Manna- the Lord's Provision

Manna is a free crochet 6 inch square pattern with devotional

Note: 8 stitch markers needed.

Yarn: Worsted weight-two colors

Hook: US I /9 -5.5mm or H/8 -5.0mm

Abbreviations:

sp or sps- space or spaces

st or sts- stitch or stitches

sl st- slip stitch

ch-chain

beg- beginning

sc-single crochet

hdc-half double crochet

dc-double crochet

tr-treble crochet

PM-place marker in last st made

Special Stitches:

Picot: Ch 2, sl st in 2^nd ch from hook.

Begin :)

Using color A, ch 4 and sl st to beg ch to make a loop. (Or make a magic loop)

Round  1- Ch 1,  8 sc in the loop, sl st to the beg sc. (8 sc)

Round 2- (Ch 1,  2 sc) in same st, 2 sc in each st around, sl st  to beg  sc. (16 sc)

Round 3- (Ch 1,  2 sc) in same st, sc in next st. *2 sc in next st,  sc in next st,* repeat from * to * around,  sl st to the beg  sc. (24 sc)

Round 4- Ch 1, *(sc, PM, hdc) in same st, (dc, tr,  picot, dc) in next st, (hdc, sc) in next st, (sc, PM) in next st, (hdc,  picot) in next st, sc in next st,* repeat from * to * 3 more times,  sl st to beg sc.  (8 points- 4 larger points with 4 smaller points on the sides of the square)

Round 5- *Ch 4, sl st  into next picot point, ch 4, sl st  in next marked st (remove marker), ch 3, sl st into to next picot point, ch 3, sl st  in next marked st (remove marker), * repeat from * to *  3 more times, sl st to 1^st ch of beg ch-4. Fasten off color A. (8 ch-4 sps,  8 ch-3 sps)

Round 6- Attach color B in next ch-4 sp with sl st, *(3 sc, 2 hdc, dc) in ch-4 sp, ch 2 (dc, 2 hdc, 3 sc) in next ch- 4 sp, (sc, hdc, dc) in ch-3 sp, (dc, hdc, sc) in next ch-3 sp.* Repeat  from * to * 3 more times,  sl st to  beg sc. Fasten off color B. (Each side will have a ch-2 sp, dc, 2 hdc, 4 sc, hdc, 2 dc, hdc, 4 sc, 2 hdc, dc)

Round 7- Attach color A in 2^nd dc in middle of any side with  sc, (see pic below) *ch 4, sk 5 sts, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next st, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in corner ch-2 sp,  hdc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, ch 4, sk 5 sts,** sc in next 2 sts,* repeat from * to * 3 more times ending at ** on final rep, sc in next st, sl st to beg sc. Fasten off color A.

Where to attach color A for Rnd 7

Round 8- Attach color B to any corner with a sl st, *3 sc in corner sp, sc in next 5 sts,  4 sc in ch-4 sp, sc in next 2 sts, 4 sc in ch-4 sp, sc in next 5 sts* Repeat from * to * 3 more times, sl st to the beg sc.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

Add topstitching or sl st crochet on top of square to make a design that would help you to remember that the Lord is your manna :)

A super special thank you to Carmen Carpenter and Bekah Doughty for testing and editing :)

© Copyright April 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.

This last one was done using only one color- and then making a sort of celtic cross.  Have fun with the pattern :)

Manna- the Lord’s Provision

In the Old Testament, the Israelites were starving. They needed food, but food was scarce in a desert. The Lord provided in the way of Manna- a flake of bread. Exodus 16:4a “Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day..” The Lord filled their bellies with bread, however they could only think of the days when they also ate meat, so they were not content again- not content over a miracle provision from the Lord. Instead they remembered one little perk from the days when things were awful for them, they were slaves for Egypt, sweating and working for people that had no respect for them or for their God.
How often do we do that- in our discontentment remember a time (of course with rose colored glasses on) and somehow forget the trials that we were going through, but instead romanticize those days, yearning for something from the past. We wish that we were thinner and more beautiful, as we were when we were younger- but we did not have the wisdom and experience that we have now. We yearn for when the children were babies again, and we could hold them once more- but we forget the sleepless nights, and the diapers. We may look back longingly at a relationship at a time when we were young and in love, but forget the passion burned as brightly in our arguments also. Our memories have a way of failing us. (Of course there is the flip side where in some cases we remember everything negatively where there is nothing positive.)
Maybe it’s not our remembrances, but we see what others have- and long for the blessing they have received. Doesn’t it seem that some people have all the luck? In Matthew 5:45b Jesus says “…He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Do you ever wonder why God gave us the Ten Commandments? In my opinion it wasn’t to be a meanie, but for our own protection- He knows what will happen in our lives, and is protecting us, as we do our own children. You don’t tell your children to not play in the road because you are mean- but instead because you love them and don’t want them to get hit by a car. One of the Ten Commandments is Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” And here is a good reason for this commandment, Proverbs 14:30 “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”
So back to our story- the Israelites complained and remembered the meat that they were eating in Egypt; Numbers 11:4-6 “The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, ‘If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost- also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” Exodus 16:11-14 “The Lord said to Moses, ‘I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, “At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’ That evening the quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor.”
The Lord provides all of our needs, and all of our provisions. No, it may not be what WE want, but He gives us what we need. In the New Testament, Jesus is the heavenly manna. John 6:31-36 “Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘from now on give us this bread.’ Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be thirsty.’“ John 6:47-53 “I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
So if the Lord is our manna- why are we discontent? It is our flesh listening to the rabble amongst the Israelites, we are wanting more and more- we are not hungry, our bellies are full- but our flesh wants more. Galatians 5:16-26 “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious; sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”
The Lord ALWAYS has our best interests in mind- He is the Lover of our soul- trust Him to provide. He is enough.
Psalms 16:5 “Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure.”
Psalm 107:8-9 “Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”
Psalm 22:26 “The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the Lord will praise Him- may your hearts live forever!”
1 Timothy 6:6-10 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

1 Timothy 6:17 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. “
Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”
Philippians 4:11-12 “ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

Here is the link to download the pdf form from Ravelry.