faith – Page 6 – Jeff & Angie

The Lost Can Be Found

January 17, 2015October 21, 2016 A. Knight

I woke this morning with a different feeling inside. It started with the unusual dream. Oh how I praise God for that dream! Because I am reminded of His love for the world. Humanity.

I woke up praying in a brand new prayer language. That did something to me-in my heart. My mind.

Yesterday I reflected on how much He wants to spend time with us me, yet we I continually put Him off. We I do this- we I work on that- we I go here and we I go there….putting Him on hold until we I can find time to “sit down”…and then we I forget.

I had to go back and cross out the “we” and show you that it’s me. It is “I” who stays busy~

Last night I had worked on a picture that I had taken at my mothers, adding a verse. It’s a sweet spot in her yard for prayer, conversations with children or grandchildren. It’s a teaching place. A swing positioned right in front of their garden plot. Hanging from a huge oak tree, beside a drooping fenced pasture and scupplin’ vine*, an old swing waits.

Then my computer went blitzy and it locked up and lost it. I couldn’t remember if I had hit “save”…I got aggravated and shut it down and put it away. I had found just the “right verse”.

It’s a wonderful thing about God’s word. It’s alive. Passages I memorized have been coming to my mind frequently–that is The Holy Spirit at work in my busy state of “being”. Reminding me…

To me, my mother’s house is the place where peace is found and felt and relished. It’s hard to explain. I remember my friend Connie Haile and also +Susan K Baldwin, both at different times spending the night with me during a “house sitting” event while they were on a mission trip, or lengthy visit to relatives, and they both said the same thing: “I feel peace here.”

That’s where we rest. In the place of peace. But too often we continue working. Rushing. Spending time doing the deal–we forget His desire to be with us.

Tomorrow is Sunday. If you are in ministry–it’s your busiest day. Don’t neglect the time needed to rest. To just “B”. (As my friend +Betty Shoopman would say.)

God is faithful and HE will meet you in that place…of peace. Rest. Breathe. I can’t tell you how important it is. Even if you can only grab a snippet of time. Take it.

Find that “lost” peace that’s missing from your life. Just like I turned on my computer this morning and opened my pictures in search of another one to work on, there sat the one I made last night…waiting to be used.

The lost can be found. Seek.

Seek.

Photo: (c) Angie Knight Photography.

*scupplin’ vine

faith, Life, Missions

New Steps of Faith!– Oh! The Places We’ve Been!

November 2, 2014October 21, 2016 A. Knight

We’ve not yet been everywhere He intends to take us…but the affects of Cambodia, Honduras, Bolivia will forever be embedded in my heart and life.

Jeff has ministered and built for the kingdom of God in Alaska, Jamaica, Peru and Bolivia…but we’re not done…there’s more fields to harvest–more work to be done, and we need many hands to do the job!

Every missionary that came through our church doors has pulled at my heart. I would sit and listen and then my eyes would reveal the condition of my heart. My heart yearned to walk with them. Talk one-on-one with them, in their location. On the very soil where their hearts were changed. And it happened again and again–and we admitted we were no longer satisfied with “just” doing the every-day-normal routines. We had to do more.

To find out the “more”…. I’m going to send you on a quick journey. I’m going to encourage you to pray for us as never before. I going to squeeze back tears as I reveal what God has so graciously been doing in our lives in the past several months.

It’s not been a “sudden” decision–it’s been a long waited out–long thought and prayed out decision–only made after several joined with us in prayer and we sought godly counsel over the changes in our lives that would ensue.

I (Angie) left my job in 2010 at the law office to embark on —who knew what–because I felt such a strong call–beckoning–from God I could simply not ignore. He proved Himself over and over throughout that whole process.

Then, in 2011, God nudged again–to both of us. It was time to make further changes. We became part of a wonderful mission minded church and was honored to served as their mission pastors. Jeff led 4 mission teams to Bolivia, and 2 disaster relief teams to North Alabama after tornadoes ripped through neighborhoods leaving families without homes–or the ability to clean up in the aftermath. We had great teams. Hard working teams–who, sought God for direction and financing to be able to join us. Oh, how grateful we have been for the hands and hearts who have worked along side us–not flinching at the sweat- or the unusual food. But loving the sight of the change in the lives we sought to help. And every member of each team is affected.

Fast forward: 2014. Again we feel God moving and working in our lives–more changes on the horizon. We enlist some of the same godly counsel to help us pray and seek God’s direction and perfect will for our lives. Messages from the pulpit, passages of Scripture and words from others align with what is in our hearts. Change is once again upon us. This time a bit different.

