Death Is Not the End

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;”—John 11:25

Jesus tells us in John 11:25, that our physical death is not the end for us. People who aren’t Christians have a hard time understanding this. Especially every Easter when we celebrate our Risen Savior. Yesterday, Christians around the world either publicly or privately celebrated the ultimate gift of love and mercy. God’s one and only Son, Jesus, died for our sins. Three days later He rose again from the grave. His death and resurrection are what give us hope that one day we will get to spend eternity with Him.

While we may be mocked or even called “delusional” for believing this, if it makes us better people, what is so wrong about Christians aspiring to live a life like Jesus? If we are able to make this world a better place living a Christ centered life serving Him, knowing the day we die might be a physical death but not a spiritual one, why persecute us for this?

Either you believe the Easter Story of Christ’s sacrifice to die on the cross for our sins or you don’t.  Acceptance or rejection are the two options. As a Christ follower, I want to share the hope and love of Jesus to those who don’t know Him. It is what we are all called to do. Jesus is alive within us. He reigns in our hearts. My peace and joy come from a Spirt-filled heart devoted to the Lord. We only get one life to live. How are we going to live it? Living in step with the Spirit leads to a fruitful life. The enemy wants to pull us away from God’s plan for us, but faith alone is what qualifies us to be used by God.

Do you know someone who needs to hear the hope of spending eternity with Jesus? How can you share the Gospel with them in a loving and nonthreatening way? We tell others about the Gospel because they need access to the knowledge of who God is. If we ask, God will lead us to ears to hear it and our mouths to speak the right words.

Father God,

Thank You that physical death is not the end for Your children. Transform me into the likeness of Your Son. I want to reflect Your glory to those who don’t know You. Forgive me when I take for granted that I live in a place where I can freely worship You as well as share my faith with those You put in my pathway. I lift those up to You who are being persecuted for their faith. Put a protective shield around them as they share the Gospel in areas where they can be imprisoned or put to death for their boldness. I ask for You to use me this week to shine the Light of Christ into someone’s dark day. I pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

 April Verse

Jesus died on the cross for every one of us so that we would die to our sins and live a God honoring life. Praise God by His wounds that we are healed!

“He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.”—1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)

If you are knitting or crocheting gifts to give away, please make sure you tweet @KnitPrayShare or share your projects on the Knit, Pray, Share Facebook page or Instagram using the hashtag #KnitPrayShare. Be sure to attach a tag to whatever gift you make. 

Role Reversal

“Pay attention to your father, and don't neglect your mother when she grows old.”—Proverbs 23:22 (CEV)

I am going to be honest. The past few weeks it has been difficult for me to write with a clear head. I ask for grace. While I know people would understand me skipping a week, writing is therapeutic for me. I am not going to listen to the lies of the enemy and not have a post today.

This past week hasn’t been much better than last. Another hospital visit, but this time my mother was admitted. Between being at a hospital and setting up new living arrangements for my mother, I am feeling emotionally depleted. She had a fever for a few days along with a swollen knee, which also felt warm to the touch. They did have to take a culture from that area and while the doctor was at it, she also cleaned out the knee. She will probably be using a walker for a few weeks. Thankfully, there is someone that can spend the night to keep an eye on her, so my family and I can get some rest.

For her to get the best aftercare, she will need to move into an assisted living facility. We don’t know for how long. Since I will be the one having to help care for her, it made the most sense to have her closer to me. Now she will be an 8-minute drive versus 45 minutes. My brothers, their wives and my husband and I have been busy trying to get it all set-up for it to feel as much like home to her as possible.

I have struggled that both my knitting ministry and YouTube channel have been put on the back burner. It has been 2 weeks since I have been able to join them or post a video. As hard as that is for me, I have peace knowing God has me where He wants me. I even had a few opportunities to give away some knit gifts to healthcare workers that have helped with my mother. I will share about one of those special moments in my post next week.

As I have reflected on how God is using me to meet my mom’s caregiving needs, I thought about how our roles have reversed. She cared for me during my formative years. Now it is time for me to return it to her. She was also there for me to help care for my children that first year after my first husband’s death. We lived in my parents’ home, so she was like a second mom to them.

Even though it is going to be a whole new role for me, having her in close proximity, my life should start getting back to “normal” for me. It will be a new normal, but soon I will be able to join my knitting friends and post on YouTube. Again, I have no idea whether this is temporary or permanent, but God knows the big picture. I continue to trust Him in this chapter of both my mom’s and my life.

I even filled out a volunteer application where my mom will be residing. I will see how God is able to use me. I may even enlist my Knit, Pray, Crochet group to make some of the Walker Woolies that are featured in my Knit, Pray, Share book. They were inspired from when my late mother-in-law was using a walker in assisted living. While I would love to knit one for my mother, I have yet to find yarn that knits up in leopard print, so have purchased one made from fabric for her.  

Whatever you are facing in life, none of it takes God my surprise. His plans for us are always bigger than whatever circumstances may be consuming us. Yes, this is a difficult season, but I can’t imagine how I would cope if I wasn’t a follower of Christ. No matter what is going on, Jesus is there with me. I feel the prayers being lifted up on my behalf. As the Lincoln Brewster lyrics sing, There is Power in the Name of Jesus. AMEN!

Father God,

Yes, there is power in the name of Jesus! Forgive me when I get let circumstances steal my peace. There have been days where I don’t know how or what to pray. Thank You for the intercessory prayer warriors You have put in my life. Knowing You are with me and by my side is how I get through each day. I lift those up to You who are feeling emotionally depleted with caring for a loved one. Give them the energy to take care of themselves even when they don’t feel like it. Carve out time for them to spend time in Your Presence. I pray these things in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.

March Verse

“This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.”—Psalm 91:2 (NLT)

If you are knitting or crocheting gifts to give away, please make sure you tweet @KnitPrayShare or share your projects on the Knit, Pray, Share Facebook page or Instagram using the hashtag #KnitPrayShare. Be sure to attach a tag to whatever gift you make. 

It's Okay to Ask for Prayers

“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”—Matthew 21:22

While God’s Word tells us, ask and you will receive. That doesn’t mean God is a genie in a bottle. Our request needs to be made in His name according to His will. This means that I can’t pray for anything and tack on, it is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things and expect God to honor my request. He will say yes to our prayers that align with His will that will glorify Him.

When my thoughts wander during my prayer time, I need to stop and address what is on my mind with God. If my mind is drifting, I obviously need His help to either conquer that thought or help me with it.

Perfect example happened this week. I had a doctor appointment this past Wednesday. I have something called, white coat syndrome. Just about any time I go to the doctor and they take my blood pressure, it is sky high. My mother has been on medication for her high blood pressure since her 30’s. It stems from her worry/anxiety. I have never had an issue with it, except at the doctor office.

I have even gotten to the point where I usually take it the morning of an appointment and screenshot it so I can show the doctor my normal reading, but I forgot to do it this time. I do have an app where I try and chart my blood pressure once or twice a month, so that I have something to show the doctor if needed.

It’s not like my doctor appointment was a high stress situation. I even bring my knitting to calm my soul. Despite my knitting and praying, when the nurse took my blood pressure, it was really high. As soon as that cuff is on my arm, worry kicks in. I get in my own head and have a hard time not thinking about it. Am I going to be like my mom? What if I really do have high blood pressure…?’ Of course, once I got home, I took it again and it was normal. Okay, maybe I took it 2-3 more times that day just to make sure…which it was.

I have to be careful and not get sucked into, Why can’t I calm my nerves before it is taken? I thought I gave it to God this morning. What is wrong with me? This is a mindset that only makes it worse. As I am writing this, I had an epiphany. I felt God impress on my heart, yes, Lisa you pray about it, but you haven’t ever asked your prayer warriors to pray for you too.

I’ll be honest, up until now, I thought, how embarrassing. How can I ask my friends to pray for something like this. I should be able to have total faith and not give into this mindset. That’s pride on my part. Yes, I should be able to give this to God, but I also need the prayers of my friends knowing they are praying the same thing for me. It gives you comfort when you know that others are lifting you up in prayer to give you the needed strength to conquer whatever fear or stressor you are facing. No need it too small to give to God and friends in prayer.

Satan knows how powerful prayer is. Of course, he wants to shame me. His desire is to get me to believe the lies of self-sufficiency. I obviously can not do this on my own. God uses our weak spots to depend on Him for peace and strength.

I will never forget when my late mother-in-law was dying from lung cancer. She was having to go to the hospital on a regular basis to get her lungs drained. My sister-in-law and I would tag team. I would take her and get her all checked in; she would stay with her to bring her home. Every time, they would take her blood pressure it was really high. I get it. She was about to get her lung aspirated. That would give me high anxiety too.

One morning, when I went to pick her up, before we left, the Holy Spirit pricked my heart to pray with her about it. I specifically prayed for God to calm her nerves and for a normal blood pressure reading. Guess whose blood pressure was perfect? Yep! I told her, that is because we gave it to God this morning.

I didn’t feel silly asking her if we could pray about it and praying it for her, so why am I not doing the same? I had the faith then that there was power in our prayers together. Like her, she might have been praying about it, but it took the love and prayers of another person to truly soothe her soul for that normal number. God convicted me as I wrote this, that pride has been my issue.  I have no problem asking how I can pray for others. I shouldn’t be embarrassed to ask others for small prayers for myself.

Next time I know I am going to the doctor, I plan on sending out a text to some of my prayer warriors asking them to pray for a calm soul that will lead to a normal blood pressure reading. God doesn’t want us to try and cope on our own. He knows that those of us with anxiety need intercessory prayers of others to help our peace. It is okay for us to ask. It IS God’s will for us to receive His peace through prayers. “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”—Matthew 21:22

Father God,

Forgive me when I let pride keep me from asking for prayers. No prayer is less important than another. Help me let go of what is on my mind. I know You want me to trust You to calm my soul. One way to ensure this is the intercessory prayers of others. Thank You for those people You have put in my life. Use me to be that person for someone else this week. I lift those up to You who are struggling with worry or fear. Fill them with a peace that surpasses all understanding. It is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things. Amen.

 February Verse:

“You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.”—Psalm 18:28

If you are knitting or crocheting gifts to give away, please make sure you tweet @KnitPrayShare or share your projects on the Knit, Pray, Share Facebook page or Instagram using the hashtag #KnitPrayShare. Be sure to attach a tag to whatever gift you make.