Laced With Grace

On my recent trip to Cambodia with Mission of Mercy, we visited the temple ruins…I have to admit to you–I was not as excited about this part of the journey.  It was more than just the heat….it was a spiritual thing.

The sun was bright…and hot…but instead my soul felt the cold darkness of death in looking at every stone.

It was a lie.  All a lie.  The people walking in darkness…needing HIS Light.

Psalms 82:4-5  Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.  They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

Each person I passed…my mind turned to the ancient days–the things that took place on these grounds…the lie they believed.   Right now, millions believe a lie.
The lie they believe is not alive–cannot save–cannot heal–cannot rescue–does not love.
The lie they believe kills.  It kills dreams and visions.  Offers no hope for a future…for life everlasting….only death.

What are we doing with the “life” and TRUTH that we have?

What are we giving?  Without our help–they remain just as they are.  Crippled.  Blind.  Deaf.  Mute.  Without hope–no dreams–or visions of a future outside the walls of lies.

You and I both have something we can give.  Whether you are ever able to make the journey there or not–you can still go.  You go by sponsoring a child.  Giving them hope.  A chance at a better life–one filled with the TRUTH –the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Without our hands, voices and hearts…they will remain where they are…in the dark…

And death is coming.

What if, instead of taking your family out for dinner 3 or 4 times a month, you cut it back to just 1 or 2…did you know with less than it takes to feed a family of 4 at McDonald’s, you can educate, feed, and medically care for one child?  And the best part…You are bringing LIGHT to them.  With each child sponsored they receive the nourishment they would otherwise not have.  They also get the Nourishment from the Word.  Sponsorship ensures that they are fed…both food and Word.

My blog has featured my mission to Cambodia and will continue for a few more posts…

But my heart will continue to be there with those children…who need TEACHERS.

If you are reading this and are interested in finding out how you can be a part of Mission of Mercy, whether in a one time donation–or by monthly support, contact their website:  www.missionofmercy.org for more information.

The little girl Jeff and I sponsor is from the Dominican Republic.  I don’t know if I will ever get to go see her–but that won’t keep me from giving–sowing seeds into her life with my small support.

Don’t forget to pray.  Pray for them, but pray for yourself as well…for your heart to be continually turned to the Light.

Everything.  Every single thing we do should begin with prayer. 

Now, before you think I’m nuts, I am not talking about asking God to help you pick out a pair of socks.  For crying out loud!  He gave us a brain to decide for ourselves….

What I am talking about is giving our day to Him before it begins…  Deciding at the onset of the day that we will use every opportunity to glorify Him and praise in in everything.

  “Always be joyful. 

Never stop praying. 

Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 GWT)

The “whatever happens” is where we all get hung up.

This time in 2008 we found it hard to give thanks in “all things”….but we pressed in, and pressed on, and did it regardless.

What happened when we gave thanks?  When we praised?  Our minds left our problems and focused in on God the Father.  OUR FATHER.  Who is Soveriegn above all–and HIS decisions can be trusted.

I love to drive down the road with Jesus.  We have the MOST amazing times!   I’m not some super-spiritual-woman-of-God…but I am a woman who loves time with her Lord and Savior….so when I get in the car–it is a purposed act to invite Jesus to be part of my day–especially our “time” in driving.

This act of purposed praise and prayer began several years ago when I would leave the house for work too early for me to even think about getting a Bible out for devotion.  I bought a New Testament on CD–which is totally read by women.  It was like having a few girlfriends along sharing the Word!

I would start the drive off by talking to Jesus.  Praising and praying about the day.  Then I would pop a CD in to hear what He had to say.  Sometimes I would just sing and my sister, Aimee would call me and we would share some tidbits from the Word or from a small devotion book we were reading at the time.

Mostly in my driving, I would pray.  Out loud.  That’s just me–I need to hear with my own ears sometimes what I’m saying to my Father.  I had about an hour drive–and I after struggling with that drive for many years without spending needed time in prayer–I discovered the best part of my day was the drive with Him.  Through the times of silent prayer—or out loud prayer–HE WAS THERE.

I found that the more time I spent praying and praising–the better I could handle whatever what thrown my way that day.  If I neglected it…well, you can just imagine how it might have been handled.  Not southern sweet tea style for sure!

Begin with prayer.  In everything.  Every single thing you set out to do–begin with prayer.  You will be amazed at how God will speak to you, through you, and how His very presence will go before you!

What are some things you can change to  give Him MORE?

• Get up a little earlier, even if it’s just 15 minutes. That habit will grow you–and you will soon find you are getting up even 30 minutes earlier. (Use it for time with Him though, not computer, not laundry, etc.)
• Pause before your tasks throughout the day and thank Him for the ability to do what you are about to do.
• Praise Him throughout the day….OUT LOUD.  He loves this!
• Share Him with another.  Give a sister a hug and tell her that Jesus loves her–so much that HE gave HIS ALL.  He expects no less from us.

Pray the day through…then let’s begin it!

© Angie Knight 2012–The Knightly News. All rights reserved.  Used by permission.

 I have always loved the time of year from November 1, all the way through to January. I love times of gathering, fellowshipping, and most of all loving one another. This year, I will admit to the truth of the difficulty of these events.  We have been extremely busy, and the thoughts of my sister, Wanda stays in the heart of my mind.

Planning what we’re going to prepare to take to mother’s house was always top discussion between Wanda, Aimee and myself. We’d call each other every day to see if who had come up with some new fangled recipe. —To delight the others.

God is all about delighting us. I love what Beth Moore said in her study, 90 Days with the One and Only, “In the Jewish calendar, the fourteenth day of the first month is called the day of conception. If our God of perfect planning and gloriously significant order happened to overshadow Mary on the fourteenth day of the first month of His calendar, our Savior would have been born toward the end of our December. We have absolutely no way of knowing whether or not He did, but I would not be the least bit surprised for God to have sparked His Son’s human life on one Passover and ended it on another.”

Me either Beth. Aren’t we planners as well? When planning a celebration, don’t we try to work it out so that “everyone” can attend? I don’t know about you…but I like to think that the “taking names” (for tax purposes!), was something that God used as well.

Joseph and Mary had to travel back to Joseph’s home town. I kind of imagine that he had a few friends there. Perhaps some relatives. Just for my own contemplative thinking, I like to imagine that he couldn’t go to them at the late hour for a bed for his bride because maybe he wasn’t sure of where they lived now…maybe he didn’t know if he had anyone left in town…one thing is for sure….there was no room for them in the Inn. But God provided.

By the time the wise men arrived on the scene, they were in a house (Matthew 2:11). Perhaps of a relative? I don’t know…but I do know…..God provided.

This is something I read while searching out more on Mary. What her life may have been like up to the point of leaving home and going with Joseph.

“Mary had up to this time been living at the wrong place for Messiah’s birth. A little longer stay at Nazareth, and the prophecy would have failed. But lo! with no intention certainly on her part, much less of Caesar Augustus, to fulfil the prophecy, she is brought from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and at that nick of time her time arrives, and her Babe is born.”¹

The plans God has for you and me are just as detailed. When we leave the plans and directions to HIM, the Master Creator…we will find that it all works out.  When we give our lives to Jesus Christ–and submit to His authority for all the details…the pieces of the puzzle all fit together with a click, as they snap in place.

The job.

The marriage.

The finances.

Even down to the decision of where to go to church.  None of these are beyond His expertise or His planning!

When I read the page for day 5 of the 90 Days with Jesus Study, I immediately thought “party”.

I smiled thinking that we (or at least in our area), will turn any event into a party.

• Hurricane coming? Gather everyone in a safe place and let’s eat! Let’s play some games! What is that, if not a party?
• Bible Study time? Gather them all together in the living room, get out some cups, plates, forks, napkins, make some coffee, have some juice or iced tea ready, plead with Jeff to make a cake with extra thick icing….and you have a Bible Study Party! You learn from the very heart of GOD, and you have you some rejoicing in the kitchen with cake!
• Baby about to be born? The waiting room is OURS! When waiting on that new arrival—there is MUCH prayer—some eating if he/she takes a while getting here…and then once that lusty cry is heard—it is all out party-time!

Christ’s birth is a day to celebrate! While we don’t know the exact day, we do KNOW

He CAME.

He lived.

He died.

He was resurrected.

 He lives TODAY! I think that is worthy of a celebration EVERY DAY of the year!

This is the LORD’S doing; it [is] marvellous in our eyes. Psalm 118:23 KJV

Father God…thank you for tending to each and every detail of my life. All the way from the difficult ones I can see…to the miniscule ones I might not notice. I praise You, for even in the difficult days, I feel Your presence. I KNOW You have me in Your sight. Nothing escapes Your notice. Thank You for following so closely my heart. Take tomorrow and make it YOURS. For Your glory. Not mine. I love and praise You forever. In the precious name above every name…Your Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ~ Amen.

© Angie Knight-The Knightly News.   All rights reserved.

Previously posted on The Knightly News, December 15, 2008.   Pictured,  grandson, Jake.

¹Jamieson, Robert; A.R. Fausset; and David Brown. “The Gospel According to Luke.” Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Blue Letter Bible. 19 Feb 2000. 4 Sep 2008.