Home » Blog » Inspiring Stories » People Helping People » Someone Cares: All Purpose

Someone Cares: All Purpose

A woodworker and lay minister finds an inspiring use for the scraps of wood that clutter his workshop.

An artist's rendering of one of Dave's inspiring homemade plaques
Unlock a world of inspiration right in your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters today and get uplifting insights, powerful stories of faith and more delivered directly to your email.

I’m a lay speaker for my church. I also enjoy woodworking. After finishing a project, I usually tossed the scraps. One day I got an idea for a sermon: Why throw away the scraps when God finds a purpose for everyone? As Jesus said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” There had to be something I could do with the leftover wood.

Then, in a Christian bookstore, I saw large plaques with scripture on them. Nice but too big for the average home. My sermon idea came to mind. I could use wood scraps to make small plaques for the folks in my church’s nursing home ministry.

Back in my shop I cut the scraps into strips, glued them together, sanded them down and coated them with lacquer. The plaques were about five by five inches. Once they were dry, I wrote inspirational messages on them and drew a picture. I attached a string to them so people could hang them on the wall.

I keep getting requests for plaques from friends who work in other ministries. How will you use the scraps in your life?

Learn more about Someone Cares greeting cards!

Did you enjoy this story? Subscribe to Guideposts magazine.

Share this story

Mornings with Jesus 2025 book Right Rail Ad

Community Newsletter

Get More Inspiration Delivered to Your Inbox

Scroll to Top