Tuesday, September 21, 2010

When You Have Leprosy


Wrapped hands. 'Unclean' proclaimed from your own lips. Pain and despair. Imagine the untouchables. The victims of leprosy clammering for their voices to reach His ears. My Jesus heard. My Jesus hears.

Unwrapping my hands. Bandages of past hurts, mistakes, unkind words spoken. They fall in clumps at His feet. New life where disease of my sin left its mark. Restored. No longer unclean. My Jesus hears.

"And one of them, when he saw he was healed, returned and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks ..." Luke 17:15-16

In the midst of the clamor. The throngs of people reaching out to Him. He touched and healed 10 lepers, setting them free from the bondage of their situation. In utter joy they marveled, and left. Only one returned to say thank you. I will be the one.

To remember to thank my Jesus for all that He has done, given, shared, loved, lived, breathed into my life .... Cultivating a thankful heart as the bandages litter the floor. I invite you to join me today. With a loud voice glorify God and give Him thanks.

I drop my rough pebbles of thankfulness into this pond. A little splash. Join me today in dropping a comment pebble of thanks to Him. Together we can make a ripple.

(pebbles #86-95)

*His song over my life, setting me free to be more than enough
*Hearing His voice above the clamor
*Pictures of my boys that cling to my fridge
*A hubby that models Abba's grace and love with hands of flesh
*Bandages of fear, insecurity, depression, no longer binding my hands
*Dancing, free to worship, twirling in glory
*Seeing in the mirror a reflection fearfully and wonderfully made, knowing it deep
*Friends to encourage, sharpening me, spark by spark
*Desires of my heart bubbling to the surface, matching His call
*Returning to thank, looking up and seeing His smile over my life




holy experience

24 comments:

Kim said...

Beautiful.

Shilo said...

Oh God, make us the One who always comes back!!
We visited a Leprosy hospital here in Paraguay last year. I had no idea it was still such an issue. It certainly made the Scriptures about leprosy more real to me.
Have a blessed day!
Shilo

Unknown said...

Simply beautiful!

God is truly amazing!

Love you,
Jill

-t- said...

Beautiful.

Thank you :)

Keep splashin' His glory!

Jana Endris said...

Hi Sara! Thanks for dropping by my "Home Away from Home" and Splashing His Glory on my day. I'm thanking Him today for "new friends" in the blogging world. Have a Blessed day.
In Him, Jana

Gentleliving7 said...

Thank you for such a beautiful post.
May I always be one to say thank you!
I blogged about thankfulness day before yesterday at my homestead blog. HSB

May the Lord continue to use your words to remind and bless others and may He pour out His mercy, grace and love on you endlessly.

Together We Save said...

Amazing!

Alison said...

Praise God! Really needed to hear this one this morning. Thanks Sara!

Unknown said...

Oh what a beautiful word for today! I needed that reminder - thank you!

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

Love this post! Beautiful
kim

Natalie said...

Oh, Sara, how beautiful! I drop my pebbles of thankfulness, too and join in the voices to glorify God!

livinginbetween said...

It is SO good to be free! Blessings can be enjoyed much more when we're unbound!

Unknown said...

Thank you for your beautiful post. I thought you might appreciate this quote by Dr. Paul Brand, a life-long medical missionary to people affected by leprosy: “More than any other person in the world, the person with leprosy needs to be treated by somebody who will reach out his hand in the name of the Lord Jesus and touch him because, in that personal touch backed by love and affection and devotion and compassion, we are mediating the love of Jesus Christ that this man, isolated by the world, should be welcomed into the fellowship of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

American Leprosy Missions has been leading the global fight against leprosy for more than 100 years and worked closely with Drs. Paul and Margaret Brand for many years. For more information about leprosy and our worldwide ministry to touch, treat and transform the lives of people affected by leprosy and related diseases, please visit www.leprosy.org.

Linda said...

I love this analogy Sara - it is so poignant and fitting.
I am ashamed to admit that so often I pray, He answers and I forget to immediately give thanks. I join my heart with yours, thanking Him for the endless blessings - such grace.

MommyTopics.com said...

Wow... I love your site, and the reason is because I love your heart. I am encouraged in this place.

Thank you for finding me. I have bookmarked you.

Blessings
Rachymommy - MommyTopics.com

Janis Van Keuren said...

What a blessing to be freed of the bindings of fear, depression, and insecurity! And I give thanks with you for a Hubby that brings us Christ's love.

Thank you for stopping by.

Blessings,
Janis

Cheri said...

Being thankful...coming back to say so....beautiful! Love the splashing around...love the freedom to dance! Love being in community with you.

Jodi said...

Thanks for the splash!

Denise said...

Awesome.

The Pastoor Family said...

Thinking of you....<3

Chelsey said...

Thanks for visiting my blog.

And thanks for the reminder that we need to *show* our thankfulness!

Camille said...

How precious to have boys' photos clinging to the fridge and a husband to love you and demonstrate that love each day. May the LORD bless you as you seek to live for HIM day by day!

Blessings,
Camille

Jewels of My Heart said...

What beautiful, powerful, freeing words of truth!
Thank You Jesus!

Christina Parker Brown said...

beautiful, thanks for that!