A Lot Like My Dogs

"He divided the sea and caused them to pass through...In the daytime also HE led them with the cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. And gave them drink in abundance like the depths. Psalm 78:13-15


Dear Friends,

One of my favorite things in the world to do in "My Common Life" is to go for a walk with my dogs, Dixie, our Golden Retriever, and Midnight, our Black Lab. This morning we had a great time walking, and I picked blackberries to give the dogs as we walked along. Blackberries are one of Midnight's favorite treats. She will "woof" then down like nobody's business. I have learned a lot through them through the years, like how Dixie has a hard time "Laying those Turtles (Burdens) Down" like I do sometimes and how they both follow me wherever I go, the way our Shepherd desires me to follow HIM where HE leads me. They have an amazing way of keeping their eyes on me, even when they are off exploring...they know where to find me. They both have tendencies that remind me of me, yep, i stink like they do after I walk them, especially after they have waded in the creek and shake the water all over me. My hair is graying underneath my color like Dixie's hair is turning white on her face, and I get ticks like they do, yes I do...
As I have been thinking about my dogs, and how they remind me of me, I think about Midnight, who is a five year old lab, and has more energy than 5 dogs should have...she truly can run "as fast as Lightening" which is what one of my dear friends calls her. Midnight, with her abundance of energy (which doesn't remind me of me:), used to really annoy me because she was so hyper, and always jumping on me. She didn't mean to be annoying, but she was until she learned obedience...and yes, I have these tendencies too that annoy and aggravate, and the LORD is teaching me obedience and how to "sit still." She is learning to have self control and sit while I put the leash on her. She is learning, ever so slowly, that when I look at her in her eyes, it means to sit, and let me put the leash on her. It's hard for her to control herself, like me at times, but I am so proud of her for sitting when she'd rather be jumping on me. When get away from the neighborhood, I take their leashes off and let them run free. Midnight takes off as fast as she can, and then does the sweetest thing...she will come back to check in with me...sometimes I just pat her on the head, and she is off again. Sometimes she sits down and waits for me to scratch her chest and then she if off to explore some more. I have often thought how she is so much like me when I am strong and healthy how I like to run around doing "a multitude of things," and then just like to come and "check in" with My Master. Dixie, on the other hand, in true Golden Retriever style, prefers to walk closer to me, often walking right beside me, even though she is not on the leash. She is older, and settling down, and just seems more content not to run around and explore as much as Midnight. Oh she still explores, but she seems to be much more content spending "Time with her Master" than out exploring. I find the older I get, the more content I am to sit at my Master's feet, instead of exploring" all over the place.
Those dogs are so good to follow me when we are walking, going where I go, no matter what direction, they surrender their will and come and follow me. I am afraid I am not always as pliable as my dogs are and as easy to give up my will as they seem to be to follow me. My Master has had to help me along in that area and discipline me to help me to "follow HIM," instead of kicking and screaming that I still have a tendency to do at times.
I have been thinking a whole lot lately about following my Master, following the One who loved me and died for me, and whose "hands are scarred by the nails." This morning as I was having my time with My Master on my front porch I was reading about GOD leading the children of Israel out of Egypt, and how HE "divided the sea" and caused them to pass through unharmed. I read about how HE led them with the cloud, and at night with a light of fire, and then gave them drink in abundance like the depths.
As I think about my own life, and the "Impossible" places that GOD has brought me to and even now I am facing one, like the children of Israel HE has been faithful to "divide the sea" for me. I shared one with you last week, as I suffered from dehabilitating pain many years ago and GOD delivered me from that pain using a common doctor who dared to try an uncommon treatment. Even now in the past several months, HE has "divided the sea" for me to restore my memory and thinking processes, and how I praise HIM and thank HIM for HIS healing power, and giving my doctor wisdom to help me. As I trudge through the wilderness of this life, I am becoming more and more conscious of how my Shepherd is leading me even when I don't realize it. During the difficult times, I am more like Dixie, and I like to walk really close to HIM and those are the sweet and precious times that HE manifests HIMself most to me. Then, at other times when the seas are more calm, I'm more like Midnight, flying off and just coming back to "check in." Truthfully, my SHEPHERD has pretty much kept a "thorn in my flesh" pretty consistently that causes me to slow down and walk slower and closer to HIM and I am so very thankful for that.
You know there are times in my CHRISTian walk, when My Master leads me into a set of circumstances that I find myself way in over my head. Instead of walking by faith, I'm like Peter and get my eyes on the storm, instead of the Master, and I start sinking. There are times that my SHEPHERD leads me to do the impossible, and I would really like to run away, except that HIS grace keeps me there. In fact, I am walking through one of those times right now, where CHRIST asks me to trust HIM to do the impossible and to pray, and be led by HIM when to "sit still," and when to "move."
My Master sent me some words from Springs in the Valley were such an encouragement to my doubting heart yesterday. HE sent me "drink in abundance" to refresh me and encourage me just when I needed it most. The words read, "Is the work GOD's work? Has HE called you to do it, and equipped you for it?...take time to consider and pray and find what the will of the LORD is. Then when the difficulties have been considered and the needs fairly measured, and the clear conviction remains that GOD calls you to rise and build, then put your hand to the plough, and never look back. Power to endure to the end-patience to outlast all discouragements-zeal that will not die out, and that will enkindle the zeal of others-all these are given and secured to him who knows that the work and call are from GOD.
The reading went on to say, "For every worker and every work in the kingdom of GOD the principles are the same. The only way to avoid being repelled and discouraged in the work, so as to give it up in irritation, disgust or despair, is to get the work put upon the right lines from the very start. These must begin in the secret place of the Most High-the Holy of Holies-alone with GOD.
They must proceed to the Holy Place, for the light and strength contained therein-the guidance and equipment needed. Then, and not till then can they safely come out, their success secure and their permanence established, because they are thus truly "wrought in GOD."-Rev. Hubert Brooke
As I have think about my own situation the LORD has led me into...I am so conscious that I must follow HIS leading and depend upon HIM to give me wisdom, courage, and everything to finish the "Impossible" work that HE has called me to. I didn't realize it was going to be "impossible" when I followed HIM, but HE knew it would be:).
Continuing on the reading says:
"While the yoke of the LORD JESUS is easy and HIS burden is light, nevertheless the furrow that HE calls us to undertake is not always by any means easy plowing. There is no yoke that fits so smoothly and handily as HIS, but there is no work that requires more steady trudging and persistent faithfulness than HIS. Three stages of that work are strikingly set forth by Hudson Taylor when he says "Commonly there are three stages work for GOD:

