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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Longing for wisdom

Proverbs 8
 Does not wisdom call?
    Does not understanding raise her voice?
On the heights beside the way,
    at the crossroads she takes her stand;
beside the gates in front of the town,
    at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
“To you, O men, I call,
    and my cry is to the children of man.
O simple ones, learn prudence;
    O fools, learn sense.
Hear, for I will speak noble things,
    and from my lips will come what is right,
for my mouth will utter truth;
    wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are righteous;
    there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
They are all straight to him who understands,
    and right to those who find knowledge.
10 Take my instruction instead of silver,
    and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 for wisdom is better than jewels,
    and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
    and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
    and perverted speech I hate.
14 I have counsel and sound wisdom;
    I have insight; I have strength.
15 By me kings reign,
    and rulers decree what is just;
16 by me princes rule,
    and nobles, all who govern justly.
17 I love those who love me,
    and those who seek me diligently find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me,
    enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
    and my yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
    in the paths of justice,
21 granting an inheritance to those who love me,
    and filling their treasuries.
22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work,
    the first of his acts of old.
23 Ages ago I was set up,
    at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
    when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains had been shaped,
    before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 before he had made the earth with its fields,
    or the first of the dust of the world.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there;
    when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he made firm the skies above,
    when he established the fountains of the deep,
29 when he assigned to the sea its limit,
    so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30     then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his delight,
    rejoicing before him always,
31 rejoicing in his inhabited world
    and delighting in the children of man.
32 “And now, O sons, listen to me:
    blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
    and do not neglect it.
34 Blessed is the one who listens to me,
    watching daily at my gates,
    waiting beside my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life
    and obtains favor from the Lord,
36 but he who fails to find me injures himself;
    all who hate me love death.”

James 1:2-8
 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

God is good.  This is what I have trouble remembering first in all situations. So many times I am guilty of desiring my will above God's perfect plan for my life, as well as the lives of those around me.  Trials and pain in this life teach us to rely on God's mercy and knowledge and wisdom, because of His promises not to leave nor forsake those who trust in Him.  Is is not sweet to be able to put all difficult decisions in the Lord's hands, and trust Him to guide His child through the maze?  Is it not comforting to rest and wait for the Lord's timing and plan?  Yes, there will be troubles and heartaches in this life, because of sin, and because this world is not our home.  But it is sweet to trust and obey our kind Lord Jesus.

Blessings,
Alana
 

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Celtic Music



The Covenanters are six of the Murch siblings that play Celtic Music together. Evan plays lead violin/fiddle, Hannah also plays violin/fiddle, Jesse plays lead guitar, Ben play rhythm guitar and some percussion; Sam plays cello, and Elijah plays pennywhistle and Celtic drum.
They play traditional Celtic music from Scotlad, Ireland and Wales, but also compose and play original music, some of it in the traditional Celtic mode of jigs and reels, but some in a much more Classical form.
They can be found on Facebook and YouTube. They perform regularly in venues in Central Virginia, and will hopefully have a CD or DVD out early in 2012. They are available to do performances anywhere in driving distance Appomattox, Virginia.


http://www.thecovenanters.com/

This is the type of music I generally turn on when I'm tatting or doing housework.  The steady beat keeps me focused on the task at hand, while the gentle music soothes the sometimes tired or confused brain.

Enjoy!
~Alana

Monday, October 15, 2012

Random updates


 First off we have a small update on my tablecloth project.  The elusive tablecloth has been found, and (drumroll, please!)... tea dyed! 
 I'm really getting excited about finishing this one.  
The white lace is to show how tan the tablecloth is now, and the green is a small piece of what will go around the edges.

Next up is a snapshot of hot sourdough rolls the other day.  They were good!  I enjoy working with sourdough, partly because my mom made a *lot* of sourdough bread for years when I was growing up, and partly because of the tangy, fermented taste.  




And last, but not least, here is a new necklace in the shop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/111918459/dramatic-ecru-and-gold-tatted-lace
The necklace itself is much more dramatic in person than it is in the pictures.  A creamy shade of ecru thread gracefully encircles gold seed beads, while the vintage glass pearls are simply icing on the cake!

Blessings!
~Alana