Elevate Your Day with Andi and Brian Hale

Find Your People Day 1 of 5

By Jennie Allen
Read by Andi and Brian Hale
Loneliness. Do you feel it too? That sinking feeling that you aren’t seen, you aren’t known, and you are on your own to face whatever difficult thing life is throwing at you. Do you ever wonder if maybe you’re the only person who feels this alone? You aren’t, by the way.
You aren’t alone in feeling alone.
I struggle with loneliness more than I like to admit. I’m not good at being needy. I’m needy, just not good at admitting it. And that has consistently damaged my relationships.
I’ve hurt people.
They’ve hurt me.
I have failed my friends. Some have forgiven me, and some have walked away. While I’m doing better than I used to, I’m far from perfect in this area. And yet I’m going to keep working at it. Because the more I look into the why of our neediness and the problem of our loneliness, the more convinced I am that at our core we are made to be fully known and fully loved. Loved and known regularly and over time by family members, close friends, mentors, coworkers. God built us for deep connection to be part of our day-in, day-out lives, not just once in a while in the presence of a paid therapist.
In fact, God existed in a relationship with Himself before any of us were here. It’s called the Trinity. God is one, and God is three.
Scripture says that the Son exists to glorify the Father and that the Father exists to glorify the Son. It says that the Spirit exists to glorify them both. (See John 16-17.) What that means is that they help each other, they promote each other, they serve each other, and they love each other. What’s more, this exchange has been going on for all eternity.
It means that our God has been relational forever. It means that He created us out of a relationship for a relationship—and not a relationship that is surface level or self-seeking. No, the relationship He has in mind for us is a sacrificial, intimate, moment-by-moment connection.
Relational. It’s who we are because it’s who God is.
God, I need You! And I need others around me. You created me for You and You created me for relationships. What connections are you calling me to today? Amen.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
GENESIS 1:1‭-‬2
And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
JOHN 17:5
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
COLOSSIANS 1:15‭-‬17

Hands and Feet Day 5 of 5

From Be the Hand and Feet by Nick Vujicic
Who did you bring with you?
Read by Andi and Brian Hale
I have this recurring dream that one day I will be standing before God, and He will ask me two questions. 
The first: “Do you know Me?”
The second: “Who did you bring with you? 
I think the first question is asked to establish a Christian identity. The second is to see if I’ve done what is the primary mission of all Christians on earth. 
‬‬ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
‭‭MATTHEW‬ ‭28:18‭-‬19‬ ‭ESV
In Matthew 28, the resurrected Jesus stood on a mountain in Galilee and commanded His followers to go forth and baptize all nations in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He also told us in Mark 16:15 to go into the world and proclaim the gospel to all of creation.
This direction from Jesus Christ, our risen Savior, is known as the Great Commission. I’ve made it my mission, and I encourage every Christian I meet and every church I visit to keep it as a central purpose each and every day. 
God’s not interested in numbers. He’s interested in souls. I believe our primary mission as Christians shouldn’t be to build the biggest churches and pack them with believers. Our goal is to reach the lost, the nonbelievers, and those who haven’t yet heard the good news. 
Nonbelievers are not coming to church, so we must go after them. We have to provide them with the information, motivation, and inspiration each step of the way. We can’t just lure them in and then expect them to stay engaged. We must give them all the support and encouragement necessary to build a solid and lasting foundation of faith. We must help them stay on the path throughout their lives.
We need to give the Holy Spirit a chance to guide us. We are instruments in His hands. Instead of focusing on our differences, we need to unite on common ground. Jesus saved us. He is Lord. There are lost people out there. We need to join forces as Christians and find ways to reach out to those lost souls and save them. We must go out to the four corners of the world and make disciples of them all. 
What is your church doing to make disciples? How would Nick’s call to live out the Great Commission change your day-to-day thoughts, words, and actions?

Hands and Feet Day 4 of 5

From Be the Hands and Feet by Nick Vujicic
A Mission to Love
Read by Andi and Brian Hale
Sometimes nonbelievers are experienced at debating. They want to test the authenticity of your beliefs. For natural opportunities to tell others about Jesus, you have to be prepared and knowledgeable on some level.
At the same time, don’t be fooled into thinking that God cannot use you even if you lack understanding of all aspects in the faith. When we first find Jesus in our lives, we get fired-up to tell everyone. That fire sometimes fades if we feel the need to be perfect and all-knowing of Scripture before we can share. 
My cousin Daniel and I have had many conversations about faith. He is one of the most knowledgeable, intelligent, and real people I know. And he always will tell you what he thinks. Some people debate because they like the debate. I don’t believe that’s Daniel’s reasoning. He thinks logically and asks why God doesn’t always show up at times we think He would, such as to alleviate famine and suffering. 
Daniel always brings up some fantastic points. We enjoy talking even when it gets heated. Our conversations always end in a hug and European cousin kisses on the cheek.
Daniel’s brother has told me that the fact that God didn’t give me limbs is one reason my family has doubts about God’s goodness. My cousin can’t accept that a loving God would “leave” me, His devoted follower, without arms and legs.
‬‬ I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
‭‭JOHN‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭ESV
I’ve tried to explain that the Bible clearly shows that pain, sickness, disabilities, suffering, and death came in after sin was instigated by Satan himself. Our broken pieces, hurts, and shame can be turned to good by God the Redeemer. God often uses those things that once seemed terrible to help others see the true hope, joy, love, and peace we can have through Him, even amid the storms. 
My mission is not to convert Daniel or anyone else. Instead, my mission is to love him and everyone as I encourage them to begin walking with Jesus. It’s not about failing Daniel; it’s actually about failing my heavenly Father when He says speak and I don’t. God’s love doesn’t change. All I want to do is serve Him and see others set free to find their true purpose, path, and freedom. 
Who is one person in your life right now who needs to know about Jesus? How could you bring up conversation with him or her?
 

Hands and Feet Day 3 of 5

From Be the Hands and Feet by Nick Vujicic
Read by Andi and Brian Hale
Inspiring others to become Christians requires reaching out and motivating people to think about the importance of God in their lives, but you have to be prayerfully wise about your communication. You have to adjust your approach to each individual because we all have different personalities and experiences.
Too many people have been put off by overzealous Christians who probably had good intentions but reached out with poorly conceived strategies. They may have come across as pushy or more concerned about their agendas than the feelings and beliefs of those they approached. 
Others are praying for a revival. But as they are praying and waiting, they forget to do the basic thing God has asked of us—to tell others that He lives. We say, “God move.” God says, “I will move through you when you move.” I personally just want to fulfill the mandate to preach the gospel and see people come to Jesus, start an active relationship with Him, and become true followers of Him. 
I believe all Christians have a responsibility to share their faith and bring others to Christ. His followers are, after all, “fishers” of men and women. We can’t just be passengers in the boat. We need to cast our lines, because there is an ocean of people out there who need the redemptive power of God’s love. 
‬‬ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
‭‭PHILIPPIANS‬ ‭4:13‬ ‭ESV
When I told my Dad that I was writing a book called Be the Hands and Feet, he said, “People think evangelism is complicated, but it’s not complicated to evangelize at all. We should be ready to share our faith at any time, and it comes down to sitting someone down face to face and just being real. Tell them what does Jesus mean to you? How did your life change after meeting Jesus? Being a believer will show also with how one lives.” 
Followers of Jesus need to be more than good and kind. We need to have powerful messages to share. My prayer is that you will find your own way to do that in a manner that best suits you and best serves our heavenly Father. 
Have you ever been turned off by someone trying to “evangelize” you? What was it that didn’t resonate with you? What can you learn from that about how you share your faith?
 

Hands and Feet Day 2 of 5

From Be the Hands and Feet by Nick Vujicic
Read by Andi and Brian Hale
My natural progression into serving as the hands and feet of Jesus included some early “walking around” Christianity—with a dog. Starting when I was seventeen years old, I would go out in my wheelchair to take our dog for a walk and strike up conversations with almost everyone I met. I don’t know whether it was the cuteness of our dog, Seth (a Jack Russell King Charles Cavalier mix terrier), or just me, but there always seemed to be plenty of folks who’d talk or converse while walking alongside us. 
We’d talk about the dog, and if we’d never met, they’d often get around to asking how I’d lost my limbs. When I shared my story, they’d be intrigued or touched. These conversations sometimes led to discussions of faith. They wondered sometimes how I could have such a positive attitude, and I’d tell them I believed God created me for a purpose and that I’d put my faith in that. 
Walking around, sharing my dog, Seth, and my faith, became a real passion for me. I’d leave the house with Seth and couldn’t wait to see who would come around the corner. After a while, I’d offer to share my story and my beliefs just about anywhere I went. I don’t remember being rejected by anyone, though there were probably some who took a detour when they saw me coming. 
I tried not to be hard core or high pressure. I would just ask how they were doing, and after a few minutes of conversation, I might say, “Is there anything you’d like me to pray for on your behalf?” Most people appreciated the offer. Who doesn’t need a prayer now and then either for themselves or someone they care about? It’s like being offered a surprise gift by a stranger, and it’s even better than winning the lottery because the prize of prayer is everlasting! 
‬‬ but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
‭‭1 PETER‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭ESV
As Christians, we have to be on our toes and ready to share our faith. Fortunately, I actually have a couple of toes, so that’s not a problem! The greatest way to demonstrate our faith is to live each day with strength, peace, love, and joy—even amid trial. 
When have you been excited to share good news with someone else? What gifts has God given you to tell others about Him?