The Nail-Scarred Hands That Hold You

The same hands that created the world and hold it in the palms of His hands, also hold you with His holy nail-scarred hands.

Most of us are familiar with the song, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands. 

I’ve always loved the melody and celebrated the powerful lyrics. Because I believe He does indeed hold the world in His hands.

And the Bible confirms this.

“In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.” Psalm 95:4 (ESV)

“My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens.” Isaiah 48:13a (NIV) 

“Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.” Psalm 102:25 (ESV)

And on a more personal level, the Lord’s nail-scarred hands hold us. 

Even if the world seems to stop spinning. Even if dark clouds seem to hijack sunny days. And even if life seems void of another sunrise or sunset. The Son holds the world and me in His hands.

So let’s look at how Jesus’ hands H-O-L-D His people.

H – Helping Hands Hold You

“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” Isaiah 41:13 (ESV)

The Lord cares, protects, and supports us. 

Like a warm hug from a family member or a supporting embrace during hard times from a friend, His nail-scarred hands hold me and you.

We have nothing to fear. Instead, the Lord assures us His helping hands hold onto us. This truth brings me comfort and peace.

10 Wonderful Reasons to Follow Jesus

Have you ever thought about the wonderful reasons to follow Jesus?

Following Jesus has great reward. Sure, we know there are costs. Such as the call to deny our desires and pick up our cross. 

Family and friends may disown us.

Or, we can suffer persecution and ridicule.

Still, let’s not forget the wonderful reasons. And one is the greatest reason of all. I list ten here and save the best for last.

(1.)  Wonderful Reasons: Eternal and Abundant Life

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

(2.)  Reason of Righteousness

“If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.” (1 John 2:29)

We follow Jesus in a foreign culture of unrighteousness. And those who refuse to follow Him have destruction as their end. 

Because “enemies of the cross” make their belly a god and glory in shame. Since their minds are set on earthly things. “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (See Philippians 3:18-20)

Do we desire to follow Christ and His righteousness, Sunday through Saturday, 24/7?

True disciples not only want to follow Jesus, but also follow through by seeking to stay on the path of righteousness.

(3.)  Wonderful Reasons: A Good Shepherd

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

Know Jesus Better With The Whole Bible Devotional

I’m so happy to introduce my writing friend, Melissa McLaughlin. We are in an online Facebook Group together for authors and bloggers. Her writing is heartfelt and all about how to know Jesus better.

By Melissa McLaughlin

The yarn lay in a mess on the floor. Our cats had seized it during their midnight marauding. My scarf-in-progress now drooped in an unraveled heap.

With a deep exhale, I leaned down to pick up the tangled mound. My hands tugged and twisted this way and that. To no avail. I could not unknot the giant yarn blob.

Finally, I found a loose end and pulled gently. Bit by bit, the chaos unwound until I discovered one long, uninterrupted fuzzy thread. Thankfully, I could begin again. Stitch by stitch, my crochet needle knitted. 

With the untangled yarn re-woven and intertwined, the once mottled mass now took on its proper shape. A winter scarf soon warmed and wrapped me close. 

When we look back over our lives, most of us can remember situations that became a disordered wreck. What a relief when things got sorted out.  

Know Jesus Better

At times, reading through the Bible can feel like we are left with too many knots or loose ends. We want to know Jesus more, but how does He fit in all the books of the Bible?

I remember the first time I read through the Bible from beginning to end.

10 Things I Want You to Know About Jesus

I love to talk about Jesus and share important things to know about Jesus.

Because He changes lives.

Jesus transforms people from the inside out.

And Jesus embodies God.

Whether I’m talking to fellow believers or those who don’t know much about Jesus, these 10 things are what I want everyone to know.

(1.) Know About Jesus: He is Love

True Love defined means, Jesus. 

Our lack of love from people never makes the Love of Christ less true. 

Instead, we are loved the way He says we are loved.

Love lays down His life for me (John 15:13); perfect Love drives out my fear (1 John 4:18-19), and He redeems my life from the pit and crowns me with Love (Psalm 103:4).

