"One Thousand Gifts"

"From the fullness of HIS grace we have all received one blessing after another." John 1:16

Phillip Anderson showing us how to give thanks to the LORD!

       

    Dear Praying Friends and Family,

             While my husband is out on the campaign trail with my Daddy canvassing votes for "Circuit Court Clerk," of Limestone County, i am going to try to snatch a few moments to write you in between bites of some kind of healthy version of Coco Puffs...they are really good, and i'm just hoping i'm not allergic to them!

              Thank you for praying for my nephew, Dusty Fowler, who was unanimously voted on this past Weds. night to become Minister of Preteens and Middle School at Willowbrook Baptist, Church in Huntsville.  GOD has been preparing Dusty since before he was born to serve HIM in this position, and we are rejoicing with my brother Joe, and his wife Marilyn, and the rest of our family in GOD's calling on Dusty's life.  Dusty officially begins his duties this Sunday at Willowbrook, so ya'll please pray for him.

              Wow, it's been a busy week of campaigning around here...GOD has been so gracious and between allergic reactions and everyday life, HE has enabled me to be a helper to Johnny doing the "office" stuff here at home, making phone calls, sending emails, waiting on fliers to come in...etc.  John Mac designed Johnny a FB page for Circuit Court Clerk this morning so be sure and check it out if you are on FB and "Like" him.  You go to Johnny Evans for  Circuit Court Clerk.  Please use this page as a reminder to pray for us...that GOD will be lifted up and glorified in all that we do, and the other candidate's life.  Please ask that  HE will put favor in the hearts of the people of Limestone County to vote for Johnny.  Our opponent is a really nice guy too, and his wife is a supervisor at the Homehealth Care Agency that administers my IV's.  She has really been a help to me and it's interesting the LORD has put us together in this race. In fact, i was at a gospel music singing last Saturday night, and she walked up to me.  The singing was held at her church...small world and interesting how the LORD works, and leads and guides our paths.  A few days ago, the LORD laid it on my heart to pray for Brad and his wife  as they campaign too.  It's really neat, the love the LORD gives you for those you are running against.  GOD knows what He is about, and the plans and purposes HE has not only for our lives and our opponents, but for all whose lives who will be touched by this campaign.  Our family has some great memories of times that we had the privilege of campaigning for Wayne Parker when he ran for Congress three times.  Though Wayne was not elected to the office, GOD did so much in the lives of those who were involved in the campaign...friendships were forged in the battle, souls were saved, and we were trained how to run campaigns of our own!  All gifts the LORD bestowed upon us as a "byproduct," of a political campaign.  I will never know all the things that GOD is going to do in the midst of our campaign, but i do know this...it has caused us to work together as a team in our family, and stretched us out of our comfort zone to reach out to our friends and family, and meet new people the LORD is bringing into our lives...I am thankful for this stretching...and i look forward to the weeks ahead and the "gifts," that GOD has for  each of us as the days unfold.

Please vote for Johnny Evans March 13th

     The reason i am mentioning these "gifts" from the LORD is because they are a fresh on my mind from a book I started reading this week called, "One Thousand Gifts," by Ann Voskamp, http://onethousandgifts.com/.   A few weeks ago, i was eating out with my dear friend, Gena Spearing, and she asked me if I had read "One Thousand Gifts." She said I needed to read it.  It was about learning to be thankful right where you are living.  Gena is always one to recommend good books, so i knew it must be good, but honestly i forgot about it.  I few days later, i got an email from Compassion International sharing a wonderful story about the book, and how the proceeds from it where going to an orphanage in Guatemala, i believe.  I decided then and there to order it from www.Amazon.com and i'm so glad i did.  It's really blessed me, as i have begun to put into practice the challenge that was given to the author, to write down 1000 things for which she is thankful.  She begins the book by being quiet honest, telling how her little sister was killed when Ann was four.  After her sister's death, the family just never got over it and her death hung over them for years.  This book is a true story of how counting GOD's blessings and giving thanks for them one by one has transformed Ann from being a bitter, resentful, angry person into a child of GOD who has a grateful, thankful heart for even the tiniest of GOD's blessings. 

