For such a time as this. {Graffiti Summer}

We are in the last week of Graffiti Summer and reading from Silence Births Vision in the book Graffiti: scribbles from different sides of the street. Thank you so much for taking this journey with me. If you are wishing you had joined in, it's not too late. I'd love to follow along with you as you begin your journey. You can find the introduction here.

God said, "My presence will go with you. I'll see the journey to the end." ~ Exodus 33:14 (MSG)

I shared with friends recently how I wished God would let me in on who he wants me to serve. I know he has called me to serve, but whom? Is it our military, their families, the homeless, a combination of the two by serving our homeless veterans, or is he leading me somewhere completely different?

Like Moses had asked God, I too want God to let me know His plans for me.

"So God, which street are you calling me to? Who is it you are calling me to serve?"

I can't help but to wonder if maybe I'm not listening well enough to where He wants to lead me. Am I praying enough for His guidance and wisdom? Am I spending enough time in His word and would I find the answers there?

I read the story of Esther several months ago and loved the words from Esther 4:14, "...for such a time as this." I tend to be one who is always trying to be two steps ahead. If serving is my spiritual gift I want to be more like Mother Teresa...okay maybe a stretch. Let's compare this to the gift of writing for a moment. If writing is a gift He's blessed me with can we skip right on over to being great?

I'm reaching for big and grand. If it's anything less than I'm small and insignificant. If I'm not perfect with the gift He's given me, than I'm not enough. Someone else does it bigger and better so who needs me?

I come back to those words, "...for such a time as this." Could it be He has me right where He wants me to be? Is He really silent in my life? Am I guilty of wanting more from Him and not being happy with all He has given me?

As I lay out all these questions to God, I realize I am hearing Him and He's whispering familiar words. "Trust in me."

It's time to silence the voice of the enemy who tells me I'm not enough and rest in God's presence. When I'm resting in Him, my eyes are opened to how my small acts of obedience in stepping over my fears to serve others are actually big steps in furthering His kingdom. 

For such a time as this, maybe small is right where He wants me. How can I be big and grand if I can't find the blessings in the small? And is it all that small?

Was the hour a spent with a wounded warrior who lost both his limbs in an explosion of little significance? I didn't feel small when one of the family members hugged me as I departed and whispered, "Thank you for being here."

Was the extra time I spent with my younger sister rocking her son back to sleep because she needed a few moments of rest of little significance? Her eyes told me my act of obedience by giving up my time so she could refresh was anything but insignificant.

Alene writes in her FREE Graffiti Study and Do guide, "Your path will intertwine with souls that you are to reach." As I've rested in God's presence this past week (because rest in Him was desperately needed) I realized the path He has me on is one where for such a time as this I need to see the broken. Right now it isn't about which street He's calling me to, it's about seeing and trusting He has me right where He wants me to be. It's about seeing and serving no matter which street I may be on.

As I step over my fears to serve He is and will continue to do big and grand things through me.

I pray that as you followed along in this study your heart was changed like mine to see others through the eyes of Jesus. In His eyes we are all beautiful and worthy of His grace. Because of the gift of grace He has given us we must be willing to take those brave steps across the street to serve His people. See the broken and downhearted. If they don't know Jesus, lead them to Him.

God bless you as you move forward in obedience.

To read previous posts on Graffiti Summer, click here.

A birthday note for Rick.



From Pinterest

Dear Rick,

We don't know each other, although I feel like I know you. Alene Snodgrass has shared with us that you will soon be celebrating a birthday. There is something we have in common...it's that beautiful Alene. I'm thinking that makes us friends too. 

Alene has asked her many friends to share a little something on how the words you contributed to Graffiti: scribbles from different sides of the street had an impact on us. I'm writing this to you as part of Five Minute Friday with Lisa-Jo Baker because the word is beautiful and I immediately thought of you. There is a good chance I will go over the allotted five minutes. Can I tell you a secret? I always do. Shh.

How do I tell you in five minutes how beautiful you are?

I read Graffiti many months ago and my heart longed to meet you right away. I longed to hear more of your beautiful poems. The hearts of you and Alene came together and while you are both beautiful in your own unique way, your words together told of how we come from different sides of the street but our differences shouldn't keep us only on our side.

You taught me how to look across the street and see that those on the other side are beautiful too. We are all created in His image so how could we not see each other as beautiful?

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. ~ Genesis 1:27

Your beautiful heart was seen through the words you shared. You helped change this heart of mine and led me across the street. If it weren't for you I wouldn't have met my new friend Bob. It's been weeks since I've seen him again but I know because of you I was able to touch his heart. I was able to tell him how beautiful he is.

For this Rick, I say thank you. Thank you for being a light to God's truth. His truth that says we are all His masterpiece no matter which side of the street we are on; even those living on the street.

May your beautiful words remain on my heart and keep leading me across the street.

I end with a small prayer. A prayer that one day you and I will meet. A prayer that one day I will wrap my arms around you and tell you in person how beautiful you are.

Happy Birthday, Rick.

Lead Your Generation {Graffiti Summer}

We are beginning the fifth week of Graffiti Summer and reading from For Your Generation in the book Graffiti: scribbles from different sides of the street. If you are wishing you had joined in, it's not too late. I'd love to follow along with you as you begin your journey. You can find the introduction here.

In the FREE Graffiti Study and Do guide for this section, one of our readings was Romans 12:10-16. I went back a little further and read from Romans 12:4-8:

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

What is your spiritual gift? I completely understand if it's hard to answer this question. Alene shares great resources in her current post to help you.

Several months ago I took a spiritual gifts survey through my church and my results came back saying my gifts were administration and serving. Administration didn't surprise me since I work full-time as an executive assistant. Serving didn't surprise me either. Long before surrendering my life to Christ I felt a stirring in my heart to serve.

There are times when God is calling me to serve but I don't feel equipped to meet the need on my own. The particular need isn't one of my gifts. Bring cookies to a friend? Prepare a meal for a family going through hard times? Trust me, you do not want me baking or cooking. The call to serve though is one I can no longer ignore.

Remember my friend Tammy and her addiction to connections? You can read her post here. We don't need to serve alone. Get connected; God has given us all different gifts. The need you don't feel qualified to meet can be met when we connect with others with different gifts from us. Let's read Romans 12:4-5 again.

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Together our different gifts form one body in Christ. We belong together. So let's get connected!

One of the first messages Alene shares with us in this study is to be different. Here is where you can lead your generation. Be different. Don't walk away from a need because you feel not up to the task.

When I wanted to bring sweets to two different friends to let them know someone does see them, I turned to my son and his girlfriend who love to bake. I learned a family could use a home cooked meal so I ran straight to my husband since he's the cook of our household.

When embracing a friend recently who is struggling, I knew prayers were desperately needed. God heard my plea for help (I'm still working on praying out loud) and at just the right time another dear friend walked up to us. The three of us wrapped arms together and this dear friend lifted up a heartfelt prayer to God.

A new friend recently shared with me her desire to reach out to those who believe they aren't enough. We both have seen a need and decided two voices are better than one. Together we will tell them because of God's grace they are more than enough.

I'm a bit shaky in the knees about my upcoming mission trip to Guatemala. I'm grateful the trip will be made with many others—together we will be the hands and feet of Jesus.

You may feel unequipped to meet a need but you can lead the way by reaching out to others and together you can meet that need. Lead your generation by being obedient to His call to serve. He is counting on you. God isn't asking you to be perfect; He is asking you to be obedient. 

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." ~ Galatians 5:13-14

Gather up some friends and go love your neighbors. Lead your community to be one that extends love to all. All you need to do is walk across the street and you will find someone waiting to be loved.

To read previous posts on Graffiti Summer, click here.

In between is Hope.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 

~ 1 Corinthians 13:13 

The greatest of these is love (1 Cor. 13:13) but let's talk about the word that sits in between faith and love: Hope.

I hope you have been following along with me and others in this Graffiti Summer challenge. God is doing some amazing things. It's not too late to join in on this study. This week our assignment was to open up to others. We were challenged to share from a deeper level which then gives others the freedom to do as well.

All week long I read the words of other Graffiti Summer writers. Hop over here and read what all these amazing ladies have shared. They all dared to be real. Over the past four weeks these writers have connected by leaving comments on each other's posts and giving shout outs on Twitter. New friendships are being formed. It's a beautiful thing.

One of the Graffiti Summer writers wrote on being addicted to connection. Stop in and read what Tammy Werthem @ iwokeupyesterday had to say. Her addiction to connection is contagious. In an earlier post Tammy got real and shared at a deeper level. As I write this morning I think of my new friend and the connection we've now made because she was real. She gave me hope by reminding me God never wastes a hurt.

Before I called it quits for the night I connected with another friend who asked me to write a guest post for her blog. Our connection has us brainstorming on bringing hope to those who struggle with worrying about how they are perceived by others. Oh what a familiar struggle.

My hurt for years has been worrying about how I'm perceived and believing I needed to be the same as others to fit in. This worrying has taken on many different forms with one of them being a long-time struggle with bulimia.

Yesterday, someone dared to be real. She then opened up the door for me to be real with her. Being real struck a chord with my friend Jessica @ Prayers and Apples to say come share your story on my page and let's bring hope to others. I've discovered my friend Tammy shared powerful truth when she said to me, "God will use this challenge with bulimia to heal you, so that you can lead others out of similar struggles."

The struggle is more than a struggle with bulimia but a struggle to believe that inside and out I am enough. It's a struggle so many have. The message I hope to deliver is one that reminds us all that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God and his works are wonderful. (Psalm 139:14)

This amazing leader of our Graffiti Summer challenge is right, freedom can be found when we get real.

Hope is found through connections because connections lead us and others to the one who gives us hope. Our hope comes from the Lord.

****

Friends, I'm joining Lisa-Jo Baker again for Five Minute Friday. Lisa has created a wonderful community where many others come together and write for five minutes on a prompt she provides. It's a beautiful thing. Today's prompt is: In Between. I need to keep it real and tell you I wrote for more than five minutes...much more. Once I got started I couldn't stop. I hope you don't mind me still linking up.

Opposition to Victory {Graffiti Summer}

We are in the fourth week of the Graffiti Summer challenge. It's never too late to join in. Purchase Graffiti: scribbles from different sides of the street and download the FREE Graffiti Study and Do guide and come join us. You can find the introduction from Alene Snodgrass (our FABULOUS leader) here.

This week we are reading the section Opposition to Victory. I thought the first three weeks were a challenge. This is totally cray-cray, as Alene would say. Before we begin with my words, lets take a look at what Alene is sharing this week in her post.

The first time I read from Exodus my reaction was Moses had to be a little crazy. Seriously, I would have given up on freeing the Israelites after the second or third attempt made to Pharaoh. My mind didn't understand why God didn't make this easier for him. Ten times Moses met opposition—TEN TIMES! How did he not call it quits?

Our DO this week for the section Opposition to Victory, is to "Let Your Secrets Go." Share what we are struggling with authentically with another and experience how when we do we give others the freedom to do the same. Let's go deeper in our relationships. Let our hearts be heard.

I couldn't help but to think of Brene Brown's book, Daring Greatly. Brene describes in her book a conversation with her daughter on how friendships are like a marble jar. "Whenever someone supports you, or is kind to you, or sticks up for you, or honors what you share with them as private, you put marbles in the jar. When people are mean, or disrespectful, or share your secrets, marbles come out." Her daughter responds with excitement, "I've got marble jar friends! I've got marble jar friends!"

Woot! Woot! I've got marble jar friends too!

I'd describe a marble jar friend as someone who is grace-filled. A grace-filled person is someone who produces fresh fruit. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." ~ Galatians 5:22-23

There is one particular friend of mine who would fill up a marble jar. She continually produces fresh fruit. We haven't had the chance to spend time together recently but she is someone who allows the real me to be seen. She is a friend who provides comfort to let my secrets go.

This friend is one of the few I tell that this eating disorder of mine remains an ongoing battle. Time and time again I tell her I just don't know how to let it go. Like God gave steps to Moses for finding victory, so has my friend given to me. And she always reminds me that no matter what my struggles are God's promises remain.

God's promises remain for me no matter how many times I need to come before him and say, God please take this. Like Moses and the Israelites, freedom will be found.

"God is OK with our failures. He is not OK with our quitting." ~ Alene Snodgrass

I may meet constant opposition from my enemy telling me those familiar lies that I'm not enough but I know God is strengthening me. He is strengthening me for what He has called me to do: To see others who are desperately crying out to be seen and to know they are enough—to lead others to victory.

So maybe I wouldn't give up so quickly and instead stay the course like Moses did. Maybe I'm already staying the course by saying quitting is not an option. I will keep on asking God to please take this.

As I thought about the marble jar friends in my life, I realized this analogy from Brene Brown stood out because God wants me to be a marble jar friend to others. To be world changers it requires us to be marble jar friends.

We need to encourage each other with love and this begins by daring to be vulnerable—daring to let ourselves be seen. When we do, others will find encouragement to let their secrets go too.

Would you be my marble jar friend? I'd love to be yours. Here you can let your secrets go. Your hearts will be heard.

To read previous posts on Graffiti Summer, click here.

Be the solution {Graffiti Summer}



Original photo from http://chicagocares.org/

If you are coming here for the first time, my posts are currently focused on a study and do challenge from the book Graffiti: scribbles from different sides of the street, written by Alene Snodgrass. I'm beginning the third section Broken for Others of the Graffiti Study and Do guide.

This past weekend I headed to Chicago to join Chicago Cares in their efforts to bring hope to underserved communities. Convinced that God had chosen the wrong person for this task, I pleaded to Him to let me stay home. He was rather quick to make it clear that staying home was not an option so at 4:00 a.m. I gave up on sleeping.

I boarded the Metra train at the crack of dawn and headed to the streets of Chicago. As I looked out the window from my seat on the train and watched the world zip on by, I wished someone was sitting alongside of me joining me on this adventure.

Alene Snodgrass writes in her post for this week's challenge (read here), "God doesn't care about our comfort, instead what He cares about is his people." Okay God, I care too that's why I'm going.

When I arrived at the Daley Center in Chicago there were many others who also cared; around 5,000 others. I was also not the only one who made the journey on her own. Again it occurred to me while we are all different, we aren't so different.

The public announcer for the event shared in his welcome address a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr., "Everyone can be great because everyone can serve." I looked at the people surrounding me and wondered if they felt equally broken and unequipped for this journey. Do they all hear the same words of how we can be great and find themselves doubting if they have ever been great?

Finally, the time came to board the bus with fellow teammates to head out to our surprise location. God used the forty-five minute, bumpy and almost nauseating bus ride to remind me where my strength comes from and why I was there. I walked off the bus desperately needing to use a bathroom but ready to serve.

Our destination for serving was an apartment complex occupied by senior citizens. In this particular community English was not the primary language.

I will admit there was a moment of disappointment as my hopes were set on spending the day transforming public schools. During the opening announcements at the Daley Center they commented on how children would return to their classrooms on Monday morning thinking Santa Claus had been there. I wanted to be like Santa Claus!

Our fabulous leader of this Graffiti Summer challenge is right though, God will many times call you to serve the people you most want to run from. Running from the senior center sounded like a better idea but fear was not going to win.

Alene tells us to "use what's in your hand." My hands quickly got busy placing table clothes on tables and making fabulous center pieces with pieces of tissue paper and string. It's amazing what you can do with only a few items and your hands. By the time the residents raced into the room to find a seat, many hands had already made sure plates full of food would be there waiting for them. When three of us filled our hands with large dessert trays, the eyes of the residents grew wider.

Others led the way by passing out tickets for raffle prizes, rallying the residents to play Bingo, and spotters made sure residents knew when it was time to yell, "BINGO." Several hung out in the kitchen to clean up from lunch and a few got dirty outside in the rain putting together planters to set along the gazebo.

Those seniors loved getting prizes. The prizes consisted of simply boxes of tissue, kitchen sponges, hand soap, bud vases and other small items. My eyes were opened when I was informed that food stamps do not count towards purchasing these items...these daily essentials we take for granted. Maybe we were a bit like Santa Claus.

It was then I understood this being broken for others. My heart was broken. How often does someone come to this senior center to make the day seem brighter for these residents? When can I come again?

Our DO assignment for this week challenged us to make sandwiches and give them to someone in need. Oh yes Alene, we made lots and lots of sandwiches. I'd say we did much more then make sandwiches—we changed lives. Just maybe the lives truly changed were those of us serving.

Here's what I'm learning with this whole being different thing. God created us all differently but he never intended for us to treat others differently. There is something common within us all—we all long to be seen—we all long to know we have not been forgotten. God has not forgotten us. He sent Jesus for us. His heart's desire is for us to bring Jesus to others.

The slogan for the Chicago Cares event was, "BE THE SOLUTION." 

Friends, God is calling us to BE THE SOLUTION. Step over your fears. He will be with you. Be the one who does something differently. 

To read previous posts on Graffiti Summer, click here.

Listen to what he says. {Graffiti Summer}

I am joining Lisa-Jo Baker and others for Five Minute Friday. Lisa-Jo provides us with a word prompt and we are to write for five minutes with "no extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font, or punctuation."

Today's word: Listen

Remember my homeless veteran friend, Bob? Oh, if you do not know about him, would you please take a moment to stop over here? I'm not sure why, but God has given me a soft heart towards Bob.

GO

He sits on a busy corner I happen to pass by every week day on my way home from work. I've seen him a few more times since the day when I finally stopped and crossed over the street to greet him. Since that day, I drive on by and ask God, "How do I really help Bob?" As I wait for God to respond, I feel not up to the task of crossing over to the other side of street again.

There he was again yesterday. It was a warm sunny day. I almost missed him as I got carried away singing along to a new song I've been listening to again and again.

"I'm longing for You, Lord

I need You to fill me more and more
I'm desperate for You, Jesus
Whatever You have to do
Make me more like You"
More Like You, by Kim Hill

God's voice came through over the song and He told me exactly what He wanted me to do. "Stop your car, Beth. Grab those McDonald's gift cards you've been waiting to bless someone with and make your way over to Bob. But this time I want you to really listen to what Bob has to say."

So off to the other side of the street I went to listen to what Bob had on his heart to say.

I listen as he tells me about his eight children and many, many grandchildren. He could live with any one of his children, but he manages to squeak on by on his own.

I listen to his words soften with a hint of sorrow when he mentions his autistic grandchild. He's been reading books on how to care for him as he may soon spend his days watching this grandchild of his.

I listen as he shares about his days in Vietnam. His voice gets a bit agitated over the men and women still fighting for this country. He wonders why.

I listen to him even closer when he opens his heart about ministering to children who gather in the area he calls home for now. Their mothers are addicted to drugs and oh how he hates to see these kids suffer.

I listen to him—I really listen—when he says he talks to Jesus every day. My heart breaks as I listen to him say, "Beth, He never responds."

Before we parted ways I told Bob, "Don't lose your faith, Bob. Keep talking. He is listening. And so am I."

STOP

To read more on my #GraffitiSummer journey, go here.

Bless Someone Different {Graffiti Summer}

The Graffiti Summer challenge this week from Alene's Graffiti Study and Do guide is to actually do some serving. It's time to bless someone different from ourselves. Alene provided us with a few tips, such as buying a gift card to a fast food restaurant to bless someone in need with.

I decided to take it to the streets. Sorry, Alene, I stole that line from you. But really, I did take it to the streets. I took myself to the streets of Chicago. Better yet, I took myself to the Chicago Blues Festival in the streets of Chicago. Thousands gather for this festival so I was certain I could find someone different from me to serve. The few blocks walk from the train station to the festival alone would surely present me with an opportunity to bless another.

There was a homeless man lying down on a sidewalk corner as I walked outside of the train station. A few others caught my attention as I made my way to the festival but I kept on walking. What was I so afraid of? Why did I not stop?

I arrived at the festival, without stopping to bless another, and it was time for some blues. The warm summer air was filled with the sounds of a harmonica, fiddle, organ, guitar and amazing voices. As I allowed the sounds to fill my own needy soul, I glanced from right to left to get a closer look at the different people I came to serve.

Then I saw her to my right. She had thick, long and dark hair tied together in a braid. My poor use of descriptive words does not paint a good picture of how thick and long her hair was. At first glance my mind immediately goes to classifying her as homeless. Maybe she was, maybe she was not. Either way she had a smile on her face from one ear to the other. She was clearly enjoying the music.

My mind wandered as I continued search out for someone to bless. If the woman I saw was homeless she didn't appear to be in need or despair. Could it be the homeless have days filled with love and laughter too? Do I consider myself more blessed than them because I have a roof over my head?

I imagine they know what it feels like to have and then to lose. I imagine they appreciate what little they do have more than I. We believe they are without. They may go through life still knowing how blessed they are.

Chicago is a city filled with lots and lots of people. Each one of them is different from me. How do I determine who to bless? In Grant Park, where we gathered to listen to the blues, finding someone who needed to be blessed seemed hard to do. The people around me all had smiles glued to their faces. If they were going through troubled times, this was a day they appeared to leave their troubles behind.

You might think I'm crazy but on that day grace appeared to be everywhere; or at least my heart was filled with grace.

I saw people as people, not as though they were less or better than me. All these people standing and sitting around me are loved by the same God. Do they all know how deeply they are loved? Wait, isn't that why I was there?

I was there to see them—I was there to bless them. If only I could say I moved beyond seeing them. 

Maybe this is what I discovered when I took it to the streets. We may all be different, but are we really so different? If we all want to be seen and know—if we are all longing to fit in—how different are we? Are we so different that we should allow our differences to turn us away in fear?

I arrived in Chicago holding five $5.00 gift cards to McDonald's. I left holding four. One of them was given to my son and his girlfriend as I departed with words of encouragement to bless another on their way home. My intentions were to find someone as I walked back to catch my train. There were several I could have stopped to bless along the way. Four gift cards still remain. This is much harder than I thought it would be.

I'm not sure if it was fear of their differences that held me back, or the struggle to understand where do you start and when do you stop. I don't have the means to help them all. And am I really helping them?

My heart's desire is to serve someone in need. Maybe He's calling me to serve in a different way. This coming weekend I'm taking myself back to Chicago and will team up with Chicago Cares to tackle various projects around the city where help is needed. This journey will be taken on my own, which is a big step outside of my comfort zone. I'm not really on my own; God will be leading the way.

Serving has to begin somewhere and this might be my somewhere. You could claim I'm taking the easy way out. I'd say you're wrong. A full day will be dedicated to leaving my own schedule behind and meeting the needs of others. Whether it's beautifying classrooms, school libraries, playgrounds or parks, help is needed in these under served communities and I will be there ready and willing to serve.

Part of me feels I failed when I took it to the streets of Chicago with my gift cards and still came home with them all. That's just the devil getting inside my head again. I didn't fail. God is opening my eyes and heart every day as we take this journey together of learning to step over my fears.

This week we are reading the section God Given Destiny in the book Graffiti: scribbles from different sides of the street. Click here to see what others are sharing as they join me in this Graffiti Summer challenge.

To catch up on all my posts from this challenge, click here.

The Gift of Grace {Graffiti Summer}

"For it is by grace you have been save, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:8-10

Standing and worshiping God this morning was everything I needed. I missed church last week due to business meetings and I felt the absence in my soul all week long.

We sang the lyrics from a song written by our new worship leader..."Overwhelm me. Overwhelm me. Overwhelm me with your Grace." The song was written specifically for our sermon series titled, "Overwhelming Grace."

Grace. "It's the most wonderful gift we've ever received." ~ Pastor Mike Gates

Pastor Mike referred to having a "yes" face in his sermon. What exactly did he mean by having a "yes" face? "A person someone knows they can come to, to receive grace."

Alene Snodgrass tells us in the second week of her Graffiti Summer challenge to bless someone different from ourselves. I find myself more wonder-struck by others and the gift of grace they have given to many...from our side of the street and the other side of the street.

This weekend my family said good-bye to a great man. Walter Thomson, Jr. is surely now home with our heavenly Father, and also with his wife and only son. At his memorial service he was referred to as a "Gentle Giant." An appropriate reference as this man blessed many during his 86 years here on earth with his overwhelming gentleness and grace.

I found myself observing my Aunt Jean as she mourned the loss of her brother. She was another one who blessed many, and she blessed those from the other side of the street. For years and years she took in children and served as their foster parent. In total, she was a foster parent to 79 children. Overwhelming!

These are two individuals who had a "yes" face.

