I’ve been promising to write a little about my trip to Mexico for over a month now. My apologies for not posting this sooner. :-) I hope you enjoy a little peek into what God is doing around the world and catch a vision for what He’s doing in your corner of His Kingdom as well.Every so often, there is a moment in time that just makes you stop in your tracks. You know, you’re walking along, quite contentedly, and then your feet stumble upon something that brings your mind back down from the clouds. A blinding flash of the obvious. A jolt into the reality that Someone greater than you is marking your steps.
It’s like you suddenly open your eyes and realize that something exciting, incredible, beautiful and eternally significant is happening.
It makes you catch your breath… and fill your lungs with the fresh air, knowing you’re exactly
...................where.
...................................you.
.........................................are.
....................................................supposed.
.....................................................................to.
............................................................................be.
Those times happen more often than we realize.
One of those times was when I stepped off the bus into Mexico last month.
The intricate way that God had planned my whirlwind three-week trip left me with no choice but to firmly embrace that He had me exactly where He wanted me to be. I couldn’t have planned my itinerary any better. A snowy road trip adventure with some sisters out to Kansas City. An evening spent with newlyweds. A sunny caravan trek to Denver with many new faces. A delightful and refreshing retreat in the Midwest with my brothers and sisters from our extended church. A beautiful evening wedding of a friend. Another all-night adventure on the road to Tuscon, Arizona. And finally, the destination: Sinaloa, Mexico.
There were eight people on our “Do Hard Things” team, representing seven different states. Our goal was to be a blessing to the Coult family, specifically by finishing the second story of their home and aiding in any other ministry work in the village. This meant full days of construction work, as well as involvement with their church to distribute “Operation Christmas Child” boxes, outreach ministry in a migrant camp, and being able to participate in the daily life where needed. It was a very full week, but one that none of us would trade. In the end, we were all able to say “mission accomplished!” with smiles on our faces.
I could tell you so many stories of God’s fingerprints…
… how He provided the necessary finances to complete the construction project (a small miracle in itself!)
… how He gave unity among our team members and others, allowing people from all different families, churches, and geographical backgrounds to work together in love and harmony
… how He gave chances to share the gospel, even through language barriers
… how a long midnight walk on the beach renewed my own weary heart
… how we saw evidences of spiritual warfare quite clearly, but also His victory over darkness
… how He protected us physically through all the construction and traveling… and in ways that we don’t even know
… how a practical joke or two might have aided in “sibling harmony” among our team members (okay, so this last one may have had more of OUR fingerprints on it. :) )
… and so, so much more (for other team accounts and pictures, check out here: Hillary, Daniel, Joanna, Sarah). However, all the individual stories are just part of one larger picture that I want to leave with you.
“For every house is built by someone,
but the builder of all things is God.”
(Hebrews 3:4)
As we were laying bricks and mixing cement (or cooking food and washing dishes), I saw a little of how God was building upon my own individual foundation of who I am in Christ. As we passed out shoeboxes full of gifts, I could only comprehend a small idea of just how much Jesus is my Treasure and how much I have been blessed. As we hugged and held the small children in the migrant camp, I could only see a tiny picture of what it’s like for Jesus to hold me securely with the assurance of my salvation and hope for the future.
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But now, as I watch the snow falling softly outside, I think back on those things … and I’m beginning to see it more clearly now. He’s been building behind-the-scenes.
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He is the builder of all things. He takes the circumstances and uses them to teach more about Himself. He takes the people and uses them to give a better picture of His Kingdom and the body and bride of Christ. He builds, gently and completely, even when we don’t realize it… even when it’s painful and confusing.
I saw that beautifully in Mexico. I see that beautifully here.
“Every experience God gives us, every person He
puts in our path, is the perfect preparation for a future that only He can see.”
– Corrie Ten Boom
Think about that with me for a minute. Look around at the faces close to you. Retrace your steps today and remember where you’ve been. The conversations you had. The walk to school or the drive to work. The home, neighborhood, city, state, country and continent where you live. The church that you attend. The problems you are facing.
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A perfect preparation for your future?
Maybe it doesn’t seem like it now. But trust me, it is. Better yet… trust Him. He said it first:
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“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
He is building in you. In me.
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This is a moment worth taking notice of.
More to come later...
~ Beth
*pictures from Christian, Daniel, and Hillary's cameras
