More Than a Ball of Yarn

As a knitter, sometime crocheter and lover of yarn, I loved this post! ) From http://www.truewoman.com/?id=740

More than a Ball of Yarn

Your Purpose posted on 07.09.09 by Mary Kassian

There’s a mall with a small Zellers Department Store not far from my house. Because I’ve frequented it often over the years, I’m quite familiar with the layout of the store and roughly what’s contained in each aisle. Several months ago, I ran into Zellers to buy a few things for the house. I rounded the corner from the aisle containing pillows and blankets into the next aisle, where I expected to find candles, vases, and home decor. But what I saw stopped me dead in my tracks. The aisle had been transformed. From top to bottom, beginning to end, it was stocked full of colorful balls of yarn. I stood there gawking in amazement.

Now you may not think that there’s anything particularly unusual about a yarn aisle in a department store. But I was stunned. The reason I was stunned was that the womanly art of knitting and crocheting fell by the wayside a long time ago—along with the idea that the best place for a young wife and mom was in the home.

When I was a little girl, my Oma (granny) had taken me to the yarn aisle to pick out beautiful skeins for my next crocheting project. And although it was still possible to find yarn in craft stores, I hadn’t seen a shelf—let alone a whole aisle full—in a department store for what seemed like eons.

The feminist women-centered analysis (err . . . brainwashing) of the seventies and eighties had convinced women like me that womanly crafts like knitting and crocheting were trivial, if not borderline demeaning. We were taught that women should stop doing menial things for the home and devote our attention to things of serious importance—like developing a career and earning a lot of money. I hadn’t picked up a crochet hook in decades.

I was so overwhelmed by my thoughts that I stayed there in the yarn aisle for a while, pondering the cultural significance of it all. I ran my fingers over the skeins, feeling the thickness and texture of the strings. I studied the sizes and types of hooks and needles. I thought back to sitting at Oma’s feet, having her guide my clumsy young hands in basic crochet stitches. I thought of the pretty doilies she taught me to crochet and the sense of pride and accomplishment when my mom displayed my work on the living room coffee table.

I thought about the relaxed womanly camaraderie . . . a grandmother sitting for hours mentoring and training her young granddaughter in womanly arts. Things that she had learned from her grandmother. And she, from her grandmother before her. I thought about the whole concept of an older woman training a younger woman how to be a woman and how to pour herself into making a house a home. I thought about the admonition of Titus 2:3 for older women to teach younger women good and beautiful things. The sense of nostalgia that swept over me at that moment was profound. We women have lost so much.

I think that many women are beginning to feel the vacuum. They’re yearning for womanly things. That’s why a whole aisle of yarn has, after a 25 year absence, suddenly re-appeared at my local department store.

Inspired, I bought a ball of crochet thread and some hooks. I pulled out some old patterns I had kept stored in a box in my basement, and sat on the couch refreshing my memory on how to crochet. The next time I stayed with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law in Houston, I bought some bright pink, blue, and green skeins and large plastic hooks to teach my young niece how to crochet. We sat on the floor for a couple of hours as I guided her inexperienced hands in how to hook chains and do single crochets. We laughed together and worked together. When she was finished, she decorated her bed frame with bright, pretty crocheted flowers. I don’t know who was more proud.

What took place that day was a whole lot more valuable than a day at the office. It makes me think that our foremothers were a lot wiser than we gave them credit for. It is us—and not them—that have been deceived by an elaborate yarn.

Rapture

The Lord is coming very soon. Are you Ready? Watch this short video for an illustration of what will happen when the Lord comes for His church and what is the fate of those who are ‘left behind’.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore comfort one another with these words.

I recommend http://www.gotquestions.org/rapture.html for concise Q&A on the subject. For example: Question: “What is the Rapture of the church?”

