cannot sing at all, cannot carry a tune for the life of me. But, thanks to the people at my church, I have realized that God does not care about how I sound, He cares about the joy that singing His praises brings me. For the first time in my life, I am not self-conscious about singing in public--I actually enjoy it!

Sorry for going off on a crazy tangent, your story made me think about how much I have changed in regards to singing in public. I still won't get up and sing a solo, I would not want to cause my church family pain by listening to my voice

God is so good, He makes me see that I do not have to be the best, He only wants the best that I can give Him.

 

[blueorchidjd]

I like to write poetry, take photographs, and make people laugh. clown school was pretty awesome