Different Sizes of Beautiful Feet

On Monday night after babysitting for a really fun couple I got the opportunity to pick their brains about some things I was a little confused about. This turned into one of the most enlightening conversations I've ever had! It started with their questions of how I enjoyed New Years Conference in Chattanooga, TN. I began to explain to them how it was great but that for some reason I left a little discouraged and a bit befuddled. It began with a misunderstanding from months ago. To make a longer story short my confusion stemmed from a lie that infected my mind. It was not because of anyone else, just my own sin and the opportunity Satan saw to try and deter me from God's plan for my life. The lie was simply this; If I am not fit for evangelism in a specific ministry here in the states, what business have I in going overseas to do missions..? Again I will state, no one ever told me such a thing, but when discussing my future with well loved and trusted friends this is how my sin tainted the message. The couple helped to break it down for me that that was never the intended message. See, I had been walking around for a while thinking that I wasn't going to be as effective for God's kingdom because I wasn't primarily gifted in evangelism. After talking with this neat family, they helped me see that to think I'm not gifted in evangelism is not only unbiblical but completely false. God has gifted us all in evangelism because it is the mission of the Christian (Matt 9:36-38, 28:18-20, Acts 1:8). There are different ways God has wired us up in how (not if) we are gifted in evangelism.
How has this played out in my life? Well, since coming to college I have been involved in a campus ministry. I love this ministry and stand behind it with full support for what they believe and their mission.  As with a lot of college ministries because they are working with college students it has a small window to impact the campus. Ministries like this often have to operate in semesters, and school years, and only getting to invest in some students for no more than 4-5 years. Therefore, the ministry is extremely fast-paced, and God is faithful in how he moves in and with them. The way the Lord has wired me up is a little different. I can share my faith with people for weeks, months, even years and see very little to zero fruit but can still maintain and pursue a relationship with that person (not to say the ministry can't, just differently). Its relational, its walking life together and that takes time. And what I've come to realize is that neither is better or worse, they are just different. And there are surly more than just these two. What's more exciting is that God still wants to use me to impact his Kingdom, I know not yet what that means or what it looks like but I'm to faithfully walk with Him and into His Good works He has laid out before me.
I feel like this may have been a bit vague and my point may be fuzzy so here's the bottom line: The point of this post is that I hope it encourages you the reader. If you have been feeling confused, discouraged, maybe even bitter that your personal ministry doesn't look like "so and so's", or you may wonder even doubt that God can/wants to use you in His harvest, take heart dear friend. God is a big God and he intricately designed you before the foundations of the world, you are fearfully and wonderfully made, and He didn't make any mistakes. Just because you may or may not be a "good fit" for one thing doesn't mean you don't fit anywhere. You just need to seek out other areas that may be your better or best fit.
I may not be "wired up" for some types of ministries but maybe God wants to send me to a big city to live and work in a community to take the gospel to co-workers, or maybe he'll lay another country on my heart to live longterm among the people there. Or maybe I stay where I am for a while and invest and serve the local church. I don't know what or how He wants to use me, but I have promise after promise written on my heart that He will.
Isaiah 52:7 talks about how beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news. It matters not the size or shape of feet, but that the feet come.
Peace and Love Beloved

Getting Down To Business

Ok so here are the basics...each knit cowl or scarf is one of a kind and there are a couple variables; size and pattern. A small cowl takes up about two skeins of yarn. This may vary based on desired width and pattern. A medium to large cowl takes about three skeins of yarn, again depending on width and pattern. For example....below is a Small Cowl with a "double Kayla-knit" pattern with 18 stitches across. The total for this cowl would come out to $11.00.

Small Cowl
$11.00

Large Cowl
$19.00

A Large cowl like this is of course larger, heavier, and takes longer to make. This particular cowl has a triple "Kayla-knit" pattern with 27 stitches across. The total for this cowl is $19.00

Here are a few examples of different patterns....

Double "Kayla-knit"

Triple "Kayla-knit"

Ribbon Knit

Regular Knit

For more information or to order please contact me via e-mail at kaylaburns2@gmail.com.
Thanks for your interest and support!
Peace and Love Beloved

Willing Hands Knitting

How lovely and faithful our Lord is. He has provided me with a passion and a love that can now benefit others. I learned how to knit when I was in high school but it was not until recently that I have taken up this fun hobby a few notches, as most of my close friends and family have noticed. Recently though my little projects have received an increased amount of admiration and attention. Now there are friends and co-workers beginning to ask if I would make something for them. Behold, an idea, nay a dream has been born! Willing Hands Knitting is what I am calling my little dream. All profit from each knit projects sold will be given to an organization I hold very dear to my heart: Falling Whistles. This is a group that partners with other organizations in parts of Africa to rescue and rehabilitate children solders from the Congo and other dangerous countries. Falling Whistles works to raise awareness here in the states by spreading the message of a story where children too small to carry weapons are forced to carry whistles, whistles that serve as both a warning and a distraction. For the full account of this amazing group click here. 