       I started reading this during a really bad allergic reaction i was having and the LORD really spoke to my heart, and encouraged me to start writing down HIS gifts to me.   I  bought a journal last fall at WalmartFrom the fullness of HIS grace we have all received one blessing after another." John 1:16.  The LORD knew what i was going to use the journal for and this week, i began my own list of "One Thousand Gifts."  As of right now, I am up to number 66..."The Government shall be upon HIS shoulders." 

         You may wonder why I am particularly thankful for the prophecy of "the government being upon HIS shoulders," this day.  It dawned on me that JESUS rules the governments of the world now from heaven, and one day HE will rule the government here on earth.  JESUS is involved in government and the government is HIS ministering agent for our good.  Many in the Bible were involved in "government," Nehemiah, Daniel, and Joseph to name a few...and King David, "a man after GOD's own heart," how could i forget!   I struggled somewhat with why GOD didn't call my husband back into "full time ministry" like preaching instead of running for a government office.  In today's Bible reading, GOD sure did encourage me, that men in government are pretty special and important to GOD...important enough that HE spent years preparing Joseph to serve HIM in government, and important enough that HIS SON, the KING of KINGS is ruling the affairs of earth right now and will be ruling the government on earth one of these days, along with those of us who have trusted in CHRIST JESUS as our LORD and SAVIOR and repented of our sins.  

    "If we suffer with HIM we will reign with HIM." II Tim. 2:12

"And since we are HIS children, we are HIS heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share HIS glory, we must also share his suffering." Romans 8:17

     

     As i read my Daily Bible reading today, it was about the story of Joseph and his brothers selling him into slavery then him getting falsely accused of trying to have sex with Potiphar's wife (Potiphar was an officer of Pharoah) and then he was in  thrown into prison for probably around 12 years.  Joseph tried to get out of his situation by interpreting the dream for the baker who was released and Joseph ask him to remember him before Pharaoh.  The baker forgot, and Joseph stayed in prison until it was GOD's ordained time for him to be released.  Boy, did this remind me of me...i have tried every which way to try to escape from my latest health trials...and GOD has reminded me, over and over that until it's HIS timing to bring me forth from my "prison," I will remain as HE accomplishes HIS plans and purposes in me.   The verses in this passage  from Genesis 39-40 really blessed and encouraged me in the place GOD has me and my husband walking:

     "The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.  And his Master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him."  Gen. 39:2-4

      One of the things GOD has led me to pray for my husband during this campaign is for "favor" in the hearts of the people of Limestone County to vote for him.  This passage just encouraged me all the more to ask for GOD's favor, not only for my husband and this campaign, but to pray it for my children, and other loved ones...to find favor in the place GOD has them serving HIM.  

    The next passage was also a blessing to me:

     " The LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field." Gen. 39:5

     I sure want that favor and blessing to be upon our lives, and those of my children and loved ones so that others may recognize the LORD is with us, but the next part starts getting a little "sticky."  Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar's wife of trying to have sex with her, when she was the one wanting to have sex with him!                 This is a lesson 1) to be very careful with the situations we find ourselves in...like married men, not being alone with other women, and vice versa that someone could make a false accusation against them and 2) That even when GOD's favor is being poured out upon us and His blessings are pouring out on those around us because of us, things can seemingly go very wrong in the way our circumstances unfold...as in Joseph getting falsely accused when he was a man of integrity, and being shipped off to prison for a long, long time.  Wow...was this GOD's favor too?  Yes...Joseph didn't do anything wrong that GOD would have withdrawn HIS favor from him, in fact Joseph was being obedient in the place GOD had him serving.  It wasn't the place of Joseph's choice, nor was Daniel when he was carried off to a foreign land and was serving in the government there, but it was GOD's place for them to display HIS power and might and glory.

      What we see of the "prison experience," in Joseph's life and our life, is usually time wasted, and we just want out of it as fast as we can...i know i do.  But GOD was preparing Joseph in that prison to be a leader and governor of his people...to become second and command of Egypt and help save those all around from famine in the land by his wise leadership.  In Genesis 39:21 it says,

    

  "But the LORD was with Joseph (in prison)  and showed him mercy, and HE gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.  And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing.  The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph's authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper."  

   Wow, i have never thought about GOD showing HIS favor to us in our "prisons," that way that HE showed HIS favor to Joseph in his prison, but our GOD does that...that's where "HIS grace is sufficient and HIS power is made perfect in our weakness..." II Cor. 12:9 GOD was preparing Joseph to lead by having   be in charge of all the prisoners ...not your ordinary method how to prepare men how to be second in command over the entire country of Egypt and the region...you would have thought GOD would have led him to go to one of the finest of schools, like their version of Harvard or Yale or some other way to show favor to Joseph and prepare him for this role.   With "favor," like that...who wants it:)....Could it be that the "prisons," you and I find ourselves in truly are ordained by GOD, and are a "gift" from HIM to prepare us "to rule and reign with HIM," one day in his earthly reign and for all eternity?  Could it be that this "prison" that i find myself in with my health issues is the place where HE wants to show me HIS "favor," and HE is indeed showing me HIS favor?  YES, YES, YES..."One Thousand Gifts," YES!!!   The essence of Ann's book, it that by learning to be thankful for even the smallest of GOD's gifts, we see HIS loving favor all around us, and as Psalm 50:23 teaches:

     "Whoever offers praise glorifies ME; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of GOD."

    Ann had a very interesting insight about the parable of the 10 men who had leprosy that JESUS healed.  Only one returned to say "thank you," and JESUS said, "Were not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to GOD except this foreigner?"  And HE said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well."  Ann Voskamp and John MacArthur both tell us that the Greek here for "made you well," literally means, "saved you."   The man who had a grateful heart was saved and so it is with us.  Our gratefulness to JESUS for what HE did for us on the cross, prepares the way for HIS salvation to come to our hearts.  Our gratefulness to JESUS for the gifts HE bestows upon us, all around us from the smallest to the largest blessing prepares the way for HIM to "save us," in other areas such as from bitterness, hatred, resentfulness and usher in HIS peace, HIS joy, and HIS salvation. 

   Added on Jan. 22:  At church this morning, Pastor Edwin preached about the prophet Jonah.  In Chapter 2 as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish, he prayed, and thanked GOD before he was delivered for the LORD's salvation:

       Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his GOD from the fish's belly And he said:

     "I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, and HE answered me.

       Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and YOU heard my voice.

       For YOU cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas,

       And the floods surrounded me;

       All YOUR billows and YOUR waves passed over me.

       Then I said, "I have been cast out of YOUR sight; 

       Yet I will look again toward YOUR holy temple.

       The waters surrounded me, even to my soul;

       The deep closed around me;

       Weeds were wrapped around my head.

       I went down to the moorings of the mountains;

       the earth with its  bars closed behind me forever;

       Yet YOU have brought up my life from the pit,

       O LORD my GOD.

       When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD;

       And my prayer went up to YOU into YOUR holy temple.

       Those who regard worthless idols forsake their own Mercy

       But I will sacrifice to YOU with the voice of thanksgiving;

       I will pay what I have vowed, Salvation is of the LORD."

       So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land."

       

       

   WOW!!! Never saw this before and realized that Jonah offered that sacrifice of thanksgiving while he was still in the fish, and GOD saved him!

     

     I don't know all the plans and purposes that GOD has for the gift of my health issues, and i don't know all the plans and purposes HE has for your "prison," that you are experiencing right now, and want out of so badly.  But i do know this...HE wants us to realize "THIS" is the place HE has ordained for whatever purposes and they are not only for our good, but for the good of others as Joseph's prison experience was...and THIS place is the place that HE is pouring out HIS FAVOR upon us, and HE wants us to be thankful as thankfulness prepares the way for HIS salvation.  Wow, a challenge to my own heart, as i continue to learn to be thankful for my "thorn in the flesh."

     

    Do you know HIM as your LORD and SAVIOR?  Have you thanked HIM for what HE did for you and me on the Cross of Calvary to rescue of from a burning hell forever and ever, and paid the price for all the sins that not only you and i would ever commit, but those of the whole world?  If you haven't ever asked JESUS to be your LORD and SAVIOR, do it today, right where you are, and then thank HIM for saving you, and making you HIS CHILD.  Find a church home where the WORD is being taught, and the body loves CHRIST and each other, and began to grow in the "grace and knowledge" of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST."

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

     

   One of the gifts i had yesterday was picking  up my friend Darlene's son, Phillip,  from school yesterday.  Darlene went home to be with JESUS last September after a lengthy battle with cancer.   Phillip came bounding out of school with a smile on his face, just like his Mom would have had...her face always lighting up when she saw you.  When we got home, it was a beautiful afternoon and Phillip and I took our three dogs, Midnight, Dixie, and Troy on a walk in the field.  Midnight, the black lab actually took Phillip on a walk til we got the field, and what a special time i had watching Phillip shimmy up the fallen tree, explore the old shed, play in the waterfall and creek as we walked along. Even though i didn't feel too good, i was thankful to be able to do those things with my friend's little guy...she would have love to have been out there with us.  Darlene was always up for anything!   In the picture above, you see Phillip reaching up to the heavens with open arms...in a stance that shows how our hearts should be thankful and open to the LORD's ways in our lives, even when we don't understand and our way is painful.   What a wonderful example he and his whole family are to me, as they are learning to say "Yes," to GOD, even in the death of their Mom, and be grateful for GOD's plans and purposes.  GOD gave Phillip's Dad a new job this week, where he can work regular hours now and be home with the kids in the evenings to prepare supper and go to their activities with them...GOD's loving favor in the hard places,  is one of HIS "One Thousand Gifts," to the Anderson family and to your life and mine. 

    This devotion from JESUS Calling by Sarah Young   today reminds us that JESUS is sovereign over all the affairs of our lives. HIS plans and ways are higher than we can began to ask or imagine and HE asks us to trust HIM when the bottom falls out and thank HIM in faith for what HE is doing.

:Approach this day with awareness of who is Boss. As you make plans for the day, remember that it is I who orchestrate the events of your life. On days when things go smoothly, according to your plans, you may be unaware of My sovereign Presence. On days when your plans are thwarted, be on the lookout for Me! I may be doing something important in your life, something quite different from what you expected. It is essential at such times to stay in communication with Me, accepting My way as better than yours. Don’t try to figure out what is happening. Simply trust Me and thank Me in advance for the good that will come out of it all. I know the plans I have for you, and they are good.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
—Isaiah 55:9–11

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
—Jeremiah 29:11 

    Each day is a gift from GOD and as a dear friend recently shared with me, that is why it is called "The Present." In order to see our days as a gift, we must have thankful hearts that recognize GOD's favor in the smallest of ways.  Little by little HE will transform us and fill us with HIS joy even in the midst of our most difficult trials. 

  I've used the song "Blessings," by Laura Story http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CSVqHcdhXQ a couple of times in  my emails as it is such a powerful song about GOD's gifts to us.  They often come packaged...not exactly how we would want them, but nevertheless, they are HIS gifts to us each day.   We are to give thanks to HIM in faith for HIS purposes in them...."what if trials of this life are YOUR mercies in disguise." 

    You are one of GOD's "One Thousand Gifts" to me and my family and how I thank HIM for you and your love for us. Thank you for taking time to read this email...blog whatever you want to call it.  I pray the LORD will bless you and encourage you to write down your own "One Thousand Gifts."  May HE open our eyes more and more to see HIS loving favor in the hard places HE walks through with us and  may we thank HIM for HIS lovingkindness in all the places HE plans for us. 

                                                                                          With all HIS love,

                                                                                                 mitzi