Whispers, Starfish, and Puzzle Pieces
Alright, so this Sunday I got the privilege to preach to the youth for the church service. Granted, there were a lot less this week, because of the late night the night before to end the three day New Year celebrations. Either way these notes are what God gave me to share with the youth, which I personalized more as I spoke by the guidance of Holy Spirit, so these notes can apply to you as well. Enjoy!
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In my cultural packet for Cambodia it says it is considered polite to talk quietly and softly while in public (obviously not during New Year's celebrations, though). It is in this quietness and softness we can hear God's voice. He enjoys, loves to speak to His children in whispers.
In the Old Testament, God didn't speak to the prophet Elijah in the wind, earthquake, nor the fire, but in the gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:11-14). For me, as well, did He talk to me in a whisper to come on this trip–this Race. Long before I even knew about The World Race, I wrote in my journal about there being a whisper of something more, a whisper of God calling me to Him and to serve Him.
I didn't want to listen though. I came up with excuses about going to serve the poor in my comunity–'Lord, I'm too much of a broken vessel, too much of a hypocrite, I don' t remember Scriptures like others, I'm weak and worthless, I'm not even good-looking or charming.' I was like Moses, God called him to go to Pharoah and save his people from slavery, yet Moses gave excuse after excuse, even saying at one point, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue" (Exodus 4:10).
Yet, God said He would help Moses speak and teach him what to say. For me as well, as I've gone through this journey–He has taught me how to speak and how to have confidence in myself. In Honduras, specifically, the Lord told and encouraged me to believe in myself and to love myself as He, Himself, loves me.
Maybe you are in these same situations, especially when Saturdays come along for youth missions and you are petrified to speak. You think: "These people who I've grown up around won't listen to a word I say. They won't listen to a youth like me." Or maybe, you think: "I'm not beautiful enough, smart enough, good enough to make a difference."
I want you to know that God says that YOU ARE!!!! You are beautiful (or handsome), smart, good, and strong enough to make a difference. I believe it to be true, and I can tell you God does so as well. He needs and wants all of you in this work of His in this village and nation.
I want to share a story with you:
One early morning, after a fierce storm had hit the coast, I strolled to the beach for my morning walk. Horrified, I saw tens of thousands of starfish had been washed up on the beach by the winds and waves. I was saddened by the realization that all of them would die, stranded on the shore, away from the life-giving water. Despairing that there was nothing I could do, I sat down on the sand and put my head in my hands.
But then I heard a sound, and I lifted my eyes. There, in the distance, I saw a man bending down and then standing up, bending down and standing up. Curious, I rose and walked toward him. I saw that he was picking up the starfish, one at a time, and throwing them back into the sea.
"What are you diong?" I yelled.
"Saving the starfish," he replied.
"But don't you see, man, that there are tens of thousands of them?" I asked, incredulous. "Nothing you can do will make a difference."
He did not answer me but instead bend down, picked up another starfish, and cast it back into the water. Then he smiled, looked me in the eye, and said, "It made a difference to that one." (Adapted from Loren Eisley, The Star Thrower)
Do you see? You can make a difference. Just a smile or a word of truth or encouragement to someone can mean the world to that person. Back home my best friend says that if he hadn't met me at the time he did (7th grade), then he would have committed suicide; whereas, if I hadn't met him, then I may never have come to know Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:20 says, "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us…"
He desires to use us for His Kingdom!
Or think of it this way:
God's vision for our world is like a giant jigsaw puzzle. You and I are the pieces in His hand, and He places them in just the spots where our particular shapes, sizes, and patterns best fit with the other pieces. The full picture only takes shape as all of the pieces come togehter in their proper places. In this view, no single piece is insignificant. Have you ever completed a puzzle only to find that one or two pieces were missing? I have, and the missing pieces compelled me to pull the cushions out of the couch, lift the tables and chairs, and scour the room to find them. Those mislaid pieces made a huge difference to the outcome. They were obviously not insignificant.
God has created each of us with a unique contribution to make to our world and our times. No other person has our same abilities, motivations, network of friends and relationships, perspectives, ideas, or experiences. When we, like misplaced puzzle pieces, fail to show up, the overall picture is diminished. (Richard Stearns, The Hole in our Gospel).
Imagine if Teacher Vuthy hadn't listened to God's voice to come back here? What would this place look and feel like then? Where woule you be? Where would I be? We'd all be somewhere else, possibly not even knowing the possibilities of what God intended. Thankfully, Vuthy isn't a misplaced puzzle piece and this ministry is shining the light of Christ all over this village.
Will you be the missing puzzle piece that saves the life of the little boy down the road? Or the piece that brings your family to know the Lord?
Ok, so this is probably a lot to handle, but you are capable of doing this. You all have a voice and life that needs to be heard! God has equipped you all with the means to do this by giving you the Holy Spirit to guide and direct you! It's possible for you to change the atosphere of a house or area you walk into. Scripture says, "the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives within you."
So, walk in the confidence of the Lord and proclaim the love and power of Jesus Christ. You never know what your words could mean to someone. "You have the opportunity to be that one person to someone who needs what you have to offer" (Richard Stearns, The Hole in our Gospel).
Do you hear it yet? Do you hear the whisper? Because He is whispering to you right now to do that which He created you to do. Can you hear Him? I can.
"You, Me, let's go. We have work to do and it's urgent."
Before I close with prayer we are going to make some declarations. Declarations are statements declaring God's Truths over our lives and it is best done while standing on furniture, so everyone please stand on a chair or table–carefully and repeat after me (and Bona, in either English or Khmer).
DECLARATIONS:
I declare that…
1. I am fully forgiven and free from all shame and condemnation!
(Romans 8:1-2; Ephesians 1:7-8; 1 John 1:9)
2. I act in audacious faith to change the world in my generation!
(Joshua 10:12-14; John 14:12)
3. I have no fear or anxiety; I trust in the Lord with all my heart!
(Proverbs 3:5-6; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7)
4. I am able to fulfill the calling God has placed on my life!
(Exodus 3:9-12; Psalm 57:2; Colossians 1:24-29)
5. I am fully resourced to do everything God has called me to do!
(Deuteronomy 8:18; Luke 6:38; Philippians 4:13)
6. I have no insecurity, because I see myself the way God sees me!
(Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:13-16; Ephesians 5:25-27)
7. I am completely whole–physically, mentally, and emotionally!
(Psalm 103:1-5; Matthew 8:16-17; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:24)
8. Any adversity, attack, accident, and tragedies that were headed my way are diverted right now in Jesus' name!! (Psalm 91)
9. Now, I speak to every mountain of fear, every mountain of discouragement, every mountain of stress, every mountain of depression, every mountain of lack and insufficiency; and I say, "Be removed and cast into the sea in JESUS' NAME!!!" (Mark 11:22-24)
10. And I speak to this day and I call you BLESSED!! And I DECLARE that I serve a MIGHTY GOD who today will do exceedingly and abundantly beyond all that I can ask or think!! I say you are a GOOD GOD and I eagerly anticipate your goodness today!!
(Ephesians 3:20)
In the name of Christ Jesus, our Savior, so let it be!!!
Yep, I preach in suspenders…I'm legit!
