PSM update 3-20-11

God is good, all the time.  Today was no exception.  Communion Sunday is a day where we get to come together and reconnect with God.  We get to admit that we are far from perfect, and we get forgiven all over again.  Grace enters us through the elements and through it we are renewed in the spirit and in our relationship with the Lord.  Communion Sunday is also a day where we get to offer something back to God.  We place our prayer shawls upon the altar rails as an offering to the Lord.  It is a sacrifice of our time, our resources, and ourselves to something much bigger than us.  We don’t know who will receive any given prayer shawl, we are just obedient to place them there.  We don’t know who will be in need when we begin a new item, nor do we know who will be the instrument of delivery for that item.  There is a lot we don’t know, but one thing we can be sure of is that God knows all the details.  He knows when items are needed and how many.  We witness that each week when items come in for prayers and blessings.  He gives us yarn when we need it, and sends new members when we have asked for them.

Today was a day to watch God in action.  We had only 3 weeks to restock from last communion.  That is the shortest turnaround time we have, and last month we had given everything out plus some IOU’s.  This month we had an abundance.  Three services later we had less but still some for the coming week.    There was one shawl which really was too big to be included.  It was gigantic.  It was sent in to us and I personally struggled with what to do with it.  we prayed over it and left it in our inventory.  Wednesday eve I was still struggling with it.  for some reason, this one was bothering me.  At 8am, I decided not to include it in today’s offering.  I figured we had enough to cover, but at 1125 I just felt a pull in my heart.  I got it out of the closet and put it in the cart.  At noon someone came to me while we were packing up and asked to receive that one item.  It surprised me, but I offered it to that person.  Come to find out, the recipient who it was intended for is a 6 year old girl struggling with issues way beyond her years and fighting stress that no one should understand, ever, at any age.  The folks who took it for her thought it was perfect.  I pray that it is.  I know God thought it would be or we would not have watched that miracle unfold.  Yes, it was a miracle and I was blessed to be part of it. 

There was a young man who took a shawl off the altar at the 11am service.  As he left, I was in the wings on the other side of the building, but saw it on the camera.  I wanted so badly to get his name to pray for him, but figured that would not happen.  God knew better.  He sent this man straight over and into the hallway where I was waiting.  I talked with him for some time.  He really looked like someone who normally would not be here, but God sent him to us…today…in time to receive a gift of His grace.  God knew all along who that shawl was intended for.

There are many stories like these, and many more to be written which God alone will create.  It is an honor to share these stories with you.  It is a privilege working with such a great group of dedicated workers.  It is a blessing to hug a stranger and know that God’s love is going back and forth from each of you to the other. 

The world is changing.  Each day there are new challenges.  Each day there is news of conflicts, disasters, economic misfortunes, political unrest.  Each day there is also a new sunrise and a new beginning.   God gives us unlimited opportunities to do good in this world for all of His children.  Please hear His call for your life, for what He has in store for you.  Take that call, take that chance, take that opportunity to pray, to connect, to study, to crochet, to send a letter to a shut in, to donate blood, donate yarn, donate your time, speak to those who need a kind word, to show God that He is important by putting His will as your priority.  Jesus did, and I want to grow in wisdom, in strength, and in favor with God.  Will you come on this wild ride too?

I love you all dearly and pray blessings shower you and your family on this Sabbath day.

In Christ’s name and for His sake,

Dana