"Impossible, Difficult, Done!"

"Said General William Booth, "GOD loves with a special love the man who has a passion for the impossible." Are you confronting today the impossible in work for GOD? Praise HIM for that, because you are in a way to discover the blessing of finding that work difficult, and then to experience the deep joy of finding it done, by the same LORD who started you on the furrow."-Springs in the Valley, June 25

So what does all this have to do with me being "a lot like my dogs?" I am learning to follow and trust my Master in the ways HE leads me the way my dogs follow and trust me as I lead them. I am learning, ever so slowly to "sit still" when HE puts HIS leash on me, and holds me back, to keep my eyes on my Master, and check in more and more often...in fact, He is teaching me what it means to "pray without ceasing." Most of all, I am learning to walk close beside HIM no matter where HE leads me...no matter how "Impossible" the situation seems. The same JESUS who parted the Red Sea for HIS children in the wilderness, and has already parted the "Red Sea" for me many times in my life...yes, HE has, is the same JESUS, who suffered and died for my sins and rose from the dead. HE is the one who leads me with "nail scarred" hands, and HE has not asked me to do anything that HE is not leading me and orchestrating the circumstances. HE knows the pain, the suffering, and the joys that I will incur along the way in "My Common Life" and HIS grace is sufficient and HIS power is made perfect in my weakness." II Corinthians 12:9-10. HE tells me"don't look at the storm, keep my eyes on the Master," and trust HIM, the GOD of the Impossible..."For nothing will be impossible with GOD." Luke 1:37.

A couple of years ago, the LORD introduced us to a dear family in Southern Gospel Music called the Crist Family www.cristfamilymusic.com. Their Master led them to take a giant step of faith a few years ago and moved them from their home in Washington St. to Knoxville, Tn, where GOD has opened so many doors for this loving family to sing the beautiful praises of JESUS. They trusted their Master to do the "Impossible" and HE continues to lead them and open doors for them and use them so mightily for HIS glory. One of the "Impossible" things for their family has been purchasing a bus to travel on without going in debt. They patiently waited for the LORD to provide, and HE has so abundantly through laying it on HIS children's hearts to give generously for the Crist family to have a bus. The Crist family truly knows what it means to walk in faith, and "keep their eyes on the Master." They sing a beautiful song called, "Don't Look at the Storm," reminding me to not look at my impossible circumstances but to "Keep my eyes on the Master."


I don't always know where HE is leading, just as my dogs don't always know where I'm going. HE calls me to follow HIM, and trust HIM to do the "Impossible"...until it becomes "Difficult"....and then Done!


With all HIS love,
mitzi


Don't Look at the Storm by Sandy Knight

Chorus:
Don't look at the storm, keep your eyes on the Master
Hear HIS sweet voice, keep following after
Don't yield to your fear when the waves rolls high and the water gets deeper
Keep your eyes on the LORD, don't look at the storm.

