Blessing the Ground

On Monday, June 10^th we began the foundational work in the church – laying tile.  Before we began the Lord spoke to both me and Sandi about writing verses on the ground to bless it and all those who enter.   In our spirits we wanted to release God’s promises, favor and blessings to all those that will enter.  God led me to write the scripture references and then the word He gave me as it relates to each.  Here are a few He placed on my heart:

• Isaiah 49:9 – Prisoners of darkness, come out & receive your freedom!  The Lord led me to write the word “FREEDOM” in all caps at both entrances of the church.
• John 15:3-5 – You are His branches that will reach the nations.  Stay connected to Him!
• Hebrews 11:2 – God’s approval/favor is upon you because of your faith.
• Philippians 2:2 – You make Jesus happy by loving each other and working together with one purpose.  Stay united in His spirit.

We laid tile from about 10:30-5pm.  Later that evening we went to visit the girls’ dorm because we had never seen it before.  Three girls share one room, two in another, and then 2 others created their own sleeping quarters outside.  Their ways of living are so simple.  They sleep on thin mattresses and use a small table as their “dresser”.  They pick up their mattresses each morning and lay them against the side wall.  As we walked around, we noticed them raking the pathways of dirt to clear away any branches or garbage that may have blown in its path.  It is amazing how much pride and respect they have and show for the things God has blessed them with, even though it seems like little to most.  They are good stewards of what the Lord has given them, and they have such grateful hearts.

Our Pohnpeian family has truly given us their best, in everything that they do.  If they are sitting in a chair and see you standing, they will insist on giving up their chair so you can sit down.  They insist on serving you and treating you like royalty – something we as a team have had to humble ourselves for to receive.  They prepared their best foods for us, lots of chicken, which they don’t usually eat much of.  They honored us by not ringing the “wake up” bell in the mornings at 4am so we could get good rest.  In everything they did, they thought of us first and it was no big deal to them.  They were truly honored and grateful to be able to bless us.  It comes so naturally to them that I don’t think they even realize just how much they truly showered us with God’s best.  When I think of my Pohnpeian family, this is the verse that comes to my mind often: John 15:13 “Greater love has no other than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”  First and foremost, they lay their lives down for the Lord!  Secondly, they lay their lives down for everyone else.  They walk out this verse and are 100% doers of His word.  If you want to know what it looks like to lay your life down for the Lord, love Him with all your heart and then love others in the same way, come visit Every Home For Christ in Pohnpei, Micronesia and they will blow your socks off!!