“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”—1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)

Last week at church, our pastor talked about how noticing people around you is a gift. I hadn’t ever thought about that being a gift that I possess. However, the birth of Knit, Pray, Share came from me taking notice of a situation.

Around 3 years ago, as I was standing in line at the grocery store, the person checking out in front of me, was on his phone with his head head down during the entire process. Not once did  he acknowledge the cashier. When he was finished and was told, have a nice day, he said nothing. It made my heart heavy to see such a disconnect but I thought to myself, what can I do to change this? How can God use me to make a difference?

As the wheels started to spin and I listened to God’s direction, I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if I started to knit gifts to give away to people in my community that I see on a regular basis that make a difference in my day? What might happen, if I let them know I notice them and that the job that they are doing DOES make a difference?

What about trying to start some kind of knitting movement where the gifts I make are unique by starting and ending each project with some shade of red to symbolize how we are all sealed with the blood of Christ from the beginning to the end and attach a tag with a scripture and note that I had prayed for them? What if I took my love for writing and knitting, started a blog and also wrote some kind of book with this concept?

By the grace of God and people believing and taking a chance on me, this dream is starting to become a reality. Imagine my surprise this past Saturday when my agent sent me an Amazon link where you can pre-oder Knit, Pray, Share. None of this could have happened, had I not listened to God, stepped out of my comfort zone and went to a Christian Writer’s Conference in June 2017. This is where my heart is and this is how God can use me to make a difference where I live and it all started with me noticing someone.

Knitting gifts and giving them away to people in my corner of the world is one way that I can love like Jesus. Every one of us has the opportunity to let God work through us. How can God use you, to touch someone else this week? How can you be more aware of opportunities to love others who are right in front of you? Sharing the love of Jesus isn’t about banging a Bible over someone’s head, it is about being kind, loving, tolerant and compassionate to those you come in contact with every day despite your political or religious beliefs. Our job isn’t to change minds but to change hearts. 

Dear Lord,

Open my eyes to those around me that need Jesus. Use me in the places where you have planted me. Give me a supernatural ability to see those around me that need to hear about the hope we all have in Jesus. Help me to love and see others through Your eyes. I thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit that gives me the eyes to take notice of those around me. It is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things. Amen. 

Memory Verse:

“Do everything in love.” —1 Corinthians 16:14

Please make sure you tweet @KnitPrayShare or share your projects on the Knit, Pray, Share Facebook page or Instagram using the hashtags #ThreadsWithRed and #KnitPrayShare be sure to attach a  tag to whatever gift you make.