Our Easter Service Speaker...Finding Hope and Purpose

"I once felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes... until I met a man that had no feet."

Maybe you've heard this quote before. I know I had. But this past Easter service, the meaning became more real.


This past weekend, our church had a special speaker for Easter, named Nick Vujicic. He was from Australia...and had the charming "down under" accent, a gorgeous face and a fantastic sense of humor. Oh... and he just happened to have been born with no arms or legs.

We knew he was going to be there. The previous weeks, they had shown a short film about him...how he got up in the morning, shaved, used the computer...and how he preaches to thousands in Indonesia, Africa, and many countries all over the world where most Christian messages wouldn't even be allowed.

He has one little half-foot on the end of his body (which he jokingly called a little chicken foot) and is able to sort of "walk" around. And it's by this, he can move a computer mouse around and even type 45 words per minute.

So, Easter morning we were prepared. but what what we weren't prepared for was the was that God had poured such complete love and joy into his life, and it radiated out of him with incredible brightness.

He put everyone at ease, by his incredible humor...He stood on a bench the entire time, and at the beginning, he had a little boy volunteer come up so he could show how he was able to kick a ball to him. He kept teasing us all...."I need to go just a little further back..." as he edged back towards the end of the bench. "Just a little further back... a little further..." He would throw us a twinkly smile and the congregation was laughing so nervously as he got to the very edge.
A short time later, he said he could do a back flip off of the bench..."Ready?" he asks with his Australian accent. We all laugh and shake our heads no...but he acts like he's about to take flight.
Then, "Not really! Are you kidding? I could break an arm or something!"

Giving out "Hugs"


All of this was to put us all at ease before he gave his real message. He spoke of a time in his growing up years when he wasn't always so joyful. He did feel sorry for himself, as would be so completely natural. He longed to have a "normal" life...not to just to do the normal things like we all take for granted, but he also longed to someday get married and have a family. But he could never hold his wife's hand...nor hug his children.

As a child, he prayed that God would miraculously grow him legs and arms. And yes...God could do that! But this time, He gave him something else instead. Incredible, miraculous joy, despite his circumstances.
And because of his circumstances, God is able to use him in ways that a "normal" man could never be used.
Countries that ban the Gospel are letting him preach because he brings such hope. And he's helping to instill God's hope into individuals that perhaps felt despair in their own circumstances.

He still believes that God has someone special for him to marry. He's only 24 (but with the maturity of someone so much older)...and as he said,
"I many never be able to hold my wife's hand. But I can hold her heart."
He said a great many other things about God Himself...and how much He loves each of us and wants to give us peace and joy, no matter what our circumstances.

At the end of his message, so many people came forward to accept Jesus as their Savior.

I don't think any of us who were there will ever forget him. The phenomenal spirit of determination as well as joy which spills over were gifts that could only come from the Lord...proof that miracles can take place in our hearts and souls, as well as physically.

And proof that He can use any of one of us- there are no limitations.


Go visit his website here...you won't be sorry!