*overcoming*
well for the sake of rhiana, i need to write something today... she's in good ol' townsville, australia, halfway through her dts and about to set off on a most amazing journey to experience firsthand God at work. i know how prescious computer time is on dts, and since she said she'll be checking everyday, i cannot disappoint!
today i had to go into a school as a guest presenter on disability awareness. this school was holding an assembly to present a painting done by a chinese man without arms. yes, you read that correctly: without arms. how did he paint? you ask. you see, he had developed a special head device that allowed him to maneuver a paintbrush just as masterfully as any other able-bodied artist. as i was doing my research on people with disabilities, i found some interesting names attached to different disabilities - some i knew of, some i didn't.
dyslexia: tom cruise, albert einstein, alexander graham bell, thomas edison, winston churchill, walt disney
lou gherig's disease: stephen hawking (the mastermind behind the big bang theory)
deafness: beethoven
adhd: robin williams, 'magic' johnson
of course, there were many more i could list, but already this short one shows that adversity does not equal inability. adversity does not necessarily disable. it is our perspective and our attitude that disables. that there are people with seemingly disabling odds against them could reach such achievements as these people have tells me that the One who created them also equipped them with access to an infinite source of ability. what an incredibly gracious God that He would enable such people to achieve such things. i'm not saying that all these people are faithful, spirit-filled christians, but as far as i'm concerned they are still all creations of the Creator, the beloveds of the Author of love. some people look at war and famine and disease and say how can there be a god? i look at people like these and say how can there NOT be a God?? imagine what these people could be if they WERE faithful, spirit-filled christians!
this past sunday, my church was talking about failure, and overcoming our past failures to achieve what God has set out for us, if only we would listen! i do not believe there is anyone on earth who cannot live an incredible, miraculous life, if only they are willing to listen, truly listen, to the Almighty. do you want that Life? then you must do this.
i have known what it is to be in need, and i know what it is to have plenty. i have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. i can do EVERYTHING through him who gives me strength. ~ philippians 4:12-13
well for the sake of rhiana, i need to write something today... she's in good ol' townsville, australia, halfway through her dts and about to set off on a most amazing journey to experience firsthand God at work. i know how prescious computer time is on dts, and since she said she'll be checking everyday, i cannot disappoint!
today i had to go into a school as a guest presenter on disability awareness. this school was holding an assembly to present a painting done by a chinese man without arms. yes, you read that correctly: without arms. how did he paint? you ask. you see, he had developed a special head device that allowed him to maneuver a paintbrush just as masterfully as any other able-bodied artist. as i was doing my research on people with disabilities, i found some interesting names attached to different disabilities - some i knew of, some i didn't.
dyslexia: tom cruise, albert einstein, alexander graham bell, thomas edison, winston churchill, walt disney
lou gherig's disease: stephen hawking (the mastermind behind the big bang theory)
deafness: beethoven
adhd: robin williams, 'magic' johnson
of course, there were many more i could list, but already this short one shows that adversity does not equal inability. adversity does not necessarily disable. it is our perspective and our attitude that disables. that there are people with seemingly disabling odds against them could reach such achievements as these people have tells me that the One who created them also equipped them with access to an infinite source of ability. what an incredibly gracious God that He would enable such people to achieve such things. i'm not saying that all these people are faithful, spirit-filled christians, but as far as i'm concerned they are still all creations of the Creator, the beloveds of the Author of love. some people look at war and famine and disease and say how can there be a god? i look at people like these and say how can there NOT be a God?? imagine what these people could be if they WERE faithful, spirit-filled christians!
this past sunday, my church was talking about failure, and overcoming our past failures to achieve what God has set out for us, if only we would listen! i do not believe there is anyone on earth who cannot live an incredible, miraculous life, if only they are willing to listen, truly listen, to the Almighty. do you want that Life? then you must do this.
i have known what it is to be in need, and i know what it is to have plenty. i have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. i can do EVERYTHING through him who gives me strength. ~ philippians 4:12-13
posted by jana* at 4:51 PM
