Brightly Burns The Flame!

February 20, 2016 9:04 pm Published by 10 Comments

 

“With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.”
William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

Birthday-Candles-Wallpaper-HDHow do you feel about birthdays? Birthdays don’t bother me like they do some people. I see them as a time to reflect on the past year, to gain a perspective on where I’ve been so I know where I am going.

I just celebrated a birthday. I am now 78 years old, and as I look to the future, I thought I might first share some of my reflections on my 77th year, in no particular order. It was a good one!

One of the highlights was certainly visiting Turkey. My daughter, Heidi, and her husband, Anthony, are there, along with my grandson, Nathanial, learning the language and looking for ways to reach out to the local people.

In the early days of Christianity, the land we now call Turkey was a center of growth for the new religion. Places such as Antioch, Tarsus (the birthplace of Paul) and Ephesus (the subject of the Book of Ephesians) are located in what is now Turkey, but today most of that land is Muslim, and Christians are a tiny minority.

Heidi and Anthony showed me around where they live, and we spent several days taking in some of the amazing sights in Turkey, including an ancient underground city, and some amazing geological formations.

IMG-20151008-WA0070They also took me on a hot air balloon ride, something I had never done before. A hot air balloon ride may not seem very unusual, but this was quite a unique situation. You see, every morning as many as one hundred balloons all take off from the same location and at the same time, and the sight is breathtaking.

bali sochiWhile I was there, I was able to give them a gift for little Nathanial. I had made a Pooh Bear quilt for him, which they loved. It was one of three quilts I completed in 2015.

The second quilt I completed was for another grandson, Bishop. He graduated from high school in June, and I was able to present him with a When Bali Met Sochi design quilt. He had picked the colors for the quilt, and it turned out to be a very brightly colored piece.

Isaac and Lauren quiltThe last quilt was made for still another grandson, Isaac and his new wife, Lauren, on the occasion of their wedding. Their quilt was a Double Wedding Ring design, and it was also beautiful, but in a very different way. I am very proud of those quilts, and I know they will be well loved and greatly appreciated.

Isaac and LaurenAlong with Isaac and Lauren’s wedding in the summer, I also enjoyed a visit from some of my husband’s family from Germany. Ulrich, a cousin to my children, and his daughter, Anna, were here for a couple of weeks. They saw some of the sights on their own, but I was also able to spend some time with them, along with my daughter Dietlinde and her husband, Matthew. It was a wonderful blessing to get to know them.

D3X_1772This past year my youngest son, Kurt, decided to start learning the piano again. He has always had a certain gift for music, and his progress so far has been impressive. I realized that, if I wasn’t careful, he might become better at the piano than I am. I have taken this as an opportunity to polish up my own skill with the piano. I have played piano most of my life, but not very much in the last few years. Kurt has challenged me, and I am happy to take up the challenge.

I often take part in speaking tours organized by Wycliffe Associates, a branch of Wycliffe Bible Translators, whose task it is to raise awareness of, and support for, Bible translation around the world. It is always a blessing to be able to speak about Bible translation. While on tour with Wycliffe Associates in Arizona, I was able to travel with an amazing and very talented couple, Niah and Allisha Merrill, for two weeks. They use music and drama to spread the Good News. Check out their website here It was great fun to get to know them.

Grace Arizona WA 3 togetherWherever I get to speak, whether it’s with Wycliffe Associates in Arizona, or at Stonecroft not far from my home, I am always thrilled to see how people respond to my Gospel presentation and my personal story. After one of the Stonecroft events I spoke at, a woman approached me. She had been moved by my presentation, and told me about a friend of hers. This friend had heard the Gospel, but she didn’t understand it. The two women had come to the Stonecroft event where I had just spoken, and this friend had heard me speak using an illustration of God’s love for us, and a dirty rag that separates us from Him. The friend had finally understood what the Gospel was all about, and I was blessed to have been a part of it. They were both so excited, and so was I of course. What more could I ask for? If only one person finds peace in Jesus through what I do, then it is worth the effort!

This past year has been a busy one, to be sure. I was offered more opportunities to speak and teach than I could accept. As it was, I still managed to teach in Pennsylvania, New York, Arizona, New Jersey, Delaware, Florida and Massachusetts. The Lord has trusted me with these opportunities, and it is my honor to do His work.

Where will I end up in my 78th year? Stay tuned!

Tags: , , ,
Categorised in: ,
This post was written by Grace Fabian

10 Comments

  • Kathie McCall says:

    I always love your blog Grace. You inspire me to do more.

  • Nadia says:

    You are so amazing Grace, love you! Hope I will be able to write up as many things going on in my life when I get to 78! Love that colourful quilt! Love ND

  • Adeline Moore Knorr says:

    I always enjoy your inspiring letters.
    Thanks for showing us the quilts- If you can make 3
    in a year, (plus ALL the speaking responsibilities!!!!) I’d
    better finish the 2 that I started several years ago!
    Keeping you in my prayers,
    Adeline

    • Grace Fabian says:

      Wonderful to hear from you! I hope that blog doesn’t pressure anyone. God has gifted me with energy and good health, and until He says otherwise, I’ll keep busy.
      Be well!
      Grace

  • Joanna Johnson says:

    Grace, it’s always a blessing to read your writings. Your quilts are beautiful, especially the colorful one for Bishop. What treasures for your family. I’m excited to have ordered some of your note cards. Intend to frame a couple. Praying you are doing well. When you come our way, you are always welcome here. 🙂 Joanna

    • Grace Fabian says:

      Thank you for your kind words. I have lots of travel plans for 2016, so I might get out your way. As long as He gives me the strength to do this, I will.
      God Bless!
      Grace

  • Jody Wilson says:

    Hi Grace, this is Jody Wilson. I sometimes don’t get around to reading your blogs as I am on email so much. But tonight as I was resting I has been catching up on all the great reading! I read the one about Jessie. I love so much what she said about relinquishing her dreams to a loving and caring God. And I love what she said about being a pretty woman. I have a couple of gals that I am launching or have been launched who would be very encouraged to read what she said. May I share it with them? This will be such an encouragement to them. Any chance that your travels in 2016 will include some out by the Pacific Ocean, particularly in the northwest? John and I would be so thankful to host you again. God bless you.

    • Grace Fabian says:

      Hello! I am glad you like my blogs. All of my blogs are public, so please, share them with anyone you think might benefit. I don’t know at this time if I will make it out your way this year. I have an international trip this summer, but nothing out your way yet.
      Check my calendar here on the website from time to time. As my schedule evolves, those events are listed.
      Bye!

Leave a Reply to Adeline Moore Knorr Cancel reply

Grace Fabian
%d bloggers like this: