Warriors Arise: November 29, 2022
Daniel 11:32b (NKJV) but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
As I write this, I am in Chicago. I am excitedly awaiting to head into the processing center for Samaritan's Purse for their Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes. This year is different than the last 7 years.
It is an honor to serve the Lord. It is an honor to join God in what He is already at work doing. This year when I am packing the shoeboxes I will remember some very dear friends of ours. A few weeks ago, some friends of ours, who Scott and I disciples over 10 years ago, sent me a message and a video. Their village had received the shoeboxes packed last year. Their government had held up the boxes for 11 months! But God made a way for them to get their Christmas shoeboxes stuffed with love! What God set in motion could not be stopped. He made a way for 375 children in their Tongan village to receive these boxes. Our dear missionary friends were overwhelmed by the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with these children and their families. They invited them to a ten week gathering where the children are taught of God's amazing love through the gift of His Son as their Savior, Redeemer, and giver of new life. It is real! When you and I fill these boxes and send them out, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is getting spread throughout the earth.
Two new people have come with us today to be apart of this great exploit through this ministry. I was sharing with one of them how our church prepared and sent more boxes than we have in regular attendance. I couldn't be more proud of our fellowship of believers. It is an honor to serve with our fellowship at Bethel Grove Church, as well as our personal friends in Tonga and at the Samaritan's Purse processing center. I am truly overwhelmed and excited. I have no idea why tears are rolling down my cheeks. It seems so little of a task. However, I dream of the children the boxes we process tomorrow will reach. I dream of their siblings, parents and grandparents getting the opportunity to know Jesus and have new opportunities. But the greatest opportunity is to know Jesus and meet them in heaven one day. Can you imagine? If you have given an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox, can you imagine having someone come up to you in heaven and say, "Because you gave me a shoebox, I am here in heaven. Jesus is my Savior and God is my Father. Because of you, I know the Holy Spirit and He led me to a better life. He directed my path and it led me to Jesus."
It became so real when my friends from Tonga sent the pictures and videos of the 375 children receiving their boxes. We get the amazing opportunity to see what God is doing and join Him. Remember how Jesus said, "I only do what I see my Father doing" that is how I feel about preparing a shoebox and volunteering at the processing center. Some think this is too far to go to serve. We drove 4 hours yesterday, we will have an hour drive left in the morning before starting our 8 hour shift. Then we will drive 5 hours home. Can I make time for this? My schedule is completely full and I have to trust God to take care of my business, especially at this time of the month and this time of the year. How can I take a day off from work now?
It isn't just one day but two. I can take them off and do what I see my Father doing, because I love God more than I love myself, my personal dreams. Does that seem arrogant? It isn't meant to be. It is to say that I trust God to take care of my business. Over the last 7 years my parents have served God by taking care of my children who were not old enough to volunteer. By serving me, they served God, the missionaries and children these shoeboxes have gone to. I am grateful for my parents. If they hadn't served me, I wouldn't be able to go.
God works things out for my good. This is not just good; it is VERY GOOD. My heart overflows with thanksgiving for the opportunity to join God in this ministry. I am a part of feeding His sheep, as I pack the boxes. I look forward to seeing the two new volunteers sense the thrill of knowing the impact of what they will have. It would be amazing to give the children the boxes. I had always dreamed of one day doing that, but for now knowing close friends of our's have been able to give 375 boxes this year to the children in their village allows me to live vicariously through them. We are giving this tool to missionaries so they have something to put in the hands of the children, which we pray leads to putting Jesus in their heart. The honor truly is all mine. I will work without complaint and with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for this small opportunity to bless the missionaries who will be delivering these boxes and the message of God's freedom to the children and their families.
Father, it is my honor to serve You. Thank You for the opportunity to join You in ministry. Thank You for trusting me to be a part of Your plan to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the children and their families all over the world. I am in awe of being able to play this small part in Your plan. Thank You for this wonderful opportunity to do this great exploit. One day I would love to volunteer for a week and the entire month at a processing center. But for now, I am thankful You include me in this amazing opportunity to spread the Gospel of freedom through Jesus Christ with each shoebox sent out this year. May Your hand be upon each box and bring in a greater harvest than boxes sent in Jesus name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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