The last few words Pastor Mike said in his sermon were, "Live your life knowing the value of the gift you were given." In Galatians 5:6, Paul tells us the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. And it begins with God's grace.

Alene is asking us to do just that—realize the value of the gift you were given and give that same gift to others. Again, as Paul tell us, serve one another humbly in love (Gal. 5:13). Have a "yes" face.

The challenge is to be willing to have a "yes" face to those who are different from you.

"If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else?" ~ Matthew 5:47 (NLT)

This may make us feel uncomfortable as it requires living differently. If you are like me you are saying, "I'm not looking to be different; I just want to fit in." But when I take a moment to realize the gift of grace I've been given, I no longer want to simply fit in. He created me differently on purpose so I need to live differently. We need to live differently.

Alene writes in her book Graffiti: scribbles from different sides of the street, "To really follow Jesus, even if it's to the other side of the street, you will have to be the change maker. You will need to live differently from your friends and sometimes your family."

In my father's eulogy he said my Uncle Wally was a man who always showed up. To me, this is a man who lived differently.

My Aunt Jean lived differently and changed the life of 79 children as a result.

It took lots of praying for me to embrace being different by stopping and crossing the street to be with my friend Bob. Wondering what others driving by in their comfy cars would think of me sitting there with Bob would have previously kept me from crossing. God's overwhelming grace led me to have peace with my differences and the differences of others to cross the street and live differently.

This coming week, I'm praying God leads me in more ways. I'm armed and ready with a few gift cards to bless others as He leads.

God, I pray my eyes and heart remain open to wherever you may lead, whether you lead me to my side of the street or the other side. Silence those cries of wanting to fit in instead. Help me to appreciate that you created me differently on purpose, that you created us all to be different. Thank you for the gift of your overwhelming grace. Teach me to embrace your gift and to offer the same grace to others by living differently. Help me to have a "yes" face. Amen.

To read previous posts on Graffiti Summer, click here.

He will not let me fall

I am joining Lisa-Jo Baker and others for Five Minute Friday. Lisa-Jo provides us with a word prompt and we are to write for five minutes with "no extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font, or punctuation."

Today's word: Fall

GO

There is a chill in the air and it feels a bit like fall. The heat has been turned back on as warmth is needed in this home of mine. My husband is gone for several weeks playing Army and I miss being able to wrap myself in his loving arms for the warmth he provides.

I'm afraid the warm summer months will skip on by. Fall will be here all too soon. Then will come winter which brings us to this looming deployment. It will be his first deployment—our first deployment. If I allow myself to spend too much time thinking about what the time apart will be like all I want to do is fall on my bed and cry. Can we skip over all those months instead?

Before my husband left he provided instructions on keeping up with our yard. Quite honestly though, I can't seem to summon up the strength to do it all. I fear everything will fall apart.

Our home is left undone. A maid has been called. It's the first time I've ever called a maid.

My Graffiti Summer challenge has me focused on other things. My mind is always three steps ahead of me wondering where next I should be. Many things are falling to the side, but I hope and I pray that my heart and soul is where God is calling it to be, bringing a ray of light—bringing Christ—to those who have fallen on harder times.

As David writes in Psalm 55:22, I will cast my cares on the Lord and take comfort in knowing He will sustain me. He will not let me fall.

STOP

Would you stop on by and read more about this Graffiti Summer journey I'm on? You can catch up on my posts here.

Different Sides of the Street {Graffiti Summer}

The next several weeks my posts will be dedicated to sharing with you my Graffiti Summer journey. You may ask, "What is this Graffiti Summer you keep talking about?"

Come on over and meet our lovely leader Alene Snodgrass here and she will fill you in.

To give you a quick summary, it's all about stepping over your fears to serve others. I love when Alene says, "Everyone can be a world changer."

Ever since I was teenager I wanted to be a world changer. When Michael Jackson released his song "Man in the Mirror" I wrote a letter to my parents telling them I wanted to join the Peace Corps? I was 19 at the time and had just dropped out of college. All I could think was there had to be something more than this. College simply wasn't for me.

The Peace Corps remained a dream when an unexpected pregnancy changed everything. I have no regrets. I wouldn't exchange being a mother and a wife for anything.

Fast forward...

I'm not sure what led me to read Alene's book, Graffiti: scribbles from different sides of the street, but when I did it released those dreams again. I also read two other books: Wrecked, by Jeff Goins and Kingdom Journeys, by Seth Barnes. God was leading my down a new path. Maybe dreams can come true.

How do I begin though? I know what the answer is. Let God lead the way.

The first action item in the Graffiti Study and Do action guide is to "drive around town with your eyes and heart open. Ask God to reveal what you need to see and experience." I'm ready God. My eyes and heart are open.

But wait, are world changers even needed in this comfortable suburban town I'm living in? I'm already not quite sure how to proceed. Drive around my town? I've been around my town. It's nice and comfortable.

If it's nice and comfortable, why does a PADS shelter operate in a church just a few miles from my home?

