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Isaiah 40:18-26 (verses 18, 25, & 26 )- “To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with Him?… ‘To whom then will you liken Me That I would be his equal?’ says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.”
This was taken at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, July 2007 while on a business vacation.
Our family loves Answers In Genesis. My Hubby gets a magazine from them and reads it cover to cover. We love the little radio clips. And I love the articles I find on the website. I found the perfect one for you about the stars.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v19/i2/stars.asp
I’m going to take some excerpts from it, in case you don’t want to read it all.
” The total number of individual stars visible in both the northern and the southern celestial hemispheres is about 6,000. Thus, on a clear night one can see at most 3,000 stars at the same time. Is that all? With the advent of telescopes, very many previously unknown stars were discovered. Galileo (1564–1642), using his homemade telescope, saw a ten-fold increase in the number of visible stars, up to 30,000.
Today, the local Milky Way galaxy (of which our sun is a part) has been found to contain 200,000 million stars. What an astounding result! If somebody could count three stars per second, after 100 years he would have counted less than five percent of this number.
Our galaxy comprises not only an unimaginable host of stars, but the size of this bright starry band in the sky is also astounding. Its diameter is said to be 100,000 light-years.
Astronomical distances are too large to be measured in kilometers, so light-years are used instead. One light-year is the distance that a light ray travels in one year. At a speed of 300,000 kilometers (186,000 miles) per second, it amounts to 9.46 million million kilometers (5.87 million million miles).
Can we really grasp such an immense size? And this is not the only galaxy. With the naked eye we can see three more, namely the two Clouds of Magellan near the southern celestial pole, and the Andromeda galaxy in the constellation of the same name. The Andromeda galaxy is thought to be 2.25 million light-years from us.
… Isaiah tells us that God’s thoughts and ways are far higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8–9). Not only are His thoughts higher than ours, they are also much faster. He can count the stars! And He has done exactly that; He even gave each one a name: ‘He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names ’ (Psalm 147:4). The very next verse emphasizes His greatness: ‘Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.’
And yet He is also concerned about each and every human being. This is clearly expressed in Psalm 8:3–6:
‘When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:’”
So I am so glad that we have a God that is a God who can create a universe that continues to amaze and astonish astronomers. Yet, He also cares about all the day to day details in each of our lives. Just as Psalm 105 starts with, ” Give thanks to the Lord.”, so should we. And it ends with ” Praise the Lord.”, just as we should also praise Him.
Psalm 105:25-45 (verses 38, 39)- “Egypt was glad when they departed, For the dread of them had fallen upon them. He spread a cloud for a covering, And fire to illumine by night.”
This colorway is based on the Exodus of the Isrelites. You can read about it here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exodus
This colorway is part of my “Songs of… ” series, where each one is named after a Psalm.
I really like the Old Testament. I love reading the stories of how God provided for His people over and over. How they messed up time and time again, yet He continued to forgive them and draw them close to Him.
Basic summary of the Exodus. The people were now slaves in Egypt. God called Moses to stand against Pharaoh. It took 10 different plagues for the Pharaoh to let them go. So God takes them out of Egypt and is leading them to His promised land. But the people continue to sin. Over and over they sin. Therefore, God allows them to wander in the wilderness for years, so that the people of the sinful generation would not enter into the promised land. Yet, throughout that experience, the Lord provided for them. He provided their food each day with quail and manna. He provided extra for the Sabbath. And He gave them a pillar of clouds to protect them in the day from the desert sun and a pillar of fire at night, to guide them and protect them. After many years of wandering in the desert and conquering people, they arrived and settled in the land the Lord had promised them.
There are days that spiritually, I feel like I’m in the desert. Some of these days are a result of my sin. Some are not. Yet, I can rest assured that no matter what, my Lord provides for all my needs. Even in the desert.
This colorway reminds me of the fire in the night and the clouds in the sky in day, with the cactus in the desert. God eventually led His people to the promised land, and He will do the same for you.
James 1:13-18 “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”
This colorway was inspired by this famous box from Tiffany & Co as a representative of a “Good Gift”.
