Thankful Mini Quilt

 

This idea has been in my heart for a while- and so I wanted to share this mini quilt with you- hoping that it can be used to remind us of all that we should be thankful for.  We will be using ours in the center of our Thanksgiving table- and hopefully it will be an heirloom to pass down as the children remember helping me with it- choosing leaves, leaf shapes, fabrics, and also what they were thankful for.

This mini quilt is very versitile, you can either use leaf shapes, or whatever fall shapes that you wish. The shape of the project is also variable- do a table runner or just a small potholder. Sewing is only one option.  Tomorrow my 3 year old and my niece will be doing this with felt and gluing their leaves on and we will be painting on them what they are thankful for.

As we are making this- I am going to include some thankful scriptures for us- so that we have a thankful heart :)

1. Go on a leaf expedition and get some leaves :) Take the whole family and use it as a reason to brush up on your tree identification skills :)  We had as a family gone on a leaf expedition several weeks ago- I didn't take care of the leaves properly or in time, so they have gotten brown and crinkly now- however, we will just need the shape :)

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you 1 Thessalonians 5:18

 

2. Trace your leaves on cardstock to use as a pattern piece.  If you can't find any leaves outside, you may find enlarge this one below, or try to freehand a shape. I ended up only using the maple and the poplar leaf- the oak leaf just didn't look right after being traced.  You can use any leaves- or only use one kind of leaf.  You could also use any other shapes that you would like- like pumpkins, hearts, and anything else that may be fall related.





Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Psalms 107:1

3. Next, we get to pick out the fabrics that we will use.  I have several examples- and you could either pick them out yourselves- or let each family member pick out their favorite.

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Ephesians 5:20

 Fall themed fabrics..

 Civil War reprint fabrics..

 Brighter and lighter colored fabrics..

 Batik and hand dyed fabrics..

 Various fall colored prints..

 Even sheet material..

These are the fabrics that I chose for this example.

4. Figure out how many leaves that you will be wanting to use..  Will you have a leaf for each member of the house? After doing this- trace your leaf pattern on the back of the fabric and cut out your leaf shapes.



And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:15-17

5. How will you arrange your leaves?  Do you want them to be in a circle or would you rather a rectangular table runner? Place them on a piece of background fabric and see what you like.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

Looks like leaves floating down a brook for table runner?

6. Iron the pieces of fabric that you will use.

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

7. Figure out the shape of the background fabric.  I chose a circle, and to make it I traced a large cookie plate.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Phillipians 4:6

8.Arrange your leaves on your fabric and make sure that you like it.  Pin your leaves down, use heat and bond, or glue them to your background fabric.  Cut the fabric.

Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 106:1







9. I decided that although I wanted a background that showed the leaves off, I didn't want to put binding around a circle- so I pinned my circle onto a 14 inch square of fall fabric.

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Psalm 105:1

 10. Sew around the edges of the leaves if you didn't glue them- and circle of background if that is what you chose. Please make sure that everything is pinned first (learn from my mistakes, although I did using a basting spray).

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 118:1

Sewed along leaf and circle edges

11. Choose your backing and cut it to fit along with batting if you are using it (you could also use a piece of other fabric instead of batting). Lay your top on the batting on top of the back, making sure that after it is pinned you can see all of the right sides of the fabric.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

 12. Sew around the middle through all layers.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

13. Your project will need bound- you can either use a store bought binding or make one yourself.  I usually make mine.  I cut 4 strips of 1 1/2 inch fabric that matched the front fall fabric.  2 strips must be the same length as your project and the other 2 must be 3 inches longer than your project.

 That my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever! Psalm 30:12

 14. If you are making your own binding- sew one of the shorter strips (same length as project) on the back with the fabric facing the back(you can't see the good side of fabric now)- sew a 1/4 inch seam from the outside of the fabric.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17

Sew the other shorter one on the opposite side.



14. Sew the longer strips on the sides that you didn't sew the first strips on- and then press the fabric open so that you can see your binding fabric when looking at the back.



And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known His deeds among the peoples, proclaim that His name is exalted. “Sing praises to the Lord, for He has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Isaiah 12:4-5

15. Flip the quilt so that you can see the front and fold the edges of the binding over with a little tucked underneath (so that you don't have a raw edge). Sew along your binding- either with your machine or by hand (make sure that it is pinned first).

Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name! Psalm 100:4

16. Think about what you want your quilt to say- if anything.  You could stitch or paint on a scripture, or your family's names, in our case we stitched on "We thank you Lord" and then 6 of the blessings that we are thankful for; salvation, friends, church, family, health, and provision.  If stitching- you can either hand stitch or use a machine.  I used the long arm on this.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God Ephesians 2:8

17. Clip all of your loose threads, press and then display or give as a gift :)  I pray that you had as much fun as I did with this project and grew closer to your Creator as you created :) Feel free to share pictures of your own projects with me- or ask any questions that you need.

 

 







 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:1-2



Stars in His Eyes

Stars in His Eyes is a free 6 inch crochet square pattern with devotion about the unconditional love that the Lord has for us.

Tested and edited by  Carmen Carpenter and Bekah Doughty.

Difficulty: Intermediate

Hook: H or I depending on how tightly you crochet

Abbreviations:

beg- beginning

BPTR- backpost treble crochet

BPDC- backpost double crochet

BPHDC- backpost half double crochet

BPSC- backpost single crochet

ch-chain

dc-double crochet

hk-hook

lp or lps-loop or loops

sc-single crochet

sl st- slip stitch

sp or sps- space or spaces

st or sts- stitch or stitches

tr- treble crochet

yo- yarn over

 

Stitch Definitions Beginning Pinwheel Stitch- ch2 (yo, put hk into first ch-2 sp, yo, pull up lp, yo, pull through 2 lps on hk) twice in the same ch-2 sp, yo, put hk into next sc, yo, pull up lp, (yo, pull through 2 lps on hk) four times. Pinwheel Stitch- yo, put hk into last st used (sc), yo, pull lp through, yo, pull through 2 lps on hk, (yo, put hk into first ch-2 sp, yo, pull up lp, yo, pull through 2 lps on hk) twice in the same ch-2 sp, yo, put hk into next sc, yo, pull up lp, (yo, pull through 2 lps on hk) five times. These two stitches create what looks like a pinwheel or a cluster that leans to the left.   Making a BackPost stitch whether it is treble, double, halfdouble, or single is done by putting your hook from behind the stitch around the post and through the back instead of the standard putting the hook into a said stitch.

Begin Here

With Color A, ch 4, sl st to beg ch to form ring.

Rnd 1- 8 sc in ring and sl st to beg sc. (8 sc)

Rnd 2- *Sc, ch 2* Repeat 7 more times and sl st to beg sc. (8 sc, 8 ch-2 sp)

Rnd 3- Beginning Pinwheel stitch, ch 6 (Pinwheel stitch, ch 6) seven times and sl st to the top of the beg pinwheel st.  Fasten off Color A. (8 pinwheel sts, 8 ch-6 sps)

Rnd 4- Using Color B sl st into any ch-6 sp. (2 sc, 2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc, 2 sc) in each ch-6 sp. Sl st to beg sc. Fasten off Color B. (32 sc, 32 hdc, 8 ch-2 sps)

Rnd 5- Using either Color A or Color C if desired- (Sl st around the back of the post around any third hdc from Rnd 4, ch 4- and BPTR around the same post) *BPTR around the next 3 sts, BPDC, BPHDC around the next 2 sts, BPSC, ch 1, BPSC, BPHDC around the next 2 sts, BPDC, BPTR around the next 3 sts, (2 BPTR around the next st), ch 2 **(2 BPTR around the next st)* Repeat three more times, ending at ** on the final time.  Sl st to top of beg ch 4. (40 BPTR, 8 BPDC, 16 BPHDC, 8 BPSC,4 ch-1 sps,  4 ch-2 sps)

Rnd 6- Sc in each st with (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in all four corner sps.