The storm is so fierce with wrath, defeating whatever falls in its path
The greatest destruction our eyes have seen
Fear takes its grip, the future looks bleak,
Now we have a choice in what our eyes see,
We can look at the waves we can look at the deep
Or we can look at the Master, we won't suffer harm

When life turns my thoughts aside,
I can't seem to keep my mind on CHRIST,
Satan knows I can't stay afloat, he waits til I'm down and he lures me around,
Now I have a choice in where my feet go,
I can turn from the LORD and sink down below
or I can turn to the Master and not to the storm.



"When GOD is going to do something wonderful, HE begins with a difficulty. IF it is going to be something very wonderful, HE begins with an impossibility."
-Rev. Chas. Inwood

My Common Life, Part II

"This priceless treasure we hold, so to speak, in common earthenware-to show that the splendid power of it belongs to GOD and not to us...everyday we experience something of the death of JESUS, so that we may also show the power of the life of JESUS in these bodies of ours." II Corinthians 4:7,10


Dear Friends,

Thank you so much, dear friends and family, for praying for me and my family last week, for emailing me, sending a card, and asking about me. Please forgive me for not returning your emails...I just didn't feel up to it. If I thought the email I sent you a couple of weeks ago was representative of "my common life," I just hadn't lived the past two weeks yet. I spent most of the time these past two weeks in a horizontal position, lying on the couch, or in the bed, and that sure does afford you a lot of time to think and pray about your common life:). Thankfully for you, I am sleepy, again, so that will shorten any bright insights that I might have shared with you. I had really hoped and planned to be out in Dallas, Texas this week, getting a tune-up at the clinic, and going to the "26th Annual International Symposium on Man and His Environment in Health and Disease." The special focus was on Molds and Mycotoxins, but instead GOD had more common plans for me. My doctor told me to stay home and treat the parasites...so here I am in "my common life," typing at my common computer.
In case you missed it, the last time I wrote, I shared with you I had been diagnosed with parasites, and would have to take a powerful antibiotic 3 times a day for seven days, and then repeat that in a month...so don't quit praying, I'm still trying to get my strength back from this round. Now for most of you, taking an antibiotic would be "common" and not a big deal. But in case you have missed it in my emails, for the past 15 years or so, my body has been not so common, and taking even vitamins have been a major challenge for me, much less a powerful antibiotic that I have tried to stay away from like the plague (are parasites a plague?). I won't bore you with all the details, but let's just say that every drug I have taken in the last 15 years to my knowledge has had some kind of adverse effect on me, including sending me to the emergency room, twice. To say that I was more than a little apprehensive about taking this drug would be an understatement. But, GOD has led me to a doctor that I trust, and even if I went down with the ship, I was going to do my very best to take it...I did take time to make out my "Last Will and Testament" and only willed a few things away. By the end of the first day when it looked like I was going to make it after all, I quickly became an "Indian giver" and took those few things back, realizing I might still need them for "My Common Life."
The first couple of days, I felt much better than I expected too...but I wasn't disappointed in my expectation to feel badly, which was a good thing...it meant the medicine was doing it's job. I woke up during the night Tuesday night feeling ache, nauseous, and "glass like" feelings cutting me underneath my skin. For the next 72 hours, I spent most of the time in bed or on the couch as I shared before...too sick to really doing anything but pray, and listen to my Ipod. I was really uncomfortable Thursday evening, and couldn't go to sleep for anything. Finally, around 2:30 a.m. the "die-off" effect of the parasites and medicine subsided, and I turned a corner. I have been feeling better since, but extremely tired at times...I have napped everyday since starting the medicine.
Last Friday morning, was my first day of being able to sit on the porch and have my "Time with Jesus" in several days. I thought about something I wanted to get out of the freezer to thaw out to cook. As I walked out into our garage where the freezer sits, I smelled something awful, like the cats or dogs had drug up something in there that had died...well I was close. The freezer door had been left open, probably by me, for a least a couple of days, and all our grass fed beef was thawed out. It stunk to high heaven, and there was blood running everywhere....not the kind of mess you want to clean up on a nauseous stomach. I couldn't help but think of John MacArthur preaching about the bloody religion of the Israelites when GOD made them sacrifice the animals for the forgiveness of their sins. I could not imagine all the blood that those priests had to deal with all the bulls and goats and lambs that were sacrificed day in and day out. All those animals were a foreshadowing of the time that our precious LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST would shed HIS blood for us on the cross and pay for all of our sin for all time.
It was a nasty mess as I got the thawed meat out and cleaned up the blood that had dripped all over the freezer, the floor, and run up under the freezer. The flies have had a heyday ever since then and do all they can to come in the house everytime the door is opened. I pitched a little of the meat in the garbage can, and a few days later there were maggots crawling all over the top of the outside trash can. I quickly dragged it out away from the house, and today, have spent part of the morning scrubbing the porch down with orange oil, a broom and hose. This was the mess that just kept going on and on, and the smell did too. Glad none of you have come to our back door in the past few days... it's been nasty and stinky at our common house.
Wednesday, I had major intentions of getting up and going to Wal-Mart and when I returned home from my morning walk with the dogs (which I have only done a couple of times recently), it was all I could do to drag myself to the bed after I showered. I did manage to make it to Wal-Mart later that morning, and promptly took an all afternoon nap after lunch. So, yes, my life has been pretty "common" these past two weeks, and I have had a lot of time to think about many different things...
I think today, (Thursday), I was feeling sorry for myself, wishing I could be at the symposium and see old friends in Dallas, and here I was scrubbing the porch where maggots had been crawling earlier in the week...pretty common stuff. Well, it's not common that maggots crawl around our porch, but cleaning up after them...so much a Mom's job, just common ordinary work, like washing clothes, cooking meals, scrubbing the commodes. I have been so reminded of that lately...part of it I think is that GOD has laid some people with uncommon work on my heart to pray for and there are times I find myself comparing my life to theirs, not a wise thing to do if you want to stay content. I am reminded as I write this what a blessing it is to be physically able to clean up the mess...how quickly I forget from where the LORD has delivered me from. Health and strength to do these kind of tasks are not always so "common" for me.
