Our Texas Governor’s Prayer Breakfast

I quickly answered “yes” when my friend asked me if I’d like to attend our Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Prayer Breakfast yesterday. It was an early morning quest as breakfast started at 6:30 a.m. Over 750 avid fans of allegiance and prayer were wide awake from the git-go for our governor as well as our State of Texas.

Governor Abbott spoke about the loyalty and service of one of our police officers who recently lost his life in the line of duty. The memorial service was the day before yesterday. He spoke further about the people who sacrifice their lives in the call of duty every day.

He also talked about the tornado that blew through Salado TX a year ago and the First Cedar Valley Baptist Church that was destroyed – all except for the cross that remained standing.

Just a couple of weeks ago (a year after the church was destroyed) the community gathered for the rebuilt church’s dedication. Governor Abbott remarked to the church: “Less than one year later, the First Cedar Valley Baptist Church is back. It’s a miracle of sorts. God supported you, Texans supported you, and now your church has risen. This church, this community, never wavered, because their foundation was stronger than anything that could be thrown at them.”

It was a sight to behold – seeing Governor Abbott, speaking from his wheelchair because he has been paralyzed since he was a 26-year-old law school graduate. He decided to take a break from studying for the bar exam by going for a jog. While out running, a large oak tree along his path cracked and fell on Governor Abbott’s back, leaving him forever paralyzed from the waist down.

The other sight we beheld as well as the voice we heard was that of Nick Vujicic, born with no arms or legs. We saw his caregiver pick him up and place him on stage. From that point on, Nick was a powerhouse that ignited us with a message of relentless passion for God, our Country and world. This man with a beautiful wife and four children, is a champion.

Nick started out his talk by saying: “If God can use a man without arms and legs to be His hands and feet, He can use anyone.” He posed these questions for us to ask ourselves: “What is something I can do that I’m not doing?” AND “What is something I can stop doing that I need to stop?” “And, God, what am I not doing that you have called me to do?” He went on to prophetically speak to Governor Abbott: “You are a man of God. I have prayed and fasted for you. Please forgive the church because the church hasn’t been praying for you. Shame on us! Forgive us!”

God has used Governor Abbott in leading our State. God has used Nick in countless schools, churches, prisons, orphanages, hospitals, stadiums and in face-to-face encounters with individuals, telling them how very precious they are to God. He assures people that God has a plan for each life that is meaningful and purposeful.

God took Nick’s life, one that others might disregard as not having significance, and He filled Nick with His purpose and showed him His plans to use him to move hearts and lives toward Him.

What about you and I today? What are we doing with God’s gift to us? Are we standing up with our hands raised, saying “God, pick me! Use me! Sincerely, “What and who we are is God’s gift to us, and what we are making of ourselves, is our gift back to Him!”