The Master Weaver

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by Rev. Harold Clarke, Pastoral Counsellor in 1994

God, the Master Weaver, directs all His purposes. The lives of His called people reflect His plan of salvation for all mankind.

SARAH (Heb.: ‘princess’), the wife of Abraham, is an example of God’s plan woven in the lives of His people. Sarah (called Sarai in Genesis 11, 12, 16-18, 20, 21, 22, 49:31, Isaiah 51:2) was Abraham’s half-sister and became his wife (Genesis 11:29) before the family left Ur of the Chaldeans on the long journey to Haran, and from there to Canaan (Genesis 11:31).

The Lord stepped in to rectify the situation. (Genesis 11:17-20; 20:3).

Despite her beauty, Sarah was a very tragic woman of her generation. Why?
See Genesis 15:2, 16:1.

What made her situation all the more ironical? Genesis 13:16.

In keeping with the custom of her times, what was Sarah’s solution to her childless condition? Genesis 16:1-4.

Not the will of God, Sarah’s choice led to what problems? Genesis 16:5-6.

What was God’s answer despite the advanced age of Abraham (99) and Sarah (90)? Genesis 17:1-8, 17:15-22, 22:1-2.

Isaac’s name means “he laughed.” Do you see any significance to this name? Genesis 17:17.

God’s promise woven in the life of Sarah and Abraham finds fulfillment in what well-known figure? Matthew 1:2-16, Luke 1:33-37.

The Great Master Weaver has promised “…in all things God works for the good of those who live Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

This study is taken from Tapestry, Fall 1994, a publication of Lutheran Women’s Missionary League–Canada. If you enjoyed it, consider subscribing. An order form can be found at https://lutheranwomen.ca/publications-and-forms/tapestry. The magazine is published four times a year and is available in print, large print, audio and via download.

©2018 LWML-Canada

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God is calling…are you listening?

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Some people are born storytellers. Such a person is Jasmine Carlson. At only eight years of age she knows how to hold an audience and how to get her point across. The following story was written as an oral story. With only a little editing it works just as well read as it did heard. Her story won an award in 2004 from Canadian Church Press.

By Jasmine Carlson

The land was hot, baked by the sun. All that could be seen for miles around was dry sand. Here and there were some patches of grass and water. These were the places the shepherd would lead his sheep for food and water and a bit of rest. The shepherd watched as his sheep grazed on the sweet grass. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed one of the sheep scampering off. With a sigh and a roll of his eyes, he picked up his staff and followed. The sheep climbed up the side of a mountain with the shepherd close behind him. The shepherd’s feet were blistered, his body was weary and dirt fell from his sandals as he climbed. Just then, up ahead, he thought he saw a bright light. He walked closer and saw that the light was actually from a fire. A bush growing on the mountain side was in flames. The shepherd was curious and placed his hand above the flames but they gave no heat.

Living as God’s Woman

The following story was published in the Winter 2002 issue of Tapestry and submitted to the Canadian Church Press awards competition in 2003. It was the third award received by Tapestry.

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Several women were invited to write, in 300 words or less, from their experiences of living as God’s woman in today’s world. Three responded. Their ages and life circumstances are quite varied, just as the particular experiences they have chosen to share. How do you live as God’s woman?

Tapestry of life

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This study was published in the Fall 1994 issue of Tapestry. It was written by Anne Taylor, Contributing Editor.

Hymn: “The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want” LW 416, TLH 436, LBW 710

Read: Psalm 145 – “A Psalm of Praise” written by David

Vs. 1-2: David is excited about God! How does he express this? Was David’s life one of ease or one of struggle? (If in doubt, review 1 Samuel 18; 2 Samuel 6; 2 Samuel 11; 2 Samuel 15, etc.) David knew rejection and acceptance; he knew love and hate. He knew what it was to be depressed, Psalm 13:1, 4; but he also knew how to overcome his depression (Psalm 13:5-6). David praised God because of His faithfulness to him. Is your life any different from David’s? What is your answer to life in the good days or in the bad days? Isaiah 12:2.

Vs. 3-7: How do these verses pertain to the tapestry that is your life? How has God used the lives of your parents, your grandparents, to influence your life? How, too, will God use your life to influence those who come after you? Share: what has been the most devastating time in your life? Needless to say, these strands in your tapestry of life were black. What has been the most wonderful event in your life? Those threads were probably gold. How did God use both these events – the devastating and the wonderful – to shape you for His service? What influences would 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 have on your life?

Vs. 8-13a: If you were to weave these verses into a tapestry, what colour(s) would you use? Why? What encouragement is given as you struggle with life? What motivation is given as you experience triumphant times of life? How do you reach out to your friend, your neighbour, with the threads of your life to be woven into his/her tapestry? How do you follow the example of Jesus in Mark 6:34 as you weave your life’s tapestry?

Vs. 13b-20: What is the Gospel message in verse 14? How do the threads of the Gospel weave themselves into your life? How does Hebrews 13:5 parallel David’s thoughts in verses 13b-16? How can these verses be a guide, an encouragement to others as their lives are woven into a beautiful tapestry? What warning is given? Share examples of God’s righteousness and of God’s destruction. How do these examples affect your life’s tapestry? How can the words of 2 Corinthians 13:11 be woven into your life’s tapestry?

Vs. 21:   David begins and ends his psalm with praise. Is praising always easy? Does life ever come without complications? Picture in your mind’s eye two tapestries – one woven with the threads of praise, the other with the threads of bitterness. Which tapestry would you choose for your life? Why? Does a tapestry of praise seem impossible? See Philippians 4:13.

May your life’s tapestry be woven with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

 

This article is taken from Tapestry, publication of Lutheran Women’s Missionary League–Canada. If you enjoyed it, consider subscribing. An order form can be found at https://lutheranwomen.ca/publications-and-forms/tapestry. The magazine is published four times a year and is available in print, large print, audio and via download.

©2018 LWML-Canada

Finding Peace

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The following story was published in the Fall 1999 issue of Tapestry and submitted to the Canadian Church Press awards competition in 2000 and was the second award received by Tapestry. The author, Rev. Dr. Walter Koehler was a parish pastor in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, at the time it was published. He has since been called to glory.

A farm wife was having a terrible argument with her husband at lunch. He jumped up from the table and without another word slammed the screen door and ran to his truck. He spun out of the yard, crossed the highway without really slowing down or looking and drove right into a train. He was killed instantly.

EVE: MOTHER OF ALL LIVING

From Tapestry, Fall 1994
Joann Willie, VP, Christian Growth in 1994

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In the beginning God created male and female in His image. The Master Weaver had begun to weave the tapestry of history and the fabric of family life. What can we learn from Eve?

Eve was the first woman and wife.

WHAT IS LIFE?

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The following story was submitted to the Canadian Church Press awards competition in 1999 and was the first award for Tapestry. It was dictated by author Mary Thiessen who was a member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Winnipeg at the time of writing. She has since gone to join her heavenly Father. With the legalization of assisted death it is, perhaps, a good time to be reminded that life has value regardless of physical challenges.

 

Having spent half my life with Multiple Sclerosis, here are my thoughts on

What is life? What do you think, or maybe you don’t have time to think? Are you one of those people who get up with the alarm clock, go all day and drop into bed exhausted, too tired to think, only to be awakened by the alarm clock the next morning?

Perhaps your life is not this busy. You have a job, spend time with your family, watch some television and read part of the paper. This keeps you busy and going all day and leaves little time to think.

Let me tell you about my life. It is over thirty years since I was diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis).