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Distaff and spindles.
A calling, friends, if ever there was one. Why? Because it requires the use of both hands and a full attention therein. Spinning fibers into thread is a skilled and ancient art form … a gifting that exceeds our casual and over the counter purchases of fabric. Fabric roots back to the thread. Without thread, no blankets, no garments, no coverings of soft and tender to wrap our flesh and our need.
Modern technology has made the progression from wool to yarn an easier reach; but you’ve got to give it up for those who possess the capacity to create a tapestry through the giftings and sole intention of their hands. For those who have enough vision to see the end before the beginning. For the rare few who have the capacity to weave the unusable into something substantial.
Our modern approach to the finished product holds little interest to the weaver of ancient tradition. Instead, what matters to the weaver is the craftsmanship that exists to bring about the fruition of a hard day’s labor … a life’s long endeavor. To hold the distaff and the spindles and then to couple them in unison to create a thread that will serve a greater purpose is the lifeblood and heartbeat behind a weaver.
Indeed, a calling of supreme and everlasting significance.
As it is with the weavers of an ancient thread, so it is with a mighty woman. Thus, a question or two as it pertains to the holdings of your hands.
What boasts the grasp of your fingers this day? What distaff and spindles have been entrusted to your hands? What is the tapestry commissioned to your tender care and intention? What artistry has been assigned your life? What weaving is yours alone for the lacing?
We’ve all been given one. A gift. A treasure. An unusable holding assigned to us for its reshaping into something of worth. Mine doesn’t necessarily look like yours; yours could never perfectly fit into mine. Yet all are worthy as it pertains to the embroidering of an eternal kingdom.
From the very beginning, our gracious God has been working it out through the likes of you and me. For some reason beyond reasonable sense, He’s allowed us the gift of sacred participation … of adding our own colors and schemes and fanciful whimsies into the mix of a greater purpose. Through us, He seeds the full spectrum of a sacred and unified kaleidoscope.
It may look like chaos to us, but through His eyes and because of His imagination, the giftings that He has allowed our hands, paint a perfect portrait of a faultless to stand before the throne kind of finish. Accordingly, who would deny Father God the privilege of seeing his many threads weave together to unite as a beautiful fabric?
I don’t want the guilt of God’s objection. Instead, I want my hands to know the fullness of the distaff and the spindle that have been specifically designed for my grasp. I want to be one of the rare few who are able to imagine the end, even as I begin to weave my “unusable” into something of worth. I don’t want the fast forward approach of modern technology to rob me of the joy that comes from an intentional and, sometimes, challenging participation.
Instead, I want the satisfaction of holding a finished product that has come about because of a willingness to fill my hands with the business at hand. God’s business, not mine.
That, my friends, is a calling. When we take hold of all of that for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of us, we cradle our life’s long endeavor that always weaves substantial and that continually breathes with all the providential hope and joy of heaven.
Distaff and spindles. What’s in your hand this day?
Weave it well and with all the craftsmanship of a mighty kingdom participant who understands the truth of a sacred holding. Only you can spin your gift. It is your privilege to do so. Thus, I pray…
Show me the worth of my hands, Father. Fill them with the truth of your giftings for my life. Forgive me for thinking it not enough … not worthy of my intention or my time. Whatever treasure you place within my hands, give me a deliberate heart to tend to it with the finest service toward your kingdom end. Thank you for trusting me with a part of your perfected tapestry. May I always be found faithful to weave my portion in willing accord with you heart. Amen.
Elaine, I’m thankful every day that God uses me in spite of my weaknesses — that He allows me to take the unusable in my life and weave it into something of worth. I echo your prayer!
Hi sweet friend…
I so loved this post. My learning curve lately has been to understand how to not use one more than another. I can charge head-on into what I feel called to do, thus letting others down. Those that I was called to care for to begin with.
This has been an interesting journey.
I would LOVE to share Mount Hermon with you. Oh friend, if you can save for any conference, I pray it would be that one. It was an experience like none I’ve had before. I was taught in author Kay Marshall Strom’s class (Of 20), ate with publishers and editors and was able to stop and ask questions. Those that seem so untouchable were touchable. What a blessing to draw near to others who have been called to write for Him.
You are one of those He has called to write for His kingdom.
Your blog is evidence of that.
Elaine,
May we accomplish what God has purposed for us each day. I find that sometimes I tend to allow the idol of control to take over and that task assigned to me by God, becomes my god if I am not careful.
This is a delicate balancing act for many of us. We must stay rigthly related to the One who assigns us our tasks and never take our eyes off of Him and put them solely on the task itself.
Beautiful word!
Leah
ELAINE WHAT A BLESSING YOU ARE TO ME!I LOVE YOUR POST!HAVE A GREAT DAY! BLESSINGS, FAYE
He uses the foolish to confound the wise…….. It is not what WE know or understand- It is what we surrender to HIM that HE anoints…
HE is looking for willing hearts, HE always equips those that are obedient..
