Adventures in Flowing in God, Part 1

Posted on February 17, 2020 by Bill Hutzel

What if you believed hearing from God could actually be fun? This beckons the question – do you believe God can speak to you? No, I don’t mean just through his Word through interpretation of Scripture, but instead, like Moses, Abraham, and Paul, who heard His voice. If He does still speak to us today, then how? When? Where? Maybe you are like me. I needed to put these questions to the test.

Pressing in and listening to God

I wanted to see Sedona Red Rocks, however, the day started out with clouds and light rain, not a perfect day for sight-seeing. Wavering on where to go or what to do, Peggy, my wife, got this brilliant notion that it would be fun to tune into spontaneous flow and ask God where to go. By flow, I mean she wanted God to speak directly through his spirit to our spirit, to lead us where he wanted us to go without a predefined plan or a GPS. Proverbs 3:5-6 says “With all your heart rely on him to guide you and …. become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he will lead you wherever you go.” This may not make any human sense at first because to most of us, natural things are more real than the supernatural. But as you will see, if you shut out all distractions and put your spirit first, it becomes easier to be led by the Spirit of God.

At first, I resisted. “Are you kidding!?”, I thought, not taking Peggy seriously. Turn off the GPS? Who knows where we might end up? For miles, you could see nothing but prairie, grasslands, desert and giant 5-ton saguaro cacti standing 40-feet tall like sentinels.

Contrary to her whims, I just wanted to see Sedona.

“Let’s ask God where he wants us to go,” Peggy said. “Uh-huh,” I replied unenthusiastically, not taking the exercise too seriously, and then returned to looking out the window as she steered the car up interstate highway 17 at 75 miles per hour with the windows and roof open in our luxury rental car, a 2019 Jaguar.

When we booked the rental, we asked for an economy car, but apparently, God had already gone ahead and arranged for an upgrade. “Expect Upgrades” Peggy heard in a revelation during a business trip to Brazil in October of 2018. And so, we got upgraded from a no-frills low budget vehicle to a luxury Jaguar at no additional cost!!

As the car sped along with windows down and the sunroof open, and miles and miles of desert and giant saguaro cacti, I started to fall into a transitional state between wakefulness and sleep. As I began to nod, I began to form a mental image of hundreds to thousands of cacti with their arms raised towards heaven worshiping their creator. Psalm 148:5 says “Let all of creation erupt with praise to God.”

A desert is a place of solitude, silence and stillness. Perhaps, this is why Jesus regularly withdrew into the desert, to hear God. I knew, too, that I had to get alone in my mind, free of unrelenting chatter and noise, and become still if I was to hear God and come into unity with Peggy and God’s Spirit.

Suddenly I was startled from my half-awake, half-asleep state. “Bill, I’m serious, let’s ask God where He wants us to go. Ask Him for an exit number and let’s see if we get the same one as an exercise in hearing in Unity.” “What!?” I said half dazed. “What exit number did you hear God speak?” This wasn’t resonating with me. Besides, how could God or why would God bother to tell us which exit to take? How would we get to where we wanted to go without a road map or GPS, I reasoned?

“Bill, don’t you believe it?” “C’mon,” she said pleadingly. I tried to avoid the question, although I admit, I do believe God can do anything. Reminded of the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to me through faith (Ephesians 1:19), I knew this was true, but this seemed a might bit trivial. Didn’t God have more important things to do?

Trying to brush off the question I humored Peggy and mumbled “Um, okay, exit 101,” and went back to looking out the window. As I set my reclining seat further back, I folded my arms and closed my eyes.

“You don’t believe it, do you?” she asked as if it were a statement of fact. But I reasoned, what person in their right mind would turn off their GPS to listen to God for driving directions? This was totally out of my comfort zone. Admittedly, I also had some bedfellows tag along for the ride – doubt, fear, and unbelief.

“Where is your faith to believe?” “Stop doubting!” Peggy said. “We’re already in the 200’s going North. C’mon. Listen again.”

We were one of just a couple of vehicles on a long stretch of highway when a car passed us in the passing lane. “Wow, did you see that license plate!?” Peggy asked excitedly. “It said SKPTIC!!!” “No, I didn’t see it, I’m not paying attention.” Peggy gunned the car, switching lanes in order to show me the license plate. Now traveling at more than 75 miles an hour, I was startled out of my comfort zone. “Whoa! Slow down” I said. “Don’t ride this guy’s tail!”. “It’s okay,” she said, not concerned in the least. “Do you see it now?” Irritated, I said, “no, my vision is blurry.” I just didn’t want to admit to having seen it. How uncanny, that the God of the entire Universe (with more important things to do, I reasoned) would send precisely at that moment, a passing car with the license plate that screamed “DOUBTER!” God’s gavel came down at that very moment. I was convicted of my unbelief. But in retrospect, Peggy’s challenge to me to hear God for the improbable, caused me to stretch and confront my doubt and unbelief, even though it seemed irrational.