Sometimes I find that though I understand scripture, the other people can explain what I am thinking in a much more concise way. Therefore, I am turning to some commentaries to help me explain this passage. Don’t miss out on my story of “my gift” too.
First, is “David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible “.
On verses 13-16: “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”: Temptation does not come from God. Though He allows it, He Himself does not entice us to evil, though God may test our faith without a solicitation to evil (nor does He Himself tempt anyone). ames knew that most people have an evil tendency to blame God when they find themselves in trials. But by His very nature, God is unable to either be tempted (in the sense we are tempted, as James will explain), nor can He Himself tempt anyone. Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed: God doesn’t tempt us. Instead, temptation comes when we are drawn away by our own fleshly desires and enticed – with the world and the devil providing the enticement. Satan certainly tempts us. But the only reason temptation has a hook in us is because of our own fallen nature, which corrupts our God-given desires. We often give Satan too much credit for his tempting powers, and fail to recognize that we are drawn away by our own desires. Satan’s great strategy in temptation is to convince us that the pursuit of our corrupt desires will somehow produce life and goodness for us. If we remembered that Satan only comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10), then we would resist the deceptions of temptation more easily.”
Verse 17: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above: From our own fallen natures and from those who would entice us, we expect no true goodness. But every good and every perfect gift comes from God the Father in heaven. With whom there is no variation or shadow of turning: God’s goodness is constant. There is no variation with Him. Instead of shadows, God is the Father of lights. In the ancient Greek grammar, James actually wrote “the Father of the lights.” The specific lights are the celestial bodies that light up the sky, both day and night. The sun, moon, and stars never “turn off,” even when we can’t see them. Even so, there is never a shadow with God.”
And from “Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament”, more on verse 17: “Every good gift and every perfect gift. The difference between good and perfect here, it is not easy to mark accurately. It may be that the former means that which is benevolent in its character and tendency; the latter that which is entire, where there is nothing even apparently wanting to complete it; where it can be regarded as good as a whole and in all its parts. The general sense is, that God is the author of all good. Everything that is good on the earth we are to trace to him; evil has another origin.”
And now for my personal take on the subject. I’m not sure how many of you know my story into the “yarn business”. But honestly, it was very sudden. I was dyeing for fun for my daughter and everything was the way it had been. Then we did one called “Morning Glory” (you can read more about it by searching for it here). After naming it, and thinking about how it applied to God, bells began to go off in my head. I began to wonder if it would be possible to name each one from the Bible. And with that thought process came a new way of living. It was as if instantly my vision had been changed. All of the sudden, I saw colors I’d never seen before. I could visualize things on yarn. And I KNEW it was a gift from the Lord. My special gift from Him. My way to reach out to people and share with them about our awesome God, while doing something that I love. I knew I had to honor him with my work. Truly, I am so grateful for my gift that the Lord bestowed upon me.
And He has given me so many more. He gave me Himself, His Son and His Spirit. He gave me a husband that has been so supportive of this endeavor. He coordinated the forming of my partnerships with Lea and Colleen. He has given me so many opportunities to touch other’s lives. He has given me wonderful customers who have encouraged me in countless ways. And I am so thankful for it all. I’m sure there will be bumps and hiccups along the way, yet as long as I am glorifying Christ in all that I do, I will be satisfied. And in knowing Him, I truly have the Best Gift!
Proverbs 3:11-18 “My child, when the LORD corrects you, pay close attention and take it as a warning. The LORD corrects those he loves, as parents correct a child of whom they are proud. Happy is anyone who becomes wise—who comes to have understanding. There is more profit in it than there is in silver; it is worth more to you than gold. Wisdom is more valuable than jewels; nothing you could want can compare with it. Wisdom offers you long life, as well as wealth and honor. Wisdom can make your life pleasant and lead you safely through it. Those who become wise are happy; wisdom will give them life.”
