"Embrace the Cross"

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of GOD." I Corinthians 1:18

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

Prayer requests:
My dear friend Catherine Smith came by this afternoon and shared with me about a friend of her family that was involved in a car accident. Two of their three children were killed...a two year old and fourteen year old. The sixteen year old remains in critical condition. This family was on vacation when the accident occurred in North Carolina i believe. They love CHRIST, and HIS grace has been poured out upon them during this most difficult time. Please remember the Martin family in your prayers. The funeral for the children will be Saturday.
Also, please remember my husband and Hannah Beth as they are in Mobile this morning getting her registered for school next fall. Please pray for their safe travel back to North Alabama tonight (Friday), and that they would have some sweet Daddy/Daughter time together. Thank you so much for your dear prayers for our family.
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure." Psalm 122:6


Well, i thought that i would be on my way to Mobile as i write (Thursday ) with my husband and Hannah Beth to register her for fall classes at the University of Mobile. Instead, i'm writing to you and they are on their way to Mobile. Actually they have just arrived safely thank the LORD...HB just called to tell me. After working outside all day Wednesday, cutting grass, tilling up my flower beds, weeding the garden, i haven't felt too well today (Thursday). I tried to get my body to cooperate, but after my third sauna and i was still struggling, my husband told me i needed to stay home. That wasn't music to my ears...it was fine when it was my decision to not go, but when he told me "no," ...my flesh reared up inside me, and i really struggled with his "no." I knew in my heart he was right, i just didn't want him telling me i couldn't go. You wives, ever struggle with your husband's no's? Sure you do...we've all had a good dose of the curse of rebellion when Eve disobeyed GOD and ate of the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. When they pulled out of the driveway, the title to the book series that Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins wrote about being "Left Behind," during the Tribulation, immediately came to my mind as i felt, "Left Behind." I pushed back the tears that wanted to come. I walked in the house and in just a few minutes the phone rang. It was my dear friend, Wanda...GOD's perfect timing. As i cried on her shoulder over the phone she comforted me, gave me godly counsel, and prayed for me. She was "JESUS to me with flesh on." I felt much better after i talked and cried and prayed with her.

Getting "Left Behind," when it's something you really want to do is difficult. Elisabeth Elliot writes in her book, A Path Through Suffering," that, "Suffering is anything you have that you don't want, or anything you want but don't have ." I knew in my heart today, that it was GOD's will for me not to go after my husband said no, but i still licked my wounds and felt sorry for myself. I had asked the LORD early this morning to make it clear to me if i should try to go with them to Mobile, or if i should stay home. HE did make it clear through my husband, and i didn't care for HIS answer too much. It wasn't what i wanted to hear...but i knew it was part of the cross that GOD has so allowed in our lives to shape and mould our family these past 20 years.

Recently, i have been reading about the Cross a great deal. I knew that not getting to Mobile with my family was another "chance to die," to my preferences and accept the cross, or the thorn the LORD has allowed in my life. Elisabeth Elliot shares in her "Relinquishing Our Will," series:

"This is what the cross of CHRIST means-the willingness to take whatever conditions are necessary in the path of obedience, letting go of our preferences."

HE has used this cross of my ill health in so many ways and I praise HIM for that...even when i do have to let go of my preferences. It is not always easy at the time, to relinquish my will or praise HIM, when my flesh wants to do something else. But my heavenly FATHER has proven HIMself so very faithful to my family over and over and over and over...especially when we stumble and fail, which is often and much.

I read a devotion yesterday from "Streams in the Desert," that has been such a tremendous encouragement to me through the years. I've struggled deeply with my weaknesses at times, a body that seems to rebel at what i want it to do. When i read the devotion this morning...i rejoiced inside, even though i didn't feel good. GOD has proven HIMself over and over to be "dynamite," in my weakness...and HE is teaching me to love my cross, to love my thorn, to embrace it, because that is where HE is strong. I try to let you see my weaknesses, on purpose, that GOD's power might be demonstrated through my weak body. We are not to be ashamed of our weaknesses, but as Paul said, we are to take pleasure in them...because GOD's grace is sufficient, and HIS power is made perfect in our weaknesses.

Author: Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
Source: Streams in the Desert
Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 12:10
Thankful for the Thorns
"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Cor. 12:10).
The literal translation of this verse gives a startling emphasis to it, and makes it speak for itself with a force that we have probably never realized. Here It is: "Therefore I take pleasure in being without strength, in insults, in being pinched, in being chased about, in being cooped up in a corner for Christ's sake; for when I am without strength, then am I dynamite."
Here is the secret of Divine all-sufficiency, to come to the end of everything in ourselves and in our circumstances. When we reach this place, we will stop asking for sympathy because of our hard situation or bad treatment, for we will recognize these things as the very conditions of our blessing, and we will turn from them to God and find in them a claim upon Him. --A. B. Simpson
George Matheson, the well-known blind preacher of Scotland, who recently went to be with the Lord, said: "My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorn. I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but not once for my thorn. I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my cross; but I have never thought of my cross as itself a present glory.
"Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my thorn. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbows."
"Alas for him who never sees
The stars shine through the cypress trees."

