"Know ye not that...ye are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify GOD in your body." 1 Cor. 6:19,20.
Dear Friends,
Several years ago, i read a book called These Strange Ashes, by Elisabeth Elliot. This book made quiet an impression on me, as i had already had a share of my own "Strange Ashes," by the time i read it. The LORD brought it to mind again this week, as i was reflecting over the election results from Tuesday night. In this book, Elisabeth Elliot shares about different events that happened in her young life as a missionary to Ecuador that honestly didn't make sense, and even looked like failure, when looked at through our human eyes. She had gone to Ecuador as a single missionary to translate the language so the natives could read the Bible in their own language. The young man GOD raised up to help her translate the language and she had worked with for several months was suddenly shot and killed. The work that she had done so diligently for over a year to translate the language was lost in a suitcase on top of a loaded truck and never found. The airstrip that her future husband, Jim, had worked on for months so that missionaries could fly in and out with easier access in the jungle, was washed away in a flood. Eventually, her future husband Jim was killed as a young man, by the Auca Indians, while he and four other men were trying to befriend them and share the gospel of JESUS CHRIST with them. This book ponders the question of "Is GOD still in charge?"
This past Tuesday night, was a disappointment to many of us, and it is easy to ask sometimes "Is GOD still in charge?" when it seems like the good guys loose, and the not so good guys win. Our friend, Wayne Parker, is one of those good guys, who lost. I was really surprised, to be honest that he lost, and disappointed. GOD had to remind me that "Disappointments are HIS appointments." I shared in my last email about Wayne and his wife Lisa, and the trials they have endured as they followed in obedience the call to run for Congress. I have grown to love them and respect them so very much these past several months. I know that they love CHRIST with all of their hearts and are a man and woman of truth and integrity. They believe in the sanctity of life, and all those things that reflect godly CHRISTian values. GOD blessed the campaign and answered our prayers providing all our needs in CHRIST JESUS, raising up people to help and money to finance the campaign at just the right time. HE gave favor and grace in so many ways. The Parkers worked and fought hard, along with the staff, and the volunteer army the LORD raised up to help them. The whole campaign was undergirded by prayer and obedience to GOD's word. The morning of the election, several met at the Parker Headquarters' at 6:00 a.m. to begin the day with prayer and committing the election results to GOD. The prayer time was finished with the group singing, "Praise GOD from whom all blessings flow...praise HIM all creatures here below..." I believed in my heart that GOD was going to give them the victory. We had prayed, a lot, worked so hard, tried to "conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of JESUS CHRIST," and now all we had to do was believe and wait for HIM to answer our prayers to put grace and favor in the hearts of the voters all across the district. Many worked right up until the time the polls closed to get that last vote for Wayne.
That night as we gathered at the Davidson Center at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, to wait for the election returns, we were very optimistic and felt confident that this was the time for Wayne to become our next Congressman. After loosing two previous bids for Congress in the 90's and waiting on the LORD, this must be the time. There were a lot of folks there, many of them our dear friends, who had worked so very hard on the campaign, the Radcliff's, Bethany, Joe, who were the Jackson County Coordinators for the campaign, along with their sister and brothers, Tabitha, Tom, Matthew and Isaiah, worked so tirelessly on the Student Project, Marsha CHRISTian and her daughters, and son, whom we had the pleasure of going door to door with the week before and they had volunteered to cover an entire precinct going door to door. The Spearings, who have known Wayne since their college days at Auburn, and have become so dear to us through our homeschool group and working on the campaign together-they were there to support the Parkers. The Knapps were there, along with the Andersons, and so many others that GOD had drawn together to work toward this common goal. What a privilege and blessing it had been to be a part of this campaign. Many were milling around inside the humongous building that housed a huge rocket hanging overhead, waiting for the election returns to begin. If the rocket had fallen, we were all history:). There were several chairs set up in rows and up front was a very, very large screen that we watched the election returns on. It changed from the national scene watching the Presidential race, to the local news where we kept up with the local race for Congress. I was sitting with some friends while the kids were running around with their "posse." Their "posse" had worked so hard on this campaign, especially the last couple of weeks, having gone to over 25,000 houses the week before asking folks to vote for Wayne Parker. We were all in this together. The first hour or so, it was neck and neck, and then Wayne's opponent slowly began to get a lead, and it didn't flip flop anymore. I went out to the car for a while to give my body a break, it was fully overloaded by this point from all that i'd been around for days now. When i returned, one of the dear friends i've made during this campaign, Bebe Williams, Wayne's Volunteer Coordinator, said she didn't think he was going to make it because it was too many votes to make up. Her prediction, sadly, turned out to be true. Wayne ended up getting 49% of the votes to his opponent's 51%. Many of the folks left before Wayne and Lisa and their family came out for the concession speech, but there was still a crowd of their faithful supporters who wanted to love them and encourage them through this difficult time. Before they came out, i had a few minutes to speak with Wayne's Mom who had been so gracious thanking us for all we had done to support Wayne and Lisa. After she was watched John McCain's concession speech, i asked her how Lisa was doing and she said told me she what she said to her..."Lisa, you may not want to hear this right now, but the LORD is either protecting ya'll from something, or HE has something better for you." I thought, wow, that was so wise of her. This was the third time for this Mama to see her son loose and i know that her heart was broken for them. When Wayne and Lisa did come out, with their 4 children, the crowd clapped and yelled for them, and they gave hugs on their way up to the podium. It had been a tough, tough race, and though we were hoping, believing and praying for victory, the LORD said "no" to Wayne to represent our district as U.S. Representative. They were so very gracious, and thanked us all for helping them, and i honestly can't remember what was said beyond that. I do remember the wonderful hug that Wayne and Lisa gave me after they came down, and wrapped their arms around me-the three of us with our arms around each other, and them encouraging me, in their time of sorrow. What a special blessing that was to my heart. It has been my family's honor and privilege to be called into this race and serve whenever we could plug in, as so many of our friends were called too...GOD uses us to demonstrate HIS love to each other and help each other as we travel this glorious and often difficult road to heaven. The day before Lisa and i were at the Parker Headquarters out back in the parking lot and she was sharing with me something the LORD had shown her about the way HE uses us to show HIS love to each other. She recounted the story of when JESUS was on the cross HE asked John to take care of HIS mother. JESUS could have taken care of her from heaven, but HE chose to use someone in human form to show HIS love to her. What a precious insight this was to Lisa and to me, as over and over, GOD shows me how very much HE loves me through you my friends and family, and complete strangers that GOD brings into my life. Now, GOD was showing me HIS love again, through Wayne and Lisa's hugs, and their dear encouragement to me.
As i have been reflecting on all these things, and the events of the past several weeks and months, GOD has been encouraging me and reminding me the message of the CROSS, life out of death. I believe with all my heart the LORD called Wayne and Lisa to run this race, to "stand in the gap," and they were obedient to HIS call. GOD calls us to be obedient, to follow HIS call, and often that doesn't look like success as we measure success in the eyes of the world. Who understands the call of a young man and his family to go serve the LORD in a foreign country when he could make a whole lot more money here in the United States, and have an "easier" life, not putting his family in harm's way. The LORD reminded me that His followers thought that HE had come to be an earthly king, and HE had, but not the kind they were expecting... HE had come to rule and reign in their hearts and forgive them of their sins. Their hopes were crushed the day HE died on Calvary, for his death looked like such a failure to all those looking on, including HIS mother, dearest friends, and enemies. It was actually the greatest day in all of history, when the price of our REDEMPTION was paid in full. His mother and family and friends didn't understand all that...they just saw HIS beaten body, bruised and battered beyond recognition, and such a terrible injustice it seemed was being done to this SINLESS ONE. In fact, a great justice was being done, as we were being made just in the eyes of GOD, through the broken body of HIS dear SON. GOD looked down through the ages, and saw the blood of HIS SON that was being shed to cover your sins and mine, as we put our trust and belief in the LORD JESUS CHRIST. HE knew the life, everlasting life, and abundant life here on earth that would be ours because of the Cross, and the suffering and sacrifice of HIS dear SON. But that day, when JESUS hung on the cross, HE didn't look too successful in the eyes of those beholding HIM.
As a young pastor's wife, whose mysterious sickness had gotten the best of me, my husband resigned his position as pastor to move back home so i could have help with the kids... i felt like a failure. My husband had gone to seminary, and me to nursing school in preparation for the "call" that we felt GOD was leading us to the foreign mission field. Due to my sickness, we never made it to the foreign mission field, but GOD has used the circumstances of our lives to keep us here, right where HE has led and directed our every step. But i have to tell you, it sure took me a few years to get used to the idea, and not feel like a miserable failure. And it made me ask myself, was i doing this for HIM, or myself...did i want my will or HIS, and i have to confess, i wanted mine. It took GOD's gracious teaching through HIS WORD and encouraging books, revealing HIMself to me through our circumstances, and you, my dear brothers and sisters in CHRIST, to help me trust HIM with HIS perfect plan for my life instead of what I wanted to be HIS plan. The cross of sickness, and loosing my identity as a pastor's wife, and living where we didn't want to live, working where we didn't want to work, has taught us the message of the cross, life out of death to self. And that message repeats itself over and over throughout the lives of GOD's children in whatever circumstances HE chooses..."If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23
These Strange Ashes ends with a story that illustrates the message of the book, why do we do the things we do...are we doing it for JESUS or for us?
" A story is told of JESUS and HIS disciples walking one day along a stony road. JESUS asked each of them to choose a stone to carry for HIM. John, it is said, chose a large one while Peter chose the smallest. JESUS led them then to the top of a mountain and commanded that the stones be made bread. Each disciple, by the time tired and hungry, was allowed to eat the bread he held in his hand, but of course Peter's was not sufficient to satisfy his hunger. John gave him some of his.
Some time later JESUS again asked the disciples to pick up a stone to carry. This time Peter chose the largest of all. Taking them to a river, JESUS told them to cast the stones into the water. They did so, but looked at one another in bewilderment. "For whom," asked JESUS did you carry the stone?" I realized when we had to leave what we felt GOD was calling us to do...that i saw a whole lot of me carrying "the stone," for me and my glory instead of for HIM and HIS glory.
Last week, i read a devotion in My Utmost for HIS HIGHEST by Oswald Chambers, that reminded me of those early years of sickness, and how much i didn't want others to know about my weakness. In fact when my husband resigned the church, many were surprised because they had no idea how sick i was, because i did my best to hide it. I wanted to appear strong. This devotion was a comfort to me during that time, and i still remember how very painful it was to publicly have to admit weakness and suffer humiliation of not accomplishing the "call" we felt GOD had put in our heart. GOD is changing me, and i am learning as Paul did, to "boast about my weaknesses, that the power of CHRIST might rest on me" though it's still very hard for me at times. I am prideful and the suffering, the shame and humiliation of the cross in whatever form it comes in my life doesn't come natural for me...and i'm not sure it does for anyone. I was really embarrassed when i saw all the mistakes i'd make in last weeks email in the second paragraph, but i just had to say, "Oh well... LORD, you be strong in my weakness." Sure wish i had proof read that paragraph before i pressed that send button:). This week as i ponder on Wayne and Lisa's circumstances, and how public it was, this devotion seemed very appropriate for the place that GOD has called not only them to walk, but you and me in the circumstances HE places us in.
November 1st.
YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN
"Know ye not that . . ye are not your own?" 1 Corinthians 6:19
There is no such thing as a private life - "a world within the world" - for a man or woman who is brought into fellowship with Jesus Christ's sufferings. God breaks up the private life of His saints, and makes it a thoroughfare for the world on the one hand and for Himself on the other. No human being can stand that unless he is identified with Jesus Christ. We are not sanctified for ourselves, we are called into the fellowship of the Gospel, and things happen which have nothing to do with us, God is getting us into fellowship with Himself. Let Him have His way, if you do not, instead of being of the slightest use to God in His Redemptive work in the world, you will be a hindrance and a clog.