GOD has been reminding me about Elisabeth Elliot sharing with me as a young Mom that anything we offer up to the LORD is worship, including scrubbing the commodes. Just this morning as I walked in the beautiful pasture with the hay bales still sitting in it, that John was on the Isle of Patmos, isolated, when GOD revealed the book of Revelation to him. I thought about Paul, and how he was beaten over and over, imprisoned and shipwrecked, all common, ordinary circumstances that GOD used to accomplish HIS plans and purposes to share CHRIST through HIS life. I thought of David how he was pursued by King Saul for years in the wilderness as GOD shaped him and molded him for his plans to rule as King over HIS people. I think of Joseph in prison, Daniel in captivity and the lions den, Ruth and Naomi whose husbands died, and were poverty stricken until GOD raised up Boaz as their Kinsmen Redeemer. And then there is Corrie ten Boom who lost her Dad and sister in a Jewish concentration camp, and John Bunyan who wrote "The Pilgrim's Progress" and spent 12 years in prison away from his family for preaching the gospel. Wow, all of these had some pretty common and mundane, and difficult circumstances that GOD used to accomplish HIS plans and purposes.
I told you a couple of weeks ago when I wrote that I believe "GOD has a bigger thing going on that what these little bitty eyes can see" through my health struggles, the latest being parasites. As I shared with you, this isn't my first "rodeo" with parasites. GOD reminded me how HE had delivered me from terrible back pain about 16 years ago when my kids were just 2 and 11 months old...I stand amazed when I think at how HE led me to a Dr. in Birmingham who was a believer in CHRIST and was wise enough to try something different on me. He treated me for a "bug" that he thought might be causing my pain. Amazingly, my pain decreased dramatically along with my stiffness, and though I have had many other issues through the years, GOD delivered me from that dehabilitating pain. I was so thankful to find a couple of weeks ago on the internet, exactly what my doctor used to treat me and the exact dosages and realized that it was similar to the medicine I would be taking for the treatment of parasites this time. It was a pretty uncommon treatment for a common ailment that was called "Fibromyalgia" by the regular doctors and their medicine only made it worse.
This past week, as I was on the medicine again for the treatment of parasites, the LORD allowed some other timely test results to come in to remind me what a miracle it was that I was even able to take the medicine 3 times a day for a week to treat for these parasites. My doctor had recently done a "Gene" test on me to see if I had any abnormalities that would cause me not to be able to detox drugs, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, etc. When the test came back, I had several abnormalities on my genes, and some genes that are responsible for helping the body to detox were not even there...poof, gone. I am so thankful for Psalm 139:14 that tells me that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made" and for the assurance that GOD knew all about it when HE allowed me to have some abnormalities that would make "my common life" often a challenge. As GOD reminded me what an extremely difficult time I've had in the past several years taking drugs, HE also reminded me what HE has been doing to heal my body and to give me the tools to be able to detox the antibiotic that I would have to be taking. Through my doctor's diligent care to help me with my thyroid which helps detox you, and take nutritional supplements one little bit at a time, my body has been strengthened. I also have learned about the importance of taking Gluthathione, Vit C, and NAC, all supplements that helps your body to detoxify things that my abnormal genes don't know what to do with. Yes, GOD has given me a "thorn in the flesh" but HE is also supplying the grace each and every "common" day in my life to help me get through and remind me of how very much HE loves me.
You know, I know I'm not the only one who wrestles with "My Common Life" from time to time, I know that some of you do to... I know because you have written and shared that with me. Another man, named Oswald Chambers must have had some awareness of that feeling of thinking your life is common and that others have a more important role. On June 15th in My Utmost for His Highest he writes, ...we have to form new habits on the basis of the new life GOD has put into us. We are not meant to be illuminated versions, but the common stuff of ordinary life exhibiting the marvel of the grace of GOD. Drudgery is the touchstone of character. The great hindrance in spiritual life is that we will look for big things to do. "JESUS took a towel...and began to wash the disciples' feet. There are times where there is no illumination and no thrill, but just the daily round, the common task." Ouch...that hurts as I sometimes imagine myself in a more "important" role and it does encourage me at the same time. I get a chance to tie my husband's shoes almost everyday!
He goes on to say in the next day's reading..."We are not made for the brilliant moments, but we have to walk in the light of them in ordinary ways. There was only one brilliant moment in the life of JESUS, and that was on the Mount of Transfiguration; then HE emptied HIMSelf the second time of HIS glory, and came down into the demon-possessed valley. For thirty-three years JESUS laid out HIS life to do the will of HIS Father, and , John says, "we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." It is contrary to human nature to do it."
All these thoughts about "My Common Life," makes me so thankful that GOD does use "Common People" to do Uncommon Things... Dr. Prosch was a common doctor that GOD used to do "uncommon" things to bring healing to people's lives, and I am so thankful to be among those whom GOD chose to bring out of my difficult pain. I am so thankful for my dear doctor that GOD is using now to bring further health and healing to me along this common journey, and give me help to be able to get things into my body when I need them like this antibiotic. I am so thankful for my dear husband, who goes to work everyday at a "Common Restaurant" so that he can provide for our families needs. It's not the calling he felt GOD called him too when HE surrendered to the Foreign Mission Field many years ago, but what he felt he has had to do to provide our family needs through my expensive medical bills all these years. I sure am thankful for my Mom...who stayed home, even though GOD blessed her with a lot of "smarts" (she was Valedictorian of her class), and laid down her life for her family, day in and day out for many years, cooking, cleaning, washing...doing the same common things that we kids might have life, and our family could grow in HIS grace. JESUS said in John 15:13, 15 said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend,"..."I have called you friends." How thankful I am to the LORD JESUS CHRIST, that HE is not ashamed to be my FRIEND, who set the example for me to live "My Common Life." He left HIS home in heaven and lived such a common life that HE was born in a stable, maybe even a cave, and died on a wooden cross for my sins and yours.
I am so thankful for the love that CHRIST has placed in our hearts in this "Common Life." You bring so much life to me by praying for me and encouraging me, by letting CHRIST, the "hope of glory" love me through you. I told my husband and daughter this week, it is so great to be a CHRISTian and share the love of CHRIST with one another so freely...to say I love you so openly and unashamedly, and mean it with each other...this is becoming more and more a reality to me, as I am loved by you and my dear family.
The group, "Greater Vision" sings the song "Comment Garments" written by Rodney Griffin that reminds me that GOD does indeed use "Common Garments" to do uncommon things. I am so thankful for that truth...because I sure am common, with "My Common Life." I serve an uncommon GOD who fills me with HIS power and love to do "uncommon things," and to live out HIS "uncommon dreams," amongst the day to day toil of common things.

