Friday, April 13, 2012

We hold the tools to follow God

Ever wondered, what is my purpose in life? What is it that God wants me to do? I have. I remember having that question in my heart after I had finished a big job for God. "What do you want me to do now?' I asked God in tears, feeling tired and useless. 'What's in your hands?" came the answer so clear as though someone was sitting next to me.I looked down and found that I was holding a baby blanket in one hand and a needle in the other hand.

At that moment, I was focusing on the needle and thread. Ah, God wants me to sew for him. But what, I thought after I finished that blanket, which was a gift.I had seen a missionary's presentation of their mission to a country where they helped feed and clothe orphaned children. I wanted to put teddy bears in the arms of every one of those children.

I said something to the team about it. "No, we cannot afford to take teddy bears over there with us." They told me. Their answer saddened me at first. But the images of those children didn't leave me, so I prayed about it.

In time, I remembered that the team had taken M & M packages with them to the field. Those fit easily into pockets and stuffed in luggage. Ah, I thought, I will make M & M package size teddy bears to send with them. So I did just that. For about a year, I sewed 4-inch teddy bears. When I got about half of them made, my mother helped me make most of the rest. In all we made around 60 teddy bears.

Those teddy bears were handed out all over that country that next five years to children who had no toys. Wow, that is great, I thought. But God wasn't finished with me yet.

What's in your hands? he had asked. Not what is in one of your hands? I had failed to look at the other hand where the baby blanket was. But God hadn't forgotten.

I guess he decided that I wasn't getting the whole message from him. So one day, he just said to me,"make me a blanket!" I went to the missionary and said,"God told me to make a blanket for you to take to the field."

"Oh, like a quilt?" he asked. I didn't know. I just knew that I was to make a blanket.

He was very excited about the whole thing.for, as he explained to me, a blanket is a precious and personal item in that country. People there did not share their blanket with other people. I had no way of knowing this when God called me to sew them, but God knew.

In time, God gave me a design for a blanket that could be used in that country. I've been making blankets every since.

"What's in your hand," God asked Moses when he called him to do a ministry Ex. 4:2). With that simple tool God saved a nation.

What has God called you to do? Look down and see what is in your hands. It could be children God has entrusted to you to raise for his glory, or a needle, a pen, or a business- the list can go on. Start with that, and he will bless it. What abilities and things has God given you to use for his glory? My friend, what is in your hands?





1 comment:

  1. As God gave her a needle and thread, so has he given me a pen and paper, and a wonderful imagination. By the way, SpitFire is Jennifer Dyko. I am trying to create and write SpitFire's Journal's in a blog for all to read. Wish me luck, or should I say keep me in prayer.

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