I’ve been looking around, and am interested in seeing if any of you Christians knitters find that knitting helps you in memorizing Scripture verses, or helps you to focus more on God. I think knitting a familiar pattern helps me to listen, more calmly, to
Christian bible stories, or to be more aware of the spiritual world that exists in our everyday living. I find it more difficult to
concentrate on thoughts about Christianity, if the pattern is new, or extremely complicated. I like to knit gifts for others, and as I knit, I like to pray for that person.
Do any Christians in here use their knitting time to focus more on biblical scriptures and principles?
I would also like to get some patterns for knitting crosses, and the Christian fish design. Anyone here have Christian designs that I can incorporate into my knitting?
Have any of you found any Resurrection Day knitting designs? I really enjoyed celebrating Ressurection Day, otherwise known to some as Easter.
I’m not naive enough to think there isn’t discrimination against Christianity, I run into it almost daily. I get it from some surprising sources, too! Do any of you? I’ve had a bible thrown at me, been sworn at, been called names, and found a few fair weather friends who ran at the first sign of rejection from others who were not Christian.
I raised my children to be Christians,and, found there were a lot of church member parents who have no idea about
how to raise a child as a Christian. Sadly, many even within the churches have misconceptions.
Well, I hope I see a continuing thread of information and support here. Christian knitters.
I am a Christian, but I confess that while I knit I am also watching TV or talking on the phone or to my daughter or something–seldom sitting and concentrating on one thing. Since you mention it, though, it is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on God’s word or to talk to Him.
Photolady,
What a coinkidink, me n my son were talking about this very thing.
I sort of compare the persecution thing to battered spouses and the type of abuse they receive.
There of course is the obvious physical abuse, which we all are definitely against and that’s like the persecution of the christians in China and in the Muslim countries.
Then there’s the more insidious of the two, mental abuse. Not quite as obvious but a lot harder to heal. Bruises heal and for the most part people get help for their obvious needs. But mental abuse and persecution, is harder for people to see and therefore, sometimes quite easy to dismiss as just an overactive imagination or mental illness on the part of the victim. That to me is more like the persecution here and in some european countries. Insidious and EVIL!!
We also discussed how, beings we are created in God’s image, that he instilled in us the need to create. To me, that’s why we get such a kick out of working with our hands and creating things, whether it’s paintings or textiles or what have you. God, in my personal opinion, wants us to feel the joy he had when he created the universe.
Yeah, I know that we as humans messed up n all that but hey, at least we weren’t frogged!!! :whistle:
KK I’ll get off my soap box now!! LOL
I am a Christian…and normally if I’m knitting the item for someone then I will pray for that person while I work on the piece…
**I’m just putting this out here as this thread is just getting started… Let’s remeber to keep this thread polite and not target or hurt…there are many different threads/views to Christianity and each believe in there way as you believe in yours…to some this is a very private matter… **
I am a Christian…and normally if I’m knitting the item for someone then I will pray for that person while I work on the piece…
Prayer is a powerful thing, isn’t it? God tells us to pray unceasingly, and, while knitting a garment or gift for someone else, how marvelous to send prayers upwards to our Lord Jesus.
**I’m just putting this out here as this thread is just getting started… Let’s remeber to keep this thread polite and not target or hurt
I agree.
…there are many different threads/views to Christianity and each believe in there way as you believe in yours…to some this is a very private matter… **
I understand some feel uncomfortable talking about their Christianity.
I don’t feel that way, I’m glad of it, and want to talk openly about it.
I’ve felt that way, ever since I read about Christians being told to preach the Gospel, no matter where you go.
I’m very glad for the people who have put their responses here, though, and I hope this group grows and grows.
It’s really a great time to spend hiding the Word in your heart.
You can probably get free bible tapes from your public library, or, purchase New Testament cds or tapes, from Amazon or such places, at a really LOW cost. Then, just pop them in, when you knit, and relax, and listen.
Just play the tapes over and over, and pretty soon, you’ll know,by heart, a whole chapter of the bible!!
I’ve often lamented about the amount of time Christians spend, watching tv, when we could be using that time a little more wisely.
And, listening to tapes in your own home, is very private.
Knitting is a good time to refresh and renew your mind.
You can go to Amazon.com, and type in New Testament audiobooks.
Or, look around in the local used book shops.
Seems like those who lightly dismiss the insidious form are those who might not have ever experienced it. I don’t know, just my opinion.
Persecution comes in many forms, doesn’t it? Insidious and evil, I agree, but, to be expected when one is VERY busy being a Christian.
Anyone else ever been rejected or maligned, for their stand on Christianity and it’s precepts? Ever been subtly villified?
Nathalie raises her hand, though I’ll bet nobody is surprised. :teehee:
I do not try to memorize verses while knitting. I’ll admit that I like nothing better than sitting in front of the TV and knitting.
What I have found, though, is an outlet to act on the command to “Feed my people.” I have become involved in the charity Oddball Baby Blankets. I’ve been considering bringing up the idea to do something like this at my church. I pray for the babies who I’m knitting blankets for.
As far as persecution, I’ve been fortunate in that I haven’t been directly persecuted. I have noticed that a lot of people think they are Christians, but they really aren’t. At least, what they profess to believe doesn’t jive with the Word. I thought that when I moved back to the “south,” I would find more Christians, but I don’t think that is the case. There are lost people everywhere. Many people in the Bible Belt assume they are Christians because they have attended church all of their lives.
