"In the day of my trouble I will call to YOU, for YOU will answer me." Ps. 86:7
Dear Praying Friends and Family,
Would anyone like to trade bodies? Just kidding, sort of...I wrote this email yesterday and was working on this morning...before well, i had to go. Kind of been a rough day at the office here...but GOD has given me some wisdom into one of my problems that has plagued me this summer, and for that I am grateful. I have been asking for wisdom, and HE is faithful to give it. I will confess to you, i am a little on the scared side too, cause I had this problem earlier in my health journey and it was really persistent until I went to the E.H.C.D. for treatment several years ago. Since then, i have not had to deal with the anxiousness, and weird feelings in my body, and feelings of despair to be honest, like i have this summer. GOD gave me this wisdom earlier in the summer through a test i had done, and I didn't take enough action. I couldn't get by this time, with what I have the past several years. So, here i am with a "trouble to bless," that I really had not rather be troubled with...but GOD has a plan...i think it's for me to be smushed in humility...and that's always good, but certainly not always comfortable. I am asking for your prayers as I continue to seek wisdom for this problem and some others i've been having. Yesterday i had the privilege of talking to my doctor in Texas over the phone, and i am so thankful that GOD has blessed her own health troubles to help her learn so much to help me and all HE sends to her for help.
Wednesday, I had the privilege of going to see my friend Darlene who has cancer. I stopped by and knocked on the back door. When no one came to the door I decided to see if the door would open and it did. I walked in, hoping I wouldn't get shot, and called quietly in case Darlene was asleep. She heard my voice, and cheerfully called out, "Come on in, Mitz!" She was in her bedroom where she was laying on her bed reading her Bible, and had just turned on one of her favorite shows that I interrupted. It was so good to see her-though we don't live to far from one another, I have not seen her in several weeks, and haven't seen her since she got back from getting treatments at the Bryzinski Clinic. We rejoiced together that the treatments Darlene is receiving from the clinic are working to shrink her tumors. She had been trying to leave off the pain meds, and the doctor told her it was too early to do that...the pain was a good sign that the treatment was doing what it was supposed to do. Darlene and i both acknowledge that we are impatient when it comes to pain, discomfort and just want out of it and want to rush things along. As usual, Darlene, was the "giver," and after we talked about her phone appt. with her doctor that morning from the Clinic...she was all interested in what was going on in my life, and seems like I spent most of the time talking about me. Darlene is such a good listener, and always has been. Her son came into the bedroom while we were talking and he too said that his Mama was a good listener. After we visited a while, we prayed together, and while we were praying the LORD reminded me that HE had used Darlene's cancer to bring our relationship back together after a long pause of several years. Darlene shared many other blessings that has come from her cancer journey, and one is the precious relationship between her and her husband...how he encouragers her, and holds her, and even feeds her when she has been too weak to feed herself. He grocery shops, and cooks the nutritious meals that she has been eating, along with working full time, and caring for all the things it takes to keep the family going with a 22 year old, 17 year old and 8 year old. We talked of a man in their church who has been a particular encouragement to Arthur through all of this...and now, this man's wife has cancer too it seems. Arthur will be able to encourage him with the encouragement he has been to Arthur. Darlene and Arthur's family on both sides has grown in the LORD leaps and bounds through their trials, and though some still do not know CHRIST, they know that Arthur and Darlene's faith and trust is in the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and it's hard for them to understand sometimes the peace they see in Arthur and Darlene. GOD is blessing the troubles that HE has allowed in Arthur and Darlene's life. What an example this dear couple is to me...they were before Darlene got sick, when Arthur was our Sunday School teacher at First Baptist when our kids were all younger and we homeschooled together. Please continue to remember Arthur and Darlene in your prayers...we praise GOD for the progress that Darlene is making physically, and pray earnestly for her complete healing. Be assured if GOD says no to her physical healing on earth, they know the LORD JESUS loves them and will heal her perfectly in heaven.
I talked with my cousin Bruce today, up in Louisville, Kentucky. Been way too long since I had called them, but GOD prompted me to today, and ask me if I would pray for his granddaughter Caylee who is a little over two years old. Caylee is in Children's Hospital right now where the doctors are trying to understand why she has not gained weight in several months and she is not developing in her motor skills as she should. Please remember Caylee and her family in your prayers...I told Bruce I would share her with you my praying friends and family and he was very glad.
As Bruce talked about his little granddaughter, I was reminded of two other young children of friends of mine who are having similar struggles...one you have prayed for, Josie Smith who almost died last year after being born prematurely with complications, and the other is the young son of our Minister of Music, Harrison Leffel. GOD did such a miracle to answer the prayers of so many to spare Josie's life, and so many of you were a part of praying for her, and part of that miracle.
"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16
Her Mother tells me over and over what a joy she is to their family. Both of these precious little ones are having difficulties in using their muscles properly. Recently on FB, Josie's Mom shared a praise that Josie reached out to her for the first time...and Br. Ryan shared a praise last night at choir, that Harrison has sat up on his own for the first time...we all rejoiced with them in these monumental milestones, which brought more joy to their parents and to us, because of the delay being able to do them. Isn't that what GOD does...when HE delays our blessings we get even more joy than if we had received them with no struggle, no waiting..."Weeping may last through the night, but JOY comes in the morning...Psalm 30:5
As my friend Tony Greene used to say, seems everywhere you go folks are in a storm...they're either coming out of one, or going into one. Speaking of the Greene's, Tim Greene, Tony's brother, whom you have prayed much for over the years if you've kept up with these emails, is hosting the Greene's homecoming this year up in Boone, NC, this weekend. It will be tomorrow evening (Fri) and Sat. evening and you can read more about it at www.timgreenetrio.com. What a miracle that GOD has done, and answered the prayers of so many for Tim that he is traveling all over the place singing and sharing the gospel and is able to carry on the Greene's tradition of having homecoming each year in the beautiful mountains of Boone, NC where the Greene's are from. The year that my family got to go to the Greene's Homecoming...Tim made a surprise appearance, he sang, and then was promptly whisked away in an ambulance. Tim was very allergic to mold before the LORD healed him, and he was not able to live in his hometown. Now he is having homecoming there again...carrying on years of tradition of what his family has done to share the LORD with their family and friends through gospel music, preaching the gospel of JESUS CHRIST and sharing the love of JESUS with those who come. Praise GOD for the "Miracle in Me" GOD has done in Tim and Amy and their family to bring healing to Tim. At the same time, the family and friends continue to grieve the loss of their brother Tony who went to be with JESUS last September. I had the privilege of seeing Tim and Tony's sister, Kim who sings with the Hopper's, www.thehoppers.com last Friday night in Huntsville, and Kim's heart is still breaking over her brother's death. As Kim shared with me the loss she struggles with almost daily, my heart went out to her so much. I miss her brother dearly, I can't imagine how she and the rest of her family must miss Tony. As she sang on stage after we talked, and she sings with the power of GOD upon her so much, I realized that so much of what she sings and shares that touches our heart, comes from her own sorrow and suffering. GOD makes the song so much more beautiful from the heart's of HIS wounded children who continue to sing HIS praises in their darkest nights. Please remember the Greene family in your prayers...this is going to be a tough weekend for them as it will be the first homecoming they have without Tony, and without their dear grandmother who went home to be with JESUS just a few weeks ago. But oh, what a homecoming awaits them all in heaven when they will all be reunited with one another because of their trust in their SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST who died for them and us on Calvary.
