Frogging Ride

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)

²² Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,  for His compassions never fail. ²³ They are new every morning;     great is your faithfulness.

I had extremely productive plans for the holiday weekend!  There was a wedding to attend and as I packed my three projects for the ride, I noted the progress of each.  These were not projects that needed to be cast on, okay one did need to be put on the needles but the rest were at least 60 rows in.  I was looking forward to a pleasant ride with my needles clacking their soothing cadence with music softly playing.

Alas, then the car air conditioner and the cd player went out.  No biggie, I could still knit, but that morning I neglected to fortify myself with a cup of coffee.  So not having achieved full wakefulness I picked up the needles and  pattern, allowing my faulty memory to tell me where to begin, I totally neglect to re-read my notes, so I did not include the necessary increases in those twelve rows.  In frustration, I stuffed that project back into the bag and picked up the next “mindless” project. Admittedly, I had already made two minor mistakes that only a perfectionist would have caught, then my coffee deprived mind made mistake number three.

Three strikes and  that project was now out and hastily packed away.  The breeze picked up and I sat and pouted, fussing at myself and trying to figure out what to do.  I did not read the directions again, I did not make sure that I my mind was in the right space to move forward.  Riding home the next day later, I pulled out the project and began pulling out ALL of the stitches.  I’m sure the trucks looking down in the car thought I was knitting, but nooooo, I was frogging!  There was quite a bit of tension released as I wound that sweater back into a ball.

Like life, I am still learning to acknowledge and recognize my errors.  I am resigned to be more patient with myself and others.  Life is filled with constant lessons should we be willing to learn and embrace our mistakes long enough to acknowledge, confess and release them.  Did I not read my Bible that morning?  Had I neglected to find out God’s plans for my day?  Without fortifying myself with the Word, the reading or patterns and directions won’t happen.  Knowing God’s plan for the trip, would have diminished the frustration I caused.  Thankfully, God permits do overs, His mercies are fresh and new every day. I am grateful for the blanket of forgiveness that cover our lives should we be willing to learn and move forward.

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Crashing through the Yarn Wall

 

Proverbs 14:10 (NIV)

¹⁰ Each heart knows its own bitterness,    and no one else can share its joy

Oh my goodness, happened again!  I was going merrily along and bam that wall popped up!   I was once again blocked, stymied, according to blogger Peaceful Knitter, my knitting mojo had flown the coop/gone on vacation, was nowhere to be found. No matter how many exciting new patterns I read on All Free Knitting or added to my Ravelry que nothing was motivating, encouraging or jolting me back me into picking up those needles and relaxing into knitting nirvana.

I picked up a book and started reading, something I used to do as relentlessly as I had been knitting. It seemed that my old reading love had been replaced by knitting my new, productive, time-consuming hobby. Picking up a book reminded me how much I always enjoyed reading and how it transports me to new exciting places, introduces me to new friends and fuels that round the corner, beneath the shelf spot of my mind where the mojo might have gone to seek quiet restful peace.

More often than not we fill our lives with so many new and exciting things that the tried and true are often relegated to spots of less importance.  This also happens with our Cristian walk, the fire that burned brightly  when we first learn the wonderful truths can over time die down or almost distinguished by busyness or overwork.  It is important to build our continued joy and happiness in God.   Proper alignment with reading God’s word and working to do for others provides moments of bliss.  Deciding to knit something for someone else, sped my mojo’s return from vacation.  Glory to God for the daily lessons and moments of sheer joy!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Sharing what Little I know

Learn to Knit (Photo credit: abbynormy)

¹² Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”  Exodus 4:12 (NIV)

Someone actually asked ME to teach them how to knit!  No, I did not laugh or giggle, though I wanted to,  did not offer the excuse “but I am just learning” or look for the hidden camera to see if it was a joke. I just said ok, provided a small list of getting started supplies and watched as many of the learning to knit videos I could to refresh my memory so that when and if the time came, I would be ready.

Well that day came and my first surprise was the pupil arrived.  Not only arrived but  prepared with needles and 3 skeins of yarn, so we began, with a slip knot.  For those who grew up and were fortunate to have Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts or lived around outdoorsmen we take it for granted that everybody can do a slip knot, which is not true. So the first lesson was this basic knot was repeated over and over, patiently again and again until it was mastered.   Oh and my other challenge, that I found out during the first lesson, this pupil unlike me, is left-handed. God always provides moments when the instructor has to not only has to remember what it was like to get those basics down until they felt natural but also must learn to do things in different way so that others  can learn in a way that is comfortable for them.  Everytime it feels  I still have so much to learn, God reminds me that a willingness to share what little I know more will always be given to me because He knows and sees everything!

Making His Praise glorious!

Ree

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Staying Centered

Image via Wikipedia

Don’t go to extremes on anything. Make God the center of your life and you’ll be content. Ecclesiastes 7:18 (Clear Word)

 My thumb hurts, no doubt due to the marathon, rapid-fire, repetitive knitting session I engaged in over the weekend.  I have no one to blame but myself  for my discomfort.  The people pleasing part of me, that still desires to make others happy, took a big  bite out of an ego cookie and knitted two hats in less than 24 hours.  For those more experienced crafting folks who can knock out a hat in a few hours that may seem like nothing, but for an almost minted yearling, I was pushing my envelope.   I was determined, focused, in a word –  I was a machine and now I am in pain!  I wanted to fulfill a wish for someone else to give a gift and was doggedly persistent in the desire to produce a quality product in a short period of time.   I was in such a hurry I didn’t even take a picture of the pain producing piece of work, so you will just have to believe me that they are pretty.  There might be a dropped stitch or two and some other flaws that may appear in the wash, so I wouldn’t suggest a vigorous washing!  I went to an extreme, the day began with me focusing on God, I was reading, studying the Word, writing and discussing the goodness of God and other weighty subjects and then the chapeau request.   Yet, through the pain, the seeming unfocused thoughts of my one woman knitting marathon I know this to be true, God was never far from me.  While I may not have prayed on every stitch, He was with me and though it appeared I was outside the lines, He knew my heart and mind would once again be turned firmly and securely back to Him.

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

 

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Giving Gifts with Open Hands and Heart

Psalm 112:9  (NIV) They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor.

The needles have been flying through projects lately as if there is some unforeseen deadline, other than Christmas, that must be made!  There has been a profound sense of peace, precision and purpose with each stitch of every project started and finished. Will I keep it or gift it? The plans change as each ball of yarn takes on a new and recognizable shape.  The more I give the more I receive, so the choice is transparently clear.  Though I had no clear idea what I was doing releasing my selfish ideas and choosing to follow where God leads me it is imperative that I open my hands and release those pieces to bring God glory.

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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