"Mighty Musk Ox Prayer Warrior Princesses"

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of GOD, and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7

Dear Fellow Mighty Musk Ox Prayer Warrior Princesses, (and a few Princes),
I will explain more about that greeting later...but first I want to give you and update on Krystal, the new mom that i asked you to pray for yesterday. Krystal is the daughter of my best friend, Wanda Adams. Greg and Wanda adopted her as an adult a few years ago, just as she was getting married. Krystal and her husband have desired a child since shortly after their marriage, and their journey to become parents has been one of difficulty. Last week, GOD gave them the desire of their heart, and Krystal delivered a beautiful, baby girl, Madalyn Avery. Everything appeared to be going well, until earlier this week when Krystal began hemorrhaging, and hurting in her back. By Wednesday morning, her fever was 104, and she was taken to the emergency room. She had developed sepsis (infection) throughout her body and nearly died Wednesday night, according to Wanda. Yesterday morning, Wanda called early and explained the critical situation of her daughter as i was mixing up my IV. She asked me to put Krystal on my church prayer chain, and of course i thought of ya'll. I just couldn't get to the computer for a while while i took my IV. Wanda called her church, First Baptist, and Lindsay Lane, and asked for prayer for Krystal. Her other daughter Paige, asked for prayer on Facebook. This was yesterday morning. Late yesterday afternoon, i saw this posted on Paige's status concerning her sister Krystal..."

Quote from her doctor "I have never seen a patients condition deteriorate as quickly as you did last night" and then this afternoon " i am shocked by your rapid improvement!!" ... fever is at 99 and if improvement continues she can be taken out of ICU tomorrow.... MAYBE go home Sunday."

Paige, Wanda's other daughter, was thanking her friends for their prayers on Facebook, and i want to thank you also for your prayers for Krystal. GOD has certainly shown HIS power through answering the prayers of HIS children for Krystal. Please continue to remember her, Wanda said her blood pressure dropped again, and she continues to have difficulty getting deep breaths. She is still in ICU. Wanda and Greg are up there with Bob and Krystal in Ann Arbor, Michigan and what a blessing they are to be there to be able to care for Madalyn Avery, while her Mom is so sick. Madalyn is a wonderful baby and they are enjoying being able to care for her. Thank you for remembering this dear family in your prayers...and all that GOD is doing in the midst of their lives.
I have one more prayer request before i continue...my children are on their way to Indiana even as i type, to visit their dear cousin, Corrine, this weekend at Indiana University. I think this is John Mac and Hannah Beth's first solo road trip together...sure do appreciate you remembering them in your prayers this weekend. It's a six hours drive up there...and they plan to return on Sunday. Thank you so much for your prayers for them, and all that GOD has for them this weekend.


Now, i guess you're wondering about the different greeting this week, "Mighty Musk Ox Prayer Warrior Princesses." Well, last week, after i didn't get to Mobile with Johnny and Hannah Beth, i knew the LORD had a reason for keeping me home. Thank you so much for praying for Johnny and Hannah Beth. They had a really good trip together and got her signed up for school in the fall...that will be another prayer request in the future:). Even though i knew GOD had a reason for not letting me go i was still really disappointed and a little bit mad to be honest when they pulled out to leave. I didn't know what the specific reason was that GOD didn't have for me to go on that trip...and i still don't know one specific reason, but the LORD blessed my socks off last weekend, and i've just been trying to figure out what blessings to share with you. My first blessing was in being able to share with you through the email, "Embrace the Cross," last Friday. GOD used that email to encourage many of your hearts, and i thank GOD for that. I wouldn't have been able to write that email if i had gone on that trip. Missing a trip was small in comparison to the encouragement that GOD gave some of you through that email and the blessings i received from CHRIST throughout the weekend. Last week's email was certainly "borne," out of my cross of not feeling well and being "Left Behind," as many of my emails are "birthed," from my cross. Lord help me to remember, "to count all things loss for the surpassing greatness of knowing CHRIST JESUS my LORD..." Phil 3:8.