The first thing God does with us is to get us based on rugged Reality until we do not care what becomes of us individually as long as He gets His way for the purpose of His Redemption. Why shouldn't we go through heartbreaks? Through those doorways God is opening up ways of fellowship with His Son. Most of us fall and collapse at the first grip of pain; we sit down on the threshold of God's purpose and die away of self-pity, and all so called Christian sympathy will aid us to our death bed. But God will not. He comes with the grip of the pierced hand of His Son, and says - "Enter into fellowship with Me; arise and shine." If through a broken heart God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart.
Our lives are certainly not our own, and HE continues in various circumstances to teach me the lesson of the Cross: The more of CHRIST that is in me, through HIS breaking my heart, the less of me that is in me..."I have been crucified with CHRIST and it is no longer I who live, but CHRIST who lives in me; and the life which i now live in the flesh i live by faith in the Son of GOD, who loved me, and delivered HIMself up for me." Galatians 2:20. In the Nov. 6 Springs in the Valley reading, it reiterates this lesson as it shares: "The leading symbol of our CHRISTian faith is not an easy chair, or a feather-bed: it is a Cross. If we would be HIS disciples, let us be prepared to live dangerously; to take up the Cross and carry it into the teeth of opposition. GOD is at perfect liberty to waste us if HE chooses.
Wow, "GOD is at perfectly liberty to waste us if HE chooses," that doesn't sound exactly like what we want or like to hear. GOD never "wastes" anything about our lives, even though it may appear that way for a season. When i think of Jim Elliot's death at the hands of the Auca Indian's and realize that literally millions of people were inspired by his "waste," to come to know CHRIST or become missionaries, i realize nothing is a waste. When i think of my doctor in Texas, who went through tremendous suffering in his own life to learn how to help folks like me, i know that nothing is a waste. We are not our own, we have been bought with a price to glorify GOD in our bodies, in whatever form that may come...whether it's running a campaign with integrity, or being a mom and wife, or struggling with a mysterious illness, or whatever path GOD has placed us in to walk. When HE chooses to "switch our positions," that's HIS perogative to do so. HE created us, and paid for us with the blood of HIS own Son...we are not our own. HE calls us to be obedient, and promises us that HE will bring life out of death, the message of the Cross through us as we surrender our lives and sufferings to HIM. I Peter 2:21 says: "For even to this were you called-it is inseparable from your vocation. For CHRIST also suffered for you, leaving you [His personal] example, so that you should follow on in HIS footsteps..."Amplified.
I know this, for me personally, the campaign was a wonderful experience, with the pain and the joy and all that it involved. The relationships our family built with those involved in working toward a common goal was worth it all. Seeing the body of CHRIST work together and help each other and encourage one another in the midst of the war was such a blessing. There are so many things GOD is doing behind the scenes, like Wayne's campaign manager being curious about all these CHRISTians he's been around, and being drawn closer to JESUS through all this. Wayne's campaign manager from 1996 became a CHRISTian a few years after that campaign, and called Wayne and Lisa a couple of years ago and thanked them for the godly influence they had in his life when he worked for them. Who knows all the purposes and things that GOD is doing and working out through the "call" to run for Congress that HE put in Wayne and Lisa's heart a few months ago...we don't understand all the reasons but we do know "that GOD causes all things work together for good to those who love GOD and are called according to HIS purpose." Romans 8:32.
Our dear friends, the Greene's, who have known their share of "death to self," through the sufferings GOD has allowed in their lives, sing a beautiful song called, "When GOD Has Another Plan." It brings such encouragement to my heart as i ponder Tuesday night's results, seeming defeat in the eyes of the world, but gaining CHRIST in a more nearer and dearer way as we trust CHRIST and cling to the CROSS, the CROSS that gives life to us and others through our LORD JESUS CHRIST. HE did answer our prayer for victory. Not the victory we had in mind, but the ONE HE promises to all who have been called to be HIS children: "But thanks be to GOD who gives us the victory-making us conquerors- through our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD-that is, always being superior (excelling, doing more than enough) in the service of the LORD, knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the LORD is not futile-never wasted or to no purpose." I Cor. 15:57. HE has a plan, to bring life out of death, through the things that to the world look futile or wasted. We have to trust HIM, and HIS everlasting love for us and others..."we are not our own, we have been bought with a price."
With all HIS love,
mitzi
"When GOD Has Another Plan" by Amy Keffer Sheffem/Daryl Williams
"Forsaken by his brothers, didn't fit the scene,
Being made a slave, was not what Joseph dreamed
The coat of many colors was stained with blood and lies
But from this divine appointment a ruler would arise
CHORUS:
When GOD has another plan, Walk on and just
say yes,
When GOD has another plan, be assured that HE
knows best
When all your dreams are shattered, rest in HIS
sufficient grace,
We don't have to understand, When GOD has
another plan.
Alone and brokenhearted, Questions fill your mind,
Changes can be hard, That come by GOD's design,
But if you could see tomorrow, with a view from
heaven's throne, every unexpected struggle, has led
you closer home.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wayne Parker for Congress
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the LORD , the righteous JUDGE, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved HIS appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7-8
Dear Friends,
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt
"Citizenship in a Republic,"
Speech at the Sorbonne,
Paris, April 23,1910
The stirring quote above is posted at the Wayne Parker Headquarters(www.wayneparkerforcongress.com) for Congress in Huntsville, Al, outside the cubicles where the staff has toiled each day for the past 5-6 months to help wage the campaign for the seat of U.S. House of Representatives. The Parker Headquarter's, located in a shopping center with the Republican Headquarters in the front of it, has been the beehive of activity for a vigorous battle for the seat for U.S. House of Representatives for the 5th Congressional District. This district includes much of North Alabama, where you have a vast contrast in energy production, with TVA and 2 nuclear plants, to missile defense in Huntsville, the Redstone Arsenal employing hundreds of people in our area, the Marshall Space Flight Center where Dr. Werner von Braun, who was a CHRISTian, was considered the father of the United States Rocket program and was the director for many years. Huntsville is also the home to the Alabama Space and Rocket Center. This district is also highly valued for it's farmland where Limestone Co. has been the number one cotton producing county in the state for many years, (though that is shrinking due to urban sprawl) to Wilson and Wheeler dams in the Shoals area, to forest, lakes, and the Tennessee River running all the way from the Mississippi State line to the Georgia state line. It is a conservative area politically, but for the last 139 years, we have had a Democrat Representative in Congress. Wayne is running on the Republican ticket so this would be the first republican representative from our district in a long long time, if the LORD gives Wayne Parker the victory next Tuesday evening, Nov. 4th.
It has been our privilege as a family, along with many other families and friends across North Alabama to be drawn by GOD into this political campaign of this valiant warrior, Wayne Parker and his dear family as he runs for U.S. Congress. Several months ago, Wayne and Lisa were going about their lives, with 3 extremely active teenagers, and a daughter in college. All of the sudden, GOD interrupted their lives with an abrupt change of direction...the call to run for U.S. Congress. Wayne had run for this seat back with a grassroots campaign in 1994 and lost to the incumbent by less than 1%. Talk about a heartbreaker... it was indeed for all of us, but especially to the Parkers who had given their heart and soul and come so very close to defeating the incumbent. GOD led them to run again in 1996, against the same incumbent, and the race was not as close, and they lost again. This was a tough loss, and for the next 12 years, GOD led them and their children in other ways, and Wayne eventually became established in his own business and Lisa, as a busy homemaker, both of them actively involved serving the LORD through their church, where Wayne is an elder, their community where Wayne helped coach basketball, and helped build houses for underprivileged families, i think, to helping with clean-up for Hurricane Katrina, and enjoying their home life. This past April, it was suddenly learned that our present Congressman representing our district was announcing his plans to retire, and a friend of Wayne's who worked in Washington and helped him in his first two campaigns, got wind of the news, and called Wayne and Lisa to tell them. I believe they were actually on their way to Washington at the time to visit Lisa's family. As others heard of the news, people started contacting Wayne about running again, and all of the sudden Wayne and Lisa were faced with a life changing decision. Having been through two difficult battles for Congress before, they knew the sacrifices and hardship that would be required to enter the political arena again, and although they knew GOD had called them to run in the 1990's, it was tough to loose. They decided to pray about it, and they asked GOD to raise i think $250,000 in support money by the time they had to qualify if HE wanted them to run. Well, GOD didn't have any problem doing that, and the money came in quickly. Wayne and Lisa, following GOD's provision, followed in obedience to run. It's an amazing thing, we never realize when GOD calls us to do something, how that will affect the lives of others. When GOD called Wayne and Lisa...HE also called a bunch more folks to come alongside of them and help them financially, and in a thousand other ways, some of which i've included below.
Back about last April or May, after Wayne decided the LORD was calling him to run, he was at maybe the first official gathering of his early campaign, with maybe 40 or so supporters in the room and with tears in his eyes, he shared how GOD how lead them to run this time, sharing what i shared above, and said it was hard because they had such a sweet family life with their four kids, They knew their world would be turned upside down in the months ahead with an intense political race and it has been everyday except Sunday in which they worship and rest, being long days for hitting the campaign trail for the Parkers.
As i shared before in an earlier email about the Parker's, I had not seen Lisa, Wayne's wife, or talked with her, since their last campaign, back in 1996. Our paths had just not crossed through the years, while we were both busy raising our families, though i have certainly thought of her through the years. One day, back in late spring as she was coming over to Athens from Huntsville where they live, Lisa called me, and i was very honored. We talked a little while and decided to try to meet after the meeting she was going to speak at for the local Republican party i believe. We did eventually end up getting together at Burger King where i think i ordered water, and she a grilled chicken sandwich, and we spent the time trying to catch up over the last 12 years. I have always had a great respect for Lisa, and knew that she walked unashamedly with CHRIST. Though her Daddy, U.S. Representative Bill Archer from Texas, served in Congress for 30 years, and was the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee from Texas, she is so very humble, and treats everyone she meets the same way...with love and kindness. She has the gift of making you feel like you're really special by asking you about your life so of course i liked her from the first time i met her. After our fellowship that evening, we got together not too long after that to go campaigning together around the square here in Athens and i wrote about how we kept getting delayed, cause Lisa kept talking to the "common folks", and even spent time praying with a man who had lost his wife in the recent months and was still very upset about it. I kept wanting to introduce her to the "important" folks, the mayor, attorneys, etc, (who weren't available by the way) but she kept stopping to talk to whoever GOD brought into her path...it didn't matter who they were, and she seemed oblivious to the time...she just loves people right where they are no matter what their social status is.
I had no idea at that time, the privilege that would be mine to spend these next several months being sort of a prayer partner with Lisa. We prayed that day after we campaigned on the square, and it would be something the LORD has blessed us to do many times together over the next several months, mostly by phone, but a few times together. My heart has been so moved by the love and compassion she and Wayne have for the people of our district. I have had the privilege to hear her pray for their opponent they're running against and to hear her cry for the hurts of people they have met in our district as they've traveled from county to county campaigning. I had no idea how very difficult a political campaign could be because i've never seen one up this close and in person. I was involved a little bit in a campaign when my Daddy in law was running for Sheriff back in the early 80's, and will never forget how traumatic it was for my future Mother-in-law when they lost for the first time when i was a senior in high school. I've heard my husband talk about how difficult growing up in the public eye can be and everyone knowing your Daddy is the Sheriff...he couldn't get away with anything...which is a great thing, because his Daddy would find out before his son got home, and take care of the matter. His Daddy was Sheriff for 16 years here in Limestone County, the whole time i was growing up, and i heard about "Buddy Evans" long before i ever met my husband to be...when i was 13 or 14.
Back to the Parker campaign, it has been very, very difficult at times. In the earlier campaigns back in the 90's, the LORD blessed Lisa with abundant strength and energy. Now, HE had some greater lessons for her to learn this time trust and depending on HIM, as there have been some days that she just didn't feel up to hitting the campaign trail. This is very difficult for a gal who is used to being in the thick of things. She has had to learn to "be still and know that HE is GOD," when honestly, she'd rather be up and running. I know GOD has heard her prayers as she has stayed behind at times and prayed for her husband when she would have preferred to have been out campaigning herself and been by her husband's side. GOD has blessed her with being able to campaign much at times and she has been such a trooper. Last weekend, sensing a weary and worn soldier, i invited Lisa on the spur of the moment to go with me and some other sister's in CHRIST to an overnight getaway on Lake Guntersville. Although she considered it, and the break would have been refreshing, she chose to stay in the battle, and fulfill the campaign plans that had been made for her last weekend...choosing to fight, rather than rest at this point. This campaign has been has been a fight for her, one that has made her depend on the LORD more deeply and to trust that HIS "grace is sufficient and HIS power is made perfect in weakness."
There have also been some things revealed about their opponent during this campaign that has been difficult for the Parker family. They love the LORD, and in the midst of soccer, basketball, football, dance, and church activities that they normally are involved in, they aren't used to finding themselves in the midst of the circumstances they've found themselves in the past few months...it has truly been a spiritual battle on all fronts. "Be strong and courageous" has become a daily necessity and fabric of their lives, through the power of CHRIST. Disappointments and encouragements come minute by minute in a campaign like this, and the battle is not for the faint of heart. One's faith is tested over and over, hour by hour it seems, and slowly but surely, GOD forges "good soldiers" through all the battles that have been fought by this valiant man, Wayne Parker, his wife Lisa, and their family.
Earlier this week, i was thinking about how this intense campaign is like a microcosm of life...everything just happens faster, and more intensely it seems, and you don't have a lot of time to stop and catch your breath before the next thing hits you. I thought of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress an allegory of the CHRISTian life, that John Bunyan wrote while spending 12 years in prison for preaching the gospel of JESUS CHRIST. The Hill of Difficulty, and CHRISTian's(the main character in Pilgrim's Progress) battle against Apollyon in the Valley of Humiliation particulary remind me of some of the battles the Parkers have been through these past few months. Just as the LORD sent CHRISTian companions to help him along his pilgrimage, in Pilgrim's Progress, GOD in his faithfulness, has sent many companions to help the Parker's in this battle, including Laura Chambers, the Parker's press secretary, Mary Martha, their events coordinator, Bebe Williams, Coordinator of everything, and Steve Webb to pray for them, encourage them, and help them in whatever capacity they've needed help, from making coffee, to setting up press conferences, to scheduling events, sending out emails to supporter's, waving signs, going door to door, you name it they've done it. They along with Ryan, and TJ, they have been there from early morning to late nights...helping to keep the volunteers in the army moving in the right direction...and what a blessing these dear volunteers have been to me as i've had the privilege to meet and serve with several of them. What a blessing to get to know some of these in the volunteer army from an 84 year old woman who is so radiant and vibrant in her faith, and energetic, to a doctor's wife, who humbly shared her testimony with me and how the LORD led her and her husband together in a singles Sunday School class many years ago. Her son goes to college where my friend Tim Greene's daughter goes up in Boone North Carolina at Appalachian State...small world to sit next to her stamping envelopes one day. What a blessing to serve along side my pastor's Dad and Mom, waving signs on a street corner in Athens, and serving with some of my dear friends from church, the CHRISTians, going door to door together. What a privilege to see GOD give some of our ladies from our homeschool group a heart to encourage and pray for the Parkers, and then come and knock on doors and make phone calls for the campaign, and feed an army of volunteers Friday night from the Student Project...what a blessing ya'll all are. What a great job our county coordinator Chris Crumpton has done sending out emails, making phone calls, putting up signs, handing out brochures at ballgames, and many other unseen tasks to help out with this campaign. So many volunteers, and so many blessing have been mine as a result of being a part of the LORD calling the Parker's to run for Congress, and HIM raising up a volunteer army to support them in this campaign...."where GOD guides HE provides." What a blessing to be involved in a campaign where the staff takes time to stop what they're doing and lead the volunteers in prayer before they go out door to door, or before Wayne is in a debate, or while folks are stuffing envelopes for mail-outs. The staff, along with Wayne and Lisa, are so very grateful and appreciative for everything you do for them and tell you that over and over. This campaign led by Wayne and Lisa's example has looked to the LORD to be their help and fight this battle for them...and to be a witness for the LORD JESUS CHRIST in the midst of the battle. Their prayer and heart's desire for their family and the campaign has been from the very beginning: Phil. 1:6, "... let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of CHRIST," and GOD has truly answered that prayer...and i will tell you this, i sure am going to miss this bunch when the campaign is over. GOD has woven and knit our hearts together in midst of the battle and what a privilege it has been to serve with you all.
This week has truly been a special blessing as the LORD, as we have watched HIM literally bring an army of young people from Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama to help go door to door, make maps, phone calls, wave signs, and whatever else needs to be done. GOD has sent HIS help, and refreshed and encouraged and renewed our strength,and how very grateful we are to HIM, and to all these families who have sacrificed their week to either come with their teens and help, or allowed their teens to come and help out. These kids have worked so hard, including Hannah Beth, who has been gone since Sunday to help serve with the Student Project. They are staying about an hour away and are up and on the campaign trail at the headquarter's around 8:00 each morning. Their groups have taken turns volunteering at the headquarter's each night for the phone bank so that makes for long days...like leaving at 7:00 in the morning and getting home around 9:30 in the evening for some of them. I spoke with Hannah Beth for just a few minutes last night on the phone and she said they were eating breakfast at 6:15 a.m. this morning, so they could leave early and go campaign in the Shoals area today, almost two hours from where they're staying. Many of the kids run from door to door, to save time, knocking on doors, and leaving brochures. Hannah Beth, though i haven't seen her this week, she has been serving in different areas than our group, ran/walked 12 miles the first two days going door to door! I have had the privilege of going out 3 days with this army, another branch from Hannah Beth, and have been the "driver" in our car for our hardworking group, which has changed each day since we have the local kids and Mom's in our car. Joe Radcliffe has been our very efficient navigator, and told us where to go, figuring out where to drop folks off, and he has managed to lead us back to the kids and adults once we've dropped them off to cover an area. If it were up to me, they would still be out there somewhere, because i would never find my way back to them. Today, as we ate lunch at Taco Bell after campaigning all morning, as GOD would have it, another group from the campaign had stopped to eat there also, unknown to us when we decided to eat there. I sat beside a game warden from Mississippi that was here with his whole family helping out with the campaign...and though we were strangers, GOD has given us the same heart and mind in CHRIST, and it was so neat that HE had led our paths together "for such a time as this." I have been so very impressed with these Mom's and Dad's who have come with their kids, and those who have allowed their teenagers to come and help out with this battle. A very, very special thank you to the Radcliff family, all of you, who are helping out with everything concerning this "Teen Pact," (www.teenpact.com) Student Project...how very grateful we are to all of you and for laying down your lives this week, hosting this group at the Cliffhouse Retreat and coordinating the door to door efforts all across this district. I received an email tonight that went out from the Parker Headquarters' saying the volunteer's having been distributing far more brochures than the headquarters' planned on this week... they needed $12,000 more dollars to print more brochures so the kids can hand them out all over this district. If you feel led to contribute to this godly man's campaign, you can do it by clicking on the www.wayneparkerforcongress.com website , and contacting them.
As i look back over these past several years, from 1994, actually, it goes back way before then when Wayne was prayed for and influenced by his parents and godly grandparents. HIS grandmother was instrumental in getting the Young Life organization started in the Huntsville public schools many years ago, I was told by a former public school superintendent and neighbor of mine, who has known Wayne since he was 3 years old, and he plans to vote for him. Young Life(www.younglife.org) is an organization that helps lead our young people to CHRIST and encourage them in their walk with CHRIST. Lisa, wrote this about her husband on their blog referring to the kind of young man Wayne was in high school: " I didn't know Wayne then, but I am told he was captain of the team and won the David Hightower award, given to the player who exhibited the most character and spiritual leadership on the team. Knowing Wayne as I do now, this doesn’t surprise me. He has always been a man of great character and led our family spiritually. He is truly the most honest person I know; just one of the many things I love about him. He has never wavered in his principles and values. I know he will be a leader in Washington who will do what’s right and will stand for the things we hold dear.
I see all the markings of a man of godly character and his family who have paid the price for the crown, they have "fought the good fight, finished the race, almost, and have kept the faith." Wayne Parker will serve our district honorably, truthfully, and with spiritual discernment. The verse from Isaiah 30:18 comes to my heart for the Parkers, "And therefore will the LORD wait, that HE may be gracious unto you." GOD has humbled them with two losses, and in the process of allowing them to wait for several years, as they've raised their young family, before calling them to run again, HE has shaped and molded them into a man and woman of noble character who would serve our district with the love, passion, humility and servant's heart of CHRIST. They have sacrificed family time, leisure time, business time, laid down their lives, opened their lives up to being scrutinized by the media, endured many personal trials in their own lives, while running for this position to serve our district in the U.S. Congress. I am amazed why anyone would go through this to serve... reminding me of what CHRIST went through for us to as HE laid down HIS life for us on the cross...to give us freedom from our sins. For Wayne and Lisa, i know this is a calling on their lives by GOD to run this race, and Wayne desires to protect the freedoms that have been paid for us through the blood of those who have fought and died for our freedoms. Wayne and Lisa, and their children have run the race honorably and they have been obedient to the call of CHRIST on their lives...and how very, very, grateful i am for their sacrifice of their lives to run for this office. A well known song writer penned these words a few years ago about U.S. SenatorJeremiah Denton's life after he suffered in a Hanoi prison camp as a POW for many years. These words written about Jeremiah Denton , certainly characterize Wayne and Lisa's life as they have run faithfully the race CHRIST has called them to run:
"It's an honor to serve
To join in the fight
To lift up my voice
To lay down my life
Giving glory to God
Seeking none in return
It's an honor
An honor to serve"
I could write more, much more, about this campaign, the Parkers and the amazing love that GOD has shown our family through being a part of what GOD is doing through the campaign, but to be honest i am weary, i am not used to these long campaign hours:). I can't imagine the grueling schedule Wayne and Lisa have kept for the past several months...days beginning early, and going late at night. What a special privilege for our family it has been to serve in this army the LORD has raised up to help with this campaign...and to serve alongside Wayne and Lisa, and the staff and volunteers GOD has surrounded them with. HE has been so very faithful to strengthen the Parkers, the staff, and all the others who are putting in long hours to complete this campaign as a good soldier of CHRIST JESUS. Thank you so very much for your dear prayers for those who have prayed for me this week, GOD answered them and i was so blessed with HIS strength. Please remember Wayne, Lisa, their family, the staff, and volunteers in your prayers for the next few days, it's going to be a very tiring weekend as they head down the stretch til Tuesday. Thank you so much for praying for this dear family, and how i thank GOD for raising them up for "such a time as this" to represent our area in Congress. As we pray for our presidential elections and all the rest of the elections, thank you so much for asking the LORD to give Wayne Parker favor in the hearts of the voters of the 5th Congressional District and to give him the victory next Tuesday, Nov. 4th...to GOD be the glory!
With all HIS love,
mitzi
A dear friend, Alison Walton, shared this with me last week and i wanted to pass it along to ya'll, my dear friends and family. Thanks, Alison, for encouraging me and reminding me where my PEACE lies...not in who is elected but in the LORD JESUS CHRIST, our KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS. It is HE who "removes kings and sets up kings," Daniel 2:21, all according to HIS plans and HIS purposes... and for that i am very grateful.
> TOP 10 PREDICTIONS NO MATTER WHO WINS THE ELECTION
> 1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
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> 2. Prayer will still work.
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> 3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
> 4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
> 5. There will still be God-anointed teaching and healing.
> 6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
> 7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
> 8. There will still be room at the Cross.
> 9. Jesus will still love you.
> 10. Jesus will still save the lost.
> ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CONTROL!!!!
Happy, Happy Birthday to my dear, dear 82 year old Daddy, Harold Fowler.
What a wonderful gift from the LORD he is to our family..."Great is Thy Faithfulness."
Dear Friends,
"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt
"Citizenship in a Republic,"
Speech at the Sorbonne,
Paris, April 23,1910
The stirring quote above is posted at the Wayne Parker Headquarters(www.wayneparkerforcongress.com) for Congress in Huntsville, Al, outside the cubicles where the staff has toiled each day for the past 5-6 months to help wage the campaign for the seat of U.S. House of Representatives. The Parker Headquarter's, located in a shopping center with the Republican Headquarters in the front of it, has been the beehive of activity for a vigorous battle for the seat for U.S. House of Representatives for the 5th Congressional District. This district includes much of North Alabama, where you have a vast contrast in energy production, with TVA and 2 nuclear plants, to missile defense in Huntsville, the Redstone Arsenal employing hundreds of people in our area, the Marshall Space Flight Center where Dr. Werner von Braun, who was a CHRISTian, was considered the father of the United States Rocket program and was the director for many years. Huntsville is also the home to the Alabama Space and Rocket Center. This district is also highly valued for it's farmland where Limestone Co. has been the number one cotton producing county in the state for many years, (though that is shrinking due to urban sprawl) to Wilson and Wheeler dams in the Shoals area, to forest, lakes, and the Tennessee River running all the way from the Mississippi State line to the Georgia state line. It is a conservative area politically, but for the last 139 years, we have had a Democrat Representative in Congress. Wayne is running on the Republican ticket so this would be the first republican representative from our district in a long long time, if the LORD gives Wayne Parker the victory next Tuesday evening, Nov. 4th.
It has been our privilege as a family, along with many other families and friends across North Alabama to be drawn by GOD into this political campaign of this valiant warrior, Wayne Parker and his dear family as he runs for U.S. Congress. Several months ago, Wayne and Lisa were going about their lives, with 3 extremely active teenagers, and a daughter in college. All of the sudden, GOD interrupted their lives with an abrupt change of direction...the call to run for U.S. Congress. Wayne had run for this seat back with a grassroots campaign in 1994 and lost to the incumbent by less than 1%. Talk about a heartbreaker... it was indeed for all of us, but especially to the Parkers who had given their heart and soul and come so very close to defeating the incumbent. GOD led them to run again in 1996, against the same incumbent, and the race was not as close, and they lost again. This was a tough loss, and for the next 12 years, GOD led them and their children in other ways, and Wayne eventually became established in his own business and Lisa, as a busy homemaker, both of them actively involved serving the LORD through their church, where Wayne is an elder, their community where Wayne helped coach basketball, and helped build houses for underprivileged families, i think, to helping with clean-up for Hurricane Katrina, and enjoying their home life. This past April, it was suddenly learned that our present Congressman representing our district was announcing his plans to retire, and a friend of Wayne's who worked in Washington and helped him in his first two campaigns, got wind of the news, and called Wayne and Lisa to tell them. I believe they were actually on their way to Washington at the time to visit Lisa's family. As others heard of the news, people started contacting Wayne about running again, and all of the sudden Wayne and Lisa were faced with a life changing decision. Having been through two difficult battles for Congress before, they knew the sacrifices and hardship that would be required to enter the political arena again, and although they knew GOD had called them to run in the 1990's, it was tough to loose. They decided to pray about it, and they asked GOD to raise i think $250,000 in support money by the time they had to qualify if HE wanted them to run. Well, GOD didn't have any problem doing that, and the money came in quickly. Wayne and Lisa, following GOD's provision, followed in obedience to run. It's an amazing thing, we never realize when GOD calls us to do something, how that will affect the lives of others. When GOD called Wayne and Lisa...HE also called a bunch more folks to come alongside of them and help them financially, and in a thousand other ways, some of which i've included below.
Back about last April or May, after Wayne decided the LORD was calling him to run, he was at maybe the first official gathering of his early campaign, with maybe 40 or so supporters in the room and with tears in his eyes, he shared how GOD how lead them to run this time, sharing what i shared above, and said it was hard because they had such a sweet family life with their four kids, They knew their world would be turned upside down in the months ahead with an intense political race and it has been everyday except Sunday in which they worship and rest, being long days for hitting the campaign trail for the Parkers.
As i shared before in an earlier email about the Parker's, I had not seen Lisa, Wayne's wife, or talked with her, since their last campaign, back in 1996. Our paths had just not crossed through the years, while we were both busy raising our families, though i have certainly thought of her through the years. One day, back in late spring as she was coming over to Athens from Huntsville where they live, Lisa called me, and i was very honored. We talked a little while and decided to try to meet after the meeting she was going to speak at for the local Republican party i believe. We did eventually end up getting together at Burger King where i think i ordered water, and she a grilled chicken sandwich, and we spent the time trying to catch up over the last 12 years. I have always had a great respect for Lisa, and knew that she walked unashamedly with CHRIST. Though her Daddy, U.S. Representative Bill Archer from Texas, served in Congress for 30 years, and was the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee from Texas, she is so very humble, and treats everyone she meets the same way...with love and kindness. She has the gift of making you feel like you're really special by asking you about your life so of course i liked her from the first time i met her. After our fellowship that evening, we got together not too long after that to go campaigning together around the square here in Athens and i wrote about how we kept getting delayed, cause Lisa kept talking to the "common folks", and even spent time praying with a man who had lost his wife in the recent months and was still very upset about it. I kept wanting to introduce her to the "important" folks, the mayor, attorneys, etc, (who weren't available by the way) but she kept stopping to talk to whoever GOD brought into her path...it didn't matter who they were, and she seemed oblivious to the time...she just loves people right where they are no matter what their social status is.
I had no idea at that time, the privilege that would be mine to spend these next several months being sort of a prayer partner with Lisa. We prayed that day after we campaigned on the square, and it would be something the LORD has blessed us to do many times together over the next several months, mostly by phone, but a few times together. My heart has been so moved by the love and compassion she and Wayne have for the people of our district. I have had the privilege to hear her pray for their opponent they're running against and to hear her cry for the hurts of people they have met in our district as they've traveled from county to county campaigning. I had no idea how very difficult a political campaign could be because i've never seen one up this close and in person. I was involved a little bit in a campaign when my Daddy in law was running for Sheriff back in the early 80's, and will never forget how traumatic it was for my future Mother-in-law when they lost for the first time when i was a senior in high school. I've heard my husband talk about how difficult growing up in the public eye can be and everyone knowing your Daddy is the Sheriff...he couldn't get away with anything...which is a great thing, because his Daddy would find out before his son got home, and take care of the matter. His Daddy was Sheriff for 16 years here in Limestone County, the whole time i was growing up, and i heard about "Buddy Evans" long before i ever met my husband to be...when i was 13 or 14.
Back to the Parker campaign, it has been very, very difficult at times. In the earlier campaigns back in the 90's, the LORD blessed Lisa with abundant strength and energy. Now, HE had some greater lessons for her to learn this time trust and depending on HIM, as there have been some days that she just didn't feel up to hitting the campaign trail. This is very difficult for a gal who is used to being in the thick of things. She has had to learn to "be still and know that HE is GOD," when honestly, she'd rather be up and running. I know GOD has heard her prayers as she has stayed behind at times and prayed for her husband when she would have preferred to have been out campaigning herself and been by her husband's side. GOD has blessed her with being able to campaign much at times and she has been such a trooper. Last weekend, sensing a weary and worn soldier, i invited Lisa on the spur of the moment to go with me and some other sister's in CHRIST to an overnight getaway on Lake Guntersville. Although she considered it, and the break would have been refreshing, she chose to stay in the battle, and fulfill the campaign plans that had been made for her last weekend...choosing to fight, rather than rest at this point. This campaign has been has been a fight for her, one that has made her depend on the LORD more deeply and to trust that HIS "grace is sufficient and HIS power is made perfect in weakness."
There have also been some things revealed about their opponent during this campaign that has been difficult for the Parker family. They love the LORD, and in the midst of soccer, basketball, football, dance, and church activities that they normally are involved in, they aren't used to finding themselves in the midst of the circumstances they've found themselves in the past few months...it has truly been a spiritual battle on all fronts. "Be strong and courageous" has become a daily necessity and fabric of their lives, through the power of CHRIST. Disappointments and encouragements come minute by minute in a campaign like this, and the battle is not for the faint of heart. One's faith is tested over and over, hour by hour it seems, and slowly but surely, GOD forges "good soldiers" through all the battles that have been fought by this valiant man, Wayne Parker, his wife Lisa, and their family.
Earlier this week, i was thinking about how this intense campaign is like a microcosm of life...everything just happens faster, and more intensely it seems, and you don't have a lot of time to stop and catch your breath before the next thing hits you. I thought of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress an allegory of the CHRISTian life, that John Bunyan wrote while spending 12 years in prison for preaching the gospel of JESUS CHRIST. The Hill of Difficulty, and CHRISTian's(the main character in Pilgrim's Progress) battle against Apollyon in the Valley of Humiliation particulary remind me of some of the battles the Parkers have been through these past few months. Just as the LORD sent CHRISTian companions to help him along his pilgrimage, in Pilgrim's Progress, GOD in his faithfulness, has sent many companions to help the Parker's in this battle, including Laura Chambers, the Parker's press secretary, Mary Martha, their events coordinator, Bebe Williams, Coordinator of everything, and Steve Webb to pray for them, encourage them, and help them in whatever capacity they've needed help, from making coffee, to setting up press conferences, to scheduling events, sending out emails to supporter's, waving signs, going door to door, you name it they've done it. They along with Ryan, and TJ, they have been there from early morning to late nights...helping to keep the volunteers in the army moving in the right direction...and what a blessing these dear volunteers have been to me as i've had the privilege to meet and serve with several of them. What a blessing to get to know some of these in the volunteer army from an 84 year old woman who is so radiant and vibrant in her faith, and energetic, to a doctor's wife, who humbly shared her testimony with me and how the LORD led her and her husband together in a singles Sunday School class many years ago. Her son goes to college where my friend Tim Greene's daughter goes up in Boone North Carolina at Appalachian State...small world to sit next to her stamping envelopes one day. What a blessing to serve along side my pastor's Dad and Mom, waving signs on a street corner in Athens, and serving with some of my dear friends from church, the CHRISTians, going door to door together. What a privilege to see GOD give some of our ladies from our homeschool group a heart to encourage and pray for the Parkers, and then come and knock on doors and make phone calls for the campaign, and feed an army of volunteers Friday night from the Student Project...what a blessing ya'll all are. What a great job our county coordinator Chris Crumpton has done sending out emails, making phone calls, putting up signs, handing out brochures at ballgames, and many other unseen tasks to help out with this campaign. So many volunteers, and so many blessing have been mine as a result of being a part of the LORD calling the Parker's to run for Congress, and HIM raising up a volunteer army to support them in this campaign...."where GOD guides HE provides." What a blessing to be involved in a campaign where the staff takes time to stop what they're doing and lead the volunteers in prayer before they go out door to door, or before Wayne is in a debate, or while folks are stuffing envelopes for mail-outs. The staff, along with Wayne and Lisa, are so very grateful and appreciative for everything you do for them and tell you that over and over. This campaign led by Wayne and Lisa's example has looked to the LORD to be their help and fight this battle for them...and to be a witness for the LORD JESUS CHRIST in the midst of the battle. Their prayer and heart's desire for their family and the campaign has been from the very beginning: Phil. 1:6, "... let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of CHRIST," and GOD has truly answered that prayer...and i will tell you this, i sure am going to miss this bunch when the campaign is over. GOD has woven and knit our hearts together in midst of the battle and what a privilege it has been to serve with you all.