"Wow...have i ever found these words to be true..."we will recognize these things as the very conditions of our blessing." And not only our blessing, but the blessing of those GOD brings into our lives. Yes, i do recognize, as much as i kick and scream, that my blessings have come through my cross...the perfect cross(s) the LORD has picked out for me.

This morning as i was trying to accept what my husband said about not going, but not doing a very good job, the LORD reminded me of several years ago when we first started kayaking. We had joined the Huntsville Canoe Club, and they were going to paddle down the Sipsey River. It was this time of year, and the kids and i were looking forward to making the trip with the HCC, and with our next door neighbor at the time, Greg Adams...Wanda's husband. The morning of the trip came, and i did not feel well. I remember i had been trying to juice a few days before, and the bottom had fallen out of my blood sugar. It broke my heart to tell the kids i didn't feel up to going, but i just couldn't. My body said, "No." That same day, there was a Pet Show in our town at the "Dogwood Festival," held each year. Hannah Beth had wanted to do that also...so although i didn't feel up to an all day paddling trip, GOD gave me the strength to load up "Dixie," our Golden Retriever and we went to the Pet Show where Dixie won several ribbons. I'm not sure now what she won...but that was GOD's grace to a little girl HE loves more than i do that day who didn't getting to go paddling. But something more important happened, and it's a lesson HE reminds me of from time to time when i am wrestling against HIS will like yesterday. At that Pet Show, were some friends that we knew from our home school circles. Their dog was also in the Pet Show that day with their daughter. As we stood there watching our daughters' show off their dogs, we talked about each other's health journey. This young handsome man, with a dear wife and two children, struggled with similar issues that i have...he was raised on a farm and was around pesticides heavily as a young man. He was experiencing all kinds of weird problems the doctors just hadn't been able to help him with...and they were just about at their "wits end." You would never know this man was sick from looking at him and the smile on his face...but that was what people had often said about me. But he was sick, and GOD had led our paths together that day, through me not getting to do what i wanted...through my cross. I was able to share with them where the LORD had led me to get help for my problems at the Environmental Health Clinic in Dallas. Today that man and his family are doing well...he still has a "thorn," but he is able to work and help provide for his family, and they have wonderful, godly family. Other members of his family struggle also with similar health issues and they too have been able to find help for their special needs. GOD used my suffering, my cross that day,to lead my path to share with this family the help that i have found. If i had gone paddling instead and done what i wanted... we wouldn't have been at that Pet Show. By the way, we paddled that river together later, and GOD has given us many opportunities to paddle together since then. That day, HE had other plans for me.

"Teach me to treat all that comes to me with peace of soul and with firm conviction that YOUR will governs all. In unforeseen events let me not forget that all are sent by YOU."

When i am feeling sorry for myself, GOD gently reminds me, that my cross is really what makes my life worth living...HE has given me so much "abundant life" through my cross. I have learned that HE has used my cross to direct my paths, and the path of my family to a great degree, through my cross. It is through the pain of my cross that has taught me to cling to JESUS and helps me to understand how very, very much HE loves me and you. HE has shown me over and over and over again, that indeed, HIS grace is sufficient and HIS power is made perfect in my weakness. My cross helps me to have CHRIST's compassion for others who suffer. I have so much more to learn as i learn to "Embrace the Cross," of my dear LORD JESUS who "Embraced the Cross" for me and for you. HIS blood covers all of our sins, and HE paid the price of our redemption from sin as HE poured out HIS life unto death...and then HE was raised on the third day. HE asks that we receive HIM, that we repent of our sins, and say "Yes, LORD," each day denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following HIM in whatever that looks like. Today, for me, it was to stay home and rest, instead of going to Mobile with my family. I don't know all the reasons the LORD had for me to stay home and for them to go without me, but HE does, and HE asks me to trust HIM and to accept HIS will..."In acceptance lieth peace." On my little calendar from Elisabeth Elliot that i have sitting beside my computer... are the words:

"The power of the cross is not exemption from suffering but the very transformation of suffering."
Loneliness, p. 26

"But we see JESUS, who was made a little lower than angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor." Hebrews 2:9

Just as JESUS' death was transformed into glory and honor...HIS glory and ours, through our redemption in CHRIST, so HIS resurrection power transforms our sufferings, our thorns, our crosses, into glory and honor. He transforms them into something beautiful that we cannot imagine. HE asks us to trust HIM and "endure then, until tomorrow," the suffering HE allows in our lives.

Isaiah 61 is an amazing chapter of Bible prophecy that is being fulfilled right before our very eyes. It tells of the intimate love that CHRIST has for Israel and how HE delights in her, and is going to restore the ancient ruins and the places long devastated. This is such an exciting chapter as we see how very much GOD loves Israel, how HE cherishes her, and the future plans HE has for her. Tucked away in this beautiful chapter in verse 3 are words that we, HIS bride, who have been engrafted into HIS family through the blood of CHRIST can claim for our own. HE is fulfilling HIS promise even now to the nation of Israel and to us, HIS church, the Bride of CHRIST:
"And provide for those who grieve in Zion-
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of HIS splendor."

