Lots of our days here have consisted of manual labor, which is honestly not my forte. I find beauty in using my body to serve the Lord, but I often times struggle to see the depths of what we’re doing. I am working on seeking the Lord in every action that I make, not just in the things where I find it easier to see Him moving.
Yesterday we were working on a farm, helping to beautify the property in hopes of one day making it a church. It was a slow day of labor, doing things such as painting poles, sweeping roofs, and mixing concrete. As my team and I were gathered, some mixing concrete, others of us watching and talking, my squad leader Drew looked up at me and said “Piper, you’re the journalist here, turn this into a story!” We call these popcorn sermons, and they happen more often than not. Most of the time we take random things that are said/done and; partially joking, attempt to turn them into a sermon.
We don’t mix concrete here the way you do in the US. We take scraps of dry dirt and rocks from the side of the road or wherever we can find them, and mix them with water and some sort of activator (don’t quote me on the activator part, like I said construction isn’t my thing.) As I was looking at the concrete being made, trying to quickly come up with some sort of “popcorn sermon,” I realized that I viewed the dirt as just that, dirt. Nothing but scraps – unuseful and worthless. And then I noticed how those scraps were easily being transformed into something extremely useful, with only a few added ingredients.
I have a lot of scraps. I have a lot of broken pieces in the very depths of me that I view as useless. In that moment of mixing concrete, the Lord reminded me that He takes all of my scraps, dirt, and broken pieces, pours into them, and He turns them into the most useful parts of my being. He breathes life into things that I never thought He could breathe life into. He loves the parts of me that I viewed as unlovable.
I challenge you to go sit in stillness with the Lord. Where are you broken? What is your concrete made out of?
Proud of you! Gotta love a good popcorn sermon that ends up really speaking to you. I love seeing the Lord in the every day things. This is sweet!
Beautifully said Paper Rae ??
Wow, that is so great Piper! Here is what God spoke to me through your words – The activator that you put into the scraps to make the concrete – it bound all the scraps together to make something really solid and really useful!! Christ, as our activator does the same to us and our scraps!!! Thanks so much for sharing and the great “Popcorn Sermon” your blog was to us! We love ya!!
You are a blessing to me and your words are an encouragement. Thank you dear, Keep your focus on Christ, He will never let you down.
Lovely Pi
A lovely life’s lesson learned early in your life. Thanks for sharing….enjoy Costa Rica!!
love you ella bella!
thanks dad!! love you
thanks for sharing your takeaway!!! and thank yall for being so encouraging!