Beth’s biggest surprise in Zimbabwe.
God story
God Stories from Zim: A Future and a Hope
Beth’s story of a dream, and a new destination…
Dear Diary…
Have you ever had the “song” thing happen? Remember the high school or college romance when you had “Our Song”? Sigh. But the part that nobody ever told you about was that every time you heard the song from that infatuated moment forward until you were wrinkled and gray you would think of that person, that time, that romance.
I don’t know about you, but these are not always happy memories for me. I don’t like being reminded of him, or us, or how much it hurt.
But God.
Last night, He showed me how He is the Redeemer of all things. Because last night, I was on this excellent date with Chuck, and over the speaker I hear this song. It was a song God had given me a year ago. I stopped mid-sentence to listen. And to remember. He reminded me of all that was going on during that time, and all that He had healed (obviously with Chuck and I being on an excellent date). But He also reminded me of the His love for me.
No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you
Who knew? Who knew that Jesus remembered “Our Song”? Or that when memories come back from this Love Affair they aren’t hurtful. But indescribable. Beautiful. Wonderful. A love affair that will never end.
I am beginning to see that Jesus likes to share His entries in His diary about me — with me. Love notes, whispers, songs, and dried leaf hearts. He is the pursuing Lover we have been looking for our whole lives . . . .
Listen. You will hear Him singing over you.
Dominos: Better Than Lucky Charms
Okay, you are not going to believe the Ah-Ha moment I just had. I am laughing my head off. Yesterday my friend responded to my prayer request letter with a blog post about giving thanks. The author instructed us to thank the Lord for everything. Literally. Even the bad stuff and the hurting places. Even the “how is this going to work out” things.
Now. For the record, I know this already. I have taught this for Heaven’s sakes! But I was still running around like a chicken with my head cut off. (Have you ever really seen this? Not pretty.) Bear in mind, my frantic action is happening right after I have just had a session of prophetic prayer in which they said about me: You are striving. You are not resting. You think your way is better. You have a foundational trust issue with God.
Well then. So I sit down, and I, literally, thank the Lord for everything on my to do list. And the things on my mental freaking out list. One of my entries reads: Thank you for the questions about clothes, meds, and packing.” These are real needs. Real issues that have to be resolved before I leave in a week for Zim. I have been all over town trying to work these issues out. (Striving, not resting. Not trusting.)
Here is the Ah-ha. Yesterday afternoon, after I wrote this entry yesterday morning, I am at a meeting and my friend says, “Hey before I forget, do you need shorts or pants? I have a whole tub for you to go through.”
I couldn’t believe it. It is like they were custom purchased for me, although we have totally different body styles. So I am just thanking the Lord and going on my merry way. But then this morning, He draws my attention to thanks having a Domino effect. Two people also called me yesterday about help with the meds I need to take with us. I have all the suitcases I need now. I have my pants! And on top of this, if this weren’t enough, I just heard the Lord tell me that I needed to take gifts for the women’s conference I am teaching. I tell our business manager, “I need money for some trip supplies.” And at the very same meeting, someone leans over and whispers, “Hey, I have a check for you, don’t let me forget to give it to you.”
Now if you are not already shaking your head like I am, here is the kicker. Know what Domino means?
French, probably from Latin —in the ritual formula benedicamus Domino — let us bless the Lord. A whole new concept of the Domino effect. We bless Him. He blesses us, we bless him.
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation. O my Soul praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation. All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near, Praise Him in glad adoration. Hallelujah!
Eyes Wide Open
When God speaks, what do you do? I was driving down the road and Charis unexpectedly changed the station on the radio. But she pushed a button of a station we rarely, if ever, listen to. And here come the words:
‘Cause it’s you and me and all of the people
With nothing to do nothing to prove
And it’s you and me and all of the people
And I don’t know why I can’t keep my eyes off of you
Something about you now
I can’t quite figure out
Everything she does is beautiful
Everything she does is right
‘Cause it’s you and me and all of the people with nothing to do
Nothing to lose
The “voices” in my head immediately shouted out: “You are so vain, so foolish to believe that’s for you.” But sometimes, if you listen rightly, even the “voices” go too far and betray themselves. Because they ranted on and said, “You are not beautiful.”
With that lie, the source was exposed, and my spirit snapped to respond. “Yes I am. Jesus said so.” And the Spirit whispered softly, “Good, now… listen again.” The song washed over me and my heart opened like a flower opens in the morning to receive the sun. “Love you back, Lord,” I prayed. With a full heart, I pondered, What will you and I do together with all the people?
All this in a split second. All this in the middle of an ordinary day. With to-do lists, with kids, with bills, with fears and hopes. All this and more God does just to remind us – we are not alone. We are not on our own. It is “You and me.” The two of you, you and Him. And He loves doing life with us. Really. Even the mundane, is not to Him. He just can’t keep his eyes off of you.
Open your heart to the songs, touches, whispers of God. There is nothing better.
