"Oh, How HE Loves Us So"

"Blessed be the GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in CHRIST, just as HE chose us in HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before HIM. In love, HE predestined us to adoption as sons through JESUS CHRIST to HIMself, according to the kind intention of HIS will, to the praise of the glory of HIS grace, which HE freely bestowed on us in the BELOVED. In HIM we have redemption through HIS blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of HIS grace which HE lavished upon us." Ephesians 1:3-8




Dear Praying Friends and Family,

Earlier this week, i took "Midnight," our black and very gregarious lab, up to the vet in Pulaski. She had surgery several days ago to remove a growth on her chest, and i had to bring her back for a recheck and get her stitches removed. It's always an adventure when I take "Midnight" anywhere with me. I had to stop and fill up with gas, and when i tried to get back in the car, "Midnight," quickly makes her exit from my seat out into the bay beside the pumps. While i'm pulling and tugging to get her back in the Jimmy, cars are lined up two and three deep watching this fiasco. Thankfully, it didn't last long, and "Midnight," obediently jumped into the back after a few tugs. We made the 45 minute drive up to Pulaski, partly on the I-65, and then exiting at Ardmore to make the remainder of the trip through the foothills of Tennessee. It's a beautiful drive, that i don't usually mind except when my allergies are crazy like they have been recently...even crazier than usual. I've got my Daddy's eyes for enjoying the countryside as i drive along and admire the beauty of my heavenly FATHER's creation. Once we arrived at the vet, I noticed a van in the parking lot with several dogs in cages and thought to myself, oh no, i want to hurry so i can get in front of all those dogs. Surprisingly, the office was calm ...usually it's grand central station with animals of all kinds coming there to Dr. Galbraith's office for help. Today, there was only 3-4 in line when we arrived. I left "Midnight" in the car, which is a dangerous thing to do. Last time, i did that, she crawled behind the drivers seat, and looked like she was driving with her head sticking up over the steering wheel. I wouldn't put it past her to turn the keys on and take off!

I returned to the car, and after not too long of a wait, the young man came and got her. I was planning to enjoy reading in the Jimmy while i was waiting on the doc to remove her stitches. There was a lady there beside the white van with all the dogs. She had on a tank top, with a friendly but sad smile, and looked like she had lived a rather hard life. I spoke to her, asking her about all her dogs. She told me she was a "transport," lady to help rescue dogs that are going to be euthanized at the pound or to rescue dogs that are in bad living situations. She has connections with rescue groups all over, and makes a trip up North, every week, to take dogs to rescue groups, who then will place them in a foster home or permanent home. She was on her way back from New York i believe. I asked her where she slept when she's on the road and she said in her van. Her van was packed with dogs in dog cages, and dog food, and other supplies, and i wondered where she slept. She said she has a mat she puts over the front seat and sleeps there. I noticed a cooler in the van, and i guess that's where she stores her food. She said she doesn't want to leave the dogs to sleep in a motel room. As she talked, i was very intrigued by all this lady did to rescue these animals. She told me she got 60 dogs from one lady who was a "hoarder," and distributed them to as many homes as she could. Some had to be put to sleep because of sickness or age. As this lady told me about her role as a "transport," person, i told her it almost sounded like something from Harriet Tubman's "Underground Railroad." Surprised she knew what i was talking about, she said, "It almost is...some of these Northern states don't want you bringing dogs into their states because of the fear of spreading diseases." She's been turned in to the police, but said most of them, once they see her papers for them, are supportive of what she's doing.

We talked probably 20 minutes or so while i was waiting on Midnight there in the parking lot, the cigarette burning in her hand. I was really touched by her love for the dogs. A few times she wiped the tears out of her eyes as she talked about them, and how special they were to her. She showed me some that were in her van that had already been spayed or neutered that morning by Dr. Galbraith. He gives her a really good price on them since they are rescue dogs. She brings a load of them once a week for him to work on the animals she's tranporting. One dog she left was having it's skin scraped. For the most part, except for the one who was getting it's skin scraped, and looked mangy, the other dogs looked to be in great shape. There were puppies, and full grown dogs, and a beautiful boxer...all "rescued," from their fate of certain death at the pound. She told me she goes through at least 70 pds of dog food a week, and she will go without before she lets the dogs go hungry. Based upon her thin appearance, she has probably done that a time or two in the past...giving up her food for her dogs.

