Weekend Worship—What Knot to Do

For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

I met several friends for coffee one day and of course, I took my knitting with me. For some reason it’s impossible for me to just sit still—I have to be doing something. And that something is usually knitting.

As we went back and forth, discussing our days one of my friends mentioned how neatly my ball of yarn was behaving. It should have been, I’d spent hours winding that particular ball of thread. I knew better than to try to use it straight from the skein.

Weekend Worship—An Unscheduled Stop

So Miriam was shut up outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was received again. Numbers 12:15

Miriam's sin brought the entire nation of Israel to a screeching halt for seven days while God dealt with her and brought her back in line with His will. It must have been devastating for Miriam to realize she was the cause of an unscheduled stop.

How do I know? Last week I discovered I'm a Miriam.

Have you ever said yes to something because you thought you should, or continued serving even though God was leading you in a different direction? In my zeal to serve God, I've once again run ahead of His will. I've said yes to too many things and become a stumbling block to something I love. 

For years I've known that trying to do too many things at once means I won't be able to do them well. But I seem to be a slow learner, or at least someone with a poor memory. When I pay attention to the Holy Spirit, this misguided urge stays in check, but when I stray, life gets stressful...for everyone.

Today I had the opportunity make things right as I turned over some of my responsibilities to those God has called to serve. And as I sat, listening to them express their joy at this opportunity it hit me how selfish I've been. Not only was I disobedient (bad enough) but I stood in the way of others who wanted to serve. 

Now it felt good to let go, to once again align myself with God’s will and let Him be the only one in charge. As I relearn the lesson of listening, the stress is receding and the joy is returning.