Stitches in Faith

A basket of yarn (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Psalm 27:13 (CEB)

¹³ But I have sure faith that I will experience the Lord’s goodness   in the land of the living!

Some months ago I embarked upon this incredible quest to consciously and more actively help others.  Being able to spend copious amounts time doing something I enjoy such as the of changing balls of yarn into hats and scarves  was and is an added blessing.

Wait, now how exactly does that translate into stitches in faith?  Well, I believe that God blesses us when we help those in need, as listed in Matthew 25:40  –  ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’   I was already knitting, a lot, but it lacked a truer more useful  purpose.  With the realization of purpose came the growth and testing of my faith.  I believed God would send yarn and knitted goods so I opened  a post office box and put out the word!  Admittedly, self-promotion or promotion in general is NOT my gift, after all for the most part, I am shy.

Imagine my sheer delight when I received not one, but two separate donations!  My glee was barely controlled.  The needles never stopped. I prayed for eager helpers and found two sitting right under my nose!  Bored students with time on their hands have been my angels.

Last night digging through the  slowly dwindling yarn stash trying to cobble together enough yarn colors to make even more items, my prayers began anew,  “Lord, please send more yarn and soon!  The nights are getting colder and the need to meet the need of others has not diminished!!!  I thank God daily for the heart of a servant who desires nothing more than to do the will of my Master and lead others into glorious relationship with Him!

Making His praise glorious!

Ree

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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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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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