(2.) Jesus is merciful

Spiritual Vision That Sees God’s Faithfulness

Growing up, my vision was always great, until it wasn’t. Years ago, I lost distance vision from working at a computer for my job. An eye doctor explained how vision we no longer use, we lose.

Our eyes make the adjustment, Oh this is the distance you’re going to see. Now I’m near sighted and have glasses for when I need to see far away. 

Often, the same holds true in spiritual vision. We wish we could see what God’s doing in our life—how He’s working for our good. And like the saying goes, Hindsight is 20/20.

So we lose spiritual vision because we fail to use it, we fail to trust God is God and on His throne.

And we become near sighted, only putting our faith in God when we can actually see His works come to fruition. 

But the people mentioned in the Hall of Faith, Hebrews 11, believed God would fulfill His promises even though many of them never “saw” these promises come to pass. 

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

“Assurance about what we do not see” is the hardest part. 

Maybe I can’t see things at a distance, but my faith eyes can have full assurance in God for on down the road and into the future.

Spiritual Vision Helps Us Trust God

Spiritual hindsight is how I’ve learned to trust God. And it’s always 20/20.

“If you have 20/100 vision, it means that you must be as close as 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see at 100 feet. Having 20/20 vision does not necessarily mean you have perfect vision. 20/20 vision only indicates the sharpness or clarity of vision at a distance.” (Google) 

Even though I’ve lost my vision at a distance, I pray not to lose my spiritual vision at a distance. I want to believe in the Lord’s ability and power and goodness for me.

Because in spiritual hindsight, my faith vision grows to sharper clarity. Since I’m now at a distance where I can see God’s faithfulness through the entire process. 

Spiritual hindsight is 20/20 when we stop and take the time to look back at what God has done and these steps for V-I-S-I-O-N.

God is Higher and Stronger Than Anything I Face

God is higher and stronger than anything I face. 

Yet, I still struggle with this truth—and it is the truth.  

Because when facing huge obstacles, hard circumstances, great loss, and even spiritual warfare, I sometimes falter. 

I remember when my kids were young, now my young grandchildren, and how they rely on their parents and adults to help them face anything. Perhaps moving and going to a new school, making friends, or a medical trauma. 

Likewise, I need reminding how my heavenly Father is higher and stronger in the difficult things I face.

God is Higher: Than Anything I Face

God is higher than people, things, other gods, the enemy, circumstances, and me. Why? Because He is holy. He’s the one true God. The Almighty. God is the only one who saves us. 

He is high and lifted up. And the train of His robe fills the temple (Isaiah 6:1).

“God is holy means there is no trace of evil in his character. Only God is holy.” (The Blue Letter Bible) 

Exodus 15:11 reiterates it, “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” (ESV)

No created being or false god can take on God’s identity. The Great One. The Most High. The Lord remains unequaled in name and in who He is. God Almighty is matchless!

So, look up! 

Find Solid Footing: Stand on Jesus the Rock

The sun beamed with brightness. My heart looked forward to the spectacular view I’d only heard about and seen in photos.

Pretty Place in South Carolina. Not only pretty, but also a place with an outdoor chapel, seating, and a cross for spiritual reflection. Once in the parking lot, we took a walking trail that led to Pretty Place.

But I lost my solid footing on the rocky path. The initial landing so hard I let go of the leash with our pug Winston on the other end—only a puppy at the time.

This sent my husband, Mike, chasing after him while I shouted, Winston, do you want a treat? hoping this would turn him around. No success. 

Finally, Mike grabbed the leash end just before a huge drop off at the overlook we were filming for our YouTube channel. We knew it could have been worse. Winston was fine. But Mike dropped the camera in the chase. And me? The soreness lasted for days.

Still, the trip unfolded as planned. An amazing view of God’s creation mesmerized us. 

Likewise, I’ve lost my solid footing on the path in life. Perhaps you relate. Maybe we stumble in a relationship, as a parent or grandparent, slip up at work on a project, mess up in a life goal or dream, or other. 

Further, we all know as God’s children how we lose our solid footing on our spiritual journey. 

Life often becomes rocky and causes us to stumble. But to find solid footing in this life, stand on the solid Rock. Jesus.

So let’s look at 4 ways we stand on Jesus the R.O.C.K.

R – Rest in Jesus: Solid Footing

Have you ever hiked and needed a break to catch your breath and rest? Often, life’s terrain is strenuous and taxing on our body, mind, and spirit. We need rest, the rest only Jesus provides. 

Loving Jesus Most of All

Loving someone often happens naturally. 

But maintaining loving another person is not that easy. In fact, it takes work.

Love. A small and seemingly simple word. Yet it holds more power than we realize. 

And I’m not an expert on the subject of love. Instead, I held misconceptions about love as a child and young woman.

You see, my father abandoned me for a time, and I never remember the phrase “I love you!” when he came back into my life.

I was grown with my own children the first time my father uttered the words I love you. The conversation’s forever etched in my memory.

Still, as much as I wanted to hear my dad tell me he loved me, I needed to believe it. And I longed for the reassurance he meant it.

You know what? The same holds true today. My husband and other family members can never tell me they love me too many times. And I can never say it enough to them.

Because a continual and intentional assurance of love takes any relationship to a higher and deeper level. Pure and whole-hearted love, in the most powerful form, is a show-and-tell affection.

Loving Jesus 

Though None Go With Me: Move on With Jesus

Though none go with me. Not all people will stand by you…believe in your dreams or calling. Move on with Jesus.

I recently finished a 30-day devotional by a writing friend, Dr. O’Shea Lowery, Lord, Please Help Me: God’s Truth & Light for Dark Times.

And I thoroughly enjoyed each devotion and the practical application to my life. So I’m sharing an excerpt this week from one of the devotions.

Though None Go With Me

“As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, ‘You do not want to go away also, do you?'” John 6:66-67 (NASB 1995)

God is bringing all of His children to their very own personal Promised Land—a place where He has assigned us to work and carry out His kingdom agenda.

…while journeying toward these ordained places, seasons may occur in which we find ourselves traveling alone—not aloof from God but from those to who we wished would have accompanied us. The guestion is, will we allow these moments to halt us in our journeys, or will we continue to follow Jesus?

David was the king of Israel, both blessed and anointed. Yet, on one particular day, David found himself fleeing for his life—not from an enemy or even a stranger but from Absalom, his very own son. David had to leave behind his home, his throne, and all that he loved. (See 2 Samuel 15:13-18)

Shea reminds us how we all experience those times in our lives when people who we trusted and loved rejected and betrayed us. And also times God had to step in and purposefully remove acquaintances from our lives who were unsafe or unhealthy.

Not All People

We experience these hard times. But here are 3 things from Dr. Lowery to remember:

Pray These Scriptures to Thank God

Do I thank God?

Because I’m quick to thank others.

Thank you rolls off my tongue when someone opens the door, a server brings me more water, a compliment comes my way, I receive needed help, and more.

But do we remember to thank God for so many blessings and His presence in our lives?

And sometimes we need reminding to say, “Thank you, God.”

Since I enjoy praying specific Bible verses, I’m sharing 10 Scriptures to pray.

Thank God: Scriptures to Pray

(1.) “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” Psalm 100:4 (ESV)

Prayer: Lord, I bless your holy name. You are matchless and deserve all the glory arnd honor due your name. I praise you, Lord, with thanksgiving for who you are, my God, and for all your wonderful attributes. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(2.) “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1 (ESV)

Prayer: Father, thank you for your goodness to me. You’re a good, good Father. Thank you for your love toward me that lasts forever! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(3.) “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.” Isaiah 12:4b (ESV)

Prayer: Lord, I’m thankful for your wondrous works in my life. Help me exalt your name and share my testimony of salvation and Jesus to everyone who knows me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Thank You, God

(4.) “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV)