a song inspired

I wrote this after my last Bible study here at FOB Grizzly. These last couple weeks it seems like the reoccurring theme is how to be quiet. It didn't occur to me that there was a different type of quiet other than the physical 'hush hush' 'be quiet!' But I was finding that even when all around me was completely silent my soul was still loud. Then I kept stumbling on verses like Psalm 46 "Be still and know I am God." and Isaiah 30:15 "In repentance and rest is your salvation. In quietness and trust is your strength." and Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." I knew I needed a change in my life. I needed to learn how to be quiet.

Then when I was reading "Captivating" I was learning about beauty...beauty other than physical beauty. The beauty that starts out deep inside. I started to realize that it's so easy in today's society to keep that beauty buried. But when that beauty reveals itself it draws people out, it invites people to also be real and maybe even to reveal their own beauty. I started to crave that. Then I heard God speak to me...that's when I had to write it down. It came out in a song...



Be quiet my soul
Be still and know you are God
Jesus, quiet me with your love

You said, "Bethany, you're beauty
You're breathtaking wonderful splendor, my love
But you hide behind the tasks of your day
Not willing to give one emotion away
Your beauty is hidden in all the noise."

Be quiet my soul
Be still and know you are God
Jesus, quiet me with your love.

You said, "Bethany, you're beauty
You're breathtaking wonderful splendor, my love
But you're so afraid of what someone may find
Wanting to show and have some peace of mind
But you build up your walls and the beauty's inside."

Be quiet my soul
Be still and know you are God
Jesus quiet me with your love.

10 of my lessons learned...Iraqi style

1. Always always always carry a flashlight with you to the porta-pottie in hours of darkness...always. There are always secrets that lurk in the shadows that are squishy and don't smell nice.

2. Don't sit in the middle of the seat of a porta-pottie when taking a dump. you laugh...but that poo drops straight in and that blue water jumps straight out sometimes causing a clothing dilemma.

3. During hours of sunlight do not, I say again, do NOT touch metal things without gloves. You will literally burn your hands off.

4. After a full dusty day of being outside with your hair in a bun, do NOT attempt to brush through your hair without washing it first. I believe 'rat nest' is enough explanation. One day I looked like I had dreadlocks. I almost kept them :)

5. If the Iraqi tells you "meet me there at 10," they do NOT mean be there by 10. They mean, I will start to think about getting off this chair at 10. Then I will put on my shoes, my jacket, have another glass of chai tea, converse a little longer, gather everyone up--and meet you...later. okay? haha

6. If you will be traveling the Iraqi countryside-take a car with awesome suspension. Not just good or decent or even great suspension...but awesome. You'll need it to prevent shaken baby syndrome that is prevalent among Iraqi adults who travel on Iraqi roads. And I'm sure I have a case of it from riding in military vehicles...that and brain injuries suffered from hitting my head off of the ceilings of the vehicles. hehe

7. Before traveling anywhere be it by truck, airplane, or helicopter ALWAYS go to the bathroom...even if you don't have to. Something psychologically happens when you step into that porta-pottie which will delay the urge. but if you don't, you will be doing the cross-legged dance because something ALWAYS comes up to delay travel. And that's a FACT.

8. If you step outside and everything has an orange hue to it, go back inside. Poo is in the air. It's much like a snow day :) Except orange instead of white...and poo instead of snow. haha

9. Don't use the lights unless you trust them. I have watched a light fixture pop, spout a small fire and smoke while mounted in a vinyl tent. I think my jaw hit the floor before I did anything about it. haha

10. 70 Degrees can feel cold. I didn't know that before. After a day of 120-130 degrees when it drops down to this at night, I get the shivers and the goosepimples...I may even wear sweats and a long sleeve shirt. I believe I am in for a shock when I get to the 'Braskee :D