We have launched a new web/blog site and I would like to encourage you to please sign up for the emails to be slipped right into your inbox. That will be the best way to stay up with what’s going on in our lives–and the lives of our “team members!”

To see what comes next…go here: jeffandangieknight.wordpress.com/

To journey with Christ is the most life changing experience…what you “think” is going to happen, often doesn’t.

Our focus is set on Him. We don’t look back at what “was”, but at what He has ahead. Although we can’t see the future, we know He has a watchful eye on our lives. Please pray with us, journey with us and listen as He might even be calling you to step out of YOUR comfort zone…and follow Him.

Brothers and sisters, I can’t consider myself a winner yet. This is what I do: I don’t look back, I lengthen my stride, and 14 I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 GWT

faith, Life, Missions, Weekend Reflections

Over the Next Hill–The Light Still Shines

October 11, 2014October 21, 2016 A. Knight

Do you have a flashlight? Batteries fresh? Every time I see a flashlight, I wonder about the battery content.

Without the glowing light, it’s difficult to see in the dark.

I have opened my fair share of flashlights only to find that the battery inside was dead. Or worse yet, corroded.

Jeff and I have been seeking God about some things in our lives, the call on our hearts–ignited by The Holy Spirit–and set afire each time we venture out into the unknown with Him…

While the whole picture is not revealed–we see enough to know that without the Light, we cannot put one foot in front of the other…much like you have no idea what’s over the next hill in your life–so we are. But –we faithfully, with hearts beating wildly with trust in Him–put one foot in front of the other and begin a journey.

I will share more about this later–and I hope you journey along. The address of this blog will soon change. I’m going to let it revert back to the original address and take up a new address from here. I will send you that as soon as the work is finished. I must confer with my techno buddy on this–to make sure that no one gets left behind. 🙂

One big change that recently came–after much prayer and conversation between Jeff and myself, we felt it was God’s timing that I step down from my position as secretary at our church and be more available to Jeff for the next mission trip(s). Yes, that was a huge decision–as I have learned so much from our pastor and associate pastor. What Pastor Dallas has learned along the journey of ministry–he freely gives to others to glean from. I told him often, I felt like I was in school on a daily basis–Bible School, Leadership Training, Counseling Classes….and the list goes on. What an incredible opportunity God afforded me! I am eternally grateful to him and his wife, Pam. Jeff and I love them dearly. There are some people you “learn to love”, you don’t have to learn to love these, it just happens. Their hearts for God’s people is evident–and their spirit of giving to others –contagious.

I say that not to create wonder and questions, I won’t have you (mother) hunting me up everywhere–I will be living right where we’ve lived–and Jeff will be doing what he loves doing (serving the West Florida District), but our passion for missions has exploded inside us and our hearts desire is to follow His leading…to wherever that may be…EVEN WHEN WE can’t see the next dip in the road…

So, please stay tuned so we can stay connected. These are things God has been working on in me for quite a while- and I know I’ve not been the best blogger here– but that too–hopefully will change.

Be on the look out…put fresh batteries in…get ready to go–wherever HE leads. You might not be able to see over the hill, and it might get dark at times, but trust HIM… HE is your light. He’s my Light.

faith, Wanda

Key Words

August 11, 2014October 21, 2016 A. Knight

There are times in my day-2-day that my ears and mind is arrested by something someone says, or something I see…

An example (just to let you peek in the box of words), at our annual “Wanda Weekend” last year, mother’s words one morning over coffee and devotions- with the sound of the waves colliding with the shore and the aroma of coffee and salt air mingling in our minds– “It’s time to take flight!” stirred more than my ears to full alert…it stirred my heart. A secret longing. More than the “Be all you can be” quote by a dedicated military force, it woke me from a contemplative state that morning into wide awake.

It happens often. I take note, write it down, and talk to God about it.

Saturday it happened again. I saw a sign in a field on my way to spending more than I needed to for things we will consume and forget…I saw a sign. A sign that reminded me of the brevity of this existence—and the surety of His words to believers.

I stopped on the side of the road and snapped it with my phone.

COMING SOON
When you make up your mind, call:

HIM. Of course there was a phone number listed which I marked out–but to call Jesus…no phone is necessary.

Your call will not get dropped.

He is never out of range.

Call on HIM today….He’s COMING SOON.

faith, Ministry, Mission Trip, Trust

Is it me–or is it Odd?

July 10, 2014October 21, 2016 A. Knight

Kolomoki Mounds Lake

Ok…there are some odd things happening…

Not bad odd…just odd odd. Yeah, that makes perfect sense.

It’s the “odd” sort of things that cause me to pause in my thinking, go back and dig in my prayer journal where I record prayers, thoughts, answers, Scriptures—because when I backtrack to what I’ve asked Him…I find that months later, there’s the answer in front of me—via Word from God through the Word…a scene that stares back at me from across the lake, through a message preached…or through a person– and most always most of those combined.

Side note: I had the BEST surprise this week. A monetary gift from Cindy M. from California to purchase BIBLES to carry to Bolivia! I was thrilled! God is faithful to His promises! If you want to get in on the action or find out what I’m talking about –go here: Bibles and School Supplies for Bolivia! Side note end.

This is from a past devotion. I’m not even sure of the date—but the “odd thing” was I happened on it by accident today… I wasn’t looking…I promise.

In the words of Oswald Chambers, “Dreaming about a thing in order to do it properly is right; but dreaming about it when we should be doing it is wrong.”

Can I just tell you that on the day I read this one…it hit me square in the eyes. For several reasons.

1) I had missed doing my devotions in my Oswald Chambers book for a few days. I read other things…—but when I picked my book back up, I flipped first to the “day at hand”.

“SMACK”. Right between the eyes.

2) Yes, I had been dreaming. But to put action behind my dreams scared me to death! But still…

My mother always told us, “Actions speak louder than words”. Yes. I know. A mother’s wisdom.

Oswald goes on further, “When we are getting into contact with God in order to find out what He wants, dreaming is right; but when we are inclined to spend our time in dreaming over what we have been told to do, it is a bad thing and God’s blessing is never on it….’neither sit nor stand but go.’ “

It is alright to wait before the Lord to get the instructions…or the road map—but there are times, when He bids us go–have faith in Him and go—and He directs us step by step.

Wanda’s favorite verse was Psalm 27:14. Wait on the Lord. As you are waiting “before Him”…meaning on your knees, in your prayer closet, or on your face, in your private devotions, He is doing the strengthening. He will be your strength. When you feel you have gone your absolute limit….give it up. To Him. And when He answers, however He may choose to answer, give Him all the praise.

There is preparation work ahead. It’s been on my mind—and just last week—those words were spoken over us and to us by an incredible couple—who are just as hungry to see God in action as we are. They have long since been acting on His instructions…

It’s really odd how things are coming together…For you too?

I firmly believe this:

^“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.⁸Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:¹¹whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:7-11 ESV)

faith, Hope, Trust, Wanda

Face Your Facts With Faith

July 9, 2014October 21, 2016 A. Knight

The last Sunday of June, Doug Clay, General Treasurer of the AG, brought a message that struck and stuck.

If you would like to listen, go to the church website and click on “Hanging Out In God’s Waiting Room”.

The audio/video quality is not the best–but the message was spot on. My interest was highly piqued when he started asking the question, “how many of you feel like you’ve been in or are in God’s waiting room?”

I don’t know if you remember, but that was the only blog post my sister, Wanda, and I wrote together. It was originally on our site, Sisters of Faith, with the title “God’s Waiting Room“, and it was also featured on her funeral service guide.

I had created that blog site so in hopes that it would revive her weary heart with something fun and inspirational to do before her last hospital visit–but God had other plans. Although our lives were dramatically altered, we know His plans are always best…His timing and order always flows in the right direction. And we carry with us, the faith that bore her on.

Sorry to side track–it happens at my age, more often than not….But back to the message by Bro. Doug. It was one of those that resonated in my spirit. I heard– as much as felt the vibrating of the strings as my heart was plucked along with the words, as God began to remind me of the journey we began. I had almost forgotten. No, not really, but as I told a friend — there are days that the memory of what He called me out for is faint–covered with a mist- or fog–like your bathroom mirror after a hot shower–wipe it off.
Now. Can you see…and remember.

I can’t re-preach his message–but I do want to share what God has been reminding me of since that day:

His promises are true. What He said He will do–He will do.
If He has called you to a place–He expects you to follow Him. No dawdling on the road side.
Time is short. Get busy with the gifts He has given you and be contentious with His resources.
Faith is believing without the basis of proof. A missionary cannot prove to you that God spoke to their heart and called them to serve Him in a foreign land (foreign to them, may not be foreign to you)…but they believe and therefore they put their belief into action.

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going. (Hebrews 12:8) By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the One who had promised was faithful. therefore from one man–in fact, from one as good as dead–came offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as innumerable as the grains of sand by the seashore. (Hebrews 11:11-12) (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

You and I can have power to conceive…that dream…that promise…

Maybe the facts are not in your favor…but Faith is.

