Releasing Control

Since I’m on the topic of dyeing, I thought I’d share another aspect. The Lord has used the dyeing process to teach me many things, but one of the main ones was releasing control. This lesson is repeated and has ministered to those who have dyed with me.

First of all, dye tends to have a mind of it’s own. Unlike paint, which you can control more easily and create intricate and specific designs, dye tends to do what it wants. You may put the dye in one area only to find it’s turned up in another area. It’s a bit like herding cats. Ultimately you realize you can get frustrated trying to make it do what you want, or you can submit to the process and flow with it. If you flow with it, you get to enjoy the beauty of what is created rather than be disappointed that what you were trying to do didn’t happen.

The same holds true with the colors. Periodically colors appear that were never even in the original set put on the silk, or the colors will sometimes shift to be something very different than expected (see the image on this page – the red color was actually a brown, and I have used the brown many times before and since and never achieved this result again).  I learned to flow with it. When it happens, I know the Lord isn’t surprised and ask Him what HE is wanting to say through it.

The steaming process is what I like to call the “God factor”. I have no control over what happens when it gets steamed. This is the point when things tend to “show up” in the silk that weren’t intentionally put in there. People have found hearts, eyes, faces, and more (some were more clear than others) when they look at their silks – none of which were intentionally included in the silk and all of which deeply ministered to the recipients.

Even in the the names and the words, I have to fully release control. In many ways this was one of the hardest and best lessons that I’ve gotten to learn! When you are prophesying to someone standing in front of you (especially someone you know), it is so easy to be influenced by things you know in the natural. When a stranger orders a blank scarf online… I don’t even know the gender of the recipient many times! You are flying blind and are forced to lean wholly on Him, which has been wonderful because it’s really taught me what that feels like and you become accustomed to that feel.

I confess one of the most wonderful parts of my job is the testimonies. That’s when I get affirmed that giving God the control has been a GOOD thing and has blessed others – it gives me the encouragement to press deeper and know I’m on the right path. So thank you to all you who share your stories! You are a blessing to me 🙂

So if I may, I encourage you to release control to the Lord in your life. What areas are you hanging on to feeling like you know what it should look like when perhaps the Father has something different in mind? Try it and see what He does! Bless you as you seek fast after Him 🙂