On Thursday evening, (last week) as i was writing my Friday email ( i usually do write it before Friday like i'm doing today:), i had written on my Facebook status that i didn't feel up to going to Mobile with my family. Betty Dean Newman, from First Baptist, wrote me and said, "Now you can come to the Woman's Conference this weekend at First Baptist...i'll have you a ticket at the front desk. Wow...little did i know the blessing the LORD had in store for me at that conference, and how thankful i am for Betty Dean's persistence, and all the women who invited me to go.

Before i get to Friday night though at the Women's Conference, the next morning, after GOD safely saw me through the night, i was sitting on the couch reading when the doorbell rang. It was my next door neighbor and she had accidentally locked herself out of the house. Her son was having "Kite Day," at his school, and she was due to be there, right then. She asked if i could take her, and i said sure just let me brush my hair and get my shoes on. She and I and "Troy," loaded up and drove to her son's school which isn't very far away. It was a beautiful April morning here in Alabama with the dogwoods and azaleas in bloom, and after we dropped Trisha off, me and Troy decided to walk around the little track there in front of the library. As we walked around, it was a lot of fun to watch the kids and their parents flying kites together. We ended up staying long enough to take Trisha to her husband's office to get a key to unlock the house and then went home. It was such a blessing to be there for Trisha, and she said she had called everyone to try to get a ride. I'm so thankful i was there to help her out that morning...if i had been in Mobile i couldn't have done that for her. Thank you, JESUS!

I still wasn't feeling the best in the world Friday, so i stuck pretty close to home that afternoon. I didn't really feel like talking to anyone, so i was kind of glad everyone thought i was gone. I know that sounds bad, but i really didn't feel well and the peace and quiet was a real blessing. About and hour and a half before i was supposed to leave for the Ladies Conference Friday night at FBC, Athens, i was going to go lay down and rest. The phone rang, as i was on my way back to the bedroom, and it was someone i had never talked with before. She had gotten my name from the Growing Kids International office in Iowa i believe where i used to be on the list for mom's who encouraged other mom's going through the Growing Kid's Curriculum (www.gfi.org). I got off of the list recently because i wasn't staying current with the material, and i didn't feel that i could represent them efficiently. So, i was surprised to get this call, but it was amazing...this lady lives very close to me, and basically was sinking and just needed some encouragement, and a friend. We have so much in common and we ended up talking an hour, and she prayed for me before i went to the Conference. I was very thankful for her taking that initiative, and really praying diligently for me that the LORD would use this conference to be a blessing to me. She really wanted to go herself, and loves women's ministry but was not able to at this season of her life. I realized she is a very special person the LORD has brought into my life. When i tried to pray for her, the words just didn't flow and i apologized for not being able to pray very much. I still wasn't feeling the best in the world, but the LORD really strengthened me, and i was able to attend the service that evening.

