Sunday, April 02, 2006

Stepping up to the plate

I realize that this ministry is still in its infancy, but God is clearly moving mountains to see that His work is done through us. This week, for the first time, I have been blessed to see two of the people that I made prayer shawls for. One is on his deathbed and the other I met for the first time in the hospital last night. I cannot tell you the joy I felt as they shared with me how much those simple gifts had meant to them. I truly felt like I was the one who'd been given a gift. I know these projects take time and there are days when I'd rather be knitting a sweater for myself, but now that I truly see the way that God is using them to encourage others, I can't seem to knit them fast enough.

Nearly every day God lays another person's name on my heart that I should send a prayer shawl to. There is no way that I can personally do all that knitting, even though He is blessing me by turning this into a full-time ministry. I know many of you are already knitting prayer shawls for family, friends, co-workers and church members. But if you're lead to do so, I (and God) would certainly appreciate you knitting some and sending them to me so that I can distribute them as He leads me. If you're interested in doing this, please contact me directly.

If you don't have the time or interest in knitting (or crocheting) prayer shawls, please, please, please (do I sound like James Brown yet?) knit some pink scarves for our Think Pink Challenge. God has shown me 1000 pink scarves to be delivered to the American Cancer Society in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and I am believing in Him that they will be here.

God has also told me to crochet a very special lap quilt for someone who hurt me terribly years ago. I thought I had forgiven him, but the thought of knitting something for him is on the verge of making me ill. I nearly cried as I walked around the yarn shop yesterday trying to select the yarn. As I think about this, I'm not sure which will be harder, actually praying for his salvation while I crochet the lap quilt for him or composing the letter that I will write to him telling that I forgive him and that God can to if He'll accept Jesus as his personal savior. I realize that this is going to be one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do and that I will not be able to do it alone. I will truly be praying for God's strength and courage as I work on this project, realizing that in this case, God's healing will be just as much for me as it will be for the person who receives it. I found these 2 verses this morning that I'll be meditating on:

The Lord my God holds my right had; He is the Lord, Who says to me, Fear not; I will help you! (Isaiah 41:13)

Because the Lord God helps me, I will not be dismayed; therefore, I have set my face like flint to do his will, and I know that I will triumph. (Isaiah 50:7)

I have one other prayer shawl to finish before I start this one, but I'm planning to journal the process through the blog, including who this is for and why, but more importantly, how I know God is going to heal me through this process. I don't know if I'll ever hear from this guy, but if I do, I'll share that as well. Please keep me in your prayers.

2 comments:

Shelley L. MacKenzie said...

You mention about forgiving someone from your past and praying for his salvation...well, I was in a similar situation where someone from my past hurt me considerably. I told him (via email as that is/was my only means of communication with him since he moved away) that I forgave him for what he did, that I hoped he would forgive anything I may have done to hurt him, and that surley if God can forgive me for my sins, then it's the least I could do for this guy, and that I'd be praying for him and his salvation. Anyway, to make a long story short, I just received an email from him tonight saying that last June he accepted Jesus as his Saviour. God is awesome!

Syd said...

Shelley,

Yes, God is awesome! Thank you so much for sharing those words of encouragement. I have really been praying about this situation and the thought of contacting this man (he's in a federal penitentary) scares me. But I know that God will provide all my needs, including the faith and the courage to do this. I'm going to start journaling about the process on the blog soon.

Do you have a blog? If so, please send me the link. I'd love to read it.

Thank you so much for reading my blog and sharing your thoughts.

Have a blessed day!