As she talked to me about rescuing the dogs and showed me her van full of dogs, i could sense the deep love she had in her heart for these animals. She guarded them when she traveled, she sacrificed her own food, so they could eat, and she laid down her life that these dogs might have life driving hundreds of miles a week, to take them to a place of safety. I thought about GOD loves us so...each and every one of us....so much that HE gave HIS SON to rescue us from our sins...our sins that deserve eternal judgement. Many Mom's and Dad's have sacrificed their sons and daughter's for the freedoms we enjoy in America. GOD sacrificed HIS SON so that we could be free from bondage and shackles of our sin and have life and have it more abundantly.



"This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD. For HE looked down from the height of HIS sanctuary; from heaven the LORD viewed the earth. To hear the groaning of the prisoner, to release those appointed to death, to declare the name of the LORD in Zion, And HIS praise in Jerusalem, when the peoples are gathered together and the kingdoms to serve the LORD." Psalm 102:18-22




"For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON that whosoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"Forth from the love of GOD HE came,

And seeks thine empty heart.

Receive this LORD from heaven above,

In thee to live HIS life of love."

-Hannah Hurnard, Mountain of Spices

I am most amazed at the picture of GOD's love for us, through the love we have for our pets. My next door neighbor who is kind of the "yuppy," type, has a beagle for a dog. Now, i'm not putting down beagles, but if i was picking a dog for her and her family, i would never pick a beagle. My brother had beagles for hunting dogs when i was growing up, and for some reason, i was just never too crazy about beagles. But my neighbor chose a beagle and she loves "Tootsie." That beagle is well cared for, has the run of the back yard, sleeps under the porch, is fat from eating the finest of "Science Diet," and pretty much just has it made. My sister in law...the same thing...she has a mut named Cracker. Someone found it on the side of the road somewhere, and it was mangy looking...but you know where that mutt lives...in a real fine home on Brookwood Dr. that children in third world country, and many in our country would love to live in. That dog has the finest of food, an owner that loves it, a comfy place to sleep, and all the love that it could want, because a sinful human chose to adopt it, and give it all the benefits that go along with being a part of their family.



"If you then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children,(or pets in this case) how much more will your heavenly FATHER give good gifts to those who ask HIM?"



GOD gives us all the benefits of being a part of HIS family when HE calls us and chooses us and in faith and repentance from our evil sin we follow HIM as the LORD of our lives. Not in dutiful obedience because we have to, but because HE's given us a new heart, a heart of flesh, and made us HIS spiritual heirs.



"I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear ME forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them." Isaiah 40:31





HE laid down HIS life for us...literally on a wooden cross, with a sword piercing HIS precious side, and nails driven into HIS wrists and feet and a crown of thorns smashed upon HIS head. HE did that because "Oh How HE loves Us So," and payed the debt we couldn't pay for our sins.



Earlier this week a dear friend whom the LORD has recently brought back into my life through FB shared with me the book, Radical by David Platt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoicm4wnQ4c .David is the pastor of the Church of Brook Hills in Birmingham, Al. I picked up a copy yesterday at Lifeway Christian Bookstore, and read the first couple of chapters yesterday afternoon. In his book in Ch. 2 David shares:



"The Biblical gospel says, "You are an enemy of GOD, dead in your sin, and in your present state of rebellion, you are not even able to see that you need life, much less to cause yourself to come to life. Therefore you are radically dependent on GOD to do something in your life that you could never do."




"In the gospel GOD reveals the depth of our need for HIM. HE shows us that there is absolutely nothing we can do to come to HIM. We can't manufacture salvation. We can't program it. We can't produce it. We can't even initiate it. GOD has to open our eyes, set us free, overcome our evil, and appease HIS wrath. HE has to come to us."