With all HIS love,
mitzi

P.S. GOD led me to find the battery charger to our camera this week in a very uncommon place that I would have never found unless HE had directed me to it...I am so thankful that HE hears and answers our prayers! The hay bales are still in the field, so I wanted to share them with you in the picture above.




"Common Garments"
Rodney Griffin (Songs of Greater Vision [BMI])
One day a Roman soldier
In a shameful gambling game
Won the blood-stained garment
That once had clothed my King
Just a cheap robe of linen
No great value did it hold
But when worn by the Master
It was worth more than gold

Yon see, a few days before
This old garment had changed the life
Of a tired and helpless woman
Who’d believed with all her might
She’d reached out and touched it
With a hope to be restored
She knew this plain old garment
Was the vesture of the Lord

God uses common garments
To do uncommon things
And God uses common people
To live out His uncommon dreams
It’s not what you are now that matters
It’s what He can make you to be
‘Cause if God can take an old common garment and change a life
Then surely, He can use you and me

You see, we are the reason
That Jesus came to die
We have been chosen
To send forth His light
So it doesn’t matter
If your worth is great or small
God needs some willing vessels
Just common garments, that’s all

My Common Life

"He delivers magnificently, and showeth lovingkindness. (Psalm 18:50, French trans.).


Dear Friends,

Before I begin with the "story" I want to thank you all so very much who actually took the time to read last week's email, and wish us a Happy 25th Anniversary! My heart was so touched by your taking time to first of all read my email (i know they are long and am so honored when you are able to take time and read them) and then you wrote, sent e cards, and even a card in the mail! We are so blessed to have you as our dear friends and family, and how I thank the LORD for your dear friendship that cheers us on along this journey called "life." Thank you all so much for your prayers for my family as my Daddy-in-law continues to recover from his surgery, and for Wayne Parker who GOD allowed to do so well in the race for Congress. Please continue to remember their family in this endeavor the LORD has called them to.

