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.

Planting Seeds of Faith

Day 211 of Photo Inspirations -- Planting Seeds of Faith
My daughter went home yesterday, but left behind my sweet package of love, Alexia Wallace​.  I love these "Nana & Lexi" alone times together.

Reflecting on a sweet encounter we had Saturday, I knew this should be today's photo inspiration.  Lexi asked to go to the ORU Campus.and have photos taken at the Praying Hands.  While we were there, a man and woman drove up to look for a clue in a treasure hunt they were on.  We asked if he'd take our photo and he graciously did.  He asked if we were vision casting, and we told him we always plant "faith" seeds in prayer and visions for "what could be" into our children.  He proceeded to tell us that he and his wife had been pastors in Las Cruces, New Mexico for many years and had just recently moved here to be near their daughters.  All three girls had attended ORU, met their husbands there, and now, their youngest is going to be teaching there this year.  We loved his story.

We drove on through the campus and, Lexi saw some geese and wanted to get out and take photos of them.  So we sat in in the car while she pursued the "geese" for her photos. The man and woman, from our earlier photo opt at the Praying Hands, drove through the campus to find us.  The wife wanted to tell us more.  She felt strongly about what we were doing with Lexi. She proceeded to tell us how much they believed in prayer and believing and trusting God for what seems impossible.   Being pastors with a limited income, they needed funds to send all three girls to ORU and they had cast vision for them when they were very young.  So much so, that they brought them to the Praying Hands and, as a family, joined together, held hands, and prayed that they would ALL be able to attend there.  This precious woman was in tears as she shared her story with us.  While two of their daughters attended ORU, the 3rd daughter had a "miracle" faith story.  A man who didn't even know this family spoke to these parents when their 3rd daughter was only 12-years old and told them not to be concerned -- that she WOULD ALSO attend and they would not have to pay a cent for it themselves. A few days later, the family attended an event at ORU.  At the concert everyone was invited to write their names on offering envelopes if they were interested in attending ORU. A drawing would take place for a scholarship.  The young 12-year old daughter put her name on the envelope, and, yes, it was her name that was drawn.  Later, not only was she able to attend ORU because of that unlimited, full-ride scholarship, she met her future husband there, they graduated and married, and is now returning to ORU to teach this year.

Was it just  a coincidence that we arrived at the Praying Hands the same time that this couple did?  Or was it a divine appointment that they were there -- on assignment, as voices from heaven to encourage us with Lexi's future?   I love the scripture on the base of the Praying Hands:   "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man."  Luke 2:52.  I pray that prayer over all of my grandchildren.  

This post isn't about attending ORU, but I like to think that I'm passing along this story today for some of you who may have what seems to be some impossible dreams for yourselves and/or your children.  As this family cast vision and prayed in absolute faith for their children, and those prayers were answered exceedingly abundantly far above all they could have asked or thought, don't we have the same favor of God?  Do we trust in His unlimited resources and live a life that is so focused on Him -- that we can also say "NOTHING is impossible with God"?  Why NOT us?  Why NOT our family and our kids?  It's simply a matter of PLANTING those seeds.....and watching for the harvest to come up some day!

"The Healing Hands"

Day 39 of Photo Inspirations -- The Praying Hands
On my quest for a photo inspiration for each day this year, I do my best to stay in the moment when I'm out and about.  I want to be sure I don't miss those special little messages from God. I was headed to Wal Mart with an intended purpose, but when I looked to my left, there were those enormous "healing hands" at the entrance of Oral Roberts University.  How many times have I passed those skyscraper hands, seen buses of tourists from around the world stopped there to take photos of one of Tulsa's most identifiable landmarks -- and I NEVER took a photo of them myself?   But, this day, my in-the-moment assignment beckoned me to do a U-turn and get out and take a photo of those "big boys".

I became a tourist myself.  I took this photo and I found out that those formidable bronze hands stand 60 feet high and weigh 30 tons.  They are the largest bronze sculpture in the world.  The casting was done in Juarez, Mexico in 1980.

The hands were originally called "The Healing Hands" and they stood in front of the "City of Faith," a medical center dedicated to merging God’s healing streams of prayer and medicine in one place. For many years, patients were able to come to Tulsa to receive care from Christian doctors and nurses. And although the City of Faith closed in 1990 and they were moved to their present location, these bronze 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.

I love that.  It reminds me of our visit to the Sistine Chapel in Rome and being so inspired by Michelangelo's painting in the ceiling "The Creation of Adam" -- the finger of God touching the finger of man.  God touching man -- man touching God.  God and man merging to accomplish His plans and purposes.  Isn't that what He intended from the beginning -- that we would be His hands on earth -- reaching out and touching our world?   This beautiful "Praying Hands" statute reminded me of His purpose for my own hands -- to type these messages 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.
#PrayingHands #ORU #HisHandsTouching