the eyes of Love.

after being prayed for the other day, i was so impacted by a word from the Lord that i was given. the word was: to break the mirrors i look at myself through and to let HIS eyes be my mirror. that i must stop checking to see if i measure up. i will not fail Him. wow. i need this so desperately in my life. i started journalling later and i asked myself the question: who is this that i am to fix my eyes on? this is what flowed from there...

"He is my Jesus. the Most Radiant of all. the best, most kind person to ever grace this earth. He is the One who captures hearts with one touch of His presence. He is Faithful and True. the Mighty Warrior. the Gentle Shepherd. the One who cares for the least and humbles the great. He is my Savior and the Savior of all. He is the Repairer of broken walls and shatterd hearts. He is the One who every heart longs to belong to and the One who has made a way for every heart to be fully satisfied...forever. He is Alpha and Omega. the One who was at the beginning and will be at the end. He is the Great King. the Lover of my soul. the Restorer of my broken heart and the Healer of my life. the One who calls me with a love sweeter than honey. who makes me more secure and safe than any fortress. who guards my life with His mighty arm. and daily invites me into more life, more fullness, more joy, more peace...into oneness."

how is it that he loves ME?

"...because i have been his hearts desire since the beginning. the one he has longed to see freed, consumed in his love and made whole. i am His beloved. my heart is radiant before his eyes. I am altogether lovely. with one glance of my eyes he is filled with love and his heart is consumed. with ONE glance. everytime i turn to him, looking to his face, heaven rejoices. because we are the desire of his heart. because our oneness with Him is the longing of his heart. my oneness is what drew the Radiant King to earth to live as a poor, ordinary carpenter. to give everything he could.

He came not to bring home a nothing ragamuffin, a broken mess, a weak sinful beggar to be His. he came to bring home his Bride. that is always how he has seen us.

in my eyes i am so many unfortunate, flawed things. BUT in the eyes of Love i am His lovely, breathtaking bride who he has moved heaven and earth to bring HOME.

i MUST turn my eyes from the mirrors that reflect the flawed beggar and look into His eyes and see who he has loved since before time."

everyday i am choosing to look into the eyes of Jesus.

spring.

My Beloved spoke and said to me,

“Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.

See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear on the earth;

the season of singing has come,

the cooing of doves is heard in our land.

The fig tree forms its early fruit;

the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.

Arise, come, my darling;

my beautiful one, come with me.”

Song of Songs 2:10-13

it is spring time in south africa. and i am thankful!

zimbabwe or bust!

The big news for the month is that I will be returning to...

ZIMBABWE!

(for a week, Oct. 20-27th)

As you might know, I spent two months last year in Chinotimba, a vibrant community in Zim, during the outreach phase of the church planting school. Since the day I left I have been praying and hoping for an opportunity to go back and visit all the wonderful people I met, and to encourage the house churches that my team and I planted while we were there. The time has finally come! Mike and Kalyn are taking a small team to visit Munya, the leader of the All Nations church plant. He is an incredible church planter and has started a movement in Chinotimba that has caught like wildfire! They have dozens and dozens of house churches that have been planted in this past year alone! This means they have dozens and dozens of house church leaders who need to be encouraged and stengthened! That is where we come in. We are going for a five days to pour into these leaders! I will also get to connect and spent time with all my friends from last year. We will also spend two days in a nearby All Nations church plant in Zambia encouraging that team as well. We leave the 20th and return the 27th of October.

I feel so blessed that the Lord would open the door for me to go back to Zim! I am really believing that the Father will continue to provide all the funds I need for this trip. I have some money saved that will cover much of my $500 plane ticket, but visas are very expensive for Zambia and Zimbabwe (and I have to have one for each country!)

If you would like to give toward this trip, I would be beyond blessed!*

*You can make checks out to All Nations and attach a note that says "Preferred for Whitney Caldwell" and mail to:

All Nations Family, Inc

c/o Walsh Washburn

5360 College Boulevard Ste. 100

Overland Park, KS 64030

I am eagerly awaiting being reunited to baby Jeff and to the brothers and sisters/spiritual sons and daughters God has graciously given me in the beautiful nation of Zimabwe!