 

© Copyright September 2012 by Cynthia Boylan, all rights reserved. This pattern, in whole or part, may not be reproduced – mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying -- without the written permission of Cynthia Boylan. Projects made from this pattern may be gifted, swapped or sold. If you use this pattern to sell items on the internet, kindly credit Cynthia Boylan as the designer.

Stars In His Eyes

Psalm 37:23-24 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.(New Living Translation)

Whether it’s when you fall in love with your spouse or when you birth or adopt a child- the power of love is so strong that it seems that your heart speeds up and you get stars in your eyes just thinking of your love interest.  Even after several years of being married or during your child’s adolescence- throughout the troubles and joys that you have had together, if you take the time to think- you still have that feeling and appreciation that that person is in your life. Oh, we know that our spouse/child has failed us at times- but we are still devoted to them, and would do about anything for them.

I remember after having my first child being in absolute wonder, I didn’t know that I could love anyone as much as I did my child- it was as though God put a second heart in my chest; and it was the same with the next two children as well.  When I met my husband, it was like love at first sight looking into his beautiful blue eyes.  I still get weak kneed when I look into his eyes even after all the things that we have gone through in our marriage -things that have made us weep and laugh, things that have torn us down and built us back up- these things have helped us grow.  When I look at my children even though they have not been perfect (who is?), I know that I would sacrifice my own life for their lives. I would do anything for those that I love, as most of you would also.

Is it so crazy to believe that God would do the same for each of us?  That He wouldn’t give His life to save ours? To believe that He would still love us even when we haven’t been perfect? To believe that He doesn’t get stars in His eyes when He thinks about us?

 1 Samuel 13:14 “But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart and appointed him leader of His people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” Samuel, the last judge tells Saul, the reigning king of the Lord’s plans to replace him with someone that loves and obeys Him, and will do His will. He calls the next king- a man after His own heart. The Lord sends Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s sons that the Lord has chosen to be king. Jesse had seven sons that he had come before Samuel.  Samuel looked over each one and asked the Lord if they were the ones to be king. None of them were His chosen, 1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord told Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.  The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” Samuel was then directed to the last son, who was young, small, and tending the sheep at the time. 1 Samuel 16:12-13 “So he sent and had him brought in.  He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.  Then the Lord said, ‘Rise and anoint him; he is the one.’  So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.  Samuel then went to Ramah.” David obeyed and trusted in the Lord as he fought Goliath, dealt with Saul, and in everyday life. David became king over Israel (2 Samuel 5:4). David honored God and obeyed Him. In 2 Samuel 6:6-12, David became angry and afraid of the Lord and didn’t want to bring the Ark of the Covenant into the City of David, but quickly changed his mind and obeyed the Lord. Even after David had been angry and afraid, (2 Samuel 7:4-17)the Lord loved him and promised him rest from his enemies and to establish his kingdom through his descendants- but what we all want to hear is that He promised to never take away His love.  2 Samuel 7:15 “But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.”  

And then there was David’s greatest spot on his white robe; Bathsheba.

2 Samuel 11:2-5 “One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace.  From the roof he saw a woman bathing.  The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her.  The man said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers to get her.  She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home.  The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”  David slept with another man’s wife, and when she found out that she was pregnant, he tried to get the husband to spend time with her so that all would think it was the husband’s child and David’s sin would not be found out.  When the husband, Uriah would not spend time with his wife, David had him put on the front line of war. 2 Samuel 11:14-15 “In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah.  In it he wrote, ‘Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest.  Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.’” Could you imagine carrying the instructions for your own murder?  The instructions were carried out and Uriah was killed.  2 Samuel 11:27 “After the time of mourning was over, David had her (Bathsheba) brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son.  But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.”

Some say that in this situation with Bathsheba, David broke all ten commandments.  We would think that surely God would not love someone that broke all ten commandments, but God cannot lie.  He had told David that He would never take His love from him, and so He kept His promise. 

Even though David sinned, God still loved him.  He still delighted in him.  One only needs to look through the Psalms, most were written by David to see David’s heart and the devotion he had for God and that God had for him.  He was human- a sinner- and not worthy, but God loved him anyway.  As we all are- we are human- sinners- and definitely not worthy, but God loves us; so much so that He gave His one and only Son to save us from our iniquities so that we can be with Him forever. (John 3:16)  We may think in this life that we have blown it, that He surely will turn His face away from us because of the poor choices that we have made, but He hasn’t.   He is constantly calling out to us.  He wants to take those burdens and restore you.

 Song of Solomon is a book in the Bible that not only demonstrates the love that Solomon has for his beloved, but that of Christ for His bride- us. Read this and think of the love He has for you, His beloved.

We are the stars in His eyes.

Joel 2:12-12 “’Even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.’ Rend your heart and not your garments.  Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.”

Romans 8:35,37-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Pdf file can be downloaded from this link :)

Intersection

Intersection is a free 6 inch crochet square pattern with devotion about our intersection in life.

 

Tested and edited by two super special ladies J Bekah Doughty and Carmen Carpenter.

Difficulty: Intermediate

Hook: H or I depending on how tightly you crochet

Abbreviations:

beg- beginning

ch-chain

dc-double crochet

hk-hook

lp or lps-loop or loops

sc-single crochet

sl st- slip stitch

sp or sps- space or spaces

st or sts- stitch or stitches

tr- treble crochet

yo- yarn over

Pattern Notes - This may be a difficult pattern to follow as we are going from one rnd to the next in different stitches- so I put in the colors that I used with this one- green and white and put pics in to help J Please make sure that you use the same weight yarn with both of your colors- or it may turn out a little wonky. While doing the rnds, push the last rnd that you did to the back, as with most rnds you will be working not in the rnd before, but two rnds before- color on color in most cases; white on white and green on green, don't worry- it will all tie in at the end.

 

Begin J

With Color A(green), Ch 4. Sl st to beg ch to make ring. I would not recommend a magic loop for this.

Rnd 1- Ch 3, 3 dc in ring, *ch 3, 4 dc in ring* repeat this 2 more times, ch 3, sl st to top of beg ch 3. Fasten off Color A.(16 dc, 4 ch-3 sps)

Rnd 2- With Color B(white) sl st into the same spot that you fastened off Color A, Ch 3, dc in next 3 sts(first corner made), *ch 3, tr around the ch-3 sp from rnd 1 and into the center ring(pic 1)pulling the stitch tight, ch 3, **dc in next 4 sts* repeat from * to * 3 more times ending at the ** on the final time sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off Color B.(16 dc, 8 ch-3 sps, 4 tr)

Picture 1 for Rnd 2                                                                            Finished Rnd 2

Rnd 3- With Color A(green), sl st to any fourth dc from rnd 1(which is green) (pic 2), ch 4 * 2 tr in Ch-3 sp from rnd 1 (directly to the left of the st you just made, but to the right of the tr from rnd 2. Ch 1, 2 tr in the same ch-3 sp but on the left of the tr from rnd 2. Tr in the next st from rnd 1. Ch 1, dc in the next 2 sts of rnd 2 (which are the first two dcs of the corner) ch 2, dc in next 2 sts, Ch 1, ** Tr in fourth dc of the corner of Rnd 1,* repeat from * to * 3 more times ending at ** the final time,  sl st to top of beg ch-4. Fasten off Color A. (24 tr, 16 dc, 12 ch-1 sps, 4 ch-2 sps)

Picture 2 for Rnd 3- sl st to corner                                              Finished Rnd 3

Rnd 4- With Color B(white), Sl st into the second dc of corner of Rnd 2, ch 3(which is also white).* Ch 2, dc in next dc from rnd 2, ch 2, 2 dc into the ch-3 sp of rnd 2, ch 3, dc into tr from rnd 2, ch 3, 2 dc into the ch-3 sp of rnd 2, ch 2,** dc into second dc of corner from rnd 2, *  repeat 3 times ending at the ** on the final time. Sl st to top of beg ch 3. Fasten off Color B. (28 dc, 12 ch-2 sps, 8 ch-3 sps)