This colorway was inspired by a shirt I’ve owned since High School. And I STILL wear it. LOL This picture is taken my sophomore year (91-92) and is with my best friend, Cheryl. The hair styles are so funny!!! (You can click on it to see it bigger. )
I was out on a date with my husband, when this verse came on the radio. I instantly knew what colors I’d see it to be. Green, like dark emeralds. Maroon, like deep rubies. Navy, like dark sapphires. And white- like diamonds. Precious jewels. Valuable to most. Yet, this scripture tells us that Wisdom is more valuable and nothing can compare with it.
I think it’s ironic that this set of verses starts off with admonition for taking the Lord’s correction seriously. And then it talks about wisdom. I think that the Lord is often trying to teach us and correct us lovingly, the way most parents do their own children. Yet, I think, as stubborn adults, we often turn away from His correction. Part of wisdom is knowing when to take correction.
This verse also says that Wisdom leads to happiness and long and pleasant life. This philosophy is so different than what many people think of today. They think fame, wealth, beauty will make them happy. Yet look at Hollywood. Those people are famous. Yet they can’t even go to the bathroom without cameras following them. They long to raise their families in peace, but are subjected by constant paparazzi. They marry the ideal man/woman. Yet, look at the divorce rate. Look at how long the marriages last. They have wealth, yet look at how many end up in alcohol/drug rehabs. Do they seem really happy? Truly peaceful on the inside?
True peace and contentment can only come from God. He offers us things not of the world. Wisdom is one of the gifts he offers us. And I think that one who is wise will understand that the pleasures of the world are temporary and fleeting, and therefore would rather go after eternal things. A wise friend in college said that she just committed to praying for wisdom. And the Lord answered her, for she was wise beyond her years. And she blessed my life in the process. I think I need to start daily praying for wisdom, for I long to have the life God promises us we’ll have with it.
Hebrews 13:2 “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!”
This colorway is part of my “Angels” series. The name is inspired by a song by the Newsboys, “Entertaining Angels”, which both my husband and I love!
You can watch the music video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4VFEwYHZiU
As I’ve become an adult, and especially a mom, I’ve had a newfound respect for good old hospitality. What a difference home cooked meals brought to your door-step means after you have a baby. What a wonderful thing a thank you card is. What a great thing a quick phone call means- just checking on you. How wonderful it is to have someone offer to help you in your time of need. To have someone watch your kids, so you can get out or just go to the doctor in peace.
The ladies in my MOPS groups have taught me so very much about this. I’ve had an opportunity to have some wonderful mentors who’s very essence were hospitality. I’ve had the opportunity to be a recipient of many wonderful things. And I’ve also learned a lot about giving. I’ve learned how to give out of an overflow of my heart. How to give, just to bless. How to give so that others may benefit.
This scripture is so neat. There are 3 Old Testament people who “entertained angels without knowing it”; 1- Abraham (Genesis 18:1), 2- Gideon (Judges 6:11) and 3- Manoah (Judges 13:2. I’m not sure to all the workings of angels. They are a mystery to me, for sure. Yet, it says that in serving others, sometimes we entertain angels. I think those are my favorite movies. The ones where someone comes in for a time and out for a time. Like “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Though, I doubt the theology of the movie, it’s a fun story to watch. I wonder if you or I have ever just helped a person in need, and in doing so have “entertained angels”. I think I’m going to make a more concerted effort to help those strangers in need. Find a way to serve others whenever possible.
Titus 2:3-5 “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”
This colorway is lovingly named for the head Mentor in our MOPS program, where I am on the steering team. Wilma has willingly served us “young” ladies for 3 years, and over those 3 years, I’ve come to love and admire her greatly. A couple of weeks ago, she wore this lovely sweater that I knew would be a beautiful colorway. It was periwinkle, with purple and black argyle pattern on it. I decided then that I could honor her by naming this yarn after her and telling the world what a wonderful influence she has been to me.
One of my favorite aspects to MOPS is the fact that we have mentors available. This is my 4th year in MOPS and each year, I’ve been blessed with an amazing mentor. I’ve had opportunities to get to know four older women, and each of these women and all of our mentors embody the command of Titus 2.
