A Weekly Walk in the Word

Deuteronomy 4:9-10  Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Write your story for your children and grandchildren. You have a unique story that only you can tell. Be your authentic self as you share words of wisdom, stories of success and areas of failure along your faith journey.

Moses encouraged his people to remember what God had done for them, to share their story with their children. This is how people learned about our great God. God’s story is not complete yet, because you are a part of God’s story.

Continue God’s story as you share your faith journey with your children. Include the miracles you have seen first had as God has worked in your life. Let your children know that they are loved by their heavenly father, and by you!

God bless you as you begin writing your story.

Luke 1:41-42 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!”

Choose Life – Mary had an unplanned pregnancy, but she chose life! I was an unplanned pregnancy, but my mom chose life! I struggled with infertility, but God chose life (3 times)! Your mother chose life! When legislators are making poor choices regarding abortion,  you can continue to make the right choice – Choose Life.

I love knitting and designing knit patterns. I felt this was a good week to share with my readers a pattern I designed for little ones.

The Remington Hat was conceived out of love for my nephew and his wife who, after struggling with infertility for several years, were blessed with a beautiful their baby boy, Remington. While searching for the perfect hat to knit for this precious little one, the only hats I liked were for baby girls that I liked. So, I designed a hat fitting for our new special bundle of joy. I hope you enjoy the hat as much as Remington and his parents do.

THE REMINGTON HAT

Finished Size = Baby (toddler, child)

Finished Measurements =  13” (14”, 16”) relaxed around brim.

Yarn = Cascade Venezia Sport (307.5 yards [281.25 meters] / 100 grams): 1 skein.

Shown in color #130.

Needles = One 16” or 40cm circular needle size US 5 (3.75mm).

One set of five double-pointed needles size US 5 (3.75mm).

Change needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions = Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker.

Gauge = 22 stitches and 30 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Knit Hat – Using circular needle, CO (cast on) 80 stitches. Join for working in the round being careful not to twist, and place marker to indicate the beginning of the round. Work in rib pattern (k2, p2) until the hat measures 2” (5cm) from CO edge. Work in St st (knit all stitches every round) until the piece measures 4 ½” (11cm) from CO edge.

Begin Decrease – decrease for the crown as follows, changing to double-pointed needles when there are too few sts to fit comfortably around the circular needle:

Round 1: *K8, k2tog, repeat from * to end. (72 sts)

Round 2 & 3: Knit.

Round 4: *K7, k2tog, repeat from* to end. (64 sts)

Rounds 5 & 6: Knit.

Round 7: *K6, k2tog, repeat from * to end. (56 sts)

Rounds 8 & 9: Knit.

Round 10: *K5, k2tog, repeat from * to end. (48 sts)

Rounds 11, 13, 15 & 17: Knit.

Round 12: *K4, k2tog, repeat from * to end. (40 sts)

Round 14: *K3, k2tog, repeat form * to end. (32 sts)

Round 16: *K2, k2tog, repeat from * to end. (24 sts)

Round 18: *K1, k2tog, repeat from * to end. (16 sts)

Round 19: K2tog around. (8 sts)

Finishing – Break yarn, leaving a 6” (15cm) tail. With tail threaded on a yarn needle, draw tail through remaining sts and pull snugly to close top of hat. Take tail to inside of hat and fasten securely. Weave in ends.

Optional Pompom – A pompom can be added easily to the Remington Hat with the leftover yarn from your skein.

Cut a strip of stiff cardboard half the width of your desired finished pompom. Cut a notch in each short end to secure the yarn. Wrap the yarn around the cardboard strip many times. The more wraps, the fluffier your pompom will be. Cut a length of yarn about 6” (15cm) longer than the width of your wraps and thread it on a yarn needle. Slip the needle underneath the wrapped strands along one long end of the cardboard and pull through, leaving about 3” (7.5cm) hanging out at each side. Tie the ends of the strand snugly into a single knot and hold or ask a volunteer to place a helpful index finger on the knot for a moment. Cut the wraps along opposite long edge of the cardboard. Pull the knot very tight, and finish with another single knot to make a square knot. Fluff up the pompom and trim the ends.

Pattern Abbreviations

CO cast on

K knit

K2tog knit two stitches together

P purl

sts stitches

St st stockinette stitch; knit all rounds

1 Peter 3:8-12  Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the lord are on the righteous and his hears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

…..seek peace and pursue it.

Take time to enjoy the long peaceful winter evenings. Light a candle. Work a puzzle. Read a book. Share a meal with a neighbor. Linger longer in your prayer time. Listen to what God has to say to you in the quiet, peaceful winter days ahead.

Where will you go to seek peace?

2 Corinthians 8:10  And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter; Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.

Ten years ago for Christmas, my parents gave me this inspire stone. I keep it on the stand beside my bed as a reminder very morning to do for others.

