God wanted my Ugliness!

I know that God has a sense of Humor....and I know that God can work thru anything that is surrendered to Him.

I am so thankful for the Word of God, and my strong inner desire to believe and obey as much as I know and can. There is a verse in the Bible that all Christians seem to know. I think it is because we ALL understand it, and we ALL need to believe it!

Here is the Verse:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13.

God taught me sign language when I was in 8th grade. I was floundering in who I was and where I wanted to go in life, or even why I was on earth. God gave me purpose and guidance, when HE, (in HIS great wisdom), introduced me to Deaf people.

AND YET....why would a good God give me a talent that openly, publicly displays perhaps the ugliest part of my body! I have short stubby fingers and two thumbs that look like lollipops!

When I was younger, I struggled occasionally with this. I remember asking God if I could wear gloves and be known as the "gloved Interpreter" - ha ha. I think HE laughed with me, as my next thought was how silly it looks for my stubby fingers to wear a glove - they RARELY ever fit! I have extra glove at the end of each fingertip!


When you know that GOD HIMSELF has given you something, it really is not too difficult to surrender to HIM. So thru the years, every opportunity I have, I put my two ugly short stubby fingered hands into the air and sign!

Isn't that true about all of us? Do not we all wonder how God can use US? Who are WE to be of any Kingdom use to an Almighty God? And yet, He loves us, adores us and LONGS for us to yield our body parts to Him.

He takes our offerings and creates something that brings great JOY to others, to the inside of me, and flows sweetly to my Lord and Savior.

Thank you Lord for my life, for Saving me, and for creating me exactly as you have. Forgive me for the times I have complained about my body and mind. I thank YOU for all you have done in my life......and Thank You for my stubby fingered hands. I raise them in YOUR name!

So little, So painful!

Ken and I had planned to take a rather short motorcycle ride this last week to visit with Charlie and Patsy at Anna Maria Island where they were having a family gathering. We were eager to meet Charlie’s 95 year old mom, and also his sister Kathy whom we have prayed so much for in recent times. Patsy’s brother was there too. [Charlie’s sister and Patsy’s brother are married- kinda neat, hey?] So in anticipation of riding only a couple of hours, I thought about my hair issue and made a decision. I put my hair up near the top of my head so when I took it down, it would have ‘body’ instead of flat.

For the first hour, all was fine...but shortly after that my head began to ache. I found myself moving the helmet around in hopes that it would soothe the pain quickly intensifying at the top of my head. I have never wanted Ken to speed before….but I was tempted to tell him to go alittle faster. I was MIGHTY happy when we arrived. Without hesitation, I took off my helmet and took my hair down immediately. There, in my hand, I held the irritant: A small black stretchy hair bob.

They come in a package of about 50 and cost very little. They have a purpose indeed, but to be under a helmet is not one of them. Who would have ever dreamed that little thing could cause such pain.

We are all aware of how much pain sin can cause in our lives and in our families. It doesn’t’ have to be a big one. A wrong look, or an unwise word...can cause alot of pain in a relationship in a marriage, in a family.....or in a church. We all need to be careful with what we THINK, say and do.

A Love Gift from HIS Heart

The first question that most people ask when they learn I am a Deaf Interpreter is: “When and why did you learn sign language?” Most of you know my story, but let me remind you of God’s great mercy.

I am the middle child of two very strong Christian parents. My older brother was overflowing with musical talent that got him lots of attention. My younger sister was just cute-cute…and then there was plain me. I was a Christian, but still had no reason to get up in the morning. There was nothing special or meaningful about my life…not a good place for a Junior High girl. I started to dabble in things that could have led me down a very destructive path. God looked down at this unhappy girl, who was very vulnerable, and gave her a Love Gift from His Heart!

When I was In 8th Grade, we had 8 deaf students come to our School. They sat in class with us, and had no interpreter. Some could lip read, but others struggled. As you know, teachers talk while writing on the board. No deaf person can lip read someone’s back. Something deep inside me stirred when I saw their eyes, their expressions, and knew they were missing information. I started writing down what the teacher was saying ‘to the board’. I also made sure they knew their homework assignments. That gesture of kindness started a friendship between us. I went to their homes and they came to mine. I WANTED to be able to talk to them, REALLY talk to them. AMAZINGLY, I learned sign quickly from them…outside of class of course. I loved them, and they loved me.

Years later, I realized the placement of those deaf students was a LOVE GIFT from God to ME!

That is the ONLY year we went to school together! I really believe God saved my life when HE brought those lovely deaf students to my school that year. He looked down at this vulnerable youth and caused me to fall in love with a beautiful group of people, and equipped me to talk to them!

Later, as I grew more in love with Jesus, HE helped me to understand that Deaf people need Jesus too. Who was going to tell them? I needed to do more than just bring them to Church. God had equipped my hands, and my heart, to share the GOOD NEWS with my deaf friends. There is no greater gift I can offer them, than to offer them JESUS!

Thank YOU Lord!