YOUR Word is Alive!

"For the Word of GOD is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

Dear Friends,
Last Monday, my daughter along with several other children and young people from our church, and the surrounding area, competed at Lindsay Lane Baptist Church in the District Bible Drill. We are so thankful for the Reville family, the Cobbs, and others who have been working with our young people since January to help them hide GOD's Word in their hearts, and prepare them for the past couple of weeks of competition. Usually before an event like this, i would ideally love to have a little "down" time, but this day, it didn't happen. Hannah Beth had committed to delivering some posters for an event coming up soon, and needed some help. Monday afternoon was her only time to do it this week, so it had to be done...so we both missed our "down" time, and i was sleepy:).
Before Hannah Beth's group came out to quote their Scripture verses, and look up the different passages in 8 seconds or less, there was a Children's drill competing. As I sat there with my head against the wall, I got really sleepy and i didn't just nod off, i must have gone into a really deep sleep. I awoke with a start- my husband had gently ( i think, honestly i don't remember) punched me to wake me up...he said i was moaning. I saw him looking at me, and my Mother-in-law was leaned around him with a big smile on her face looking at me, and my friend, Marcia Christian sitting beside me was bouncing up and down in her seat laughing...i could feel her chair moving, i was too embarrassed to look at her. Thankfully, no one else seemed to have heard the moan, at least no one was turned around looking at me, so after we all had a good laugh, quietly, we resumed listening to the children doing their Bible Drills. I didn't get sleepy anymore after my "nap." In fact, I made it through Hannah Beth's Drill without any further incidence. I am so thankful for her and all the other children and youth that GOD has given them the ability to focus and concentrate and recall HIS WORD that they so diligently have been hiding in their hearts these past several months. Later after the Drill, we had a wonderful time at the Calvert's home where they so graciously hosted a "cookout" for the Bible Drillers and their families. Alan, the barbeque you cooked was wonderful and so was all the rest of the food that everyone brought! Thank ya'll, Alan, Tracy and the whole Calvert family for your wonderful hospitality!
As i was looking back on that embarrassing incident, it was really funny, embarrassing, but funny. I'm just glad it wasn't worse than it was...it could have been. But, i started thinking about this season of our lives in our family, and how "busy" life has become. I remember when the kids were little and we were doing the Ezzo's (www.gfi.org) parenting tapes, they talked about this season of life when your kids are teenagers. They explained how we become the "coaches" as we watch them live out what we've been trying to train them to become all these years. It's true, seems like me and Johnny do a lot of "watching" these days, watching our kids participate in life. I thought about how easy it is just because they are older and able to do so much more, to become "sleepy" and perhaps not be as diligent as we once were to "hide GOD's Word in their hearts" or ours, and fall asleep, and let other less important things crowd out the most important-spending time in GOD's WORD.
When the kids were little, we began teaching them GOD's Word from the very beginning, and i am so thankful for all the encouragement we have had along the way to raise our children in CHRIST, and teach them HIS WORD. We have had so many friends who have been tremendous examples to us as you have raised your families in the LORD and we watched you and wanted our family to be like yours. I remember John Mac learning the 23 Psalm when he was two years old, and laying down with him at night listening to him quote it before he went to sleep. I believe we got that idea from "Creative Family Times" book that the Ezzo's recommended in their Growing Kid's God's Way classes. You can still order those off the web and i highly recommend them for ideas in training your children to focus and concentrate, and hide GOD's Word in their heart. Something i remember the Ezzo's sharing those many years ago, was that training a child to be disciplined, to sit still, and learn to focus, will help them learn and do better in school. Since we homeschooled, it was a matter of survival for me that we trained them to focus, and part of that was training them to start their day spending time in the WORD with JESUS by themselves..."In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD." John 1:1. Since they have been old enough to learn to sit still, we have taught them to look at books about JESUS, and read to them the Bible. Then when they got old enough to read on their own, we trained them to have their own quiet time in the WORD before they started the day. I want to share that what the Ezzo's taught us so many years ago has borne itself out in our lives time and time again...recently our son was honored as one of the top 10 students this year at the junior college he has attended the past two years. We are so thankful to the LORD JESUS CHRIST and give HIM all the glory for this honor. We know that it is HIS work in the life of our son, and HIS favor, that has brought about this honor. As my homeschool coordinator, Kathy, shared with me over lunch yesterday, we parents have so many gaps that GOD fills in when it comes to our kids, and when you homeschool them, you are conscious of that even more. I know that HE has used HIS WORD and HIS grace to fill those huge gaps in our family...it doesn't take long to be around me to realize that i am "fruity," "flaky," and have a whole bunch of glaring weaknesses...I have plenty of room for CHRIST's power to rest on me...and i'll take all of HIS power i can get:)! I am so thankful that HIS "grace is sufficient and HIS power is made perfect in my weakness." II Corinthians 12:9
I remember at Elkmont Baptist, where we were going to church when the kids were little, Joe Kress led a Bible Scripture memory program there one year and the kids got prizes for memorizing different verses out of the Bible. The kids and i would make up little tunes to go with the verses, and work on them after breakfast each morning. My kids still can sing some of those little tunes we made up that go with those verses. When John Mac was in the second grade, the LORD led us to start Bible Drill at Elkmont Baptist, and what a blessing that was to work with the children at Elkmont, helping them to hide GOD's word in their hearts. To this day i have a special place in my heart for those kids who were in our Bible Drill there. When we later moved to First Baptist, Lauren Cox and Shelia Knox led the Bible Drillers, and Hannah Beth was old enough to began competing. She had been learning verses right along with her brother at home, but now it was time for her to be able compete with the team and she like her brother learned the verses with the other children and competed at the end of the year in the various drills. After six years, the LORD moved us to New Life Baptist, and the Reville's started Bible Drill there. They have had a team for 3 years and the program has grown leaps and bounds. What a blessing it has been to see so many of our children and young folks from church competing in these drills. Not just to win, but i know that does motivate them, but more importantly, that GOD has hidden HIS living WORD in their hearts, and the HOLY SPIRIT will use it throughout their lives to bear much fruit for HIS glory. Recently, a friend of mine, whose grown son competed in Bible Drill in his church as he was growing up, shared with me that the verses that he hid in his heart when he was younger kept him out of a lot of trouble as GOD continues to bring them to his mind in his adult years.
When the kid's were younger and both at home all day since we homeschooled, we had a much more leisurely time in the mornings and could spend more time in GOD's Word. These days, it's a quick breakfast, we read a quick devotion from John Macarthur's, Truth for Today, have prayer, and John Mac is out the door to go to school. Usually in the evenings, our family gathers before bed to read a longer devotion together from John MacArthur's Drawing Near. Our times in the Word together have definitely changed through the years, but i am so thankful that the habits the kids built when they were younger spending time in the Word before they get out of bed continues. I trust that in the midst of the many, many weaknesses, that my husband and i have as their very sinful and fallen parents, that GOD will continue to use that WORD, that is living and active in my children's hearts, to accomplish the plans and purposes HE has for them and to "bring forth the fruit YOU deserve." "As the rain and the snow come down from the heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is MY Word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:10-11.


This morning, as i was reading Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, he talked about renewing our "dedication to GOD," after any deliverance from troubles and our joys bud forth anew,(and this has definitely happened to me in recent weeks), or in our prosperity. Spurgeon said, "If GOD has honored us, we should honor GOD." GOD has honored our family so very much, and i know that those years of investing in hiding GOD's Word in our children's hearts have borne fruit, are bearing fruit, and will continue to bear fruit for HIS honor and glory. But i also thought of how easy it is to "rest" or "go to sleep" on the past foundation, and not continue to work diligently to read, study, and hide GOD's Word in our hearts. I was challenged by this morning's reading to "Consecrate" myself anew to my commitment to the LORD JESUS first of all and my family to be diligent hiding GOD's Word in our hearts. "Choose you this day whom you will serve, as for me and my house we will serve the LORD," says Joshua 24:15. This verse we hung on our wall as newlyweds and it continues to hang in our kitchen. It's a verse that I desire to be living and active through our lives as our family grows older age wise and in the LORD...I don't want to "nod" off and "fall asleep" just because the kids are older...GOD has been so faithful to our family, and I praise HIM and exalt HIM and lift HIS name up..."Whoever offers praise glorifies ME; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of GOD." Psalm 50:23.

These past few weeks, the LORD has really ministered to me through the group "Casting Crowns", who won a Dove Award this week for Contemporary Christian"Group of the Year." One of the songs that has jumped out at me recently has been their song, "The WORD is Alive." As i am trusting GOD's Word to bring forth fruit in another situation in my life, my friend, whom i have been asking you to pray for, this song has really reminded me and encouraged me that HIS Word is Alive. I love these words..."

And as the rain falls from Heaven, feeds the earth before it returns-
LORD, let YOUR WORD fall on us and bring forth the fruit YOU deserve-
With eyes wide open, let us see-
The WORD is alive-HIS WORD is alive.

I remember when i got saved at 19 that all of the sudden, i didn't just read my Bible anymore so i could say i had done my Bible reading- i couldn't wait to read my Bible, and it was alive and speaking to my heart as it never had before. These past few weeks that i have shared with ya'll about my trials with a friend, GOD's WORD has been so living and precious to me, as HE has comforted me over and over through Scripture. I am so thankful for this time that i have been reminded that HIS WORD is living and active, and how it has ministered to my heart. I want to thank each of you who are praying for "my friend." I ask you to continue diligently praying for her salvation and that GOD will use HIS living WORD i have shared with her the past several months to convict her heart and draw her to HIM. I am amazed at how GOD is continuing to work in our relationship when i thought the relationship was over and i praise HIM, and i thank you so much for your prayers. HIS Word is living, active, and alive..."the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." James 5:19-20.
I don't want to get sleepy and forget that GOD's WORD is alive, and let other fading things crowd out GOD's WORD in our lives...LORD JESUS wake me up, and keep me in YOUR WORD. Renew that passion in me to continue to disciple my children in YOUR WORD that lasts forever and then others YOU entrust me with to teach them YOUR living and active WORD that lasts for all eternity..."Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."-The grass withers, the flower fades, but the WORD of GOD will stand forever." Isaiah 40:8.

With all HIS love,
mitzi

THE WORD IS ALIVE by Casting Crowns

Looking out from HIS throne, the FATHER of light and men-
Chose to make HIMself known and show us the way back to HIM-
Speaking wisdom and truth into the hearts of peasants and kings-
HE began to unveil the WORD that would change the course of all things-
With eyes wide open, all would see-

Chorus:
The WORD is alive-And it cuts like a sword through the darkness-
With a message of life to the hopeless and afraid-
Breathing life into all who believe-
The WORD is alive-
And the Word and its glories will fade-
But HIS truth, it will not pass away-
It remains yesterday and forever the same-
The WORD is alive-

Simple strokes on a page- Eternity's secrets revealed, carried on from age to age-
It speaks Truth to us even still-
And as the rain falls from Heaven, feeds the earth before it returns-
LORD, let YOUR WORD fall on us and bring forth the fruit YOU deserve-
With eyes wide open, let us see-
The WORD is alive-HIS WORD is alive.


Prayer Request:
Many of you remember Br. Aaron Johnson our dear pastor and friend that was at First Baptist Athens during the time we were there. Br. Aaron, in his early forties at that time, had colon cancer while he was in Athens, and just recently was declared cancer free after 5 years. We received an email earlier this week that Br. Aaron had written that they are waiting for some test results that may indicate the cancer has returned. Please remember Br. Aaron and Denise, and Jordan as they continue this journey. What a great attitude Br. Aaron had as he shared his trust and faith in what HIS loving FATHER is doing in their lives. Thank you for your prayers for their family.



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The PBR and HIS Love is Extravagant

"But HE said to me, MY grace-MY favor and loving-kindness and mercy-are enough for you, [that is, sufficient against any danger and to enable you to bear the trouble manfully], for MY strength and power are made perfect-fulfilled and completed and show themselves most effective-in [your]weakness. Therefore, i will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of CHRIST, the Messiah, may rest-yes, may pitch a tent [over] and dwell-upon me! II Corinthians 12:9-10 Amplified

Dear Friends

This past weekend, Johnny and John Mac took off from the restaurant on a Saturday night (which is most unusual) and our whole family had the blessing of going to the Professional Bull Riders http://www.pbrnow.com/ rodeo over in Huntsville. Hannah Beth had heard the rodeo was coming to the Civic Center a few weeks ago, and she and her Daddy made plans to go. Before i knew it, it had become a family affair and so we all loaded up and headed over to watch the Bull Riding. Above I've shared a few pictures at the rodeo...the first are my kids "clowning" around. We got settled into our seats and they were great seats close to the gate. We were surprised and so glad to find that my brother, Joe, and his wife, Marilyn were there sitting not too far away from us and enjoyed visiting with them...It was great to be with ya'll Joe and Marilyn! I don't know why i was surprised, my brother loves everything about Texas, even naming his oldest son Dallas, and many of the bull riders were from Texas. It even tugged on my 'heartstrings' with all the Texas influence...just suffice it to say we have a lot of dear family, including my brother and his family, and a lot of dear friends in Texas whom we love very much and are so dear to our hearts-we love ya'll! I don't know why the Texans would come to Alabama to ride bulls indoors:)...it just doesn't seem right, but I'm so glad they did!
As i said, our seats were close to where the bulls were coming out but we were sitting up high enough in the stands to be a safe distance away from the actual action. Johnny had encouraged me to bring my binoculars, in case we had to sit in the nose bleed section. We didn't, but they came in handy, scouting out the cowboys as we were waiting for the rodeo to start:). As i looked through the binoculars I could see a few guys getting their gear ready for their ride. They were rubbing "rosin" or pine tar (according to my husband) on the straps they used to hold on to the bull that helped them get a better grip to keep from flying off. Well, most of them did get bucked off when that bull starting bucking all over the place. When the bull rider hit the dust, there were "clowns" in the arena, to run in and get the bull away from the fallen rider. A couple of times, the "clown" got gored by the bull. These guys were putting his life out there to protect the bull rider and give him time to get back on his feet and out of the arena, where he prepared to ride again either that night, or at the next event.

Earlier this week, i was thinking about the last few weeks in my life, and how i felt kind of like i had been "bucked" off of a bull when my opportunity to share CHRIST with "my friend" came to an abrupt halt. GOD had certainly led me in the place i was walking, I kept reminding myself, and HE kept me there through HIS grace, HIS Word, and the encouragement and prayers of you, my dear friends who have helped me to "hold on" these past few months. The days following the "bucking off," GOD has been so very gracious to pour out HIS extravagant love upon me, again through HIS WORD, through HIS presence that has been so real to me in my circumstances,and through you my dear friends who have been so precious to encourage me and help me "get up out of the dust" where i felt like i had fallen. You certainly aren't "clowns" but you reminded me of how those guys were there for the bull riders to help pick me up. It hurts to fall, and get gored by a bull, I'm sure...i don't know, thankfully I've never been gored by a real bull that i remember:). GOD has been so very gracious to pick me up, and encourage me to "get back up on that bull" and ride again:)...and though i can't communicate with "my friend" as I'd like too("in acceptance lieth peace," as Elisabeth Elliot says), i can pray fervently for her that GOD will bring her to a saving knowledge of JESUS CHRIST.
Those "clowns" at the rodeo took some of the "goring" in that arena last Sat. night so those fallen riders didn't have too...i saw the "clowns" gored a couple of times, as they were getting the bull to chase them instead of the rider. OUR SAVIOR, CHRIST was beaten beyond recognition it says in Isaiah, pierced for our sins, and nailed to the CROSS to take the punishment for our sins so you and i wouldn't have to take the punishment that we deserve. The LAMB of GOD, JESUS CHRIST, was a "clown" in some people's eyes as HE walked on earth and was nailed to the cross for us. HE asks us to be "foolish" for HIM...and be willing to be crucified for HIS sake. "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But GOD chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; GOD chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. HE chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things-and the things that are not -to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before HIM," I Corinthians 1:26-29. Believe me, i have identified with feeling "foolish" very much these past several months...i can relate to these verses more than ever.
I want to thank you my dear friends for praying for me and for your encouragement after last week's email. I can honestly say, the LORD has been lifting me up through your prayers. I still have these waves of sadness that hit me...but it just reminds me to pray diligently for "my friend" that i ask you to pray for her salvation. Thank you so much, especially for your diligent prayers for her...pray with me, until GOD "brings the victory" in her life. I read these words from Charles Spurgeon this week about our friends holding us up and persevering in prayer with us:

"When Moses grew weary, his friends assisted him...It is said that Joshua never grew weary in the fighting, but Moses did grow weary in the praying. The more spiritual an exercise, the more difficult it is for flesh and blood to maintain it. Let us cry, then for special strength, and may the Spirit of GOD, who helps our infirmities, as HE helped Moses, enable us like him to continue with our hands steady "until the going down of the sun." Morning and Evening, April 16.


These past week, our Bright Lights (www.brightlights.info) group at church met, where our older girls are discipling the younger girls. One of the stories in the lesson was about a young girl, that a missionary had the privilege of leading to JESUS as her LORD and SAVIOR. The little girl was a slave to a cruel master, and she longed with all her heart for him to know CHRIST. One day he became so angry with her that he beat her so severely that she died. The missionary went to see the little girl as she was dying, and the little girl expressed her desire for her master to know JESUS as she did. After the little girl died, the missionary and the other children and families at the church began praying fervently for this little girl's master to come to JESUS. One day, the hard hearted master came to the missionary, all broken inside, and asked the missionary how to receive CHRIST as HIS LORD and SAVIOR and he did! That little story really encouraged me, as it was a true story. The little girl was so concerned not for her life for she was going to be with JESUS, but she had such a burden for her master to be saved. The fervent prayers of the believers in the church were answered by GOD to save that man's soul. This story really encouraged me that GOD does hear and answer our prayers.
I know i have asked so many of you to pray for "my friend's" salvation, and i ask you to keep on praying for her. I told you before, i don't think I've ever been burdened so by someone's soul, and only GOD can put that "extravagant" love and compassion in your heart for someone...especially someone you don't know that well. This week the LORD has laid on my heart some verse's to claim and stand on about prayer and about asking HIM for "my friend's" salvation....i know they sure have encouraged me to pray more fervently, not only about her salvation, but other's whom GOD has laid on my heart to be saved, as well as other areas GOD leads me to pray for.
James 5:16-19 says, "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man just like us.. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins."

You know, i did get "bucked off' a couple of weeks ago, when "my friend" had enough of me sharing CHRIST with her and my life, and it hurt, it hurt real bad. In all honesty, the things the devil has "gored" me the most about are my weaknesses that i have thought if I hadn't of emailed her so much, i would still be able to communicate with her now. But CHRIST has been so intimate and encouraged me so tenderly, even in my Bible reading this morning, that HE is in control of all the events of our lives, just as how JESUS was not killed before it was HIS time to be crucified. Herod tried to kill JESUS as a child, the people in the synagogue wanted to kill HIM, and even tried to throw him off a cliff, (Luke 4:29) but until it was time in the fullness of GOD, they could not touch him or harm HIM. I don't think "my friend" wanted to kill me:)...she has been most gracious and patient with me with me, but there may be coming that time for all of us that that is a price we may have to pay for sharing our faith in CHRIST. There was a time for me to enjoy the blessing of sharing my faith in CHRIST with her, and then a time to stop. Now GOD is saying to me, this is the time now to continue praying for her and "Be still and know that I am GOD," Psalm 46:10. Also, "Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD." Exodus 14:13.
GOD also reminded me yesterday of how HIS "love is extravagant," and though i made mistakes along the way of trying to be a friend to this person in perhaps my over zealousness , GOD's "love is extravagant with us..." and HE loves us "exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think..." I have been comforted by thinking upon how much GOD loves to lavish HIS love upon us, and i was trying to be a vessel of HIS love to this person. I am so comforted that "HIS power is made strong in our weakness." The reading for April 17, today, Springs in the Valley shares this about GOD's extravagant love:

" ...GOD never does anything small. When HE makes an ocean HE makes it so deep that no man can fathom it. When HE makes a mountain HE makes it so large that no one can measure it. When HE makes flowers, HE scatters multiplied millions of them where there is no one to admire them but HIMself. When HE makes grace, HE makes it without sides or bottom and leaves the top off. Instead of giving salvation with a medicine dropper, HE pours it forth like a river. When GOD sets out to do a thing for us, HE does it with a prodigality of love-prompted abundance that fairly staggers one who reckons things by the coldly calculating standards of earth."

I can assure you GOD put a "ocean load" full of love in my heart for "my friend", and it was hard to hold back...i think she might have been drowning in it, and had to come up for air:)...if i were in her shoes, i would have probably had to come up for air long before she did in all honesty. It's just GOD's amazing grace that she held on as long as she did:).


Though it hurt to be "bucked off", hit the dust, and get the breath knocked out of me, I wouldn't trade being in the "arena" of the LORD using me to help share CHRIST with someone who has wandered from the truth for anything. I want GOD to use me, i don't want to be sitting up in the stands watching others, i want the LORD to use me. As i shared last week out of II Corinthians 2:5, "For just as the sufferings of CHRIST flow over into our lives, so also through CHRIST our comfort overflows." GOD's love, HIS comfort, HIS consolation has been so precious and real to me these past several weeks, and intensified even more in the past couple of weeks and i praise HIM and thank HIM for HIS extravagant love to me and to her. It amazes me that HE didn't need me to share HIM with her, but HE wanted me to go to her...what a privilege and HE went with me in my weakness with HIS power. HE is not finished working in "my friend's" life or mine, and i ask you to continue to pray fervently with me for her salvation until HE "brings the victory" and pray for my wisdom in this relationship. I was reminded in my reading this morning in Streams in the Desert that it takes GOD time to answer prayer, just as it does for HIM to grow an oak tree. I don't like being patient i've found:), but in Words of Comfort and Cheer I read, "He has attained to an imminent degree of CHRISTian grace who knows how to wait..." Waiting patiently is not one of my strong suits, i confess.

"Your Love is Extravagant" sung by Casting Crowns, is a song that has comforted me this week as i was once again, having regrets about the way i handled some things. I am amazed at how HE lavishes HIS love upon us and how intimate HIS dear and precious friendship is to each one of us whom HE has called to be HIS child. I have been so conscious of that love recently as HE has picked me up out of the dust. Some of the words are... "YOUR love is extravagant, YOUR friendship, it is intimate...Spread wide in the arms of Christ there's a love that covers sin. No greater love have I ever known; YOU considered me a friend."

But there is another song that "Casting Crowns" sings that has been on my heart and Ipod throughout this whole process of trying to reach out to this person for the past few months called ,"In Me." It really describes how i have felt about taking a risk to reach out to her and i felt compelled that i could do nothing else. I am privileged as you are, to be a "soldier of the LORD." HE doesn't need us to go for HIM, but HE wants us to go. I love the words, "How refreshing to know YOU don't need me, how amazing to find that YOU want me, So I'll stand on YOUR truth and I'll fight with YOUR strength, Until YOU bring the victory, by the power of CHRIST of me." HE promises to go with us in HIS power, in HIS strength, promising that HE is strong in our weaknesses. When i start kicking myself for my weaknesses that i think might have messed things up, CHRIST lavishes HIS love upon me, and says , "MY power is made perfect in your weakness." Truly HIS "love is extragravant," allowing me as Paul to " gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of CHRIST, the Messiah, may rest-yes, may pitch a tent [over] and dwell-upon me! II Corinthians 12:9-10."

With all HIS love,
mitzi


In Me by Casting Crowns
If you ask me to leap
Out of my boat on the crashing waves
If You ask me to go
Preach to the lost world that Jesus saves
I’ll go, but I cannot go alone
Cause I know I’m nothing on my own
But the power of Christ in me makes me strong
Makes me strong

Cause when I’m weak, You make me strong
When I’m blind, You shine Your light on me
Cause I’ll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don’t need me
How amazing to find that you want me
So I’ll stand on Your truth, and I’ll fight with Your strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me

If You ask me to run
And carry Your light into a foreign land
If You ask me to fight
Deliver Your people from satan’s hand

To reach out with Your hands
To learn through Your eyes
To love with the love of a savior
To feel with Your heart
And to think with Your mind
I’d give my last breath for Your glory



"Should we not, therefore, account it an honor and a privilege when the Captain of our salvation assigns us a difficult post, since HE can, and does inspire HIS soldiers which no earthly commander can with wisdom, courage, and strength suitable to their situation." Springs in the Valley, April 14




Praise the LORD for answering a huge prayer i have asked you to be praying for my doctor in Texas. The head of the Texas Medical Board has resigned and is leaving the practice of medicine. Apparently this person was the most adamant against Dr. Rea and his practice (www.ehcd.com) which has been such a help to thousands of patients who couldn't find help anywhere else. GOD is so gracious to "allow" this development...this is definitely an answer to prayer! Thank you so much for your prayers for him...i don't know if the battle has been won, but this is definitely a major victory.
Also, please remember a friend of ours from church, Marco Chubb who has been in the hospital all week with heart issues. Marco's wife died three years ago, leaving him with 5 kids to raise...GOD's grace is sufficient, and i sure appreciate your remembering the Chubb family this week.

A Bucket Full of Tears

For just as CHRIST's (own) sufferings fall to our lot [as they overflow upon HIS disciples, and we share and experience them] abundantly, so through CHRIST comfort and consolation and encouragement are also [shared and experienced] abundantly by us." 2 Corinthians 1:5

Dear Friends,

I'm not exactly where to start as i share this...but let's just say my heart is still tender and i'm asking the LORD to lead every word i type. Some of you who actually take time to read these emails may have noticed that i didn't send one out last week, and that may have been the first time since i've been writing these for over a couple of years now. It wasn't that i didn't write it...i just didn't feel that i could share what i wrote about yet, just a little too personal and painful.
I still don't feel the freedom to share a lot, but a few months ago the LORD laid someone on my heart night and day to pray for. This has only happened once before in my life, and it got me in trouble then too:). GOD put a great love in my heart for the one HE laid on my heart to pray over a short period of time. I wasn't sure what i was even praying for since i didn't know the person very well at all, but i felt led very strongly, as in I couldn't help myself, strongly, to take a risk and try to build a relationship with this person. The LORD opened the door for several months to communicate somewhat with this person, i did most of the communicating:), to share CHRIST with them, my life, and the love GOD had put in my heart for them. Then last week, the door was pretty much abruptly closed, along with my beliefs in CHRIST challenged, and i realized for the first time, this person truly didn't know CHRIST...thus, the broken heart. For a few days, i did shed " a bucket full of tears." Believe me, the love and compassion and concern for this person's soul didn't go away just because i can't communicate with them, i think it intensified.

A few weeks ago, i read the above verse in Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening" and it jumped out at me like it never has before. You know how GOD's Word is living, well, HE knew this was the time for this passage to become alive to me. This week and last week, and actually in the weeks past, GOD has been so very gracious to pour out HIS consolation on my broken heart and encourage me and I want to praise HIM for HIS goodness to me. I believe with all my heart that GOD led me into this relationship, and HE sent me a ton of encouragement to keep me there. HE knew what was going to happen and HE has been sending me so much consolation...HE is so good and so kind. HE leads us in the hard places and HE provides our every need. I have to admit, my faith was a little bit shaken last week when my faith was attacked. I would never that admit to anyone, guess i just did, but i thought, is what i'm sharing about CHRIST really true? Am i off base in my beliefs?
As i started thinking back over the events of the week, I saw CHRIST's consolation and comfort so very precious and real to me, and poured out upon me in so many ways after i had undergone just a little persecution... nothing terrible, just my faith challenged. The realization that this person didn't know CHRIST was breaking my heart, and only CHRIST could do that in me. I have never been heartbroken over someone not knowing CHRIST before. I'm ashamed to admit that...but it's true. I grieved over the loss of the privilege of communicating with this person, but thinking about them being in hell forever and ever weighs so heavily on my soul and compels me to pray that GOD would save them.