"This is the gospel. The just and loving Creator of the universe has looked upon hopelessly sinful people and sent HIS SON, GOD in the flesh, to bear HIS wrath against sin on the Cross and to show HIS power over sin in the Resurrection so that all who trust in HIM will be reconciled forever."



Those dogs, whom that lady rescued could do nothing to rescue themselves. She did it all, taking the initiative to save them from their impending death, just as our heavenly FATHER does it all to save us from the impending judgement and eternal death that we face apart from our salvation through the LORD JESUS CHRIST. We don't deserve HIS love and HIS mercy, "But GOD demonstrates HIS love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us." Romans 5:8







HE desires each one of us to have such a personal and intimate relationship with HIM through the LORD JESUS CHRIST. HE wants us to take time and spend time with HIM at the beginning of the day, before the world crowds out our time with HIM, and have fellowship with HIM through reading and studying HIS WORD, HIS love letters to us. HE invites us to spend time in prayer with HIM, and to pray without ceasing. HE left HIS FATHER and home in heaven and died for us and rose again that we might be rescued from hell, and the dominion of darkness to walk in the kingdom of HIS marvelous light and bless us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Can you believe that...every spiritual blessing. I can believe that if we humans will adopt a mut dog or kitty cat, and lavish them with our love, and all the comforts a human can imagine, how much more will our heavenly FATHER bestow on us every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies? I can't began to comprehend what it's going to be like when i have my new glorified body and live and rule and reign with the LORD JESUS in the New Jerusalem that is coming up.



I think about that dear lady i met this morning who goes without, and sleeps in a car, and drives hundreds of miles to find homes for dogs. How much trouble am i going to rescue the souls of men and women and children whom the LORD JESUS gave HIS life for to purchase their souls. At one time, my husband and I surrendered our lives to the Foreign Mission Field if that's where the LORD wanted us to go and serve HIM, to win the lost for HIM. When HE asked us to return home to Athens, that was the harder surrender for the both of us...to go back home, and lay down our lives here, that others might come to know the LORD JESUS as their LORD and SAVIOR. Sometimes, i fear my heart has grown colder over the years, and lost my zeal somewhat...but the LORD JESUS has not lost HIS zeal, or HIS love for those HE has chosen and called to be HIS own. HE gives you and me the wonderful privilege of being a part of what HE's doing in others lives as HE woos them to HIM through HIS Holy Spirit.



I read a devotion from Charles Spurgeon from Morning and Evening, that talks about how we as CHRISTians should be going to all lengths to "rescue," the souls of men and women and children from the fiery flames of hell, and their bondage to sin. CHRIST loves them so much, and HE has placed you and me in just the right spot to be HIS hands and feet and lips to show them HIS love and share with them that GOD loves them so much HE sent HIS SON to die for their sins...Do I care, how much effort have i put into sharing JESUS with my next door neighbors, any of my neighbors. I'm ashamed to admit my lack of zeal to share JESUS with my own neighbors that GOD loves and put me by to be a witness to them. This devotion challenges my heart to perform "some gallant act for the love of souls and the glory of the LORD."



"And when they could not come nigh unto Him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay."

--Mark 2:4

Faith is full of inventions. The house was full, a crowd blocked up the door, but faith found a way of getting at the Lord and placing the palsied man before Him. If we cannot get sinners where Jesus is by ordinary methods we must use extraordinary ones. It seems, according to Luke 5:19, that a tiling had to be removed, which would make dust and cause a measure of danger to those below, but where the case is very urgent we must not mind running some risks and shocking some proprieties. Jesus was there to heal, and therefore fall what might, faith ventured all so that her poor paralyzed charge might have his sins forgiven. O that we had more daring faith among us! Cannot we, dear reader, seek it this morning for ourselves and for our fellow-workers, and will we not try to-day to perform some gallant act for the love of souls and the glory of the Lord.


The world is constantly inventing; genius serves all the purposes of human desire: cannot faith invent too, and reach by some new means the outcasts who lie perishing around us? It was the presence of Jesus which excited victorious courage in the four bearers of the palsied man: is not the Lord among us now? Have we seen His face for ourselves this morning? Have we felt His healing power in our own souls? If so, then through door, through window, or through roof, let us, breaking through all impediments, labour to bring poor souls to Jesus. All means are good and decorous when faith and love are truly set on winning souls. If hunger for bread can break through stone walls, surely hunger for souls is not to be hindered in its efforts. O Lord, make us quick to suggest methods of reaching Thy poor sin-sick ones, and bold to carry them out at all hazards.




