Knit and Crochet Bible Study

Tag: wisdom

  • Made New

    “..to be made new..to put on the new self created to be like God in righteousness and holiness” Ephesians 4:23,24.

    We are in a new year, welcome to 2010.  When I was a child in the 1960s, the thought of a year in the 2000s was something in Star Trek, far beyond the imagination of where man would go. And here we are.

    Are you one who makes New Year resolutions? We are at the end of January, were you able to keep any of them? 

    I have been going through my craft closets and found a number of projects I hoped to start, several I started and set aside, some I started and didn’t like, some that I needed to get more material for.

    I wonder if God looks at me like I do the items in my craft closet. In my life he has started many wonderful works, some of which I have stalled Him on and not completed. He has completed many works in me and there are many more in process. Some projects are not yet complete, waiting on God’s timing. I can rush through, but without God there are dropped stitches in my life. Luke 1:20 in the Message reads Every word I’ve spoken to you will come true on time God’s time. 

    There are still many rows yet to knit in my life.  A beautiful edging of crochet will be added. But not yet.  God is still gathering materials and stitching my life together. But He doesn’t leave me in the closet, to pull out and work on occasionally.  He is always in my life, working within me.

  • Victory in Jesus

    I follow someone on twitter named Hooking Stitches.  She is a very encouraging woman who makes and offers prayer shawls and chemo caps to those in need.

    As the new year approached she has come up with an excellent idea to tear down her strongholds and change daily habits away from her sinful nature and toward the Lord. Using different colors to represent strongholds broken she is making a victory blanket and we can follow her progress as she demonstrates Romans 12:2 in action. Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  We cannot makes these changes alone in our lives, we must let God do the work and be willing to follow Him.

    She is opening her heart and her life while  telling her story in this blanket, just like we are telling the salvation story with the Salvation Afghan knit-along/crochet-along. 

    It is exciting to see the many ways people use their talents to share their love of Christ. Melody is an example of the Proverbs 31 woman and mentor to all around her.

    Proverbs 31:13 She shops for the best yarns and enjoys (crochet). MSG

    Proverbs 31:20  She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.NIV

    Proverbs 31:24 She (crochets) garments and sells them. NIV

    Proverbs 31:26 She speaks with wisdom NIV

    What are some things you’d like to change or improve in your life this year?

    Perhaps the idea of reading the bible in a year is too large a project, so how about starting with simply reading a chapter a day to get started? Proverbs has 31 chapters, January has 31 days. That’s a starting point.

    Maybe you’d like to improve your crochet or knitting skills. Why not try the Salvation Afghan. The stitch patterns were selected to stretch my own comfort zones and go beyond the standard stockinette and double crochet rows.

    Don’t become so focused on the big picture that you forget the small details. Before you run, you must learn to walk, before you knit yourself a sweater, you have to learn how to knit.

    I am encouraged by Melody and look forward to seeing her continue to grow as a woman after God’s own heart.

    What will you do to let God transform you this year? What will you put into your victory blanket?

  • Seeking Wisdom

    I have always thought that wisdom referred to a wealth of knowledge, that a wise man meant a smart man. 

    Recent study has opened my eyes to understanding that wisdom and knowledge are two separate things.  Look at these verses as examples:

    Solomon is speaking to God in 2 Chronicles 1:10, Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people. and God replied in verse 12 wisdom and knowledge will be given to you.

    Ecclesiastes 2:26  To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness.

    So then, I asked, what is wisdom?

    Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom

    Job asks in 28:12 and 20 Where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? He considers then the worth of such and that it cannot be found in the land of the living (verse 13).  It can’t be bought, it is of such high value, it cannot be measured. He concludes in verse 29 The fear of the Lord-that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.

    These verses intrigued me. If they are one in the same, why are they listed separately by Solomon and by God? Then David and Job point out wisdom is the fear of the Lord.

    I checked out the definition of knowledge at dictionary dot com and read acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, as from study or investigation, then I looked up wisdom and read knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action.

    Proverbs 2:10 helps differentiate the two.For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Again, two different values.

    Knowledge is information obtained by study, wisdom is knowing what is right and just. Right and just, that describes God!! Isaiah 45:21 There is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior. With God’s wisdom He who does what is right is righteous, just as he (God) is righteous.” 1 John 3:7.

    Proverbs is a book filled with wisdom, why we should embrace wisdom, and warnings against rejecting it. The book of Proverbs is 31 chapters. Why not spend the 31 days of January reading one chapter a day and finding for yourself God’s wisdom. Allow it to “enter your heart” as you begin this new year.

    I challenge you to seek to fill your heart with wisdom and grow in the knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.