BRUSHSTROKES

We are well into 2010 now, and I was reflecting upon everyone's positive attitude when we first entered this New Year. Many people stated that they were excited about what God had shown them that was going to change for them in this year. They were excited about working towards new goals, hopes, and dreams. Some said that they would have more faith, patience, love towards others, and a closer walk with God before this year was done. I was really in awe at how hungry people seemed to be about improving their relationships and spiritual lives.

If you are one of these people, I hope that you have been praying upon your ultimate purpose in life. Praying about what it is that God created you to do. Praying about what God's calling is on your life. I, along with a friend from my inner circle, was having a conversation about this very topic the other night. We both know exactly what it is that God has called us to do! We know for which purpose we were created, but how to get there is what we are struggling with. So, as I usually do when I am perplexed, I began to search the Bible for examples of people who had the same feelings and were in the same situation as I. And, I began reading about Miriam, which led me to a mini study about Moses.


Numbers chapter 11 is just one instance in which God spoke to Moses with a set of directions that seemed impossible through Moses' eyes.
Numbers 11:21-23 reads:
But Moses said, "Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, 'I will give them meat for the whole month!' Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?" The Lord answered Moses, "Is the Lord's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you." (NIV)


In this situation, Moses is just like me and my friend. God has told Moses of a great task that he will accomplish for God's purposes. It is in His will for Moses to meet the needs of these men. You see, these men, all 600,000 of them, are traveling with Moses as their leader. They have left Egypt under Moses' leadership and are now starving and wishing they had remained there. These men are upset at their leader now because their basic needs are lacking. When things go wrong, people tend to naturally blame the leader.


God has spoken to Moses after he has cried out about the troubles in the travel. God promises Moses that the men will eat for one whole month. Moses begins to question why God wants him to make such a bold promise to these men, when he has no idea how the promise will be met. Can you imagine, standing in front of all these men who are already angry at you, making a promise to them that they know that you alone will not be able to keep? Even though Moses was unable to see how this was going to pass, he was obedient to God's instructions. How many times has God told us to do something, but because we could not see with our eyes, or think with our brain HOW it was going to happen, we brushed it off, and put our focus elsewhere?


I am not sure if this is the case with everyone that God speaks to, but when God showed me my purpose, He showed me the BIG PICTURE and not the BRUSHSTROKES. In essence, He revealed to me ultimately what it is that I am to be doing in my kingdom building work. I also think that it is awesome that what He revealed to me is also what I am so passionate about in life, and what makes me feel the best when I am doing it. I was very excited, but my excitement was somewhat overcome by fear and nervousness.


When we are working for God, it is a serious matter. Every opportunity that we have to use our spiritual gift to help build God's kingdom and change the life of another is a privilege and is extremely important in our spiritual life, and the lives of others, even when we can't see it. The fear and nervousness came because I could see what I was supposed to be doing, but the BIG PICTURE looked so much bigger than me. In my mind, it appeared that I would be incapable, just like Moses. I tried to rationalize how this would come to pass, but that is what God reveals through the process of fulfilling our purpose.


BRUSHSTROKES reveal the picture. When some artists begin to paint, they just start. They may not have a definite idea of how the final product will turn out. They paint, and each BRUSHSTROKE is a detail in the BIG PICTURE. God reveals our BRUSHSTROKES as we move along in this journey. BRUSHSTROKES bring us faith and patience. Some a big and some are small. Some BRUSHSTROKES are joyful while others may make us feel pain. Some BRUSHSTROKES may make sense to us, while others may not. Despite the type of BRUSHSTROKE and how it may look, when all of them are put together, they create the beautiful picture of our purpose!
Right now, I am working through my brushstrokes. When I get impatient and perplexed, I remind myself that my artist is my Great Father! When I don't understand, or my picture may be looking a little skewed, I ask Him for the purpose in that stroke. I ask Him to continually reveal Himself to me along with what is to come in His will for my life. And, although my painting is not finished yet, God is still stroking and I know that there is work to be done that will grow me into my ultimate purpose in life. Even when it seems scary, we must keep pressing. Remember: what God usually shows is bigger than us, that way; we will need Him to reach the goal!

