Dear Lord, You have always specialized in doing what we humans consider to be impossible. Today I ask that You grant me the grace to set my limitations to the side and be empowered to do something special. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

"Amazing People" May 8, 2012 And great crowds came to Him (Jesus), bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at His feet, and He healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew 15:30-31 Every now and then I come across the story of a person who impresses me. Today's devotion revolves around such an individual. May I tell you about seven-year-old Annie Clark? She goes to Wilson Christian Academy. This year she won a penmanship contest ... and $1,000. The award is especially meaningful since Clark was born without hands. She writes by moving the pencil with her forearms. Pretty impressive, don't you think? Well, this story isn't about Annie Clark. Yes, she is special, but the real special folks who touched me are her parents: Tom and Mary Ellen. The couple has nine children: three biological kids and six who were adopted from China, including Annie. She is one of the four adoptees who have special needs, which affect their hands and arms. Mary Ellen said, "Each time, we weren't looking to adopt a special-needs child, but that is what happened. This was the family God wanted for us." Tom said, Annie is "an amazing little girl. It's a shame because society places so many rules on how people should look, but the minds of these kids are phenomenal." Truly, little Annie is special; but her parents are specialer. Here is a couple whose love of the Lord is so big they find it a blessing to welcome into their family children who have been avoided and shunned by others. Then, having done what others might think is extraordinary, they show the Savior's love by teaching those children that God will do great and wonderful things for and with them. These are the kind of people I wish I was. They are the kind of people who remind me that the Lord Jesus can do great things if we let Him work in us and through us. I mean if the Lord can help Annie Clark win a penmanship contest, what can't He do with all of us?