No Arms, No Legs, No Worries

Nick VuijicicLife Without LimbsI saw something, or someone rather, interesting at my friend's church this morning. At first I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me as I saw an usher from the church carrying... well, what seemed to be a live human head attached to... well, part of a manakin. I just shook it off. But then I thought it was someone severely handicapped that was a regular at their church and everyone knew who he was. But no one knew who he was. It was a surprise to everyone as this... small man was placed on a table, on stage, in front of the congregation. The pastor began to explain that this small man was Nick, and he was going to share that morning's message with us.I felt a bit uncomfortable. How should I react? This guy, with a nice Australian accent started to joke around a bit about... his condition. He demonstrated how he answers a phone, how far he could kick a ball, and told some... funny stories about people's reactions to him. Everyone was laughing... but I held back. I didn't know if I should laugh or not. Was it really funny? He went on to explain that he was from Australia, born without arms or legs. There was no medical explanation for it. His dad, a pastor, and his mom had a hard time with it at first. He was made fun of in school. At one point during his life, he even wondered what sort of future he could possibly have. He wondered if God truly loved him, how He could let him be born like this. He prayed several times in faith for God to give him arms and legs. It didn't happen. He thought about wanting to be married someday... but how he couldn't hold his wife's hand, or hold his first child. "I love my life" he ended up saying, and not sarcastically at all, but as a part of his personal testimony. He went on to share how God has used him and sees that the way he was made brings glory to God.He told a story about being on a plane. The captain announced that the plane would be delayed about 10 minutes and asked for all the passengers' patience. In that moment God told Nick to preach to the plane of people. He answered quickly in his thoughts, "But the seat belt sign is still lit. I'm not supposed to get out of my seat." Many other excuses flooded his mind, but he got this feeling, if he didn't obey, he would feel guilty later. This thought was not his own, and if he carried it through, it would bring glory to God. Therefore, this was the voice of God. So he stepped over his seat belt, slid off of his seat, walked to the front of the plane, and told the two stewardesses at the front, "I know I'm supposed to be in my seat, but I'm a motivational speaker and was wondering if I could use these next 10 minutes to share about what God's done in my life". One stewardess turned pale... the other was amazed and held a microphone up to him. He obeyed God, and he preached to the people. When he was done, people hugged him. One Jewish lady started talking to him about God. As they got off the plane, a young guy went up to him and said those few minutes changed his life.I still don't know what to think about seeing a man this morning, preaching on a table with no limbs. It still seems... surreal. I do know he was a powerful preacher, and he spoke the truth with boldness. I do know that his attitude to his condition made me realize that I have no excuse to have the attitude I so often have about my life and my circumstances, wanting to give up, being discontented, missing the opportunities to glorify God. One thing he shared that stuck with me about one of his conversations with God when he was younger was, "You are a good God, not because of my experiences, but because of Your faithfulness". How stuck I am on my circumstances so often in life! How I need to hold fast to the faithfulness of God!

yolanda,thank you so much for sharing this. this is really amazing and i can understand why it would seem so surreal. what a testimony this really is. i am sure that it was very touching to hear him speak...so humbling. i will be sure to take a look at the website. amazing...ah, may we never take for granted that which the Lord has given us. may we never complain under such little circumstances and may we always live a thankful life that is obedient to Christ.in Christ's love,arielle

"You are a good God, not because of my experiences, but because of Your faithfulness". Wow! Thank you, Yolanda, for sharing this! It truly humbles me and I can't help but think of how many times I have felt sorry for myself and my circumstances sometimes."You are a good God, not because of my experiences, but because of Your faithfulness". That deserves to be said again, and again and again.....In Him, Chanin