Spiritual Reflections

1. Has God revealed the big picture of your life purpose to you? If not, pray about it.
2. What are some brushstrokes you have had to encounter in your growth process?
3. How have these brushstrokes prepared you for your big picture?
4. Thank God just for whom He is and that He is our artist!

Related Reading: 2 Timothy chapter 1

Are you Available????

"And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14 (NIV)
Just about everyone knows that process of applying for a new job. First, you fill out and return all important paperwork. Then you wait ever so patiently for a telephone call in which the purpose is to set up an interview with you. After you are interviewed, and the employer makes the decision whether or not they would like to add you to the team. One of the important factors that the employer considers, along with your interview, is you availability. Can you work nights and weekends? Can you work on holidays? Or, do you have ANY availability at all? Are you going to be able to focus when on the job; or are you going to be distracted? All of these are questions that potential employers must ask themselves about you when you interview for the job. The fact of the matter is that they have an end goal in mind, and if your qualities and availability will keep them from accomplishing what needs to be accomplished, you will not be hired for the job.


Esther was a young woman that definitely made herself available so that God could work through her. Esther was a Jew whose beauty had drawn that attention of King Xerxes. King Xerxes was ignorant of Esther's nationality, and that is the way Esther was instructed by her uncle Mordecai to keep it. One day Mordecai was outside of the King's gates and overheard two men plotting to kill the king. He communicated this disturbing news to Queen Esther who immediately told King Xerxes. After this, King Xerxes decided to promote Haman, one of his nobles, to the position of the highest noble. Outside of the king's gates, everyone knelt down to show honor to Haman, but Mordecai refused. Because it had been exposed that Mordecai was a Jew, Haman issued a decree stating that all Jews in Xerxes' kingdom would be killed. Haman continued on his quest to rid the kingdom of Jews because of his deep hated for Mordecai's rebellion. Queen Esther was the final factor in this story. She was the one who went before the king, having to expose herself and her nationality in order to save all of the Jewish people in the kingdom.


This irony in this story is that Esther lasted as long as she did living in the King's quarters before having to expose herself. By the time she had to expose her nationality, the King had so much favor for her, that it was not an issue to him.


Esther could have easily said no to Mordecai's plea to help the Jews. She could have said no because her exposing the truth about herself was a risk to her very own life. Had King Xerxes not favored her so, she would have surely been put to death. Esther was available for the task that God had placed in front of her, and she began to see her purpose for being in the King's quarters. You may be in a nice position right now for kingdom building purposes only. Esther's task was far from simple and clear. Esther probably did a lot of thinking and decision making throughout this process because every step was crucial to the survival of her people.


Can you imagine God giving you a task of that magnitude? Well, my friend, He has. Whatever task God is calling you to do, it is about kingdom building and saving lost souls. You can be a life saver. The methods and materials that we use to accomplish this task may not be similar, but we are all life savers. Our goal as Christians is to spread the word of God through our actions and words. Are you available for God’s work?


My pastor often says, "What God has for you it is for you." I agree with him, but I would like to add that we must be available for what God has for us. God will not impose or force His will or His way onto us. Imagine what He sees looking down from Heaven. He can choose anyone else that is ready, willing, and available to get His tasks accomplished. We must realize that it is a privilege to serve the Lord. We are an elite group of people. Many times, we act as if God's work is more of a burden than a blessing. (That is probably because we are working outside of our purpose, but that is for another day.)


When God has a task for us, He wants us to be available to focus on what He is going to put in front of us. If we are too burdened and bogged down or to tired and tore up by the pressures of life, God will take His task to the next person who is available and accepting of His task. And, not only will they get our assignment, but they will also get our blessing for accomplishing it!

Spiritual Reflections

1. Am I available for and accepting of ANY assignment that God will send my way? If not, what is blocking my servant attitude?
2. What is it that I am assigned to at this time in my life? Am I accomplishing what God wants me to?
3. If you don't know what your assignment is right now, pray and ask God what it is. Are you ready to accept it? If not, ask God what is blocking you and ask Him to help you remove it.

Esther's entire story can be found and read in the book of Esther.

My friends, we have kingdom building work to do. Won't you accept your assignment today?