Southern Women, Southern Politics

"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21:28

Dear Praying Friends and Family,
Thank you for your patience with me. I never know when GOD is going to open the door for me to write these emails...and provide the thoughts for me to share with you. As i was eating supper tonight, and listening from a clip from Dr. David Jeremiah on the economic fall of America, i knew the LORD had provided the rest of what HE wanted me to share with you this week.
As i was cutting the front yard today, my dear friends Wanda and Greg Adams drove up. It was my first time to see them since they returned from caring for their daughter Krystal and her baby and Wanda got a big hug, gasoline and sweat and all. Wanda and Greg looked so good (Greg is doing well after finishing chemo treatment a few weeks ago, thank you for praying for him) and Krystal is doing well after almost dying of infection last week a few days after she delivered her first baby. Today was her first day to care for Madelyn by herself. Thank you so much for your prayers for their daughter and thank you so much for your prayers for my children last weekend as they traveled to Indiana and back safely. GOD is so good and HE hears and answers the cries of HIS children. "A righteous man may have many troubles but the LORD delivers him from them all." Psalm 34:19


Last week, a friend of mine invited me to attend a coffee and meet the wife of Tim James (http://www.timjames2010.com/) who is a candidate for governor for the state of Alabama. My father-in-law worked in the administration of his Daddy, Fob James, when he was governor of Alabama. I knew Tim's Mom to be a very committed CHRISTian when they were in office. Tim's Mom called my house one day, way back when and now i can't remember why, but i remember her being very friendly and very easy to talk to. Yesterday morning when i was trying to decide what to wear to this women's affair, i must have tried on 3 or 4 different outfits, asking my husband's opinion. The coffee wasn't a formal affair, i was just trying to look like i belonged there. I am much more comfortable out cutting the grass in a pair of shorts and T shirt, than i am at women's affairs. So after the fourth outfit, i think i quit asking, and put something together that i hope went together reasonably well. Dressing up for ladies affairs is not my strong suit and i need to work on that. When we were engaged, some of my Mother in law's friends were graciously hosting a shower for us at the Athens Country Club. I was running late, and i think the strap on my sandals broke, and my slip was showing as i went "shuffling in," as my Mother-in-law, laughingly recalls. I walked into the room and burst into tears. Talk about making an impression, i don't know what those ladies thought. One sweet friend of my mother-in-law came out in the hall and comforted me, and the LORD helped me pull myself together. I went on to complete the shower without any other crying episodes. So, maybe that's why i get the nervous when i'm going to be around "women of society."
The shower was held at the home of Tom and Dorris Dean who have graciously hosted many coffees for Republican candidates through the years. This was my first time to attend one of their coffee's and what a lovely event it was. Their home is like something out of the movie, "Steel Magnolias." I just watched that recently on TV with my family, and the southern setting and scenery is what comes to my mind. The grounds of the Deans home are just beautiful. In front and out back are two of the largest sprawling oak trees I have ever seen, they are amazing. Pink azalea bushes, purple hydrangeas, and a world of other lovely blooming flowers and bushes adorned the lawn of the beautiful home the Dean's live in. When one walls in the front door of the Dean's home, you can walk through a breezeway to the back door. Just to the left of the yard is a huge old gray barn. There were men, gardeners i suppose, working in the back yard pushing a cart of some kind with dirt, working on the grounds. It really gave you the feel of being at an old southern plantation home.
Thankfully when i pulled in the driveway, there was my dear friend Lisa Parker who set me at ease right away, except for her skinny self. She has "decreased through the years, and i have increased." Lisa and i hugged, and she took me over to meet Angela, the wife of Tim James, where she was sitting in her SUV talking on the phone. When she got off, she said she was talking to her Mother-in-Law, Bobbie James. Angela was a blonde, petite gal, with a pretty smile. She said today was her son's birthday and he had a finance test at Ole Miss. She was asking her Mother-in-law to pray for him. That was such a witness to me...and such and example as i saw her depending on the LORD to take time to call her Mother-in-law and ask her to pray for her son. I thought about that example i shared with you last week from the Women's Conference i recently attended at First Baptist about the Musk Ox's surrounding their young so the wolves couldn't get to them. When Mom's and Grandmom's and Aunt's and sister's, and friends in the body of CHRIST surround our loves ones in prayer, we're like those Musk Ox protecting their young...through our prayers to our heavenly FATHER who hears and answers our prayers on their behalf...thus the title, "Mighty Musk Ox Prayer Warrior Princesses." Once we walked inside there were others i knew, including Missy McDonald who invited me and is the chairperson for the Tim James campaign in Limestone County. There was an amazing table of