Winters in Maine...
You can usually find a partially completed
1000 piece puzzle sitting on a bulletin board
on a table somewhere in our home...
 |
| The border was really tricky on this one! |
When anyone has a moment
during the day
They will stop and add piece here or there...
Even neighbors, friends, and family
help out for a moment
when they happen by...
Even neighbors, friends, and family
help out for a moment
when they happen by...
 |
| This scene depicts a little town near us long ago... |
Sometimes, in the evenings,
Several of us will work on one
Over a bowl of popcorn and a cup of hot cocoa!
We often get our puzzles
from thrift stores or yard sales
Or from friends who also enjoy the challenge
And will pass along a puzzle when completed...
I have learned that it is most helpful
To have a picture of the completed puzzle...
I remember once when we received
a 1000 piece puzzle in a ziploc bag
With no picture!
Puzzles are a great teaching tool...
They cause you to pay attention to detail...
They require patience and concentration...
They give satisfaction when finished
for a job well done...
But being "puzzled" or "perplexed"
can be quite a different matter...
In 2 Corinthians 4:8,
Paul speaks of being puzzled...
"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair; "
The greek word translated "perplexed"
is aporeo which means
"to be at a loss or stand in doubt"...
We often get our puzzles
from thrift stores or yard sales
Or from friends who also enjoy the challenge
And will pass along a puzzle when completed...
I have learned that it is most helpful
To have a picture of the completed puzzle...
I remember once when we received
a 1000 piece puzzle in a ziploc bag
With no picture!
Puzzles are a great teaching tool...
They cause you to pay attention to detail...
They require patience and concentration...
They give satisfaction when finished
for a job well done...
 |
| We just started a new one... I am such a creature of habit! First, I have to turn over all the pieces... then find all the edge pieces and the 4 corners... |
But being "puzzled" or "perplexed"
can be quite a different matter...
In 2 Corinthians 4:8,
Paul speaks of being puzzled...
"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair; "
The greek word translated "perplexed"
is aporeo which means
"to be at a loss or stand in doubt"...
Paul was sharing with the Corinthians that
although they were preaching the gospel
without deceit or for personal recognition,
he and his companions were still persecuted.
Nevertheless, they persevered, in spite of the suffering,
because they knew that their suffering
would reveal the power of Christ's resurrection,
and the power of grace,
in and from the living Jesus.
in and from the living Jesus.
Knowing this, Paul and his companions
could face uncertainties with confidence and hope.
’Paul wanted them to see that they
could have help in God,
and help from God,
and have the freedom of access to God...
especially in the troubling times.
My prayer is that we,
when faced with a puzzling situation,
will not despair...
But will turn to the One
Who knows where all the pieces fit...
And can see the completed picture.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our affliction
so that we will be able to comfort those
who are in any affliction with the comfort
with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance,
so also our comfort is abundant through Christ."
2 Corinthians 1: 3-5
who comforts us in all our affliction
so that we will be able to comfort those
who are in any affliction with the comfort
with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance,
so also our comfort is abundant through Christ."
2 Corinthians 1: 3-5
Only Our Lord knows where ALL the pieces go...we don't and I can share with you Laura, that I am glad. So many times I have seen the hand of Our Lord at work after the trial is over.
ReplyDeleteThose are wonderful lessons indeed!
Here in the cottage, we are the same way with puzzles. My middle son sure likes them and we try to do one when there is a long weekend ahead of us :)
Be blessed my friend!
M.
Dear Maria,
ReplyDeleteAlways so good to hear from you. Your comments are always uplifting...and giving all the glory to our Lord. I, too, am thankful that the Lord knows it all...and that He reveals things to us perhaps only a step at time...because He knows in His infinite wisdom that this is all we can handle. So through the "puzzle" we give Him glory, and we thank Him, again and again, for holding us close.
Have a blessed weekend, my friend,
Laura
Dear Laura...we were away for a few days and I have enjoyed spending time reading your past posts. Thank you for all that you have shared today! We do not have a puzzle out at this time...but think that you have inspired me to do just that! I have a lovely Christmas one...that I think I will start. I too, like to have all of the pieces turned upright and then the border is next...how fun! I loved the inspiration that you shared! Simple blessings ♥ Teri
ReplyDeleteDear Teri,
ReplyDeleteSo good to hear from you! I always enjoy your comments. Puzzles are so fun, aren't they?! I enjoy them because they are something that you can work on for just a moment or much longer, depending on the time you have.
You spoke about being away...did you go on a trip?
Hope you all have a very blessed weekend!
Laura
As always my dear such a beautiful post intertwined with a deep spiritual insight! :o) Blessings my dear! I'm thankful God is using you to be a puzzle piece for His grand picture!
