Friday, December 30, 2011

A Year in Time

….Though even thinking on the subject of time may prove discomforting; it’s not a bad idea….especially at the beginning of a new year.

As we look into “year” we look at a block of time.  We see 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, 31,536,000 seconds.  AND all is a gift from God.  We have done nothing to deserve it, earn it, or purchase it.  Like the air we breathe, time comes to us as a part of life.

The gift of time is not ours alone.  It is given equally to each person.  Rich and poor, educated and ignorant, strong and weak…every man, woman and child has the same twenty-four hours every day.

Another important thing about time is that we cannot stop it.  There is no way to slow it down, turn it off, or adjust it.  Time marches on.

And you cannot bring back time.  Once it is gone, it is gone.  Yesterday is lost forever.  If yesterday is lost, tomorrow is uncertain.  We may look ahead at a full year’s block of time, but we really have no guarantee that we will experience any of it.

Obviously, time is one of our most precious possessions.  We can waste it.  We can worry over it.  We can spend it on ourselves.  OR, as good stewards, we can invest it in the kingdom of God.

The New Year is full of time.  As the seconds tick away, will you be tossing time out the window, or will you make very minute count?

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!

© Steven B. Cloud, Pulpit Helps, Vol 14, #2


Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas to everyone!



What Christmas Is All About
Christmas will always be for us
A time to reflect on Christ
The gift God gave to all the world
Was the gift of His life

We know Christmas is not about tinsel
Nor fancy Christmas wreaths
Nor is it about all the decorations
That adorns our Christmas trees

And it’s not about Holly or Mistletoe
Hanging from our doors
Nor is it about the gifts that are left
By the jolly Santa Claus

Christmas is more than all of this
And the only reason why
We celebrate Christ’s birth together
And the wonder of His life

So remember as you celebrate
Just what it’s all about
And invite the Lord to join with you
Instead of leaving Him out

For He will always be the reason
We celebrate this day
No substitute the world may offer
Can take that meaning away

© By M.S.Lowndes ~ 2007

Friday, December 23, 2011

New pretties

Another clean out of the finished basket before Christmas...

This doily is called "Breakfast Nook" and comes from Decorative Crochet, issue #62.  It was made with #10 thread and measures 13 1/2 inches across.  I did change the last round of the pattern to something that I felt better suits the doily.




This three-piece set is from a foreign magazine called Robotki Reczne, their 09-10/2010 issue. The runner measures 22 x 12 1/2 and the round ones measure 11 inches.  Made with #10 thread




This is just a cute little doily that I thought would look good in Christmas colors.  I chose white, green, and gold thread to do it in.  Thread size #10.  It measures 11 1/2 inches across.  (I make make this one again...)  Again, I changed the last 2 rounds on this one to better fit the doily.


The final doily is called "Pink Perfection" and is a vintage pattern from the Celtic site.  I think its much prettier in Christmas colors.  I had made one of these earlier....this one now makes a pair of doiles.   Made with #10 thread and measures 17 1/2 inches across.


All of these pieces, along with some others posted earlier, will be making their way shortly to their new home in North Carolina!  Enjoy Linda (dear friend) !!