Knapp Tyme

I am so very glad that you could join us on our journey for a little while. My name is Thomas L. Knapp, Sr.

All those of us who call the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior have been called the specific and supreme task of spreading the Good News of Salvation through Jesus to the rest of the world. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. (Matthew 28:19, 20)

But, many people have told me, on repeated occasions, you are not outgoing enough to be a pastor, which has been my dream, since I was a small child. I believe I have something worthwhile to say to those around me. For a while, I was in “full-time” Christian service. I was a church-planter/pastor/Christian school teacher/missionary. I served in that capacity without pay for four years and the Lord met our needs ‘exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think’ (Ephesians 3:20) I was never any happier than I was at that time.

But those days ended and that chapter of my life is now closed. Then I was left with a big question - “Where do I go from here?” I cried out to the Lord, “Lord, use me!” I really thought my life was over. God was done with me and I was ready for Him to take me Home. But that did not happen.

In November 2005, our church was having evangelistic services and I rededicated my life to serve Him in whatever capacity He chose to use me. I was working the midnight shift in a window factory that night. At break time, I got down on my face before the Lord and prayed, “Lord, I don’t know what you have in mind for me but I am ready to do whatever it is you have for me. They say I am too quiet to be a pastor. Lord give me a voice that I may speak what you have already been laying on my heart.” At that moment, the Lord seemed to say to me, as He did to Moses at the burning bush, “What do you have in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2). I opened my eyes and saw a pencil and a sheet of paper before me. The words Jesus spoke as he taught His disciples came to my mind - “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house (Matthew 5:14, 15). I prayed, “Let my light shine. I want to be a lighthouse for you.” I picked up the pencil and began to write the words to the poem, “Make Me a Lighthouse.”

That night the Lord gave me four poems. God had given me a voice. I may never see anyone’s life changed because of anything I have written or said. I cannot make people read or believe. My job is simply to be obedient. He wjll lead people to find and read what God has laid on my heart. May God get all the glory.