Far More than Just Yarn

When I started knitting I was beyond clueless about everything it entailed. I didn’t know there were different kinds of yarns, sizes of needles or about all the wonderful books and the accessories. Baubles that to this day make my eyes grow child in a toy store large.

My knitting journey began with learning simple stitches on stable and durable bargain yarn. I asked lots of questions and made a lot of mistakes. In time, I graduated to yarns that glided smoothly around and through my fingers, so satiny soft and it made me giddy with glee (yes I sit and smirk to myself at those times). It did not matter what was knitted coaster, scarf or hat the excitement grew from beginning to sad final end.

it has been noted that in times of stress the faster the project grows as every care is woven into that piece as I speak to God to gain clarity and strength. The dropped stitches can be viewed as imperfections or moments when I my heart prayerfully stepped away. Here I believed I was merely trying to get a hobby, finding something to do with my hands at night and God has given me another way to connect with Him and others.

Making His praise glorious!

Renee

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Singing unto the Lord

)”]Psalm 5:11 (CEV)

¹¹ Let all who run to you for protection  always sing  joyful songs.
Provide shelter for those who truly love you  and let them rejoice.

I watched American Idol again the last couple nights, no I’m not addicted.  The young people this year are so remarkably talented.   I am permitted to have a favorite or two each year and my favorites this year are Colton Dixon and Phil Phillips.   Both of these young men are so crazy gifted, they can take a recognizable song tweak it, insert their spin on it and have me sitting foot tapping  and smiling like a proud parent.  As I watch them embrace and enjoy the notes of each song they sing, staying up a little longer to watch this year been worth missing a few minutes of sleep.

There are gifts aplenty on that stage, yet what struck me most painfully this week was the youngest singer, Jessica.  This girl can sing anything, with pipes easily compared to current stars, yet there is no passion, no feeling.   True she is only 16 and has from all accounts been singing most of her life.  Yet, my heart breaks for her because her with professionalism, beautiful voice there is a disconnection.   Being “In it to Win it”, can make sure that things are technically right, but emotionally empty.

Last night, Colton’s “Idol” dream ended, yet when it was time for him to sing the final song, he went to his knees and sang again to the Lord.   There were tears in my eyes at his constant, consistent witness.  God has plans for that young man and as he continues to use his talents to give God glory, the standing ovations he didn’t receive from the judges cannot compare to the hand claps and whistles he received from the angel chorus and smiles of approval from God.

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Magnetic Words

Psalm 33:4 (NIV)

⁴ For the word of the LORD is right and true;  He is faithful in all He does.

I have owned a box of  magnetic words for almost three years.  I found the box, covered in dust on top of the fridge this morning and was inspired to surround myself with words today.   I got here a little early and have posted them on my office door and door post filling me with a profound sense of God’s presence as each word is a word that draws me (and hopefully others) closer to Him, if only

they read and understand the words!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

 

 

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Project Status Updates

Matthew 14:29-32 (CEB)

²⁹ And Jesus said, “Come.”

Then Peter got out of the boat and was walking on the water toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when Peter saw the strong wind, he became frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, “Lord, rescue me!”  ³¹ Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him, saying, “You man of weak faith! Why did you begin to have doubts?” ³² When they got into the boat, the wind settled down.

A question was asked on one of the knitting Facebook pages I frequent on yesterday that made me think.  Forgive me, for twisting it but the  gist of the question was “how many WIP’s (work in progress) have turned into UFO’s (unfinished objects) in your house?”.  The responses were varied and I must say surprised and encouraged me.

Currently I have three projects on needles that for various reasons remain incomplete (wip).  There are also one or two complete projects that because of huge mistakes will be frogged (taken apart, stitch by stitch).  The reasons for not finishing range from not knowing a stitch, insecurity about cables and plain old boredom from repeating the same stitches over and over and over.  In truth the most glaring reason is pure intimidation, marinated in a sauce of  misplaced confidence.

