Make-Do Mondays: I Remembered!

Every Monday, one of my favourite bloggers hosts Make-Do Mondays, and this week I'm hopping in.  Here is the point of Make-Do Mondays, in her own words:

At Make-Do Mondays, we discuss how we’re simplifying, downsizing, repurposing, buying used, and using what we’ve got.  It’s a carnival you can visit to celebrate creative problem-solving, contentment, patience and ingenuity.

A few months ago, I started knitting with the help of my mom and some online resources.  It was an opportunity to 'make-do' from the outset, since the needles I used were much older than I was.  Fascinated by my new skill, I moved forward in an attempt to learn every possible technique.

I hit a snag, however, when I wanted to try cables and realised that I would need a cable needle (or something like it), so armed with a bent knitting needle - that I somehow inherited without its partner - I decided to find out if DH could solve this little problem.  He whipped out his Leatherman... cut, filed, filed, and then some... and this was the result:

(I found the pattern for that headband HERE... and her photo is a lot better too... I am still 'making-do' with my webcam.) ;)

The remaining portion of the needle made a 'mini-DPN', which partners with the above 'cable needle' for knitting i-cords...

because I really like headbands... can you tell?

Note:  'Making do' is so central to life in Jamaica that I can hardly think of it as 'making do', but I will try to remember to post my snippets on Mondays. :)

Any Takers?

There is a practice that is growing in popularity among believers for which I have been unable to find any scriptural foundation.  It came to my attention again when a friend loaned me a book by Celeste Perrino Walker, Prayer Warriors: The Final Chapter.... prayer walks.

I contemplate the words of Jesus and find only this....

"And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward. But you, when you pray, enter into your room. And shutting your door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly."  (Matthew 6:5-6 MKJV)

The more I ruminate, the harder it is to fit the 'prayer walk concept' into this mold.

Is there another?

Did I overlook something?  If so.... what?

Honest questions... what say you?

How Does Your Garden Grow?

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

- Psalms 1:3 -

Whenever I contemplate the Psalmist's description of the righteous man, I am reminded of this song...

I saw a tree by the riverside one day as I walked along.

Straight as an arrow and pointing to the sky growing tall and strong.

"How do you grow so tall and strong?" I said to the riverside tree.

This is the song my tree friend sang to me:

Refrain:

I've got roots growing down to the water,

I've got leaves growing up to the sunshine,

and the fruit that I bear is a sign of the life in me.

I am shade from the hot summer sundown.

I am nest for the birds of the heavens.

I'm becoming what the Lord of trees has meant me to be:

A strong young tree.

(Excerpt from the TREE SONG© by Ken Medema)

... and I am reminded of where I need to be in order to grow and remain strong in faith:

• Grounded in the Word (Ps. 119:11) and constantly imbibing the Water of Life. (Jn. 4:14)

• Heart uplifted to the Sun of Righteousness. (Mal. 4:2)

• So that I may bear much fruit... love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Gal. 5:22-23)

• And live my life, with arms outstretched in service to my fellowmen.
  

Heavenly Father, You prompt and we abide. Feeble mortals though we are, make us reflectors of Your glory.

He Is Real... But Do I KNOW It?

In Thursday's post, one of my favourite bloggers asks the question, "How real is God really", as she addresses the content of a video clip entitled, 'Ten Questions for Intelligent Christians'.  You will need to pop on over to read about her intimate experience with God, but here is a sample of her thought-provoking conclusion....

"I may wax on about knowing God's real, but do I live with shoes off, trembling on holy ground, wearing my crash helmet, braced for His electrifying Presence? Do I only pay lip service to believing, not waiting for the burning ember of His Spirit to burn these lips clean? Do I mumble prayers, rote mantras, not expecting earth to rip open and fire balls to rain down? Do I believe He's just real enough just to comfort me, get me past heaven's pearly gates... but not real enough to blazingly tear up my comfortable days?"

- Ann Voskamp

So what are you still hanging around here for?  Head on over to her blog and read the whole post... you will be glad you did. ;)

Today, may we passionately seek His face, and may the earth shake beneath us as He disrupts our complacency with fire that consumes and purifies.