Tapestry

Our women’s bible study at BCF on Sunday mornings is called tapestry. I never thought much of it until recently. During one particular bible study, Ali, one of our dearly loved teachers and artists, described what tapestry meant to her. With her hands raised chest high she began to make the movements of weaving a tapestry through the air. "Our lives are like the reverse side of a great tapestry. From the back, all we can see are the knots, the imperfections, some bumps, some smears of color. It all looks random and chaotic. Only from the front side is it possible to see how it all fits together. From the front you can see that every stitch and every knot forms an integral part of a vast, magnificent picture. In life, for the most part, we only see the back. Only by God`s grace can we grasp what picture might be on the other side." Ali described as her fingers moved that God brings different “strings” in and out of our lives. He brings people, relationships, jobs, experiences, and trials. He brings them at exactly his appointed time-exactly when we need them. And it isn’t always easy. But it is when we lift our eyes to see beyond all the “tangles” we see from God’s perspective the beautiful tapestry being woven one step at a time. And in that perspective we have fullness of joy. Whether the times are easy or we find ourselves constantly stuck in the mud.

In the past few weeks I have seen this reoccurring theme of God weaving a tapestry in my life, and in every life. I chatted with a dear friend last week and she blessed me by sharing about a retreat she went on. The most profound thing she shared was how the first night of the retreat, in a small room, surrounded by people she had never seen, one by one people got up and shared their story. Their story of how God had run after and pursed them into a relationship and how he did so be weaving the perfect tapestry before them. I was floored with a picture of such fellowship and community-one that Christ would smile proudly to see. But more so this picture of how God draws each one of us to himself through his very own and intricate design, our tapestry, floored me.

That week at our campus crusade meeting our teaching was over Acts chapter 8. We specifically talked about the almost magical conversion of both the Ethiopian eunuch and Saul. And of course the reappearing theme of God’s perfect timing and work in our lives rose to the surface. Of course in both of these stories involve angels, prophecy, and miracles. I think the beauty in that is how we can see our coming to Christ and salvation as those same miracles. Where God placed angels in our lives to lead us to the cross, spoke prophesy into our hearts through his word, and revealed the miracle of the cross to us individually. I mean really…why in the world did an angel tell Philip get up and start walking down this road? Why in the world was there an Ethiopian eunuch before him? And it doesn’t stop there. Then the Spirit tells Philip to preach the word-gives him the very words to say. The eunuch converted and was baptized. And Saul. God directly intervened in his life on the road to Damascus, blinding him. Then God used Ananias to speak to Saul, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, regained his sight, and baptized. And the next verse tells us Paul immediately proclaimed Jesus in the synagogue- and all were amazed.

In our lives as followers of Christ we have each been the spiritually blind eunuch, the literally blind and persecuting Paul, or even the steadfast and obedient Philip and Ananias. How unbelievable breathtaking is it to realize that a God’s ordained will is being weaved in our lives even as we sleep. Because of our lack of faith we so often miss out on what God is doing, but as surely as the sun will rise, God will continue to work, even when we choose not to be a part of it.

Lately I have been so overwhelmed in realizing how God ordained every single part of my life is. It is literally as if I cannot ever escape his presence. And I absolutely love that. Every single friend, relationship, class, teacher, meal, family member, vacation, even every single decision is ordained by God in my life. AMEN! Ah I cannot get enough of Jesus` power and presence in my life.

It is God who works in us both to will and to do his good pleasure! Phil 2:13

“God began the tabernacle with his presence because communication starts with God and ends with people. God always approaches us before we can approach him!” (Beth Moore). Christ lives to make intercession for us, to weave our lives together. (Hebrews 7:25) And his intercessions are according to the will of God (Romans 8:27). God purposes, through Christ, to put thoughts, intentions, and reflections in our lives. This is how he speaks to our hearts. This is how we know we are living in and following his will.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

He knows every thought. And as we dwell in him, his thoughts become our thoughts. And we see day by day this tapestry weaving together through the knots and the beautiful colors. And we are OVERCOME with joy in serving him.