Knitting for the Lord

So as Christians, we know that the almighty God is all knowing, sovereign over all things, causes all things to work out for the good of His people, and His will is perfect.

I say this because i've stumbled upon something that got me thinking, bringing me to a chuckle and being reminded that God is in control of all things. You might think its a petty thing but i find it quite funny and amazed in how God can use the smallest of things to reveal His glory.

I'm talking about my new hobby. I've become a knitter (but the cheating kind, with a wheel) haha, and recently i felt like i was in need of a hobby. Something that i can sit still doing while relaxing at the same time. God put in my lap, literally, knitting.

I believe that God in His all knowing sovereignty placed this hobby into my life so that i might draw closer to Christ.

I came to this conclusion a few days ago. A few days ago i decided to take a drive down to the marina in Benicia. I packed my Bible, a notebook, and of course my yarn and knitting wheel. After I had my quite time with the Lord, i spent the remainder of the time submerging into my knitting wheel. Knitting has almost become a subconscious activity. During this time, i found myself talking with God the whole time! Sharing with Him my concerns and prayers, lifting up my praises and just being in His presence. That's when i started to realize, wow! I bet the Lord is thinking, "See Alyssa, i needed to give you a hobby that would cause you to sit still. To be still and know that I AM God."

I feel like with everything going on in my life, i forget to be like Mary and sit at Christs feet. I feel like I always have to be in action, no time to rest! no time to sit and breathe. Like Martha, i've forgotten how to sit still. But God has placed something as simple as yarn and a plastic weird looking wheel to force me to sit still and talk with Him!

So almost every time i knit, i guess you can say that i'm knitting for the Lord! haha, it's true though. My knitting time is my "sit still" time, my time to just lift my thoughts to the most Holy One. Haha, I can't wait for this scarf to be done, so i can start on a new scarf! I'm excited, because the more things i knit, i'll be able to look back on them and think, "oh that scarf was during that one trial in my life" or "oh that scarf was knitted when God did this in my life" and so on and so on.

Yay the end for my yarn blog. haha.

Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42

FAITH OVER FEELING

"We live in uncertain times which demand a certain hope that can only be found in God. Right now, choose faith over feeling. Don't doubt in the darkness what you learned in the Light." -taken from Girlfriends in God devotionals

Ah, yes it has been a month since i've graduated and yet it feels like i graduated last year. So much has occurred in just a few weeks. I started my new job, I've traveled across the country, got together with relatives that live far away, and I'm just naming the physical things that's occurred.

Besides these things, it seems as if right when i got that diploma of completion, completing school, my life took a huge detour down roads I would have never imagined myself going down. Some smooth rides and some not so smooth with a few bumps in the road. But if i can share one thing that i have been learning, its simple, it's that I can have confidence that my God is in control. I want to go off on a tangent right now and say 'MY GOD'! It has a whole other meaning to it when i say "MY GOD is in control!" Because that's what gives me confidence, the fact that God is now MY GOD i can have faith that he will perfect a work in me.

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

So anyways, back to what i was saying...One thing I've noticed is that sometimes it gets so easy to take a hold of the wheel yourself thinking you know the way. But you end up getting lost or stuck and realize that's not where God wants you. I like using this illustration of driving a car on some road and what not. We as stubborn sinners, think we can do it on our own, think we can find our own way. But i will be first to admit that when I'm not giving it up to God, I get lost!! I fail and put my confidence in man and myself when i should be putting my confidence in Christ. Giving Him the steering wheel to my life and letting Him direct my paths, having faith that His will is perfect! and know that He will ultimately be glorified!

I like that piece from the quote above... "faith over feeling". We can get so caught up in our feelings and emotions and forget who the Ruler of our heart is.