Rnd 5- With Color A(green)* sc in any corner ch-2 sp, dc into the next 2 dc from rnd 3(which are green), ch 2, dc into the next 3 dc from rnd 3, ch 1, dc into the next 3 dc from rnd 3, ch 2, dc into the next 2 dc from rnd 3, *repeat from * to * 3 more times, then sl st to beg sc. Fasten off Color A. ( 4 sc, 40 dc, 16 ch-2 sps, 4 ch-1 sps)         

Rnd 6- With Color B(white) Sl st in any corner from Rnd 4 enclosing the sc from rnd 5(you will not see the sc from rnd 5 when finished)ch 3, 4 dc in same corner sp,* sc in next 2 sts of rnd 5, dc into the next 2 dc of rnd 4, sc in the next 3 sts from rnd 5, dc into dc from rnd 4, sc in the next 3 sts from rnd 5, dc into the next 2 dc of rnd 4, sc in next 2 sts from rnd 5, **5 dc into the corner sp from rnd 4 * repeat from * to * 3 more times and end at ** the final time.  Sl st to top of beg ch 3. (50 dc, 40 sc)

Rnd 7- Depending on your hook size, yarn, and/or tightness of your crochet- you may choose to do a row of Color B(white) hdc or sc in each st with a (hdc, ch 2, hdc) or (3 hdc) in each corner.

                                                                          Finished square J

Hope that you have fun with this square- if you have any problems or questions with this square, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

© Copyright August 2012 by Cynthia Boylan, all rights reserved. This pattern, in whole or part, may not be reproduced – mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying -- without the written permission of Cynthia Boylan. Projects made from this pattern may be gifted, swapped or sold. If you use this pattern to sell items on the internet, kindly credit Cynthia Boylan as the designer.

Intersection

Let me tell you a little bit of my story- my intersection or the crossroads in my life. 

I was not raised a Christian, not really.  My mother had tried to take us to church- but we and my father were pretty apathetic about it all, and so she gave up trying. We were a “good” family, just not really Christian.  My father used to be a police chief so we all obeyed the laws but I grew up pretty ignorant of God’s Ways or of the Bible. We were a very happy family that had quality family time camping and fishing- but there was always something missing for me.

After a family crisis in my teens- I became wild and did what I wanted.  I drank and spent time with boys. I was still responsible in some ways- I held down a few jobs and paid all of my own bills.  I spoke to my parents with respect- and still loved to spend time with family- but I was still searching for something. A few times when friends would talk about church, I would ask them to take me along with them.  They would always decline to, as I would have been an embarrassment I assumed for them to bring me to such an ordered house of worship.

I finally ended up meeting someone that was willing to bring me to church.  I knew immediately once I was in the presence of God that I had come to an intersection in my life.  I could either go down the “Path of Promiscuity” or the “Path of His Promise”.  I had been traveling the “Path of Promiscuity” and it was only a path of regrets and pain, so I decided to travel with Him on the “Path of His Promise” and believe in Jesus.  It was amazing what His love did to me.  He filled every void, every nook and cranny that I had been seeking to fill.  I marveled at all of the Bible stories that I had never heard- Jonah and Daniel, Moses and Esther.  Acts 2:28 “You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.”

You may ask me what “Promise” that I speak of.  His Word is His Promise and is full of things dear to every one of us- why we were created, the history of mighty things that the Lord has done, classic instruction, as well as the promises that He makes to us;  Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Oh- I still have gone through pain, but now I have a Shoulder to cry on, and a Hand to hold; Someone that I can tell my deepest and darkest fears to and be comforted by His Words of love and devotion- my Lord.

If you feel you are at a Crossroads or Intersection in your life, that you are tired of traveling on a road that seems to lead to nowhere, make the choice today to change your path and accept Him as your Savior and walk hand in Hand with Him on “His Path of Promise”.

This website(http://contenderministries.org/romanroad.php) contains what is called the “Roman’s Road” or a chain of Scriptures to change your path and start walking with Him. Included Scriptures are Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this; While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 10:13 “for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

Romans 10:9-10 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

Revelations 3:20a “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. ..” Is He knocking on the door of your heart?

