HANDS

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Matthew 19:13

Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them.

HANDS

THE HANDS JESUS

The hands of Jesus were gentle and kind. The hands of Jesus held the children.

With just a touch, His hands gave speech to the mute and gave sight to the blind. They blessed the bread that feed 5,000 and they restored life to the dead.

The hands of Jesus cast out demons and they offered blessings. The hands of Jesus cured leprosy. The hands of Jesus did not cast stones.

The hands of Jesus washed the disciples' feet. They offered the cup and the bread. The hands of Jesus carried the cross.

OUR HANDS

Oh how amazing is our hands. They can sharply bring pain or touch a cheek softly. They can conquer a land or be offered in peace.

They can give help or they can be selfish. They can be clinched in rage or lifted in praise. Oh how amazing is our hands.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

How do you use your hands? Are they strong, but gentle? Are they friendly? Do they serve others? Are they clinched or raised in praise?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

To the loving Jesus who holds me in His hands, You are the example I need to follow. I want to use my hands as you used yours. I want to give care to those who suffer from physical, mental or emotional pain. I want to use my hands as instruments of peace as I offer friendship to those I meet. I want to have gentle loving hands. Hands that will serve others. Dear Lord, I want my hands to ………………………………… Amen

ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:

"… and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20

Please read Psalm 139

Jesus speaking to Saul (Paul) "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." the Lord replied. "Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." Acts 26:15-17

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." John 14:1-4

OH, NEVER MIND -- ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF

One day, shortly before Easter, our grandson Matthew called and, while we were talking, asked, "Grandma, can you bring eggs on Easter so we can hunt them?" In the background, his mother told him they were doing eggs. Matthew told me, "Oh, never mind." A request not needed, it was already taken care of.

How many request do we make that are already taken care of?

"Dear Lord, I am feeling alone." Jesus reminds us that He is with us always. "Oh, never mind." -- Taken care of -- Matthew 28:20

"Dear Lord, do you know me?" This Psalm tells us that God knows when we sit and when we rise, is familiar with our ways and knows a word before it is on our tongue. "Oh, never mind." -- Taken care of -- Psalm 139

"Dear Lord, I have sinned and I am sorry. How do I receive forgiveness?" Through Jesus, our sins can be forgiven. "Oh, never mind." -- Taken care of -- Acts 26:15-17

"Dear Lord, I worry about eternity." Jesus assures us that there will be a place in his Father's house. "Oh, never mind." -- Taken care of -- John 14:1-4

I know that being alone, wondering if God really knows who I am, fearing that my sins are too great to be forgiven and trying to picture eternity are deep, deep concerns and I am not using "Oh, never mind." in a flippant manner. It is used to show that many of the things we fear or questions we have are already Taken care of. Hopefully these verses can help you during these times.

God knows our fears and He knows each of us as a unique individual. We just need to listen and have faith.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

When are times that you feel separated from God? When do have the most questions? Do you have a prayer partner or someone you can call when you are having rough times?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Dear Heavenly Father, I come before you as a thankful child who has received everything I need. Let my eyes see your wonders and my ears hear your words. Let my mind understand your ways and fill my very being with the Holy Spirit. When I have questions, calm me with the reassurance that you have the answer. Lead me, guide me and be beside me always as I ………………………………… Amen

HANDPRINTS

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 4:11-13

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the son of god and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

HANDPRINTS

I looked out the window this morning and remembered a time when Timothy came for a visit, about a year ago. Yes, he has been here since, but this is what I wrote the morning after that visit. --

Timothy was here yesterday. I was reminded of that fact when the morning sun hit the kitchen window. Timothy is two and he loves to look out windows. He loves to stand on the kitchen counter, look out the window and tell me about the birds and the cows. At least that is what I think he is telling me. I only have grandma ears, so I pick up most of the words but not all of them. Whatever he says though must be quite some story. He gets excited and points. And he puts his hands on the window.

