Limited Time

“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.”—Psalm 90:12 (NLT)

If you knew the exact day you were going to die, would you live your life differently? We don’t know because regardless of when that day is, we know our time is limited. Because of this, we should have an urgency for being bolder and more confident in our faith with both those we know and those we don’t who haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Psalm 90:12 tells us life is short. Each day we are given is a gift God has entrusted to us. Any time of the day, I can read God’s Word to grow in wisdom, which helps me to prioritize what is important in life.  If I look around me, I get the chance to love like Jesus to those put in my pathway; from personal encounters to an email, text or message on social media.

A few years ago, when a close family friend was dying, I kept thinking, God would use someone else to talk to him about his salvation. However, God chose me. We can’t tell ourselves (like I did and still do), God is going to use another person to tell them about Jesus. I will just do the planting of the seeds. If God puts an opportunity in our pathway, we don’t question it. We do it.

Of course, we don’t ever stop the seed planting. God may need us to tend to them to help them grow or we may even be blessed enough to see the person accept Jesus into their hearts and lives. We pray about it. Either God will open the door for the conversation, or He won’t. The last thing we want to become is the person who pushed them further from God. Like I said, we pray and then obey.

I did have a situation a few weeks ago at my mother’s assisted living. It was brought to my attention one of the gentlemen at my mom’s dinner table didn’t have the same beliefs as me. I don’t exactly remember what I was talking about, but I made a comment about “one day in heaven.” In a bit of a condescending tone, he said, “so you believe in that? My husband was with me. He gave me the eye that I needed to change the topic. He was right. At dinner with a table full of other residents wasn’t the appropriate moment to have some type of theological debate with him. Should the opportunity present itself at a better time with him, I won’t shy away from the conversation.

Our days here on earth are brief. The things we do for God are what have eternal value. Physical death is a part of our reality. We can’t avoid it. “My friends, we want you to understand how it will be for those followers who have already died. Then you won't grieve over them and be like people who don't have any hope.”—1 Thessalonians 4:13 (CEV)

This scripture tells us that people who don’t know Jesus will grieve over their loved ones because they don’t have the hope of knowing when they die, they spend eternity with their Heavenly Father. I don’t know about you, but this makes me sad that so many are hopeless after the death of a loved one. We can change that by sharing our faith with others.

We know death is not the end but the beginning. We are promised we will spend eternity with our Creator We have no need to fear the end of our life for we have a Savior who dwells with us now and forever. Where or who can you give this message of hope to someone?

Father God,

Forgive me when I question an opportunity You have put in my pathway to share the Gospel. Help me purposefully live my life as a disciple of Christ. I ask for you to give me the right words to speak with those who don’t believe in Jesus. Whether You are asking me to plant some seeds or grow what someone else has planted, I know You can use me as a vessel to share Your Truth to those who are lost. Soften hearts to hear Your message of hope and healing. I pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen

September Verse

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”—1 Peter 5:6

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Practicing Humility

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”—1 Peter 5:6

Humility is counter cultural. We live in a world that is “all about me.” Focusing on self is encouraged. Our society focuses on self-reliance, self-help and self-made. Being consumed with the self is the message that is being sent to us. Culture tells us to look inward not upward. We are told to look within ourselves to unleash hidden powers. It is all about self-love. Selfishness seems to be celebrated.

Hope lies in God, not ourselves. However, the world sends quite a different message. It tells you to believe in yourself. Pride keeps us from experiencing God’s best for us. We aren’t going to make the best decisions when pride rules in our hearts.

Humility recognizes we are created by God and accountable to Him, not the world. I know nothing I do can be done solely on my own abilities. However, this is where many, at least me, struggle. There have been situations when things don’t seem to be happening when I think they should. Taking things into my own hands never ends like I had envisioned.

Had I remained obedient to that nudge that told me to be still, and trust God is in control, I wouldn’t have experienced the consequences of not listening to the Holy Spirit. My “help” only delays God’s work. If I am truly seeking God for direction, He will give it to me. He doesn’t need my “guidance.”

It takes stepping out in faith believing God’s plans will always prevail. God gives grace, faith, wisdom and understanding when we are humble. Pride says, “I don’t need Jesus, but the reality is, none of us are enough. We all need Jesus. We need Him living in us and through us. Having a spirit of humility not only pleases God but is representative of who Christ is. He humbled himself to His Father, just as we are to do daily.

Father God,

Forgive me when I look inward and not upward doing things my way and not Your way. Thank You for giving me the perfect example of humility in Your Son, Jesus. I praise You for giving me the Holy Spirit to convict me of any prideful thoughts or actions. I lift those up to You who are weary of waiting for answered prayers and tempted to take matters in their own hands. I ask for You to give them strength to resist the lies of the enemies. You DO hear their prayers. Your Word tells us in 1 Peter 5:6, when we humble ourselves under Your mighty hand, You will lift us up in due time. I pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

 September Verse

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”—1 Peter 5:6

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

Work in Progress

“Let us have confidence, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.”—Hebrews 4:16 (GNT)

In knitting there is something called, “WIP.” That is an abbreviation for, “Work in Progress.” At any one given time, I can have 3-4 projects laying around my house. Typically, there is always some kind of baby hat going because that is a small project I can stick in my purse.

Just like my hands take yarn and needles to stitch something of beauty, God also weaves people, circumstances, and His Word to weave something of beauty out of me. Like my WIP’s that lay unfinished, I am and will always be a work in progress for the Lord. You and I can always learn and grow so that God can use us in more powerful ways than we could ever imagine. It is indeed a work in progress.

It is life changing when you allow God’s love, grace, and mercy to flow through you. Bible studies have opened my eyes to the definition of grace (getting what you don’t deserve) and mercy (not getting what you deserve). I am not who I once was, and I am not yet all who God wants me to become. As long as I have a breath in me, I will strive to grow closer to God and be the hands of feet of Jesus wherever He can use me.

Just because God’s love and grace for us is limitless, it doesn’t mean our behavior is without boundaries. The commands in the Bible are to protect us. While God’s grace offers us forgiveness, it isn’t a free pass to sin. Thankfully, God’s love for us doesn’t diminish when we ignore His biblical principles.

However, it does grieve Him when we knowingly defy Him. “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”—Galatians 5:13. We are called to be free, but that freedom isn’t for us to act in the flesh but to serve. We have the freedom from sin. Living a life for us can lead people astray. Our actions should be drawing those far from God, closer to Him.

I have a tendency of being too hard on myself when I know my thoughts and actions aren’t very Christ-like. I am like those unfinished knitting projects around my house. One day they will be completed, and all the threads woven together. Just like how my Lord and Savior will complete the work He has started with me. God is in the business of progress not perfection .

God’s not finished with me or you. Mandisa’s song, “Unfinished,” brings tears to my eyes as I listen to it because God HAS started something good in each and every one of us and until the day we die, His work in us will not be completed.

Father God,

Forgive me when I let sinful behavior for which I have repented, keep me from accepting the grace and mercy You so freely give me. Help me to live a life that influences others to draw near to You. I give You thanks that You are not finished with me and will continue to use me as long as there is breath in my body. It is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things. Amen.

August Verse

I am still workin on imprinting Matthew 6:33 on my heart…Yes it is a work in progress for me.

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”—Matthew 6:33

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