Face your facts with faith*. Watch God in action.

*Statement from Doug Clay’s message, “Hanging Out In God’s Waiting Room”.

Photo: 2012 Retreat-Panama City Beach. © Angie Knight. Used by permission.

faith, Mission Trip, Reflection

Deliberate Commitment

June 11, 2014October 21, 2016 A. Knight

Oswald Chambers wrote: “Personal contact with Jesus changes everything. Be “foolish” enough to come and commit yourself to what He says. The attitude necessary for you to come to Him is one where your will has made the determination to let go of everything and deliberately commit it all to Him.”

I think too often that is where we get hung up. Life has offered us so much—it’s hard to let go. One minute we think we can—easily relinquish the goods…the next minute there’s a hesitation. The hesitation become like a freight train at full speed down the track, blowing steam and making headway into our neatly stacked blocks of thoughts and ideas of what our lives should look like at 50…and 60…and 70.
But what if at 70, God calls you to step out of your comfort zone and commit more to Him than ever before. What if God asks you to let go of what you’ve always called “yours”…and give it up.
What if God says, “I have a better plan”, to the list maker at 25?
What? Are you kidding me?
But I made a list. I have all things lined up. I know when I will graduate, have kids, get married… I know where I’ll live, why, I’ve already picked out the fence for the back yard that will enclose the dog I don’t yet have…what do you mean LET GO?!
Oswald said, “deliberately commit”.

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5

I choose to commit, pledge, entrust all of me to God. For His choosing. I have asked myself, “what will that look like”?

Obedience- with joy.

I am a missionary. I serve where I am—and my heart beats for more. I have felt a stirring for quite some time to “commit” all I have to Him…and I do. There is nothing that I own that I would not be ready at a moment’s notice to relinquish. As a matter of fact, I have given thought (much thought) to having a yard sale at my house and dragging as much as I can live without right now into the yard and putting a price tag on it… (What do you want?)
I am certainly not saying you have to do this—just because I feel it…
You alone know what God has in the works for your life—and you likely already know what He will require…or at least part of what He’s already put His holy finger on. We need to remember that the things we hold dear… are just things…yet they bind us so much that we feel a chokehold kin to a death grip on our lives.
What’s the matter with us? We have allowed “things” to possess us, rather than us possess things.
Jeff and I are the mission pastors at our church—a position we love and are called and committed to. We chose to say, “Yes” to God when He spoke into our hearts and lives. It required some decisions that, although they were difficult, they were necessary.

Dreams aren’t fulfilled without putting on your shoes of commitment and taking deliberate steps and action into the road that leads to the realization of those dreams.

Yesterday, after the workday was complete, I sat in my chair and looked back at some pictures of the past steps that are leading to the fulfillment of our dreams. I see, on the periphery that God has shifted things around in such a way that I see the dream coming into more of a reality than I did 4 years ago.
Our church hosts at least one missionary each month. There is one way to grow your mission department in your church—hear their voice. It sounds like the voice of our Father. “Go –commit. Feed my sheep. Make disciples. Love them to Me. Build relationships…and build buildings.”
I love doing what I do. I love following God’s voice and heart. Tears spring hot to my eyes when I think of all the places He has led me and all the words He has spoken into my heart.

Deliberate commitment.

Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Psalm 37:4-6

I am committed to doing MORE. Seeing MORE. Being MORE. Loving HIM MORE. GROWING MORE LIKE HIM. Deliberately.
It won’t happen by accident.

Devotion, faith

Go with God

May 23, 2014October 21, 2016 A. Knight

The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. Genesis 12:1 NLT

First steps are critical. First steps are applauded. They are remembered. Just as a parent watches with joy, the first steps her toddler takes, so God, watches each of us as we embark on the unknown journey’s of our lives. One step at a time.

Obedience. Step-step. One foot out, here comes the other… Without hesitation or forethought of where it might lead.

That’s what Abram did. The Bible states in verse 4, “So Abram departed…”

When God speaks to us–often we take a practical approach. The human understanding approach. The common sense approach.

We make a list. While lists are not bad… in the process of making the list, we can often turn aside to our own devices. We sort through what God said as if we were sorting through the mail–and we take the parts that make most sense…and then…we consult the accountant…or the neighbor… or the friend.

I’m not against “consulting”. I am actually all for it. So is the Bible. But too often I think we consult those who may not understand–and therefore they give us the idea that — “maybe we heard wrong–or, maybe we are acting in haste”…

I’m very careful on who I consult with regarding my “God journey’s”. I learned the hard way. There are those who “get it”…and those who don’t.