This morning, I can honestly say, I did not see this coming, but it's an amazing thing what the LORD is doing and has done for me, just reminding me of HIS faithfulness and goodness to me and our family in our 25 year journey. I felt compelled to share what GOD has done for me. I want to caution you that if you have a weak stomach, you may want to skip this week's email:). Now that I have your curiosity up, I'm sure more of you than ever will take the time to read it:). I can assure you, I'm not sure where this one will end up, so we will take this journey together:).
Yesterday was such a wonderful, common, ordinary day in my life. I got up, put the clothes in to wash, took my thyroid medicine, and went outside on the porch to read my Bible. After my time with the LORD, we ate breakfast, and John Mac was off to school. I took Dixie and Midnight out for a walk in the beautiful field nearby. The hay had just been cut, and the tractor was in the field raking the hay. There were several piles of hay already rolled, and I loved walking by it and smelling the sweet hay. As I walked in the cool shade, down the lane, through the woods, I thought, aaaah, it just doesn't get better than this...thank you LORD for my common life. I wanted to take a picture of that lovely field with the hay bales rolled so pretty on the rolling hills, but lets just say we're having difficulty finding the battery charger from our trip to Gulf Shores, so you'll have to picture it yourself:).
When we came back from our walk, after the dogs cooled off in the creek, I came into my "common house," we've lived in for 16 years and said hello to my daughter who was on the common computer and phone at the same time:). I went back outside and planted some common cantaloupe and watermelon in my very common garden. After that, I got out the clippers, and begin the arduous task of trimming Dixie, our Golden Retriever. She gets so hot in the summer with all her hair. She was wonderful laying there, but the clippers and me went round and round. After several hours, and lunch and a short nap in between, Dixie looked akin to a mess. Hannah Beth said she looked like she got caught in a lawnmower, but I was just thankful that I was able to work on her for so long, focusing, and being content with doing that common job. The kids went swimming at my Mother-in-laws, and I did something uncommon and went and joined them after trimming Dixie for hours. The water felt so good as I swam, and I figured out something good about being heavier than I was a few years ago...you float better:). I had always been told that as a swimming teacher, but now I am finding out experientially and it's true, I just floated and floated on my back, I didn't even need a float:). My Mother-in-law came out and we visited awhile, and then I went home and cooked supper for my family. Wow, what a common life...but what a wonderful life! It hasn't always been this way...and want always be this way...but I want to go on record thanking GOD for common days like yesterday and today. I can remember the days when taking the kids swimming was excruciating for me because of pain...thank you LORD for reminding me of that this week.
Last week, I was having a pity party for myself...do you ever do that?:). I'll be honest, as much as the LORD has blessed me in my role as a housewife, and Mom, I was feeling a little common, ordinary, and thinking about doing something "more important," after the kids leave the nest. Not that I could at this point do anything else physically, but I was just kind of wallowing, and thinking and being discontent, where GOD has me. Actually, as my kids are getting older, and I do have more "free" time on my hands, I am going through somewhat of a transition, and just trying to "find" myself at times, and what GOD's next step for me is when my kids leave the nest.
Earlier this week, my doctor emailed me and told me that she had gotten some very important test results back that may make a tremendous difference in how I'm feeling in "my common life. " To say that I'm a little hesitant to share this would be an understatement, but I feel I must in order to tell you what GOD has done for me. She told me that I had parasites...yes, that's right, parasites and ...they even have a name, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blastocystis_hominis. As GOD would have it, it is a "common" parasite, my doctor says, and lives on contaminated food or water...she even hinted I could have gotten it at the river kayaking. Hum, not everyday you get told you have parasites, but believe it or not, the LORD reminded me that indeed I have been told, not only once before by a doctor that we thought was a "Quack" (not the one I'm writing about below) and he may very well have known what he was talking about:), but twice before. GOD did a "Miracle in me" when Hannah Beth was a baby, and when HE reminded me of that "Miracle in Me" this week it sure has made me so thankful for being able to participate in "my common life..."and do ordinary, common things like going swimming with my kids without being in excruciating pain.
I know that I have mentioned several times that when my kids were babies, I began developing odd back pain, and it progressed to the point that I couldn't stand up for any length of time, hold Hannah Beth as an infant very long, and couldn't hardly walk to the mail box. Not only was the pain in my back, and it felt like my back muscles and rib cage had literally shrunk and were too small for me, but it progressed to be in my joints and all over my body. I went to several doctors trying to find the answers, and one day, a man in our church came in and was talking about how a doctor was helping him. He shared some info with me, and I thought, hum, this sounds like what's wrong with me. Isn't it amazing that it was "in church" where the LORD chose to lead me to this doctor:). So, I made the trip to Birmingham where Dr. Gus Prosch had his office. I didn't realize it, but Dr. Prosch was a wonderful Doctor http://www.arthritistrust.org/Articles/InMemoriamProsch.pdf who loved CHRIST, and was not afraid to try new things that helped people. One of his treatments was "curing" Rheumatoid Arthritis." I didn't know what was wrong with me, the traditional doctors called it "Fibromyalgia" and I had been to numerous doctors including at least two rheumatologists at this point, and I knew their treatment was not helping, it only made me worse. Dr. Prosch, suggested I try taking a couple of little pills for a trial to kill a little "bug" or amoeba, that might be causing my pain, and if I responded to them by feeling really badly, then it was a good sign that I had a "bug" causing my pain:). So, I did, I took the little pills, and got a severe headache, nausea, and was plastered to the floor, and felt terrible. He seemed pleased with that, and he gave me a drug called "Chlotromizole." At the time, I didn't question him about what kind of drug it was...i just knew it sure was helping my pain and stiffness, and I took it like he told me too, and during that six weeks, I went from being on the floor almost "constantly" to being able to get up, hold my babies, walk around, and participate in life without being in excruciating pain.
This didn't cure all my problems, and he treated me for other things, but, the LORD reminded me this week of HIS direct intervention in my life of using a doctor to deliver me from crippling and dehabilitating pain by going the route "less taken." I praise the LORD for the deliverance HE did in me, and all the wonderful, common, ordinary, things I am able to do...to HIM be the glory, the praise and the honor. HE could have left me there on the floor, without answers to my crippling pain, but HE didn't. HE was with me every mile of the journey, even when some of those miles, I was forced to lay down, literally, "The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want, HE maketh me to lie down in green pastures." Psalm 23: 1-2. HE brought me to my "Wits End," as I cried out to my Shepherd for help, lying on the floor, pain all over my body...and HE delivered me. "They reeled and staggered like drunken men, they were at their wits end. Then they cried ut to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress."
As I reflected back on those very difficult years of being able to do common ordinary things today without being in excruciating pain, the LORD sure has given me a grateful heart this week. How thankful I am to HIM, for the difficult times, for that is a treasure and another story in itself as it continues to develop. The same drug my doctor now prescribed for me to treat the parasites is in the same family of drugs as what Dr. Prosch used to help deliver me from excruciating pain all over my body. I didn't realize this until last night, as I was snooping around on the internet,
The Rheumatoid Disease Foundation Recommendations-http://www.gnhealth.com/articles/whichArticle.php?article=180

