Helps for Your Helping Stones

Saturday, May 31, 2014

You'll Remember and Not Get Distracted



There is my tassel. It is tied to my computer bag and whenever I see it, it has sort of a calming influence on me. It reminds me that He is my God and I am His child. That means I do not have to be distracted by my feelings or the things of this world that get me off track.

I made this tassel myself and you can make one too. Follow my suggestions for construction, but choose your own colors and make it any size you like.


Cut several lengths of yarn, fibers, or ribbons. For my tassel, I cut about 60 pieces in the lime/chartreuse family, each about 26" long.


Using a 4 yard piece of blue (per God's instruction) ombre yarn, I wrapped about 5" right in the center of my green lengths. Wrap as tightly as you can. Start this by knotting one end of the blue yarn at the starting place. Finish by knotting the blue yarn to a piece of green yarn.

A yarn/ribbon tassel is a loose translation of this passage. By tassel, the translation really means fringe. And the word blue in this passage is translated from the Hebrew word tekeleth, which means violet. The Old Testament Jews were commanded to add fringe to the hems of their garments. It was not for the cool factor, it was to remind them when they looked down at their fringe or felt it as they walked, of God's commandments. In Old Testament times, fringe was actually uncool, and it set the Jews apart from everyone else.

Pull the two blue strands together, forming a loop. Pull tight and knot them together.


Wrap the longest blue yarn end tightly under the bottom of the loop. Wrap 8 or 10 times tightly, and knot the blue yarn ends together. If your tassel ends are raggedy and that bothers you, give your tassel a trim. 

Tie it to your bag, your chair, pin it to your bulletin board, put it wherever you will see it so you will remember and not get distracted.


Be kind and tenderhearted to one another (Ephesians 4: 32),
Kim

I Need a Brain Boost. You too?


           
I have not seen anyone really do this, but we each have little ways to help us remember. What is yours? Note on the calendar? Sticky note? Send yourself an email? It's possible that I need all three....and then some. Sometimes it feels like my brain is on overload and I just can't remember everything.

I envy those of you who can memorize verses and tell me months later what you learned in your study. My brain functions like it has a hole in it. 

A long time ago, I started making visual reminders of my Bible studies. If I want to remember a particular verse or idea from a study, I work in my visual journal, make a piece of jewelry, or some other small arty reminder that I can wear or display. When I see it, my memory is triggered.

Join me on my quest to make art from the Word. We'll create art that will spark a memory of a chapter, verse, or story, and the way we can apply it to our lives. 



Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10),
Kim