pocket like an after-thought, but
literally woven into the very canvas
of our being. In the midst of our
spinning to succeed in creating a
masterpiece, by and for “self,” we
were masterfully led back home by
our Creator and Designer to our
very starting point…
CALVARY, THE CROSS
At the foot of the cross — empty
handed, desperate, and frayed —
we traded in old for new, death for
life. Grace flooded us anew.
For it is by grace you have been saved,
it is the gift of God.
Ephesians 2:8
Christ flooded us anew.
We are God’s workmanship, created
anew in Christ Jesus to do the good
things he planned for us that we
should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10
Yes, the Designer’s golden thread
had been weaving in and through
us all along…but we were unaware
of the intricate pattern forming and
the unimaginable ways His artist-
ry would lead us in the very near
future.
The year 2014 came and with it an
opportunity to sell the business Jon
had started. Viewing this opportu-
nity through eyes of logic, he was
being swayed on all accounts to
sell, but our small flame had been
fanned and we knew not to take
matters into our own hands. (After
all, what did we really know about
weaving anyway?!) As we sought
the Lord’s will through prayer,
His word and wise Godly counsel,
the answer was a clear “NO.” Jon,
through eyes of faith followed the
Lord’s leading by obeying and de-
clined the opportunity to pursue a
sale. During a church service soon
after, my heart was overwhelmed by
our Savior’s love. It was impressed
upon my heart during worship that
the business would eventually sell,
and with the money — we were to
gift it back to the Lord. I told no
one, only recorded it in the back of
my Bible and pondered this in my
heart. If God intended for this to
come to fruition, he himself would
need to reveal it to Jon in his per-
fect timing. A number was also laid
on my heart of an amount the Lord
was asking us to give back to Him.
My old self tried to insert again —
but God’s word carried and led me.
Psalm 37:7, “Be still in the presence
of the Lord, and wait patiently for
him to act.” God’s grace has to do
with his best choice for us, not our
choice. God would soon reveal
more.
That same summer, the Lord grew
our hearts by taking us to Hondu-
ras on a family missions trip. It was
as if He attached a pace-maker to
our hearts, regulating our heart-
beat to His.
It was God working in us giving us
the desire and power to act according
to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13
Autumn blew in with another
personally-tailored sermon that
spurred our hearts deeper into His
truth and grace. It was Christ’s invi-
tation to Peter, to us, to get out of
the boat. Our own boat held safety,
comfort, position, financial resourc-
es… would we willingly leave this to
step closer to Jesus? Jon immediate-
ly responded to Pastor Tom’s invita-
tion to come forward. I recalled the
clear message the Lord had given
me in March and knew this was a
glimpse of the picture being woven
into our tapestry as my husband
followed wholeheartedly after His
Savior. Walking to the foot of the
cross, I fell in line behind Jon, liter-
ally holding o nto his coattails as we
stepped out together in obedience.
Would this step include the compa-
ny sale? I continued to quietly wait
upon the Lord for the answer.
At the same time the Lord used a
variety of other opportunities to
grow us, sort of Chia-pet style. I had
a front row seat to watch Jon grow
while I was involved myself in wom-
en’s leadership development, which
was giving off the same Miracle
-Gro effect.
As Christmas bells began tolling,
Jon’s heart had been moved by
the Lord to initiate the sale of the
business at this time, God’s time.
Jon approached me with this Holy
Spirit prompting, and I realized
what I thought might take years
to happen, God did in a matter
of months! I was released to share
with my husband what God had
placed on my heart nine months
back, including the specific mone-
tary gift. Although we had no idea
how this pledge was to begin to be
fulfilled, prayerfully dependent on
our Maker, we both moved forward.
We both were filled with peaceful
unity intertwined with great joy and
expectation. The business would
sell, and the money would be gifted
back to Him in obedience.
January of 2015 ushered in the
first sermon topic of the New
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