The very day i learned the news, (and the news itself was very gracious in parts and GOD was so kind to allow that ), GOD sent my "angel" over to sew that day...she thought she was coming to sew, but GOD knew i needed a shoulder to cry on and Pam was there for me, along with Hannah Beth. After i cried and shared my sadness...we did sew and it was such a blessing to get my mind off of things for a little while, well sort of:). I thought LORD you were so kind to send Pam on the very day that i received that news...
That morning GOD was so gracious to allow me a phone call from another dear friend who had received a wonderfully encouraging birthday message from her son who has not been walking with CHRIST. We both rejoiced in the LORD working in her son's life, and the LORD working in his life encouraged me that HE would work in my friend's life too. I also got another precious phone call from a dear friend who encouraged me and prayed for me, and both friends are praying for "my friend" now and for her salvation.
GOD was so kind to comfort me through my husband who only had tender words for me when i shared the news with him.
Last Wednesday night, as our family watch "American Idol" -i know, i share that with hesitation,GOD encouraged me from the most unusual place as HE often does. As i was licking my wounds, and sort of wondering is this all real, what i share about JESUS, Dolly Parton sang a song,"JESUS and Gravity" on "American Idol." Out of all the songs she could have sang, GOD put this song in her heart and mind to perform that night in front of millions of people who were watching the show....she sang, "I'm to the point where it don't add up. I can't say I've come this far with my guitar on pure dumb luck...everytime I get too high up on my horse I fall. Cause I've got something lifting me up, and something holding me down. Something to give me wings and keep my feet on the ground. I've got all i need, JESUS and gravity." Something about Dolly Parton having the courage to stand up there and sing that song in front of everyone and tell Simon, "I've got JESUS," gave courage to my wounded heart. I know, it sounds crazy, but i'm being honest. It's like JESUS was saying to me, I'm real Mitzi, I'm here.
As GOD would have it, we were already planning to go to Dollywood (www.dollywood.com) and Gatlinburg Friday, before Dolly sang on "American Idol" last week. Hannah Beth and i were taking a couple of friends, Pam and Tabatha who had never been. Hannah Beth was all excited and i was just kind of putting one foot in front of the other. On top of my broken heart, my thyroid medicine was messed up... GOD put it in my mind to do something different with it that morning and i felt better later on that evening and the next day-Praise the LORD. When we got up to Dollywood about 11:00 that morning it was raining and we almost didn't go, but i'm so glad the LORD put it in our hearts to stay. Although it was rainy, the SON shone through the entire trip so brightly to encourage my heart. It was rainy enough to keep the crowd down, but not rainy enough to shut the rides down so Hannah Beth and Tabatha had a ball riding the roller coasters and others rides to their hearts content. Pam and I hit "Dolly's" museum first thing. Though i've been through it many times, i'm always encouraged about her humble upbringing in a 2 room house with 10 other siblings and the emphasis in her life on CHRIST when she was growing up and now. She has a place to worship in each of her homes now...she has a chapel where she goes to pray. Her granddaddy was a preacher and church and CHRIST was such a big part of her childhood. GOD used those things to encourage my drooping heart as we walked through the museum.
As Pam and I walked around the park, we came upon a group from Zambia that was singing...they were having "Festival of Nations" in the park where they had different international groups come in. We sat down in the outdoor theatre and listened to them sing Praise songs to the LORD...again GOD encouraged my heart, and i was so thankful for Dolly having this kind of group to come in and sing. Every year in October she has Gospel Music Month at the park and all month long you can go and listen to the LORD lifted up through these southern gospel singers. Inside the park, the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame is located, which honors those who have faithfully sang GOD's praises down through the years. As we walked along, it seemed that day, that everywhere i turned, Scripture was jumping out at me to encourage me. We went in one store that was full of Scripture carvings and encouraging sayings and Pam and i walked around just soaking in every word we read. Pam and I had a wonderful visit as we sat and ate at "Aunt Granny's" my favorite restaurant in Dollywood-we must have visited and had fellowship over an hour as i enjoyed my fried chicken, pinto beans, cooked cabbage, mashed potatoes, and i'm embarrassed to go on and on here, but let's just say it was good food and such sweet fellowship. We enjoyed going in the White Chapel at Dollywood, and just soaking in the LORD's presence inside the wooden framed church building. As we went out the general store to exit that day, i noticed several other Scripture verses in that store.
Later that evening, after a full day at Dollywood and being encouraged in the LORD there...we went up to Gatlinburg to eat, and walked around a little while along the stores there. After we ate a delicious meal at Bubba Gump's, we walked into a store i had never seen before and it had the most beautiful engraved laser carvings of Scripture in wood. While the girls went off to check out putt putt and some other places, Pam and i walked around looking at the different wood carvings of Scripture. The verse that kept coming to both of us was "Be still and know that I am GOD." Psalm 46:10. In the New American Standard it reads, "Cease striving and know that I AM GOD."
The next day as we rode in the mountains and Cade's Cove and saw the beauty of GOD's majestic creation, ...GOD reminded me how much HE loves me giving me my heart's desire to be up there in the mountains and get to go to Cade's Cove too. At Cade's Cove, Pam and I sat quietly inside one of the white church buildings and you could feel the presence of the LORD in that church building. Others so long ago had prayed in that simple white building with the wooden benches with desperate needs and broken hearts, and loved ones had been saved and their lives changed for all eternity. I silently lifted up "my friend" in each church we went into, and along the way as we drove and walked. Pam was such an encouragement to me all weekend, and what a special blessing from the LORD she was to me when i needed that consolation most... she has received her encouragement from the LORD through undergoing her own painful suffering and just as it shares in 2 Corinthians 1:6 "If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer." Well, the sufferings i am undergoing is nothing compared to what Pam has undergone, and i am so honored the LORD would raise up such a champion comforter for me at this time in my life...HE is so kind and gracious to give us what we need when we need it most.
Before all of this even took place the previous week, our pastor preached a wonderful message on GOD being sovereign over our affairs. Even when we mess up in our human weakness, we never fail as God's children, because "HE is working all things together for good to those who love HIM." Romans 8:32. Man, did the LORD JESUS know i would need those words the following week, and how i leaned on them as i felt that i have failed in this relationship because of my weakness. GOD continue to pour out HIS consolation the following Sunday as our pastor's wife comforted me with her presence and consoling words...She said, "Mitzi, even the STOP signs are a blessing." The next day, i received an email from a dear friend full of Scripture encouraging me...this is a new friend, another precious new friend that GOD has recently brought into my life and again my heart was overflowing with thankfulness for God's goodness to encourage me and love me through her.
This past Monday evening, as i thumbed through our hymn book, i kept noticing the words about "GOD saving a wretch like me", "He sought me and bought me with HIS redeeming blood," "You're my Friend and you are my Brother even though You are a KING." So many thoughts were running through my head, things speaking to me so much more precious than they have before. You know sometimes we have to go through things, before GOD's word, and the words of the hymns can penetrate our hearts. How thankful i am that GOD sought me out to save me, and i believe HE is seeking "my friend" ...and i realize HE has worked this way in all HIS children's hearts...HE chose us before the foundations of the world to be HIS, and to "proclaim the excellencies of HIM who called you out of darkness into HIS marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9. We have that common bond in CHRIST, and though we are all very different with different gifts, yet in CHRIST we are all very much the same part of one family, the family of GOD and we understand each other.