My Soul Sings Out “Halle-lu-jah”
There is no one like our God. No one. Not just when things go like we want them, but when all of life becomes dark, gray or numb. There is no one like Him, Them. No one who washes us out of Their glorious riches like They do. There is no one loving and leading like They do. No one who can be Father, Brother, Lover like They can. No one who sees our desperate need and reaches out to heal and restore. Not disinterested observers from afar. No, this God is right in the middle of our business. They get in there and wash, and redeem and breathe dead bones back to life.
They delight in being Our God.
Listening right now to the song “Reign in Us” by Starfield. How it makes my soul soar:
Oh great and mighty one
with one desire we come
that You would reign that You would reign in us
we’re offering up our lives
a living sacrifice
that You would reign that You would reign in us
Spirit of the living God fall fresh again
come search our hearts and purify our lives
we need Your perfect love we need Your discipline
we’re lost unless You guide us with Your light
Lord Jesus
come lead us
we’re desperate for Your touch
What are you desperate for? Life, hope, health, friends, love, money, peace? Come to the One Who promised to meet all your needs out of His glorious abundance. He lacks no good thing. This whole Zimbabwe trip has forever changed my life and I haven’t even left yet. The question about God that I had to face is this: I know You are Good. I know You are Here. I know You are Able. But are You Willing for me?
What He revealed was that I had a lot of false props in my life. Lots of places that I leaned on other than Him. And one by one, (and I am quite sure we are not done yet), He is showing me, He doesn’t just say, “I am the Life.” HE MEANS: I am the Life. I AM your life.
Every way, every day, every need, every desire. I have so many things to give testimony about to brag on Him.
God has provided all our Zimbabwe funds! You should hear the stories… Only God could have done that.
God has rescued my marriage and we celebrated 19 years on April 13. Only God could have done that.
God came down in overwhelming extravagance at the retreat. Women were given wings to fly. Only God could have done that.
On and on. What about you? What will you give testimony about today? Don’t miss the power of God that is released when we praise Him in every season, act, and issue. “And they overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.”
You thought of us before the world began to breathe
You knew our names before we came to be
You saw the very day we fall away from You
and how desperately we need to be redeemed
Lord Jesus
come lead us
we’re desperate for Your touch
Oh great and mighty one
with one desire we come
that You would reign that You would reign in us
we’re offering up our lives
a living sacrifice
that You would reign that You would reign in us
Spirit of the living God fall fresh again
come search our hearts and purify our lives
we need Your perfect love we need Your discipline
we’re lost unless You guide us with Your light
Lord Jesus
come lead us
we’re desperate for Your touch
Oh great and mighty one
with one desire we come
that You would reign that You would reign in us
we’re offering up our lives
a living sacrifice
that You would reign that You would reign in us
we cry out for Your life to revive us cry out
for Your love to define us cry out
for Your mercy to keep us
blameless until You return
oh great and mighty one
with one desire we come
that You would reign that You would reign in us
we’re offering up our lives
a living sacrifice
that You would reign that You would reign in us
[2 x]
You would reign in us
So reign please reign in us
come purify our hearts
we need Your touch
come cleanse us like a flood
and send us out
so the world may know You reign You reign in us
[3 x]
“Sweetly Broken”
The Lord met me at the beach last week. I am still in awe. Standing on the seashore I always get caught up in the seashells. I just love them. They are so beautiful and colorful. They are diverse and repeating. And for the most part, they are broken. That is why I only look for the perfect ones.
On the first day of the beach trip, I was so caught up in looking for the pretty shells that I had to stop, drop and roll. Stop looking. Drop the handful and roll my eyes out on the water.
To which I immediately heard, “I am so glad you came.”
After I fumbled an apology for getting distracted by the lesser thing, the Lord and I started a dialogue about how seashells are really sea debris. They are only indicators of life that once was. We talked for some time about learning to focus on the deeper life of God, the unseen reality of Him, instead of running from shell to shell on the shore. Instead of seeking the hidden living treasures of the ocean, I was captivated by the trash of the sea, the remnants and reminders of what lies in the depths.
“But, I still like them so much, ” I sighed. To which He replied, “I know, Me too. It is a way for you to see glimpses of My beauty.”
Fast forward to dinner that night with friends, and I was recounting the conversation. Then my friend Dana offered to read a poem that the Lord had given her. I sat there stunned as she read about the beauty of the broken shells like the beauty of broken lives, because life pours out when both are broken.
So the next day on my walk with God, I kept hearing the song, “Sweetly Broken” (by Jeremy Riddle). I asked the Lord what He was trying to say about that song and the conversation from the night before. And Wow. I saw a broken shell in the shape of a heart. I thought the Lord was just trying to love on me, but He told me to keep looking. So I found another. And another. And many, many more.
“What is this, Lord?”
“You were looking for perfect shells. But you can only find the hearts when they are broken.”
“Like people,” I said. “Like me,” I whispered.
“Yes, sweetly broken,” He said.
I began to weep. On the beach. In front of everyone, but I didn’t care. I thought about my own story. And the story of so many women and men. And you only see our hearts when we are broken. Like our Lord, we saw His heart when it was broken.