If you have a dream–or a vision that you believe God is directing you to, the first thing (in my opinion), just say “yes”. Then allow God to walk you through the process. Consult those who can lead you in the right direction–in taking the steps necessary to get you from point A to point B….and go with God.

There is an exciting journey ahead. Along the way–you may become discouraged–even think you didn’t hear correctly. TRUST the Voice you heard.

Obedience is key–God will grow you, mold you, re-make you all along the way. Take note of all the things you learn. Keep a journal. There is significance in every step.

And… Go with God.

Photo credit: Beverly Buchholtz 2013

faith, Mission Trip

All For The Commission

May 15, 2014October 21, 2016 A. Knight

We recently had our first “annual” color-paint “Running for Souls” 5K race. What a day.

Carol Rudd supervised and orchestrated the entire event. (She is an amazing missionary and friend!) We had a great time meeting each week planning and laying out all the needs and possibilities for the day…then the day came…when the rubber soles of sneakers hit the asphalt pavement for souls in Bolivia.

That’s what we are about. Bolivia is our current country assignment. With hope and anticipation, I look for God to add another country assignment soon. But for now, we are there. Well, not literally (yet), but in every other sense, we are. We are working hard this year to raise money to buy Bibles, supplies, bricks to build the church, and will take donations from you in any amount! $10 will help buy Bibles! $50 will buy bricks! We leave in just a few short months…time is ticking…

We are running…we are golfing…we are having yard sales and facebook sales–some are doing home repairs, barn building, roof laying, you name it and there are those on our team doing it for missions.

All to share Jesus Christ with those who don’t know Him. All for another soul for the Kingdom of God.

We are active here and there. Don’t get twisted up thinking this group of people only do foreign missions. There is a heart for the lost everywhere here amongst us…in us.

It was a colorful day…

Determination ran…

For souls…

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20 KJV

Devotion, faith, Friends

Attainable Stars

May 1, 2014October 21, 2016 A. Knight

A commercial came on the other night–and the music was neat, and I had been hearing it without seeing it.

So after about the third round of this particular “app” commercial–I watched–absorbed.

At the end I thought, “How cool! I think I’ll download the app”, so I proceeded to download. When it finished, I opened it, expected to “see”…but all I saw was my living room ceiling.

“You dummy”, I said to myself….”you gotta go outside!”

But rather than leave my cozy nest on the couch, I set about exploring the app.

I clicked on “STARS”….

“To see the stars you must pay the price.” That statement popped then rolled in my head the instant I saw the price beside the stars…

Well, I’m not one to just “click” on every single interesting app. If it’s free…and has good reviews, then I likely will…this one wasn’t fully free. But it had good reviews.

“To see the stars you must pay the price”.

I want to see the stars…not just the kind that roll around Sylvester the cat when he gets conked on the head…but the stars that only God can bring about in our lives.

There is something special about gazing up in the black velvet sky–and seeing all these twinkling, blinking lights, billions of miles away–and remembering The Creator.

You are not here by chance. I am not typing this by chance. But by a careful orchestration of events of my life and yours.

I thought the “thought” of the stars this week…and even shared it twice this week…and God knew both times who and how it would affect me, as well as the listener. “To see the stars you must pay the price”.

So, Listener. How did it affect you?

Is there something so “far out of reach” that you think it’s unattainable? It’s not.

The Bible says “with God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

In 2009 Tiffany Stuart bought me a card–it was significant. She wrote in it and sealed it up in November of 2009, but didn’t mail it until January 2010. The significance is what was happening at both times. In November, I began praying about something that would alter my course. In January I acted on what I believed God was saying. Her words in pen came on the very day of my action. His message of confirmation.

The front cover of the card was a girl “reaching for the stars”…

I began to do just that…on tip-toe I reach up–for more of Him. His calling on my life, His direction to follow, and His word in my heart–ready to share at any time–with anyone.

One of my biggest encouragers, Connie Haile, sent me this picture:

Is there a “dream” you are dreaming…

Perhaps it seems as distant as the stars…

Yesterday I was compelled to send a message to 3 birdie friends…

“reach for the stars…follow that dream”.

I didn’t send the message because I stayed busy at work…but today….

I’ve arrived home–sitting on my porch, looking up at the sky and imagining the stars...

They are attainable.

Matthew 17:20; Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37; Hebrews 11:6.

Deliberate commitment.

Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Psalm 37:4-6

Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Psalm 37:4-6