When those projects were started I was focused, not paying attention to what I could do, but fully dependent on God to guide the every stitch on the needles.  No matter how challenging the pattern, my ignorance and lack of knowledge were of no import because God was guiding  my hands. Yet, like Peter, I took my eyes off of Jesus and my insecurities fueled the thoughts of inadequate knowledge to do what I was doing, and opened my eyes to every perceived flaw and mistake and the needles went down.

Today I  prayerfully commit to seeking God’s direction as I pick up the needles  and to prayerfully repeat that “I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13.  Surely, as He can complete a good thing in me those fingerless gloves, cowle and sweater will be finished solely by His grace!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Half-baked Life

Cookbook:1-2-3-4 Cake fresh out of the oven. The top is very brown due to the high sugar content in the cake. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1 John 4:12 (NIV)

¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Peering into the oven I viewed my masterpiece. The top a wonderful, shiny gold, the hints of cinnamon and vanilla wafted through the air, my mouth watered, but away I walked.  Though the smell and color proved completion was close it was not quite finished, it was not done.

As a masterpiece, I jumped out of the oven a time or two believing I was done, but God patiently slid me back in with a gentle whisper of, not yet.  Not the time to give up, not the time to throw in the towel. Not the time to stop dreaming.  As this song says “It’s Ain’t Over until God says it Is over”.

So write that book or poem, paint or shoot that picture, knit that sweater or pillow do all things to God’s glory and He will let you know when it is done.

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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Thankful Thursday

Acts 24:3 (NIV)

³ Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude

Colossians 3:16 (NIV)

¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

My eyes opened and I saw the sun streaming through the window.  My lungs pumped in air without hesitation or wheeze  and when I rolled over and pushed myself up, I was able to do so.  As my feet touched the floor, I did not hear the usual and customary  snap, crack and pop of my bones realigning.

This is yet another day that the Lord has made and blessed me to see and I am filled with gratitude!!

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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A Time for Joy

Christ Mormon (Photo credit: More Good Foundation)

Hebrews 1:3 (NIV)

³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

 

Last week,  each day of the Purpose Driven Life Devotional email contained excerpts from Kay Warren’s new book “ Choose Joy, Because Happiness is Not Enough”.

 

By day two as the words sunk in I felt them rooting, growing, burrowing deeper and hitting home.  But wait, it was Holy Week, the week when re-enactments retelling the story about last days of Christ were everywhere. Where was the joy in that? Did they get it wrong talking about joy last week?

 

I think not! Christ is alive, sitting down on the right side of

 

God, our Father advocating on our behalf 24/7/365! The story must be told, understanding divined. The graphic re-enactments and readings fueled my imagination and again broke my heart because my mountain of sins were covered by His precious blood. Because Christ lives, I have buckets and buckets of joy to share with others!

 

Making His praise glorious!

 

Ree
.

 

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Wordless Wednesday

Words (Photo credit: sirwiseowl)

²¹ Words kill, words give life;   they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.   Proverbs 18:21 (MSG)

 

 

 

 

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Eyes of Faith

Faith in What We Don’t See

^1-2The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. Hebrews 11:1-2

When the gardeners at Maymont  (An American Estate) planted tulip bulbs, at the appropriate time and with meticulous care, that was an act of faith.  There was faith  that those bulbs would bloom as planted, in the proper groupings, colors  and belief that their designs would be realized.

Those who know me know that I absolutely adore tulips.  Imagine my gleeful surprise walking through the park merely trying to get my exercise walk in and coming upon this profusion of tulips.  At the end of  a day filled with ups and downs at that moment I knew that God had heard my prayers.  Bouncing from patch to patch of beauty my faith in what I do not know, cannot see and believe God to provide was encouraged and renewed.   These planted, fed and cultivated by the hands of men would not have come to full beauty without the unseeen provided by God.  We may not know what tomorrow or next week hold, but we must press on in faith knowing without a doubt that God holds our futures.

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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