This week has truly been a special blessing as the LORD, as we have watched HIM literally bring an army of young people from Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama to help go door to door, make maps, phone calls, wave signs, and whatever else needs to be done. GOD has sent HIS help, and refreshed and encouraged and renewed our strength,and how very grateful we are to HIM, and to all these families who have sacrificed their week to either come with their teens and help, or allowed their teens to come and help out. These kids have worked so hard, including Hannah Beth, who has been gone since Sunday to help serve with the Student Project. They are staying about an hour away and are up and on the campaign trail at the headquarter's around 8:00 each morning. Their groups have taken turns volunteering at the headquarter's each night for the phone bank so that makes for long days...like leaving at 7:00 in the morning and getting home around 9:30 in the evening for some of them. I spoke with Hannah Beth for just a few minutes last night on the phone and she said they were eating breakfast at 6:15 a.m. this morning, so they could leave early and go campaign in the Shoals area today, almost two hours from where they're staying. Many of the kids run from door to door, to save time, knocking on doors, and leaving brochures. Hannah Beth, though i haven't seen her this week, she has been serving in different areas than our group, ran/walked 12 miles the first two days going door to door! I have had the privilege of going out 3 days with this army, another branch from Hannah Beth, and have been the "driver" in our car for our hardworking group, which has changed each day since we have the local kids and Mom's in our car. Joe Radcliffe has been our very efficient navigator, and told us where to go, figuring out where to drop folks off, and he has managed to lead us back to the kids and adults once we've dropped them off to cover an area. If it were up to me, they would still be out there somewhere, because i would never find my way back to them. Today, as we ate lunch at Taco Bell after campaigning all morning, as GOD would have it, another group from the campaign had stopped to eat there also, unknown to us when we decided to eat there. I sat beside a game warden from Mississippi that was here with his whole family helping out with the campaign...and though we were strangers, GOD has given us the same heart and mind in CHRIST, and it was so neat that HE had led our paths together "for such a time as this." I have been so very impressed with these Mom's and Dad's who have come with their kids, and those who have allowed their teenagers to come and help out with this battle. A very, very special thank you to the Radcliff family, all of you, who are helping out with everything concerning this "Teen Pact," (www.teenpact.com) Student Project...how very grateful we are to all of you and for laying down your lives this week, hosting this group at the Cliffhouse Retreat and coordinating the door to door efforts all across this district. I received an email tonight that went out from the Parker Headquarters' saying the volunteer's having been distributing far more brochures than the headquarters' planned on this week... they needed $12,000 more dollars to print more brochures so the kids can hand them out all over this district. If you feel led to contribute to this godly man's campaign, you can do it by clicking on the www.wayneparkerforcongress.com website , and contacting them.
As i look back over these past several years, from 1994, actually, it goes back way before then when Wayne was prayed for and influenced by his parents and godly grandparents. HIS grandmother was instrumental in getting the Young Life organization started in the Huntsville public schools many years ago, I was told by a former public school superintendent and neighbor of mine, who has known Wayne since he was 3 years old, and he plans to vote for him. Young Life(www.younglife.org) is an organization that helps lead our young people to CHRIST and encourage them in their walk with CHRIST. Lisa, wrote this about her husband on their blog referring to the kind of young man Wayne was in high school: " I didn't know Wayne then, but I am told he was captain of the team and won the David Hightower award, given to the player who exhibited the most character and spiritual leadership on the team. Knowing Wayne as I do now, this doesn’t surprise me. He has always been a man of great character and led our family spiritually. He is truly the most honest person I know; just one of the many things I love about him. He has never wavered in his principles and values. I know he will be a leader in Washington who will do what’s right and will stand for the things we hold dear.
I see all the markings of a man of godly character and his family who have paid the price for the crown, they have "fought the good fight, finished the race, almost, and have kept the faith." Wayne Parker will serve our district honorably, truthfully, and with spiritual discernment. The verse from Isaiah 30:18 comes to my heart for the Parkers, "And therefore will the LORD wait, that HE may be gracious unto you." GOD has humbled them with two losses, and in the process of allowing them to wait for several years, as they've raised their young family, before calling them to run again, HE has shaped and molded them into a man and woman of noble character who would serve our district with the love, passion, humility and servant's heart of CHRIST. They have sacrificed family time, leisure time, business time, laid down their lives, opened their lives up to being scrutinized by the media, endured many personal trials in their own lives, while running for this position to serve our district in the U.S. Congress. I am amazed why anyone would go through this to serve... reminding me of what CHRIST went through for us to as HE laid down HIS life for us on the cross...to give us freedom from our sins. For Wayne and Lisa, i know this is a calling on their lives by GOD to run this race, and Wayne desires to protect the freedoms that have been paid for us through the blood of those who have fought and died for our freedoms. Wayne and Lisa, and their children have run the race honorably and they have been obedient to the call of CHRIST on their lives...and how very, very, grateful i am for their sacrifice of their lives to run for this office. A well known song writer penned these words a few years ago about U.S. SenatorJeremiah Denton's life after he suffered in a Hanoi prison camp as a POW for many years. These words written about Jeremiah Denton , certainly characterize Wayne and Lisa's life as they have run faithfully the race CHRIST has called them to run:
"It's an honor to serve
To join in the fight
To lift up my voice
To lay down my life
Giving glory to God
Seeking none in return
It's an honor
An honor to serve"
I could write more, much more, about this campaign, the Parkers and the amazing love that GOD has shown our family through being a part of what GOD is doing through the campaign, but to be honest i am weary, i am not used to these long campaign hours:). I can't imagine the grueling schedule Wayne and Lisa have kept for the past several months...days beginning early, and going late at night. What a special privilege for our family it has been to serve in this army the LORD has raised up to help with this campaign...and to serve alongside Wayne and Lisa, and the staff and volunteers GOD has surrounded them with. HE has been so very faithful to strengthen the Parkers, the staff, and all the others who are putting in long hours to complete this campaign as a good soldier of CHRIST JESUS. Thank you so very much for your dear prayers for those who have prayed for me this week, GOD answered them and i was so blessed with HIS strength. Please remember Wayne, Lisa, their family, the staff, and volunteers in your prayers for the next few days, it's going to be a very tiring weekend as they head down the stretch til Tuesday. Thank you so much for praying for this dear family, and how i thank GOD for raising them up for "such a time as this" to represent our area in Congress. As we pray for our presidential elections and all the rest of the elections, thank you so much for asking the LORD to give Wayne Parker favor in the hearts of the voters of the 5th Congressional District and to give him the victory next Tuesday, Nov. 4th...to GOD be the glory!
With all HIS love,
mitzi
A dear friend, Alison Walton, shared this with me last week and i wanted to pass it along to ya'll, my dear friends and family. Thanks, Alison, for encouraging me and reminding me where my PEACE lies...not in who is elected but in the LORD JESUS CHRIST, our KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS. It is HE who "removes kings and sets up kings," Daniel 2:21, all according to HIS plans and HIS purposes... and for that i am very grateful.
> TOP 10 PREDICTIONS NO MATTER WHO WINS THE ELECTION
> 1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
>
> 2. Prayer will still work.
>
> 3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
> 4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
> 5. There will still be God-anointed teaching and healing.
> 6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
> 7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
> 8. There will still be room at the Cross.
> 9. Jesus will still love you.
> 10. Jesus will still save the lost.
> ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CONTROL!!!!
Happy, Happy Birthday to my dear, dear 82 year old Daddy, Harold Fowler.
What a wonderful gift from the LORD he is to our family..."Great is Thy Faithfulness."
Friday, October 24, 2008
Passing on HIS Abounding Love
"...I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you." Jeremiah 31:3
Dear Friends,
Last week, in my writing, i began a new chapter in my emails, fiction...changing a few names and facts. Not intentionally, and i didn't change the names to protect the innocent. I changed them because i am a "special needs" child...i keep telling ya'll i have trouble thinking and it really showed up last week. "Robin" Mobley in real life is Karen Mobley, i've only known her for close to 10 years, and she has 11 kids instead of 12. Her new daughter-in-law is named Kristina instead of Christine, and the wedding was on Monte Sano mountain instead of Monsanto (the chemical company my Dad used to work for). So apart from the grammatical errors i also made, not out of the ordinary, i wanted to set the record straight....thank you, Karen for having a great sense of humor with all my goof ups.
Now the truth is last week, I didn't feel well for various and sundry reasons... i was just struggling more than ordinary. In addition to some other things going on, my doctor told me i still have parasites. I wasn't really surprised since i began recently to have trouble concentrating like i did before i went through the treatment this summer to kill the parasites. That was during the time i was writing about "My Common Life" ... i could barely get off the couch for a while due to the medicine making me so sick and was feeling really sorry for myself. For whatever reason, last week was a real valley for me. I felt discouraged, depressed, and defeated at times...
During the middle of the week, when i was really feeling weak and discouraged, the LORD began to ease some unexpected plans in our minds that unknowingly to our family was going to change the course of our weekend and bless our socks off. One of Hannah Beth's friends invited her to a bonfire their family was having for their high school homeschool families...in Mobile. Hannah Beth jokingly asked me, and i said i didn't really care if her Daddy didn't, knowing he would never consider it. Low and behold when she asked him, he considered it. Honestly, i was not feeling well enough to protest...GOD has HIS way of helping me to go along with HIS plans. After I talked with HB's friend's Mom the next day and found out the details... our family, all 4 of us, made the decision to leave Saturday morning and drive down to Mobile for a bonfire that evening. Sounds crazy right? You bet it does, and it did to us too. But, I've gone down the road long enough to know the LORD doesn't always work in the "norm." In fact, usually HE chooses the opposite. HE reminded me over and over through Scripture, "the mind of man plans HIS ways and the LORD directs HIS steps." Pr. 16:9, and Jeremiah 10:23: "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." When the LORD is leading your paths...you do some crazy things, that you don't understand at times, much less those around us.
We were all aware that this "spur of the moment" trip was a "GOD thing" and very much out of the realm of our usual method of operating...i know HB and i take spur of the moment trips, and even with John Mac, and occasionally with Dad. But this trip was even more than normal out of the ordinary for several reasons...it was the weekend, and we were all available..."spur of the moment." We had plans, i always have plans, even if it's to rest...but i had planned to go door to door campaigning for Wayne Parker in the morning, Heather Evan's wedding in the afternoon, and maybe kayaking that evening...which i haven't done in a long time it seems. But GOD rerouted our plans and redirected our steps...which HE is mighty good at doing. Leaving the restaurant on the weekend is not standard operating procedure for my husband and son when they are often short-handed. Neither is it standard operating procedure to take our daughter to see a friend who is a boy... and we didn't know their family all that well, though we were blessed to spend some time with them in North Carolina in August(see picture above, another amazing trip i wrote about, "Camp Meeting Time, Aug. 8,2008) and Gulf Shores in May. It's just not like us to drive 6 hours to a bonfire.
Well, the LORD knew it wasn't just a "bonfire" we were going to, and what special blessings HE had in store for us to use the Hembree family to be such a blessing to our family. We had a few tense moments on the way...my family didn't seem to worried when i threatened to write about our "flair-ups" , cause they figured i'd get the names wrong and no one would know who i was talking about anyway. We had a safe trip down, and after getting a little lost, and having a little heated discussion over the GPS, the LORD brought us to the beautiful Hembree home. We pulled through the brick gate, and drove up the driveway to their beautiful home and the huge oak trees in the back yard that some must have been over 100 years old. The Hembree's came out to greet us, and seemed thrilled that we were there. Linda, the Mom, was busy making last minute preparations, and she introduced me to her Mom who had the same quiet and gentle spirit that Linda does. We walked outside to the backyard, to help get the games ready and there was those beautiful old oak trees, one that just invited you to climb it. I wasn't very much help with the games, but she made me feel useful anyway, and it wasn't long before the other guests started arriving bringing all kinds of wonderful smelling dishes for supper that night. After a while, Linda, and a few of the parents got the " Golden Corn Olympics" going for the kids and they enjoyed competing in sack races, wagon races, obstacle course and other event, while the other adults stood and sat around visiting and watching the kids compete. The group was very friendly and we were amazed to find that one of the couples there was a business partner to our next door neighbor, here in Athens. While the games were going on...i decided to take a walk around the beautiful pond, there was two of them actually, and they were so pretty. The sun was beginning to set up over the hill, and i walked beside the pond, up the hill and along the fence row, just feeling the urge to spend some time to get alone and pray for a few minutes. I watched the pink sky and sun gradually lowering, and as i walked along, I saw a huge garden spider and it's intricately spun web which was huge, attached to a tree and the fence. I took a bunch of pictures but couldn't quiet capture the beauty of the web or spider on our camera with it getting dark...
