Scarf Stories

Promise of New Life
8mm China Silk 22x72
29 November 2006

A friend from work asked me if I could make one for a Christmas present for her sister.

Monday the 27th I lay a blank scarf on the table and put the sister before the Lord, and asked what He would want to say to her. I felt green stalks growing so strongly I ripped the lid off the green dye and instead of rinsing the lid so as not to get dye everywhere I just threw it down and began to let my arm "grow the green stems" on the scarf because I felt like I might burst if I didn't. Lots of green growth - a feeling of plenty. Not neat and tidy and contained - a lot and fast and furious. Green representing life.

Next He had me add purple blossoms - purple representing the promises of God. Lots of purple blossoms - again a feeling of plenty. Then He had me add red blossoms - red representing His covenant of grace. Again, a sense of plentitude.

On Tuesday evening, He had me add drops of gold representing wealth and silver representing strengthened faith. He also gave me the scarf's name, Promise of New Life.

He had me anoint the scarf with the Oil of Joy and Gladness. When I opened my mouth to pray in the Spirit I began to sing the chorus of a song I love - "I... surrender - all to You, all to You. And I... surrender all to You, all to You." And I began to wonder, "Why am I singing this song Lord?" - when suddenly He reminded me of the last line just before the chorus "for the promise of new life". Whoa. I realized that the whole song was part of the word for her. The lyrics go:

Surrender
By Justin McRoberts (Vineyard)

I'm giving you my heart, and all that is within
I lay it all down, for the sake of you my king
I'm giving you my dreams, I'm laying down my rights
I'm giving up my pride, for the promise of new Life

(chorus)
And I Surrender
All to you, all to you

I'm singing you this song, I'm waiting at the cross
And all the world holds dear, I count it all as loss
For the sake of knowing you, for the glory of your name
To know the lasting joy, even sharing in your pain

(chorus)
And I Surrender
All to you, all to you

On Wednesday I found out that the sister's house had burned down and completely ruined everything. I began to realize the impact of what God was doing. Before anything had ever even happened, the Lord was already preparing a word of encouragement - a promise... a promise of new life.