Now, i have tried to discern what the LORD wanted me to share with you from that conference and this morning as i was reading back over my notes, i thought well, maybe i'll just share some of my notes with you. I don't know how long that will be so i'll just start typing and see what happens:
The conference speaker was named Donna Partow (www.donnapartow.com) and i'll be honest i had never heard of her before she came to this conference at First Baptist. I understand she has sold lots and lots of books. I decided to look at her website before i went, just so i'd have a little idea of who she was...but i was still pretty clueless who she was. The wonderful thing is when i stepped into First Baptist Church building that evening was the love i felt from the women there. We have gone to church there in the past, and these women are like my family...well, they are my family in CHRIST. They made me feel so loved and special, and i was glad to be there. They had on these neat black aprons with "Willing Hearts," stitched on them. I soon learned that it was the "Willing Hearts," Bible study group that this Conference was birthed from. I found a seat, and decided i'd better move a little farther away on the outskirts. With me not feeling well, i didn't want to battle perfume smells all evening. The first part of the service was a dedication to Sadie Roberts, one of the dear saints at First Baptist who recently graduated to heaven after fighting an eight year battle with cancer, and she had come up with the name, "Willing Hearts." Before Donna got up to speak, the music leader sang, "Broken and Spilled Out," by Bill and Gloria Gaither. I thought that was neat, i had just listened to that song last week when i had found "Embrace the Cross." Steve Green sang them both. When Donna got up to speak, i immediately didn't think i was going to care for her too much. I can't tell you exactly why, may have been the way i was feeling, her New Jersey accent...but let's just say i wasn't carried away with the way she started. As the night moved on, and Donna shared truths from GOD's Word, i was blessed by what she had to say...and thought i'd come back the next day for as long as i could stay. The theme of the conference was "Becoming a Vessel That GOD Uses," and the Scripture theme was the one i used above: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of GOD, and not of us."II Cor. 4:7.
She first got my attention in her prayer...as she prayed to her FATHER, "YOU'RE not limited to the words I speak. It's not what i'm saying, it's what YOU're doing." I thought wow...i like that, and i pray that what i desire for the emails i write... the LORD is not limited to what I share, but it's what HE is doing in your lives, and that's the blessing of hearing from you each week, what GOD is doing in your hearts. It encourages the fire out of me! In her first session, she talked about acceptance (have you heard that recently, "in acceptance lieth peace." She tried to get us to accept that the devil is going to come against us, as JESUS promised us we would have trials and tribulations. But how do we respond when the devil comes against us? I didn't realize it but she was laying the groundwork for the rest of the conference. She reminded us of the verse in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to kill,steal and destroy. I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly."
She said, "The attacks will come, along with the disappointments. We're in a spiritual war...and then she mentioned the power of prayer.
PRAYER-
GOD prompts HIS people to pray-it is inevitable that the devil will try to disrupt the work of GOD." She gave examples of GOD prompting people to pray for others, and what a difference those prayers made in those people's lives. This was a real encouragement to my heart as the LORD has laid different people on my heart to pray for and i've been amazed later when they have shared with me what was going on in their lives when the LORD impressed them so heavily on my heart to pray for them.
She said that GOD is looking for someone to build up the wall and used the verse in 1 Peter 2:5, "You always like living stones are being built into a spiritual house."
She gave a very graphic example of standing in the gap, and "being a living stone" as she picked a person to be the person we're praying for, one person to be the prayer, and one person to be the devil. She had them all standing up front so that we could see how the person who was praying was a "stone," or wall between the person that was being prayed for and the devil. The neat thing she then demonstrated is when a person has their Mom praying for them, aunts, grandmothers, church family...how that "wall," stands between the person being prayed for and the devil. She asked the "devil," person what she was going to do with that "wall," surrounding the person being prayed for and she said, "I'm going to leave her alone."
It's a simple illustration, but powerful...if you get this image in your mind of being surrounded by "living stones," a wall of GOD's people interceding for one whom the devil is attacking. At the end of the evening, she gave the illustration about musk oxen and how they surround their young to protect them from the attacks of wolves. They literally make a "wall," around their young, so that the wolves will not be able to get in and kill them. She used this illustration that evening to encourage us to be, "Mighty Musk Ox Prayer Warrior Princesses," for JESUS and intercede on behalf of others...we are in a spiritual war and praying for them through JESUS is the most powerful way we can do battle. So thus, that's where the title came from for this email...and i might just start calling ya'll that if you don't mind:). I want to be a "Mighty Musk Ox Prayer Warrior Princess" (that's Prince for you guys), how about you?
The next morning...the session was about being empty vessels the LORD can use. She reminded us from the session the night before to "accept the inevitable, the devil is bad and wants to make a mess of our circumstances." Then she encouraged us to "become empty of self." One thing she said that i have never thought about is "that the more opinions you have, the more the devil can grab a hold of you." I hadn't thought about it, but it's true. She went around talking about the decorations on stage, and giving her opinion, and we all laughed, but it's true. I'm not talking about biblically based convictions...but opinions about things that really don't mean anything in the scheme of eternity and men's souls, but they stand between us and others, and can cause a whole world of bitterness when we hold on to our opinions and get angry, and stay angry.

