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New Creation in Christ Jesus
by At the moment our church is holding a flower, art and craft festival. I have been embroidering a colourful butterfly and as it happens it was finished in time to display in the church. I was very happy about this because I mostly start something and never finish it. I was going to frame it but it just didn't happen. My husband suggested that I just leave it in the embroidery hoop. I did this and looked okay. Whilst the church prepared for the festival, our weekly Stitch & Chat group that is held every Thursday morning was still to go head. I haven't been able to get for a few weeks but with the excitement of the festival taking place it encouraged me to go. It was truely wonderful and I gasped as members from the other churches came to help organise the flowers, clean the church and set up the craft tables. There was cheer, laughter and a real bonding of the body of Jesus. I can't describe the experience in my heart except true joy. Even my husband was inspired by the Holy Spirit and wrote some poetry which was absolutely delightful. He has been asked to read this out on sunday morning at the service. The joy was made complete when my husband rang up whilst on his rota at the festival and said that someone was interested in my embroidery of the butterfly. I couldn't believe it. Apparently she wanted to buy it. Well in all honesty I wasn't interested in that but was thrilled that someone liked it. I made an agreement whereby she could just donate something to the church. At this point I decided to take another visit to the church and rang my friend Peggy to meet me. Well I had to walk the dog too and so did Peggy! Everything gleamed, the wooden pews were shining with polish and the flowers displayed in all their glory were breathtaking. Pastor Kenny was spraying the flowers with water and beaming with delight. Janie his wife had baked her usual scrumptious cakes. The quiet lull of christian hymns in the background increased my awareness of God's presence and peace. No camera could capture this. It is a vision I shall never forget. It encompassed all my being, mind, body and soul. As I sat quietly with a friend I expressed this joy and the pleasure that her friend loved my butterfly. Her friend was going to frame it herself. In the most gracious way possible and with the utmost love, God made me realise that my sewing gifts were given to me to use for His glory, I had hidden them in the dark. This truth has set me free to create and use my gifts for Him. This butterfly in the hoop, my first ever design, has set me free in more ways than one. It truely has given me 'New Life' in Christ. The butterfly is out. copyright to jacqui julyan @[email protected]. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |