“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”—1 John 4:12

Jesus within me is what empowers me to do what I am doing. It wasn’t my idea to learn how to knit. It was Divine Intervention. Nineteen years ago, I saw a small paragraph in a church newsletter for a knitting group that would also teach you if you wanted to learn.

With waiting at children’s activities, I was needing something to fill my idle time. Had cell phones/tablets been what they are today, I may have never learned the craft. I might have gone to one class but not stuck with it because it DID NOT come naturally to me. I was so bad, I would cry and wanted to give up on it.

However, God put a sweet angel in my pathway that wouldn’t let me. She would patiently sit with me every Wednesday evening our children went to church choir practice. Her help is why I can knit today. They funny thing is, because I had moved, I hadn’t seen her in years. She was at one of my first book signings. I shared with her that she is the reason I was able to write the book. She didn’t remember that she was the one that really taught me how to knit.

Had she not encouraged me to keep going, I know I would have given up on it. I look at how much I would have missed out in life had I not persevered. I cannot imagine my life without knitting in it. God has blessed me with not only being able to use it as a ministry tool, but also all the special people in my life because of it.

I’m not the one who has done any of this- God is. I don’t take any credit other than being obedient to where He called me. While our lives are to be lived for Jesus, we can’t be effective in growing His Kingdom if Jesus isn’t living through us. God wants to shine His love and power through us to overflow into the lives of others.

Because we are loved, cherished and forgiven by our Mighty Savior, as Christians, we are to out-give and out-love. Will people want to get to know Jesus because of what they see in me? Does our watching world see someone with a bold and unwavering faith that they will want to have?

I try to make a conscious effort to listen to God’s nudges, but many times I am too preoccupied to notice someone who is broken and hurting. Opportunities are placed all around us. We can easily miss them when we are distracted.

Initially, it was outside of my comfort zone to let someone know that I prayed over something I have made them. However, as a disciple of Christ it is a privilege to be able to give to others in the name of Jesus. Whether you write a note, knit, crochet, sew or bake, prayers can be woven in what you create to give to someone. Who can you bless this week?

 Father God,

Forgive me when I let preoccupation keep me from seeing someone who is broken and hurting. Help me to slow down. Open my spiritual eyes to someone I can encourage this week. Thank You for giving me the boldness to share Jesus through knitting. I lift those up to You who are letting insecurity keep them from using their gifts. Give them courage to step outside of their comfort zone to be bolder in their faith. I pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

July Verse

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

I have added Matthew 6:33 to my morning routine to say before I get out of bed each morning. Lord, help me to seek Your Kingdom and Your righteousness today. It is also my phone screen saver for the month of July too.

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