Joyce always has a smile and an encouraging word, even despite caring for a sick husband and her own battle with breast cancer. Linda is so gracious and even threw me a surprise baby shower when I was expecting my 2nd baby. Pat is the queen of hospitality. She is always joyful in everything she does. And Wilma- well, her passion for the Lord is evident in everything she does. She serves the Lord and gives to Him out of a willing and obedient heart. And now in my 3rd year on steering, I can honestly say that Wilma has become a “mother of my heart.” She has guided my heart toward the Lord with her words, prayers and actions. I could go on and on about the hearts of our wonderful mentors. Each has been chosen because she displays the characteristics of a Titus 2 woman. And each has served in such an amazing way.
You see, the first part of this verse commands the older women to basically check their behavior. Are they modeling Christ in their lives? If they are not, they can not teach the younger generation. Thankfully, all of the women who have graciously taken on the task of mentoring at MOPS this year (and in the past) have gone above and beyond this call.
The verse then tells the older women to “teach” and “encourage” the younger women to live Godly lives at home. The older women’s times with young children afoot are past. Yet, in mothering themselves (and surviving it) they have grown and gained much wisdom. The mentors are here because they love us, care about us, want to see us flourish in motherhood, and above all- to serve Christ in everything they do.
I think the younger generations of today are missing out by not getting to know our “seasoned” women. Each and every one of these ladies is amazing and wants to bless us in numerous ways. You may or may not have a mentor at your table this year. But each and every one of them still desires to see all of us be fruitful in our lives. So my challenge for you today is to think about this verse. Are you following the commands of God here? If not, who can you turn to who can aid you in your pursuit of the honor of God? Look around today. There are “mentors” available to every young woman. I pray that you may find someone who you can call a “mother of your heart.”
You can learn about a MOPS near you at: http://www.mops.org/
Galatians 4: 1-7 “But now to continue—the son who will receive his father’s property is treated just like a slave while he is young, even though he really owns everything. While he is young, there are men who take care of him and manage his affairs until the time set by his father. In the same way, we too were slaves of the ruling spirits of the universe before we reached spiritual maturity. But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the son of a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might become God’s children. To show that you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who cries out, “Abba! Father!” So then, you are no longer a slave but a child. And since you are his child, God will give you all that he has for his children.”
Recently, my husband has been home a lot. He had his ACL repaired, and my daughters have had the opportunity to have him around more frequently than they normally do. Granted, he is a very involved father. He dotes on his daughters and showers them with love and affection. Yet, on a very regular basis, he is away from them for a good portion of the day. My activities, his work, have all kept us busy. This semester, I’ve slowed down quite a bit. He has now been home for almost a week. They’ve grown very attached. There’s something so sweet about a little 18 mo girl waking up saying, “Da-Da. Da-Da.” I say, do you want to go get Daddy? She says, “Yeah.” Or my oldest daughter, who is 3, waking up in the middle of the night, crying out for Daddy.
Their relationship with him is very special. Yet, it is only a mere reflection of the relationship we have with our Heavenly Father. This scripture says that at we were all under the law. Yet, Jesus came and lived under the law- to free us from the law, so that we could also become children of God. Because of the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross, and because he triumphed over death by raising on the third day- we can have the Spirit of God by simply believing in Him. And that seals us into His family. We become adopted children.
I’m on a forum board where quite a few women have adopted children. And I have some friends who are adopted. As a young child, this part about being adopted by God had very little significance. Now, as an woman in my child bearing years, adoption is a whole new issue. I have seen friends struggle with infertility. I have seen families made whole by adoption. I have seen children loved and made complete by the adoption process. Yet these are fallible parents, raising fallible children. But through Christ, we have the ability to call out to our Father, and know that He loves us the same way that He loved Christ. And it was for us that He sent His son to us. I am so glad that I can have this type of relationship with God. That he longs for me to wake up and call for Him the way my baby does. And to cry out to Him at night, the way my 3 year old does. He is truly our “Abba Father”.
... a time to dye 