Grits and Butter, a Week Full of Blessings!!!

When I asked the kids for their grits and butter cards last Saturday I knew it would be good, but I still was not prepared for what God had revealed to them in just 6 days, mercy how they bless my heart!  My devotion for Friday night was about how God's plan for us is always revealed and always clear, but sometimes we may not see it right away nor may we fully understand the meaning. It is when we LISTEN to what God is telling us, and do what He says that we LEARN exactly what it all means. Going on this trip will mean lots of different things to all of us. God has revealed to us things about ourselves, our families, our friendships, our church, our community....some in warm very heartwarming ways, some in very convicting and humbling ways. There are still many truths to be learned as we continue to "process" all that God has shown us during the course of this trip. It has been a glorious week and no doubt one that has impacted many for the Kingdom.

I want to leave you with the thoughts of our young people. These are their "grits and butter" moments, and as a friend of mine so properly called it when he read the whole grits and butter story - God's really in this stuff:
-God arranged so that I got to see my new friend I met at sports camp (Maria), for the last time on her bike on the way home from dinner at the church.
-God used my size to help get tools and materials from trucks that others couldn't get.
-I saw a mountain and I thought...God is as big as a mountain and I am so small...
-God was in it all from day 1 to day 4.
-Having a clean house to live in.
-We were cleaning Mrs. Weston's house and singing our verse and when we got done I said God and sin is like cleaning a "frigrator". Before it is clean it had sin all over it, after it was clean God washed all the sin away.
-There was a horse at one of the construction sites, a piece of comfort just for me.
-I'm not as shy as I was before this trip.
-The rain at the construction crew on Monday, I was on the roof and it was hot!
-Finding treasure in all that trash!!! Seeing how happy she was with the job we did.
-When we put the light in Mrs. Flodell's bathroom and bedroom she cried and said she had never had a light over her head. We went outside and continued working and when I came inside a few minutes later she was still there crying and cutting the light off and on.
-God uses different types of people to share his love.
-Mr. John (92 years old) helped me realize even if something isn't right with you, He still loves you.
-When I got a cross necklace from Ms. Amy I started thinking who to give it to. After about 2 days at the sports camp I saw the choice was clear - Malachi. When I gave Malachi the necklace he was ecstatic. His grandma even looked at what the beads meant. I love Malachi and hope he had a good time.
-We were able to finish both of our houses and finish everything we needed done, and I was able to go to another house and help there.
-Boulder splash, that's when Malachi went to a little stream and threw a pebble in it and yelled "boulder splash!" Which started a whole hour of throwing rocks in the stream. I learned God can help children understand the love of Jesus through something as simple as throwing "boulders."
-Hannah Lester (a girl from sports camp) said she wanted me to move here so she could have a good friendship with me.
-Gina missed her last softball game for sports camp. She said it was THE BEST THING EVER!
-It made me feel good finding an old ladies yearbook for her from her elementary time.
-God protected me at basketball camp.
-Glad we have a safe house.
-When Mrs. O saw the bathroom we finished for her, her eyes lit up. She started crying and couldn't stop hugging me and telling me how much she loved me.
-Riding through mountains through the pastures on Wednesday morning and "How Great is our God" came on the radio. The sun was peeking through the clouds and it was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes.
-At sports camp we found out one of the kids homes was actually being worked on by our group.
-It was fun to watch the smiles on the kids faces as they received their goodies at sports camp.
-When I was going to Mrs. Lowe's house I had butterflys. When I got there she was so happy to see me. Her house was being worked on and she was so happy that she had a bathroom. This was her first time ever having one, seeing her made me thankful that God sent us there last year. When I left she was crying. I know God used us to show her He loves her.
-How Miss Flodell said she had never had a light in the back of her house for 60 years.
-Just about the time it was gonna rain on Monday the people from the school came out to say we could use the gym.
-I made new friends Maria and Hannah.
-I've never been to the mountains so on the way up here (when we were close enough to see the mountains) I couldn't believe what I saw. All I could do was stare. It was so beautiful. All I saw was God.
-I am thankful for food.
-I should clean my room, not throw stuff around, put trash in the trash can, and take care of the stuff I have.
-I need to smile and love on people because everybody needs some love. Everybody doesn't have friends and family like me.
-Everything we have needed to get done has gotten done quick.
-The team at sports camp were able to help each individual kid.
-The trip has shown me that I'm not in the way of everyone and I'm here for a reason.

May God use the experiences of our week to remind you, teach you, challenge you, and possibly send you - just as He has done us.