“Bill, He loves you so much that He sent this exact car at this precise moment, with that exact license plate to personally stretch you and communicate to you of His greatness and love for you. Bill, even in the smallest things He wants us to be amazed by Him and his devotion towards us. He loves you so much.” This was a whole new experience of trusting and listening to God.

“Wanna play, now?” Peggy asked.
I agreed to play and spontaneously blurted out “298!”
“What was that?”
I hesitated, second-guessing my reply. Did I really hear God, or was it all in my head? Challenged that I might be wrong, I recanted 298 and said “289.”

Peggy was really taking flowing in God seriously. “So, which is it? 298 or 289?” I wavered, and reverted back to my initial answer, “298.”

She remained silent momentarily, then responded, “It’s not the same number I got, but I heard God say to trust your exit number.” Incredulously, I thought, trust me? God must have a sense of humor.

It was decided, then, we would take exit 298. And, so began our adventure in flowing in God in unity and trust.

Find out what exit 298 has in store. Continue reading “Adventures in Flowing in God, Part 2”

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Adventures in Flowing in God, Part 2

Posted on February 16, 2020 by Bill Hutzel

Hearing from God should be just like sailing, effortlessly. How many of you row instead of sail? Unlike rowing a boat that relies on our own strength, sailing is near effortless. God wants us to hear him effortlessly so that our soul will live. “Give ear and come to me” (Isaiah 55:3).

You can learn to hear God’s Spirit speak. In terms of our metaphor of rowing and sailing, you can learn to hear God’s voice conversationally by aligning your sail to catch the Holy Spirit’s wind. Things can then happen in our life that would otherwise not be possible by our “rowing” our way to hearing Him.

Learning how God speaks to us, however, takes practice and guidance, just like learning how to sail. We need to learn to focus, listen, discern and respond. You may need some help with quieting your mind. For some of us, our minds go a mile a minute. Crazy-busy thoughts infiltrate our minds not letting us have a moment’s peace. We are all over-scheduled, over-committed and over-extended. This makes it difficult to hear God’s still quiet voice above the noise level.

Learning to flow in God

You will recall from Part 1 of our story; my wife Peggy got this brilliant notion it would be fun to tune into hearing God tell us where to go. “Let’s see if we can get the same number exit as a way of hearing in unity,” Peggy said. It was an exercise in spontaneous flow, stretching, listening, trusting, pressing in and practicing hearing Papa God, not just on big things, but also the small, even unorthodox things. He was teaching me to listen, to trust, to obey and to have fun.

We still had miles to drive and plenty of time to sit and wonder what would be in store for us at exit 298. As each exit passed, my anticipation built. And then suddenly I sat straight up from my reclining position. “Look!” Exit 289, Montezuma’s Castle, was one of our planned vacation stops. Remember?” Exit 289 was the other exit number I heard after recanting 298. Perhaps this was not a coincidence. Encouraged, I adjusted my seat forward and said, “On to exit 298.”

We were committed to taking Exit 298 despite my questioning and doubts. Signs for exit 298 began to come into sight, and we burst out in a big shout!

Exit 298 was absolutely THEE correct exit for Sedona.

For those of you who are skeptical, remember, we did not beforehand know which exit to take. Without either a global positioning system (GPS) or roadmap, we had to tune into God’s Positioning Spirit to get where we were going.

God showed up despite my doubts. How incredible is that!? Jeremiah 29:11 says that it was not my plans but his. “I have it all planned out. Plans to take care of you, not abandon you.” And God did hear and answer. “You will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear your voice and I will listen to you” (Jeremiah 29:12). Not only did he listen, but he also acted on our desires to hear him and guide us. Jeremiah 29:13 says “When you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” How cool is that!? And I surely wasn’t disappointed. Overjoyed and more confident I wanted to go deeper with God; I wanted to continue on our adventure. “Okay God, now where?”

When we exited the highway, Peggy asked – “What are you hearing, right or left?” We both heard left. The song Jesus Take the Wheel took on greater significance. “Every time there is a choice for a turn – let’s ask God,” Peggy said.

Upon approaching a roundabout, we had to make a quick decision to go left, right, or straight. My mind froze momentarily. Initially, I heard “go left,” but quickly changed it to “go straight” as that seemed the most logical considering that traffic flow around the circle was mostly going in that direction. Peggy heard God say, “turn left.” So, in unity, we turned left.

The left turn directed us into a lovely neighborhood. Each home was a unique adobe style home with classic red ceramic tile roofs, shades of green and brown and set against red rock cliffs. It was absolutely beautiful.

When leaving the neighborhood, we came to an intersection. Straight ahead and across the highway about one mile, sitting at the base of a 1,500-foot cliff surrounded by massive pieces of red sandstone, was the Chapel of the Holy Cross, another spot on our list.

Wisdom’s guidance

Were it my plan, going straight would have been the most obvious choice, a more direct route to the town of Sedona.

