George shared morning devotions today and we were so blessed by the message. George talked about the way we measure success by the outcome of our efforts, and that we miss blessings that surround us every day. For example, there have been building teams coming here to this area for many years, and there will be teams after us. The success is in the fact that, day by day, we continue to do God's work, not that we completed a project that was started many years ago by someone else. This church will remain standing, as a blessing to this community for many many years after we successfully complete what was started here. Praise God!! But the blessings won't stop there. There will be new people saved every day because they have somewhere to freely worship and people to encourage and love them. And there will always be more work to do.... in God's holy name.
We should be grateful by the small things we are blessed by every day, not just the big ones like what we are doing here in Costa Rica. We have shelter and food to sustain us... and those things we take for granted. We have a warm, large church to worship in, while some people only have a tin shack. God's presence is just as powerful in one as the other, but we take our large building for granted. We have clean air to breathe (okay, mostly clean anyway) and clean water to drink.... we have sunshine and rain, green grass and beautiful flowers. We have families and friends that we cherish and would be lost without. We have so much to be thankful for that we don't even think about on a daily basis.... and all of those are gifts, blessings from God. I have to wonder, why in the world do we go a single day and not thank Him for all that we have? Where do we really think it all comes from? Certainly not by anything we do on our own.... and it could be gone in a flash..!! I mean, I do it too..... I get so caught up in the day, and the worries of tomorrow that I don't take time to just say "Thank you God, for all that I have and all that I am". I'd like to issue a challenge to everyone reading this, as well as myself. The challenge is this..... take time every day, for the next 2 weeks.... to thank God for everything you'd like to still have when you wake up in the morning. (thank's Susan and Damian for that sweet tidbit!!) I bet that the prayer will become a GOOD habit after two weeks... and who of us don't have things to be thankful for.. right? Remember, everything we have could be taken from us at any given moment.
Today was a very busy day. Some of us tried to finish up the sheet rock, some finished up some minor painting, some finished the old kitchen, (which by the way is slated for a meeting room/lounge for church groups), and some worked on getting ready to suspend a ceiling. It was great work and great fellowship.
There was even time for an icecream break. The icecream man comes through every day with popsicles and other treats to cool us down.
We've been blessed by the activity here today. Many people have come to the church, many children have been running aroung playing, and it's been terrific.
I must give a big thank you to Mary Lou. Although she was not able to join us this time, her spirit is here with us. Carlito has been in need of a computer to make his pastorial studies easier and Mary Lou sent one to give to Carlito. We gave it to him today and he was very happy. Mary Lou, Carlito sends his love and gratitude.
Wanda had evening devotions. She talked about worship, and what that means to her. Worship here is a little different from what most of us experience at home. Here, the pastor begins praying over the service at 7:30am. He prays out loud in the church, along with others, until just before the service. The service begins at 9:00am and goes until about 12:00pm. During that service, the band plays and you almost feel like you are in a concert, applause and all. There is powerful prayer, healing, crying and dancing. At home, we may experience a different style of worship, but the Spirit is no less present. What is your definition of worship? Is it prayer? Singing? Dancing? Is it coming to church and listening to a wonderfully moving sermon.... or just sitting in a peaceful place in fellowship with God? No matter what your definition is, the thing is that you participate. Be intentional in your worship. Be intentional in your relationship with God.
Before we say good night, we want to mention a few answered prayers. Wanda prayed, specifically for Aunt Penny, Cullin, Payton, Anna Kate, Kennedy, Leah and our children and families at home. It was moving to hear that Aunt Penny, who was suffering with a pretty bad head cold was healed over night. She is feeling so much better today, praise God!!! We do pray for our families, and this testimony is certainly proof that God is listening.
Our sweet friends.... "Mamita", Marielos and Magdalena in the old kitchen/new meeting room.
We leave you with this scripture:
Psalm 149:3-4 "3 Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp. 4 For the Lord takes delight in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory."
Praise God in worship and allow him to take delight in you.
God bless you all! Victory!
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