He Sure Has Mighty Big Hands

In Tulsa, OK are these mammoth “healing” hands located at the entrance of Oral Roberts University. I’ve seen buses of tourists from around the world stopping there to take photos of one of Tulsa's most identifiable landmarks. Though I lived in Tulsa, I became a tourist myself when I took this photo and I found out that those formidable bronze hands stand 60 feet high and weigh 30 tons. Casting done in Juarez, Mexico in 1980, they are the largest bronze sculpture in the world. Those hands still remain a strong model of the power of medical science and God’s supernatural healing power working together to bring restoration to people’s bodies and minds.

Our Heavenly Father really does have mighty big hands. In fact, His hands are so big He holds the whole world in them! How big are God’s hands? God’s hands are big enough to bless us. Jesus often touched people in order to bless them. He does the same for you and me. “The Lord will hold you in His hand for all to see a splendid crown in the hand of God.” (Isaiah 62:3)

God’s hands are scarred to never forget us. In Heaven, the only scars will be on Jesus. God will never forget us because He has a constant reminder in Jesus' nail-scarred hands. The Bible says, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion for the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:15-16).

God’s hands are strong enough to keep us eternally secure. “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish .... My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29) .

When our kids were little, my husband would stand in the water at the edge of the pool and say, “Jump to me. Trust me. I’ve got you!” But, they were afraid. "Is he strong enough to catch me? Are his hands slippery? What happens if he doesn’t catch me?" But, after many promises and much pleading, they would finally get up enough faith and courage to jump into their daddy’s arms, and of course he would catch them. Then they’d want to do it a hundred more times!

Our Heavenly Father is waiting for us to jump today. He’s saying, “Trust me. I can be trusted. I’m working behind the scenes. And I can handle anything you give Me." Don’t we want our life to be in God’s hands? We can trust Him with our lives and our future.

The "Praying Hands" statute reminded me of God’s purpose for my own hands -- to type this blog each day to share His love and light, to touch someone who needs a gesture of love -- but most of all -- for my own praying hands to seek Him with my whole heart -- for it is in my seeking,,,..that I find the perfect, tender and loving hands of God.

And Let the JUDGING Begin

As in every year since I was a little girl, I'll be watching the Miss America Pageant tonight when it is broadcast live on ABC. I still love getting caught up in the pomp of it all -- seeing those young women vying for scholarships, and finding out who will take home the crown of Miss America 2019. I was always starstruck by those beautiful, smart and talented young women. I'd watch and "judge" from my sofa, choose my favorite, and hope she'd be the winner. With great anticipation, I'd hear the names of the runners-up and hope I had "judged" accurately. What an adrenaline rush it was when I was right and heard Bert Parks sing "There she is...Miss America. There she is....your ideal."

In 1995, my husband and I were cheering so loudly for that adorable redhead from Oklahoma who was radiant, poised, articulate, and confident. We never imagined that just a few years later THAT GIRL, Shawntel Smith, would become "the love of our boy's life"! She won our hearts in the 1996 pageant, and soon the love of our hearts forever!

I understand that those young women are scrutinized to the nth degree by the judges who carry such huge responsibilities. They will determine the results which means dreams coming true for many who will receive sizeable scholarships, and of course, the one crowned Miss America.

"Judging" has become a way of life in our world. I thoroughly enjoy watching "reality shows" that offer talent and sports competitions where judges play a huge role in whether or not the competitors win or lose by just the smallest margin. Speaking of judging and being judged, many of us feel judged daily. People can, and will have opinions, but we should never doubt ourselves. We should have absolute faith in who we are and never should we let someone else's "opinion" become our reality. And neither should we judge others. We don't know their reality either. That cranky cashier's world could be falling apart. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." Matthew 7:1

It also may feel like God is judging us, too: He rewards us when we're good and have boatloads of faith, He punishes and disciplines us when we make mistakes. Not at all. God doesn't judge or scrutinize us. He always responds to us in love. What counts to Him is that we come to Him. It's true He rewards those of us who believe and who diligently seek Him. He still loves us even when our faith is weak and we doubt and worry or are afraid. All He asks is for us is to come to Him. He will give Himself to us. No, He doesn't judge us with a scoring system. He is loving and teaching us to be the best we can be -- and He's handing us much more than a crown. In Isaiah 62:3, we read that we ARE a crown...."You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God."

When you're feeling a little disheveled, inadequate and weary from all that is expected of you, just remember WHOSE child you are, and straighten that crown! After all, you are a child of the King!