Alene says drive around town so drive around town I did. Okay, it was a small part of my town. The area I drove too is considered lower income housing, but it didn't feel so different from where my home is. They had a pool, a park area for children and nicely planted flowers surrounding the complex. I've driven past this place many times as its only a few blocks away. I wonder, how could I be a world changer here?

There is one thing I realized as I sat and observed—as I sat there with my eyes and heart open—oh, how guilty I am of judging those who live there. Ouch. That reality hurt.

As I take this journey of stepping over my fears to serve others, I'm reminded of how there are people on my side of the street who are aching to be seen and known. Two dear friends of mine are desperately in need. Several emails have been sent their way to let them know I'm praying for them. But could I do more?

Yes I could. I shifted my car back in to drive and made my way home to bake some bread.

An hour later I was walking down their driveway and was greeted by one of them with a great big hug, and quickly followed by a hug from the other. Have you ever had one of those moments when you know a single act of kindness changed someone's day? It was a God moment. God led me there. I was searching on the other side of the street and God stepped in and said, "Beth, today you are needed on your side of the street."

I don't how to take away their pain, but I do know how to listen and shower them with love. And listen and shower them with love is precisely what I did. I hope my visit warmed their hearts as much as it did mine.

God created us to need Him, but He also created us to need each other.

"He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." ~ 2 Corinthians 1:4

To read previous posts on Graffiti Summer, click here.


Please only link-up posts related to the #GraffitiSummer challenge.

Serve the least of these {Graffiti Summer}

This stirring in my heart to serve others has been a longtime companion.

It's a stirring waiting to be awakened.

Along my journey the stirring was felt.
I'd see, but never stopped.

Married to a once verbally abusive and alcoholic husband —

Serve the battered and abused women of our world.

Lost in a world of depression and an eating disorder —

Serve those who are also lost.

A heart full of pain —

Serve those drowning in pain.

Wife and mother to military men —

Serve those who serve and protect us.

Rescued and given a new life —

Bring Christ to the lost and hurting souls.

I had always silently cried to be seen.

For far too long I remained unseen.

And this is where the stirring to serve ignites.

"Beth, see those silent cries of others."

Fear left me frozen and feeling powerless.

Bravery was needed to move.

Doubt told me I was unable to make a difference.

Someone else will do it better.

Comfort kept me on my side of the street.

I don't belong on the other side.

But there is so much more on the other side.

There is a hurting world waiting to be seen.

There he was. This homeless veteran.

I've seen him again and again.

This time I stopped.

I stepped over my fears.

To the other side of the street I went.

I sat down next to Bob and placed my hand on his.

I prayed with my new friend.

"I love you, Beth", he said as we parted ways.

I crossed back over to my side of the street.

Now I long to go back to the other side.

I saw Bob.

Bob saw me.

God saw me.

How can I go on not seeing?

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,

and to give his life as a ransom for many." ~ Mark 10:45

I'm joining Alene Snodgrass in stepping over my fears to serve others.

Will you join too?

Purchase her book and dowload the free study guide.

Join us on Facebook.

"Your journey is not about you, it’s about others!" - Alene Snodgrass

Catch up on my Graffiti Summer posts here.

Memorial Day Reflection {Graffiti Summer}

World War II Memorial

On Memorial Day, my status update on Facebook shared words from a post written by Sara Horn, "As a nation, it is our duty to remember them." Over and over again this past week my mind has been on how we need to remember.

I stood before my church on Sunday morning and struggled with sharing my heart. My shaking hand held a piece of paper that contained many words. Words like, We will not forget. We will never forget. Living Hope Church remembers. The light shone brightly as I tried to read from that piece of paper. The faces of those who sat in the congregation were blurred. My eyes squinted to get a glimpse of the ones standing. To me it was important to remember the faces of those who were remembering a loved one lost, and to also remember the faces of our veterans.

There was a chill in the air on Memorial Day and clouds covered the sky. I was grateful for the quietness of the day. It almost seemed appropriate that our day was spent without a barbecue to kick off the summer, but simply spent remembering as we went about our individual routines. I know for both my husband and I, remembering was on our heart.

Before we became a military family, regretfully I admit Memorial Day was just a day off of work and a time to enjoy being with family and friends. Please forgive me.

I was purposeful in ensuring we took time to remember this year so our morning began with attending a local Memorial Day ceremony. It was a challenge to hear the speakers, but there was no doubt what their message was—today we remember.

It felt good to be among many others who were there to remember. The room was filled with veterans and for many remembering brings great pain. Many know all too well the price that was paid. The faces of friends lost are carried with them. The sister who shared on behalf of her family of a son and brother lost a happy Memorial Day I'm sure it was not. Memorial Day is a solemn day so why do we say Happy Memorial Day?

There is one face I carried home with me. It's the face of a veteran who walked with a smile on his face, a flag in his hand and a heart for his fellow soldiers that was clearly seen. I'm guessing this man was a World War II veteran. His smile...I clearly remember his smile. My husband and I passed on by him and with our own brief smile and said, "Good afternoon, Sir."

