SOFT TO THE TOUCH

Thank God for looking at our hands not with the eyes of one who criticizes how rough and unsightly or dirty they are, but how soft they are to the touch of others. Bless you as you use your hands with love and grace, patience and joy, for His sake and in His name.

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES              by Sally Bair

Openhanded

We’ve seen pictures of dogs cozying up to their troubled owner, placing their paw on the person’s arm as if to say, “I’m sorry you’re hurting. I want to share your pain.” God’s creatures sense—and share—the way we feel. Their reaction is often a healing balm to our sadness.

We humans also understand the healing that comes from a hug or gentle touch from someone’s hand. Sometimes all it takes is a light squeeze on the arm to make us feel better when we’re hurting either physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Science proves that babies thrive best when they receive the touch of another human.

Our hands hold the power to heal and the power to destroy. We can choose how we will use them. When we choose to offer sympathy and love by the use of our hands, God’s power will flow through them. In fact, when Jesus spoke His last words to the disciples before His ascension, He said, “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will … lay hands on the sick and they will recover.” (Mark: 16:17-18)

God’s promise for healing power through the use of our hands comes by faith. Countless people have shared stories of how they were healed when someone, through faith, laid hands on them and prayed. When our hands are open to the needs of others, great things take place. Jesus’ example of using His hands for healing is intended for all of us.

Jesus wanted our openhanded lifestyle to include generosity of our possessions, too. Throughout the Bible, we’re told that the poor will always be with us. When we joyfully seek out the poor to give them needed help, we become the most blessed. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy,” Jesus said. (Matthew 5:7)

When He said, “Follow me,” Jesus meant the command to include every aspect of our lives. He meant us to seek out the poor, the hurting, the needy, the unlovable, so He can—through us—help fulfill their needs, through faith and through His power. His hands were always open to the needy. Ours need to be, also.

Lord, thank You for hands made for healing. Give us the willingness, the joy, and the power to become as Your hands—full of mercy and love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

WHO IS ABLE?

Try as we might, sometimes we are unable to do what we want.  I, for one, can’t draw a decent picture. God gives each of us certain talents and gifts. However, that’s not to say I couldn’t draw a decent picture if He wanted me to. The key is to look to Him for direction. If He wants us to speak to thousands and we’re willing, even though we stutter with every sentence, He will make it happen. The Bible is filled with such miracles. Thank God, He turns our inabilities into abilities.

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES        by Sally Bair

Abilities-inabilities    

For my husband’s sake, I once took a class in learning how to read and speak Swedish. I struggled to the finish, but learned little and never used the little I learned. In order to graduate college, I had to take a foreign language course. Told that Spanish was the easiest to learn, I opted for that. I nearly flunked, but stuck it out. The Spanish I managed to learn came in handy, however, during my two mission trips to Mexico. If I hadn’t finished the college course, my time there would have been less interesting and certainly less productive—although my feeble attempts at speaking brought a few laughs.

In high school I did poorly in Math. Even today I try to avoid anything to do with numbers, other than the simplest, personal bookkeeping required to maintain my finances. My twin sister took a college course in Algebra and flunked the first time. Determined to learn, she took it again, and succeeded in passing. She was always more determined than I.

Anything worthwhile is worth the effort. But some lack the gift to learn certain things.

With God’s help, however, we can do most anything. He can take our inabilities and turn them into possibilities. In fact, one of my favorite Bible verses is Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The Message version says: “Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”

The apostle Paul had a reason for writing as he did. However, I like to switch the phrases when I repeat this verse: “Through Christ who strengthens me, I can do all things.” The emphasis should be on Christ, in my opinion. After all, He is the empowering enabler. Where my abilities are weak or nonexistent, He makes anything possible. And that includes all things. Strength for body, soul, and spirit. Wisdom for making the right decisions. Love and forgiveness for the most unloving and undeserving.

When we face our inabilities, perhaps the first step is to admit them, then ask God to turn them into possibilities, and last but not least, obey His will. When we relinquish our natural desire to do things in our own strength and for ourselves, He will honor our humility. When we concede our weakness to Him, watch out! Anything can happen. Such miracles have been proven countless times.

