Who can you encourage in the new year by sending a heartfelt note with a Scripture verse at the bottom? Honor God by extending kindness to someone who needs to be refreshed.
Give a year-end gift that will change a life!
Donate Today!
---
Looking for more encouragement? Follow Joni on Facebook and subscribe to her daily devotional. Listen to all of Joni's 4-minute and 1-minute programs at joniradio.org!
Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Get involved at joniandfriends.org or on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and it’s going to be a happy new year, I can tell.
And it’ll be super happy for at least five special-needs families because next week we’ll be kickstarting our annual Heart for the Disabled outreach. Lots of you have been participating for years in this outreach and I want you to get your friends involved. Because during the first week of every January, I share the stories of five families who struggle with disability – often, these are families who have attended our Joni and Friends Family Retreats and, oh, my goodness, they are so weary and worn out. These families must deal with nonstop, 24/7 disability routines that never lighten up. These dear folks are exhausted. But, but next week, I’ll give you a chance to personally encourage them as you write notes, share Scriptures, offer up prayers, whatever. You’ll have a chance to inspire and refresh these families through your Christ-centered encouragement. And then we bundle up everyone’s cards and Scriptures, copies of hymns, you name it, we package it all up in big boxes for our Joni and Friends teams to hand-deliver.
And just what does all this encouragement mean to these families? Well, listen to these words from Stephanie and Ed, who were grateful recipients of last year’s Heart for the Disabled encouragement. Stephanie wrote me, she said, “Joni, imagine our surprise to see a car parade – led by a fire truck – come up our street! My [2 boys with disabilities], Seth and Micah, were super excited! Especially Micah who just loves [this kind of thing]! Seth watched from inside the house. A lot of my church family were in the car parade which really touched my heart. I love my church family and though our church does not have a special needs ministry, [our congregation has] always been loving towards my boys when I’ve been able to bring them to certain events.
“The parade would have been great enough, but then to be given a huge box full of cards [and] notes, poems, books… candy… and on top of THAT – to be given a check! Oh my soul!... Our washer and dryer had died, and I needed new appliances. We didn’t have the money for that, yet God provided. Things at home have been hard, we’ve lost a lot of our in-home support with the boys which has resulted in them feeling isolated. Reading all the notes of encouragement from listeners to your radio program, reminded us that we are NOT alone. God is our EVER PRESENT help in trouble. There are other special-needs families that deserve this kind of love so much more than we do, yet we were chosen… just like Jesus chose us before the foundation of the world was laid. Saying thank you just isn’t enough to say, but it’s all I have. Please tell everyone that it means more to me than I have words to share. Seeing the joy on Seth and Micah’s face [put me over the top]. My cup overflows!... Thank you for choosing us as a Heart for the Disabled family and thank you for using your life to change ours. God bless you! Stephanie and Ed.”
So, friend listening, be sure to tune in next week to learn about our five special-needs families who we’ve selected for our 2023 Heart for the Disabled outreach. And tell your friends! Proverbs says that he who is kind to the needy honors God. And here’s your chance to do that next week. So, tell a friend and I’ll see you back here for Heart for the Disabled.
Oh, and please know that we at Joni and Friends care about your struggles, too. Our staff gathers every morning to intercede on behalf of friends like you who contact our ministry in need of prayer. Contact us today on my radio page at joniradio.org. We want to hear from you! And we want to join our Savior in heaven in interceding for your special needs.
© Joni and Friends