I had my first manicure the other day. I received a gift certificate from a friend who recently quit her 
full-time job and started her own business. My appointment was back-to-back with another friend, Allison, who had also received a gift certificate. It was going to be a double appointment and a fun time of chatting between three friends.
The night before our appointments, Allison called and together we wondered what to expect. We were clueless since it was a first for both of us. I wonder...
...how people feel as they contemplate taking that first unknown step
toward Jesus; of accepting His gift certificate of salvation and forgiveness
of sin. It must be as much of a mystery for them to contemplate
the life of a believer as it was for Allison and me tocontemplate our first
manicure.
The next day as I drove to my appointment, I was looking forward to spending time with my friends and getting my poor neglected nails professionally done. I had seen many beautiful manicures on different people; perfectly shaped nails, no visible hangnails, no rough edges that scratched others and snagged clothes, and beautiful colors. Not only were my hands riddled with rough edges and hangnails, but I had broken a nail on my index finger a few days earlier. It was ugly and dangerously close to the quick. I had high hopes that Eva could fix all my fingernail woes. I wonder...
...if people realize what high hopes they can have in Jesus? He can fix all our rough edges and our hangnail-type attributes that can "scratch" people unintentionally. Jesus can even fix our brokenness and make us a beautiful sight to behold.
When my friend Allison was finished with her appointment her hands were transformed into totally new creations with layers of deep red nail polish. We "oohed" and "aahed" at the change. Finally, it was my turn and I took my place sitting face-to-face with Eva and my transformation began. I wonder...
...if new believers realize how they are going to be transformed when theyaccept Jesus astheir Lord andSavior.
Eva went to work soaking my hands and clipping my many hangnails. Everything felt amazing except when she started filing the nails; I did not like the way it felt when the emery board scraped against my skin even though Eva was being gentle. But, how else was she going to get rid of those rough edges. I wonder...
...how many believers have made the connection between God filing down our rough edges in order to make us more beautiful Christians. Despite being a little shorter than the others, Eva successfully shaped the broken nail on my index finger; it was worth the discomfort I experienced. Just like Eva fixed my broken nail, God can fix our brokenness. It may be uncomfortable, but sometimes it is necessary. It's good to have experts to file down our rough edges, fix our brokenness, and make us beautiful.
In addition to rough edges and hangnails, I also have permanent ridges on one of my thumbnails. When Eva discovered my strange nail she told me it probably grew like that because of a past injury to the thumb. She offered to give it a temporary fix and, upon receiving my "go ahead," she went to work filling in the ridges with a glue-type material which left the nail looking normal for the first time in years.
Once my nails were properly prepared, Eva covered them with a deep charcoal gray polish. I decided that my first manicure was a resounding success as I gazed upon my transformed hands covered in a gorgeous shade of polish. I rejoice...
...that Jesus did so much for me as my Savior and that He continues doing so much for all believers as our High Priest (Hebrews 3:1-6 and Hebrews 4:14-16). My life has ridges that make me less than perfect, but Jesus fills in those ridges and blesses me with the beautiful covering of His blood. Truly Jesus' work, mercy, grace, and love is a life transforming manicure from heaven for me and every believer who accepts the invaluable gift certificate He has given to all of us. All we need to do is redeem it and seek to sit face-to-face with Jesus.
Eva finished my manicure with a hand and forearm message. As I drove home my hands felt so alive; so invigorated. They were so refreshed and, days later, they still looked great. I praise...
Jesus for making me feel so alive; so invigorated. I thank Him that He refreshes us every day through prayer, His Word, fellowship, and love. I am humbled by the hands of love He extends from heaven to all of His children. Let practical Christianity display the humble hands of a servant, seek refreshment from our Lord, and reach out with His love to those around us.
" May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us--yes, establish the work of our hands" (Psalm 90:17 NIV).
(c)2008 Shona Neff
I had my first manicure the other day. I received a gift certificate from a friend who recently quit her
full-time job and started her own business. My appointment was back-to-back with another friend, Allison, who had also received a gift certificate. It was going to be a double appointment and a fun time of chatting between three friends.
The night before our appointments, Allison called and together we wondered what to expect. We were clueless since it was a first for both of us. I wonder...
toward Jesus; of accepting His gift certificate of salvation and forgiveness
of sin. It must be as much of a mystery for them to contemplate
the life of a believer as it was for Allison and me tocontemplate our first
manicure.
The next day as I drove to my appointment, I was looking forward to spending time with my friends and getting my poor neglected nails professionally done. I had seen many beautiful manicures on different people; perfectly shaped nails, no visible hangnails, no rough edges that scratched others and snagged clothes, and beautiful colors. Not only were my hands riddled with rough edges and hangnails, but I had broken a nail on my index finger a few days earlier. It was ugly and dangerously close to the quick. I had high hopes that Eva could fix all my fingernail woes. I wonder...
When my friend Allison was finished with her appointment her hands were transformed into totally new creations with layers of deep red nail polish. We "oohed" and "aahed" at the change. Finally, it was my turn and I took my place sitting face-to-face with Eva and my transformation began. I wonder...
...if new believers realize how they are going to be transformed when theyaccept Jesus astheir Lord andSavior.
Eva went to work soaking my hands and clipping my many hangnails. Everything felt amazing except when she started filing the nails; I did not like the way it felt when the emery board scraped against my skin even though Eva was being gentle. But, how else was she going to get rid of those rough edges. I wonder...
...how many believers have made the connection between God filing down our rough edges in order to make us more beautiful Christians. Despite being a little shorter than the others, Eva successfully shaped the broken nail on my index finger; it was worth the discomfort I experienced. Just like Eva fixed my broken nail, God can fix our brokenness. It may be uncomfortable, but sometimes it is necessary. It's good to have experts to file down our rough edges, fix our brokenness, and make us beautiful.
In addition to rough edges and hangnails, I also have permanent ridges on one of my thumbnails. When Eva discovered my strange nail she told me it probably grew like that because of a past injury to the thumb. She offered to give it a temporary fix and, upon receiving my "go ahead," she went to work filling in the ridges with a glue-type material which left the nail looking normal for the first time in years.
Once my nails were properly prepared, Eva covered them with a deep charcoal gray polish. I decided that my first manicure was a resounding success as I gazed upon my transformed hands covered in a gorgeous shade of polish. I rejoice...
...that Jesus did so much for me as my Savior and that He continues doing so much for all believers as our High Priest (Hebrews 3:1-6 and Hebrews 4:14-16). My life has ridges that make me less than perfect, but Jesus fills in those ridges and blesses me with the beautiful covering of His blood. Truly Jesus' work, mercy, grace, and love is a life transforming manicure from heaven for me and every believer who accepts the invaluable gift certificate He has given to all of us. All we need to do is redeem it and seek to sit face-to-face with Jesus.
Jesus for making me feel so alive; so invigorated. I thank Him that He refreshes us every day through prayer, His Word, fellowship, and love. I am humbled by the hands of love He extends from heaven to all of His children. Let practical Christianity display the humble hands of a servant, seek refreshment from our Lord, and reach out with His love to those around us.
" May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us--yes, establish the work of our hands" (Psalm 90:17 NIV).
(c)2008 Shona Neff