"Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD...all who are gifted artisans among you shall come and make all that the LORD has commanded: the tabernacle, its tent, its covering, its clasps, its boards...Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD's offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. They came, both men and women, as many as had willing heart..." Ex. 35:5,10,21,22
"For it is GOD WHO is at work in you, both to will and to work for HIS good pleasure." Phil 2:13
Dear Praying Friends and Family,
I hope each one of you had a very Happy Valentine's Day! Somehow we managed to loose three Valentine's Day Card's around here, and gradually have found two of the three. I'm sending Hannah Beth's off to her today:). We had a great Valentine's Day, in spite of the lost cards, as Johnny was off that day. I was able to meet Johnny and his Daddy for lunch on the square at LuVici's, http://www.luvicis.
Earlier this week as i was reading my daily Bible reading, i came upon the passage from Exodus 3 about GOD using the Israelites to build the tabernacle, the place where HIS holy presence would dwell and the priest would come and make sacrifices for the sins of the people. The tabernacle was a "shadow," of when CHRIST would come and be our HOLY PRIEST, and sacrifice HIMSELF as the HOLY LAMB of GOD, to pay for our sins once and for all. There are so many pictures of WHO CHRIST is in the different aspects of the tabernacle, it is fascinating to study. But what caught my attention this day as i read was the term, willing heart, and how GOD stirred the Israelites hearts to accomplish HIS plans and purposes to build the tabernacle to worship HIM.
As i already mentioned, the name of our Bible Study group is "Willing Hearts " and the younger ladies are called "Growing Hearts." Sadie Roberts, a dear godly woman in our church who has now gone on to be with the LORD JESUS, named the Bible Study when it was only a handful of women meeting in homes. I am curious if this passage in the Bible is where the name comes from for our Bible Study group. GOD has grown the Bible Study to be a large group of 30-50 middle age and older women, and a growing group of the younger women that meet on Monday mornings. Last year, GOD used the Women's Conference and the Willing Hearts ladies to touch me with HIS love and gradually draw our family to First Baptist. This year, the Willing Hearts are busily preparing for the their third Women's Conference. "For the Joy" is the theme this year with guest speaker, Linda Evans Shepherd. I hope that you will make your plans to be a part of this very special conference that the LORD is orchestrating and empowering through the "Willing Hearts" at First Baptist Church.
It is my joy and privilege that GOD has drawn me with HIS lovingkindness and stirred my heart to be a part of this very special group of women in our church. It is such a blessing to see them serving and working in the areas that GOD has gifted each one of them...whether it's Dr. Betty Dean, who is such a gifted teacher of the WORD and has served the LORD many years in the public school system at all levels, including teaching college, and is now over the reading program for the whole state of Alabama. Betty Dean has suffered from MS for many years, and her husband from cancer. GOD has used these trials in their lives to equip them with "willing hearts," to serve HIM. We get to hear lots of stories in Bible Study about how GOD has used cancer to be a "sweet journey," in Betty Dean and Julian's life. What an inspiration they are to us. Jackie Jackson, is heading up the Food Committee and working with Ginny Chandler and others in our church family who have been catering delicious food for years. Jan Morris is heading up the advertising for the Conference. With her loving and outgoing personality, she is the perfect person in charge of outreach and advertising for the Conference. Susan Hofacker is in charge of Ticket Sales, which would be an absolute nightmare to me to have to keep tract of all the money for that, Bonnie Teal is in charge of Accomodations for our Speaker, and out of town guests. Bonnie, our Minister of Education's wife, makes everyone feel WELCOME as she goes around greeting folks on Sunday morning, so she is perfect for sharing her gift of hospitality through this role. Marie Rich is in charge of decorating the sanctuary...another nightmare job for me, but just looking at Marie, you can tell she is creative and she looks forward to using her gifts to decorating for the conference, along with Ginger Medlin who is in charge of decorating the Family Life Center where the delicious lunch will be served by the men on Saturday, and door prizes will be given away. Jane Lusk is in charge of those door prizes and she isn't taking her job lightly. She asked us to pray for each gift she selects, that they would be a reminder to each one who receives them of what GOD is doing at our church, and a rememberance of the conference. Other "Willing Hearts" will be those who decorate the tables for lunch...another nightmare job, or highly stressful to me, but not to those who are gifted by GOD to do that. I hear the ladies talking about decorating their tables...one lady is planning to decorate the table with an Auburn theme. That brought out the flesh in Betty Dean:)...just kidding, and she may decorate a table decorating in the theme of the Crimson Tide! Lookout now, we may have a rivalry right there at the Women's Conference! The tables are such a highlight of the conference...you need to come just to see those...we have some very, very gifted women in that area, and unfortunately that is not one of my gifts:). I'm glad it's somebody's gift and apparently a lot of women's...i guess i got playing the drums or kayaking or something instead of some of those normal women gifts:). Joan Jenkins, our pastor's wife, is heading up the Hostess committee. She too, like Bonnie Teal, is always reaching out and making you feel welcome. She will be in charge of getting greeters to share the love of CHRIST with those the LORD brings to the Conference. Betty Batts, is chairing up the servers committee, with her "Willing Heart," Joan Orman, who was a school teacher extraordinaire for years is in charge of the Book Sales. Linda Hicks and her committee will be working on the Welcome Bags for each lady the LORD brings to make them