This picture brings great joy to my heart as I watch this project coming together and to an expected end. Lord willing, we want to use this expanded brick patio as a gathering place for our neighbors, church family, visitors, and anyone who comes along. We really desire for it to be a gospel gathering place. As I have watched the crew do some of the prep work, the measuring, the compacting, and careful placement of the brick, I have been reminded of Christ building His Church (Matthew 16:18), one brick at a time.
This project began with an idea, a picture and a pergola. From there, a neighbor helped lay out the design, dig up the dirt and secure the bricks. Then I spread the chat/block dust. Finally, it came time to lay the brick pavers. I was way over my head when this project began, but when I saw that stack of 7,000 brick, I knew I was in extreme deep water. Oh, I could have laid out the bricks, but what a mess it would have turned out to be! I needed someone who really knew what they were doing. So, the men in this picture are professionals . . . unlike me!
Another project took place yesterday. Our church was downtown enjoying the privilege of feeding the homeless. Many are involved in this ministry. It takes cooks, servers, singers, preachers and sharers. How blessed to minister to these people, but there is only One Who can do the best work, the work of regeneration. That work occurred yesterday morning before we even arrived at the Melting Pot. While standing in line to purchase food to be cooked for this ministry, our Melting Pot leader noticed the clerk was wearing a bracelet inscribed with the name “Jesus,” and inquired about it. This began an engaging conversation about the gospel. The clerk said she had received the bracelet as a gift from her mother, but that she, herself, was not a believer. He asked, “Do you have time for me to share with you how you can know Christ as your personal Savior? The clerk replied, “I am going on break after I ring up your items. Yes, I will meet you outside.” David took his groceries to the van and then joined this dear lady at an outside table. There, the Holy Spirit convicted her of “sin, righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8), and she put her faith and trust in Christ alone as her Lord and Savior! Praise the Lord!
You see, many people did what they could do to serve yesterday at the Melting Pot before, during and after. I did what I could do along with others on my backyard project. But when it came down to laying the brick, only one could do that. When it comes down to lost souls being added to the Church (Matthew 16:18), only One, the Lord Jesus Christ, can do that. We as followers of Christ are to be involved in many ways in spreading and sharing the gospel, but only One can “lay the brick one brick at a time” (1 Peter 2:4-10). He’s the Foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11), the Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-22), the Savior of men (1 John 4:14), and the Sustainer of the Church (Colossians 1:15-18). His work is awesome and God glorifying! And one day He will bring this project to an end (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). In the meantime, we just keep on being engaged in gospel work while the Master Bricklayer continues to “seek and to save” (Luke 19:10), one brick at a time!
If you have never surrendered to the work of Christ for you, please listen to this gospel presentation: Five Questions Video
From A Pastor's Heart 
Looking niceeee!!
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