By the time i got back, it was time to eat, and i was good and ready...there was all kinds of chili, cheese dip, hot dogs to cook over the fire, cobbler's, apple, strawberry, peach and blackberry, chips, and drinks. We had plenty to eat and it was delicious! After we ate, we adults sat around the bonfire, and it was getting pretty cool by then, Mr. Hembree took the younger kids on a hayride through his fields, and the older kids played capture the flag. Later on he took the older kids on a hayride, and wouldn't you know they didn't have room for us adults to ride:). As the evening got later, we helped clean up, and went inside and visited with the Hembree's for a while, Emily, the Hembree's sweet daughter, Hannah Beth, and some of the older kids were out taking a walk through the woods. Linda gave me a tour of their beautiful home and played her baby grand piano for me. She's plays beautifully and plays for their church, and would you believe she loves southern gospel music too...amazing isn't it? Jacob, their youngest son and I took turns playing his electric drum set...man did it sound good. We finally made our way to the family room upstairs and the Dad's and John Mac were enjoying the big screen TV. It wasn't too long before Johnny said it was time to go and Josh their son, lead us to the Hampton Inn we were staying at that the Hembrees had help make arrangements for us to stay. They had invited us to stay with them...but we didn't want to impose on them more than we already had.
The Hampton Inn was really nice, but i chose my car suite over it to sleep. After sitting around the bonfire, i needed a place i could air out for a while. I hope you don't feel sorry for me sleeping in my car... though i don't like leaving my family, i have come to love that quiet place of refuge after a busy day that my body can rest and i can be alone with my LORD. As GOD's abounding love would have it, a security guard walked by right as i went out to get in the car after taking a shower, and i asked him to keep a watch on me cause i'd be sleeping in my car. Guess he thought that was kind of strange when you're paying for a room, but oh well, i'm thankful the LORD provided him to watch over me and i didn't feel scared at all and slept really good.
The next morning, when i got up, i was fighting discouragement again. I know the smoke had something to do with that, and i was thinking about those parasites in my body, and some other things that were tempting to overwhelm me. The LORD encouraged my heart and reminded me that HE was going to use those parasites for good somehow, and not to try to figure out what i was worrying about...it wouldn't seem like a "mountain" after the smoke cleared out of my system. But right now, while it did seem like a "mountain," my thorn was causing me to run to my FATHER in my weakness, and HIS love was so comforting to me...my weaknesses are the very thing that GOD uses to draw me closer to HIM, causing my heart to run to HIM so often. I praise HIM for that, and for "working all things together for good to them that love GOD (Rom. 8:28). After i had my time with JESUS, i was encouraged through the warmth of HIS love, even though i still didn't feel too hot. After getting the troops up, we enjoyed the delicious breakfast buffet down in the lobby, in shifts. I ate first, then Hannah Beth, and before i left Hannah Beth, John Mac came, and stayed with Hannah Beth, and i took Johnny his food back to the room. We all managed to get ready for church, eat and get our bags packed and loaded back in the car before Josh, their son, came to get us and lead us to church to go with the Hembree's. That morning they were starting a revival at their church and what a great message the preacher preached about the kind of heart that GOD can use...a tender heart, a humble heart, a broken heart, and obedient heart, based on II Kings 22:19 and the example of King Josiah. The message really spoke to all of us and later on i heard some apologies going on in our family. I am so thankful the LORD had used HIS word to soften our hearts and make us more tender, humble, broken and obedient. Believe me, we are a work in progress...and haven't arrived, but HE loves us and is still working on us. The choir also did a great job, and i enjoyed watching my friend,Linda play the piano and what a gift she has. We sang a praise song during the service called "On Mountains High," that really spoke to my heart about Praising the LORD "On Mountains High and in the Valleys low..." You can hear that beautiful song here by clicking on:
http://www.thefathershouseworshipcenter.org/OnMountainsHigh.html
I thought that's what i want my heart to do, not just praise HIM "On Mountains High" but also" in valleys low i'll do the same." I sure haven't arrived at that yet, but i know my FATHER is helping me to learn to do that... HE is helping my heart to learn to run to find HIM...in the good times and the bad, to praise HIM when my heart was wants to give way to discouragement, and to remember how very much HE loves me all the time...as Charles Spurgeon shares in his evening devotion for Oct. 21:
"Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?"
--Luke 24:38
"Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God?" The Lord cares for all things, and the meanest creatures share in His universal providence, but His particular providence is over His saints. "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him." "Precious shall their blood be in His sight." "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose." Let the fact that, while He is the Saviour of all men, He is specially the Saviour of them that believe, cheer and comfort you. You are His peculiar care; His regal treasure which He guards as the apple of His eye; His vineyard over which He watches day and night. "The very hairs of your head are all numbered."
Let the thought of His special love to you be a spiritual pain-killer, a dear quietus to your woe: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." God says that as much to you as to any saint of old. "Fear not, I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."
We lose much consolation by the habit of reading His promises for the whole church, instead of taking them directly home to ourselves. Believer, grasp the divine word with a personal, appropriating faith. Think that you hear Jesus say, "I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not." Think you see Him walking on the waters of thy trouble, for He is there, and He is saying, "Fear not, it is I; be not afraid." Oh, those sweet words of Christ! May the Holy Ghost make you feel them as spoken to you; forget others for awhile--accept the voice of Jesus as addressed to you, and say, "Jesus whispers consolation; I cannot refuse it; I will sit under His shadow with great delight."
After church, the Hembree's took us down by the bay, near the U.S.S. Alabama battleship, to eat at a really scrumptious seafood restaurant. We had some crab claws and some other type of cheesy appetizer, and then we enjoyed our meals, my being a delicious, mostly broiled seafood platter. I had to have my oysters fried though, i don't care for them slimy. We had a great time visiting and talking, and Linda and i found out we both love to hike, and ride bicycles. We even talked about the possibility of meeting them in the mountains in December and going hiking together. She's really ambitious and would like to hike along the Appalachian Trail, just overnight...but i don't know about that. I love the woods, yes i do, but i can assure you they don't love me.. I do better taking them in small dosages:). I don't know if we'll get to do that with them or not, but we'd love to if the LORD has that blessing for us. After going back to their home and sitting outside on their beautiful back porch and listening to the kids play their guitars, Linda and i took a walk around their beautiful lake, prayed for each other, and enjoyed our last few minutes talking. Then it was time to return home...our home in Athens. Our trip home was much more peaceful and relaxing than the trip down. John Mac and Hannah Beth drove all the way, Johnny slept some, and i enjoyed playing my mandolin softly in the back seat...GOD had just dumped a "dumpload truck" of HIS love upon us, and we were still amazed at how HE led us down there and loved on us so much.
The LORD has blessed the Hembree family with a beautiful home and place to live, but more importantly HE has blessed them with HIMSELF and their lives, their home and property are filled with HIS presence, HIS love, and HIS peace. The Hembree's are so gracious to share their lives and home and use them to be a channel of GOD's abounding love to others including our family.
What a special blessing and time of refreshing this trip was to all of us and i still marvel at the love GOD lavished upon our family this weekend through the Hembree's, their church family, their homeschool group, and the beautiful surroundings that we were blessed to be a part of. The LORD reminded me on the way home how last week and weekend is a picture of our lives over and over...we're going to have valleys, and mountain top experiences, and through it all HE lavishes HIS love upon us.
As I was walking through their pasture that evening of the bonfire , i looked down upon that huge roaring fire that Don Hembree had worked really hard to build, getting stumps out of the woods earlier in the week to make it burn better. The song we used to sing in our Methodist youth group UMYF, came to my mind..."Pass it On." As I watched the sparks flying upwards from the bonfire, i thought about the line from the song, "It only takes a spark to get a fire going...and soon all those around can warm up in it's glowing. That's how it is with GOD's love once we've experience it, You spread HIS love to everyone you want to pass it on." As the night grew cooler down on the "Hembree Plantation," we did indeed scoot up to the warm fire and it sure felt good. And it sure does feel good to "scoot up" to the warmth of GOD's love, and just feel and experience HIS love all around us. And we experience HIS love so much through our brother's and sister's love in CHRIST for us..."by this will all men know that you are MY disciples if you love one another," John 13:34.
And you know, when GOD puts HIS love in our hearts, we do want to share it with those around us. HIS love compels us to love others..."I wish for you my friend this happiness that I've found," it says in the third verse of "Pass It On." HE puts a desire in us to love on those who don't know CHRIST, or those who may know CHRIST but may not be "scooted up to warmth of HIS FIRE." GOD uses us to be "sparks" of HIS abounding love to those around us whose hearts are cold, and don't know the warmth of GOD's love. As the song says, "It only takes a spark to get a fire going" and even the smallest acts of GOD's love to someone else, may ignite a fire in their hearts that draws them to CHRIST HIMSELF. Then there are other times, when it takes perhaps many years of persevering prayer, tears, faith, and love, to bring a person to the warmth of GOD's love for them. Whichever way GOD chooses to use us to bring others to HIM, HE uses us most in our weaknesses..."MY grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses that CHRIST's power may rest on me." (II Cor.12:9-10) How very thankful i am for that promise...what abounding love HE has for us!
The Hembree family are truly an example of passing on GOD's love- they invited us down to share GOD's abounding with us, and invited us to stay with them. When we declined, they found us a motel room, called and gave us the info, and when it was full, they called the motel, and made a way for us to get a room. They shared their food, their wonderful fellowship, their beautiful home, their time, their homeschool group, their church family, and just passed on GOD's abounding love to us all weekend.
Thank you, my dear friends and family, so much for being GOD's abounding love to me and my family, and passing on HIS wonderful love to us. You strengthen us, encourage you and help us to have faith that GOD loves us, as you share your lives with us and we see how GOD is loving on you and through your family. GOD is loving on each of us everyday, and HE loves HIS children "special"...through our Mountain Highs and Valley Lows, through our friends, our families, the circumstances HE directs our steps and lives to be a part of, even parasites... we just have to look around and see how GOD is loving on us through what we're going through. Each of you mean something special to me, your life ministers to me and encourages me and helps me in a way that no one else's life can...GOD has shed abroad HIS love in your heart, to "Pass It On" in a unique way that no one else can...i thank GOD for using the Hembree's this weekend to pass on HIS love to us, ...and i thank HIM today for using you in my life to pass HIS love on every time i get an email from you, or hear from you, or you're praying for us, or whatever GOD leads you to do to show HIS love to us through you. Thank you so much for passing on His abounding love to me and my family... we love you and thank GOD for you!
With all HIS love,
mitzi
Pass It On- by Kurt Kaiser
"It only takes a spark to get a fire going
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing
That's how it is with GOD's love
Once you've experience it
You spread His love to everyone
You want to pass it on.
What a wondrous time is spring
When all the trees are budding
The birds begin to sing the flowers start their blooming
That's how it is with GOD's love
Once you've experienced it
You want to sing It's fresh like spring
You want to pass it on.
I wish for you my friend this happiness that I've found
You can depend on HIM, It matters not where you're bound
I'll shout it from the mountain top I want my world to know
The LORD of love has come to me, I want to pass it on.
Friday, October 17, 2008
A Church Full of Heroes
"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, that we should be holy and without blame before HIM in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by JESUS CHRIST to HIMself, according to the good pleasure of HIS will." Ephesians 1:3-5
Dear Friends,
Last Friday evening, my kids and I attended a beautiful outdoor wedding on Monsanto Mountain. The young couple getting married are members of our church and it was a real joyous occasion to be a part of GOD bringing these two young people together as one in CHRIST. The gazebo was decorated with white ribbons and ferns, I think:), and looking through the gazebo, just before the wedding began, you could see the gorgeous pinkish orange sun setting out over the city of Huntsville. What a beautiful sky the LORD painted for that special occasion.