ReplyDeleteGood Morning, Nabila Grace!
ReplyDeleteAlways so good to hear from you. Thank you for the sweet comment. You have such a beautiful way with words.
Have a blessed weekend,
Laura
I too enjoy puzzles, and like you, I always follow the same pattern when starting a new one. I sort the pieces by color, identify and set aside the flat-sided "frame" pieces and hunt out the corner pieces. Last year I purchased a set of four puzzles depicting the events of Noah's life recorded in Genesis 6-9. It is such a peaceful pasttime to sit quietly for a few minutes and put together a puzzle!
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Miss Linda,
ReplyDeletePuzzles are such fun...seems like there are many of us who start the same way! It is always easier for me if I build the frame first...sort of like the foundation, wouldn't you say?
Have a blessed weekend,
Mrs. Laura
Laura, I will definitely keep your words (and the Scripture) in mind when we do our New Year's puzzle(s) together soon!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Christine
So good to hear from you, Christine! How fun to have special puzzles for the New Year! Thank you so much for your comments...I always enjoy hearing from you.
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed weekend,
Laura
This post reminded me so much of my Mom, Mrs. Laura! She loves doing puzzles! The atmosphere that you describe while working on the puzzles together sounds so homey and pleasant. And what a great idea to do the puzzles on bulletin boards. We just might have to implement that idea. :) I had to smile when you mentioned your ‘habit’ with the puzzles . . . we are the same way! We always turn the pieces over first, find the edge pieces and the corners, and then put together the ‘frame.’
ReplyDeleteI very much appreciated the thoughts that you shared here regarding being perplexed, but not in despair. There have been situations that our family has been in that were very perplexing . . . we didn’t understand and we didn’t know why. But verses such as the ones that you shared here are such good reminders . . . circumstances may be perplexing but we need not despair for we have a solid and sure Rock on whom we can trust and lean on. The verses that you shared from 1 Corinthians sum your post up well . . . what a blessed comfort these are.
Thinking of you and praying for you on this cold, windy and snowy evening!
Dear Miss Sarah,
ReplyDeleteA warm thanks to you and your family for all your prayers and concerns at this time. My husband was deeply touched by your dad's e-mail last evening. As you said, what a comfort to trust in the One who is our Rock.
"Trust in the LORD forever,
For in God the Lord,
we have an everlasting Rock."
Isaiah 26:4
May you all have a blessed evening,
Mrs. Laura
Laura,
ReplyDeleteOh, how we love puzzles. At Thanksgiving we usually get a new one and start it on Thanksgiving Day. Then all winter long we work on them. We finish one...and carefully move it on to the piano, another one goes on the dining room table (as the center piece with a candle on top, then there is always one or two on the coffee table in the living room....Since Thanksgiving this year we have finish 3 -- 1000 piece puzzles and there is plenty of winter ahead of us!! The girls all like the idea of the bulletin board to work the puzzles on...I guess we will have to look into that. Good idea!
It is so good to know that when life seems to be just falling to pieces, that the Lord knows where the pieces fit!!
So nice to hear from you, Mandy. Puzzles are such fun, aren't they! We came up with the bulletin board idea so that we could move the puzzle around with us...whatever room we were in! And, I agree, the Lord does know where all the pieces fit and I am so very thankful...especially at this "puzzling" time.
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed evening,
Laura
Hi Laura,I thank you for stopping by to visit me,I am glad you enjoyed my post and the dipping your dough ornaments in was sound interesting it can be applied to other arts and crafts, I love this post and the words you describe in Greek in modern greek we use it as I wonder,it still has the same meaning ,we get alot of puzzles here for framming,we have to sandwich them with two pieces of board and then flip it over and using a brush we spread paper glue on one of the boards and then place it on the back of the puzzle and press and turn over and carefull clean eny glue if it seeps through and let dry and then frame it ,once while flipping a puzzle fell apart and we had to do the puzzle all over again luckily some parts did't fall apart so it was a whole sunday spent on getting the job done and then the costumer never came to pick it up that I will never forget ,I wish you and your lovely family many pleasnt hours on these long winter nights working on the puzzle.xoxo theodora
ReplyDeleteDear Theodora,
ReplyDeleteSo nice to hear from you...and how wonderful that you enjoyed the greek words. It must be such a help to study scripture when you know the greek language as well as you do. I have to use resource books, and my sons, to help me!
I have heard of others who have "glued" completed puzzles together in order to save them as a picture. We have something called "modge podge" in America that is great for this...do you have that in Greece?
I just love talking crafts with you! I think it would be wonderful to see your shop and all the creative things you do!
Have a blessed day,
Laura