Knit and Crochet Bible Study

Tag: resurrection

  • It Came Undone

    A few years ago I made a spiderweb afghan for my grandson. He loved that aghan. He could use it as a cape or wrap up and hide in it.

    spideyghan_cape spideyghan_caught spideyghan_hiding

    —Okay, before you ask, you want the pattern.  I got the pattern free. I checked the link and it is no longer valid.  It is written by ‘Gail of Sitch ‘n Frog”  I did find it on allfreecrochetafghanpatterns.com .  I hope it is a legitimate share.—

    Then one day he brought it back to me.  There is a whole section where the yarn broke!

    BigHole1

    I was devastated!  I made my 1st afghan when I was 11 or 12. My grandmother taught me the granny square. I have never, in over 40 years of making afghans had this happen.

    Life happens like that too.  I get things all lined up exactly as I want them, my TO DO lists all prioritized and I am ready for the day. Then suddenly, life comes undone. It could start with a phone call or email, pain could tell me my body is not going to participate that day, a pipe bursts, an unexpected bill arrives…… you get the idea.

    Jesus was often interrupted. He walks through a town and crowds chase after Him.  He stops to rest and a group gathers. He tries to sleep and is awakened. He never let the interruption stop Him from doing what He had to do.

    How do you respond when your life becomes undone like the afghan?

    I recently read a book about a woman who looked at her life become UNDONE. It is written by Michelle Cushatt.  As she reflects on the various interruptions in her life where she unraveled and became undone, you will surely relate.

    With fear and trepidation I worked at the undone area. I carefully picked up each broken thread and gathered it together, hoping I didn’t unravel it further. Gently I stitched through, around, under, and over the large area.  It appeared to hold, but left a scar on the pattern.

    I sent the blanket home with my grandson asking him to tell me if it didn’t hold. I would try something different.

    Just like everything else in my life, when a thread unravels the choices are to ignore it and set it aside, or fix it and move on.

    The disciples thought everything Jesus would be undone at the crucifixion. But the empty tomb made a difference. The veil was ripped, but new life promised was a possibility.

    God is never too busy to stitch your unraveled life if you bring it to him.  He is never surprised either. He is waiting for you to bring it to him. Will you hand it over?

  • Easter Craft Ideas

    It never fails. I was looking for one particular pattern online and I got distracted finding many other ideas to pursue. I found a number of links to ideas for Easter crafting so I thought I would share some with you.

    Miscellaneous Easter Crafts

    It’s been 20 some odd years since my daughter made one of these for our Easter table. It has been added to the table every year since then, until last year when it got lost in a stash of boxes during a clean out http://www.makingfriends.com/spring/hat_centerpiece.htm

    Your child will have so much fun when you make this Chicks In A Basket puppet. http://familyfun.go.com/easter/easter-crafts/easter-baskets/chicks-in-a-basket-665067/

    Reuse that scratched up CD to make this bunny: http://www.allfreecrafts.com/easter/recycled-cd-memo-bunny.shtml

    Don’t throw that burned out light bulb away, make it into an Easter duck: http://www.allfreecrafts.com/recycling-crafts/duck.shtml

    Here is an idea to use those eggshells after the hunt: http://www.allfreecrafts.com/candles/eggshell-candles.shtml

    Make a nest for your eggs: http://www.dltk-kids.com/recipesdb/view.asp?rid=123

    Make your own chocolate covered Easter eggs: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chocolate-Covered-Easter-Eggs/Detail.aspx

    This page leads to all sorts of bunny craft ideas: http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/rabbits.html

    Make a fluffy lamb pencil holder: http://crafts.kaboose.com/easter-tincan-lamb.html

    Preschoolers will love this marshmallow bunny: http://crafts.kaboose.com/marshmallow-rabbit.html

    Tired of plain hard boiled eggs on the table? Try this to bring a chick smile to the table: http://eyecandy.nanakaze.net/?p=459

    Make a bird’s nest from paper bags: http://www.alphamom.com/holiday/2010/03/make_a_birds_nest_for_spring.php

    Egg Dyeing ideas:

    When I was a child I watched my mother do this every year to make hollow eggs for us to dye: http://www.allfreecrafts.com/easter/blow-out-eggs.shtml

    String Technique: http://familyfun.go.com/easter/easter-crafts/all-easter-crafts/egg-dyeing-string-technique-668387/

    Thumbprint Technique: http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts/egg-dyeing-thumbprints-technique-668394/

    Tea Infused Technique: http://whatscookingamerica.net/EllenEaston/TeaInfusedEggs.htm

    Crayon Artistry: http://www.dltk-holidays.com/easter/crayon.htm

    Celebrate the Resurrection

    Easter Story Cookies: http://recipes.holidays.net/view_recipe.php?id=235

    Jelly Bean Prayer: http://www.dltk-holidays.com/easter/jellybean.htm

    Have your own Family Easter Sunrise Service: http://www.annieshomepage.com/service.html

    My mother made this every year for our Easter dinner: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easter-Lamb-Cake-I/Detail.aspx

  • In the Blink of an Eye

    But joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

    I was working on a doll that I was crocheting for my grandchild which was done in a way that had the clothes worked into the pattern. This means there will be color changes along the way.

    I was half way through the project, mindlessly making the stitches, when I looked back at the doll and realized something was wrong. This outfit didn’t look well at all crocheted into the doll body. It was then I realized that although I made the color change for the waistband, I missed the color change back on row 17 for the bodice. Can you say FROG!  (you know, rippit  rippit  ripppit).

    On another project I noticed the scarf I was working on had become quite askew. No more did I have the straight even edge that looked so smooth the first 6 inches of the project.  Now, nearly 24 inches later I picked up a wrong needle from the basket it was laying in. I had knitted the last 18 inches on a needle of appropriate size and one 2 sizes smaller.

    These events are very similar to the day I woke up with a smile on my face, plans for the weekend all set, only to receive a phone call that my dear friend has passed away a few hours prior. In the blink of eye, disaster! (Psalm 73:19)

    Jesus was escorted into Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday. (see the story in John 12)  When people heard he was coming to the Feast; they gathered palm branches and shouted as he approached, Hosanna Blessed is the King of Israel. (see John 12)

    A few days later these same people stood in a crowd in front of Pilate and cried out Crucify him! Crucify him! (see John 19)

    So quickly things change. Every day offers new challenges and new rewards. That dark day was brightened when the women went to the tomb and found it empty. (see John 20) A sad day quickly became bright as Jesus appeared to many who loved him.

    Your life, like the wrongly knit scarf, can change with or without notice. Every day offers new opportunities. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning is our promise in Psalm 30:5.

    God is a steady fortress,(Psalms 91:2)  unchanging (Hebrews 6:7),  ever present (Proverbs 15:3). When things turn suddenly to dark, hold tight to the hand of God. Walk with Him daily, and He will be at your side. Stay with Him when the stitches of your life are straight and smooth; and He will be there when you miss that color change or drop a stitch in your life. Hold tight to God, your God, just as you have done up to now. (Joshua 23:8)