{"id":113,"date":"2011-03-14T19:49:03","date_gmt":"2011-03-14T23:49:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.fcslafayette.org\/?p=113"},"modified":"2014-07-21T11:10:03","modified_gmt":"2014-07-21T15:10:03","slug":"whats-in-your-hand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.faithlafayette.org\/school\/whats-in-your-hand\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s In Your Hand?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"In a recent chapel, we were\u00a0challenged with a question that several men in the Bible\u00a0also faced – What’s In Your Hand?<\/p>\n

Obedience<\/h2>\n

God asked Moses, “What’s In Your Hand?”\u00a0 God told Moses to release his staff — to throw it down on the ground.\u00a0You could almost sense the uncertain tension Moses was experiencing because he relied so much on his staff.\u00a0 I challenged our students with this:\u00a0\u00a0You have TEXTBOOKS in\u00a0your hand that represent\u00a0your tool used for doing your job, which is to be a student.<\/strong> What’s In Your Hand?\u00a0 How are you doing in your classes?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sling of Faith<\/h2>\n

“What’s In Your Hand,”David?\u00a0David is getting ready to meet Goliath, and he replaces the armor, helmet, and sword given to him by his fellow countrymen, with his trusty slingshot — and only a slingshot.\u00a0\u00a0There are times in our life that, instead of taking a stand for RIGHTEOUSNESS, we are afraid to stand up against our giants or our temptations.\u00a0 We don’t show faith that\u00a0God’s plan is the best plan for our life.<\/p>\n

Bread and Fish of Hope<\/h2>\n

The Young Boy’s question: “What’s In Your Hand?”\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5,000 plus\u00a0hungry people waiting for a meal and all that can be found is a willing young boy with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.\u00a0 Many times we think that we don’t have much to offer God.\u00a0 We use excuses like, “I’m too shy,” or, “I’m not talented enough,” or, “I’m not popular,” etc.\u00a0 God isn’t really interested in these things.\u00a0 God is more interested in our hearts<\/strong> and whether we are truly\u00a0available and willing to serve others.\u00a0 When we give all that we are to all that He is, wonders happen and the needs of people are met.<\/p>\n

What Do These Scars Represent?<\/h2>\n

Many of us have scars on our body.\u00a0 These scars represent an episode, an emergency, or\u00a0a situation that happened in our lives; things\u00a0that we have not\u00a0forgotten!\u00a0 When we see someone else’s scar, we tend to think, “I wonder what happened?”\u00a0 Those questions take on a different meaning when YOU are responsible for someone else’s scars.\u00a0\u00a0In Jesus’ hands, there are scars from the\u00a0nails that\u00a0pierced him when He was on the cross for our sins<\/strong>.\u00a0 Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do (obey) what I command you.”\u00a0 The nail-scarred hands of Jesus represent His unconditional love for you and me.<\/p>\n

So… What’s In Your Hand Today?<\/h2>\n

Are you holding on to sin & sinful habits of anger, selfishness, gossip, etc.?\u00a0 Are you holding on to a relationship that is not helping you to become more like Christ?\u00a0 Are you gripped by your past and therefore becoming paralyzed to reach out and grow?\u00a0 Are you holding on to excuses?\u00a0 What’s in your hand?<\/p>\n