She said, 2 things hold us back from GOD:
1) Food-we're so full of food, we're not hungry for GOD
2)Idle chit chat...she encourage us not to be idle chit chatters but to have stories worth telling that magnify GOD

Concerning GOD's Assignments:
"GOD has selected a battlefield and all HE needs is a willing and obedient vessel."
"When GOD gives you an assignment, HE gives YOU everything you need."
"When GOD makes up HIS mind to set someone free, HE's going to do it...power of GOD's timing."
"GOD going and you're along for the ride."

She used Moses as an example for the above, and how GOD had to empty Moses of himself before GOD could use him to lead the children of Israel out of captivity.

"When GOD gives us an assignment, HE will be with us and go with us...we are representing the KING, not ourselves. The KING is committed to backing us up, we are operating with HIS power, and HE will "cover our backs."


Concerning Bitterness and Being a "Porcupine,"
"A bitter old woman is one of the crowning works of the devil."
She was sharing this about something she was struggling with...and she didn't want to become a bitter old woman...neither do i.

"We fight the WRONG battles...we fight to prove we're right, and we fight to have our way.
She likened bitterness to making us like a "Porcupine"-a creature with a lot of good points, but nobody wants to be around. She shared you can tell a lot about a person by the stories they tell.
"If you are a porcupine, if you have a lot of opinions, you will be sick."

On having PEACE:

"You have need of many things, but one thing in particular you must develop for your own preservation, and that is an absolute confidence in GOD's loving care."
"GOD has your back...fighting this battle for you."
"GOD wants me resting in HIM. "Come unto ME all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28
"Only when your mind is at rest can your body build health."
"Peace is a weapon of spiritual warfare."
"Unshakable Faith-Soul at Rest, Body in Motion, on the Battlefield

About telling Stories:
"Self-Pity"-story "all about me." Start with a different part of story...at the beginning, see me....later on see GOD!!!! We need to be empty of ourselves.
"TELL a Story Worth Telling."
-Be careful...the story you tell over and over is the story you'll tell over and over again when you're old.
"Tell Story of GOD's faithfulness."

Session 3, Being a Cleansed Vessel:
"If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the MASTER and prepared to do any good work." II Timothy 2:21
Purity is the key to unleashing the power of GOD.
Purity is the pathway to spiritual power.

Lunch:

We had wonderful lunch will all kinds of beautiful decorated tables...on each table was special keepsake. On my table, so beautifully decorated by Lea Kinney, who invited me to sit at her table when i walked in by myself, was a vase that had been her grandmothers, and two more empty vessels. For each of us she had a beautiful brown vase with yellow daisies inside to remind us of the theme of the conference. I have it setting on my prayer table in my "Joy Room" to remind me each day to be an empty and cleansed vessel that GOD wants to fill and use to for HIS glory. The men of FBC served the wonderful meal prepared by the ladies there...chicken salad, and strawberry shortcake is all i can remember, it was delicious!

After lunch was the closing session when she really encouraged us that GOD can use anyone who is an empty vessel. She gave the example of Naamun in the Bible who was a very successful officer in the Syrian army who got leprosy. His maid, who had been captured from Israel, told him to go and see Elijah and he could be healed. She made several good points, but the one i want to mention, is GOD used Naamun's maid, who had been brought there against her will, to bring healing to Naamun. No matter what our place is in life...GOD has an assignment for us there. She also gave an example of a movie star, whose maid came to live with him and his wife for the express purpose of leading them to CHRIST. He came to know the LORD a year later, and his wife seven years later.
GOD has left me here to be HIS vessel. He wants me to bring HIS comfort to the world
"Praise be to the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the FATHER of compassion and the GOD of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble wih the comfort we ourselves have received from GOD." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
paracletos-called alongside, responding to the call of GOD.
What ALONGSIDE looks like:
-on a playground
-at the grocery store
-among the poor

Be obedient to the "piece" HE gives me.
""Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from GOD. HE has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant." 1 Cor. 3:5-6

On being a "Cracked Vessel:"
This was one of my favorite parts, because i am definitely a "cracked vessel." She took a hammer and cracked a clay pot, and used it as an example of how the light of CHRIST shines through our cracks. She said that anything we have in our lives where we have been comforted is where GOD can use our credentials. She was a drug addict, alcoholic and promiscuous before the LORD saved her...she didn't try to hide these things, she allows GOD to use her "cracks," that HE might comfort and minister to others who struggle where she has.
One thing about that "cracked pot." If you are a "porcupine," inside, filled with bitterness and prickly, when the pot is cracked, instead of the the light of CHRIST shining through, that "porcupine," will snuff out the light of CHRIST. Sure don't want to be a "porcupine," underneath and keep the light of CHRIST from shining through me.

On being "REAL," Sincere:
This is part of being a cracked vessel, and instead of trying to hide our weaknesses, letting CHRIST be strong through them.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from GOD and not from us."
Sincerity=(Greek) without wax
"Unlike so many, we do not peddle the Word of GOD for profit. ON the contrary, in CHRIST we speak before GOD with sincerity, like men sent from GOD." II Cor. 2:17
"Don't put on wax, just be real with people. We're all the same...You want to be a minister-comfort people.
People need to feel they're not alone.
Be real GOD will use you

The spiritual battleground in my life is where someone hurt me...either CHRIST will shine forth or the enemy will gain a stronghold.
Either HIS light will shine, or the "porcupine" will block out the light.
Broken places can never be neutral territory.
We are never to fight for our own vindication.

On CHRIST transforming our brokenness, our hurts:
CHRIST's broken body not a defeat, greatest victory.
Broken places can become your greatest victory.
GOD transforms our crosses into something beautiful...
We battle in prayer and GOD moves our circumstances.
All that hurt, all that pain just makes me more powerful as CHRIST transforms it.
Conclusion:
I can be a porcupine or a mighty warrior...
She showed a video of men who were in World War II and they parachuted behind enemy lines to fight the battle.
Am i willing to go behind enemy lines for JESUS CHRIST and be a mighty warrior in HIS strength?
We had all been handed a piece of a broken clay pot when we came back from lunch along with a sharpie to write on. At the conclusion of the video she encouraged us to write down the "broken places," in our lives that GOD wants to transform and use to comfort others. She gave us an opportunity to come and lay those pieces at the altar for GOD to transform them into something beautiful. We also picked up the "Mighty Musk Ox Declaration," with a picture of a "Musk Ox" on that declared:

I am a Mighty Musk Ox Warrior Princess
I have been chosen by GOD.
HE has called me
to be a spiritual warrior
in my own home
in my church and community
in this nation
even to the very ends of the earth.

In this critical hour
I take my stand and declare
No devil in hell
No porcupine on earth
Nothing and no one
can stop me from fulfilling
my kingdom assignment
As long as...
I choose to walk in peace
With my soul at rest
And my body in motion

I have absolute confidence
in my FATHER's loving care
GOD's got my back
I am standing in the gap
And i will not be moved.

I will fight battles worth fighting
and tell stories worth telling

Because I am-and always will remain-

A mighty MUSK OX PRAYER WARRIOR PRINCESS!


All right, there you have it...the highlights of the conference. I pray they will be a blessing to you, as it has been for me to go back through my notes, and even gain more understanding of what it means to be a "Mighty Musk Ox Prayer Warrior Princess!" Thank you "Willing Heart," ministry and ladies of FBC, Athens, for working and praying so hard for the conference. I am a life that was loved and changed by your "Willing Hearts."

GOD continued to bless my weekend with more "grace upon grace," and Johnny and i took a day trip over to Ft. Payne, Al to see Little River Canyon, and DeSota St. Park, and hear the Greene's (www.thegreenesgospel.com ) sing that night. What a blessing each one of these things were..."grace upon grace." We had planned an overnight trip, but when the fertilizer they used around the lodge was getting me...my husband rescued me and brought me home. I didn't think of it as that at first, i was really disappointed, really disappointed but GOD gave me the grace to accept his decision. The next morning when i woke up, the first thing that came to my mind, was Johnny "rescued me from the fertilizer," and i was so grateful. He did, i would have been miserable to have stayed, even in a cabin away from the fertilizer because i was already uptight from the fertilizer. "Disappointments are HIS appointments" and we had a good day at home, catching up on clothes, and ironing. Then a friend of HB's invited her to go hiking on Rainbow Mtn. and i got to tag along. What a blessing! "Grace upon grace, upon grace...our FATHER loves us so very much and has a plan for us each day. He wants us to be an empty, cleansed vessel..."useful for the MASTER, and prepared for any good work."