Sometimes, my knitting in public opens up conversations that wind up delving into this subject.
I am so desperately concerned for the lost. I listen to Way of the Master, a program you can listen to online, Christian radio, or Sirius (every day from 2-4pm Central time). It has really opened my eyes to a new way of sharing the Gospel as well as to the fact that there are a lot of well-intentioned people who are just as lost as everyone else.
Anyhow…those are my thoughts.
Love to all…you know that I adore all of you, regardless of which religion you believe in.
Christian here, but I have to admit that if I don’t concentrate on my knitting, I usually mess it up! I’m usually counting or trying to keep my mind focused on my knitting. Often, my mind will wander though, and I think about all kinds of things but never any focused thinking.
Not so much while knitting, but when I cross-stitches a 1 Corinthians 13 sampler, I really felt the power of meditating on those words, and, as a side effect, memorizing them.
As for being vilified for being Christian - I find that if I do more of a modeling of my faith, and don’t “show off” or “preach” too much, I have a much better reception. (Just like with being a vegetarian - model it, but don’t try to “shove it down someone’s throat”, and the message is clear without being a burden who the recipient.)
I count myself as a Christian, also. Another great website for bible teaching is www.shepherdschapel.com - they teach the bible book by book, chapter by chapter. I learned so much from them when we used to have a satelite dish in WV. Thankfully, they are online now, too.
What a great thread. Thanks for starting it PhotoLady. The internet is such a wonderful tool to meet and discuss items of interest with others. I am a Christian. Christ was calling me from the time I can remember. I am so happy to have a relationship with the one and only that will never let me down and “will always be with me”. My needlework including knitting is a gift from God. I use it for myself and others. For myself, while I knit, I talk with God, pray for others, meditate on scriptures, events and sort things out in my mind. For others, I knit items which make them happy. I knit for family and charity. I meet many people through this handiwork and share the love for my craft as well as my love for my Lord.
I have not found any Christian patterns, but I would be so happy to find one.
Yes, I’m Christian, pray while I’m knitting for somebody, and often have one of the Christian XM stations on while I’m awake and alone in the evening. I found out a long while ago that people have many different ideas of what Christianity is, should be or can’t be. It seems better for me just to keep my mouth shut and work like the blazes I’m hoping to avoid I forget who said my favorite quote–“Your life is the only Bible some people will ever read.”
Let me first and foremost point out I do not mean to offend anyone here in what I have to say so let me apologize if I do. I also don’t intend to change direction of this thread so please, do not feel you have to keep coming back to my question, if you would like to reply, of course that is fine, but, as I said, I don’t want to take away anything from this thread. If it would be better off as a separate thread, I would not be offended if it were made a split topic.
I do, however have a question and as I said, it is not intended to offend, I simply don’t understand it and that is why I am asking.
I was just curious as to why many people get quite focused on being a good Christian as opposed to being a good person? That’s not to insinuate that Christians aren’t good people by any means, but, it seems, many times, the focal point is to is be a good Christian first and foremost. And, the two don’t always go hand in hand, just as with any person. I do know people who are good people but not what would necessarily be viewed as good Christians, and, people who claim to be good Christians but aren’t necessarily good people.
Again, I sincerely do not mean to offend anyone and apologize if my question has come off as offensive, I’m just trying to understand. Also again, if this would be better as a separate topic, I don’t mind the topic being split.
YES, knitting definately helps me focus more on God. As a matter of fact, that’s one of the reasons why I learned to knit it the first place. I’ve been knitting for almost two years now and it began as a way to heal following a terrible tragedy I suffered in my life. But the way I’ve healed is by knitting for other people and praying as I knit.
I just joined this forum tonight and minutes later I saw your post. I was encouraged to see there are other Christian knitters that responded to your post right away. This is wonderful!
I would love to join a Christian knit-a-long of some kind… Perhaps a prayer shawl? I have the “Knitting For Peace” book and they have a section in there on prayer shawls. Any ideas for a pattern?
I’ve been a Christian since I was young, and spent many years in deep Bible study. Sometimes, I find myself “coasting” on all the wisdom God has already given me.
I’m blessed to have a husband that is just beginning his spiritual journey. He is learning truths from the Bible for the first time, and it opens my eyes and heart to see it being understood as a new thing. Very cool.
First of all, as a Christian, I take no offense from your comments. And I agree with you that many “Christians” are not very “Christian-like”…and many “good people” do not adhere to the Christian faith. But my faith is very important to me, and Jesus Christ is my example in life, so therefore, I strive to be a “good Christian”. I think you’re just getting into a minor issue with words. Words don’t really mean all that much here. We should, of course, all try to be “good people”. But (and I think I can speak for most, if not all, Christians) those of us who follow the Christian faith find that the Bible gives us the wisdom we need to be “good people”, but also important is our belief that God’s most wonderful gift to humankind is his only son, Jesus Christ. And though I cannot go into all the facets of the religion here, fundamental to Christianity is faith in Christ. And that faith is supposed to guide us in all our thoughts and actions…hence, we are to strive to be “good Christians” (and “good people”). I hope I am clear, and that nothing I said was offensive, either. Blessings to you and all!
As for knitting helping memorize Scripture…Well, I’ll have to give that a try. Knitting being such a contemplative activity, I should have thought of that before. Thanks for the idea!
:whistle:
**
Funny how those things work, isn’t it?