food, and honestly i can't even tell you what was on it, because i wasn't hungry and didn't eat. I do know their were cheese sticks, because Angela was given some by Mrs. Dean to take home with her. I did manage to grab a mug of water as her daughter brought out several glasses on a tray and walked beside me. I believe those mugs were silver. Sure didn't look like the Walmart glasses we use at our house. Mrs. Dean who is in her seventies i think, and her two daughters did a tremendous job of preparing the wonderful food and flowers and their home for the coffee. I sure was glad my good friend Marion Walker was there. Marion too, is in her seventies and has such a passion for our country and has battled for many years in prayer and supporting godly conservative candidates. She knows the issues, as did many of the ladies who attended. There were ladies from all walks of life, school teachers, business owners, stay at home mom's, retired teachers, etc. This was not just a casual gathering to look good and meet a prospective governor's wife. These were concerned women for our country and they wanted to know where her husband stood on the issues. After we ate and mingled a while longer, then Angela spoke and shared a little bit about what her husband stood for and his concern for our state. I honestly can't remember much of what she shared because i was standing in a little hallway as she spoke and couldn't hear too well, so you'll have to visit Tim's website for that (www.timjames2010.com).
One of the highlights for me at the coffee was speaking with the Dean's daughter whose 25 year old son had been in a car accident 3 years ago after leaving church one night. He has been through years of therapy to help rehabilitate the brain injury that he suffered when he was thrown from the car. The faith and acceptance of this dear lady of what GOD had allowed into their lives was such an example and inspiration to me. Their son was attending a Baptist college in Mississippi, preparing to be a youth minister, when the accident occurred. There was no hint of bitterness in her voice, only acceptance and faith in what GOD was doing in their family.
After the coffee was over, a few of us went uptown on the square to eat lunch on the square where Angela could meet more folks from Athens. We ate at U.G. White Hardware, (http://www.ugwhite.com/) a hardware store on Athens square since 1917. Part of it has recently been converted into a restaurant. Hannah Beth met us at LuVici's (http://www.luvicis.com/), after leaving American History class at Calhoun. I was thankful for her to have the opportunity to meet Mrs. James, and visit with Lisa Parker, who is always so friendly to Hannah Beth. Unlike me, Hannah Beth is much more comfortable at "women's affairs," and she is such a blessing to have along and help her Mom behave. While we were eating i found out Lisa's secret to staying so little. I looked over and saw she left all the crouton's from her salad lying in her plate. She says she does that to save room for the caramel pie and stuff like that:). About that time, the chef of LuVici's brought our table a huge piece of some wonderful coconut creme cake or something like that to die for. She brought us 7 forks so we could all sample it and it was out of this world good! After lunch we intended to walk around the square, but Angela had to head to Birmingham, and i had to leave also. I felt so very honored to be included in this group, and I'm so thankful that Hannah Beth was able to join us for this opportunity to be with Lisa and the other ladies. Hannah Beth is quiet the campaigner and has recently been working to help Don Spurlin (http://www.donspurlin.com/) get elected to our State Senate going door to door with other young folks handing out his information.
As i listened to the sermon clips from Dr. David Jeremiah while i ate a salad without croutons, on the state of our economy, I thought about the seriousness of the conversations that i heard at the Dean's home concerning the affairs of our country. This was no woman's affair just for show...these were concerned women for their families and for their country. We want to elect the best candidates who we believe will first of all lead us back to GOD and stand for the TRUTH of HIS WORD, defend our constitution, and lead wisely in economic affairs, immigration, and all the issues we are facing. Dr. Jeremiah did not sugar coat the fact that he believes we are in for some real hard times and we need to prepare for these difficult days ahead. I hope that you will take time to listen to these clips from his message and Brannon Howse's comments concerning his words http://www.worldviewweekend.com/worldview-radio/episode.php?episodeid=16322 .
I read some comments a few weeks that Corrie ten Boom shared several years ago about her concern for persecution that was coming to America. Corrie ten Boom and her family was put into Nazi Concentration camps for hiding Jews. Her sister and Daddy died there. Corrie warned that we need to be preparing CHRISTians for difficult days instead of just thinking they are going to be ruptured...the CHRISTians in China, and Germany, and other countries have suffered great persecution and we should not think that just because we are Americans that we are going to escape that...so i have been waiting to share her article with you at the right time, and i thought this might be it.http://www.americaisraelprophecy.com/corrie.html. I hope that you will take time to prayerfully read this letter that Corrie wrote in 1974 exhorting us to prepare our hearts to be strong in the LORD for the days ahead.