I'm going to close with the beautiful song, "Broken and Spilled Out," the song sung to open the Women's Conference. If you've read this far...now you will see how fitting this song was to be sung at a conference with the theme, "Becoming a Vessel GOD can Use." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPXAju9z7Cs&feature=related "Broken and Spilled Out."

Thanks for taking time to stop by this week...and next time i greet you with "Mighty Musk Ox Warrior Princess," you'll know what i'm talking about!

With all HIS love,
mitzi

"The message of the Cross is transformation. We bring our sufferings, and CHRIST gives us joy. We bring our pains, and HE gives us comfort. We bring our deaths, and HE gives us life." Elisabeth Elliot

"I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10




The pictures are of the falls at Little River Canyon, and one of the falls near the lodge at DeSota St. Park. If you get a chance to go over there, go for it...it's so beautiful especially this time of year!





--
" In HIS inscrutable wisdom and love, GOD is able to use the most agonizing circumstances in your life to refine and purify you, to make you fruitful, and to magnify HIS grace and glory through your life." Nancy Leigh DeMoss, www.reviveourhearts.com

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances'; for this is the will of GOD in CHRIST JESUS for you. (I Thess. 5:16-18)

"Embrace the Cross"

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of GOD." I Corinthians 1:18

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

Prayer requests:
My dear friend Catherine Smith came by this afternoon and shared with me about a friend of her family that was involved in a car accident. Two of their three children were killed...a two year old and fourteen year old. The sixteen year old remains in critical condition. This family was on vacation when the accident occurred in North Carolina i believe. They love CHRIST, and HIS grace has been poured out upon them during this most difficult time. Please remember the Martin family in your prayers. The funeral for the children will be Saturday.
Also, please remember my husband and Hannah Beth as they are in Mobile this morning getting her registered for school next fall. Please pray for their safe travel back to North Alabama tonight (Friday), and that they would have some sweet Daddy/Daughter time together. Thank you so much for your dear prayers for our family.
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure." Psalm 122:6


Well, i thought that i would be on my way to Mobile as i write (Thursday ) with my husband and Hannah Beth to register her for fall classes at the University of Mobile. Instead, i'm writing to you and they are on their way to Mobile. Actually they have just arrived safely thank the LORD...HB just called to tell me. After working outside all day Wednesday, cutting grass, tilling up my flower beds, weeding the garden, i haven't felt too well today (Thursday). I tried to get my body to cooperate, but after my third sauna and i was still struggling, my husband told me i needed to stay home. That wasn't music to my ears...it was fine when it was my decision to not go, but when he told me "no," ...my flesh reared up inside me, and i really struggled with his "no." I knew in my heart he was right, i just didn't want him telling me i couldn't go. You wives, ever struggle with your husband's no's? Sure you do...we've all had a good dose of the curse of rebellion when Eve disobeyed GOD and ate of the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. When they pulled out of the driveway, the title to the book series that Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins wrote about being "Left Behind," during the Tribulation, immediately came to my mind as i felt, "Left Behind." I pushed back the tears that wanted to come. I walked in the house and in just a few minutes the phone rang. It was my dear friend, Wanda...GOD's perfect timing. As i cried on her shoulder over the phone she comforted me, gave me godly counsel, and prayed for me. She was "JESUS to me with flesh on." I felt much better after i talked and cried and prayed with her.

