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The Lord who is gracious and merciful has blessed us beyond measure and has
commanded us to go forth in life with cheerfulness, praise and gratitude.
Our blessings abound and greatly outweigh any hardships that come our way,
but when we encounter a problem as we always do, we are sometimes quick to
forget of our many blessings and focus on the problem that doesn't come
close in comparison. The Bible declares in 1 Chronicles 16:10-12 “Glory
ye in His Holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually. Remember His
marvellous works that He hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of His
mouth.” Trust the Lord in all your ways and know that He loves you with
His perfect love and calls you blessed. (Psalm 103:8-14) (Ephesians 1:3-10)
I hope you are blessed and encouraged by this message to be thankful for
the simple things because they are the things that help you through life.
THE GIFT OF HANDS
An old man, probably some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the park bench.
He didn't move, just sat with his head down staring at his hands. When I
sat down beside him he didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat
I wondered if he was ok.
Finally, not really wanting to disturb him but wanting to check on him at
the same time, I asked him if he was ok. He raised his head and looked at
me and smiled.
“Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking”, he said in a clear strong voice.
“I didn't mean to disturb you, sir, but you were just sitting here staring
at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were ok”, I explained to him.
“Have you ever looked at your hands he asked. I mean really looked at your
hands?”
I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms
up and then palms down. “No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands”
I said, as I tried to figure out the point he was making.
Then he smiled and related this story:
“Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served
you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and
weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and
embrace life.”
“They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor.
They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child my mother
taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my
boots. They dried the tears of my children and caressed the love of my
life. They held my rifle and wiped my tears when I went off to war. They
have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and
clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band
they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They
wrote the letters home. They trembled and shook when I buried my parents
and spouse and walked my daughter down the aisle.”
“Yet, they were strong and sure when I dug my buddy out of a foxhole and
lifted a plow off of my best friend’s foot. They have held children,
consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand.
They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest
of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw.”
“And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these
hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer. These
hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of my life.”
“But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and
take when He leads me home. And He won't care about where these hands have
been or what they have done. What He will care about is to whom these hands
belong and how much He loves these hands. And with these hands He will lift
me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ.”
No doubt I will never look at my hands the same again. I never saw the old
man again after I left the park that day but I will never forget him and
the words he spoke. When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the
face of my children and wife I think of the man in the park. I have a
feeling he has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God. I,
too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.
Thank you, Father God, for hands.
Author Unknown
Be encouraged to think on every good and perfect gift that God has bestowed
upon you and rather than focusing on the negative, lift up the Lord with
your praise and show your confidence in His ability to both strengthen you
and deliver you. (James 1:16-17) (Psalm 9:1-10) (Psalm 91:10-15)
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Psalm 34:1-4 “I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall
continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the
humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and
let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and
delivered me from all my fears.”
Psalm 103:2-5 “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who
redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness
and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy
youth is renewed like the eagle's.”
Psalm 37:23-27 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He
delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down:
for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand. I have been young, and now am
old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging
bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. Depart
from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: HARD TIMES
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem69.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: CAST YOUR CARES UPON HIM
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony82.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