and the LORD showed me exactly what med I took, (I couldn't remember and was trying to), and even the exact dosages. It was amazing and such a sweet thing the LORD did for me to help me find that wonderful information that I thought was lost when Dr. Prosch died. I am so thankful that this information is out there and available, and I am living proof that the treatment works. Now, it's a good possibility that either the "bugs" weren't completely eradicated,(parasites are difficult to get rid of as I've read this week), or they returned and have continued to "bug" me all these years, causing some of my strange issues.
Other results of this same test my doctor did on my digestive system showed that my absorption markers were good...amazingly! You know how I've been telling you that I don't absorb things well...well, thankfully there are a lot of things right with my digestive system. My doctor told me that 70% of our immune system is in our intestines, so she is very hopeful that if we can get the "bugs" killed, that my allergies will improve, and hopefully I will be able to get more nutrition in me.
I don't know...but I know this, the LORD is up to something throughout this journey, this "race" HE has had our family run, and I am so thankful for HIS goodness, HIS guidance, HIS faithfulness to help us when there seemed to be no way...HE has opened the doors for us, for me time and time again when the doors seemed so tightly to be shut with no way to escape, and given me such a wonderful education along the way...
I want to ask you to please pray for me and my family diligently this upcoming week as the medicine probably will make me very sick, and that's a good thing. I have to take it seven days in a row, and then repeat that in a month. Johnny teased and said he was going to get me a straight jacket, but i may need one...thank you for your diligent prayers for all of us. Please pray for my doctor's wisdom as she leads me down yet, another trail. She told me earlier this week, "if she has to drag me kicking and screaming she was going to lead me to the deep well of good health." What sweet words to my heart, that she would care enough to be so diligent to help me...me,the reluctant patient, who sometimes gets discouraged and sometimes has a hard time believing I'll ever get any better. Only the LORD could put that desire in her heart to help me.