When we got there the kids went over to talk to there friends and I sat down next to my friend Marsha Christian who is goofy as i am. Our kids later came and sat down behind us and they were calling us down before the wedding threatening to separate us because we were laughing so loudly. Marsh and her husband have five kids and they have homeschooled all five of them. Their oldest graduated from the University of Alabama, and is serving our country in the army doing all kinds of special training. Her next son is still in school at the University of Alabama and is in the Marines... these guys are heroes, along with their family, and we are so thankful for their sacrifice and service for our country. As we waited for the wedding to start, another dear friend came walking up and we talked a few minutes. Marco had a contraption around his neck hanging down from his shoulder. I asked him what it was and he said a wound vac...i should know these things being a nurse, but i didn't. Marco had his pacemaker removed a few weeks before, and I was surprised that he was still having to wear this machine that was helping to suction the secretions away from his incision site. We talked a few minutes, as Marco encouraged me and it was time for the wedding to start. What a sweet wedding it was with our pastor leading part of it, and he did a great job sharing the biblical role of marriage. I sure needed to pay close attention to his words, cause I seem to forget rather frequently what my role is and want to "wear the pants" in my family. Then another pastor shared the wedding vows with Nathaniel and Christine. We have know Nathaniel's family for many years, and admired them from the first time we met their older boys who were so friendly and outgoing. The Mobley's are another one of those special families that make up our church. They have 12 children and all of them who are old enough have been homeschooled, and the youngest Mobley is a special needs child. Robin, the Mom, made one of the dresses that was in the wedding, along with the grooms cake, and her little girls looked adorable and are as sweet as can be. She and her husband Rick are truly heroes, as they lay down their lives for CHRIST each day to raise a godly family and are a very active part of our body of CHRIST.
After the wedding ceremony was over, we were all invited to the reception and man was the food delicious! There was fresh fruit- pineapple, strawberries, honeydew and cantaloupe, i think, spinach dip, shrimp, chicken fingers, and lots of other yummy food. Then, of course was a beautiful wedding cake that our friend Tabitha made, who also goes to our church. Tabitha and her family manages a CHRISTian (http://cliffhouseretreat.org/) retreat near Scottsboro, Al. They have 12 siblings too, and they all are homeschooled.
After I enjoyed eating some good food with my friend Marsha, her husband, and my kids, I ran into Marco again and he started sharing with me his day. I want to back up and tell you a little bit of background about this hero named Marco. Marco is a single Dad. His dear wife died a few years ago, leaving Marco with five children. The oldest is a special needs child. Marco and his wife homeschooled their children and even after she died, he continued the first year with their friends in Scottsboro helping them. Now they attend Scottsboro public schools, and one of the Christian schools in Scottsboro. Marco has had a really difficult year this year with some health issues of his own, including staff infection and had to have his pacemaker removed, but he has courageously continued on providing for his family and shuffling the kids back and forth the their activities, along with running his household. He has come to church with an IV attached to his arm on more than one occasion. Marco was at the wedding which was probably 45 minutes or so from home, with his five children, and him wearing a wound vac. Earlier in the day, he had taken his oldest son to get his license after swapping out cars with his daughter, and then found out his son was unable to take the driver's test because the horn wasn't working...so they had to reschedule that. Then he went to the doctor with a swollen and painful place on his arm that he suspected was a blood clot. They told him he needed to go and have it checked out right then, but he told them no, he was going to a wedding and he would do it later, and he did. Thankfully, he went to have the blood clot checked the next day, and it wasn't a serious blood clot, if it's possible to have a blood clot that's not serious. As Marco talked to me, almost everyone else had meandered down to where some of the older kids were dancing, but Marco was lingering behind to wait for his special needs child to finish eating. I knew he wanted to come join the fun, but he waited patiently for her to finish eating.
Sitting outside at the reception in the cool night air was another dear family in our church who are heroes too, the Wrights. Kirk leads the music at our church, and Kim plays the piano. Kirk works at a regular job during the week and Kim stays home and homeschools their four kids, of which they all are adopted. The oldest two are twins, and then there is Hannah, and then a few years ago, they adopted their youngest son from the Ukraine. What a blessing this family is to our church, always serving whether its leading the choir, Reformation Day Celebration, or our "Keepers at Home" group...Kirk and Kim are heroes in the way they love these children whom GOD has brought into their family through adoption and serve the LORD through serving in so many ways through our church.
Another family in our church whose Mom and Dad are heroes are Duane and Diane Dorhman. The Dorhman's have grown children and adopted two special needs boys, and adopted a daughter from China. I am constantly amazed at this family and the love that these parents share with their kids. They homeschool their daughter, and have homeschooled their boys at times, in addition to taking care of her Daddy who had been sick for a long time and passed away this weekend. In spite of the constant care their boys require, they are very actively involved in our church. Diane always has a smile on her face and is such an encourager to me, and all who meet her. Diane and Duane, too are truly heroes that help make up our church body.
As some of the older kids danced at the reception and some of the parents, others of us stood on the sidelines, cheering them on, laughing and having a good time, and wishing we were brave enough to get out there. Marsha encouraged me to dance with my son, which we did after a little awkwardness getting started and that was very special. Then she wanted me to line dance with her and our kids out there, but i didn't budge on that...i didn't want to make a fool of myself. Besides i wasn't too sure how i'd hold up to that turning and twisting...remember that softball game:). I know it's amazing to think of us Baptists dancing but some of us did and it was a lot of fun. But i respect those who didn't feel comfortable with that part of the wedding, and chose not to take part. I know myself, i am on a journey, and a few years ago, i wouldn't have felt "free" to do that and i'm sure would have looked down upon that...but GOD has brought me to another place in my journey, a place where others might not be. That's what i love about our church family...we can differ on things and still love and respect each other. And I very much respect our pastor for his honesty about his own journey and the grace he shows all of us, though he may not fully hold the same views on some issues.
After a while, Marco came moseying down the hill with his daughter and with his "wound vac." He was smiling as usual, and enjoying watching the dancing with his daughter. I lost track of them in the fun, and later after Nathaniel and Kristina ran through the reception line, i looked up and saw Marco again. He was coming down the hill with some paper towels in his arms, and the "wound vac," around his neck, cleaning up where his daughter had had an accident. I sure do admire this man who could have told his children "no" to coming to this wedding. He could have said, "I've got a blood clot i need to see about," or "I've got this thing i'm having to wear and I don't want anyone to see me," or "It's too much trouble", or "It's too far to go," etc. But he didn't, he brought his five kids to the wedding, served his daughter with her special needs, laying down his life for his family and took time to encourage me about my email last week as we talked.
As I thought of Marco being a hero to his family, he reminded me of the greatest hero of all, my LORD JESUS CHRIST. HE is my GREAT PHYSICIAN, WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, PRINCE OF PEACE. HE IS MY ROCK, MY FORTRESS, MY STRONG TOWER, MY SHIELD, and MY DEFENDER, HE is MY BROTHER, and
"A FRIEND that sticks closer than a brother." HE is my SAVIOR, my REDEEMER, who gave HIMSELF for me and you. Marco willingly laid down his life, that day and everyday, to make a way for his children to be at that wedding, and to provide for his children...even risking complications from a blood clot. He willingly and lovingly waited on his "special needs" child, while the others ran ahead, and had fun. In my weakness, I have often thought of how my SHEPHERD leads me "beside the still waters and green pastures" and stays behind to be with me and have tender, intimate fellowship with me when I can't keep up with others. He uses me where HE leads me. Marco cleaned up after his child, and my FATHER continually goes behind me to clean up my messes, which are many, and makes something special out of them that is useful to HIS kingdom. My SAVIOR, MY REDEEMER, the KING of KINGS, left HIS glorious home in heaven, to give HIS life for your sins and mine on a wooden cross to clean up the mess HE knew we'd make being born into sin, and to rescue us from burning in HELL forever and ever. HE'S up there in heaven right now, preparing a home for all those who have repented of their sins and surrendered their lives to CHRIST and HE's interceding for us before our heavenly FATHER. MY HERO, my SAVIOR, laid down his life, pouring HIMself out to death, not because HE had done anything wrong, but to pay the punishment for our sins because HE loves us so much. The Roman soldiers didn't take his life, HE gave it up for you and for me, to be the propitiation (appeasement) for our sins, that we might be adopted into the family of GOD. When I look at my brothers and sisters in CHRIST and see the love they have for their children, and for those whom they adopted, I am reminded of the wonderful love that my FATHER has for me, and the wonderful privilege that is mine to be adopted into the family of GOD.
I remember what it was like when I was a teenager and didn't know CHRIST as my LORD and SAVIOR and I was struggling with the guilt of my sins. "My spirit was willing, but my flesh was so weak." Matthew 26:41. My FATHER patiently waited for me to surrender my life to HIM. There was a young man in my life that was coming between me and HIM. One night at a revival at Central Baptist Church in Decatur, the LORD called my name, and drew me to the altar and helped me surrender my life, my will, and my boyfriend to HIM. Somehow, I was transformed into a new creature in CHRIST. One thing I knew I had to do was break up with my boyfriend who didn't know CHRIST because we were "unequally yoked" as the Bible calls it in 2 Corinthians 6:14. I never dreamed a month later, GOD would save my former boyfriend and make him a new creature in CHRIST. We have been married over 25 years now...to GOD be the glory! HE truly does "exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think." "What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought since JESUS came into my heart, " is a song I grew up singing in our Methodist church and it is so true...CHRIST paid the price for my adoption and how I praise HIM for choosing me and changing me. JEHOVAH JIREH, THE LORD who PROVIDES, has supplied all my needs, my special needs in CHRIST JESUS. HE even takes those special needs, those weaknesses, and promises to be strong through them. "My grace is sufficient for you and MY power is made perfect through weakness," 2 Corinthians 12:9...that's what MY HERO does for me and you!
I remember after CHRIST saved me and I felt so clean, free, and happy, we sang "I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of GOD," at Central Baptist, almost every service it seemed. The song, by Bill Gaither (didn't know that until just now) says, "I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of GOD-I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by HIS blood! Joint heirs with JESUS as we travel this sod; For I'm part of the family the family of GOD," and what a great job that our heavenly FATHER does of taking care of HIS children...HE shows us special favor.
I am so glad I am a part of the family of GOD, adopted at the price of my LORD JESUS CHRIST's blood. HE is my hero, and HIS family is made up of heroes because they are filled with CHRIST HIMSELF. HE puts HIS love, HIS desires, HIS courage in our hearts to accomplish HIS plans and purposes, and how thankful I am to be surrounded by a family of heroes, the family of GOD.
My favorite bluegrass gospel group, the Isaacs, (http://theisaacs.musiccitynetworks.com/?inc=5&news_id=10817) wrote a song called "Heroes" about special needs parents, single parents, and parents that have adopted children. They sang it at Dollywood last week, and though i think i've used it before, i felt led to share it again this week as I shared with you some of the special heroes that we are privileged to be a part of in our church family. I think of many of you as i write this, you are heroes right where you are serving the LORD, and how I thank GOD for each of you, and the heroes you are to me, encouraging me and helping me so very much. I love hearing from you and getting your emails, thank you so much for your dear friendship. I too am a "special needs" child, just ask my family, and how very grateful i am to my dear husband, who cares for me for "better or for worse," ...and sometimes, i really am "for worse," trust me.
Nathaniel and Kristina have a lot to look forward to in their journey together through this life. GOD has surrounded them with parents and with a church family full of heroes to encourage them and help them along their journey. I sure am thankful for you, the heroes GOD has surrounded me and our family with to inspire us, help us, encourage us, and care for us in this journey HOME. You are our heroes and how we thank GOD for you! And then one day, I shall see my greatest hero face to face, in all HIS glory, the LORD JESUS CHRIST...and "what a day that will be when my JESUS i shall see, when HE takes me by the hand and leads me through the Promised Land." I can't wait to share that journey with you, my heroes.