Although, had we not made the left turn and all subsequent turns yielding to God’s Positioning Spirit (GPS), we would have missed seeing Chapel of the Holy Cross. God is such a loving and kind Father to have taken us there.

How often do we make plans that are not His? How often do we not consult God and charge ahead with our own plans? How often do we miss out on what God wants to reveal to us on the off-roads because we are not listening to His voice?

When we trust the Lord completely without regard for preconceived notions and plans and rely on Him to guide us, He will lead us in every decision we make; He will lead us wherever we go (Proverbs 16:9). Further, intimacy with God opens the door to hear Him. Whether we turn to the right or to the left, our ears will hear His voice saying, “this is the way” (Isaiah 30:21).

God has a wonderful plan for you. Perhaps it is a road that you might not have taken? How will you make sure that you are on the right path? Once you are on that path, how will you stay on it? The Lord longs to be gracious to you (Isaiah 30:18). He longs to show loving-kindness to you and bless you. So, don’t rush off in your own direction. Ask God about it first.

Continue reading “Part 3 Adventures in Flowing in God”

PREVIOUS LINKS:
Adventures in Flowing in God, Part 1

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Adventures in Flowing in God, Part 3

Posted on February 15, 2020 by Bill Hutzel

In Part 2, I had learned to allow myself to relax, to get quiet and let go of stress. I was learning to sail. I had invited God to reveal Himself to me and open my heart to His presence. I was more focused and aware of Him.

God continues to surprise

God is always filled with surprises. For those of you who are skeptical, remember, we did not beforehand know which exit to take. Without either a global positioning system (GPS) or roadmap, we had to tune into God’s Positioning Spirit to get where we were going.

While I was the one who wanted to get to Sedona to see the various vacation spots, and Peggy more along for the “ride”, God had treats in store for her. After sundown, on our return trip back to our accommodations in Scottsdale, we pulled off for gas at exit 289. Remember? This was the other exit that God dropped in my ear.

Exit 289 conveniently had a Sonic Drive-Thru, Peggy’s favorite place for a peach iced tea with lime wedges. There happened to be a casino at this exit as well. Continuing our adventure of flowing in God, Peggy asked, “Wanna have a little fun with a couple of bucks?” We are not gamblers; in fact, I can’t remember the last time I’d been to a casino. And this was totally out of character for my chaplain wife.

Peggy, a bit unsettled and nervous about entering the gambling hall and feeling a little like Dorothy entering the chamber of the Wizard of Oz, dug her hand into my arm. “Slots, poker, and gambling, Oh My!” “Slots, poker and gambling, Oh My!”

The room was dimly lit and smelled of cigarette smoke. There was a sound of jangly music and the whir of spinning reels accompanied by loud beeps, bells and chimes from the gaming machines as people played their nickels and quarters. It was a cacophony of noises and smells that invaded and offended our senses. As we observed those playing the machines, with cigarettes between their fingers and lips, they seemed to stare mindlessly, without emotion, mesmerized by the brightly lit and colorful gaming monitors. In contrast, we were a breath of fresh air – figuratively, literally and spiritually.

On occasion, there was a happy and celebratory combination of flashing lights and sounds when a machine announced a winning combination. But more often than not, slot machines just took people’s money. Looking at the player’s facial expressions, depression seemed most pervasive amongst those hypnotized by the sounds, entrenched in their addiction to gambling.

Peggy and I were carefree about losing $5 and had resolved to walk away, win or lose. However, we agreed that if we did win, any winnings would go to our church offering.

I didn’t immediately enter into the flow or spontaneously hear from God when Peggy asked me which slot machine we should play. So, in my delay, she randomly picked one and played 4 quarters and lost them all.

This time we re-grouped, huddled, prayed and asked God to pick a machine. The slot machines were all numbered. What number machine do you hear?” Peggy asked. “I don’t know,” and then blurted out “395!” We located machine 395 and agreed to “play another dollar.”

I stood for the first spin, not having fun yet. The machine remained in a quiet state of rest without flashing lights or music as none of the three reels lined up. To win, all three reels must match. “Oh, well.” This time I eased myself into the chair facing the slot machine. “A quarter down and three to go,” I said to Peggy, who was peering over my shoulder. I spun for a second time, and gloriously three reels matched. It was a double payout win! I perked up, having a little fun now. On the third spin, again, “clang, clang, clang, clang!” the machine happily announced. We just won another double payout! The happy clanging noise and flashing lights again lifted my spirits. Peggy was doing the “Happy Dance.” We now had one more spin remaining. On our last spin, the machine went quiet again, but I was on a winning streak. All in all, the machine returned $5.00 for our one dollar. “That was fun!” I boyishly exclaimed. Peggy got the distinct impression from my jubilation that I was connecting with God. This was now just me and Papa time. Clearly, God the Father was wanting to show me personally a fun time, something which had been cut short in my life having lost my dad at age 11. He was restoring to me, even in this unlikely place, that which was lost, a part of my broken heart.

