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4. God is Enlarging My Territory

"God is Enlarging My Territory"
Dolls In Pillowcase Dresses

Territory: an area of land, knowledge, activity, or experience. 

• Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison saying. Call upon me and I will show you great and mighty things (hidden things) which thou knowest not (Jer 33:1,3.

Lately, I have been struggling due to several years of health issues that left me often fatigued, with the question" What is now my purpose"?

• A few months ago, I began to pray "The Prayer of Jabez:" And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying. Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from harm, So God granted him what he requested (1 Chr 4:10).

Ever since I asked Jesus unto my heart to save me, I have been drawn to and involved in Missions. Participating in and supporting foreign and home missions have been my consistent territory.

As I type this, I realize that this has been and still is "the good works" God has prepared for me. The mission that has been the most consistent involves sewing.

Sewing at an early age was not for me, but after working for five years in a garment factory, I learned not only the skill of sewing but to enjoy the process of making these items.

For several years I have been blessed to be a part of "Sew and Sow," a great group of ladies at my local church makes quilts, and the funds go to missions.

Dolls in Pillowcase Dresses

A few years ago, our group was asked to make some Pillowcase Dresses for a mission group. One of the ladies in the group found that she really enjoyed making the dresses. 

So she started making dresses to be placed in Christmas boxes sent to "Samaritan Purse," a Franklin Graham Ministry; these boxes are filled each year for both boys and girls with age-related items.

Another person took one of the largest dresses and made a dress for a doll with the material and placed it in the box with the dress. I had often thought of doing the same. 

On the first of this month, June, at a quilting, I talked to the pillowcase dressmaker about making a cloth doll and dress in a pillowcase dress. She liked the idea, so I tried to make a cloth doll, but it was a complete failure. So, I thought this idea was completely off the table.

As we talked about this complete failure to make a cloth doll, I wonder if our Sovereign God was thinking, "They think it is a failure, but they have no idea of the blessings coming their way."

One of the other quilters suggested looking for used dolls in the thrift stores for which we could make dresses. I looked without success; then I looked at the discount store "Dollar Tree" and found many cloth dolls that were perfect.

After purchasing one, I made a sample dress. I was happy and joyful, praising God and laughing in my spirit.

Once again, God had given me his joy, unspeakable and full of His glory.

This laughter reminded me of when Sarah laughed after God told her she would bare a child in her old age, (Gen 18:12).

And God said in verse 14,"Is anything too hard for the LORD?" 

• Ah, LORD God, behold thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee (Jer 32:17).

My thoughts were to make a few doll dresses, especially for my great-granddaughters to place in their boxes for school, their local church, and a few for my local church. 

But after showing the dressed doll to the quilting group, some wanted to help buy dolls; we now have seventy-five dolls dressed in Pillowcases Dresses. And our God has supplied all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.

• For my thoughts are not your thoughts, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isiah 55:8-9).

For the Fields are White Unto Harvest

God is into multiplication, and I truly believe He will use these dolls dressed in Pillowcase Dresses to bring many into His kingdom, for the fields are white unto harvest.

• Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest (John 4:35).

This verse always reminds me of my father, a Share-cropper, and the cotton fields when they were ready for harvest.

Already God has used the dolls as a witness. Another person and I were able to tell the store clerk and others why we were buying so many dolls. 

The one that really blessed me was when I was in line to check out thirty-three dolls. A family of three was watching; a father, two girls, one about ten years old, and the youngest, about five, asked, "Daddy, that's a lot of dolls! Why is she buying so many?" He said, "I do not know."

Looking at the father and then at the child, I said. "We take these dolls and make dresses for them, and send them to the mission field for little girls that don't have dolls."

God is Enlarging My Territory

I want others to know that God is answering my prayer to enlarge my territory. He did it for me and will do it for you, for God is not a respecter of persons.

• Then you shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you (Jer 29:12).
• Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us (Eph 3:20).

So, my brother and sisters, I encourage you to get out of the boat. And, as the song goes, "step into the water and wade out a little bit deeper."

• And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season, his leaf shall not wither (fade) and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper (Psa 1:3).

Faye Nunnelee Byrd

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