March 2, 2021 – “The Ministry of Hands!”

Grosmom Emilie Brunn Siemens and I sat together while I studied her hands. They were worn, and the blood veins stood out. With a twinkle in her eye, she pinched the skin on the back of one of her hands. I watched as the skin stayed pinched. “Can you do that?” I tried, but my young skin could not ‘hold’ a pinch.

As I grew older, I learned about her raising five children, having lost one at sixteen months, and caring for her husband, a traveling evangelist, who became paralyzed. She was born June 18,1876, in the Ukraine. She came to this country when she was sixteen years old.

Although she spoke Plautt Dietch (Low German), yet she and I understood each other well and enjoyed doing things together in the kitchen, and often sat together. One of my joys was watching her sitting on the front porch, and watched her rock and sing in time to the song she sang, “Shall We Gather at the River?”

Then I noticed all the things my Mother did with her hands. Not only did she make and do things with her hands, she often told me, “I raise flowers so I can take bouquets when I visit old people!” She baked Rogge Brot (Rye Bread), Zweibach (two-story rolls), Plumamoos a prune/raisin pudding, Aya Pei (custard pie), and cinnamon rolls. My favorite was Roll Kuchen to eat with watermelon. At Christmas there were Pfeffernussen (pepper nuts). She made the best chocolate pie with 2 inch meringue. There were Schnetke, a type of biscuit with cinnamon and sugar. She played the piano for weddings, funerals, and church services, and then taught piano, too. Her hands crocheted delicate lace collars and edges around pillowcases, and my brothers’ shirts and my dresses were all made by her. She also made furniture and raised vegetable gardens. She taught Sunday School classes and wrote poetry praising God.

Why did she do all of this? Because Mom loved God and believed in Jesus. Her desire was to serve Him in whatever means she was able.

And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13.

When Jesus was on the earth, He used His Hands for His Ministry. We must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, He spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then He anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So, he went and washed and came back seeing. John 9:4-7.

Jesus was a gatherer of people. He knew how to Love and wants us to know how to love and not be a ‘divider’. Then children were brought to Him that He might lay His hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and went away. Matthew 19:13-15.

How ought we to love? “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.”  John 15:12-14.

Oh, how He loves us, How He loves us all. (David Crowder Lyrics) How can we do any less, but love others our Father God has also created?

When He had washed their feet and put on His outer garments and resumed His place, He said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” John 13:12-15.

Jesus gave us an example of how to love by washing the feet of his disciples. Do we look for places to serve others? God has given us a variety of gifts from the Spirit, and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord.

We serve, not for applause of man, but to show the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (I Corinthians 12:7). The answer is this: If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:1-2.

How can we know how to serve? First, we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit who lives within us, when we believe and trust God. There are many voices in the world that would lead us away from our First Purpose, to love God and others.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:12-13.

How often we forget to guard our heart and our mind from the evil one in the name of entertainment or a world-approved pastime. This scripture the Apostle Paul wrote is almost a test to purify our thinking and attitudes.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:7-9.

Each day we must choose just what our hands find to do, and our mind dwells on.

Of this we can be sure: No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.  I Corinthians 10:13.

Recently I heard these lyrics, written by David Crowder in, “Surely We Can Change.” And all the love in the world, Is right here among us. And hatred too, So we must choose What our hands will do.