If this dear lady is willing to do so much to rescue poor dogs who are doomed to death, how much more should you and I be seeking the LORD's heart and HIS wisdom to be creative to rescue the souls of those around us. Am i doing anything to rescue the perishing, those in captivity, those whom JESUS loves so much HE gave HIS all for. GOD loves us so much HE gave HIS only SON that whosoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16



Hannah Beth wrote on my wall on FB earlier this week, and sent me a song she said had become her new favorite and thought i would like it to. It sure does bless me that HB loves this song, and GOD is opening her eyes up, along with mine, how very much HE loves us. The song is "O How HE Loves Us," by David Crowder and is very appropriate to share as we think about how much JESUS does love us, and it is not HIS will that any should perish. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzfPHnoT0-0 "Oh How HE Loves Us," David Crowder.

This is not at all what i planned to write about this week, but was redirected after meeting the "rescue" lady at the vet this morning, who i was so touched by her love and care that she was willing to lay down her life to give these dogs an opportunity to live. "Oh how she loves dogs," but more important is "Oh How HE loves Us." HIS thoughts are ever toward us...and HE loves you and me so very much...even when we get difficult news like my friend Shirley did. In just a few minutes i will be leaving to take her to an oncologist to find out what she thinks is the best treatment for the tumor in her head. Ya'll please be in prayer for this dear lady who just lost her sister in June to cancer and for her dear daughter Mishel, who will be helping her Mother make the decisions she needs to for this journey. "Oh How HE Loves Us," even when loved ones are taken HOME by surprise through a car accident, like Mr. Charles Page earlier this week at 96 years of age. His daughter Caroline was also injured in the wreck, and had hip surgery to repair her broken hip. Mr. and Mrs. Page both were the sweetest saints in CHRIST JESUS I have ever known. HE loves HIS children special, bestowing us with every spiritual blessing... "Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, neither has it entered the heart of GOD the things that GOD has prepared for those who love HIM." I Cor. 2:9






Well, Midnight, got a good report from the vet from her surgery. She got her stitches out, and a couple of shots, and was eager to get back in the car when the attendant brought her outside to me....i'm sure she was ready to go home and tell "Dixie," our golden retriever of all her latest adventures of going to the vet in Tennessee. Thank you for listening to my "adventures," again this week...and letting me tell the old, old story of JESUS and HIS love.

"I Love to Tell the Story" by Katherine Hankey

"I love to tell the story of unseen things above

of JESUS and HIS glory, of JESUS and HIS love:

I love to tell the story Because I know 'tis true;

It satisfies my longings As nothing else can do.

Chorus:

I love to tell the story,

"Twill be my theme in glory

To tell the old, old story

of JESUS and HIS love.

I love to tell the story;

'Tis pleasant to repeat

What seems each time I tell it,

More wonderfully sweet:

I love to tell the story,

For some have never heard

The message of salvation

From GOD's own Holy Word.

I love to tell the story,

For those who know it best,

Seem hungering and thirsting,

To hear it like the rest:

And when in scenes of glory,

I sing the new, new song,

"Twill be the old, old story,

That I have loved so long."

My friend, Tim Greene, will be telling the old, old story and telling of GOD's love for him to bring healing to Tim after a most difficult sickness with Mold Poisoning. He will be speaking and singing at New Hope Baptist Church on Mooresville Rd. just a few miles from our house this Sunday evening, at 6:00 p.m. i think. Please call and check on that time to make sure...He will be speaking at a church in Trussville that morning near B'ham...you can check out his website for more info www.evangelisttimgreene.com.

Please remember me in your prayers...my allergies are giving me a very difficult time. Thank you all so much for your sweet love and prayers and encouragement for me and my family week after week. You are such a joy and blessing in our lives!
                                                                                        With all HIS love,
                                                                                               mitzi