Month: December 2008

Missions

Words from Wanda

A. Knight

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Have you ever had to wait on something? Waiting is sometimes the hardest thing to do. In this life of instant everything….perhaps we forgotten how to “wait”.

These are some thoughts that have been on my mind in this most recent episode of heart problems. I have had health issues all of my life—so you would think I would be used to the onslaught of enemy attack by now. Or at the very least, I would know what and when to expect it. But yet again….I am caught off guard. In my weakened physical condition…the enemy attacks the spiritual “me”. Isn’t that where we are all most vunerable?

I have spent my fair share of time in waiting rooms. Waiting is tiring. Watching others come and go…while I am still waiting. When we are in God’s waiting room it is for a reason. He may be trying to speak to us. Are we listening? Or, have we forgotten how to listen? In this noisy world, do we find ourselves just listening to the roar of the world, instead of keeping our ear tuned for the calming voice of the Lord?

Do you hear….from the depths of your heart….”be still and know that I am God”…. It’s time to stop and listen. Sometimes difficulties may enter our lives to “slow us down”. I have discovered that many times we “cover up” the voice of the Lord with busyness. We stay so busy we have no time to spend in prayer or the Word. Are we afraid of what He might say….or are we afraid of what He might ask us to do? I have found myself feeling this. In discussing this with my sisters, we all seem to feel this way. Afraid of what He might require us to do. We need to remember—He won’t ask us to do anything that He won’t guide, direct and qualify us to do.

When we finally stop and listen, however the “listening” came about, it is worth the wait. We realize with clarity that the enemy was trying to “steal” something from us all along. He kept our focus and attention on other things….demanding things. But we must stop—-and listen.

Since I have been home from the hospital, I have found myself being attacked during the night—by the enemy of my soul. When I am plagued with thoughts of fear and the uncertainties of life, I try and pull as many scriptures in as I can recall, almost as if I am pulling up a comforting quilt to warm my body and soul. A couple of my “strength verses” are, “By His stripes we are healed”; and “Greater is He that is in me, than He that is in the world”. I have to remind myself over and over of the promises of the Father in order to get even a minute of peace. Sleep does not come easy these days. I cling to the promises of the Lord. I am listening to His voice—I want to be obedient to His calling.

Jehovah-Shammah ~ the Lord is there;
Jehovah-Rophe ~ the Lord who heals; and
Jehovah-Shalom ~ the Lord is peace.
Thank you for praying for me. Keep it up. The Lord is not finished yet!

Keeping the Faith,
Wanda Jakelsky 🙂

© Angie Knight-Sisters of Faith 2007.   All rights reserved. 

This post was written and posted January 24, 2008.  Wanda’s one and only blog post–yet these were not her only words to us.  As her sisters, Aimee and I have been honored to hear wisdom pour from her heart and mouth on many occasions.  The last few weeks of her life, she spent more time reflecting and less time talking.  Talking required more oxygen than she was able to expend.  Reflecting on things from God–soaking in Him.  Getting ready for her departure.  I believe she knew.

Many times I wonder at the secrets He revealed to her.  By a knowing smile that she gave me the last time she spoke, I know He had been telling her some pretty incredible things.  Oh sisters, I wish you could have seen that smile.  I was the only one who did.  Aimee was behind the bed, looking through the cabinets in search of a pillow to make Wanda more comfortable.  I was on a stool, near her face, trying so hard to etch it in my memory.  As if I could ever forget those beautiful eyes and that smile.
The secrets He shared–she has experienced today.  Wrapped in the glory of Him in heaven she breathes celestial air today! No more oxygen, no struggling to speak or walk, and I just imagine she is running!
I hope you know the One she called Father.  If you don’t, I invite you to sit at His feet today and share with Him your burdens.  Wanda would say the same.  Learn about Him. Invite Him into your life.  Ask Him to forgive you of your sins.  Prayer is key to a relationship with Jesus Christ.  If you never had a conversation with those you are closest to—would you be very close for very long?  I don’t think so.  In order to be close to Jesus–to hear HIM speak, we must be in constant communion with Him.  Prayer is that communion.

If you have made a decision to follow Christ today, drop us an e-mail.  We would love a chance to pray with you.  Maybe you just need a little “concrete” poured into your decision.  Be resolute in your walk with God.  You will never regret a relationship with Him, but if you don’t have one, I guarantee you, there will be a day when you will regret you didn’t stop and seek Him out.

May I pray with you?

Heavenly Father, I am so thankful that you have allowed us to visit in this way today.  The incredible individual that has stopped by has a heart to know you.  I pray today that You will make Yourself known to them.  May they find the peace which Your Word tells us, keeps them as they seek to know You more.  Father, I lift them up to You–go with them from this spot today, may they be blessed as they hear Your Word and act according to Your Word.  Surround them with Your presence, and may they know they are loved by You!  In the Holy Name of Your only Son, Jesus I pray, Amen.

Missions

The Sisters of Faith Bible Study Give-Away!

A. Knight

For our sweet sister-participants…you know who you are—Denise O., Denise W., Bernadine, Gail, Janice and Regina! We are having a give-away and YOU are included! Girls, you may not have met Janice–but she was a participator of the study daily—but she had trouble with the commenting portion—but she checked in with Aimee weekly on the study.