Have a blessed and obedient day..
Beautiful post Elaine! Much given to us to ponder this day!
Blessings!
“A gift. A treasure. An unusable holding assigned to us for its reshaping into something of worth.”
For a long time I defined my calling by what I thought a woman was called to be – a mother. Yet, when it became painfully clear that was not the vocation I would enjoy, I had to ponder what within me had been “assigned for reshaping into something of worth”.
Each day unveils a new thread to be woven into the tapestry of my life. Today, I am weaving words and hearts. Words that have welled up within me and beg to be pondered. Hearts of those I hold most dear and those I have yet to meet.
All, I pray, trace back to the One who assigned this portion to me.
Shalom,
Denise
Using my hands for HIM. Thank you. I needed this, my friend.
Yes Elain, “Instead, I want the satisfaction of holding a finished product that has come about because of a willingness to fill my hands with the business at hand. God’s business, not mine.”
That says it all for me today….
In His Graces~Pamela
Whenever I have heard people speak of a spiritual tapestry, they often refer to GOD’S tapestry…the way he weaves the course of our daily lives. This is the first time I’ve ever read about the tapestry WE weave. I’ve never thought of it this way!
Thank you for sharing your insight. I learn so much from you! :o)
Elaine, I desire this dedication. I want to relinquish all I have to Him, all my weaknesses, past failures, silly dreams, limited talents, false hopes, and everything in-between.
I enjoy all your posts, and I look foward to Ruby Tuesdays. Your ministry is so valuable.
Love and Blessings,
Andrea
This is SO BEAUTIFUL! There’s no question what one of YOUR giftings is!
Thanks for this message Elaine (and for your faithful participation with me in Ruby Tuesdays). I love this one because I think God has given you and I some of the same tools, but He uses them differently. I’m excited to see what He’ll ultimately produce with each of us! May He bless the work of your hands.
(And you KNOW I agree with Joanne about Mt. Hermon! May we all meet up there next year!)
i want to fulfill my calling or callings to Mrs. Elaine…I want to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant.” To be courageous for Him, through Him, and His enabling grace to get through day being more than a conqueror.
Blessings to you today,
katiegfromtennessee
You certainly weave it well, my friend. Beautiful.
Ealine, I’m thankful for the time this morning feasting on a “Ruby Tuesday” reading as it’s Wednesday. This very morning I’m headed out for an unusual and am in anticipation of what God will do through me and with me today. In the current.
I’ve prayed early that He would be honored and glorified in this NOW.
I know that I know God is up to something, big! Why? Because He is a BIG GOD and I love Him so.
Grateful for you and your pen Sister.
Lovingly,
Yolanda
This is so good, Elaine. One of my prayers is often for the Lord to bless the work of my hands. I love the way you take me there in this word journey!
Beautiful Elaine.
As I read your words I could not help but to think that what is in my hands right now are the souls of people and children I am praying for..ones who are seriously ill physically emotionally and spiritually and today I feel burdened in my heart for them even more. I want the satisifcation of seeing them all HEALED AND SET FREE here, now but I know God has an appointed time for everything.
So may the work of my hands which today is intercession for those that are so hurting and who I hurt for, would bare fruit unto God’s glory.
Love you.
I loved this whole post today! As a one time Shepherdess – I tried at one point to learn to spin the wool from my sheep. The wool had been sent away to Michgan for cleaning a roving [preparation for spinning]. I sat in a private class with a special friend who owned a herd of sheep and spun all her own wool. As I began to work the pieces of wool and allow my fingers to feel the spinning performance it was a humorous day and act – like chewing gum – rubbing your belly – while jumping double Dutch jumprope all at the same time – oh – and threading a needle too!!! For real.
I actually did it for a short few seconds while the teacher stood over me and guided my hands with her hands.
Does God doe that with us? Guide our hands with His hands? You bet He will – until we get it!
You wrote this:
“I don’t want the guilt of God’s objection. Instead, I want my hands to know the fullness of the distaff and the spindle that have been specifically designed for my grasp. I want to be one of the rare few who are able to imagine the end, even as I begin to weave my “unusable” into something of worth.”
I love that! That’s what I want.
I gave up spinning wool. It was not meant for me to do. I left that to the one who did it well.
Thanks for this great word today.
Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
[kneeling in prayer]
“Only you can spin your gift.”
“Whatever treasure you place within my hands, give me a deliberate heart to tend to it with the finest service toward your kingdom end. Thank you for trusting me with a part of your perfected tapestry. May I always be found faithful to weave my portion in willing accord with you heart. Amen.”
Beautiful!!! Lord, make me faithful,
Joy
I often marvel when I’m knitting… about how God weaves lives… or circumstances… into something that the fiber could never do for itself…
this is great! thanks for sharing it with me…