"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
The Greene's granny was one of the main ones who helped cook the pies and pinto's and delicous mountain cooking that people came to the Greene's homecoming to enjoy. It was the whole family and many friends affair to put on the Homecoming's. Last year, for the first time in years there wasn't a homecoming. Now Tim is leading the way to to carry on the homecoming in memory of his daddy and his brother. Please remember he and Amy in your prayers, and their Mom, Carolyn and the rest of the family. This is a family that truly GOD has blessed their troubles to minister to so many other hurting hearts...including mine.Tony Greene used to sing one of my favorite songs, that "I Can't Even Walk Without YOU Holding My Hand." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgSNUKv9yQI . I love Tony Greene, and I sure do miss him. I'm so thankful for Tony and Tim and Kim Greene Hopper sharing their GOD's faithfulness in the midst of their troubles whereever their bus carried carried them to bless and encourage the hearts of folks like me who was going through a similar struggle.
As I write out here at "The Campsite," I am looking at a banner I hung up earlier this afternoon that I took from inside the house. I bought it years ago when I was walking in an especially hard place, and now it is ministering to me again as the LORD takes me through this difficult spot....(similar hard spot cause i was probably dealing with the same issues!). It doesn't exactly fit in with "the Campsite," decor, but it does fit in where I'm walking and you may be walking in your life. You've probably read this poem before, and I'm pretty sure I've shared it many moons ago. Just been hanging in my dining room and i've passed it day in and out, until recently when the words have been ministering to me again. The poem on the banner is called "The WEAVER":
"The WEAVER"
My life is but a weaving
between the LORD and me;
I cannot choose the colors,
HE worketh steadily.
Oftentimes HE weaveth sorrow
and I in foolish pride
forget HE sees the upper and I, the underside.
Not 'till the loom is silent and the shuttles
cease to fly
shall GOD unroll the canvas and
explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful
in the WEAVER's skillfull hand
as the threads of gold and silver
in the pattern HE has planned."
This morning, i got up, and I felt like I was in the "Dungeon of Despair." I really did...my feelings were telling me that, even though the WORD of GOD reminds me over and over that JESUS is my DELIVERER and "a righteous man may have many troubles but the LORD delivers him from them all." Psalm 34:19. The term, "Dungeon of Despair" is from the book "Pilgrim's Progress," the kids read when they were younger. The main character is CHRISTian, and on his pilgrimage to heaven, journeying through all the things that we find ourselves going through on earth, he found himself in the "Dungeon of Despair." After languishing inside the "Dungeon of Despair," he finally realized what the key was to getting out...GOD's promises. You may wonder why I write so much week after week that I've gleaned from GOD's WORD and other devotion books based on HIS WORD. GOD's promises are the keys to victorious LIFE and helping us to have faith and to trust in the LORD JESUS for whatever HE takes us through. First of all, to trust HIM as our LORD and SAVIOR to deliver us from our sins, "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of GOD,"Rom.10:17, "That if you confess with your mouth JESUS is LORD and believe in your heart that GOD raised HIM from the dead you will be saved." Rom. 10:9 ...and then to trust HIM as our SHEPHERD and GUIDE to lead us through this world that is filled with troubles. "In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world." John 16:33. "Yet man is born to trouble as surely as the sparks fly upward." Job 5:7.
Troubles are all around, but so is GOD's grace as HE carries HIS children through these troubles and blesses us and our loved ones in ways that we cannot imagine through our darkest valleys. This morning during my wrestling in the "Dungeon of the Despair," while i was trying to have my time with JESUS, the LORD brought sweet words of comfort to me as HE always does to reassure me that HE is in control of my circumstances. One of the readings that really spoke to my heart was from the little devotion book JESUS Calling, by Sarah Young.
"Expect to encounter adversity in your life, remembering that you live in a deeply fallen world. Stop trying to find a way that circumvents your need for ME. When you became a CHRISTian, I infused MY very LIFE into you, empowering you to live on a supernatural plane by depending on ME."
Anticipate coming face to face with impossibilities: situations totally beyond your ability to handle. This awareness of your inadequacy is not something you should try to evade. It is precisely where I want you-the best place to encounter ME in MY GLORY and MY POWER. When you see armies of problems marching toward you, cry out to ME! Allow ME to fight for you. Watch ME working on your behalf, as you rest in the shadow of MY ALMIGHTY PRESENCE."
