Recall What God Remembers

 Devotional by Oswald Chambers; from My Utmost for His Highest

Jeremiah 2:2 "I remember... the kindness of thy youth."

Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me? Am I full of the little things that cheer His heart over me, or am I whimpering because things are going hardly with me? There is no joy in the soul that has forgotten what God prizes. It is a great thing to think that Jesus Christ has need of me--"Give Me to drink." How much kindness have I shown Him this past week? Have I been kind to His reputation in my life?

God is saying to His people--You are not in love with Me now, but I remember the time when you were. "I remember... the love of thine espousals." Am I as full of the extravagance of love to Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Does He find me recalling the time when I did not care for anything but Himself? Am I there now, or have I become wise over loving Him? Am I so in love with Him that I take no account of where I go? or am I watching for the respect due to me; weighing how much service I ought to give?

If, as I recall what God remembers about me, I find He is not what He used to be to me, let it produce shame and humiliation, because that shame will bring the godly sorrow that works repentance.

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God really spoke to my heart this morning with this devotional. My love for my Savior grows cold so easily. The cares of the day avert my gaze from His lovely face so quickly. "Tell me the story often, For I forget so soon. The early dew of morning Has passed away at noon..." This sinful, weak-willed flesh must be put down continually or the Holy Spirit can never have His way in me. Sober vigilance is the only way to fight this battle! I am resolved to renew my devotion to Him daily. Help my weakness, Lord! "Without Me ye can do nothing."

Craft Fair Projects, Part 1

Hinted at in my previous post were some projects featuring buttons. I'm pleased to present several recently knitted items created specifically for a craft fair which took place in my village last month. Keeping in a constant (and frantic!) knitting mode for an entire month was a challenge, I must say. I'm ever so glad I was able to accomplish what I did, however! =)

Above and to the left is a red and purple iSock, made respectively with Microspun and Cupcake yarns, an ideal item for protecting iPods and iTouches. sold After arriving at a basic idea for the construction, I guessed my way through the piece. The main body was knitted in the round and finished with kitchner stitching. At the back of the opening, I picked-up-and-knitted slightly less than the total width, allowing space on either side for an earbuds cord to pass through. Lastly, I crocheted a chain hole for this iSock's perfect button (after I laboriously hunted for that same perfect button for a good twenty minutes =D). For the record, I don't own an iPod--but I almost wish I did since my iSock pattern turned out oh so cute!