Rice and Spice.

“When you walk into the room
Everything changes
Darkness starts to tremble
At the light that you bring
And when you walk into the room
Every heart starts burning
And nothing matters more
Than just to sit here at your feet
And worship you
We worship you” – Brian and Katie Torwalt

Rice and Spice /Lots of rice with lots of spice/A little rice with a lot of spice/ a lot of rice with a little spice/ maybe some rice with some beans/ beans/ beans and rice/ beans and rice and spice.

As you all know, these past two summers I have had the honor of living in Mozambique. Let me tell you, I have had my fair share of the above combinations of food. Good thing I love rice and beans.

But one particular instance of eating one of these fabulous African cuisines has forever changed my life and forever changed my view of beautiful Jesus.

One of my gorgeous house daughters from this summer had been a missionary in a rural mountainous area of Africa. She lived a simple life among shepherds serving Him in a little corner of the world that most would not know about. Isn’t that just lovely to think about? Ya! I think so too. I got to live with this woman for three months. Jesus loves me. ;)

Well, this magnificent lady became very ill on the mission field with no medical explanation as to what had happened to her. Eventually she had to leave that beloved place and come back to the US. In the midst of being in the States, the Lord told her to come to Harvest School. She obeyed, even in the midst of feeling very ill and weak. Walking and sometimes even eating felt like a chore for her due to the fact that her body had no strength.

While at Harvest School, she felt very weak and ill and would have to spend most of the day in bed. As a house we cried out for her healing and for Jesus to restore her. Time ticked on, and at times it seemed as though nothing would ever change.

Then on week seven of this ten week long school, our whole house was up in the base cafeteria eating some cabbage and rice. We were having a relaxed conversation about what kind of spice we like to put on our rice.  Obviously, this was not much of a “spiritual” conversation.  Well, this lovely house daughter was started to suddenly laugh hysterically. The Presence of God could suddenly be felt very tangibly in the cafeteria. We brought her home, and she continued to laugh for the entire night. It was obvious that Jesus was touching her in a very special way. The next day, it was clear that she had been HEALED! She was glowing! Her eyes were so bright, as if she had stared right into the face of Jesus! We were all stunned and overcome with joy. Her body was full of strength and there was no more pain.  It was like Jesus just walked right into that cafeteria, gave our precious friend a beautiful hug filled with joy, love, and healing, and changed her life forever. We weren’t sitting there and praying intensely praying for her, or begging God to do something. He just showed up. Right there in the middle of the mundane. We have fondly named this moment a “rice and spice” moment. When Jesus walks into the room, suddenly life gets a lot of spice.

I saw another “rice and spice” moment in the bush as me and two other girls sat with a widow in front of her home. We felt that we should hug her, and suddenly she started laughing. She told us how she had been tormented by bad dreams. We asked her if she was practicing witchcraft and she said yes. We told her how Jesus was jealous for her affections and he could protect her from fear in the night. She immediately ripped of her witchcraft bracelet and decided to trust Jesus. How beautiful is that? We proceeded to have a joyful and worshipful celebration of dancing and singing around her house. Rice and Spice. Just like that, Jesus showed up!

What if we lived our life everyday, expecting Jesus to just walk into the room? I mean, let’s face it. Weather we believe it or not, He is always with us. But what if we EXPECTED Him to just show up in power and love. Just one touch is all that it takes. Just one moment and everything can change. The beautiful thing is that it has nothing to do with our efforts to see things happen. However, he invites us into the journey and the joy of how He heals, saves and delivers.  He allows us to take part. For my house daughter, we had prayed and contended for seven whole weeks for her healing.  Had we become discouraged? Sure! Were we disappointed at times? Of course! But we chose to say: “ Jesus, YOU are still King! “ We chose to look at what He WAS doing rather than focusing on what wasn’t happening.  I don’t know why He decided to heal my friend when He did. But I know our trust and love for Him was built in the process. And like they say, when it rains, it pours. When He marched in, He withheld nothing. What a good, good Father!

So friends, I am forever changed. I always want to focus on what HE is doing not on what isn’t happening in ways that I think they should be happening. I want to always know that He WILL have his way.  I have now seen Him march right into a little humble cafeteria in Mozambique and touch a woman who has been hurting for over a year.  I have also seen Him ouch a widowed mama who has been haunted by nightmares through a simple hug.  He can do anything! He is Holy, yet He invites us to partner with Him in all of His beautiful ways. May we never forget how near He really is.

“ I don’t want to talk about you, like you’re not in the room. I want to look right at you. I want to sing right to you.”  Misty Edwards.

James 4:8 Draw near to God, and He WILL draw near to you.