As i thought about these things, my faith was strengthened and I knew that the changes that GOD has made in my life and my husband's life, and those who know CHRIST, only CHRIST could do what HE does to make us new creature's and accomplish HIS plans and purposes through us. Nicole C. Mullin's song came to my heart and mind as i walked the dogs in the beautiful green field nearby our house Tuesday evening- "I Know that My Redeemer Lives," based on Job 19:25. GOD has been solidifying this in my mind once again as i have thought of the events of the last few days and how HE has worked so powerfully in the lives of HIS children down through the ages.

Wednesday morning,as i was waiting for Hannah Beth to come out of the orthodontist, i was reading "My Utmost for HIS Highest" when a paragraph jumped out at me that described exactly what i am going through. Oswald Chambers writes:

"JESUS must appear to your friend as well as to you, no one can see JESUS with your eyes. Severance takes place where one and not the other has seen JESUS.
YOU cannot bring your friend unless GOD brings him. Have you seen JESUS: Then you will want others to see HIM too...You must tell, although they do not believe."

I ask you to please pray for "my friend" that JESUS would open her eyes and heart and enable her, as HE has done for us, to believe in HIM. And i asked you to pray for me, as GOD mends my broken heart.

After we left the orthodontist, Hannah Beth and i had the opportunity to play with our beloved dulcimer group at the nursing home. One of the songs we sang and played was "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." How many times have i sang this song in my lifetime, but yesterday, it really meant something to me to have JESUS, the KING of KINGS, LORD of LORDS, ALMIGHTY CREATOR, the LAMB of GOD, to be my FRIEND, and not be ashamed to call me HIS FRIEND...the first line is so precious, "What a Friend we have in JESUS, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to GOD in prayer!" What a privilege is ours to carry everything to GOD in prayer...In the Old Testament the Israelites had to go through the high priest and didn't have the access that we have to go directly to JESUS. He had to die on the cross and HIS sacrifice opened the way for us to come straight to HIM for those who have trusted in the blood of the LAMB of GOD to save them from their sins. It's a privilege i have often take for granted. It took being denied a privilege to communicate to someone that i love dearly to help me understand what an awesome privilege it is that JESUS wants us to come to HIM in prayer about everything...HE wants us to share everything with HIM, to carry our burdens and invites us to "pray without ceasing." HE never tires of us coming to HIM, HE loves us and loves our presence with HIM.
Thank you for taking time to read this and i hope that you GOD somehow encouraged you as you read this. Just as HE allows the sufferings in our lives, and HE knew all about "my friend" and what was going to happen, so HE ordains the comfort, the encouragement, the consolation that overflows at the same time. I praise HIM for HIS goodness to me. Through my broken heart, He continues to pour out HIS consolations in so many different ways, including through many of you my dear friends that HE has chosen to love me and comfort me through...thank you!



With all HIS love,
mitzi

"What a Friend We Have in JESUS"
by Joseph Scriven


What a friend we have in Jesus,All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry, Everything to GOD in prayer!

Oh what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry,Everything to GOD in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged, Take it to the LORD in prayer:

Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share?
JESUS knows our every weakness, Take it to the LORD in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care:
Precious Savior, still our refuge; Take it to the LORD in prayer;

Do thy friends despise forsake thee? Take it to the LORD in prayer;
In HIS arms HE'll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there.



P.S. A dear friend shared this video with me earlier this week with a little girl singing, "The LORD's Prayer"-thought i'd share it with you it blessed my heart so much-thanks, Shelia!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR4PQ30VkBk