As i began to write i felt led to share the song, "A Mighty Fortress is our GOD," by Martin Luther, the leader of the Protestant Reformation to conclude this weeks email. Martin Luther http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther did not set out to led the Protestant Reformation when he nailed his 95 thesis http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/history/95theses.htm to the door of the church in Wittenburg. But GOD strengthened him and gave him courage to stand strong against the opposition of the Catholic church leaders, thus leading the way for the common man to worship and study GOD's Word for himself and herself, and declare that salvation is in CHRIST alone and not in the works of man. May the LORD give each one of us HIS courage and power to stand in the place that HE has for each of us in these days that we are living in. May you be blessed as you listen to Steve Green sing these powerful words: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y-_TsRjm5Y&feature=related .


A Mighty Fortress Is My God

~ Martin Luther, 1483-1546
~ Translated by Frederick H. Hedge, 1805-1890





Stanza 1:
A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe -
His craft and pow'r are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.




Stanza 2:
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he -
Lord Sabbaoth His name,
From age to age the same -
And He must win the battle.




Stanza 3:
And tho this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph thru us.
The prince of darkness grim -
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure -
One little word shall fell him.




Stanza 4:
That word above all earthly pow'rs -
No thanks to them - abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Thru Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill;
God's truth abideth still;
His kingdom is forever.

Dear ones, i didn't mean to get so serious tonight, i was just going to tell you about a southern coffee, for a southern governor hopeful, but this is the way the LORD led me to share with you this week. I feel i must share these things with you...not to frighten you, but to encourage you and myself to draw nearer to my LORD JESUS through HIS WORD and prayer, and fellowshipping with other believers, and telling others that GOD loves them so much HE sent HIS SON to die for their sins that they may be forgiven and made ONE with HIM. "For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only SON that whosoever believeth in HIM shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16. If you have not trusted the LORD JESUS as your SAVIOR and LORD, please do so today by repenting of your sins, and placing your life in HIS hands. HE loves you and me so very much, HE is our Mighty Fortress, and the Lover of our Souls. Let's keep our hand to the plow, and be found faithful serving our MASTER when HE returns...in whatever way HE leads us, whether it's running for governor, or working as the gardener, may we be found faithful in HIM.
Well, i've cut the grass today (to GOD be the glory!) scooped poop, weeded the flower beds, and now it's raining...blessed rain that we need very much. They are predicting storms tomorrow, severe storms, please pray the LORD would send the rain, and protect us from the storms. He knows what we need to make the plants grow, and to make us grow and be strong and mighty in HIM. HE wants us to be "oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that HE may be glorified." Isaiah 61:3. HE doesn't want us to fear the days ahead, but to face them confidently as we abide in HIM. HE cares for us as a FATHER tenderly cares for his children.

With all HIS love,
mitzi






"To follow CHRIST will mean death. Not crucifixion in the literal sense, probably, but the coming to the end of ourselves, our expectations, our dreams. HE must bring us to that end in order to bring us to the beginning of the CHRIST-life."
Elisabeth Elliot, www.elisabethelliot.org

"Our old man was crucified with HIM...that we should no longer be slaves of sin." Romans 6:6