Answer: The word “rapture” does not occur in the Bible. The concept of the rapture, though, is clearly taught in Scripture. The rapture of the church is the event in which God removes all believers from the earth in order to make way for His righteous judgment to be poured out on the earth during the tribulation period. The rapture is described primarily in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. God will resurrect all believers who have died, give them glorified bodies, and take them from the earth, along with those believers who are still alive and who will at that time also be given glorified bodies. “For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

The rapture will be instantaneous in nature, and we will receive glorified bodies at that time. “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). The rapture is the glorious event we should all be longing for. We will finally be free from sin. We will be in God’s presence forever. There is far too much debate over the meaning and scope of the rapture. This is not God’s intent. Rather, in regard to the rapture, God wants us to “encourage each other with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

Recommended Resource: The Rapture: Who Will Face the Tribulation by Tim LaHaye.

I Can Only Imagine (by Mercy Me)

This is just the most beautiful song!!!! It’s been my favorite from the first time I heard it. If you already know it, enjoy the video, if you are not familiar with it, please consider its implications now. Will YOU be there with me?

Death Is Not Dying

I want to share this with you, but words I write could never do this story justice. It’s a wonderful testimony to LIFE, and to life everlasting. If you are not a believer in Jesus Christ this is one of the best examples I have ever encountered of the peace and understanding that comes with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, by accepting the Jesus Christ as Lord in your life.

I quote Rachel when I remind you that “we are all dying”.

Duh! right?!?

It just happens that she has a better idea of when that might happen for her than the rest of us do. On the other hand, this might be the last time you turn on your computer. Hundreds of people who heard her testimony on the radio as I did – perfectly healthy people will get to heaven before SHE does.

The point is that we all have an eternal soul, the question is where will YOU spend eternity? God’s word is clear……..if you have NOT accepted Christ in this life, you will not be in heaven with Him. Rachel’s testimony is wonderful in that she has the “peace that surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7)

I first heard this on the Revive Our Hearts daily radio show (top 2 links below) where you can hear and download FREE of charge Rachel Barkey’s testimony.

Part 1:Time is Terribly Short
Part 2:A Faith that Saves

Rachel’s own website is http://deathisnotdying.com/
Rachel was called home to the Lord on July 2, 2009, but her testimony will forever be with us.

No Fear

I was listening to Alistair Begg (Truth For Life Podcast) – he’s a Scottish preacher with a church in Cleveland now, I believe. The website is http://www.truthforlife.org. He’s a wonderful preacher with an amazing gift of teaching God’s word. It’s not saying fancy words or words in Greek or Hebrew, but he’s more edifying and helpful to my daily walk then most preachers I have heard!

I was listening to him just now while working out in the garden and he said something so simple and so profound which I really needed to be remembered. He said “it’s an amazing wonder, it’s the law of God’s providence, that those who fear God should have nothing else to fear – and those who do not fear God become slaves to a thousand fears“

This is from his podcast dated June 5th entitled Glory to God, Part B. “that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time–He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:14-16)

Obama: America is ‘no longer Christian’

Last week President Obama said in addressing a press conference in Turkey last week: “Whatever we once were, we’re no longer a Christian nation. At least not just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, and a Buddhist nation, and a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers,”. View on Youtube.

The naïveté of His words (which merely echo what most of the world believes) speak for themselves. Bending over backwards to appease the enemy isn’t going to get him any points, in fact it only proves to them we are weak. Which we are! Watching last weekend several presentations commemorating the 65th anniversary of D-Day only helped me see that even more clearly! This nation isn’t what it used to be BECAUSE it forgot God. God brings wrath on those who reject Him, and this country is guilty of doing that big time.

If you are not a Christian, know and accept that Jesus was the Son of God who came and died for your sins.

As a Christian, don’t be disgusted, this didn’t start with the current administration, it started long ago. Most importantly, remember God’s plans cannot be thwarted, and the Scriptures tell us that every ruler is put there by God (”the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind and that He sets over it whomever He wishes” Daniel 5:21). Rejoice at the signs of the times, as it shows us our redemption IS very, VERY close.

These futile attempts on the part of politicians and diplomats to achieve Middle East peace have been searching for peace for Israel for decades. Why? Why is this small and insignificant country (in the eyes of the world) such a concern? America has ignored many other skirmishes throughout the world, why is this one so important? It’s all leading to the end of time. Zechariah 12:2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. Referring to the siege of Jerusalem before the battle of Armageddon. Thankfully those of us who have put our trust in Jesus Christ before then will be watching, as one of my favorite Bible teachers puts it……”from the mezzanine”.

