Wednesday, July 10, 2013

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.

16 comments :

  1. Ok, Beth -- I'm right there with you on this one: "can we skip right on over to being great?" Patience isn't one of my finer virtues!

    I think we all struggle with the small and insignificant. That was what rang in my head in last week's study, so I'm constantly reminding myself that His ways aren't mine... Don't despise the day of small beginnings... Loaves and fishes...

    A modern-day example I think of, particularly when I feel small, is this:
    Some mountaineer in the hills of western NC had a hand in one of the biggest evangelical movements in history -- He/She led Billy Graham to the Lord.

    Think about that for a minute. Talk about a "nobody" in the eyes of the world! But whoever that was is partly responsible for the salvation of thousands of souls. A-MAZING! Let's keep doing those little things and trusting God to make them big!

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    1. Thank you, Susan. I think actually I've heard that story about Billy Graham, but yes...a wonderful example. I'm grateful to have gone on this Graffiti Summer journey together and thankful for your friendship.
      Blessings,
      Beth

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  2. YES YES YES girl -- "It's about seeing and serving no matter which street I may be on." Preach it!!!

    These words stir my soul because I feel them, they are me. Wanting grand and not seeing the beautiful in the small. And BTW who decides who grand is -- I think if we but make a difference in one person's soul for a minute that is world change and that is HUGE!!!

    I wanted to go to African and God called me to Leopard Street. Who cares about Leopard Streets? And the Lord whispered, "I DO!"

    Oh how I have fallen in love with you through our summer challenge!

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  3. "It's time to silence the voice of the enemy who tells me I'm not enough and rest in God's presence." Being right where He wants you is right where He wants you for such a time as this, Beth. This was a beautiful post as you worked your way through the process. It is how it goes with me too, and I think, most of us. Life is a process and that process is best walked when we walk with God each step no matter which street we are on. "For such a time as this" has been a favorite verse for me and wrote a post on it long ago. I think I need to revisit that.
    I love this and love you. Thanks for encouraging me today.
    Caring through Christ, ~ linda

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    1. Thank you, Linda. Your comments always bless me. I'd love to read your post too. I will need to come for a visit and search it out. Thank you for your kind and encouraging words.
      Much love,
      Beth

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  4. Beautiful and encouraging. I love that too, for such a time as this. God knows what he's doing even when we don't. I know he has his hand on you to the big and the grand and small and unseen.

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    1. Thank you, Lisa. He has His hands on all of us. It's been amazing to see how He's worked in each of us through this Graffiti Summer journey. I'm grateful for our new friendship.
      Blessings,
      Beth

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  5. Beautiful Beth...and yes, I love the truth of that scripture! Just trust. God is using you!! Maybe relevant today? http://allume.com/2013/07/ripening-or-replicating-how-are-we-growing-as-writers/

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, Elise. I will be stopping over to Allume! Thanks for sharing a link.
      Blessings,
      Beth

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  6. Love this, Beth!! I think all of these "small" moments of serving we're seeing are SO MUCH MORE significant than we give them credit for. And at the end of it all, I'm right there with you, seeing others with the eyes of Jesus, and trusting where He leads.

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    1. Emily, I'm grateful for being able to take this Graffiti Summer journey together. The words you have shared have inspired and encouraged me in many ways.
      Much love,
      Beth

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  7. Love this. I have continued to hear this over and over, which is why I started the podcast Right Where You Are. Sometimes, I think we are truly right where He wants us to be, but we just don't pay attention. Great reminder!

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    1. I look forward to catching up on your podcasts Tammy. Thank you for stopping in and sharing.
      Blessings,
      Beth

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  8. Dear Beth
    I think it is much more difficult to live the ordinary life of loving your husband and children, doing dishes, laundry, lunch boxes etc. etc. etc. than doing some "great work" for Him. He tells us in Acts somewhere that He is not served with human hands. So, just keep on keeping on, dear friend.
    Blessings
    Mia

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    1. Mia, you always leave such wonderful thoughts to consider. Keeping on my friend. I'm grateful for your love and encouragement.
      Much love,
      Beth

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Much love to you.