Lord, thank You for strengthening us when we are unable to do something on our own. We embrace Your power and wisdom and love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

WHO'S WATCHING YOU?

Walking in God’s will, rather than in our own, brings the utmost peace and joy we can imagine. Walking in His light dispels any darkness around. Hallelujah!

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES        By Sally Bair

God’s eyes

When walking along the edge of the woods near my former, country house, I’d wonder how many pairs of eyes were peering at me from behind the shadowed trees. Besides the ever-present deer, raccoons, and skunks, I envisioned wolves, cougars, and bears as well. With effort, I’d have to pull my thoughts away from the possibility of meeting any such critters. The fact remained, however, that hiding eyes surely were staring at me.

My woods experiences cause me to think about God’s eyes. How many times have we done something in secret—something we knew was wrong—and then remembered that God could see us all along? I spent several years trying to hide my misdeeds from God until I finally realized there is no hiding from God.

When we make it a habit to be upfront and honest about what we say or do, however, we usually don’t think about God watching us. At such times there is no guilt, no feeling of condemnation, and no anger. That’s just how God wants it. He wants us all to be honest as He is honest with us.

King David wrote a beautiful psalm that speaks about God’s eyes that see all. Psalm 139 in part tells us, “You know when I sit and when I rise … before a word is on my tongue, You know it completely. Where can I go from Your Spirit?  Where can I flee from Your presence? … If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me … even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You’.”

If we do right and are in harmony with God’s will, the fact that He sees us will give us joy in knowing His protection and help are near and knowing He’s pleased with us. Deliberately straying from His will by being disobedient and dishonest, however, will cause stress and unhappiness and a whole lot more. Only confession and repentance will restore our relationship with Him.

A good Bible verse for all of us to remember is Proverbs 15:3: “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.”

Lord, help us remember that there is no hiding from You. Forgive us for the times we have done wrong, thinking that no one would see, not even You. Thank You for keeping watch over us day and night. In Jesus’ name, amen.

THIS IS A SUMMER TO THRIVE!

God has enriched us with a summer of bounty—perfect conditions for corn and other crops to thrive and for us to thrive, too. May God’s joy abound in you as you strive to thrive for His Kingdom.

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES               by Sally Bair

Thrive

           

While helping my neighbor garden this summer, I notice that some plants do better than others. In spite of having the same amount of soil, water, and sunshine, one raspberry bush will produce large, juicy berries while the one next to it offers nothing but small berries that are almost too dry to pick.

           

When we consider siblings, whether animal or human, we see major differences. Though each has similar genetic properties and generally share the same environment and upbringing, some children differ greatly in personality and desire to thrive. Why are some of us content to merely survive each day as it comes, rather than succeed and grow to productive maturity?

           

Perhaps we see ourselves as weak, not strong. Worthless, not smart. Poor, not rich. Wrong attitudes about ourselves can come from wrong teachings. Yet, many people have thrived vigorously in spite of that.

           

King David had little going for him. Being the youngest of many sons, he got stuck with the dirtiest and loneliest job—watching over sheep. He didn’t have much of a financial future, either, since the eldest son became heir to the family’s assets.

           

But David had a strong, personal relationship with the all-powerful Creator-God. He spent hours conversing with God, writing to and about Him, and depending on His faithfulness to keep him safe and healthy. By God’s help, David thrived physically, mentally, and spiritually. He knew he could count on God when needed.

           

That time of need came when he was told to deliver food to his brothers who were helping to fight the Philistine army. David ended up at the front of the battle line facing the giant, Goliath. Puny by the giant’s standards, unable even to walk while dressed in heavy armor, David nonetheless bragged about his God’s power. You no doubt know the rest of the story. David, armed with a mere sling and five stones, killed Goliath, which routed the enemy.

           

The words he spoke to the giant proved that he had thrived. “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand ….” (1 Samuel 17:45-46)

           

Imagine how we can thrive when we place our dependence on God!

           

Lord, You made us to thrive and we realize without You we are as weak as small, dry raspberries. Grace us with the desire and power to produce the best of fruit for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.