I wouldn’t have looked twice at these rickety, rusted benches if I saw them beside a dumpster. They were a gift to the church from a lady who saw them in the trash and Pastor Melvin had the vision of making them the focal piece for a place of prayer. We took his inspiration andran with it. After some major sanding, cleaning and painting I would say they turned out pretty good. It’s amazing what a sheet of sandpaper and a can of paint can do to what was once a piece of trash. These benches now have a perfect home, full of inspiration with words of wisdom and guidance. We wrote words and verses all over them before painting them and praying many blessings over them.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
These benches are not in a place of neglect anymore, they were given new life and God is going to use them in mighty ways for years to come. Just as God has saved us from the dumpster of sin and guilt, with His grace and mercy we all have the opportunity to be restored into the masterpiece He has created us to be. It might take some sweat and suffering, like all the labor and thought that went into these two benches, but the end product is worth all the work. Have you let God turn you into His masterpiece?
The tranquil places are welcoming and attracting those who need to find the rest only the Lord can provide. If you this oasis share with others around you; let them see you as the Masterpiece you have become.
Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Psalms 62:5
**One word of travel advice if you ever come to El Salvador…get used to chili and lime. It goes on everything from sandwiches, eggs, chips,veggies and fruit. I have come to love lime on my broccoli and cauliflower and chili on my guava 😛
Next Stop…Guatemala for debrief! Excited to meet up with the squad 🙂
