Tag Archives: comfort zone

December 31, 2021

Yielded and Still

By Angie Knight

I remember the weekend I found this sign.  It snowed  while we were in Ellijay, Georgia and it was beautiful–and I felt like God did it just for ME!

This was back before all the good stores closed–and this picture may have been taken in Blue Ridge, GA, again, before all the good stores closed.  Now it’s new stuff and commercialized.  Few have a walk down memory lane “used-thrift-store-stuff and antiques”.  It’s disappointing to say the least.  But I digress.

When I saw the yield sign, I knew it meant something.  I’ve stopped on the road side before and snapped a picture of a yield sign because someone put a few bullet holes in it.  Holmes County Florida–probably a teenager with not enough to keep him busy at home and no curfew.  (Don’t get me started on that…)

Anyway –yield signs speak to me.  They say stop.  Become aware of where you are and where you’re headed.  Are you going YOUR way -or His way.  (Can we just pause so I can say: Yield. To. His. Plan.)

As we have approached 2022, never imagining in my wildest dreams 20 years ago that we would ever be here, I look back contemplatively at the last several years:  Where did it go and what did I do with the time spent?  Ever wonder that yourself?

I have walked through some places I wouldn’t want to walk again—yet, to hear the voice of God as I have heard Him in the past six years, I would. 

I spent some time the last few days looking backwards through some prayer journals at what God has done in my life—and I am still amazed:  Healed of cancer.  Healed through chemo and radiation, both of which I felt would kill me, yet did not.

I experienced Him healing my raw radiation damaged skin almost overnight and layer it with brand new skin.  The two radiation technicians were so stunned— (they had seen it the day before), that one called the other in to see–and then they called the doctor in to be a witness to the miracle that had begun in 24 short hours.  God can do a LOT in a little time.  Remember what He did in just six days?

I witnessed firsthand how God uses our circumstances to draw us closer to Him, reach others for Him, reveal our shortcomings to us, and bring glory to His name all at the same time.

I wouldn’t have chosen that—but He knew what I would be on the other side of it.  Changed. 

Through various things in my life, from rebellion as a teenager and even as a young adult, to almost losing both my daughters at different times and very different circumstances (April’s car accident and Tiffany, when her little Zackary was born); God has taught me more about submission than I could have imagined.

Submission is hard.  I have watched a young lady I love very much struggle with it, even get angry about it—and I want to hold her close and tell her if she will stop fighting it and lean on God—He will help her.  But this is something, as painful as it will be for her, she will have to learn from Him.  Just like I did.  And she will see her relationship with Him—grow.

I think as long as we live we will keep learning the art of submission.  Jesus displayed this daily.  At the end of His earthly ministry—He prayed, “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).  He knew what was about to happen—yet He submitted.

We experience submission in daily living.  Sickness takes a toll and changes the way we operate on a daily basis.  Just look around at what the C* virus has done to our lives and routines.

Before Christmas my dad underwent open heart surgery.  It was either submit to surgery or plan to die.  There was no middle ground and there were no “if-and’s-or but’s”.  Death would come.  Of course, we know that death will still come, should the Lord tarry –but it would come much sooner for him without the surgery.

After the surgery there are still lessons in submission.  The doctor has orders.  Our body dictates what it will and won’t do.  And we submit to the complete painful exhaustion of the process of healing.  But healing and strength will come—and much sooner if we submit.

Surrendering to the Holy Spirit is often the same.  I’ve had my own painful times of learning to surrender and submit to Him—and the same results occur.  While the act of surrendering or submitting—both mean to yield, it is not the same as “giving up”.  To give up means to cease making an effort; resign oneself to failure.

As we surrender, we do so with a fortitude (stubbornness) that will carry us through the hardest times.

My mother and I had a conversation one morning recently about the stubborn gene trait in the women of our family.  While we are sometimes tenacious or stubborn it doesn’t mean we don’t surrender at the appropriate time.  We submit to authority—but we can stubbornly push ourselves forward to complete a task when our body feels it has reached its limit.  I believe the stubborn gene trait was an asset to me when I had cancer.

In the new year- I am quite sure we will find places to stubbornly push ourselves forward when we really feel like giving up—and I believe we will also feel the urgency to surrender to the Holy Spirit when He reminds us—we don’t have to do this alone.  He is with us—just as the ministering angel was with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane –so the Holy Spirit is with us.  (Luke 22:43)

Without my biggest surrender in 2009 by getting on my first airplane–I would not be where I am today–with a storehouse of memories, miracles and blessings–more than I ever imagined I would ever see and experience.

My thought line of airplanes was quite ridiculous…”If God wanted me to fly–He would have given me wings”….and….”Oh, I’ll fly one day–when I fly up to Heaven.”  (Sounds just like some little granny would say.  Trouble was–I was saying this in my 20’s!). I was afraid.  Fear kept me on the ground while God wanted me to soar and see new things.

Can I offer a suggestion for your own 2022?  Don’t be afraid.  When something new comes your way–pray about it and then if you feel God directing you toward the “fearful thing”…go after it with gusto!  If it’s beginning your own new business–or going back to school…or stepping out in faith in a ministry you feel called to do…Hold His hand tight and GO FOR IT!

Can we also encourage those around us?

Maybe they struggle with surrender.

Maybe we just need to let them know they aren’t alone?  Or, perhaps they don’t know Jesus—it’s very possible they’ve never encountered a moment to need Him with such urgency as we’ve had in the past years.

No matter what this new year brings, let us look to Him—as we face the year in faith, fully surrender to His guidance…and He will carry us all the way Home.

© Angie Knight.  Copyright 2021. All rights reserved.  A portion used by permission of the author in January 2022 edition of StreetTalk Magazine.

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January 31, 2018

Proving His Faithfulness

By Angie Knight

We are here. The Lord has been full of mercy- and has been gracious to my weary heart when I felt I would faint from all the newness surrounding me.

Overwhelmed. That has pretty much summed up my feelings the last several days. I’m surprised He hasn’t obliged my behind with a swift kick. But again… He’s full of mercy and it’s new every morning.

We went apartment looking yesterday and today – yesterday one out of three was a keeper – except for that little thing called a budget.

To find something in a safe area And affordable I was beginning up thinking was nigh impossible. But God looked down and set us up.

“When things look impossible will you still trust Me? “

I trusted Him without a second thought during my cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy and radiation…. What was the problem trusting and believing Him to find us an apartment? I was bone weary and emotionally spent. Every single ounce of my flesh screamed “stop and take a breath!”

We had several – what I will call “prayer crisis”. When we got to the Miami Airport to leave, we discovered that my tourist visa had expired. And to get one at the airport requires certain documents. Well, you would have thought we knew that it expired – but since Jeff’s was a 10 year tourist visa we never thought to check mine… We assumed. Yeah yeah. I know.

So there was a huge emotional deal going down in my head when we got to the airport checking in our bags. I asked a few prayer warriors to pray. Well…. They let me on the plane.

Of course you must know it was not a peaceful flight like I had “planned”. Instead my heart was filled with anxious thoughts. When we finally got here and deboarded the plane it was another ordeal and phone calls and anguish and tears – finally I was spent…. I was ready to go home and say “forgetaboutit“. I sat there in tears (while Jeff was – I’m not sure where, trying to get me in) and told the Lord “I’m done”. I said it twice for good measure. I was, as they say–being real with God.

That very instant when I admitted to having NO abilities on my own, and our merits could get us nothing, the guy walked over who had told me my papers were no good and not enough–and he asked for them again and he made it happen. More than an hour after we landed, we walked out into the freedom of a tourist.

There’s a LOT of spiritual lessons here once I unpack it all, but know this, God proves Himself daily. Every single minute of every day.

We are grateful to a lot of people-both here and at home. Our prayer partners are relentless. And so is our God.

My friend, Paola wanted to get Jeff to try something – her words were “have you proved this”?? He had not tried it… That’s us. Try HIM. Prove Him. He is trustworthy. It may not look like we thought…. I may not understand the whole process but His ways are eventually visible.

One last note – we don’t have wifi yet, but we have phones. If you see our family – love them for us. Hug them. This is the Hardest thing for me because I love my family more than anything.

I’m reading a book called “A Tale of 3 Kings”, by Gene Edwards. I want to leave you with a quote:

“… God did not have -but wanted very much to have – men and women who would live in pain. God wanted a broken vessel.”

I think that can often sum up the life of followers of God. To die to the desires of our own hearts and take up His. We are no different than you. Just a different assignment today.