I probably should wash that window. The sun makes it look pretty bad. Handprints and fingerprints are as high as a two year old can reach. Yes, I should wash that window but I think I will wait a few days. When I see that handprint, I think of Timothy and smile.

So let the sun shine on the window and let the handprint glow.

Wow, guess that is sorta like us. We travel though this life leaving our prints everywhere. We are very blessed, because Jesus can wash away our bad prints. We are very blessed, because when the light of the Son shines on our good prints, they glow.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Where have you left your handprints? Have you helped the earth by recycling? Have you left your print when you volunteered at a soup kitchen? Have you left your print in the hand of another when you extended the hand of friendship? Where have you left your print? Will it glow?


Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Dear Lord, Thank you for so many opportunities to leave my handprint on your world. Guide my hands in such a way that my handprints help and that they lead others to you. I want my prints to glow when the light of Your Son shines on them. I want my handprints to ………………………………… Amen

ENEMIES

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Psalm 23:5

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

ENEMIES

Enemy. Now that is one powerful word. What comes to your mind? Do you picture a certain person? Do you think of someone in history like Hitler? How do you feel when you say that word? Does your blood pressure go up? Do your eyes lock in a stare and your mouth set into a scrawl? How big of a table would it take to seat your enemies?

Enemy. That is one powerful word. The other Sunday we heard Pastor Robert A. Schuller speak on this verse from Psalm 23. He made me think about the enemies that would be sitting at my table.

I think I am going to need a very big table to seat my enemies. They would be temper, prejudice, lack of compassion, and fear. Also seated would be pride and lack of trust. Seated there would be gossip and hate. And being judgmental. I would be in one of those chairs, because sometimes I am my own worst enemy. There would be a chair - an empty chair - for all the things I was afraid to do. The things I left undone. The words I did not say. The prayers I did not pray. These things are or have been enemies to the life I can have.

Enemy. That is one powerful word. We spend time worrying about "humans" who are enemies. "Human" enemies would take up very few chairs at the table. The real enemies - the ones that threaten eternal life - could fill a room.

Enemy, that is one powerful word. But God is more powerful. Through God, you will sit at the table, in the presence of your enemies. The enemies God has invited so they can see that you are one of His children. You are an anointed child. Through God, YOU CAN OVERCOME YOUR ENEMIES.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Who do you consider an enemy? What is your worst enemy? How many chairs will you need at the table?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Dear Lord, What comforting words these are. And to know that you have a table prepared for me. To know that I can draw on your strength to overcome my enemies. Teach me forgiveness, because I need to be forgiven. Let me forgive my human enemies. Give me strength to defeat the other enemies in my life. Give me strength to rid my life of ………………………………… Amen

SECRET PLANS

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 22:29-36

You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory; you stoop down to make me great.

SECRET PLANS

Have you ever planned something and tried to keep it a secret? That is what our son and I are working on. Bill is planning to take his two children, Kailyn and Nathan, to Gatlinburg. Can you keep a secret? I am going with them.

Kailyn and Nathan are so excited about going and have talked and talked about their plans and the cabin they are going to stay in. And the hot tub. And the aquarium they are going to visit. And just sitting on the porch and using the rocking chairs. Yes, they are excited about going. They are going to stop and tell us goodbye before they leave.

I am excited, because when they stop to say goodbye, I am going to get in the car and go with them. I cannot wait to see the look on their faces.

God has made so many plans for us, but He has not kept his plans a secret. He wants to turn our darkness into light. He is our shield! He is our rock! And he stoops down to make us great!

I bet God has an extremely big smile on His face when we say, "We are going along with you."

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Do you know what plans God has for you? How can you discover those plans? Have you told Him you want to be a part of His journey?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from you heart.

LET US PRAY

My Shield, My Rock, You have a plan for me. You created me. You made me special and unique. You made me one of a kind. You stoop down for me. For me. To make me great. What can I do for you? What is my part in your plan? Teach me to listen and hear your directions. Show me how to serve you. ………………………………… Amen