Thy Word, Stitch-a-Long, Week 8

Are you enjoying the quiet time to embroider some scripture? I hope the Word of God is being hidden in your heart as you spend time with needle and thread. I am so blessed when I have time to sit quietly and slowly work my needle in and out of my chosen fabric. The methodical movements are soothing to my heart and mind. There’s something about the repetitive motion that brings calm and order to my thinking. If I’m anxious, I know that picking up something so familiar will allow my heart to settle into the gentle rhythm and before long my heart is settling down and I begin to hear His still small voice. The words bouncing around in my head start to settle down and I hear the Lord say: are you ready to listen? Yes, Lord. Like little Samuel after his mother Hannah dedicated him to the Lord, my heart says: speak, Lord, for your servant hears. I am ALWAYS thinking of multiple things at once. I think a portion of my brain becomes engaged in my handwork so at least that small part of me is busy not worrying. Then I am ready to hear from Him. It’s not audible, although I wish He would show up at times with a Diet Pepsi in hand and invite me to sit with Him for a while, but slowly the Word of God comes to mind, words that my heart needs to hear again. If those words are not tucked deep in my heart then I can’t drink from that well, and oh how I need to refresh myself on what He has to offer.

Psalm 119 is full of verses that tell us over and over again how important the Word of God is. Verse 105 is one that so many children know from Sunday school as it’s a sweet little song that my children learned so long ago. I found myself singing it over and over as I was working on this block. I know if I am struggling with something then I can find direction and comfort in the pages of my worn Bible. I’m not one to open my Bible and point and expect the Lord is going to speak to me that way. Rather, I know that I can find someone in the pages of Scripture in a situation that may parallels my own and I can take guidance from what the Lord says and does in their situation. Specifically I am thinking of the heaviness in my heart regarding my children. I think about the Gentile mother who comes to Jesus on behalf of her child. Jesus tells her basically that He came for God’s chosen people, the Jews, and He wasn’t going to give their food to the dogs (a term that referred to non-Jews). In her faith she tells Him that even the dogs get the crumbs that fall from the children’s table. Now, don’t think He was insulting her. I believe He was testing her faith for her and for us. After that? He healed her child (and commented to those around Him about her faith). I don’t think she “convinced” Him to do that. I think He was waiting for her to come to Him, to petition Him more than once and to show her faith, possibly humbling herself before a Jewish man, for the sake of her child. Did He have the power to heal her child before she even came to Him? Absolutely. I truly believe He wants us to come to Him with the burdens on our heart so we can see Him work. And does He? yes. Maybe not in my time or in my ways, but He DOES work. I have to be willing to listen to Him and to align my will with His. Which may mean we don’t get a certain job, or the house we are dreaming of, or the physical healing for ourselves or someone we love. But He does work and I am learning to trust Him.

The blocks, and the instructions to complete them, are available in my shop for free this week. After that they will be $5 for the two.

See you next week for another installment!

Michelle