(special thanks to Stevie Elam for this amazing gift!)

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January 16, 2018

You Have to Believe it to See it

By Angie Knight

You’ve heard people say,– I’ll believe it when I see it? Try believing before you see. Try seeing it in your spirit. And then watch Him unfold the journey.

When in Costa Rica, I almost forgot that a blue this color existed. But the skies are that blue at home. #nofilter. And at night, the stars shine bright. It’s especially beautiful on a cold night. Head thrown back, thanking my Father for such wonderful gifts like this!

Every night while home, when I took my Gracie Mae out, I would look up at the night sky and draw in a deep breath of cold air and proclaim aloud my gratitude for the heavenly display of night-lights. I love it. If you have never had a length of time when you couldn’t see the stars– or a cloudless blue sky this spectacular– like only Northwest Florida (at my moms house) can produce, then maybe you don’t quite understand my immense joy. Even though I couldn’t SEE the stars in Costa Rica, I knew. I believed. They were still hanging around up there. Waiting to be seen!

I love coming home. Although we didn’t stay at mother’s this visit– (the things we both had to do were concentrated in Marianna), I still enjoyed my few short visits back home. It’s was really odd- the LORD really helped me deal with the emotions of each place I called home. The people– that’s another thing. It hurt to leave them again.

Our daughters and their boys are the delight and light of our hearts– but we have an urgent compelling to follow what God has laid on our hearts. It’s a compelling that we just can’t turn off.

The other night I heard something- it was actually in the wee hours of the morning– I lay there very still and the Holy Spirit whispered again. I got up to go to the bathroom with intentions of writing it down (typing it on my notepad) when I got back to bed. But just that fast– that word was gone. Stolen from my mind with all the busy things that kept rolling through night after night while we’ve been home.

As I lay in the bed, very still and quite, I asked the LORD, “please give it to me one more time.”

He did.

“You cannot unhear a call from God.”

Just like you can’t unsee something you wished you hadn’t seen- or unsay something you said and instantly regretted, you cannot unhear once the voice of God has called your name.

Oh how I love Him. I am so thankful that when He looked for someone to “go”, we both said “yes”. How in the world did it all happen?? Only by God’s grace and HIS divine guidance. All the pieces of this journey will hopefully one day find its way to a book– that’s what my friend Betty and I had hoped to get to work on– but it didn’t happen– too many things going on. We’ve planned it and talked it for several years now though. And God has kept piling on the Words and the journey is sweeter with every passing day.

A lot of things look different than what I first supposed. But I have followed Him long enough and lived for Him long enough to know that He is very purposed about every detail of our lives and this journey.

After being in language school with over 30 other students– from other districts, we do know that our district is the best. (Grinning– because our district is family) The West Florida District Presbytery Board gathered around us this afternoon before we left and prayed for us– and we have such admiration for what they each do. They are amazing. And one of them is our oldest daughters Pastor. And I had the opportunity to thank him for all the prayers he has prayed over our girl and her boys. God has been faithful!!

If you’re dreaming a BIG GOD SIZED dream– keep believing. If it won’t turn off in your heart and mind no matter what- keep praying. If every sermon you hear, every song and every Word keeps you coming back to circle your dream again– trust that In HIS timing, it will all line up.

No, it may not look like you imagined. You may be older, gray haired, a little weaker in body, but stronger in spirit, … believe to SEE the impossible. Believe to LIVE the improbable. And believe to be used by the Master Himself when the time is right. That’s what we are here for. Bring HIM glory, through telling His story which is our story and HIS story in us. That may have sounded like a jumble of confusion there– but it’s late. Jeff’s driving and I’m blogging on my phone.

When you look up at the blue sky– think of us. Pray for me that I will keep my eyes open to what HE wants to show me next. And when you look up at the night sky and see stars, count yourself blessed. There were many nights I teared up wanting to see them. I’ve never been on a mission trip to Bolivia and saw the stars. I only saw about 5 stars (and only saw the moon about 5 times!) while in Costa Rica. It saddened my heart a great deal because I love looking at the sky.

Well. It’s late. For us anyway. We may stop and sleep soon and get an early start in the morning. We love y’all. Every single one. Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep giving Him Praise and Glory!

Believing…. and seeing. They go hand in hand.

Believing BIG-

Angie

#aknightsjourney

2 Comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Bolivia, faith, Hope, Life, Ministry, Missions, prayer, Trust

September 12, 2015

I need to tell you something.

By Angie Knight
Whenever I hear those words, “I need to tell you something”, my gut always lurches.  Always.  Usually–or when we had kids at home, it was followed by a confession of something that had gotten broken during some “rough-housing”…and yes, even daughters do that.  Or at least ours did.
It’s 11:33 pm and I’ve been sitting on some news since last Friday.  So, a week ago we got a verbal answer to a prayer we had been praying for more than a year.  Actually, if you want to get real technical and nit-picky, we’ve probably had this on the altar of prayer for about 4 years.  Not sure what-when-how God would order our steps, we just knew (and know) He does.
In February of this year, we began the process to become missionaries to Bolivia.  Santa Cruz to be really specific.  The city and country that claimed our attention and heart after our first mission trip together.  We actually celebrated Jeff’s birthday that first year there in 2011.  We told very few people.  We were secretly fearful that they would find all sorts of things wrong with us.  Our past.  Our lack of experience.  Our age….and when it all boiled down to it, our age did become a factor.
The first thing we did was make a prayerful decision.  Months of prayer–then one morning Jeff said it:  “We need to fill out the paperwork to become missionaries full time to Bolivia”.  Wow.  You could have knocked me over with a feather.  And that day– was an AMAZING day.  I wish you could have seen the sky that day–why, it was the bluest it’s ever been!  And the birds–well, they sang the best and the loudest that day!  Do you get the picture?  It was a spectacular–surreal feeling day.  Then the next day came.  And then the next…
After a few weeks of paperwork.  Buckets of tears.  (Maybe not quite buckets, but I was an emotional wreck for a few weeks.)  Anyway, the process began with the big WAIT.  Weeks went by.  We traveled to Bolivia in May for our 2015 Mission Trip with an incredible Crusade Team and the Focus Forward Team.  It was amazing.  God opened a new door and two new Schools!
We were thankful and saw and felt God move in our lives.
The summer came and brought lively camps.  Jeff spent every Tuesday sharing our heart for our new mission project with Focus Forward Ministries sharing about The Genesis Project.  The BIG WAIT continued.  Still no word.
Finally a letter arrived.  Not quite what we had hoped.  Actually, it was nothing like what we had prayed for nor expected.  We felt sort of shuffled.  Aside.
Tears.  Prayers.  More tears.  And finally, I settled it in my heart when I handed all my dreams and plans over to God.  Jeff pretty much said the same thing.  God had been working in each of us–and we were having the same feelings in much the same direction.  We were going to wait on God no matter what He said or no matter how long it took.  We knew He had a plan–and it was HIS plan–not ours that we wanted to see fulfilled in our lives.
Later in the summer we began to prepare for our ordination exam.  Nerve wracking to say the least.  It was like, “let’s just add a bit more stress and anxiety to the mix!”.
I remember being outside one day–I can’t remember what I was doing–but I felt a “stir”.  It was one I had felt before.  It was like “something is coming”-– I felt a definite change in the air.  Maybe that “something” was news.  News.  Maybe it was changes in our lives.  It actually was both.
Our District Superintendent and his wife, who is also one of our oldest and dearest friends came to our house last Friday night with the “news”.  He played a recorded voice mail (which I recorded for future encouragement–who knew I would need it even this week!) of our “approval” to be missionaries to Santa Cruz Bolivia!  Under the supervision of a great missionary couple that we had the privilege of working with THIS YEAR!  God planned all that out in advance!
This is really skimming the surface of the news….but I needed to tell you…. After all, so many of you have been praying for us… and when things looked the bleakest— God was working on our behalf.
Some have asked–how long? When will you go?  Well, first things first: Raise our budget.  Raise our monthly support.  Two separate things, but two necessary things.  We don’t know how much yet that we have to raise, but we have much to do!  We were told we could begin itinerating immediately!   With that, I contacted one of the pastors who had sent a young couple with us to Bolivia this year to share our news–as they had been praying with us as well–and they said immediately, “sign us up!”  Well, of course they will have to do that when we get our number, but honestly, what a shot in the arm that was for me!  After all the months of waiting and all the stress and anxiety, I felt the Lord nudge me and say, “See Baby?”  I have been taking care of this all along….I just wanted you to trust Me”.  (If you’ve not read some of my old blogs, you wouldn’t know that when Jesus is being tender with me, He calls me Baby”.)
Just in case someone out there in “la-la-Blog-land” thinks that life in ministry is a cake walk–let me sit your sweet self down and assure you, nothing is further from the truth.
Life in ministry is, ahem, well, to be quite frank, it can be hellish at times.  I mean, you aren’t exactly grooming the lawn of heaven.  You are storming the gates of hell and trying to save those through your messages, preaching, teaching, blogging, loving and sharing Christ with the lost… You are pointing “souls to Calvary’ as the song says.  And no one wants you to fail more than the devil himself.  With every sinner set free he’s lost another battle.  That infuriates him to no end.
BUT to think, that someone would be willing to step out in ministry–to pastor a church, teach a Sunday School Class, lead a choir, or travel across the ocean to minister to a people that has no clue that they can have a real relationship with a God they’ve never heard of?  That’s the last straw for him.  He pulls no punches.  He hits hard and fast and seemingly continual on some days.
BUT, I also want to tell you that life in ministry is unlike any other.  The blessings of seeing one that you’ve been praying for come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, well, no words can describe that.  Or seeing that complete stranger seek God…or those little kids clutch their Bible as if it’s Life itself… and it is.  To hold the hand of a friend as she leaves this life, knowing her next step and next breath will be made in the presence of her King…oh, friend.  There is pain mingled with the joy–but the joy surpasses it all.
In 2010 I heard distinctly God call me to walk closer to Him.  He had in fact, been calling me closer for about 3 years…then a strong pull during the last 2 months of 2009, then WHAM!.  The day came and it was so loud in my spirit and heart that I felt surely someone else heard it too.  But no.  It was just for me.  It was undeniable.  I even felt like the Marine Corp road signs at that point were all for me.
Ours has been a journey of stages.  God has lead us along–and there have been days filled with SUCH joy, it is hard to put into words…and some filled with heartache.  BUT, through all of this, God has shown Himself faithful and true.  JUST as the Bible says.  Faithful and True.  Revelation 19:11
Can I ask you to pray for us?  We’ve so much to do–and I feel the urgency of the hour upon us.  We are almost out of time–and there are lives yet to be given a chance to know Him…we want to share Him with them.  We can’t get there without support and prayers.  PLEASE PRAY.  That’s most valuable right now.
There’s more to share–but now that I’ve finally gotten that off my chest and mind–I think I can sleep…..

Until He Comes,

Angie100_1069changeherworld

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October 27, 2014

New Steps of Faith Has Brought Us HERE.

By Angie Knight

The discussion in our head began long before it commenced outside.  For both of us.

With every – single – mission trip, we felt the powerful pull of “more”.

Many months ago though, the discussion ensued in real life.  Out loud.  And the prayers became more detailed–and more “submitting”.

Every missionary that came through our church doors pulled at my heart.  I would sit and listen and then my eyes would reveal the condition of my heart.  It 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.

Jeff and I have prayed and we have a deep desire-to unflinchingly –without wavering go beyond our comfort zone.  We hope that you will join with us in prayer–and if God nudges you to give, we want to make that opportunity available to you as well–completely tax-deductible.  A button will appear soon on the side and you can safely send a few dollars to help us build–an orphanage (orphanages)…a church(churches)…supply water…meet medical needs…school needs…the list goes on and on.  The thing is–we will be doing many things–getting there is just the beginning.

Our goal is to lead teams– your church group, or several from several churches.  We want to help you experience something amazing “outside” your comfort zone.  It will forever change your life…your perspective–and your love for God and the people who inhabit this world.

We have a team of advisers who will help us walk in this new path–several will be joining “on the journey”–and we are extremely grateful to God for placing our paths together!

So! Thank you in advance for your prayers and encouragement–as we have discovered already–We need it!  If you so choose to donate before we get the button up and running, please contact us via email (click on the “Become a Part- or About Us” button).

Philippians 3:13-14 (GWT)   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 I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.

ministry2

(c) Jeff and Angie Knight 2014.  All rights reserved.

2 Comments   |  tags: , , | posted in Missions