Here is what is called the “Chain of Forgiveness” that will help you to knowing true forgiveness. (I have these references written in the front of my Bible). Although I had regrets and pain plenty before- I no longer feel ugly or ashamed for the things that I have done.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace”

Psalm 130:4 “But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.”

Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.”

Micah 7:19 “You will again have compassion on us; You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”

2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

I would SO love to hear from you.  All of the comments come to me before being published, so drop me a note that either you want to be seen by others- or you can tell me not to share it- but would love to know if this has helped you J

Download the pdf here.

Control Issues

Control Issues is a versatile free 6 inch pattern where you can make either center, a steering wheel or closed sunflower type, and either edging either lacey towards the center or towards the outside, and includes a devotion on the control issues in our lives. Use any sort of color combination you choose.

Tested and Edited by Carmen Carpenter, Bekah Doughty, and Kelly Youngblood

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Hook: H/8 -5.0mm (for other WW use a G/6 4mm)

Abbreviations:

sp or sps- space or spaces

st or sts- stitch or stitches

sl st- slip stitch

ch-chain

beg- beginning

sc-single crochet

dc-double crochet

tr-treble crochet

lp or lps-loop or loops

hk-hook

Special stitches:

Dc3tog—( Yo, insert hook in next st, yo, pull loop through st, yo, pull through 2 loops) 3 times,  yo, pull through all 4 loops on the hook, ch 1 to lock st.

Dc4tog—( Yo, insert hook in next st, yo, pull loop through st, yo, pull through 2 loops) 4 times, yo, pull through all 4 loops on the hook, ch 1 to lock st.

Begin J

Ch 4, sl st as ring or use a magic loop.

Rnd 1- Ch 1, 8 sc in the ring, sl st to beg sc. (8 sc)

For the Steering Wheel Center-

Rnd 2- Ch 3 (as beginning dc), ch 2,* dc in next st, ch 2,* repeat from * to * 6 more times, sl st to top of beg ch-3. (8 dc, 8 ch-2 sps)

Rnd 3- Ch 1, 4 sc in each ch-2 sp around the circle, sl st to beg sc. (32 sc)

For the Solid Sunflower Center-

Rnd 2- Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around circle, sl st to top of beg ch-3. (16 dc)

Rnd 3- Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around circle, sl st to beg sc. (32 sc)

Continue for All Options-

Rnd 4- Ch 2, dc3tog, ch 4, *dc4tog, ch 4,* repeat from * to * 6 more times, sl st to top of the first dc3tog. (8 dc4tog, 8 ch-4 sps)

Rnd 5- Ch 1, 6 sc in each ch-4 sp around the circle, sl st to beg sc. (48 sc)

For the Lace closer to the center-

Rnd 6- Ch 4, *sk st, sc in next st, ch 3,* repeat from * to * around the circle, sl st to first ch of beg ch-4. (24 ch-3 sps)

Rnd 7- Ch 1, 3 sc in each ch-3 sp around the circle, sl st to beg sc. (72 sc)

Rnd 8- Ch 4 (counts as tr), *dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 3 sts, sc in next 5 sts, hdc in next 3 sts, dc in next 2 sts, tr in next st, (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in next st,** tr in next st,* repeat from * to * 3 more times ending at ** the final time, sl st to top of beg ch-4. (24 tr, 4 ch-2 sps, 16 dc, 24 hdc, 20 sc)

For the Lace closer to the outside-

Rnd 6- Ch 4 (counts as tr),* dc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next 3 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next st, tr in next st, (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in next st,** tr in next st,* repeat from * to * another 3 times ending at ** the final time, sl st first ch of beg ch-4. (24 tr, 4 ch-2 sps, 8 dc, 16 hdc, 12 sc)

