Acknowledging Answered Prayers

This morning's devotion was given by Terri Griffin, Ps 115:1 and Ps 116:1-2.  Psalm 116:2 says "Because He turned his ear to me I will call him all the days of my life".  When God answers our prayer requests, whether exactly how we asked or in some other way... how often do we stop and lift up a word of thanks?   How often have you asked for "no rain tomorrow", or "one more good day on vacation", received it, and failed to just say "Thank You Lord"?  How often have you prayed that the job you interviewed for will be offered to you, and it wasn't, then later on that same week,  month or year you find yourself in a position that would have been difficult had you gotten the job...... and you failed to lift a word of thanks to the Lord?   We do it all the time, and it's normal... but my point is maybe to have you think a little about just giving thanks to the Lord for everything... large and small, signifficant and insignifficant, life altering or not.... He is the ultimate provider and He deserves our praise and thanks.  

But get this friends..... we need to be in the conscious habit of thanking each other as well.  If someone holds the door for you, or greets you at church, or even just passes you at the mall....try to remember toacknowledge that persons presence.  It's amazing how you may bless their day. 

You know the saying "When life gives you lemons....  make lemonade"?   Friends, we have made gallons and gallons of lemonade in the very short time that we have been here.   We have done and undone several projects, started and stopped several projects,  hurried up to wait on several projects, and we've only been working a few days.    BUT, the great thing is...... in our time together, we have been able to minister to each other, as well as our neighbors.  There have been so many opportunities to share our faith stories with each other, and we have all been fortunate to be in the company of so may Christians.   Whether or not we share the same language, we share the same God. 

Here is a little of what we've done today.......and not necessarily in order because it's been fairly random today.....

The sheet rock was going up the same time the framing of the exterior walls was happening, that is..once we were able to free up some people to leave the rock pile and head to the upper level.

Plastic goes over all the rock....

Someone couldn't miss an opportunity to handle the heavy equipment.... how about parade wave..... Susan, you are beautiful!!!

The rock pile is much smaller, and the dirt goes in last.

Here are some pretty happy workers... the dirt is finally in the huge hole!!!

We worked high and low..... and see the happy faces!!

And of course, who doesn't love and icecream break during the day.  Joseph's mom springs for a treat.

This is Pastor Luke walking through the new drainage maze......He and Carlos help install the drainage pipe.

Reid was ministered to today by a 12 year old boy.... this message was given to him and it says "God loves you very much".  The boy's name is Joseph and  he worked with us all day today.  This boy rode the back hoe, hauled rock, cleaned up cement, and whatever else we needed him to do.  What a beautiful soul he has.

We would like to ask for prayer for Reid today.  He had a little mishap with the wheelbarrow full of large rocks and hurt his arm.  Nothing broken, but a nasty bruise and some scrapes. 

We would also like to ask for prayer for our contractor, Dronald and his wife.  They had to leave today because Shirley's mother was taken to the hospital.  They do not know what the problem is except that she passed out in the shower today.  We pray for her health and recovery, and for Dronald and Shirley's peace of mind and spirit.

God we thank You for our families, our friends near and far, we thank You for the weather and for the ability to work for you.  We thank you for our differnt gifts and we are grateful for our many many blessings.  We give You praise for everything that we have and everything that we are.

We are off to church so we must say good night.  God bless you all,  "Dios te Bendiga".