Ministry in Honduras has been a bit different than what I expected. Little did I know that I would be moving rocks anywhere from 20 lbs to 1,000 lbs. I wasn’t expecting to be moving rocks through water, mud and horse manure. Yes, I said horse manure! The Lord broke me in good for the start of the race. I have been moving rocks the entire time I have been here and it have been tough.
The first day of ministry was though because of the work physically and because I really didn’t want to get muddy. After a few people got in, I knew I had to get in. The longer I was in the muddy water, the more I didn’t think about it anymore. The first day we moved about twenty to thirty large rocks. It was a rude awakening for me and my team. I don’t think any of us was expecting to get into what we got into. Trying to move big rocks through muddy water was very hard. The rocks would start to sink and I would also start to sink. I was very tired by the end of the week from doing the same thing every day. I was tired of coming home smelling like manure. On the last day of week, I was sitting there looking around and the Lord laid a word on my heart. I felt the Lord say, “Brent you are dirty and I am the only one that can clean you”. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:2) In that moment I knew the Lord was letting me know that there is still some pruning that he has to do in my life.
You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For is stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” (1 Peter2:5,6)
I have been moving and breaking rocks for the past two weeks now. The first week I was building a dam for a tilapia pond. The second week I was digging out a hill to build a playground for kids at school. In moving, all of these rocks I feel like the Lord is reminding me He is my rock and He is my foundation. I am a living stone being built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and Jesus is my chief cornerstone. I know this year is going to be a year of breaking down walls, trials, and tribulations, suffering, disappointments, and hardships but I know it will be because the Lord wants to grow me in the man He was me to be.
