Living Among the Least of These

THE HANDS AND FEET OF

JESUS!!!

Truly being the hands and feet of Jesus will take sacrifice, but when the spirit moves in your heart, he truly moves. The sacrifice we make to be the hands and feet of our Lord is nothing in comparison for what God did for us; He sacrificed His ONLY son! It is through this sacrifice that I can model my life after. God gave His sacrifice willingly, no questions asked or strings attached. The gift of salvation came at no cost to us, absolutely no cost! Why wouldn't one want to honor the Lord and Maker?

I have always felt myself to be one who is willing to do anything for others, absolutely anything, especially if God lays it upon my heart, the heart in which His Son lives. I don't want to think of Jesus residing in my heart with all of these "moments" just surrounding Him and me doing nothing but letting them collect cobwebs in the depths of my heart. No. I don't. Oh yes, I am one who will do for others, God wired the very nature of me to have that heart; but, I feel God is calling me to take that wiring one step further - to live 100% sold out for Christ, completely, doing His will.

I love nothing more than to see the smile on someones face, or the little voice of a child saying "thank you". It is the precious infants I get to comfort and love in the nursery; and the wonderful 6th grade young ladies that God entrusted in my care to shepherd for His kingdom. Even my teenager, my personal life blessing...I love to be part of her life, during the trials and the good times. Who am I but a woman God has truly blessed in more ways imaginable; how can I NOT desire to live totally for Him? I would be crazy not to.

Before last night, I knew very little about the group Hillsong United, knew only what my girl would tell me and I had heard perhaps a handful of their songs. I was blessed by a friend with 3 free tickets to Hillsong's concert (and this was on the heels of a very bad day I had been having). Truly, I went thinking yes, I will enjoy the concert, but it is really more for Amanda. God sure has a funny way of showing up and saying yea right. What did this concert do for me personally? I will tell you.

Have you ever held the hand of one of God's little princesses? I did. Last night. It's true. Emily is a true blessing to my life, my daughter's friend, my friend's daughter, and yes God's princess! She suffers from a horrible disease - Batten Disease - that has robbed her of her sight, limited her mobility, stole the once beautiful voice so angelic right from her vocal cords, and has caused seizures and dementia...all by the age of 13!! 13! Same age as my girl. But, one thing I learned more in depth last night was this....She is still the sweet Emily my Amanda and I love yes, but I fell in love with her a little bit more last night. How? Why? Simple. She held my hand and allowed me to be the hands and feet of Jesus.


*Amanda & Emily



Have you ever witnessed your child so sold out for Jesus? I did. Last night. It's true. Amanda, my teenager, the one who makes me inspect for gray hairs, yet the one whom I could not doubt her love for me and my love for her. To see the Spirit move in her last night was a m a z i n g! Did I say it was amazing!? Wow. My girl. Worshiping her Jesus, unashamed, and in a place all her own with Him. I witnessed my daughter like I have never seen her before. A young lady wrought with multiple medical issues; one who truly never asks "why me". Oh no, she is just the most amazingly strong young lady I have the pleasure of raising for God. Despite her stomach bothering her last night, do you know what she did? praised with all her heart and soul. She gave it all to her King. She is truly the daughter of the King!



*For God's Glory


Have you witnessed your child living out being the hands and feet of Jesus? I did. Last night. It's true. Amanda is a lot like me, wants to do things for others. Emily has been Amanda's friend for years! They are the same age, with birthdays only 3 days apart. Amanda was prepared before last night's concert that Emily would not be the "same" Emily she has always known. Did this phase Amanda? absolutely not. Did this phase Emily? Um, no. These girls picked up right where they left off as if no time had elapsed. So where did I witness Amanda being the hands and feet of Jesus? When Emily refused to leave the venue without waiting for Amanda. She wanted Amanda to push her in the wheelchair. Amanda pushed that wheelchair with all the strength within her (which I know was given to her by God) and when Emily became distraught because she could not find her dolls, Amanda found them for Emily; Emily smiled. And the continued on their way down the corridor.


*Unconditional Love


Have you ever experienced God show up and move your heart in a way you didn't think possible? I did. Last night. It's true. When one of the singers spoke, it was as if God was speaking directly to this sinner's heart - my heart. Yes, I am still a sinner, but I am forgiven. When the singer was speaking, I was holding sweet Emily's hand and stealing some glances at this precious child. At the same time, God was catching the tears from my eyes as they fell, each and every last one of them. None of the tears went any further than right into the palm of my Savior's scarred hand. What happened to my heart right then is something I could not adequately explain, but then God doesn't always allow us to see 100% what something means (that is where faith steps in). God moved my heart, one glance at Emily and God said to me, here is your calling...serve me. God truly knows my love for the disabled, the ones most will pass by. He confirmed in my heart that I am in school for His calling. Yes, I failed in school for the first time, but God did not fail. I truly believe He has put me in school for such a time as this...to completely be His hands and feet. I don't know where His calling will ultimately lead me, but I do know that He will go with me every step of the way...pass or fail. My God will never fail me.




To the man on the street today, I pray God nourishes your body with the food He gave you through me and I pray that God will nourish your soul to see Him. My life has been transformed completely when I wasn't expecting it. Who would have thought! getting a cup of coffee then standing face-to-face with a homeless man would draw those same tears from my eyes that God caught one by one last night??


I feel being at the concert last night was no accident. Oh no. I was there to have God reveal completely to me my calling. I want to follow His calling and will do so one step at a time with Him by my side, walking hand in hand, carried in His arms...that's what I desire.


It is time to take The Stand!


Thank you God.
Thank you Hillsong.
Thank you Emily and Amanda, too.
Thank you sweet babies in the nursery.
Thank you most awesome 6th grade young ladies and their families.
Thank you love of my life.
Thank you Daddy (and my daddy you blessed my life with here on this earth).

This is a life changed, transformed; one that will still stumble and fall, but one who has a renewed sense of joy in the love of My Lord.