This is what CHRIST does for us as HE transforms our crosses, as HIS was transformed from death to life...life for all who believe in HIM. "But as many as received HIM, to them HE gave the right to become children of GOD, even to those who believe in HIS name." John 1:12

Betty Scott Stam was a missionary who visited in the home of Elisabeth Elliot when Elisabeth was a little girl. She and her husband John were called to be missionaries in China with the China Inland Mission in the 1930's. At that time, the Mission needed single men to serve in remote areas, so they died to self and put off their feelings. Afterwards, they were married, and God gave them a beautiful little girl.
"During that time, China was experiencing fighting between the Communists, lead by Mao and the Nationalists, led by Chang. One day, they received word that the communist army might soon take over their city. John made arrangements for his wife and child to leave. But before they could, communists entered the city. The Stams were arrested and Betty was forced to watch as her husband was beheaded. Then, she, too, experienced the same fate. Their child's life was saved by a Chinese pastor who put his own life on the line."
Betty Stam wrote these words earlier and she meant them, words of what the cross of CHRIST means:
Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes
All my own desires and hopes
And accept Thy will for my life.
I give myself, my life, my all
Utterly to Thee to be Thine forever.
Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit
Use me as Thou wilt, send me where Thou wilt
And work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost now and forever.
"I am crucified with CHRIST and it is no longer i who live but CHRIST who lives in me, and the life that i now live in the flesh i live by faith in the SON of GOD who loved me and gave HIMself up for me. " Galatians 2:20



As i wrote this, the LORD brought a song to my mind that i haven't heard in a while, but it embraces what i'm trying to share this week about the cross. It is called "Embrace the Cross," by John G. Elliot and it is sung on this video by Steve Green . I had the privilege of hearing John G. Elliot's testimony years ago and he shared how CHRIST had allowed his hands to be crippled for a time, and during that time his heart was transformed. Later, GOD restored his hands to play beautiful music for HIM on the piano. He has such a powerful testimony of GOD transforming his cross into something glorious. I pray that it will be an encouragement to you as you watch and listen, to thank JESUS for your thorn, your cross, in whatever form it may be. "Embrace the Cross," offer it up to HIM, and watch HIM,the ONE WHO loves you so very much, transform it to bring HIS life to you and through you to others... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10LhDfP8CHM.

After sleeping all afternoon until almost 6:00 p.m., the LORD blessed me with rest and i was able to write this email. HE knew i needed to rest more than i needed to go...sometimes it's hard to say, "Yes, LORD." I am like a little child who wrestles with their Mom or Dad, in this case, my husband, over taking a nap and then out of sheer exhaustion, falls to sleep. HE quieted me with HIS love and gave me rest. "The LORD your GOD is with you, HE is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, HE will quiet you with HIS love, HE will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17. This is another verse that GOD has promised to HIS beloved Israel, but we as HIS Gentile children who have been adopted by HIM experience as our own. Indeed our BRIDEGROOM is with us, and HE is mighty to save. HE takes great delight in all those whom HE has chosen and has made HIS bride. HE quiets us with HIS love and rejoices over us with singing." Wow...what a Husband and Lover of our Souls who has laid down HIS life for you and me.
I love you all and thank you for investing your time with me this week. I pray the LORD will use these words to encourage you and help you to "Embrace the Cross." May the LORD bless you, HIS dearest ones.
With all HIS love,
mitzi


"Embrace the Cross" Words and music by John G. Elliot
I am crucified with Christ
Therefore I no longer live
Jesus Christ now lives in me
(Repeat twice)

Embrace the cross
Where Jesus suffered
Though it will cost
All you claim as yours
Your sacrifice will seem small
Beside the treasure
Eternity can't measure
What Jesus holds in store

Embrace the love
The cross requires
Cling to the one
Whose heart knew every pain
Receive from Jesus
Fountains of compassion
Only He can fashion
Your heart to move as His

Oh, wondrous cross our desires rest in you
Lord Jesus make us bolder
To face with courage the shame and disgrace
You bore upon Your shoulder

Embrace the life
That comes from dying
Come trace the steps
The Savior walked for you
An empty tomb
Concludes Golgotha's sorrow
Endure then till tomorrow
Your cross of suffering
Embrace the cross
Embrace the cross
The cross of Jesus






--
"The LOVE that calls us into being, woos us to HIMself, makes us HIS bride, lays down HIS life for us, daily crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercy, will never abandon us." Elisabeth Elliot, "Loneliness" p. 27 www.elisabethelliot.org

"In this the love of GOD was manifested toward us, that GOD has sent HIS only begotten SON into the world, that we might live through HIM." I John 4:9