The joy and smile on my face spoke volumes. I was alert and ready this time when she asked, “What machine is God telling you now?” My first spontaneous thought was 350. There were six slot machines numbered 350-1, -2, -3, -4. etc. I faintly heard Papa say “350-3.” I wasn’t sure, but I would go with it. Peggy also heard the number 3. So, we agreed to play another dollar. This time slot machine 350-3 returned a DOUBLE payout, for our 4 spins. The total earnings between the two machines were $9.75. I know you’re probably thinking whoop-de-doo, woo-hoo; but it really was a big deal. Typically, odds are stacked against gamblers in favor of the house winning, but in God’s house, the odds were stacked doubly in our Favor!

Now, don’t misunderstand, I am not condoning gambling. This was an exercise in spontaneous flow, stretching, listening, trusting, pressing in and practicing hearing Papa God, not just on big things, but also the small, even unorthodox things. He was teaching us to listen, to trust, to obey and to have fun.

Our adventures were more than we hoped or imagined, more than a thrill-seeking ride at an amusement park, and to think we can live this adventure daily! He cares for us. So, drop everything and listen to his voice! (Psalm 95:7, TPT). Are you ready to let go and let God? I AM.

PREVIOUS LINKS:
Adventures in Flowing in God, Part 1
Adventures in Flowing in God, Part 2

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Pick Me Up and Turn Me Around (Psalm 107)

Posted on July 18, 2019 by Bill Hutzel

PLAY SONG “Pick Me Up” by Bill Hutzel and John D’Elia …
https://inspirationandhope.org/2019/07/18/pick-me-up-and-turn-me-around/

So often we fancy ourselves as secure and think we can go it all alone, but when God hides His face from us because we choose to go it on our own, our soul cries out to Him. “Lord, help me! Rescue me!” PICK ME UP AND TURN ME AROUND (Psalm 107).

In Psalm 30 we see that David had a propensity for going it on his own for he said: “When all was well with me, I said, I will never be moved”. And then in verses 7-11, it says that David asked for God’s mercy as he was shaken because God turned his face from him.

In Isaiah 53:6 it says that each of us (and I will repeat for emphasis “each of us”) like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to go his own way. Each of us has left God’s paths to follow our own.

Like the psalmist, we too cry aloud to God for His mercy when we have gone astray. Is this your prayer? The following lyrics to the song “Pick Me Up” express the psalmist’s same sentiment of crying out to God for His mercy to set his captive free and shatter the steel doors of his heart that had kept him back from receiving God’s abundant blessings and safety.

Oh, stand by me
Oh, Lord, set me free
Oh I’ve been goin’ it on my own
Now it’s time for me to come home
Help me get my feet back on the ground.

Pick me up and turn me around,
Jesus make a change in my life,
Pick me up, don’t put me down,
Jesus make a change in my life.

“And He did!” it says in Psalm 107:13. God’s constant love picked them up and turned them around! No longer were they bound in affliction, nor prisoners to their own pain or chained to their regrets. “God humbled us through our circumstances, watching as we stumbled, with no one there to pick us back up” (Psalm 107:12). And so, I cried out to God and repented of my rebellion against His Word; for seeking the counsel of man over His wisdom; for wandering about with no true direction, filled with despair; bringing myself sorrow and suffering because of my sins. And it says that He turned my mourning into dancing and established my feet with joy on His firm foundation again. He shined his light through my darkness and set my captive free.

When reflecting upon the words of this song, will you remember with thankfulness all the times God brought you deliverance? Then, lift your hands and give thanks to God for his marvelous kindness and for his miracles of mercy, for He loves you!

Sing my praise to You alone,
Raise my voice up to Your throne,
My arms outstretched to Your delight,
Stars shimmering in Your reflected light.

If I’m up, or if I’m down,
Sing Hallelujah, we all bow down,
Let Your light, shine in me now,
Empower me with Your Spirit now.

Here’s why, says the psalmist David, that everyone should give all their praise and thanks to the Lord!
“He’s better than anyone could ever imagine.
Yes, He’s always so loving and kind, and it never ends!
So, go ahead— let everyone know it!
Tell the world how He broke through
And delivered you from the power of darkness and
Has gathered us together from all over the world.
He has set us free to be His very own!” (Psalm 107:1-3 TPT)

God’s mercy endures forever. For those who cry out to the Lord in their trouble, He answers them. He saves them out of their distresses and sets them free. When we cry out to God, He mercifully answers us because He loves us so. “This is comfort to the greatest sinners; if they can but find a praying heart, God will find a pitying heart, and rebels shall be received with all sweetness, if at length they return, though brought in by the cross.” (Trapp)

“So lift your hands and give thanks to God for his marvelous kindness
and for his miracles of mercy for those he loves!” (Psalm 107:15)

Prayer: For your glorious righteousness reaches up to the high heavens; No no one could ever be compared to you! Who is your equal, O God of marvels and wonders? And though you have allowed me to experience much trouble and distress, revive me once again! Bring me up once again from the depths of the earth! May you give me even more greatness than before and turn and comfort me again (Psalm 71:19-21). Yes Lord, help me get my feet back on the ground.

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Look and Behold

Posted on June 18, 2019 by Bill Hutzel

As we entered into prayer with a fellow believer, we took him to the mercy seat as if it were a surgeon’s table. God began to minister healing springs of forgiveness and bodily restoration to him, and he drifted off in his mind and was overtaken by a tremendous sound, seemingly coming from heaven, that of trumpets and other instruments. It reminded me of Revelation 14:1-3. “Then I looked, and behold—there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion ……I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of cascading waters (some translations say like the sound of many waters; rushing waters) and like the rumbling of loud thunder. The sound I heard was also like harpists playing on their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne” (Rev.14:1-3, HCSB).

What does John in the Bible see and hear?

Either John heard two or more sounds at different times for he describes in one sentence the sound of rushing waters and a sound like the rumbling of loud thunder, and in another the playing of harps. Could it be that he heard an orchestration of musical counterpoints and dynamic louds and softs played simultaneously, the pounding sensation of timpani against the arpeggiated and fluid fingering of harps against a fast-flowing metered counterpoint of flutes playing sixteenth notes in tandem with other orchestral strings, brass and woodwinds?

It says the sound coming out of heaven is like rushing waters and the rumbling of loud thunder. Perhaps the sound of thunder is the sound of timpani and crashing cymbals and trumpets and of low brass. Perhaps it is also that of invigorated singing, cheers and shouts, clapping and stomping of hundreds of thousands of those in residence expressing their loud and joyful praise and worship to the One who sits on high on His throne.

It reminded me of Die Moldau from Ma Vlast (My Fatherland) composed in 1874 by Bedrich Smetana. Listen to an excerpt and let it stir your soul. The composition is programmatic in its musical poetry in that it depicts the course of two small springs, the Cold and the Warm Vlatva, to the unification of both streams into a single powerful current, through woods and meadows and landscapes. As the two springs converge as a single more powerful current, listen for the surge in dynamics as all the brass and percussion join in, the “roar of a waterfall and like the earsplitting sound of a thunderclap.” Can you hear the sound of cascading waters by the flutes and harp? Can you hear the thunderous clap of orchestral instruments and percussion and applause culminating into one large river, “the water of life, flowing with water clear as crystal, continuously pouring out from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Rev. 22:1)?

“I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw it all, I fell facedown to worship the messenger who showed me these things.” (Rev. 22:8).

“All the people went up after him, and the people were playing on flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth shook at their noise” (1 Kings 1:40 NASB).

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Take Me Deeper

Posted on June 18, 2019 by Bill Hutzel

As I sat on the beach watching the power of the waves wash up on shore, I marveled at the power of those waves as they crashed and came up and lapped at my feet. I marveled at their beauty, and at the sound of them crashing. It took me deep, and I forgot the noise of civilization, of car horns, and of the cacophony of people talking and yelling, of children playing and of the concerns of this world. I was lost somewhere else.

I then envisioned myself out in the deep of the Atlantic Ocean. It was quiet. I listened, and all I could hear was God’s quiet voice. HIS gentle waves caressed me like the soft stroke of a woman’s hand upon my arm, tender and caring.

I was lost in my quiet thoughts, only hearing God speak now. I marveled at the peaceful quiet in His voice. He did not seem concerned about anything as I am frequently, and He spoke to me. “Go deep,” he said. “Go deep, go deep. I love you. I want to reach deep inside you and reveal myself to you in a more powerful way than has ever been revealed to you before. Go deep, go deep and meet me where I am. Don’t be afraid. I will swim with you. I will uphold you. You are tethered to me. You cannot be lost or yanked from my arms. You are mine always. Go deep and meet me where I am. Don’t hold anything back. Swim with me, won’t you? Stop clinging to your surfboard; immerse yourself in my presence. I am your safety now.” Deeper than my feet could ever wander. He was calling me.

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand.

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine.

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine.
(from Oceans, Hillsong UNITED)

God wanted me to be alone with Him. He wanted my attention, and for me to worship Him. He washed over me as waves of joy, and I was in awe of his creation. And I thought to myself, how can people not marvel at God’s glorious creation?

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Go Deeper Lord – A Rooftop Experience

Posted on June 2, 2019 by Bill Hutzel

It was the early morning of our final day with the Global Awakening mission team that Peggy took the elevator to the rooftop where in quiet confidence she sang her passionate praises to God.

The air was chilly, yet as a symbolic act of immersing herself in God’s living waters, Peggy stepped into the cold water of the rooftop pool and raised her arms by her sides as an expression of worship. “Awake, O my soul with the music of his splendor, Arise, my soul, and sing his praises!” And so, there she awakened the dawn with her worship and greeted the daybreak with songs of light.

As a further symbolic act of going deeper in the Lord, she then fully submerged herself under the water seeking God’s deeper and higher calling, wherein His sanctuary she would find greater intimacy with God and hear Him speak in holy splendor words of promise. Shivers ran down her spine and throughout her entire body as the cold water startled her to the surface to gasp for air, and if she were not fully awake yet, she surely was now.

It was also around the same time, just before sunup that I retreated to the rooftop to have my devotions. In my quiet time, I received a God Wink when I opened my Bible to a bookmarked page. The bookmark was a flash card in Portuguese with English translation. On it, it said, “Va mais fundo Senhor” which translated means “Go deeper Lord.” The card, also not coincidentally, bookmarked Psalm 108 where it speaks of our passionate praises, and of awakening the dawn with our worship and of God’s extravagant love which reaches higher than the heavens.

God was calling us, but not only to go deeper, but higher. “Your faithfulness is so astonishing it stretches to the skies!” (Psalm 108:4)

Va mais fundo Senhor! Go deeper Lord!

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Between the Mountain and the Sea She Walked Alone

Posted on May 28, 2019 by Bill Hutzel

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL MARCH 2019

On the last day of our Brazil trip with Global Awakening, taking a stroll on a side street in the city between the mountain and the sea (Rio de Janeiro), we saw an elderly woman limping, visibly in pain. At first, we ministered healing to the visible pain, and then the Holy Spirit moved us on to her heart. Hugging her, Peggy spoke love, affirming her value, letting her know God heard her cries in the midnight hours, how He loved her. We gave her a God- size dose of love, attention, compassion, and care. This woman who was unnoticeable, almost blending into the streets, had a divine appointment with the God who loves and created her.

She hugged, and wept in Peggy’s arms, often raising her arms to receive God’s love and affirmation. We spoke over and over again, God never left you, he hears your cries and he sent us to hold you and let you know you matter to God.

She walked away healed on the inside and with a less noticeable limp. Praise God!!

You can walk with a limp, but it’s even more difficult to walk with a hurting heart. -Peggy Castorri-Hutzel

Visions of Jesus and of Angels

Posted on May 3, 2019 by Bill Hutzel

And when they looked up, they saw no one but Jesus (Matthew 17:8)

Below are eight personal glimpses of Jesus entitled “Visions of Jesus.”

JOURNAL ENTRY
by Bill Hutzel

Thursday, May 16, 2019

The Transformative Power of Jesus
I saw myself in the operating room, half-naked from my waist up, lying on an operating table. An intense beam of light from above was shining on me. My chest was opened so that I could see in. I thought of Psalm 139 which says, “Search me O, God and know my heart,” but God already knew my heart, I thought.

The heart had a fire in it, often depicted in art as a flaming heart, pierced and encircled by a crown of thorns. The fire represented the transformative power of God’s love. And, there I lay with my left arm extended off of the table hooked to an IV receiving a blood transfusion.

As I turned my head to my left, on the surgical table next to me lay a person. I looked closer. It was Jesus! I was receiving His blood; His DNA. It was pure and cleansing, healing and life-sustaining.

JOURNAL ENTRY
by Bill Hutzel

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Vem, Espirito Santo, vem!
While I was worshiping during Sunday morning service, my spiritual senses perked up. I began to see a picture of myself soaring through the stratosphere like a bird with my arms outstretched at my sides. It was effortless and freeing as I had not a care in the world except for my Abba Father.

My vision was keen like a hawk’s. With telescoping vision, I could see a crowd of people standing in a line. And so, I swooped down toward the crowd through the clouds with great velocity, slowing only to make a pass at them. As I passed, I extended my right hand over them causing a Holy Spirit wind to occur, “and He breathed on them” (John 20:20). Then, calling on the Holy Spirit, I cried out “Vem, Espirito Santo, vem!” (which translated means “Come, Holy Spirit, come!”). The Holy Spirit was poured out upon each person and they fell out in the Spirit (Acts 11:15).

I ascended again towards the stratosphere. It was exhilarating. As I looked back toward earth, again, God showed me a crowd of people. As before, I swooped down upon them, but this time as I extended my hand toward each person, each was miraculously healed. Cancer, tumors, physical deformities, skin diseases, everything and anything disappeared. The lame walked, the blind could see, the deaf could hear.

As I ascended again for the third time, I was caught up in the air by two angels who came up supporting me under both my arms. They propelled me further, beyond the farthest of earth’s atmospheres. And I could see a door open in the heavens. We headed directly for it. Once through the door, the angels escorted me into the Holy of Holies, the throne room of God. I was awed by the bright light and love being emitted. Jesus called me to climb upon his lap, and there I soaked in Pappa’s unconditional love for me. He stroked me, he tousled my hair, he loved on me with his loving embrace, and then he said in His quiet voice, “I love you, Billy, I love you.”

JOURNAL ENTRY
by Bill Hutzel

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Take Me Deeper
As I sat on the beach watching the power of the waves wash up on shore, I marveled at the power of those waves as they crashed and came up and lapped at my feet. I marveled at their beauty, and at the sound of them crashing. It took me deep, and I forgot the noise of civilization, of car horns, and of the cacophony of people talking and yelling, of children playing and of the concerns of this world. I was lost somewhere else.

