Faith & Flannel (Part 2)

Last week I posted what faith is and five different kinds of expressions of faith.  (You can read it here https://inspiredfountain.com/2025/11/24/faith-flannel/ ). I described our women’s breakfast and how we invited the gals to wear their favorite fall flannel, and that they did! The mornings’ theme was “Faith & Flannel.”  In addition to their flannels of choice, each gal was handed two square swatches of plaid material as they came in (I’ll mention that in a bit).

In brief review: We looked at gutsy faith (Mark 5) being fully persuaded that Jesus is the answer, OUR answer and going beyond our comfort or others’ expectations of us to get to Him. Generous faith (Luke 5) caring enough, regardless of the cost of time and energy helping another get the Jesus help they need. Gut honest faith (Mark 9) “I do believe; help my unbelief!”  God can do wonders with our honesty and openness to Him to grow our faith.  Glimmer of faith (Matthew 8) we may have just a lil glimmer, but enough to cry out to Jesus. And then there’s great faith (Matthew 8) not needing any big event, just say the word, Lord!  Believing God is Who He said He is, He will do what He said He will do.”

I would offer, each moment (or for some of us) each SEASON that stretches or grows our faith marks our life. Faith is living out our perception of God. We may have scattered moments of great faith, with solid spots of being gutsy, and LOUD moments of crying out to Him. Each of these marking our life, like a patchwork. The patchwork of our faith. 

THIS is where the flannel comes in. The plaid checkered pattern. Each square marking a moment of our faith journey with Jesus, building and attaching to each other. With HIS love, redemption and design, making a beautiful patchwork of our life. I had the women look around the room at the large variety of plaid. All the same–yet different. Different in colors and sizes. 

I had a friend sew distinct patch/stitch marks in various spots on my shirt, signifying that from a distance it seems like a normal pattern, but get up close, well, there are definitely marked squares. Sometimes we don’t see another’s square where generous friends had the faith to carry them, or they had a desperate, BOLD season for Jesus–until we’re close.

The two square swatches of plaid?  One was definitely flannel, the other “looked” like it, but was actually just a T-shirt material. I shared with the gals; there are times we will attempt to treat the next faith growing moment the same as the last. Even though it may look the same, it’s made of different material. We need to ask Holy Spirit for discernment, “What is my response here Lord?” Is this requiring a gutsy moment of faith or do You just want me to get out of the way and give You room. Either way, our response will be a faith marker.

Each situation, each struggle, each success is an opportunity to add a square to our patchwork of faith.

Don’t fight it–sew it.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” (2 Peter 1:3,5-7)

What a most beautiful patchwork of faith!

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds” – Hebrews 10:24)

Part 1 (below)