Getting "Left Behind," when it's something you really want to do is difficult. Elisabeth Elliot writes in her book, A Path Through Suffering," that, "Suffering is anything you have that you don't want, or anything you want but don't have ." I knew in my heart today, that it was GOD's will for me not to go after my husband said no, but i still licked my wounds and felt sorry for myself. I had asked the LORD early this morning to make it clear to me if i should try to go with them to Mobile, or if i should stay home. HE did make it clear through my husband, and i didn't care for HIS answer too much. It wasn't what i wanted to hear...but i knew it was part of the cross that GOD has so allowed in our lives to shape and mould our family these past 20 years.

Recently, i have been reading about the Cross a great deal. I knew that not getting to Mobile with my family was another "chance to die," to my preferences and accept the cross, or the thorn the LORD has allowed in my life. Elisabeth Elliot shares in her "Relinquishing Our Will," series:

"This is what the cross of CHRIST means-the willingness to take whatever conditions are necessary in the path of obedience, letting go of our preferences."

HE has used this cross of my ill health in so many ways and I praise HIM for that...even when i do have to let go of my preferences. It is not always easy at the time, to relinquish my will or praise HIM, when my flesh wants to do something else. But my heavenly FATHER has proven HIMself so very faithful to my family over and over and over and over...especially when we stumble and fail, which is often and much.

I read a devotion yesterday from "Streams in the Desert," that has been such a tremendous encouragement to me through the years. I've struggled deeply with my weaknesses at times, a body that seems to rebel at what i want it to do. When i read the devotion this morning...i rejoiced inside, even though i didn't feel good. GOD has proven HIMself over and over to be "dynamite," in my weakness...and HE is teaching me to love my cross, to love my thorn, to embrace it, because that is where HE is strong. I try to let you see my weaknesses, on purpose, that GOD's power might be demonstrated through my weak body. We are not to be ashamed of our weaknesses, but as Paul said, we are to take pleasure in them...because GOD's grace is sufficient, and HIS power is made perfect in our weaknesses.

Author: Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
Source: Streams in the Desert
Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 12:10
Thankful for the Thorns
"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Cor. 12:10).
The literal translation of this verse gives a startling emphasis to it, and makes it speak for itself with a force that we have probably never realized. Here It is: "Therefore I take pleasure in being without strength, in insults, in being pinched, in being chased about, in being cooped up in a corner for Christ's sake; for when I am without strength, then am I dynamite."
Here is the secret of Divine all-sufficiency, to come to the end of everything in ourselves and in our circumstances. When we reach this place, we will stop asking for sympathy because of our hard situation or bad treatment, for we will recognize these things as the very conditions of our blessing, and we will turn from them to God and find in them a claim upon Him. --A. B. Simpson
George Matheson, the well-known blind preacher of Scotland, who recently went to be with the Lord, said: "My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorn. I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but not once for my thorn. I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my cross; but I have never thought of my cross as itself a present glory.
"Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my thorn. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbows."
"Alas for him who never sees
The stars shine through the cypress trees."

"Wow...have i ever found these words to be true..."we will recognize these things as the very conditions of our blessing." And not only our blessing, but the blessing of those GOD brings into our lives. Yes, i do recognize, as much as i kick and scream, that my blessings have come through my cross...the perfect cross(s) the LORD has picked out for me.

