Bible Verse Quilt

Some background...

It all started somewhere around the year 2002 or so. I had a friend graduating from college and felt like I should make him a quilt, but I REALLY didn't want to because I already had so many projects going on, not to mention I was working and going to school full time, plus volunteering on the side.

I continued to feel so convicted that one day, while at the Crisis Center of East Alabama, where I volunteered, I told God basically, "Fine! I'll make him one, but only if you give me a simple idea that's so awesome I can't wait to make it!" (Yes, sometimes I don't have the best attitude with God.) It wasn't 2 seconds later that it hit me--the simple, but awesome idea!

Instead of the quilt being made up of blocks which in turn are made up of various squares, triangles, etc., I'd just make simple squares, but each square represents a Bible verse through the fabric. (He ran our Bible study.) For example, in John 7:38, Jesus is talking and says, "Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." For this verse, I can use fabric depicting a river or other flowing water.

For the quilt I made my friend, I made a key on the back so he would know which verse was being referenced by each block on the front. I haven't decided if I will do that for myself or if I will embroider them on the front of each block. I prefer the idea of each block having the verse on it, but I don't like the idea of having to embroider as I haven't done that successfully yet. lol We will see...but first, to get verses.

I've repeatedly tried to read the whole Bible, but have only managed to read the whole New Testament. I haven't made it through the whole Old Testament yet. The plan that I've been most successful with, however, is when I read the Bible books from longest to shortest, instead of from beginning to end. That way, once I've read one book, I know the next one will be shorter, so I'm more motivated to read it. It's not the perfect plan, but it's worked better for me than anything else I've tried. For example, instead of reading Genesis, then Exodus, then Leviticus, I read

Keep in mind this is simply by number of chapters, so depending on chapter length, some books may actually not be in the correct order for pure length. When I was doing this in my actual Bible, I did it by number of pages in each book, but online, I simply use number of chapters.

This is my order...

Psalms (150 chapters)
Isaiah (66)
Jeremiah (52)
Genesis (50)
Ezekiel (48)
Job (42)
Exodus (40)
Numbers (36)
2 Chonicles (36)
Deuteronomy(34)
Proverbs (31)
1 Samuel (31)
1 Chronicles (29)
Matthew (28)
Acts (28)
Leviticus (27)
2 Kings (25)
Luke (24)
2 Samuel (24)
Joshua (24)
1 Kings (22)
Revelation (22)
Judges (21)
John (21)
Mark (16)
Romans (16)
1 Corinthians (16)
Hosea (14)
Zechariah (14)
2 Corinthians (13)
Hebrews (13)
Nehemiah (13)
Ecclesiastes (12)
Daniel (12) The farthest I've ever gotten reading this way was here.
Ezra (10)
Esther (10)
Amos (9)
Song of Solomon (8)
Micah (7)
Galatians (6)
Ephesians (6)
1 Timothy (6)
Lamentations (5)
1 Thessalonians (5)
James (5)
1 Peter (5)
1 John (5)
Philippians (4)
Colossians (4)
2 Timothy (4)
Ruth (4)
Jonah (4)
Malachi (4)
Joel (3)
Nahum (3)
Habakkuk (3)
Zephaniah (3)
2 Thessalonians (3)
Titus (3)
2 Peter (3)
Haggai (2)
Obadiah (1)
Philemon (1)
2 John (1)
3 John (1)
Jude (1)

For those unfamiliar with how Bible verses go, the word is the "book," the number before the colon is the chapter and the number after the colon is the verse or verses. So "Psalms 1:1-3" is in the book of Psalms, chapter 1, verses 1-3. I will list the book only once, then just the chapters and verses. After the chapter and verse(s) I like, I'll put fabric ideas to consider for the quilt. Then I will quote the verse(s).

Now, for the verses I like and am considering putting in my quilt...

Psalms

1:1-3 Something with law, a tree by a stream or river, fruit with green leaves
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.

4:1 Phone
1 Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

4:8 Bed, zzz's, something with safety
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

5:8 Straight lines, straight path
8 Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies—make your way straight before me.
5:11-12 Music, notes, hearts, singing, celebrating, shield
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. 12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

6:1-3 Bones
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. 2 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. 3 My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long?
6:8-10 Crying, praying, prayer
8 Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. 9 The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer. 10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish; they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.

7:1-2 Lion
1 Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me, 2 or they will tear me apart like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
7:17 Thank you, music, singing
17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.

13:5-6 Cross, heart, happy faces, music, singing
5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.

15:1-5 Tent, mountain
1 Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? 2 The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; 3 whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; 4 who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; 5 who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.

16:1-2
1 Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. 2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”
16:7-11 Eyes, tongue, death
7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. 8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, 10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful[b] one see decay. 11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

17:6-9 Ear, apple, wings
6 I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. 7 Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings 9 from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

18:28-29 Lamp, darkness, wall
28 You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. 29 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.

19:9-11 Gold, honey, honeycomb, reward
9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

20:7-8 Chariot, horses, falling, standing firm
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

20:4 Dark valley, shepherd's crook
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

25:4-5 Path, day
4 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. 5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
25:7 Red, heart
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.
25:15 Eyes, snare, trap
15 My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

27:1 Light
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
27:2-3 Army
2 When the wicked advance against me to devour[a] me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. 3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
27:7-8 Phone, God
7 Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. 8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.
27:14 Strong man
14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

28:6-7 Heart, crying, shield, music
6 Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

30:11-12 Dancing, singing, music
11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, 12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

31:24 Strong man, heart
24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

32:7 Music, song
7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

33:20 Shield
20 We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.

34:1-3 Lips, injuries, holding hands
1 I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
34:4 Monsters
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
34:7 Angel, camping
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
34:10 Lion
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
34:12-14 Heart, tongue, lips, peace sign
12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. 14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
34:15-16 Eyes, ears, earth
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; 16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.
34:18 Broken heart
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

35:1-2 Boxing, shield, armor
1 Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. 2 Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid.
35:28 Tongue
28 My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long.

37:1-2 Grass, plants
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
37:4 Heart
4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
37:5-6 Dawn, sun
5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
37:8-9 Land, dirt, brown
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. 9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
37:16-17 Money, gold
16 Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; 17 for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.