Use your hands

A reflection on Matthew 16:21-28

Do you know that there is something very special about your hands? There are 29 bones in each of your hands. Also there are 37 muscles that help your hands to move and pick things up. What is something that you do well with your hands?

Can you think of anything else that is really interesting about your hands?

Your fingerprints are really interesting!

Fingerprints are the tiny ridges, whorls and valley patterns on the tip of each finger. They form from pressure on a baby's tiny, developing fingers in the womb. No two people have been found to have the same fingerprints -- they are totally unique. There's a one in 64 billion chance that your fingerprint will match up exactly with someone else's.

Fingerprints are even more unique than DNA, the genetic material in each of our cells. Although identical twins can share the same DNA -- or at least most of it -- they can't have the same fingerprints.

(Info from article at "How Stuff Works".)

Your fingerprints are unique to you! In our lesson today Jesus tells his disciples to take up their “cross” and follow him. I know it can be hard to understand how we can carry a cross today, but I’d like to suggest that a good way to explain it might be by using the word – fingerprints- in place of cross. Your finger prints are unique and are a part of your hands. Our hands can be tools to serve God and care for people. You, your hands and your fingerprints have a unique way to serve God. So take up your hands and fingerprints – in your own unique way – and follow Jesus!

Prayer - From Last Tuesday's song "Empty" from Resolve...

I give all to make this thing, take it. What You need it. For Your will it's Yours. I won't need it, give it meaning. I give it up, take me make me, something new, I still believe. Still learning to let go..