Wednesday, May 22, 2013

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 friendsI'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.

27 comments :

  1. LOVE LOVE LOVE this. I want to see and yet as you wrote those words, I cried. Seeing does hurt. It hurts my selfish heart. It hurts my sympathetic heart. But I'm blessed as I journey because I can say it now hurts my Christ-centered heart. I want to see and stop for others just as Jesus did and oh how that is scary. Praying I am brave alongside you for this journey!

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    1. I'm grateful we are on this journey together as you inspire me to be brave. Thank you, Alene!

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  2. How brave you are. Thanks for sharing and I pray your journey will be a fruitful one.

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    1. Lisa, come join us!! It's going to be an amazing summer where I have to put on big girl panties every day. WOO HOO

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    2. Yes, Lisa...we'd love you to join us!

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  3. Dear Beth
    I wish I was able to do more for others, but due to an chrinic illness, I am limited to what I am physically able to do! But my heart goes out yo you on your new mission.
    Blessings
    Mia

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    1. Mia, you bring encouragement to me every time you stop in and I always see how you bring encouragement to others on their blogs. I'd say you are doing much! I'm grateful for you. Many blessings.
      Beth

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  4. Good for you to step out and over your fear! I have no doubt this summer will change you in a great way!

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    1. Kim, always a delight to have you stop in. I know I've said before but I love your smile on your profile picture! Would love to have you join us on this journey of stepping over our fears.

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  5. I get the sense that those tears, Beth, are the Holy Spirit at work in you. You are in good hands ... very good hands.

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    1. You're setting the example, friend!!! Love ya

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    2. You both inspire and encourage many. Thank you, Jennifer, for the opportunity to share each week on your site. Many blessings. XO

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  6. Oh how wonderful! I can't wait to hear and see what God does in and through you!

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    1. Girl -- come join us! Let's be fearful -- I mean BRAVE -- together. :)

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  7. Beth, I have let my own fears keep me from being more of a witness to my neighbors so your post hit my heart today. I only post every week or two weeks but I love the heart in this challenge. To be a part of others coming to know the Savior is a joy unspeakable. We are to be a missionary right where God plants us. Looking forward to what God is going to do through the summer.

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    1. Betty - nice to meet you here. We'd love it if you'd join us when you can and share how you serve. We can all be changed and change others -- I think you'd have much to share. Blessings.

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    2. Thank you, Betty, for stopping on and sharing. Thanks for joining in on the blog hop too. I will be coming by soon to visit. Would love for you to be a part of this journey even if you can't share every week. Your words are so true..."we are to be a missionary right where God plants us." Many blessings to you. Beth

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  8. What an amazing challenge! I am looking forward to seeing your progress and being encouraged to step over my own fears! Stopping by from Kristen's blog! Have a great weekend!

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    1. The challenge still scares me, but I'm feeling inspired to step over those fears. Would love for you to join us Diane. Together our small steps can change the world. Wishing you a wonderful weekend as well.

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  9. Stop, look and listen, and really see others - that is a big challenge for me as I go through daily life with a million thoughts in my brain! I do believe, though, that He wants us to really see.

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    1. Jerralea, it's a challenge for me too. Every night I drive home from work I wonder...if I see this homeless veteran will I have the courage to stop this time? We would love for you to join us even if it's sharing the challenge to see as we go through daily life. Thank you for stopping in and sharing. Blessings to you.

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    2. That's it -- to see and then stop. I need accountability in that area. Jerralea - come join us. Let's do this scary, I mean brave, thing together. Blessings!

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  10. Just love that you made me think of that verse in Amazing Grace in a different way! Prayers for you this summer and on all that you will "see".

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  11. Oh, how I *adore* your beautiful heart, Beth. What a beautifully poignant post.

    You've got several sisters standing with you, holding His hand beside you. Bravo, brave girl! Much love.

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    1. Thank you, Kristen. Your kind words always warm my heart. Much love to you too.

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