JOURNAL ENTRY
by Bill Hutzel

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Come into His chambers
I awakened early at 5:45 a.m. I was thinking about Douglas Sterner’s visions of God herein, and how he practiced to see Jesus. I’ve also experienced Jesus similarly, although not that often.

Today, the sky outside was gray and it was raining, perhaps indicative of my mood within. And so I sat looking out my living room window. I put on a worship CD and headset, then from deep within I cried out to Jesus, sincerely wanting to experience His healing touch.

As I worshiped before His throne, I envisioned him standing before me. Deep overpowering emotions took over me as I saw myself reaching out to touch the hem of his garment, and as I did so, I became acutely aware of His presence and love for me. It was healing to my soul. Jesus was here, and he was inviting me to –

“Come into His chambers,
And worship before His throne
O come into the King’s chambers
And His glory shall be shown
O come into His holy presence
And magnify His name
O Come into the King’s chambers
You will never be the same.” (lyrics to O Come Into the King’s Chambers)

The world says men are not supposed to experience deep emotions. And so, there is this stigma I feel sometimes when sharing this, yet it is impossible for me to deny the deep emotions I have felt at times when worshipping Christ. Sometimes they are tears of joy and sometimes they are tears of sorrow. But it doesn’t mean you are weak, it means you have feelings and a heart.

JOURNAL ENTRY
By Douglas Sterner

Monday, October 5, 2015

Christ in me, the hope of glory
I was just sitting here trying to imagine Jesus literally being in me. At first, I pictured Jesus standing in front of me. He seemed to be REALLY tall. He had to really bend over to kiss me on my forehead. Next thing I know, He was “within” me. But, of course, I couldn’t contain Him — He kinda radiated out of me, manifested as a kind of blue haze or aura extending out from my physical frame about 2-3 inches. How awesome is that?! Jesus, thank You that the almost unimaginable is truly my ultimate reality — Christ in me, the hope of glory!

JOURNAL ENTRY
by Douglas Sterner

Sunday, August 15, 2004

Eyes of my heart
This afternoon, as I was attempting to take a nap lying on the couch downstairs, I thought I’d try exercising my spiritual senses — specifically the “eyes of my heart.” I tried “seeing” Jesus in my mind’s eye in various settings and ways. After several false starts, my inner sight (imagination) seemed to settle upon an image dressed in a bright white tunic. He was walking with a steady, determined gait and His face was “set like flint” — just as He is described in the Bible when He set His face toward Jerusalem and the Cross.

As I watched, He suddenly seemed distracted by something (or someone) and seemed to turn aside from His pre-determined path and goal. The next thing I knew, He walked into the room where I was lying there on the couch. He sat on the couch and looked down at me with a loving smile. I think He might have reached out and touched me and He might have tussled my hair — I’m not sure. No words were spoken that I can remember. But I was so impressed with the fact that He would turn aside from His obviously very important plans, purposes and goals to come and see me and spend time with me. What stunning love and compassion! What incredible grace and humility! What tender kindness — shown to me!

It reminded me of the time He stopped for the woman who was healed when she touched the hem of His garment. Although He was “in a hurry,” He stopped to recognize her, singling her out from the crowd and spending His precious time to giving her His complete attention and loving, healing touch.

Apparently, Jesus wants me to know that He loves me like that. He is showing me how much He desires to spend time with me — just being together enjoying each other’s company. In the past few days. He has made that very clear. Holy Spirit, thank You for blessing me and making this communion happen. Thank You, Jesus, for Your loving-kindness toward me. I love You, Jesus.

JOURNAL ENTRY
by Douglas Sterner

Tuesday, September 7, 2004

In His presence there is fullness of joy
Last night, lying in bed, I again practiced seeing Jesus. As I did, I believe the Holy Spirit gave me a vision! I was sitting at a table in a large school library. I saw Jesus running and laughing. He was running in between and around the maze of tables just having a grand old time. Wondering what was going on, I looked around. Then I saw the head of a child just barely showing over the table tops. Jesus was playing with a little kid! He then ran over to my table and sat down opposite me, laughing and breathing hard. He looked at me and smiled, exuding His supernatural joy.

I believe He’s communicating to me that in His presence there is fullness of joy. He wants me to play with Him in the “school” of His Spirit (depicted by the library setting). He wants me to relax and enjoy being with Him without making it a big project.

Seeing Jesus like that really meant a lot to me. It confirms what I’ve been told by those who have come to know Him well. Thank You, Jesus, for Your joy and playfulness. I love You, Jesus.

