Zany and Serious

Christmas is over, and a new year beginning, so it is a perfect time for a random post, including both serious and zany aspects.  Enjoy the ride!

Celtic playlist on Grooveshark.

Do not commit spiritual suicide through a passion for discussing metaphysical subtleties.”
― Charles H. Spurgeon, All of Grace

Chronological Bible Reading Program 

Last year my family read through the whole Bible together.  I've not used this particular program, but it seems quite similar to the one we used. 

The Lord has so richly blessed us this past year, and it is exciting to contemplate how He will continue to work out His sovereign and holy will in our lives and in America as well as around the world.  This is what we exist for: to honor Him and show our love for Him by obeying His commands.  

Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name!
² Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits,
³ who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
⁵ who satisfies you with good
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

⁶ The Lord works righteousness
    and justice for all who are oppressed.
⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
    his acts to the people of Israel.
⁸ The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
⁹ He will not always chide,
    nor will he keep his anger forever.
¹⁰ He does not deal with us according to our sins,
    nor repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
¹³ As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
¹⁴ For he knows our frame;
    he remembers that we are dust.

¹⁵ As for man, his days are like grass;
    he flourishes like a flower of the field;
¹⁶ for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
    and its place knows it no more.
¹⁷ But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to children's children,
¹⁸ to those who keep his covenant
    and remember to do his commandments.
¹⁹ The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
    and his kingdom rules over all.

²⁰ Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his word,
    obeying the voice of his word!
²¹ Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
    his ministers, who do his will!
²² Bless the Lord, all his works,
    in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Blessings, and Happy New Year.

Alana

Character

 During this busy holiday season, I find it necessary to remember that as a Christian, I am called to:

Steadfastness

holding on

Patience

holding back

Expectancy

holding the head up

Obedience

holding self in readiness to go or do

Listening

holding quiet and still so as to hear

In seeking to do these things, may I remember not to become:

Stubborn,

unreasonably obstinate

Impatient,

restless in desire or expectation

Disobedient,

not submitting

and Deaf to God's Word.

refusing to heed, or be persuaded; unreasonable

Sometimes the hardest part is being willing to obey God when He says to wait, watch, and be still; simply knowing and trusting and praising Him that He is God and there is none other.  

^{Psalm 43:5}

 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God.

Blessings! 

Alana 

P.S. My dad had cataract surgery this morning, and is recovering well.  We are all praising the Lord for His mercies!

A Knitted Scarf Pattern for you!

 The Work In Progress, using this pattern chart.  (I had to make sure it worked, didn't I?)

Here it is, folks!  A charted scarf pattern, for your knitting enjoyment.  Please begin reading the chart at the lower right hand side, and continue up from there.  I've made this in several sizes of yarn and needles, and it has looked lovely in all of them.  Personally, I prefer a lacy look, for instance with lace weight yarn and size 4 or 5 needles, but a warmer, more solid look is produced by using sport weight yarn and size 6 or 7 needles.

Below are written directions for the same scarf:

With desired yarn and needles, cast on 46 stitches.  Knit four rows. 

Pattern 1 – Lace Edge

Row 1: K2, *K2tog, yo, rep from * to the last two sts, K2.

Row 2: K2, p across row to last two sts, K2.

Row 3: K2, *yo, K2tog, rep from * to last two sts, K2.

Row 4: K2, p across row to last two sts, K2.

Repeat these four rows two more times.   

Main body – lace plus center section

Row 1: K2, (K2tog, yo) 5 times, K 22, (yo, k2tog) 5 times, K2.

Row 2: K2, p across row to last two sts, K2.

Row 3: K2, (yo, K2tog) 5 times, K1, (K2tog, yoyo, K2tog) K4, (K2tog, yoyo, K2tog), K4, (K2tog, yoyo, K2tog), K1, (K2tog, yo) 5 times. 

Row 4: K2, p across row to last two sts, K2.

Row 5: K2, (K2tog, yo) 5 times, K 22, (yo, k2tog) 5 times, K2.

Row 6: K2, p across row to last two sts, K2.

Row 7: K2, (yo, K2tog) 5 times, K5, (K2tog, yoyo, K2tog) K4, (K2tog, yoyo, K2tog), K5, (K2tog, yo) 5 times. 

Row 8: K2, p across row to last two sts, K2.

Repeat these 8 rows for desired length.  Then repeat Pattern 1 for 3 lace repeats, then finish with 4 rows plain knitting. 

K = Knit

 P = purl

yo = yarn over & yoyo = yarn over twice

K2tog = knit two together

Blessings, and Merry Christmas!

~Alana

Fashionable Necklace Chart

Here is a quick guide to choosing the right necklace for that favorite neckline!  I think it is very helpful, and will be using it often in the future.

On a different note, silk threads are on their way to my house so I can begin a new line of tatted lace jewelry. I can hardly wait to get started and share them with you all!

We're gearing up for Christmas here, and I'm studying different types of fodder for the sheep over the winter.  Sprouting their grain sounds better and better, and would be very healthy for the pregnant ewes. 

Luke 1:68-75
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
    for he has visited and redeemed his people
⁶⁹ and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David,
⁷⁰ as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
⁷¹ that we should be saved from our enemies
    and from the hand of all who hate us;
⁷² to show the mercy promised to our fathers
    and to remember his holy covenant,
⁷³ the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
⁷⁴     that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
⁷⁵     in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

Blessings!
Alana