God Has Hands!

     Do ya’ll remember the song, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”? I sang that song as a child and hummed it a few times as an adult. Catchy little tune, I must say. All the time I sang it I never really gave it much thought. Not the part about God having hands. To be honest, I’ve never really thought about God’s being. He was God, I wasn’t suppose to imagine Him with hands. That would seem too human. To be human would mean that He was like you and I. That would totally reduce God from who He really is! God just couldn’t have hands. Could He?
     MANY years ago, when my husband and I were just dating, his hands are what attracted me the most (strange I know!). The way he gripped the steering wheel while he drove sent a tingle down my spine. He had the kind of hands like someone who has done hard manual labor. His hands even looked like he’d been in a few fights in his life; like he could ‘hold-his-own’ so to speak. He had big, strong hands. I knew those hands would protect me. After we had been married for several years, I had gotten a glimpse of his hands once again gripping the steering wheel. The same feeling came over me. He has lived with chronic pain for so many years but yet those big, strong hands were once again taking care of me.
     That got me to thinking of God’s hands. “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span…?”(Isa 40:12) A span is the distance between the tips of the thumb and little finger. That is usually about 9 inches. But we’re talking about God’s hands. His hands measured the waters, the ocean. That’s pretty big!!
     Isaiah 48:13a> “My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens”. Not only does that describe how big God’s hands are, it also describes strength. Enough strength to hold an entire world! With that being said, God’s hands are real. If He can measure the waters in the hollow of His hand, measure heaven with a span, and lay the foundations of the earth, then you can bet He can take care of us!
     Even though my husband’s hands are big and strong, they are weak compared to God’s hands. They can’t even come close to His. In my husband’s hands I feel protected, I feel safe. Yet to a degree his hands are somewhat limited. God’s are not. There is nothing to big for God to hold in His hands. When my faith feels torn and tattered, I am learning to remember that God has me in His hands. He has whatever I am facing in His hands. Isn’t that comforting? Yes indeed, God has hands!!
In awe of Him,
~Vonda

Looking For the Living Among the Dead

Luke 24:5-6 > In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee:"

     How we pray is important. I have recently been reminded of that. I have found myself praying like it's something I can check off my list. "Yep, I prayed today!" Chances are I said, "Lord, IF it's Your will." There's a little difference for me to throw "if" in there instead of just flat saying, "Lord, Your will be done." It's my "safe" prayer.
     I had prayed my safe prayer for so long that I didn't realize I was doing it. I had mentally placed a living God among the dead. I certainly wasn't expecting much from Him. I was treating Him as if He were still in the grave. My prayers had become rehearsed. Night after night there just didn't seem to be much of a difference in them. Because I didn't expect much from God, I didn't get much. I was treating Him like someone you would ask a favor from. Not like the powerful God that He was; that He is. The sad thing is, I really had no clue that is what I was doing.
     One night I was laying in bed and it was as if the Lord whispered in my ear, "Do you believe that I can?" It took my breath. I knew what He was talking about. I hadn't said anything nor had I thought anything. But somehow I knew what He meant. The true test...did I believe that this living God was alive? Risen? A grave conqueror? Or did I simply believe He was living among the dead?
     The next word the angel spoke after announcing that Jesus had risen was "Remember". Had I forgotten? Somehow I had. I had forgotten what kind of power it took to suddenly have life breathed into a corpse!! I had forgotten what kind of power it took to walk out of a grave without ever moving a stone!! But that precious night lying in my bed... I had remembered!!!!!
     What have you been afraid to ask God for? Do you believe He can? Or have you somehow left Him in the grave among the dead? Remember...He's not there!!!! He is risen!!!!! Just remember.....

In awe of Him,
~Vonda

Oh Lord Jesus I cannot contain the joy I feel at this very moment! It was with such great and majestic power that life breathed back into a body that was once dead! Nothing could stop Your plan! Lord help us to not set limits on what You can or cannot do. Help us to remember that You are no longer among the dead, that You are truly risen! If death could not stop You then there is absolutely nothing that can! Oh how we praise you Lord! It is in the living and breathing name of Jesus that we pray ~ Amen.