tablets of human hearts

What a beautiful journey it has been. Thank you for joining me as I reflected on our trip to Reynosa, Mexico. My last blog shared a lesson from Created Ministry’s Ashley Rogers on compassion and resourcefulness that struck a chord within my heart as I headed south to the border. Through the story of Jesus multiplying loaves and fishes, Ashely illuminated the power of bringing our meager offerings to God, who can amplify them beyond measure. Her lesson sharpened my perspective and guided me to recognize my own abilities and resources in serving others. I saw this compassion and resourcefulness exemplified by Roland and Carolyn Ashby and their work with Strategic Alliance.

For the first blog in this series, visit Reynosa, Mexico: An Introduction.

With a 330 am departure, we returned from Reynosa, Mexico and arrived back at Journey Fellowship early enough to attend the first service and hear Don Story’s sermon on More than Enough. For the blog about our return, visit Reynosa, Mexico: Day Six Return.

Don used the story from Exodus of the newly freed Israelites constructing the tabernacle (tent) where they would worship God as they traveled through the desert. Before they could even begin, they needed supplies. In Exodus 25:1-9, God instructs Moses to tell the people to bring what is needed as an offering.

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breast piece. “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you. Exodus 25:1-9

The Israelites abundantly responded to the call for supplies, so much so that they had more than enough to do the work God had instructed. In Exodus 36:7, Moses had to give the order everyone to stop bringing anything else.

Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.” Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work. Exodus 36:2-7

Don thanked everyone in that Sunday sermon. “Journey asked,” he said. “And you gave.” We had more than enough donations to purchase all the supplies to build and to furnish the house. But, as Ashley had pointed out, it’s more than just about money. It can also be the things we have that God prompts us to give. Or to use. Things like power tools and paint supplies that the volunteers brought with them to Reynosa. The sewing machines used to make the dresses for the little girls. As well as our time, our energy, our skills, and our presence. Not our leftovers. But our abundance. Our best, our quality, our excellence. (Although even leftovers and used items can be beautifully repurposed and given in love).

Once Moses had collected the supplies and materials, the work needed to begin. And to do that, workers were needed. God had beautiful plans for the tabernacle and that required those gifted with some special skills. Exodus 31:2-11 identifies metalworkers, jewelers, seamsters, among other artisans.

“See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent— the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand— and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.” Exodus 3:2-11

While most of us on the Reynosa team went because we wanted to help, we didn’t have any special skills other than being willing to jump in and work. But we had more than enough. Just like the Israelites had everything and everyone needed to build a tabernacle for worship, we had everything and everyone needed to build a house. Among us were a few experienced carpenters and painters. And along with two veteran Strategic Alliance builders, we also had a professional window washer, Spanish speakers, and some shoppers. Among the teams who came with us were a couple of young artists who painted personalized designs and images on the front doors. With the extra wood and scraps left over we had more than enough to build shelves and kitchen storage. Although we went through the paint rather quickly and thought we’d run out, somehow we had more than enough to finish. We even found some rebar on the lot that provided more than enough to make a dividing curtain rod and a clothing rod for the bedroom.

What else did we have more than enough of?

Days. Four days didn’t seem enough time for that pile of building supplies on the slab to turn into a home.

But it was. And that pile became a cozy little home for a family in Reynosa

Hours. On the last day, four hours didn’t seem enough time to finish the inside painting, shelving, and unpacking and decorating.

But it was. And we handed over the keys to the family with prayer and blessing.

Energy. Exhausted from so much travel before Reynosa, I didn’t think I’d have enough energy and people capacity for the week.

But I did. And I came back energized and overflowing with joy.

Don then moved from the Old Testament to the New Testament where, in John 6, he read the story of Jesus and the disciples facing a hungry crowd. When Jesus told his disciples to feed the people, they only saw the lack.

Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:7-8

But in the hands of Jesus, they fed the thousands. And they had food left over. Everyone had more than enough. With much left over.

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. John 6:12-13

What’s not enough in our hands, especially when we want to share it, is more than enough in Jesus’ hands. In our hands, what we have may seem meager, inadequate, and not enough. But in the hands of Jesus, it becomes sufficient, abundant, more than enough. And when we have the blessing, we can be faithful with the leftovers. Like we were with the wood and rebar.

Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians that our God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

Don wrapped up with a question to challenge us. “Is what we have meant to be consumed (not enough) like the boy’s meal, or planted (for an abundant harvest) like the boy’s meal in Jesus’ hands?” He also reminded us that miracles don’t take place before we need it, the miracle takes place as we need it.

What will our attitude be when we see a need?

• Frustration or Fulfillment
• Poverty or Provision
• Lack or Abundance

To hear Don Story’s sermon, visit: More than Enough

Is what we have meant to be consumed (not enough) like the boy’s meal, or planted (for an abundant harvest) like the boy’s meal in Jesus’ hands.

Don Story

The journey to Reynosa, Mexico was a profound experience, highlighting the power of compassion and resourcefulness. Our abundance of supplies and volunteers mirrored the story of the Israelites building the tabernacle in the desert. The message resonates with the idea that what may seem insufficient in our hands becomes more than enough in the hands of Jesus.