Alene Snodgrass shares a prayer in Part One of her Graffiti: Study and Do guide. "Dear Heavenly Father, I don't know where you are leading me. I know I'm ready to experience you in a whole new way. Open my ears to hear your call. Give my heart a vision to how I can help others. Amen."

The face of this man I'm unable to shake from my mind. He appeared to not have a care in the world as he walked down the sidewalk. If I would have stopped to talk with him maybe I would have discovered his cares were great and his needs were many. What I do know is God was surely tugging at my heart. There are no chance encounters. God knew I would pass this man. Could it be God used this man to minister to me?

Just maybe God was tugging at my heart as I walked past this man to say, "Serving others isn't handed to you in a box tied up with a pretty bow. It will be uncomfortable. It will require you stepping over your fears. But I will be with you as you take those steps."

I had a dream of turning around and running across the street back to this man and allowing him to wrap his arm around mine as we walked together. I dreamed of him sharing his story with me...a story filled with sorrow and also with love. I imagined him spending Memorial Day with us and my heart being filled by the time we returned him home.

When I woke there wasn't sadness for what did not take place for I know God is at work in me. He's opening my eyes to a world that exists on the other side of the street. Alene asks in her book Graffiti, "Do you wonder if your story will reflect the love you dared to give?"  I don't want to wonder. God, please make me brave.

A day will come, hopefully very soon, when I will share with you how I stepped over my fears and walked across the street.

Until then, will you join me in this Graffiti Summer challenge so we can encourage each other in stepping over our fears? The challenge begins on June 3rd. Download Alene's book, Graffiti, here in Kindle. Then download your free Graffiti: Study and Do guide. You can also ask to join the Graffiti Facebook page.

Sharing with Alene for her Graffiti Summer challenge.And also with Jennifer Dukes Lee, Jen Ferguson, Jen Avellaneda, and Tracy.

His Amazing Grace {Graffiti Summer}

I'm not sure how to begin this particular post other than to tell you I said yes to something I never dreamed I would be saying yes to. But oh how every fiber of my being wanted to say yes.

I will be joining Alene Snodgrass and a group of other writers in sharing our Graffiti Summer journey. We will be challenging ourselves to be world changers, and hoping to inspire others to do the same. Alene asks, "Together can we really change a world? Can we overcome our fear? Will we become more aware of the needs around us? Will we lay our doubts aside and serve another."

Alene, I'm joining you with a resounding, YES!

I won't lie friends—I'm scared, really scared. As I write, tears well up and are ready to fall. I felt compelled many times to send Alene an email telling her how wrong I must have been to think I heard God tell me to say yes. But I could not bring myself to send that email.

Laying my heart out and risking others potentially seeing me unable to overcome my fear...I'm ready to take the risk. I'm ready step over my fear. I'm ready to take a step out of my comfortable world.

In her book, Graffiti: scribbles from different sides of the Street, Alene writes, "Your journey is all about the steps you take in obedience, baby steps at first." Saying yes was a step in obedience because honestly I know I heard God correctly. Saying yes is another baby step in the many I've been taking since reading Alene's book. God has surely been stirring something within my heart.

The stirring began when God lead me to read Alene's book, and several other books, on allowing ourselves to be changed by serving others. And baby steps they have been. There have been steps backwards and steps forwards. There is both joy and fear over my step forward to go on my first mission trip this summer.

With each step God was calling me to see a need...to really see. I find myself singing the words from the hymn Amazing Grace...

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

It hurts to see. A part of me wishes I could go on not seeing. Seeing the homeless veteran who sits on the corner of a busy intersection as I drive home from work breaks my heart. What breaks my heart even more is how I've yet to do more than see him. If seeing is hard, how hard will it be to move beyond simply seeing him and show him compassion? What would I say? How would I help this man?

But I keep singing those words, I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.

God is calling me to see the lost. He says, "Take My hand; I will lead you across the street. Walk with me. Together we will bring the sounds of My amazing grace."

I've yet to see this man again these past few months and I pray that someone else saw him and took those brave steps across the street. Maybe I wasn't to be the one, or maybe God is saying, "Keep walking with me. There are many more for you to see." And here is my plea, we need to see. We were saved because of His amazing grace. We were lost but now are found. We are no longer blind, but see. So see. Then take a hold of His hand and let Him lead you to bringing His lost home.

Take a step in obedience. Take a step over your fears and bring His amazing grace to others...you don't need to go to another country...walk across the street and you will see a need. It's scary, but where you are weak, He is strong. There is a hurting world that needs us. Together we can change the world.

The Graffiti Summer challenge will begin on June 3rd. The challenge is for us to step over our fears and serve others. Will you join us?

Download Alene's book, Graffiti, here in Kindle or here in PDF format. Then download your free Graffiti Study and Do guide. You can also ask to join the Graffiti Facebook page.

And be sure to spend some time with Alene here. She has an amazing heart and will encourage you as you take those first steps. She has been my inspiration.

If you're ready to join in, link up your post below and share your thoughts about Graffiti Summer. Don't have a blog, leave a comment and let us hear from you.

Sharing with Alene for her first link-up in the Graffiti Summer journey.