God has blessed all of us with many gifts. Great intentions to use these gifts to help others are nice…. but what you actually do with what you have been given is what matters!

How will you inspire, give and do for others this week? May God be with you as your desire to give increases.

Isaiah 9:6  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

We are officially out of the Christmas season. Most homes have their Christmas tree out at the curb. Their decorations neatly packed in red and green totes and returned to the basement for another year. The baked goods have either been eaten, thrown away or taken to work in an effort to remove them from the kitchen before the New Year’s diets begin.

But, what about the Christmas presents? After all the wrapping has been recycled, where are the gifts you were given this year? Are they hanging neatly in your closet, or on a shelf in the garage, or maybe tucked away in a drawer to be used later. The lines in stores suggest that many gifts may have been returned for the correct size, color or completely different gift.

God has given you a gift. The greatest Christmas gift to ever be given. He gave us his son, Jesus! Don’t tuck His gift away. Unwrap the gift of Jesus and keep him in your heart all year long.

God bless you as you enjoy your gifts in the new year.

Philippians 3:13-14  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ.

Do you have any goals you hope to accomplish in 2019?

In Michael Hyatt’s book Your Best Year Ever, he talks about turning your dreams into reality by writing smarter goals.

SPECIFIC – Take the time to identify and write down your specific goal.

MEASURABLE – Make your goal measurable, so  you know when it has been accomplished.

ACTIONABLE – Use strong verbs when writing your goals – take action as you move forward toward your goal.

RISKY – Stretch yourself to move out of your comfort zone to reach your goal.

TIME KEYED – Use a calendar when setting your goal. Break it down into smaller time segments.

EXCITING – If you are passionate about your goal, it will be much easier to achieve. Work toward something you love.

RELEVANT – Choose goals that are relevant to your life. Don’t choose a goal for the sake of adding another thing to your To-Do list.

God Bless you as you work SMARTER in 2019. May you press on toward the goal God has called you heavenward in Christ.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

God bless you all as you wait with anticipation for Jesus’s celebration!

John 1:1-34  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.” From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ . No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.” They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.” Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, for the Prophet?” “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on who you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” I have seen and I testify that this is the son of God.” 

Revelation 19:1  After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.”

She did it! She graduated with honors from Colorado State University with a business degree. I couldn’t be prouder! It was just 4 years ago that we visited this beautiful campus when she decided to make Colorado her home. It was a wise decision and she has learned so much during her time here. But, now she is coming home to live closer to her family! I will be singing the Hallelujah song the entire 14 hour trip back to Minnesota!

Hallelujah! Hallellujah, our girl is home! Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.

A quote from the commencement service that stuck with me was “a great leader is a great giver”.  Some of the greatest gifts can not be wrapped. God gave us the greatest gift of all.

God gave us the greatest gift of all. Hallelujah! A savior is born. What will you give this Christmas season?

Matthew 2:9-11  After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. 

This weekend, I had the privilege of traveling with three wise men….. My husband and two sons! We embarked on a journey from Minnesota to Iowa, through Nebraska, Wyoming and finally into Colorado where we will attend our daughter’s college graduation. Even though our sons are 27 & 30 years old, about half way through Nebraska the question every mom who has ever been on a road trip with children has heard – “Are we there yet?”

The Magi or Wise Men in Matthew followed a guiding star to Bethlehem to see the infant Jesus. They traveled for days asking, “Are we there yet?” The wise men were determined to reach their destination – Jesus!

May God be with you as you travel through advent, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas and the return of Jesus at the Second Coming.

You are almost there! Continue to follow the star leading you to Bethlehem’s treasure.

Luke 2:7  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In 2004, Pope John Paul called the Christmas tree a symbol of Christ. This very ancient custom, he said, exalts the value of life, as in winter what is evergreen becomes a sign of undying life, and it reminds Christians of the “tree of life” of Genesis 2:9, an image of Christ, the supreme gift of God to humanity.

The tree was intertwined throughout Jesus’ life. At his birth, he was laid in a manger built from a tree. At his death, he was crucified on a cross built from a tree. To learn more about the incredible life of Jesus, read the entire book of Luke. There are only 24 chapters in Luke. If you read one chapter a day, by Christmas, you will have studied the life of Christ and be prepared to celebrate Jesus’ birthday!

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
How lovely are thy branches
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
How lovely are thy branches
Your boughs so green in summertime
Stay bravely green in wintertime
O tannenbaum, o Christmas tree
How lovely are thy branches
Let us all remember
In our gift giving and our merriment
With our family and friends and loved ones
The real and true meaning of Christmas
The birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

O tannenbaum, o tannenbaum
How lovely are, are thy branches
O tannenbaum,…

As we begin the advent season, remember to keep Christ, our tree of life, at the center of your Christmas. He is the reason for the season!