OPEN HANDS

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: PSALM 145:14-16

The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

OPEN HANDS

Happy 4th of July!!! What a day for the USA. A day to celebrate our freedoms. And they are many. Freedom to Worship. Work. Rest. Drive. Determine the size of your family. Select your spouse. Receive an education. Vote. Freedom to -- the list could go on and on.

The sad thing is that we do not take advantage of our freedoms. Too many do not vote. Too many expect our government to take complete care of them. Too many work and never rest. Too many do not realize how easily and quickly our freedoms can be taken away.

Our freedoms come with a price and that price is work and blood. Those that came before us worked to establish a country for all people. No other country in the world welcomes strangers and makes them citizens like the USA. BUT the work must continue as our citizens, new and old, work to make the USA strong. We need to be proud of our heritage, no matter what country we came from, but we need to be united in our desire to be Americans. We must continue the work of past generations. We must protect our freedoms.

Work and blood. Every time I look at the red stripes, on our flag, I am humbled that someone, someone I have never met or even knows I exist, would give their life so I can - Go to church. Vote. Have children, sons and daughters. Marry the man I love. Read books. Watch the news. Work. Blood has been, is being and will be given so I can live in the United States of America.

I bet you are wondering why I called this Open Hands. Put your hands out. Open them, palm up. The open hand can - take another hand in friendship and welcome. A grateful open hand can shake the hand of a soldier. An open hand can salute the flag of the United States of America.

God intended us to use open hands. The open hand can gently touch the cheek of a loved one or give a reassuring pat to a frightened child. The open hand can offer up prayers and praises to God. The open hand (and open heart) can receive the blessings God offers. An open hand - not a closed fist or hand held down to your side - tells people you have just met, your friends, neighbors, family and God that you are reaching out to them.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

For what freedoms are you thankful? What can you do with open hands?

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

LET US PRAY

To the one that can satisfy all my desires, To you I reach open hands towards heaven. Open hands, which offer gratitude for the blessings that you have given me. For the freedom you offer. Freedom to be forgiven. Freedom to be filled with your love. Freedom to share that love with others. Freedom to extend open hands to each of your children I meet. Freedom to …… Amen