Author: A. Knight

For the past several days my mind has wandered.  Does yours do that?

My mind wandered to what I would have been doing yesterday and today, had “circumstances” not changed the plans of life.  I would have boarded a plane for Indianapolis.  Then another plane for “Elsewhere”.  Remember?

But things happen, beyond our control.  And yesterday, when I would have been traveling, I sat listening to Him shush me.  I didn’t whine.  But I did do some wondering…and wandering.

After making contact with the trip organizer from Mission of Mercy, I became settled in my spirit.  But do you know what crazy me thought as my mind wandered?  (Wild imagination.)  I thought that perhaps I had missed a crucial e-mail somewhere along the way, and low and behold the trip was back on.  I could even see myself running around trying to get my bags packed in such a rush, that I literally brought on a pure HOT-hot flash.  Just by uncontrolled imaginations.

I hadn’t missed an e-mail.  The trip is still paused.  As it should be right now.  God knows when the time will be right.  Not us.  Certainly not me!

Every morning of 2011, I have sat with a cup of coffee, my open Bible and Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost For His Highest”.  Sometimes, I pull it back out at night.  To chew some more.  There are times, my mind just can’t wrap around the complete thought—but as the day progresses, and I think more on the words—it will come to me.

There is always a message for me.  Generally, a timely message wrapped up in the words trailing down the page, like a vine—or like The Vine? 

Jeff and I have made some decisions, that truthfully, came to us hard to act on.  Months of prayer.  Many days of fasting.  Then came the decision time.  We both knew—in the deep part of our hearts—yet that doesn’t make it easy. 

But wait, did anyone say that following Christ was supposed to be “easy”.  That all decisions made would please everyone?  That all decisions made would be pain free?

On the contrary.  Each time I tried to figure out a way to have “my way” and His way—did nothing but bring more pain. Until I stepped aside and let Him do the leading.  See there is no world where we have OUR way while trying to follow Christ.

There has to be a place in our life of leaving.

Leaving our old life—our own desires—our ways—I have learned submission in the past year like I never imagined.  Do I have it down pat?  I don’t think so.  But I recognize my own selfish attitude quickly and turn it over to Him.  Again.  And again.

So, with the March wind blowing—we march on…following Him.  Where’s He leading?  I’m not sure.  Maybe Jeff has seen a glimpse.  Maybe not.  Either way, I trust Him. 

Are you marching somewhere?

© The Knightly News 2007-2011.  All rights reserved.

I suppose you think I’ve vacated the premises.  On the contrary.  I’m still very much HERE.

Thing is–things have been so busy.  I won’t bore you with the details (my last post was SO LONG), but I just wanted to include last weeks link to Internet Cafe`.

It was a “Life Lesson”.  And He kept teaching it to me for days–and maybe it even ran on into a few weeks.

“Walking in the Dark” is about something I think we all face.  Darkness while traversing this life of grace and mercy.   Sometimes we pull back on God–when He’s wanting us to go forward. Simply because we can’t “see where we’re going”.  I know.  I’ve been there.  Maybe you have too.

© The Knightly News 2007-2011

Previously posted May 1, 2008.

A day hemmed in prayer is less likely to…

Unravel.

Ever have one of those days? Where they seem to unravel before your very eyes? I have had several. Lately. All at once.

Where do I run?

To the Master Tailor. He stands at the ready with needle in hand. Ready to put things back in order for me.

All I have to do is “stand still”…..and see the salvation of the Lord. Hemmed in by the Master. Best place to be in my opinion.

What you see here on this page was a wonderful discovery.  One of those “rare” discoveries, found when we “listen”.

Two Wednesday nights ago, I came home deeply burdened for a family problem. Wasn’t mine. But it hurt as if it were. As I was preparing for a small Bible Study session of just two, I began to talk to the Lord.

He heard. He listened. He answered in the most unique way. I told Him this:

“Lord, Wanda would love to be here to pray with us over this. This is exactly what she loved to do. Pray for the needs of others.”

And I began to cry. As I do fairly often.

As I loaded the dishwasher, the prayer and thoughts were still on my mind. And all of a sudden I had an urgency to go to the little study room where I had unloaded the things from Wanda’s “sewing room” the week before. I had not looked at “everything” yet.

As a matter of fact, the thread boxes were the last thing to look into. I had plundered the cross stitch pages and packets. I had touched all the hoops, felt of all the fabrics, but had left the thread box. Why? Well, it was a clear box…and clearly full of thread. Why open it? Why indeed.

When the urgency to “do something” comes over me, I generally obey. So I left my dishes as they were, dishwasher still open and walked to the room and grabbed the box. I just looked at it.

Pretty colors all neatly lined up like jewelry ready to wear.

Then I noticed in one corner of the box what looked like several folded pieces of paper. I opened the box for closer examination. When I unfolded them and began to read, I began to weep. I said, “Lord, this is exactly what Wanda would say.”

Every single verse was about prayer. She was using them to “hide in her heart” as she stitched. She was hemming her day in. She was closing the gap in all of our lives. The seam was strong. The Threads unbreakable, because she used the Thread of the Holy Spirit in her life.

When my visitor arrived, I fixed a cup of tea for each of us and we settled in to pray, share and read some Word. After she spilled her heart, I began to unfold the neatly clipped papers and spread them out on the table. As I read each one, she began to see the “thread of hope”.  The thread of consistency. The lifeline of salvation available to each of us….through prayer.

Although I love each member of my family, I am most in love with Jesus. And I am so thankful for Salvation, and for the grace and mercy extended to this wretched sinner. Thankful too, for the prayers of many when I was far from God—and they didn’t give up—even though the years of praying got long. 

I am thankful that when I begin my day as my grandmothers did, and as Wanda did,  hemming my day —with prayer—it does not unravel. It holds strong.

After all, I have just sat before the Master Tailor.

© The Knightly News 2007-2011.  All rights reserved.

Last year I met a new friend.  She graciously allowed me to take pictures to my hearts content–and I did.  Both Connie Haile and myself—snapped shots of God’s goodness in another life.  Rene was a blessing then, and she continues to be.  Thank you Rene for opening your heart and home to me!  I love you dearly! Sister of FAITH!

In 2008, I wrote a post for Sisters of Faith-“90 Days with Jesus Only”, and it directly tied in to the picture that I saw 2 years later.  That’s God.  I have tweaked the post–and you can find it on Laced With Grace.

I hope and pray that as you read, God reveals His heart and plan for your life as He has unfolded daily, His heart into mine.

© The Knightly News 2007-2011