feel loved and special. Candy Tomerlin, bless her heart, is chairperson over the bathrooms. Not sure what her "skills," are for that, hey i need them to keep my bathrooms clean at home:), but i'm sure a "Willing Heart," is very needed...the bathrooms are crucial, especially at a Women's Conference! Diane Synder, a very loving and caring and thoughtful nurse is in charge of getting the gift for our speaker, and she will do a great job of that. Diane is in charge of our Praying Mom's college ministry and she sends out hundreds of cards each year to our college and career students and organizes that ministry and prays for them. Some of our "Growing Hearts," women are also helping in many ways, and i think one of those is through the music. I'm looking forward to hearing these gifted women use their talents for the LORD to sing for HIM and lead us in worship. GOD has also raised up a dear, vivacious gal with a beautiful voice from New Life Assembly of GOD, here in Athens i believe, to come and lead us in worshipping HIM in song. Last, but certainly not least is the Prayer committee. Janet Dees is heading that up, and under her submissive willing heart, she is doing a great job encouraging us to pray for all that GOD wants to do in our lives and through the lives of those HE brings to the conference.
GOD is at work in the lives of the women at First Baptist, to will and to work for HIS good pleasure. This is HIS conference, HIS doings, HIS plans and purposes to be accomplished to encourage, nurture, bring other women to know HIM, and glorify HIMself through all that goes in through the willing hearts and others that HE has prepared and gifted to perform HIS will.
Not only is GOD at work in the lives of the women and women and children at First Baptist, but HE is at work in your life and my life. GOD has equipped you and me with the unique gifts that HE selected for us before we were thought about by anyone in this world. But HE thought about us and HE loves us and created us to do HIS good works:
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of GOD-not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are GOD's workmanship, created in CHRIST JESUS to do good works, which GOD prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:9-10
Sometimes, when GOD is equipping us to do the good works HE has prepared in advance for us to do, we may not recognize HIS ways and may not appreciate what GOD is doing to equip us to do HIS good works. Charles Spurgeon wrote about that this morning in Morning and Evening:
Job 10:2
Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.
Perhaps, O tried soul, the Lord is doing this to develop thy graces. There are some of thy graces which would never be discovered if it were not for thy trials. Dost thou not know that thy faith never looks so grand in summer weather as it does in winter? Love is too often like a glow-worm, showing but little light except it be in the midst of surrounding darkness. Hope itself is like a star-not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity. Afflictions are often the black foils in which God doth set the jewels of His children's graces, to make them shine the better. It was but a little while ago that on thy knees thou wast saying, "Lord, I fear I have no faith: let me know that I have faith." Was not this really, though perhaps unconsciously, praying for trials?-for how canst thou know that thou hast faith until thy faith is exercised? Depend upon it, God often sends us trials that our graces may be discovered, and that we may be certified of their existence. Besides, it is not merely discovery, real growth in grace is the result of sanctified trials. God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains His soldiers, not in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and using them to forced marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many a long mile with heavy knapsacks of sorrow on their backs. Well, Christian, may not this account for the troubles through which thou art passing? Is not the Lord bringing out your graces, and making them grow? Is not this the reason why He is contending with you?
"Trials make the promise sweet;
Trials give new life to prayer;
Trials bring me to His feet,Lay me low, and keep me there."
I have often mentioned in these writings how GOD allowed the brilliant doctors who have helped me so much in my health struggles to go through similar struggles. that i have. Their education in school and in the school of suffering has served to equip them and give them "willing hearts," to be able to help folks like me who have been poisoned by toxins in our environment. By the time i was 27, my health was broken, and i was virtually bedridden, though i couldn't lay in bed long because it was uncomfortable for me. I stayed on the floor most of the time. Yesterday, as i was talking with my doctor, Dr. Katherine Henry in Richardson, Texas, once again, i just stood in awe at the knowledge she has of the human body and how things work in it. Her knowledge of molecules and chemistry is beyond my ability to comprehend. Her understanding of the body, food, supplements to detoxify our body, nutritional supplements to build our bodies up, medicine, and what tests to use to diagnose difficult issues has helped patients all over the world to restore their health when other doctors were baffled. She is a "champion," and a master that GOD has equipped for just the role she plays to bring healing to patients all over the world. I am so blessed to be under her care. I realize that her "equipping" came at a great price to be the skilled physician that she is...not just in "school," and experience, but the difficult health issues that she too has suffered through as a result of pesticides, and other chemicals damaging her health.As i continue to feel that GOD is leading me to do something with the "equipping" HE has given me through my nursing education, my illness, the expert physicians HE has allowed me to learn from, i wrestle with having a "willing heart," to go back to school and knowing that I could never do what my doctors do to help others...they are "champions," yet, I am a "dwarf" in my knowledge compared to Dr. Katherine Henry, or Dr. Sherry Rogers, or Dr. William Rea. However, GOD reminded me yesterday that HE uses the "dwarfs" as well as the giants, and feeble folks as well as champions."