With all HIS love,
mitzi
Heroes by the Isaacs
Momma combs his hair and Daddy helps him brush his teeth
Day after day for thirty years the same routine
The special needs he lives with make life seem so unfair
But he thanks God every day cause he knows Mom and Dad are there
(chorus) He's a hero and she's a hero
It doesn't matter that nobody knows their name
They keep on giving to make life worth living
Might go unnoticed but they're heroes just the same
They tried for many years to have a baby of their own
But God knew a little girl who didn't have a home
Someone else's burden was their blessing in disguise
And now she's got a Mom and Daddy there to hold her when she cries
(chorus)
Every single parent who must carry twice the load
And those who sacrifice to raise a child that's not their own
They dedicate their time to make a difference in someone else's life
And in my eyes
(chorus)
They might go unnoticed but they're heroes just the same.
You can see and hear the Isaacs sing "Heroes" by clicking on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOJR1RR9Tyk
Friday, October 10, 2008
"Yours and Mine"
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
Dear Friends,
A few weeks ago, I shared with you about sitting in my car down by the river early one Saturday morning and having my time with JESUS as the rain fell from the sky. As the droplets splashed on the surface of the water and on my windshield, I was inside the Jimmy reading my Bible and praying about a particular burden the LORD has laid on my heart for the past several months. It has been a particularly heavy burden, and often very difficult to carry. I have often carried it to my LORD but I don't know if I don't know how to lay it down, or the LORD just keeps it there so I will pray about it often. That morning as I was praying, GOD impressed on my heart to go and pray with my dear friend, Wanda, about this burden, as well as for a special burden she has had with her daughter being estranged from their family for a few years now. That Saturday morning as Wanda and I prayed, I shared with you, that her daughter who lives out of state was actually in our town, unknown to Wanda, visiting her granddaddy. The LORD knew that Wanda would need some extra support that day, and led us to pray together, as her daughter didn't call or come to see Wanda, or let her see her two little grandsons. Little did we know, that since that time, GOD has made a way for us to pray together almost every day, and though we pray about many things, depending on how much time we have or how tired we are, we specifically pray for our two burdens the LORD has laid on our hearts. I have shared with Wanda over and over, that since she and I started praying together almost daily, that my burden has become so much more easier to bear. Most of the times, Wanda and I pray together over the phone, sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the middle of the day, at night, in the car, sauna, Wal-Mart, or wherever we get a chance, we call each other and pray. I have to watch praying in the car. This week as the kids and I were traveling up to Dollywood, Wanda and I were praying over the phone and Hannah Beth said from the back seat,"Mama, quit shutting your eyes while you pray!" The embarrassing thing is I was shutting them, temporarily, and I didn't even realize it:).
I can tell you this, GOD sure is knitting together mine and Wanda's heart since we've been praying and sharing our burdens. We've done a lot of sharing our burdens together in the past...that's what good friends do, but praying together about them, has really made a difference in both of our lives. I told her I can't believe how much lighter my burden has gotten since we've be praying together. Oh, it's still there, very much in my heart, but its just easier to bear, and Wanda will tell you the same thing. Since the time we started praying together, Wanda's care for her aging parents has greatly increased as their health has rapidly declined and her husband was recently diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully, he's had some really good reports from the doctor but it is still scary any time the "C" word comes into your life. The load has become heavier, but Wanda has shared over and over that the LORD is carrying her with "wings like eagles" because of all the prayers that are going up for her, not just mine, but so many others who are praying for them. I am so amazed and encouraged by the strength and courage GOD is giving her to carry her through this difficult time in her life...why am I so amazed when GOD answers our prayers? Oh me of little faith...
As I think about Wanda and I sharing each other's burdens through prayer, both of us trying to pray in faith, yet, asking CHRIST to help our unbelief, I am reminded of a most encouraging devotion that Charles Spurgeon shared in the evening reading in Morning and Evening for Sept. 28 about trusting GOD to answer our prayers:
"Go again seven times."-1 Kings 18:43
Success is certain when the LORD has promised it. You may have pleaded in prayer month after month, without any evidence of an answer. However, it is not possible that the LORD will be deaf to HIS people when they are in earnest about a matter that concerns HIS glory. Elijah the prophet continued to wrestle with GOD on Mount Carmel, even when he did not receive an immediate answer to prayer. Never for a moment did he give in to fear that he would not be served in Jehovah's courts. Six times, Elijah's servant returned to him, unable to report any sign of progress. However, on each occasion, Elijah merely told him, "Go again." We must not even consider giving in to unbelief, but hold to our faith even to "seventy times seven" (Matt. 18:22. Faith sends expectant hope to look from the top of Mount Carmel. If nothing can be seen, she sends again and again. Far from being crushed by repeated disappointment, Faith is animated to intercede more fervently with her GOD. She is humbled, but not discouraged. Her groans are deeper, and her sighs more vehement, but she never relaxes her hold. It would be more agreeable to flesh and blood to have a speedy answer, but believing souls have learned to be submissive, and to find it good to wait for as well as upon the LORD. Delayed answers often cause the heart to search itself, and so lead to contrition and spiritual reformation. Deadly blows are thus struck at our corruption, and our hearts are cleansed of idolatry. The great danger is that people might give up and miss the blessing. Reader, do not fall into that sin, but continue in praying and watching. At last the little cloud was seen, the sure forerunner of torrents of rain. It will be the same with you. The "token for good" (Psalm 86:17) will surely be given, and you will rise as a prevailing prince to enjoy the mercy you have sought. Elijah was a man of "like passions as we are" (James 5:17). His power with GOD did not lie in his own merits. If his believing prayer availed much, why not yours? Plead the precious blood with increasing persistence, and you will receive what you ask for."
As I mentioned earlier, the kids and I did have the opportunity to go up to Dollywood (www.Dollywood.com this past weekend for their National Gospel and Harvest Celebration month. If you've never taken the family this is a great time of the year to go. The leaves are turning colors, and they have all kinds of craft demonstrations throughout the park like woodworking, making sorghum, making fiddles, basketweaving, dulcimer playing, etc. My pull up there was to hear the Crist family(www.cristfamilymusic.com) and the Isaacs (http://theisaacs.musiccitynetworks.com/index.htm) sing, two of my favorite gospel groups. The kids, enjoyed riding the roller coasters, bumper cars, scrambler and other rides in the park, and I was so blessed with having them accompany me to three of the concerts. We left Sunday morning, about 3 hours later than we planned, since the kids had late nights and our dear friends the Radcliffe's were staying with us...but we still managed to leave about 8:30 a.m. I got impatient trying to get off, but GOD's timing was perfect. Our friends, the Crist family, didn't sing until later on that afternoon, so we got there in plenty of time to hear them, and they did a great job. I sure am proud of Jackie and Bre (see their picture above with Hannah Beth) and what GOD is doing in and through them as they sing for HIM with their family. What a blessing they are to us and how good GOD has been to them to open so many doors for their family to sing for HIM. After we saw them, and visited a few minutes, I headed off to hear the Isaacs and the kids went and rode some roller coasters. The LORD blessed me with sitting up close in both concerts. What a special blessing from the LORD it was to see this group that has encouraged my heart and the hearts of so many through their music. GOD used Sonya Isaacs to inspire me to learn to play the mandolin 3 years ago and man, can she play and sing for the LORD! Maybe when I get to heaven I'll be able to sing and play like her...naahhh. That night, after we left the park, the kids and I headed up to Gatlinburg and ate at "Bubba Gumps" restaurant. My grilled salmon and steamed veggies were absolutely delicious and the kids both enjoyed shrimp. We were all tired, but we walked around the strip for a while and the kids enjoyed some new "mirror maze" they have up there in Gatlinburg. They have grown wise about the "tourist traps" up there, they've experienced most of them, and so they didn't rush into throwing their money away. While they were in the mirror maze, I took that opportunity to give Wanda a call and pray together for a minute. After the mirror maze , we headed back towards the car, stopping along the way in Baskin Robbins for ice cream. The next day, we went back to the park and while the kids hooked up with the Crist girls and rode rides, I enjoyed hearing the Isaacs again. That really was a special blessing as afterwards I had the opportunity to talk with Sonya Isaacs for a few minutes. She was really friendly and really liked my Palin button! I was more than honored to give it to her, - that's what she's pointing to in the picture above. I asked her what type mandolin strings she used on her mandolin and she wrote it down for me...the exact same kind my friend Zac Ferguson told me about a couple of years ago...thanks, Zac, you gave me great information! If anyone is interested she uses D'Addario EXP 74 extended play strings, and she plays a Gibson Fern Mandolin, which she has her own signature series...she didn't tell me that, but a guy who was with her shared that with me. Anyway, it was a thrill for this ole girl who has been kind of stand offish to talk with her in the past when she usually has so many people crowding around her.
I thank the LORD for the special time HE gave me this past weekend with my kids...HE reminded me on the way up there when Hannah Beth was a baby, and a friend of ours had a "Mother Daughter" weekend with her daughter, that I wondered if I would ever get to do anything like that with my daughter when I was in so much pain and could not hardly hold Hannah Beth, much less do fun things together. Well, I think you know the answer to that if you've been reading these emails for any length of time. GOD has blessed Hannah Beth and me with many special times together, and this weekend we were blessed to have John Mac with us too. He didn't cramp our style too badly:)...in fact, we had a great time together and so glad he could come along with us, just wish my hubby had been able to also. I praise the LORD for allowing me to do so many special things with my children and my husband through the years. Truly "HE has restored the years the locust have eaten," and even made us "richer" through it. Not money wise, though HE has so abundantly supplied all our needs in CHRIST JESUS, but through our trials HE's making us to be more like JESUS, and "HE is to me, more precious than gold." HIS faithfulness to give me the desires of my heart to restore my health and be able to do things with my family gives me the faith that HE will answer my prayers again and give me the "desires of my heart" for this burden HE has laid on my heart.
While we were in Dollywood, the Isaacs sang a song that GOD has really been using to minister to me called "Yours and Mine," from their "Heroes," CD. When I listen to Lilly, the mom, sing this with her daughters, I think about how GOD has led Wanda and I to "bear one another's burdens" to make them "Yours and Mine." What a blessing and encouragement and strength to my heart has come as a result of her loving me with CHRIST's love and sharing my burden with me. She has taken time out of her packed schedule to pray with me, almost every day, and some nights she has been so exhausted that it's all she can do to stay awake while we pray. My faith and hers has increased as we see GOD answering our prayers in little glimpses like the "little cloud," and we call those our "miracles for the day." One of those miracles was her daughter returning for a visit to see her son play football here recently and Wanda did get to see her this time...two visits in two months, hum, and she hasn't been here in probably two years until a couple of months ago...wow. We are trusting HIM to answer our prayers in "torrents of rain," as we share our burdens and make them "Yours and Mine." Hum...maybe that morning I was praying at the river when it was raining was a sign of HIS "showers of blessings" to come:)...yes, I'm believing that it is!
With all HIS love,
mitzi
"Yours and Mine" by Rebecca Isaacs Bowman, Sonya Isaacs
I hope I didn't wake you (It's never too late)
My heart is so broken (Honey, it'll be OK)
I wish you were here now (I wish I were too)
Don't know what I'd do without you.
If I could take the hurt all away/I'd gladly walk in your shoes
I'd rather it be happening to me than you
I'd love to turn your tears into laughter
And all of your rain to sunshine
But since I can't take it
Let's make it yours and mine
I heard from the doctor (I heard the bad news)
Oh I am so frightened (I've been praying for you)
I don't understand it (Sometimes life isn't fair)
Seems like more than I can bear
If I could take the fear all away/I'd gladly walk in your shoes
I'd rather it be happening to me than you
I'd love to turn your ears into laughter
And all of your rain to sunshine
But since I can't take it
Let's make it yours and mine.
I'll laugh with you, cry with you
You know I would die for you
Together we can make it through.
If I could take the hurt all away/I'd gladly walk in your shoes
I'd rather it be happening to me than you
I'd love to turn your tears into laughter
And all of your rain to sunshine
But since I can't take it
Let's make it yours and mine
You can watch the Isaacs sing "Yours and Mine" at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6poo__S2h8
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