While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:13

The Last Knit

My knitting buds will appreciate this one.

Exodus 35:31  “And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship”

Technology in the Last Days

This was on Fox News yesterday. CNN and MSNBC did not cover it, at least the stories were not on their respective web sites. Fox News story quoted below or you can read it at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520331,00.html. The patent was being reviewed in Germany, where the Saudi Arabian inventor filed for his microchip with cyanide inside which can be activated to kill the person.

Whether it is approved or not, the point is, the technology is obviously there and the lack of a patent does not mean it will not be made and used. Like Bogey said “maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but soon!”. But seriously…..anyone who does not see the signs of the times is just not trying.

I always said this is how technology would fulfill the prophecy of Revelation 13:15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. In this day and age when even low-income families can afford a cell phone; considering the way in which technology can be linked, it would be nothing to link one’s microchip to his cell phone. Imagine the coming world leader, the Anti-Christ dictating that his image should be sent in a text or video message to all cell phones and whomever didn’t accept it (as we accept messages every day) was to have the microchip’s cyanide released thereby killing the person.

A few years ago anyone hearing that would say we’ve been watching too much X-Files!!!!!!!!

Thankfully, those who have trusted in Christ before the rapture will be spared all this! But those who are ‘left behind’ will suffer the doom of the Anti-Christ and his right hand man: Revelation 19:20 [Doom of the Beast and False Prophet] And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.

I believe most people will start getting these microchips implanted for security reasons and convenience’s sake, such as scan hand for credit card and medical information, out of fear as tracking device for children. The latter is starting to become popular already. Revelation 13:17 and he [Anti-Christ] provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Few generations have been as blessed as we who are Christians today, and can TRULY be able to say they can see the hand of the Lord: Israel in the exodus & dessert, Jesus’ time and now! Imagine the hundreds of generations which have lived with some doubt in their minds because they couldn’t reconcile the signs of the times!!!!!!!!! The Lord has made it clear as glass that His word is true and prophecy is how we know it, because anyone can SAY something’s going to happen, but when it comes true is the litmus test to us of who is telling the truth and to Whom we should be listening.

2 Peter 1:19-21

¹⁹So we have ^(A)the prophetic word made more ^(B)sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to ^(C)a lamp shining in a dark place, until the ^(D)day dawns and the ^(E)morning star arises ^(F)in your hearts.
²⁰But ^(G)know this first of all, that ^(H)no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,
²¹for ^(I)no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men ^(J)moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Joh 20:29 Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me you have believed. Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed.
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Saudi ‘Killer Chip’ Implant Would Track, Eliminate Undesirables

Monday , May 18, 2009

It could be the ultimate in political control but it won’t be patented in Germany.

German media outlets reported last week that a Saudi inventor’s application to patent a “killer chip,” as the Swiss tabloids put it, had been denied.

The basic model would consist of a tiny GPS transceiver placed in a capsule and inserted under a person’s skin, so that authorities could track him easily.

Model B would have an extra function a dose of cyanide to remotely kill the wearer without muss or fuss if authorities deemed he’d become a public threat.

The inventor said the chip could be used to track terrorists, criminals, fugitives, illegal immigrants, political dissidents, domestic servants and foreigners overstaying their visas.

“The invention will probably be found to violate paragraph two of the German Patent Law which does not allow inventions that transgress public order or good morals,” German Patent and Trademark Office spokeswoman Stephanie Krüger told the English-language German-news Web site The Local.

God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, and love and discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

My King

It’s Nice To Get Outstanding News!

Received this from our church:

Gene just called, he was feeling excited. Two weeks ago he had led one of the drug dealers in the prison to the Lord. Today he went by to talk to him and the guy he worked for, one of the major drug lords in the prison, was there. Gene, never missed a beat and after a couple of hours that guy trusted in Christ as a Savior.

Now that is the only real solution to the drug problems!

With all the bad things going on around us, it’s great to hear things like this and just remind ourselves that the Battle IS the Lord’s and that HE cannot be beat. Remember also that Jesus told us in Matthew 6 that worry / anxiety is a sin!

We must overcome in the while we have left on this earth and witness as much as we can!