I'm very excited to begin this great adventure! Prices and patterns and other details to come soon. 

Peace and Love Beloved

Words

The phrase "A woman of few words" has never been applied nor relevant to me. Even in middle school and high school my teachers commented on my "wordiness" when writing. This has proved to be useful in my major. The ability to string a variety of eloquent words together in a pleasant flow makes it seem like I know what I'm talking/writing about. Sometimes this is indeed the case, other times, it is a nifty devise used to fill up pages and required lengths. It is mischievous I know, but words are never in short supply so I figure I may as well use them if they are there. Even as I sit at my computer crafting these paragraphs into shape and my fingers trill across the keys I wonder what it is I am trying to say with this and where I am going. Where I want to go is this: Words carry great weight in our lives and have major influence as well. The only other thing I can compare this to is music which does the same thing for me. Sometimes I listen to music with no words and words come to me. Not in the form of whimsical lyrics or poetic verses, just words, even ideas and awry thoughts just pop in and out. Its almost like a flavor sensation. Words are the flavor to a song sometimes. Others may try to argue with this concept and I wouldn't argue back because I can see it the other way too, but who says it has to be one or the other really?
In the circle of believers I run with whether it be at church, or among friends in fellowship, conferences, etc, we often discuss the role words can play in our relationships. We read verses like Proverbs 12:18 which says "There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." We come to the conclusion that words can either give life or take life. So I ask myself, "Am I a life-giver or a life-taker?" We all like to think that we give life with our words, but is that always the case? I read about amazing godly women who were described as life-givers. I read their bios and journals, even their confessions of sin and the ugliest things seem to be giving life to the reader. I think to myself, "I want to be a woman like that..." A woman who has no trace of venom on her tongue but brings healing and love with her words. It can get discouraging when I am sometimes confronted with the fact that I am not yet this woman. Yes, God has sanctified and is continuing to complete the good work which he began in me, but man do I have a long way to go!  Even today I was forced to see the ugly side of me in a "friendly" game of volleyball. 
I am not known as a quick-witted person, so when my friends tease me and try to get a rise out of me words fail me and are in short supply. I never know what is funny or witty, but I try, too hard in fact. This particular game was difficult for me to participate in because my teammates (bless their souls) were not the best volleyball players. I, coming from playing in high school and being generally competitive, was struggling to be a good sport. Before I even know it I started smack talking my friend. It probably wouldn't have been so bad had it not been from a place of real frustration and anger. Thankfully he didn't hear me, and it wasn't even that "trashy" but I brought myself up short thinking, "I don't want to be this girl!" 
I believe as women God has given us a keen sense of the power that lies in words. Looking to the Proverbs 7 woman whose words bring about destruction. "With much deductive speech she persuades him, with her smooth talk she compels him." (vs. 21). I am not meaning just in the manner of bringing about lust and pulling men down into sexual sin, though this too is a grievous occurrence I have seen commonly referred to as "innocent flirting" (but that is another post yet to be written), it can be in any way that does not push others to the cross or give life to one another. 
We are so confused by the mix messages that society sends out to us females. We think we should be relevant and relatable to others, which I agree with to a point. But does that mean we are to look like the world, after all isn't that what they do? Sarcasm and hurtful jokes are brushed of as shop-talk and or even worse it is so commonplace that is goes unnoticed. As believers we must raise the bar, lift up our standards in how we communicate with one another giving life and not taking it. This may be different for each individual. for instance I know myself, my attempt to be funny and relatable (especially to brothers) usually end is me saying something stupid and left feeling regretful. 
Again I don't really know where this post is intended to go...I just know its something I've been thinking about, so call it food for thought if you will. Are you a life-giver or a life-taker with your words. Is your sense of humor fed off of sarcasm at the cost of others around you? What would your relationships look like if you consciously thought how to push each other to the gospel and to life? How can we alter these areas to really make a positive difference?
You know what is a sobering thought? To think about how Jesus spoke to his people. Was it with harsh sarcasm intended to tear the other down? No, his words were wrapped in love and tied with compassion.  His words gave life, and gave it abundantly. 
Deuteronomy 8:3 " Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word from the mouth of the Lord". 
Peace and Love Beloved 

Quickie Budget Tip

Don't know about you but I need help keeping my budget tight! This little idea came to me when I was thinking about the days when I was a bank teller. Hope this helps!

All you need is a couple strips of some fun scrapbook paper, scissors and tape. You can get really fancy and get stickers, stamps or handwrite the words. My budget is pretty easy for now. Have Fun!