KNITTED

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“I will admit it. Yes I will. Don’t try to stop me. I don’t care what people will say or what they will think. I am going to get this out into the open today. I have got to let the world know!”

“I love Anna Brooks.”

“There I said it. You hear that Mark Brooks, I love your wife!”

“I am out of the closet!” “I couldn't contain it any longer."

Now before you send the posse to revoke my little Pastor badge for a "big TEN" violation, I will pause now to clarify my adoration.

Last night at praise team as Anna was sharing and praying she used a little term I hadn’t heard in a while. She was thankful to GOD for “knitting”her team together. My that is a descriptive word.

She was referring to our little praise group. Different backgrounds, different interests, different preferences, different sounds, and most certainly different shapes all “knitted” together for one purpose; to share and lead worship for those in the “church” who gather at our home, AHOP in Xenia.

I love that word.

For GOD is truly a creative and wonderful “knitter” and all He asks of us those who He has "knitted” is to appreciate those He has joined us together with!

1 Corinthians 1:10

…be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

When we choose to follow Christ, GOD gets out His Spiritual needles and crafts a bond between us and other believers that is truly remarkable. We belong to God’s family and have a special relationship with Him and suddenly with one another. We are spiritual brothers and sisters, called by God to live in loving agreement with one another. And those relationships are JUST SPECIAL!

How else could you explain the willingness of someone like Anna, an anointed preacher’s kid to be willing to shoulder up with a old drunk like me to lead others to Christ via worship? GOD knitted it.

How else could those of differing political views set aside those differences to minister to a family in need? GOD knitted it.

And the "knitting" is His amazing love!

Colossians 3:14

…the most important part of your new life is to love each other. Love is what holds everything together in perfect unity.

It is that kind of love that allows me to boldly proclaim my affection for my sister Anna as well as my brother Mark, my sister Joy, my brothers Tom, Chris and Eric. And while I may not agree with them on all fronts, I am unified with them via the LOVE OF GOD. That is remarkable.

So like Anna last night, I am so thankful for the knitting hand of GOD. Aren’t you?

Life is so very challenging but thanks to GOD and His “knitting”, I don’t have to navigate it on my own. Rather I am part of a wonderful tapestry of friends and loved ones that can help me hold things together!

Ecclesiastes 4:12

By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst.

Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.

Will you join me and Anna and pause for a moment today and give thanks to GOD for His “knitting”?

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney