MY JOY WON’T GO AWAY!

 

 

NOW, I’M GOING TO BE SIXTY-EIGHT in April: my husband also (in March.) I’ve always claimed to live long, live healthy, live happy! And now: as a mature Christian woman… I claim to be always joyful!  Full of the love of Christ, I truly am filled with unspeakable joy, full of glory!! I’m still here and will remain until I choose when to leave… Yes: this is biblical:

 

Deuteronomy 30:19
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

 

Having grown up with an extremely difficult childhood, God has always had His hand on me; even waiting for returned love until I was in my twenties! I constantly my Father in Heaven! He loves me!

Selah.

AND AS A MATURE CHRISTIAN now (and not just in age alone) I continue to learn more; growing more in wisdom and revelation. Good for me! All glory to Him!

One of the things I’m really, really good at is: being patient. Therefore, and herewith is my crochet story:

 

CROCHET TODAY… MY JOY WON’T GO AWAY!

 

NOTE: men, don’t turn off. You can learn something from this as well. And do remember this: there are plenty of men who sew, do cross stitch, knit, and enjoy more types of crafts!

 

I very recently found out I was going to be a great-grandmother by my very first grandchild! I wasn’t ready to be a grandmother back in the day (my son was too young.) But now, the baby’s mother (again, my first grandchild and granddaughter) is at a good age to be a mom. She is twenty-three (I was twenty-seven.) And: her birthday was February 16^th – baby was due on the 17^th!! (Any day now! Any hour!)

AND I AM NOTHING BUT JAZZED to be a great-grandmother: so many connotations, great-grandmother!

But that’s not what this is about.

The fact is: I am working on a baby afghan I’ve never made before. It’s going to be so cute and beautiful! My granddaughter approves it and is looking forward to a beautiful and lovingly made baby blanket! It’s got a white square for the base and measures over thirty-five inches in width. An elephant will be in the center sporting a happy smile, butterflies swooping around, and a pink border to encase this sweet elephant, putting her even more on display…

BUT THE PROBLEM is: the white square was not to be all white. The elephant was not to be embroidered on; it was to be crotched into the white square. Friends, I must have lost three weeks of time trying to do it just right!  I can, but I won’t. I’ve decided to stop struggling and embroider her on. I’m going, not only the easier route, but the much (much!) more fun way for me, myself, and I! I would never do this if it won’t be just – or maybe even more – attractive!

With all these years I’ve been crocheting (from ages twenty-two to present, age sixty-seven) I’ve done baby blankets, pot holders, towel toppers, dresses. I’ve even crotched elegant tablecloths. (These take very fine thread.) So I have a lot of experience and I definitely am more than able to follow this new pattern and lesson I’ve never done before. I simply am choosing a more fun way to create this afghan…

Selah.

AND HERE’S THE LESSON

(MEN: you might just want to pick it up here.)

I’ve had to struggle with crochet patterns, certain types of yarns, (I detest chunky yarn.) Also, some websites, and projects. But: crocheting allows me to pull easily apart any project, anytime. I’ve done this more than once.

Selah.
And: laugh, laugh!

I crochet for pleasure and for the pleasure of making beautiful projects. As some are very challenging, I always choose to be the victor. The tapestry of my life finds an analogy in my crochet work… Sometimes I struggle quite a bit for the reasons stated above; sometimes I just flow through a certain project easily as in sailing on the sea with the perfect breeze… But my attitude is always the same: I love to crochet (for multiple reasons) and I will win, perfecting my efforts into a work of beauty where those who see it will say, “Wow!”

I have given many works away. Over the years, I’ve probably spent thousands of dollars to bless women having babies, family receiving Christmas gifts. Back in the day, I’ve given many co-workers adult and baby afghans… I’d truly rather give gifts than do a craft fair. But the point is: I choose this art form, complete it, and get a deep satisfaction in its beauty. I also listen to movies and sermons while crocheting. I get a lot out of this craft love…

BELOVED PLEASE NOTE: I’m not the only one to take credit for the finished and beautiful crochet projects! No. I didn’t create the pattern (no interest there.) I did not fashion the yarn, nor dye it. I don’t own the store where it is carried…

Get the point?

Without God’s blessing myself and all involved in this craft (or any craft for that matter – anything for that matter) I/we would have no capability of creating anything beautiful!

Now, and in the future, when I take pleasure time to crochet, I know there will be challenges and even struggles while living on this fallen planet. The world definitely has fallen and sinners are in distress. They shouldn’t be! Why? They shouldn’t be sinners!

Choose today: your joy won’t go away! And spend some time having fun on a passion that is not sinful. This is just one more gift from the Father in Heaven!

Selah.

 

 

SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS FOR THIS JOY STORY:

 

 

CHOOSE JOY UNSPEAKABLE!

1 Peter 1:8-9
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

 

OUR LORD GOD KNITS!

Psalm 139:13-16
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

 

BE  VICTORIOUS: AND SIT WITH JESUS ON HIS THRONE!

Revelation 3:19-22
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.  Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.  Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”