Today I’m thankful for my hands. It’s hard to imagine what my ministry & family would look like without being able to use them. What it would feel like to not hold my children – to not be able to touch my patients to assess their illness – to not hold my husband’s hand – to not be able to play my keyboard for our church revivals, to not be able to plan the games and activities for the staff & campuses – to not be able to write my friends & family or share the needs – to not be able to open my Bible & feel the pages of His word – to not be able to reach out to someone in need – to not be able decorate for our all fabulous festivities! 🙂
But even more so than my own hands – I’m thankful for Jesus Christ who allowed the nails to pierce His hands for me. His scarred hands is what makes my hands so beautiful and unique. You see I can do a lot of great things with my hands to help advance His Kingdom. But my hands – my works alone – cannot save me.
But what I can do is lift my guilty hands – lift the sin & shame – lift my imperfections – lift my doubt – lift my pain – lift my insecurities – life my sadness …… and allow God to turn my guilty & sometimes shaky hands into Holy hands. Christ can glove my hands in His grace & righteousness. He has the power to place in my hands HIS mighty work….if I keep them open & facing up….ready to do His will.
So today I’m thankful for the way that Christ has entrusted my hands to do His work.
I’m reminded of this song…..
Not What My Hands Have Done
Not what my hands have done can save my guilty soul
Not what my toiling flesh has borne can make my spirit whole
Not what I feel or do can give me peace with God
Not all my prayers and sighs and tears can bear my awful load
These guilty hands are raised, filthy rags are all I bring
And I have come to hide beneath Your wings
These holy hands are raised, washed in the fountain of Your grace
And now I wear Your righteousness.
Thy work alone O Christ can ease this weight of sin
Thy blood alone O Lamb of God can give me peace within
Thy love to me O God not mine O Lord to thee
Can rid me of this dark unrest and set my spirit free
These guilty hands are raised, filthy rags are all I bring
And I have come to hide beneath Your wings
These holy hands are raised, washed in the fountain of Your grace
And now I wear Your righteousness.
Thy grace a lone O God to me can pardon speak
Thy power alone O Lamb of God can this sore bondage break
No other work save Thine, no other blood will do
No strength save that which is divine can bear me safely through
These guilty hands are raised, filthy rags are all I bring
And I have come to hide beneath Your wings
These holy hands are raised, washed in the fountain of Your grace
And now I wear Your righteousness.
I praise the God of grace I trust His truth and might
He calls me His I call Him mine my God, my joy, my light
Tis He who saveth me and freely pardon gives
I love because He loveth me I live be cause He lives
These guilty hands are raised, filthy rags are all I bring
And I have come to hide beneath Your wings
These holy hands are raised, washed in the fountain of Your grace
And now I wear Your righteousness.
SO Thankful…Day 16
When my children were born I couldn’t get over how beautiful they were. They had such little feet and tiny hands! I loved to put my finger in their little hand. There is nothing better than filling their fingers squeeze mine. I loved to kiss on those little hands! To play pick-a-boo with those precious hands!
Gigi loves her hands! From the moment she was 3 months old – she would spend all waking hours looking at them! I think it’s safe to say that her hands are her best friend! Watching Gigi be consumed with her hand – looking at it so intently – it made me start thinking about our hands. How important they are when it comes to reaching out to your loved ones.
When teams walk down the streets it doesn’t take long and little children will begin to grab their hands. I encourage teams to paint the nails of little children. Shortly after painting them the children will go and wash them off. They wipe the polish off in hopes that you will hold their hand again. They long for the gentle touch of a loving hand.
Ever think about all that your hands can do? They allow me to type this blog! They allow me to examine sick children. They allow me to brush Malaya’s hair. They allow me to high-five Gigi! They allow me to squeeze Asher’s little cheeks! They allow me play hangman with Rosie. They allow me to wipe away Levi’s tears. They allow Mikela and I to have a secret handshake! They allow me to make shadow puppets with Gabriel! They allow me to wave to at folks as I walk by! They allow me to blow kisses to sweet little babies on the street!
So today I am thankful for my hands!
For allowing me to reach out to those I love!