JOURNAL ENTRY
by Douglas Sterner

Friday, September 17, 2004

Putty in my hands
I see myself wearing the robe of righteousness that Jesus has purchased for me with His precious blood on the Cross. I sense that He has actually placed it upon me Himself. It is a brilliant, pure white, like lightning (or snow). There is gold trim around the wrists and along the bottom edge which reaches to just above my ankles. There’s a blue stripe down the center. Wearing it, I feel forgiven and accepted by God. And I really sense a boldness in approaching Him. I know that I can come into His presence because I am clothed in His righteousness. Hallelujah! Thank You, Jesus. Thank You for this precious gift — this robe of righteousness You have given me. I love You, Jesus.

I’m standing before the Throne. Jesus comes down from His throne and walks up to me. He takes my hands into His and we begin to dance, spinning around individually as our hands remain joined. Jesus says, “Doug, I am so proud of you! I’m so glad you recognize what a precious gift this robe is, for it is actually Me. Yes, Doug, you have been clothed with Me — with My very Life. My Father sees you wearing that robe and He sees Me — His beloved, only begotten Son. He loves you intensely because you are in Me.”

[I become aware that my robe is splattered with Blood]

“Yes, Doug, you have been sprinkled with My blood and you are clean — holy and blameless in My sight and beautiful in My Father’s eyes. We love you so much. Remain in Us and rest in our love.”

Oh, thank You so much, Jesus. I really sense the reality of the fact that I am accepted in the Beloved — I sense it deep within. And I am so grateful, Lord! Jesus, is there anything else You want to say to me?

“Just be with Me here, Doug. Don’t rush away. I want you to soak in My love, My desire for you. Be still and wait. See Me present with you beause I AM. I’m touching you, Doug. I’m blessing you. See Me doing it because I AM. Just relax and receive. Let me bless you, Doug. Putty in My hands, remember?”

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Brazil Mission Trip Report, March 2019

Posted on May 2, 2019 by Bill Hutzel

On the last day of our mission trip to Brazil, I randomly opened my Bible to the following passage in Luke 10. I looked down on the page and this is what I read – “When the seventy missionaries returned to Jesus, they were ecstatic with joy, telling him, “Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we commanded them in your name!” Jesus replied, “While you were ministering, I watched Satan topple until he fell suddenly from heaven like lightning to the ground. Now you understand that I have imparted to you all my authority to trample over his kingdom. You will trample upon every demon before you and overcome every power Satan possesses. Absolutely nothing will be able to harm you as you walk in this authority. However, your real source of joy isn’t merely that these spirits submit to your authority, but that your names are written in the journals of heaven and that you belong to God’s kingdom. This is the true source of your authority.” Then Jesus, overflowing with the Holy Spirit’s anointing of joy, exclaimed, “Father, thank you for you are Lord Supreme over heaven and earth! You have hidden the great revelation of this authority from those who are proud, those wise in their own eyes, and you have shared it with these who humbled themselves. Yes, Father. This is what pleases your heart and the very way you’ve chosen to extend your kingdom: to give to those who become like trusting children” (Luke 10:17-21 TPT).

I’ve never encountered before a people so hungry for the Word of God. Truly, they came like trusting children (Luke 10:21) and for it, they received. There’s a revival going on in Brazil that is transforming the nation.

Wow! There could have been no other passage in the Bible that could have more accurately summed up our mission trip this week and the great number of salvations, and physical and emotional healings, further substantiating what Jesus said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:12-14).

Our team of 39 people, representing 5 different countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia and Switzerland) met together the morning of Tuesday, March 19th at the airport in Rio to bus transfer to our accomodations in Niteroi. From there we were bussed to various locations during the week to evangelize and bring healing and revival to hundreds of Brazilian’s.

On the first day, we immediately hit the ground running as we received impartation that afternoon by Blaine Cook and Kim Maas, and were already doing ministry all together that evening at a church service. For the rest of the week, 4 ministry teams with 9-10 people each were allocated to rotate doing ministry among 5 different churches. As I did not speak Portuguese, except for a handful of phrases, I was provided with a translator. I was grateful.

God showed up in power throughout the week, bringing the passion of Jesus and revival to the Brazilians through teaching, impartation, and ministry, spreading the good news of God’s love, mercy, grace and compassion. Many were emotionally healed, physically healed, delivered, and saved. We saw 13 blind eyes opened, 7 deaf ears opened, 13 tumors and cysts disappear, 4 metal miracles and 1 lame person walk. These were just some of the 339 physical healings, 28 sovereign healings, and 315 emotional deliverances that we saw. Hallelujah!!! Thank you Jesus!!!

If you would like further details and testimonies, please click on the following links and we will periodically be posting more under the menu item “Brazil Mission Trip 2019.”

Seeing the Miracle Happen
2 Healing Stories
Boy with Hearing and Vision Loss Healed

If you sowed into our ministry via prayers and/or finances, you have reaped ALL the blessings along with us. As is usual, we often think we are going to bless, but God in His kingdom does the reverse and HE blesses us!!

“I tell you this timeless truth: The person who follows me in faith, believing in me, will do the same mighty miracles that I do—even greater miracles than these because I go to be with my Father!” (John 14:12, TPT)

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