We are so thrilled that you could join us! We had a couple share with us they enjoyed reading along as they could and several were already involved in a study elsewhere…that is okay! What matters is that we are each digging in to HIS WORD!

We are going to have a video taped drawing for the prize of a gift basket of goodies! Aimee is preparing the basket of a book (details forthcoming); and an assortment of goodies—I really want it to be a surprise! (Can you actually BELIEVE I am going to TRY to keep a secret??)

The drawing will be held next week and you will be notified of your ‘win’ by e-mail and on the Sisters of Faith site, as well as my personal blog, Knightly News!

Sisters, we would be amiss if we didn’t thank each of you for praying for us during Thanksgiving. You knew how difficult this first Thanksgiving would be without Wanda. Christmas will be as well, but we draw strength from your prayers and our faith in HIM.

We love you dearly!

Keeping the Faith,

Angie and Aimee

P.S. I need to know if you have your own Sisters of Faith T-Shirt. I think I have mailed everyone their size. PLEASE let me know via e-mail (av_knight (@) hotmail (dot) com

Christmas

The Perfect Gift

A. Knight

The song, “Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful” rings in my head…I can’t seem to keep myself from humming. (Lyrics by John F. Wade)

Oh, come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
Oh, come ye, oh, come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the king of angels:
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

Never fails, every time I get to the part “Oh, come, let us adore him”…I begin to feel the tears in the back of my throat … I begin to feel the Spirit of heaven singing in my heart…I adore Him.

What it must have been like that night to have been one of the shepherds in the field…just minding their own business…minding the sheep. When out of nowhere…an angel appears!

If you have ever been at the hospital when someone dear to you has just given birth, and you have been asked to “share that good news” with other loved ones, you know that feeling of excitement you get in your heart as you begin to make calls and give the details of the birth. The size. The weight. Whether he or she has hair….who does he look like? Sharing the details of the birth is exciting! I remember well calling family and friends after my grandchildren were born…the joy I felt— the relief!

The angel chosen to deliver this blessed message to the “loved ones” must have felt such excitement! The night may have went something like this…

Just as the shepherds were beginning to wind down, as they rested around their campfire from a long day of “sheep watching”…some watching furtively…some sleeping noisily. When suddenly a bright light seemed to shine all around them, as the angel from the Lord made his sudden appearance. A few possibly even yelled out in fright or astonishment (same thing—they were scared!), but the angel calms them with his words… “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

Did you get that? This great joy is for you and me. Even on the days we don’t feel this “great joy”….it is ours. This gift of joy is like none other. This Gift of Christmas is like none other. This gift does not require a specific size. He is a one size fits all. He fits into each heart that He is given access. All we have to do is send out the invite….He accepts. It is not even necessary for us to “clean house” before He gets there….He does the cleaning once He moves in. He tells us what should stay and what should go.

As calm settles in each shepherds heart, the excitement and wonder of the news begins to bubble up inside their hearts, as they recall stories they heard from their fathers of this very night!

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given….and he shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end…” Isaiah 9:6-7

Who does He look like? How much did He weigh? These are questions that usually only women would ask…so they didn’t ask. But the angel gave the pertinent details. Where they would find the infant God (John 1:1; John 1:14) . Lying in a manger. Wrapped in swaddling clothes. (Luke 2:11-12)

As the excitement of this news rustled in their hearts, it was also bursting in the hearts of the angels that were “eavesdropping” from behind the heavenly curtain. And they could hold it in no longer! “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men “. About this time, they may have even broke out in a chorus of

“Oh, come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
Oh, come ye, oh, come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the king of angels:
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.”

As quick as the angels departed…those shepherds did not waste a single second…they gathered their flocks (I would imagine—because, of course, these were diligent shepherds!) and made haste! “Oh, come, let us adore him, oh come, let us adore him, oh, come let us adore him…..Christ the Lord!” They sang as they traveled….as energetic as if they had slept all night! The adrenaline was coursing through their veins, as it probably was the sheep they were herding on their way.

They were about to behold the Gift of Christmas…the very first Gift. The ultimate Gift. The perfect Gift, from the Giver of life.

As they arrived, out of breath, chest thumping hard, more from the excitement than from the run…they looked into the sleeping face of Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace, the Everlasting Father…the sweet face of the Mighty God and experienced something they had never known before. I believe they felt as I did the night I invited Christ to live in my heart. Clean. Whole. Complete.

“Oh, come, let us adore him…..Christ the Lord.” And adore him they did. They bowed in adoration. As they looked on the tender face of that first Gift…they were privileged to be among the first to behold Him. They couldn’t linger long…for news like this must be shared! And from the joy in their hearts they shared the delight of this incredible night!

This is the perfect Gift to give others…not only at Christmas…but throughout the year. We can give Christmas…all through the year….. “Oh, come, let us adore Him…..Christ…..the Lord.”

Father, I am so grateful that You gave….You gave us Life….through the life of Your Son. I adore You. I worship You. On my face before You I ask that You cover my life with You…so that I am not seen, but You are. May we all share the love that You poured out that night so long ago into the lives of each of us. All of us shepherds…just keeping watch over our flocks….give us that burning, exciting desire to share Christmas on a daily basis. In Your most holy Name~Amen.

From December 2007 Archives of Knightly News and my submission to Laced with Grace December 2007