Seeking! A Designer That I Can Understand

                                                                 Tea is for Tatters

Tatters are always seeking designers that they can understand.  There is more consistency now in tatting patterns; but, terminology evolves. Designers feel really good about people tatting their patterns.  Were I a designer, I'd feel even better if I could present the diagram and written instructions with great clarity.  Patterns that could be trusted.  

The last postings introduced two facts.  There is a great designer who has a plan; He is God.  Shuttles are nothing in and of themselves and must follow the given pattern for success.  We are the shuttles.  We are building upon a theme with tatting as our metaphor.  This month, the concept of 'seeking' is before us. 


The question must be asked.  What or Whom are we seeking?  What do we have in mind?  A benevolent Grandfather-type who looks down on the world with a long, white beard?  A Santa Clause who gives only good things?  A Tyrant that doesn't let you do anything FUN?  A being that gives us great FEAR?  These images are just as bogus and false as the images of the evil one (Lucifer, Satan, the great dragon)  with a pointy tail and horns ~ that's not frightening as an image, people dress like that for Halloween!  I dressed a dog as a little devil one Halloween!  


Fortunately, God who is the great designer, left us a love letter which tells us all about Himself and His great gift in sending Jesus Christ.  A love letter, you say?  Yes,  He did not leave us unloved.  Did you know that if you were the ONLY person in the world, God would still have sent his Son to pay for your iniquities?  A relationship with Him is very personal, very one-on-one.  It only becomes a collective when His own are gathered together in His name! 


Keep in mind that we have more original scrolls of the scriptures than we do of the classics: ie:  Ulysses, The Enid; and, that the scripture has less than 1% of copyist error?  The Scripture is trustworthy for any age!  If you search the scriptures, which He asks us to do, we would know Him very well. 


Proverbs 14:15  A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps."  
God wants to be sought, His scriptures to be searched ~ He invites inspection to establish his case for man.  


The Old Testament Scriptures have this message from the designer. 


Psalms 14:2  "The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God."    
Lamentations: 3:25 "The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; . . ."  Psalms 9:10 "Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek your face."   


The New Testament agrees and adds:  Matthew 6:33  " But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.   


"All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name."  Acts: 10:43
1 John 5:13  "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."


This is one designer that you can absolutely come to know. One designer who already has forgiven, who already has paid the debt for you iniquities.  One designer who welcomes you unconditionally.  One whose instructions are free, simple and pure.  The designer who has done the work, accomplished; a finished work.


John 6:29 "Jesus answered, "The work of God is this; to believe in the one He has sent. (His Son)


Are we prudent and are we giving thought to our steps in seeking the greatest designer?  

In the Twinkling of an Eye

"We shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye."  1 Corinthians 15: 51, 52

On September 11th 2001 many lives were gone, many lives were changed and the world as we knew it turned upside down ~ in the twinkling of an eye.  

Our lives sometimes appear to us to be full of bad news.  Loss of loved ones, illness, wayward children, difficult pregnancies, and financial problems are just some of the problems that seem to plague our lives; societies lives. 

How great would it be, in the midst of all this bad news, if there were good news? 

God has good news for you and I; and, all who will listen and learn.  No matter what circumstances in life may be, the words of John 3: 16 ring clear, true and steadfast..unchanging!

John 3:16  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish from the earth but have eternal life."  

God's love gives me courage in the midst of discouragement , hope in the midst of despair, strength in the midst of my weakness, and relief in the midst of my pain.  He will do this for you, too.  Sometimes when we tat ~ the instructions seem counter intuitive ~ but if we follow the instruction, the work falls perfectly from the shuttle.  We just have to trust the designer; so too, we must trust God as only He sees the completed purpose and pattern.  And that is my prayer for you and those affected by the murder of those on September 11, 2001 ~ That none of us forget the good news of John 3:16.  

Great things from the Designer's hand. .

ENCOURAGING PREDICTIONS FOR 2011 (and before and after!) With all the problems the World is facing, it can be unsettling to the mind. Today, I will share with you ten predictions that are true! As Marueen noted: The Shuttle is NOTHING without the hand of the designer! So, we too, are nothing; unless, guided by the Designer's hand. Matthew 6:23 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well." Top 10 Predictions for 2011 1. The Bible will still have all the answers. 2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on Earth. 3. The Holy Spirit will still move. 4. God will still honor the praises of His people. 5. There will still be God-anointed preaching. 6. There will still be singing of praise to God. 7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people. 8. There will still be room at the Cross. 9. Jesus will still love you. 10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him. Isn't It Great To Remember Who Is Really In Control, and that; "the Word of the Lord endures forever." ( 1 Peter 1:25 )

The Shuttle August, 2010

GMArts commissioned shuttles. Top: Myrtle wood post shuttle, with Cascades image. Purple heart with inset Bisbee Turquoise Bobbin shuttle.

Hand painted by Zena Herbert ~"The Sea of Dreams" Shoppe, Moracambie, UK Post shuttle

SHUTTLES

When you begin tatting, your first thought may be which shuttle? Shuttles come in all styles, sizes, and possess many different attributes.

The basic shuttle was a post shuttle. Post shuttles were plain, but often the wealthy and royalty had bejeweled shuttles (not Bedazzled!) They came in various woods, ivory, sterling. . .all the things royalty would want! Modern post shuttles may be ceramic, plastic, a variety of woods and precious metals. My personal favorite jeweled post shuttle has a blue opal set in purple heart.(TSS)

Then, there is a Bobbin shuttle with a few different attributes. The bobbin snaps in and the bobbin snaps out. They, too, come in various woods, metals, plastics. My favorite bobbin shuttles are wood; and, come from ("im in the garage" via JaneEborall's Etsy site) the UK, called Pop-a-Bobbin (I call them my 'poppins" A close favorite is my English Aero (plastic).

Many choices, many attributes, many pros and cons. Every tatter has their favorite. One of my prettiest shuttles is naturally shed deer antler. But it is a double bobbin shuttle (yes, you can!) and I haven't learned to work with that as yet (I have a How To Book).

Like the shuttle, we are all different. Some are difficult , some plain, some bejeweled, some plastic, some wooden (but beautiful in variety). None of this really matters because God loves us all, and He is able to take each of us and make each of us both beautiful and beneficial . Ask yourself today, Am I in His hands? He has a design, am I willing to be made willing to follow that design? Do I trust Him as much as He loves me? No matter what happens: if I'm dropped or tossed, do I still have hope?

I was just going to give you scripture references to go with the point of the devotional; but, it occurred to me that some of you may not have a Bible, or even own one. It isn't a requisite to be a christian to read this little homily; so scriptures printed out might be helpful. At least it would make it easier for each of you to follow.

"Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you, he will never let the righteous fail." Psalms 55:22

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" Romans 15:4