His Hand Extended

One of the best ways to recognize and count our blessings is to be a blessing to others.

I enjoy volunteering, hands on helping people. When my children were young they would be beside me serving food in soup kitchens, loving young  girls in pregnancy crisis centers, counseling youth…

I believe this helped them to learn to be compassionate. It is also a way to be the hands of Christ.

Jesus said, in Matthew 25:

“For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you [a]brought Me together with yourselves and welcomed and entertained and [b]lodged Me, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me [c]with help and ministering care, I was in prison and you came to see Me. Then the just and upright will answer Him, Lord, when did we see You hungry and gave You food, or thirsty and gave You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger and welcomed and entertained You, or naked and clothed You? And when did we see You sick or in prison and came to visit You? And the King will reply to them, Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least [[d]in the estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it for Me.”

You see, I believe when we are available and willing to be a blessing to others, the blessing is really ours.

No matter how rough life can be, there is always someone out there going through a storm harder than ours. Volunteering really helps keep things in perspective.

I am not suggesting to help others for selfish gain, but I can testify to this… you can NOT out give God.  As a single mom, I know the struggles of trying to provide on my own. There were times I would not eat dinner to be sure there was enough for my daughter. One particular time when I was broke, I mean B.R.O.K.E.! I was worrying, God how am I going to do this? He told me to give. So I did. I gave out of my need. I went through my pantry and anything I had two of I put in a bag and gave it away to a family that was also struggling. I am not telling this to you so I can look good, or so you will think I am such a great woman of faith, I was just trying to be obedient and trusting God. Don’t you know, someone showed up at my door later with groceries for me!

This is how God works. He gets it to us, through us, and then back to us. He is a faithful Father. He is a loving Husband. He provides for His own.

I think sometimes we struggle to see our blessings, because we want what our hands provided. If we work hard, get the paycheck, then we can provide for ourselves. But, don’t you know, even that comes from God.

My challenge to you is this:

Be a blessing to someone today. Even if it is from your own need, even if it is just a couple fish and some bread. Be the hands of Christ and watch what He does.

There are many opportunities out there everyday. Make yourself available for Him to use you. Do it cheerfully.

Let us not forget, it is His goodness that calls us to repentance, so be about His business to a world who needs Him. Be Jesus to someone.

Be Free & Stay Free