Does God Crochet? So, what if He does?

God desires us to be real and authentic! The Bible says that we are knit in our mother’s womb, (Psalm 139:13). That word ‘knit’ in the original Hebrew language is closer to the word crochet. My sister used to crochet these beautiful blankets and clothes. I used to watch her take those needles to twist and loop the yarn that would end up making a cool sweater. Have you ever seen the double helix in a DNA strand? It looks like a twisted ladder of loops and turns. God crocheted our DNA; He knit us in our mother’s womb. Each one of us received an inimitable, unique DNA code at conception created from God’s magnificent handiwork. He made us with a purpose to be used in distinctive ways; however, when we are inauthentic or fake we go against the handiwork of God’s knitting. We are unique. We are not like everyone else. We are not like the rest of the world. By contrast to the world, we are made in the image of God yet with our own crocheted DNA. So, why do we put up the façade? Why do we try to be like others? Is this not hindering our walk in the journey of life? Here is the reality… Get real with God! He is the one who created us, and He is the one we need to impress. James 4:8 declares, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Where are you with God? How long has it been since you had a conversation with Him? Draw near to Him. Open up your heart to Him – just talk to God. He knows you better than anyone, and He cares for you more than anyone! (1Pet 5:7).

OK…so you feel chained down. What do you do?

Have you ever really thought about what it was like for Paul to be in chains while in prison? More than likely he was literally chained to a Roman guard while imprisoned causing him to be chained to a person and a place. Chains and shackles were made of iron or bronze during this time; either of these metals is very heavy. Far removed from modern industrialized ways to create these shackles, they were very rough to the skin and were very uncomfortable to wear.

I find it interesting that in each of the prison epistles Paul speaks of his chains. As he writes, I am sure he can hear the jingling of the chains as his arm slides across the parchment paper or when he dips his pen in ink. Perhaps he remembers his chains when some of the metal links clang together as he draws his weathered hands up to cradle his face in anguish as he agonizes over the attacks of the churches he planted. Perhaps he hears the clinking of metal chains when he uses his index finger to scratch his head while pausing before writing his next thought. It is almost like every time he hears the chains, he writes about being chained. When God has us chained to something it is hard to forget. There are always reminders before us even in the little things. Maybe God has you chained to a church or chained to a community that is out of your comfort zone, and every day you are reminded of it by its unfortunate agitation to your heart. Just as Paul was chained to a Roman guard, maybe God has chained you in a relationship in life, and every pet peeve you have about that person resounds as a clanking chain in your head. It’s in these times that we determine that our chains are in Him (Phil 1:13). We are not our own but purchased with a price. (1Cor 6:20) We are to die daily if we belong to Him (1Cor 15:31). We may be chained in our circumstance, but the will of God is never chained (2Tim 2:9). There are so many things we can learn from the fact that Paul was chained and imprisoned yet continued to fulfill the purpose of God. So, what is one thing we can learn from Paul’s chains?

I would like to focus on his attitude. I never heard Paul complain about his chains; I only hear him take notice to them. His focus was not on his chains; he was just reminded of them frequently. His life wasn’t centered on his chains; however, his chains were part of his life. What if we took a similar approach to whatever it is we are chained to that we do not like, or what we want to be free from (I’m not speaking of sin or evil things we are attached or chained to. I am speaking of where God has placed us and who God has placed us with.)

It was Paul’s attitude about his chains that impresses me. Even though it is apparent that Paul was reminded of the heavy weight of his chains, there was something in him that overshadowed the nuisance of his uncomfortable chains, something that was more intensely before him than the racket of his noisy chains, something more urgent than the limitation caused by his restricting chains. What was it? It was the Gospel and the fact that Paul was a steward of the mystery of Christ (1Cor 4:1). While writing the Philippian letter, Paul was in chains and imprisoned, but this letter is one of the most encouraging writings in the New Testament. He says things like, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!.” “Do all things without complaining.” “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” “But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” “For I have learned to be content in whatever state I am.” “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” These verses are heavier than our chains. They are noisier than our chains. And for most of us…they are more uncomfortable than our chains because we know that something is required from us that exists outside of our comfort zone. Nevertheless, it is through having an attitude as Paul and the mind of Christ that we are enabled to see what we are chained to differently than we do otherwise.

So, how can Paul say such things when he is constantly reminded of his heavy, uncomfortable, irritating, limiting, noisy chains? Phil 4:8-9 give us a good idea of Paul’s ability to have the right can of attitude in an uncomfortable place. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Paul’s attitude which led to his godly actions began in his thought life. His focus was not on irritating chains but on things that are true, noble, just, pure, and lovely. These thoughts were heavier than his chains. These thoughts were bigger than the prison wall or person he was chained to. The ultimate outcome was that meditating on these thoughts led to the God of peace being with him (vs9).