And His life has poured out on us, and our lives on others. Sweetly broken, the aroma of Christ. Hallelujah, what a God…
Take a Breath, by Guest Blogger, Beth Hungerford
The Lord gave me a really cool spiritual picture. Jana was talking to me about sin issues and how when we have a break-through that it’s like God is bringing us up for air and letting us take a breath before we have to go back down and keep working through the issue. In other words, we are not done; He’s just giving us a breath and a sense of making progress.
Here is the picture He gave me. We were playing water polo during swim practice several summers ago. Brittany, my very fun and extremely competitive coach, was on the other team. I was having a great game and had scored 2 or 3 times practically unguarded. Brittany was getting frustrated that no one was defending me so she switched from offense to defense. The next time I got the ball she wrapped her arms around me from behind so tightly and completely that I couldn’t move and plunged me under the water in hopes that I would let go of the ball. After a few moments she brought me back up said, “Take a breath,” and immediately dunked me right back under. This is such a strong picture for me of what Jana was talking about.
As I thought about it more the Lord clarified it a little making a distinction. Brittany was taking me under trying to get me to give up and stop fighting whereas the Lord’s goal is for us to be free and have a deeper and closer walk with Him. He lets us struggle until we are ready to give up and then brings us up for air to let us catch our breath and says, “Ok you ready? You are stronger now and you can hold your breath longer so this time we are going in deeper and it’s going to be even more amazing.”
This goes for more than just sin issues. I need to remember this the next time I find myself having to deal with something I thought I had already worked through. We weren’t done, He was just giving me a breath.
A Timely Word Aptly Spoken
On a very soggy, groggy morning, my friend sent me this great devotion. It was exactly what I needed. But of course, God already knew that didn’t He? That is why He stirred her to act and why I am so blessed that she listened.
It reminded me of a story my friend Mary K. told last night. She was really sick and God prompted a friend to call her. And the friend did. Mary K. could hardly speak for holding back the tears as she told the class how much that one gesture of kindness, that one act of her friend responding to the Holy Spirit’s tug, reassured Mary K. that God knew how much she was suffering and He cared.
Remember God is always working for our good. Even if it hurts. Be encouraged today. And better yet, if the Holy Spirit prompts you to love on someone today, please do. It may make all the difference.
March 16th
“It is good that you recognize your weakness. That keeps you looking to Me, your Strength. Abundant life is not necessarily health and wealth; it is living in continual dependence on Me. Instead of trying to fit this day into a preconceived mold, relax and be on the lookout for what I am doing. This mindset will free you to enjoy Me and to find what I have planned for you to do. This is far better than trying to make things go according to your own plan.
Don’t take yourself so seriously. Lighten up and laugh with Me. You have Me on your side, so what are you worried about? I can equip you to do absolutely anything, as long it is My will. The more difficult your day, the more I yearn to help you. Anxiety wraps you up in yourself, trapping you in your own thoughts. When you look to Me and whisper My Name, you break free and receive My help.
Focus on Me, and you will find Peace in My Presence.”
Philippians 4:13; Proverbs 17:22
“Jesus Calling” Devotions for every day of the year by Sarah Young.
Who Is Driving?
You already know that the Lord is hilarious. And He speaks everywhere all the time. Well my God story this week is from a bathroom in Hot Springs, North Carolina.
We were making a pit stop on the way to our WGR Leadership Retreat and I saw an open Bible on the bookshelf next to the potty. So since I was just sitting there for a moment (ahem) I looked over to see where it was opened. Oh, surprise, surprise: Psalm 23, where most Bibles are marked in funeral homes and the like. But I sensed the Lord telling me to read Psalm 26 because I love that one. I quickly realized it was in the King James Version, and this familiar verse took on a whole new kick.
“Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.” Psalm 26: 2
When was the last time you prayed that? How much do we give the Lord permission to examine and prove us? I don’t know about you, but the term “try my reins and my heart” really grabbed my attention. Reins are what you use to direct, to lead, to guide, to stop or correct. Reins are how you drive a horse, a carriage, a life.
“Try my reins.” See if I willingly hand them over to You. Are they supple in Your hands from firm, loving use? Are they easy to hold from lots of hours of good following and obedience? Or are they stiff and unused? Have I been running wild without reins or direction?
What about my heart? Do I do the same for my heart? Willingly hand it over? Trust You to hold and lead? Is it soft and following, or hard and balking when You apply tender pressure? And honestly, what is the difference between my reins and my heart?
It is the difference between my will and my affection. It is one thing to say you follow God. It is another to love Him. It is one thing to “obey” out of fear, and quite another to “go with Him” out of pure adoration. Both the reins (or will) and the heart are what God is after. Wholeheartedly His.
Examine me, Lord. Test how I am living life with You. Gauge how I am allowing my life to be led. By You or by my own selfish ways. You are the God of my will. You take the reins. And hold my heart, Lord. Keep it warm, safe and soft in Your mighty right hand. Heal me and make me fully yours. Amen.