"It is one of the lovely things about the MASTER we serve, that HE is so willing to use in HIS service dwarves as well as giants, and feeble folks as well as champions." Hannah Hurnard, Wayfarer in the Land, p.8
"Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that GOD supplies, so that GOD will be glorified." 1 Peter 4;11
That quote really comforted me when i read that on my "Hinds Feet on High Places," calendar yesterday...and I am forever reminded that "MY grace is sufficient for you for MY power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will gladly boast in my weaknesses that the power of CHRIST may rest upon me." II Cor. 12:9-10.
I sure would appreciate you continuing to pray for me on this journey. I applied to UAH this week, and i'm about to apply to the nursing program. It will be May before i hear if i'm accepted into it or not...so we'll go from there. You know, i don't know if i'm supposed to go back to school or not, but i'm just trying to surrender, and have a willing heart, to be obedient to one step at a time to what seems to be GOD guiding me this way. I want to be obedient to HIM and know HIM in HIS fullness, and if this is part of the plan for my life..and for the lives of others,"Speak, O LORD," to my heart. Help me to have a "willing heart," and continue to lead and guide me in the path YOU have prepared for me.
"It is the will to obey ME which makes the union complete between us and which enables ME to pour MY life and power into those who love ME and respond to ME continually."
"I desire to do your will, O my GOD; YOUR law is within my heart." Psalm 40:8
Wednesday night we sang a song in choir practice that has been gripping my heart more and more each time we sing it. Rhonda Roberts, whose husband Al is suffering with a brain tumor," sings a solo so beautifully on this song, and then the choir joins in. Please remember Rhonda and Al and their family in your prayers during this difficult time in their lives. The song is called "Speak O LORD," by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. May the words of this song, be a reflection of my willing heart and your willing heart as we seek to glorify our LORD JESUS CHRIST in all that we are and do for HIS purposes and HIS glory.
Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory.
Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow'r that can never fail—
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory.
Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow'r that can never fail—
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.
I hope and pray that you will make your plans to be a part of "For the Joy," Women's Conference, March 25-26. What a privilege to be a part of what GOD is doing in the midst of HIS body of believers and willing hearts at First Baptist. We want you to be a part of what HE is doing as HE accomplishes HIS plans and purposes through us.
And the earth is filled with Your glory."
With all HIS love,
mitzi
Women’s Conference
First Baptist Church
201 E. Hobbs St. Athens, AL 35611
Linda Evans Shepherd
Nationally known Christian speaker
& best-selling author
(When You Can't Find God - How to Ignite the Power of His Presence, When You Don’t Know What to Pray-How to Talk to God about Anything, Pot Luck Club,)
March 25-26, 2011
Friday 6:30-8:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.)
Saturday 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (Doors open at 8:30 a.m.)
$25.00 (lunch included)
Contact Jackie Jackson 256-232-7829 jackiejackson12@gmail.com
(childcare not provided)
For the Joy
Women’s Conference Mar 25-26, 2011
First Baptist Church
201 East Hobbs Street
Athens, AL 35611
Special Conference Rates @ Local Hotels
Hampton Inn & Suites Phone: 256-232-2377 Fax: 256-232-0498
Conference Rate: $ 99.00 per night + tax (2 per room)
$104.00 per night + tax (3 per room)
$109.00 per night + tax (4 per room)
Complimentary Hot Breakfast
Indoor Pool
Reservations must be made by March 1, 2011 to receive this rate
Rooms can be booked on line with Hampton Inns & Suites using Rate Code AWC
------------------------------
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Phone: 256-232-7931 Fax: 256-232-0357
Conference Rate: $99.00 per night + tax
Complimentary Hot Breakfast
Indoor Pool
Reservations must be made by March 4, 2011 to receive this rate
Sleep Inn Phone: 256-232-4700 Fax: 256-232-4222
Conference Rate: $50.00 per night + tax
Complimentary Hot Breakfast
Reservations must be made by March 4, 2011 to receive this rate
With all HIS love,
mitzi--
"The LORD thy GOD in the midst of thee is mighty; HE will save, HE will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in HIS love, HE will joy over thee with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
"HE 'will do marvels' if you will learn the mystery of HIS silence, and praise HIM, for everytime HE withdraws HIS gifts that you may better know and love the GIVER."
-Streams in the Desert, Feb. 9
"Seekers of Your Heart"
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