"When you don't get a miracle, be one." Nick Vujicic

     Tonight was so uplifting.  It was an incredible time of worship and ministered to my soul.  I had the wonderful opportunity to hear Nick Vujicic preach tonight.  Nick is 29 years old and was born, for no apparent reason, without arms and legs.  As a child he continually prayed that God would give him arms and legs.  He prayed for years and was very discouraged as kids teased him in school.  He soon realized though, "What is the point of being whole on the outside when you are broken on the inside."  He later prayed to receive Christ as his Lord and Savior.

     Nick shared the powerful verses:

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."


Philippians 4:13 - "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."


Philippians 1:6 - "...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

     Nick was very honest about his struggles but he was also passionate about his love for Christ.  At times he questioned God about why he was born without limbs, but he also trusted God.  Nick has an amazing platform because of his physical limitations.  He travels around the world speaking to youth in particular to encourage them to trust in Jesus Christ and trust Him with their future.  He addressed the issue of teasing and bullying and said, "Do you tease people?  If you are, you do not know the love of God because you are teasing God's kid."  I loved that part!
     The phrase he used that stands out the most to me, however, is, "When you don't get a miracle, be one."   We may not fully understand the plans God has made.  We may have to wait awhile for our miracle, but we can be one starting right now.

     I encourage you to visit, www.lifewithoutlimbs.org

May 1, 2012

     I fondly call this school year, "The Year of the Butterfly."  After our class traced, cut, glued and wrote on thousands of butterflies you would think we would take a break, but it continues to blissfully be, "The Year of the Butterfly."
     We have had four caterpillars in our room, watched them build their cocoons, and now have watched the beautiful butterflies emerge.  We set them free yesterday, including the wounded butterfly.  The kids wanted to pray over him and sing, "Fly, little butterfly" as he left us.
     The kindergarten class had about 60 monarch butterflies in their classroom and they were gracious enough to share them with us by putting them in the hallway.
     Today we watched a presentation on YouTube called, "The Beauty of Pollination."  If you love beautiful photography and videography you might want to watch it. (The beauty of pollination
www.youtube.com).  The kids loved it and asked to watch it several times.
     I keep thinking about pollinators and how as believers, and as an advocate for those with disabilities, we are "pollinators" so to speak.  We have the opportunity to share the gospel with those around us and encourage others to minister to our friends with disabilities.  I am watching the children in my classroom continue to share what they have learned about how to be a friend to someone with a disability and I find it inspiring.  Their excitement, compassion, and support is as strong as ever.