I've been looking at this picture of Nick that I found on the Internet over and over again as I've reread what I wrote to see if I truly... captured my experience. The picture... is not enough to fully convey my experience this morning... but I would hope what I shared has touched you in some way. You haven't been touched yet? Then read these words from Nick Vuijicic found on his website:G’day! My name is Nick Vujicic and I give God the Glory for how He has used my testimony to touch thousands of hearts around the world! I was born without limbs and doctors have no medical explanation for this birth “defect”. As you can imagine, I was faced with many challenges and obstacles, but Praise the Lord He gave me the strength and now have a burning desire to reach out and bring people to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.The greatest impatience we experience in our walk with Christ is unanswered prayers. It feels that God doesn’t care anymore. We all go through storms in life and sometimes we feel so helpless and feel that there is no hope. It’s so hard to understand, with our limited wisdom, why our Loving God would let “bad things” happen in our lives. I thought, “if He loved me that much then why does He let me feel so much pain?” I questioned God’s existence, let alone His Love for me. We doubt the credibility of…Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”Sometimes our pain, suffering, anxiety and depression is so much more real than the promises of God. I share how God turned my life around from a life without limbs to a LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS! God is using me in a mighty way to challenge people to claim the promise of that future and hope. As Proverbs 3:5 says to trust the Lord with all you heart without understanding the circumstances in your life. God is a good God not because of your circumstances, but because God is Faithful and will not leave you!It gives me no greater satisfaction than knowing that my life has a great purpose and can be used to glorify God! My prayer is that you’d be encouraged and challenged to diligently seek the Lord with all your heart and see the great future and hope you have in Christ! May God continue to strengthen and nurture your heart according to His perfect will. Have a wonderful day knowing that God is with you every step of the way!

Oh... okay... you guys are being touched [smile]. Thank you Arielle and Chanin for your comments. I know this will give us all something to think about.

With beautiful irony I consider how far Nick has traveled without legs, and how many people he has touched without arms. Thanks Yodi for this testimony.MC

[smile] You're welcome. It's God who has done the work, bringing glory to himself through Nick, touching my heart this morning, and then continuing to touch other hearts through this post. God surely does work wonders and miracles! He is faithful and worthy to be praised for His goodness.

Hi Yodi...!Thank you so much for sharing the wonderful testimony about Nick!This morning, I listened to the song If You Want Me To by a singer named Ginny Owens. The song meant alot to me when I was going through a difficult time a few years ago. But today, I heard Ginny Owens' testimony concerning how she lost her eyesight as a child. Yet she has accomplished alot since then. She graduated from college, yet she couldn't find a school that would hire her as a teacher. But she didn't let this hold her back. In fact, it opened doors for ministry. If You Want Me Toby Ginny OwensVerse 1:The pathway is broken And The signs are unclear And I don't know the reason why You brought me here But just because You love me the way that You do I'm gonna walk through the valley If You want me to Chorus: Cause I'm not who I was When I took my first step And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet so if all of these trials bring me closer to you Then I will go through the fire If You want me to It may not be the way I would have chosen When you lead me through a world that's not my home But You never said it would be easy You only said I'd never go alone Verse 2:So When the whole world turns against me And I'm all by myself And I can't hear You answer my cries for help I'll remember the suffering Your love put You through And I will go through the valley If You want me to :-)

THanks for posting this, Miss Yolanda.What a powerful testimony.Sure did bless me, and to think I whine at times.God's Blessings to you.Nellie :-)

Nick seems to have a real heart for God. Maybe one day many of us, too, can overcome the flesh for the LORD in our life.Very interesting, thanx.

This testimony is so inspiring. And to think I complain? We have any problems????? I can only try to imagine how he copes with ordinary living...Thanz for sharing...ginnyrose

ccchhhrrriiisssYes, I know that song from Ginny Owens. I've heard it and it's beautiful. I'm even quite sure it's on my iPod.Yesterday when I was listening to Nick preach, I thought of Joni Eareckson Tada. In fact, on Nick's website, there was an ad for a conference this weekend in Pasedena, California where him, Joni and others were going to be sharing, it looked like.SermonIndexiansI'm really glad you all were blessed. If Nick could know, I'm sure he'd be blessed too to know that his testimony doesn't just reach those who get to hear him share, but it touches those who get to read about his testimony online.

wow awesome! great testimony!

With beautiful irony I consider how far Nick has traveled without legs, and how many people he has touched without arms. And how many hearts penetrated...Thank you Yodi, that we might get our perspectives as sharp as Nick's. What an incredible testimony.What a mighty man of God.