In the June 4th reading for My Utmost for HIS Highest, (http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/my_utmost/utm.cgi?0604, ) Oswald Chambers spoke to my heart about wanting to be something more than what GOD has called me to do in my "common" life. He said, "Sometimes it is not difficulty that makes me think GOD will forsake me, but drudgery...There is no Hill Difficulty to climb ( that hasn't exactly true in my case:), no vision given, nothing wonderful or beautiful( that's not true either for me, GOD has done so many wonderful things for our family even recently and you've read about some of them here- I've just forgot to count my blessings),just the common place day in and day out. We have the idea that GOD is going to do some exceptional thing, that HE is preparing and fitting us for some extraordinary thing bye and bye, but as we go on in grace we find that GOD is glorifying HIMself here and now, in the present minute... "the most amazing strength comes, and we learn to sing in the ordinary days and ways."
Charles Spurgeon, in the June 3rd Morning and Evening , (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/spurgeon/morneve.d0603am.html) spoke of this same thing and used the passage out of 1 Chronicles 4:23 as a reference: "These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work." He shared,"We too, may be engaged in the most menial part of the LORD's work, but it is a great privilege to do anything for our KING (whether it's cleaning a dirty diaper, scrubbing a commode, or trying to get rid of parasites:); therefore we will abide in our calling hoping that, although we "have lien among the pots, yet shall we be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold:" Psalm 68:13...The place of our habitation is fixed, and we are not to leave it out of whim and caprice,(a sudden whim or fancy), but seek to serve the LORD in it, by being a blessing to those among whom we reside."
So there you have it, a peek into "My Common Life" that GOD continues to teach me to love HIM and those around me and to be content where HE has placed me. HE continues to remind me that HE "has a bigger thing going on than what my little bitty eyes can see," throughout the "ebb and flow" of my common life. What a blessing to be able to walk in the hayfield yesterday, shave my dog Dixie, go swimming and cook supper for my family. LORD JESUS, how I praise you for the strength and health you have blessed me with to be able to enjoy the common and ordinary things of life! Thank you for reminding me of the "Miracle in Me," that you have done to enable me to do the common, ordinary things, that I so easily take for granted when I forget YOUR healing touch in my life. Thank you so much for your deliverance through wise and loving doctors and the education you have blessed me with along the way to help others. Thank you for the dear, dear friends I have met along the way, and the wonderful family you have given me to share my common life with...I thank you for the next "Miracle in Me," that you are about to do, and asked you to help me to hang on through the rough times that will come..."to endure the "cross" for the joy set before me." as YOU did for me on Calvary to set me free from the disease of sin. YOU are the Great Physician, help me to trust YOU in "My Common Life," to be my All in All."
You know, it's occurring to me that GOD does have a "Bigger Thing Going On" Than What My Little Eyes can see throughout this "common" life and journey HE's given me...I'm not sure what HE's up to, but I am sure of this...I have met the most wonderful people along this journey, including each one of you who take the time to read this email and encourage me...what a joy it is to hear from your hearts from time to time as I did from several of you last week, and it means so much to me. GOD is even using these parasites to bring blessings into my life...and I am learning to give HIM thanks in everything, including parasites, in "My Common Life."
The Southern Gospel Group "Greater Vision" sings a song called "Got a Bigger Thing Going On," that sure does remind me of what I've been thinking about these past few days...HE does have "a bigger thing going on than what my little bitty eyes can see," and I sure am thankful and want to praise and magnify HIM for HIS best plan for my life. You can hear and watch Greater Vision sing it on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOm7OgUIR2c.
With all HIS love,
mitzi


GOT A BIGGER THING GOING ON
Verse1
Paul and Silas sittin’ in the darkness
Singin’ to the walls of the jail
Far from being worried, not a bit discouraged
They knew God’s plan would prevail
You see, in the other room, God was pursuin’
The soul of a lost prison guard
When walls began a’ shakin’, earth began a’ quakin’
He gave his heart to the Lord!


CHORUS
God’s Got A Bigger Thing Going On
Than what these little bitty eyes can see
He’s already working on tomorrow, making sure the sorrow’s
Gonna work a lot of good for me
He’s using all my earthly circumstances
To get me ready for eternity
God’s Got A Bigger Thing Going On
Than what these little bitty eyes can see!

Verse 2
Take ole’ brother Joseph, sold by his brothers
Carried to a wicked, foreign land
Thrown into a prison, no one there to help him
Still, Joseph knew God had a plan
You see, Pharaoh started dreamin’, asked could Joseph help him
Joseph told the reason for the dream
The famine was avoided, Joseph was promoted
God’s people had more than they could eat!


Verse 3
You say you have a burden. Every day you’re hurtin’
You’re wonderin’ if your God’s still alive
Seems that He’s forsaken. He’s so far away and…
You’re asking Him to please tell you why
Well friend, let me tell you, He will never fail you
With your eyes of faith you will see
He’s got a plan that’s workin’. This you know for certain
A loving and a faithful God is He!
REPEAT CHORUS
Tag
God’s Got A Bigger Thing Going On
God’s Got A Bigger Thing Going On
God’s Got A Bigger Thing Going On
Than what these little bitty eyes can see

Words and Music by Rodney Griffin, ©2004 Songs of Greater Vision, BMI.

"It is a glorious thing to have a big trouble, a great Atlantic billow, that takes you off your feet and sweeps you right out to sea, and lets you sink down into the depths, into old ocean's lowest caverns, till you get to the foundation of the mountains, and there see GOD, and then come up again to tell what a great GOD HE is, and how graciously HE delivers HIS people."

-Springs in the Valley.