Hands

My hands will do many things today.
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They will do mundane things like type e-mails and to-do lists.
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They will do more important things like dial phone numbers so I can talk to some of our home-bound members and schedule a time to visit. They will create text messages to families scheduling baptisms, and craft words of comfort for members facing surgeries, family illnesses, and loss. They will type out worship planning notes to prepare for Sunday, and teaching notes to prepare for both middle school and adult classes.
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They will hold the hands of others in prayer. They will embrace children returning from school. They will scratch backs as I sing my children to sleep. They will be a safe place for a spouse.
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For all the things my hands will do today, it is humbling and remarkably freeing to realize that none of the deepest things in today are ultimately dependent on them. If my hands falter, there is Another who holds everything that will happen today.
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In God’s hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. Psalm 95:4
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The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands. Acts 17:24
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Today, as we set ourselves to the tasks we have planned out, may we never be fooled into thinking that today is dependent on the work of our hands. When our plans twist, or turn, or fail...we will be reminded yet again that the God who formed us by his hands holds every moment.
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So today, I begin with open hands...admitting it isn't all about me, and open to receive God's blessing and peace.
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PRAYER:
Creator, not made or dependent upon human hands, how blessed are we that you considered us more than the dust that we are? Father of the universe, how marvelous are the works of your hand; we are awestruck by the limitlessness of your love. Hallelujah! Amen.*
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*Prayer is from the Moravian Daily Texts