In conclusion, some of Paul’s greatest works that are still active and working today originated from a place in his life that was not comfortable. Chains confined Paul to a dark, stinking, nasty, depressing and vexatious dwelling only to spur some of his greatest work inspired by the Lord which is also used to shape our lives today.

Some of your greatest work may come from being chained to an uncomfortable place or an irritating person. Our focus can not be the chains, but rather that we are an ambassador in chains (Eph 6:20). Don’t hate your noisy chains, but learn to be content despite them. Work hard for the Kingdom despite them. Love God despite them. Share your faith despite them. Be a steward of God’s mysteries despite them because some of your greatest work for the kingdom may originate because of them!

The Advesary of Depression and More than a Conqueror

“We are more than conquerors through him who loved us,” (Rom 8:37).

There is a real threat, an enemy, an adversary out there to our sound, sane, and peaceful state of mind. Its name is depression and its cousin is anxiety. Unfortunately I am one of millions who face this dreadful opponent from time to time. As a matter of fact, depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million American adults or about 9.5% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. Its intention is to bring you down and incapacitate you; its desire is to sift you and leave you defenseless. It pounces on you without warning like a cheetah on a young gazelle. However, there is a defense, there is an answer, and there is a way to conquer. As soon as the physical signs or emotional signs appear, we have a choice to make. We can choose to let it beat us like an overgrown red headed bully who beats up kindergartners, or we can choose to fight back. However, one of the first attacks depression relinquishes on us is our will to fight. One thing I have realized is that depression desires to move into your life with its bags packed for about a 4 to 8 day stay. (Some are worse I know…this article is for those with mild to medium depression) If we allow it to subdue us within the first few hours then we might find ourselves incapacitated for a few days. When this happens, we want to just lie around because we don’t feel like doing anything. We want to be left alone. We want to sleep because that is the only escape that seems to work. The reason we want to do those things is because that is depression’s job to make us feel like that. Did you know that depression results in more absenteeism than almost any other physical disorder and costs employers more than $51 billion per year in absenteeism and lost productivity, not including high medical and pharmaceutical bills? Romans 8:37 declares that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. I have decided to be a conqueror each time depression knocks on my door with his bags packed to stay a few days. I have not found a way to completely overcome this enemy because when he comes, he comes to fight. However, I have found that there are some ways to make the fight shorter. Here they are:

#1. I recognize the signs and prepare for a fight. (Eph 6:10-18).
#2. I MAKE myself read the Word of God. I have a regimented plan for reading everyday, and I read what I have planned. (Psa 1:1-3).
#3. I MAKE myself go to my prayer closet to pray. This is NOT easy. I don’t want to pray sometimes when I am fighting the adversary of depression, but I MUST. Now, granted, the praying I do when I’m in this state is different than when I am on the mountain top, but none the less…it is communication with the Lord that helps bring us through. (1Thes 5:17) (Jer 33:3) (Jude 20).
#4. I find some way (sometimes I ask God to help me with this) to go minister to someone else. Helping others takes the inward focus and shifts it to others. (Acts 16:25-34) (Rom 12:10).
#5. I allow people close to me to be around me. This can be very difficult because the depression is screaming at you to be alone. Studies show that good relationships and social networking are major factors in depressive illness. It works. (Gal 6:2).
#6. (This one has been one of the greatest tools I have discovered) I remind myself that this fight is only temporary. I remind myself that it will be over in a day or two and things will go back to normal VERY soon. The ability to tell myself, “It is only temporary” has done wonders for me.(1Pet 1:6)
#7. I attempt to press through the day by completing all my tasks and responsibilities that I can. I am NOT as efficient during the fight as I am when everything is well, but I still press through it. I must keep busy as possible accomplishing things. (Eph 6:10-18) (1Cor 15:58).

I know this is not a cure for depression, but if what I have discovered can help someone else shorten their times of the depression battle, then I have become even a greater conqueror. So, the next time he knocks on your door, roll up your sleeves and FIGHT. I don’t think there is a complete rescue from this fight, but if we anticipate it and FIGHT back we will learn and grow.

Remember the Lord Jesus is our mighty Savior, and there is nothing He hasn’t suffered that you are suffering (Heb 4:15). He is able to see you through. “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted,” (Heb 2:18.) Glory to His name.