High Point Village - Community of Change

My entire adult life I have loved those who are classified "special needs".  My brother in-law, Johnny, was born non-verbal autistic. I could go on and on about how we ALL have special needs and "they are more normal" than you can imagine.  Sometimes it is only one little chromosome that divides us. Something that is a micrometer, one thousand times smaller than millimeter, something that cannot be seen with the naked eye, something that we have no control over, and THAT can define the rest of our lives & the lives of those who love us!   

Between my familial involvement with Johnny, and volunteering at the happiest place on earth: High Point Village, I would like to tell you about these wonderfully created people with whom you may not be familiar.

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

They are not perfect. Ecc. 7:20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth.

 They get sad, sometimes angry, and they hurt and feel like anyone else.  
Ps. 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

They love with all of their hearts. I Corinthians 14:16 Let all you do be done in love. 

 They do not hold grudges. Eph. 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted.  

Their joy is real joy. Phil. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always!

They have hopes. Romans 12:12 Rejoice in your hopes.

They love to help others.  Phil 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

They have dreams & patience.  Isaiah 40:31 they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.

They make a bad day beautiful.  Ecc. 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time.

They learn. Prov. 1:5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning.

 They have friends. Prov 17:17 A friend loves at all time.

They thrive. Matt 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.

They are real. I Sam 16:13 For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 

They are creative.

They are musical.

They are artistic.
Exodus 35:31-32 And he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs.

They are hysterical!  Prov. 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine.

They speak truth.  (and sometimes that hurts! ha) John 8:32
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!

 They get sad, and sometimes angry.
They hurt and feel just like anyone else.   

They recognize teasing. 

They know meanness. 

Prov. 12:18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 

 They know they're different, but they can't do anything about it and shouldn't want to!

Gen. 1:31 God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.

If you do not have a special needs person in your life, you are missing out!  Go volunteer, visit a business that employees special needs people, get familiar with them on YouTube, get involved!  If you can't, go to websites like High Point Village and donate!  (You can specify what you would like your donation to benefit) 

The parents of these amazing humans worry about what will happen to them when they are gone from this earth.  It is a problem we don't have for our own children, and probably one you have never considered.  High Point is on the cusp of building places for them to worship, live, and work; and it is going to be amazing!  Check out the video below or visit their website:  www.highpointvillage.org  

                                  

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

 Psalm 139:14  "I will praise you, for I am fearfully & wonderfully made: marvelous are your works; and my soul knows well."

 

Have you ever considered why God made all his children “fearfully”?  And what does that mean? The attitude of believers toward God should be respect, reverence or awe rather than fear right?  Well, in the original Hebrew text of the Bible, the word ‘fearfully’ means: awesomely, with great reverence, heart-felt interest and with respect. The word wonderfully means: unique, set apart, and marvelous.  So, the description of God translated from “fear” is literally “awesome”!  Yes, God is awesome but we cannot lose sight of the divine character that compels us to obedience toward Him.  

In this Psalm King David is speaking of how amazing God is and David, if anyone, knew that intimately.  2 Samuel 7 says that David sat before the Lord, in Acts 13 David is called a ‘man after God’s own heart’.   GET THIS:  the formation of man is not of himself, nor of his parents, but of God.  God made us in HIS IMAGE.  Fearfully and Wonderfully.  He sits beside us, stands with us, covers us, and knows us intimately.  Let these verses give you assurance.  At times when you feel like God is far from you, let this great psalm bring a comforting reminder that He is ever present and aware of your problems and needs. 
  Who knows the creation better than The Creator? 

He doesn’t look at us as the world does. He does not see you and me differently than He sees the handicap, the man in jail, the preacher behind a pulpit, the mom, or the absentee father. He sees each person as a version of Himself.  But don’t forget the first words of this verse “I will praise thee because..."  That is tough one for me because I don’t see myself as wonderful, and that is tough on God. 

We (I) should be thankful and honoring to God for the body and life He has given. God does not randomly drop people into this world without regard for their needs and situations. The Bible says that He knows the numbers of hair on our head and He knows that we have real physical needs (Luke 12:7 & Matthew 6:25-34). He made humanity in His image giving each one of us special gifts, talents, obstacles, families, and purposes.  No one is like you, if anything you are most like God.


 Isaiah 44:24 says God formed you and Ephesians 2:10 says God created you as His own masterpiece for a purpose.  So, if that is the case, know God better.  Know God more intimately.  And when you do that, you will get a purpose for all He has made you to be for Him.  The Bible is clear on who God is:

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Exodus 15:11 says He works wonders

Nehemiah 1:5 He is a great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love

Job 37:22 says God is majestic

Psalm 89:7 God is greatly feared & more awesome than all who surround him

Isaiah 6:3 says he is Holy

Ephesians 2:4-5 says God is rich in mercy

I John 4 says he is love

John 3:16 says He is a giver

Jeremiah 10:12 says He is the creator of heaven and earth

Isaiah 59:20 says he is The Redeemer

Psalm 62:8 says he is trustworthy

I could go on and on. But we were all, every human being, made after His image.  Created by His Hand.  Fearfully and wonderfully, uniquely, set apart and marvelous. Miriam Webster Dictionary defines “image” like this: a reproduction or imitation of the form of a person or thing; especially:  an imitation in solid form.  When you look in a mirror you are looking at who God created you to be.

And it is wonderful!

 These are some of my friends from High Point Village in Lubbock Texas
They are not like me, not like one another, but each is like God.