Rnd 7- Ch 1, sc in same st, (ch 3, sk 1 st, sc in next st) 6 times, *ch 3, sc in corner ch-2 sp, ch 3, sc in first st,** (ch 3, sk 1 st, sc in next st) 7 times,* repeat from * to * 2 more times ending at ** the final time, ch 3, sl st to beg sc. (36 ch-3 sps)

Rnd 8- Ch 1, 3 sc in each of the next 7 ch-3 sps, *ch 2, 3 sc in each of the next 9 ch-3 sps,* repeat from * to *2 more times, ch 2, 3 sc in each of the next 2 ch-3 sps, sl st to beg sc. (108 sc, 4 ch-2 sps)

© Copyright July 2012 by Cynthia Boylan, all rights reserved. This pattern, in whole or part, may not be reproduced – mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying -- without the written permission of Cynthia Boylan. Projects made from this pattern may be gifted, swapped or sold. If you use this pattern to sell items on the internet, kindly credit Cynthia Boylan as the designer.

Control Issues

You feel like you need to be in control of every part of your life- or maybe you can give over MOST of your life to God, but there is still a part that you need to hold on to, need to control.

From the beginning- God was in control of creation.  One of my favorite verses in creation is this.. Genesis 1:14 “And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.”  And it was so.  God made two great lights- the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night.  He also made the stars.  God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness.  And God saw that it was good.  And there was evening, and there was morning- the fourth day." To me- this puts a picture in my head.  He SET the stars- putting them each in their own specific spot.  It makes me think of setting a picture in just the right spot.  How we hang it and then walk a few steps back and look at it, wondering if it is in the best place and then tweaking a corner here or there to make sure that it hangs straight.  It also states that God saw that it was good. How many times do I do something to just finish the task, not caring if it is good or not- just wanting to check it off of my list.  With each and every day of creation, God made sure it was good- He had to make everything last the test of time.  Everything that we make wears out or rots, or is thrown away in our disposable society.  Nothing that He makes is thrown away.  Nothing that He makes is junk- everything is good.

In the book of Job- he has suffered some severe trials in his life.  His friends and wife are giving him counsel, trying to reason out his sufferings and offer solutions.  I love the Lord’s response- all of chapters 38-41.  Job 38:12-13 “Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn it’s place, that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?” God shows His power and His knowledge of His creation because He made it that way. Job 39:13-18 “The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, but they cannot compare with the pinions and feathers of the stork.  She lays her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the sand, unmindful that a foot may crush them, that some wild animal may trample them.  She treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers; she cares not that her labor was in vain, for God did not endow her with wisdom or give her a share of good sense.  Yet when she spreads her feathers to run, she laughs at horse and rider.” He knows and cares about it all from calling the morning into being to the characteristics of one of the many birds that He created- to the very number of hairs on our heads! Luke 12:7 “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Most of us don’t even have a clue how many hairs are on our heads(there are a few exceptions)- but God knows about each and every one.  He knows us intimately- more intimately than we know ourselves.  In Job 40:9-14 “ Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like His?  Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.  Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at every proud man and bring him low, look at every proud man and humble him, crush the wicked where they stand.  Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave.  Then I Myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.” We ourselves can do none of those things- in our own power, so how is it that we think that we can save ourselves by trying to control a situation?

In Luke 22:42 Jesus gives control to the Father over His life and purpose, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”  He has given Himself to the purpose the Father had for Him- aren’t you glad that He became an example of giving God control and died for our sins? Jesus knew that He could trust His Father and that He only had His people’s best interests in mind- because of the unity between the Father and Son.

But HOW do we give up control?  I know many times that we think that we give Him control and lay something on the altar- only to pick it back up again.  I think that the answer lays in the word TRUST. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Trust may be hard in the world that we live in, however if anyone is worthy of our trust- it would be the One who fashioned every part of our being. Knowing and remembering that He is worthy of trust- He knows the most intimate details about us and of all His creation- knowing more of any situation than we do ourselves will make it easier to trust in Him.  Continue to pray and give it to Him every time that the situation enters your mind. Seek the Lord about fasting and dig into His Word about trust.

Psalm 107:1 “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.”

Here is the link to download the pdf from Ravelry :)