Sunday, April 10, 2011

ABC Scripture Challenge {Word #8), Hands

Earlier this week, I received an e-mail about an old woman looking at her hands and how they have served her through the years. Then at the end she states how “it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when He leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ.” It really was beautiful and made me think about His hands. So, today I thought we would look at:

Challenge Word #8: Hands

Though God Himself is invisible to us and His hands are unseen, we certainly can see the daily effect that His hands have on our lives. Here are a few words God gave me about His hands as I dwelled on this. I encourage you to look at each scripture in your Bible as I have paraphrased the verses here.

His hands:

Create (Deuteronomy 32:39—He brings to life and no one can release us from His hands.)

Discipline (Hebrews 12:10—He disciplines for our good.)

Give/Provide (1 Chronicles 29:16—Everything comes from His hand and it all belongs to Him.)

Guide (Psalm 25:5—He guides in His truth & teaches us.)

Heal (1 Peter 2:24—By His wounds we are healed.)

Hold (Isaiah 41:13—He holds us and says ‘do not fear.’)

Love (Romans 8:39—Nothing can separate us from His love.)

Mighty (Psalm 118:16—His hand is lifted high and does mighty things.)

Mold (Isaiah 64:8—He is the potter, we are the clay, and we are the work of His hands.)

Protect (Ezra 8:31—His hand is on us and protects us.)

Notice how I did not have the word ‘serve’ on this list. Yes, hands are used to serve; however, He does not use His hands to serve us. Acts 17:24-25 says “He God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything. Rather, He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else." He gives it all to us, and He needs nothing from us. However, we are to use our hands to serve Him. Luke 1:73-75 says “the oath He swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.”

How are you using your hands to serve Him? Can you see the hand of God upon you each day? If yes, will you take a moment to thank God for how His hands are upon your daily—how He saved you, how He guides you, disciplines you, heals you, loves you, protects you, etc.? And if not, will you ask God to show you how His hands are upon you each day?

For my page today, I used two stamps sets from Our Daily Bread Designs--God's Hands and He Will Rise. They were perfect for today's word!
Papers: Webster's Pages Collection Pack (Magical Wishes & A Sweet Life), Paper Trey Ink cs
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs God's Hands, Our Daily Bread Designs He Will Rise
Stamp Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink walnut stain, Memento rich cocoa
Embellishments: May Arts scalloped trim, Kaiser Craft pearls, Spellbinders creative page tabs & lattice rectangles, Rose Moka alpha stickers, Basic Grey Piper chipboard alpha


And today, I leave you with the chorus from one of my favorite hymns:

He Leadeth Me (Chorus)

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
by His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
for by His hand He leadeth me.

I pray that you are His faithful follower, and that you see His mighty hand upon you! As you share your pages, please be sure to use Keyword ABCSCRC11 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of our previous lessons, please visit this post here. Thank you, Father, for your hands that not only created us but give us life eternal and guide each and every day. Have a blessed week!



Photobucket

8 comments:

Debbie Olson said...

This was a blessing, Patter. Thank you for your reminders of things that are truly important!

Anonymous said...

Amen, Sister! This did me much good today. Thank you for the thoughts and thought-provoking questions. I also love what you've done to illustrate and illuminate these truths from scripture. Praise God! --Jennifer in Ohio

Vanessa said...

Patter, what a beautiful post!! Thank you for taking time to meditate on this and convey such wonderful thoughts to us!! ♥
BEAUTIFUL LO, as well!!!!
Hope you have a BLESSED week!!

cabio's craft corner said...

Pretty and elegant card :o)
Hugs,
Cabio

Karen Arthur said...

Great devotional and inspiration to focus on my hands and God's. Your card is lovely too...
Blessings, Karen

Traci S. said...

Oh Patter, What a beautiful picture you have put into my mind. I love that my name is inscribed on His hand...to me that is so amazing! Thank you for sharing the idea in that woman's message to you...so moving! And, thank you for sharing such wonderful Scriptures and concepts with us.

Your page is beautiful. It really is a beautiful reminder...and says so much. I love the stamps you used, and the layout is just wonderful! Thank you for being such a blessing in my life.

He IS Able,
Traci S.

Contest ends Tuesday 8pm!
http://He-IS-Able.blogspot.com

Anne-Marie said...

Thank you Patter for another wonderful devotion.
The day before you posted the challenge , in the car traveling with my husband I was singing along to a cassette of "Our Lives Are In Your Hands" by Chuck Girard which is the song I used in my wedding to walk done the aisle.
So your choice of word was perfect for me.

Nancy said...

Patter...Thank you so much for your wonderful sharing and your beautiful page! The Lord took me in a different direction with my page this time! Isn't it wonderful that He gives us just what we need?! God is so good! :o)

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