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1
"When thru the deep waters I call thee to go, the rivers of woe shall not thee overflo; for I will be with thee thy troubles to bless, and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress."
Thy Troubles to Bless..." I kept hearing that phrase on the video I included and the more I thought about it, the more I thought about how much GOD has blessed the troubles HE has allowed in my life, and HE has blessed yours too. Hallelujah, what a SAVIOR! These troubles i'm having right now, if I had my way, I would toss them as far as the east is from the west, but everyday JESUS is reminding me, "In everything give thanks for THIS is the will of GOD in CHRIST JESUS concerning you." I Thess. 5:18. HE has a plan and purpose to bless your troubles and mine....and use them to be a blessing to others like HE has in my doctor's life, the Greene's lives, Arthur and Darlene's lives, Br. Ryan and Kelley's, and Catherine and Stan's lives to bring others to CHRIST and to encourage and comfort others in their times of trouble. "All things work together for good to those who love the LORD, to those who are called according to HIS purposes." Romans 8:28...including the yeast issues and other things i've been dealing with this summer.
This past Sunday, with tears in eyes from not feeling so well from another round of trying to take my old thyroid med, I asked my Minister of Music, Br. Ryan to pray for me. He was straightening the chairs, getting ready for the Sunday morning service, and he stopped what he was doing and we sat down in the chairs and talked a little while. We talked about the upcoming drum position that is opening up when our young drummer leaves for college next week and the possibility of me filling that position. I told him I really would like to try it, but i'm unsteady right now with my health and really having to depend on the LORD. Br. Ryan reminded me that's the best place to be, and he is right. Br. Ryan, in his quiet and gentle way took time to encourage me with his devotion that morning...about being patient and waiting on the LORD. I'm sure many of the songs that Br. Ryan picks out for our congregation comes from his own trials and heartaches with his young son. The LORD uses Br. Ryan's trials to bless our whole congregation and I pray that HE would bless my troubles to bless others. I would ask you to pray for me, that if the LORD wants me to fill this position, kind of unorthodox for an almost 49 year old woman to play the drums at church, but GOD works in the "unorthodox" it seems...that HE would play through me, for HIS honor and glory and give me the strength I need to be faithful and play for HIM. I sure would love the privilege of playing for HIM who gave me this gift of drumming to glorify HIM.
This week as I was reading in the Amazing Grace, devotion book by Kenneth W. Osbeck, a devotion book about the hymns we sing and their back ground, the song, "I Need Thee Every Hour," ministered so much to my soul. JESUS is teaching me again, that I need HIM every minute, every second, every hour of each day. I'm going to include this beautiful hymn written by Annie Hawks, because "I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR," and I know there are those of you who are walking in a narrow place like I am and need HIM every minute of every hour. We all do, we just don't realize it as much when life is easier... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDzyPdzwtRE.
I love you and thank you so much for letting me hear from you last week...so many of you shared your prayer requests with me, and wrote me, and what a blessing to hear from you and get to pray for you or your loved ones. Please forgive me if I don't get back with you right away...honestly sometimes I don't feel up to it, and just have to wait, "Until the Storm Passes By." GOD bless you, dear ones, thank you for praying for me, my family, my husband and his health issues, John Mac started school again today, taking a couple of classes at UAH, and HB starts nursing school Monday at the U of Mobile...please pray for her. I remember how difficult nursing school was...and I sure do covet your prayers for her, for our family. Pray above all that through the trials GOD allows into our lives, HE would be magnified and glorified..."thy troubles to bless and sanctify to thee our deepest distress."
With all HIS love,
mitzi
Thank you for your continued prayers for my friend Blanche Clanton...she is very sick in California, and is requiring around the clock care at home.
Thank you also for praying for Jean Brinkley and her family in your prayers. I mentioned Jean above...a young homeschooling Mom who has recently undergone tests and it looks like she may have cancer.
Thank you for continuing to pray for my in laws...they felt up to taking a little trip last week to visit friends...praise the LORD. But the days are difficult...thank you for remembering them.