This morning as i was trying to accept what my husband said about not going, but not doing a very good job, the LORD reminded me of several years ago when we first started kayaking. We had joined the Huntsville Canoe Club, and they were going to paddle down the Sipsey River. It was this time of year, and the kids and i were looking forward to making the trip with the HCC, and with our next door neighbor at the time, Greg Adams...Wanda's husband. The morning of the trip came, and i did not feel well. I remember i had been trying to juice a few days before, and the bottom had fallen out of my blood sugar. It broke my heart to tell the kids i didn't feel up to going, but i just couldn't. My body said, "No." That same day, there was a Pet Show in our town at the "Dogwood Festival," held each year. Hannah Beth had wanted to do that also...so although i didn't feel up to an all day paddling trip, GOD gave me the strength to load up "Dixie," our Golden Retriever and we went to the Pet Show where Dixie won several ribbons. I'm not sure now what she won...but that was GOD's grace to a little girl HE loves more than i do that day who didn't getting to go paddling. But something more important happened, and it's a lesson HE reminds me of from time to time when i am wrestling against HIS will like yesterday. At that Pet Show, were some friends that we knew from our home school circles. Their dog was also in the Pet Show that day with their daughter. As we stood there watching our daughters' show off their dogs, we talked about each other's health journey. This young handsome man, with a dear wife and two children, struggled with similar issues that i have...he was raised on a farm and was around pesticides heavily as a young man. He was experiencing all kinds of weird problems the doctors just hadn't been able to help him with...and they were just about at their "wits end." You would never know this man was sick from looking at him and the smile on his face...but that was what people had often said about me. But he was sick, and GOD had led our paths together that day, through me not getting to do what i wanted...through my cross. I was able to share with them where the LORD had led me to get help for my problems at the Environmental Health Clinic in Dallas. Today that man and his family are doing well...he still has a "thorn," but he is able to work and help provide for his family, and they have wonderful, godly family. Other members of his family struggle also with similar health issues and they too have been able to find help for their special needs. GOD used my suffering, my cross that day,to lead my path to share with this family the help that i have found. If i had gone paddling instead and done what i wanted... we wouldn't have been at that Pet Show. By the way, we paddled that river together later, and GOD has given us many opportunities to paddle together since then. That day, HE had other plans for me.

"Teach me to treat all that comes to me with peace of soul and with firm conviction that YOUR will governs all. In unforeseen events let me not forget that all are sent by YOU."

When i am feeling sorry for myself, GOD gently reminds me, that my cross is really what makes my life worth living...HE has given me so much "abundant life" through my cross. I have learned that HE has used my cross to direct my paths, and the path of my family to a great degree, through my cross. It is through the pain of my cross that has taught me to cling to JESUS and helps me to understand how very, very much HE loves me and you. HE has shown me over and over and over again, that indeed, HIS grace is sufficient and HIS power is made perfect in my weakness. My cross helps me to have CHRIST's compassion for others who suffer. I have so much more to learn as i learn to "Embrace the Cross," of my dear LORD JESUS who "Embraced the Cross" for me and for you. HIS blood covers all of our sins, and HE paid the price of our redemption from sin as HE poured out HIS life unto death...and then HE was raised on the third day. HE asks that we receive HIM, that we repent of our sins, and say "Yes, LORD," each day denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following HIM in whatever that looks like. Today, for me, it was to stay home and rest, instead of going to Mobile with my family. I don't know all the reasons the LORD had for me to stay home and for them to go without me, but HE does, and HE asks me to trust HIM and to accept HIS will..."In acceptance lieth peace." On my little calendar from Elisabeth Elliot that i have sitting beside my computer... are the words:

"The power of the cross is not exemption from suffering but the very transformation of suffering."
Loneliness, p. 26

"But we see JESUS, who was made a little lower than angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor." Hebrews 2:9

Just as JESUS' death was transformed into glory and honor...HIS glory and ours, through our redemption in CHRIST, so HIS resurrection power transforms our sufferings, our thorns, our crosses, into glory and honor. He transforms them into something beautiful that we cannot imagine. HE asks us to trust HIM and "endure then, until tomorrow," the suffering HE allows in our lives.

Isaiah 61 is an amazing chapter of Bible prophecy that is being fulfilled right before our very eyes. It tells of the intimate love that CHRIST has for Israel and how HE delights in her, and is going to restore the ancient ruins and the places long devastated. This is such an exciting chapter as we see how very much GOD loves Israel, how HE cherishes her, and the future plans HE has for her. Tucked away in this beautiful chapter in verse 3 are words that we, HIS bride, who have been engrafted into HIS family through the blood of CHRIST can claim for our own. HE is fulfilling HIS promise even now to the nation of Israel and to us, HIS church, the Bride of CHRIST:
"And provide for those who grieve in Zion-
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of HIS splendor."

This is what CHRIST does for us as HE transforms our crosses, as HIS was transformed from death to life...life for all who believe in HIM. "But as many as received HIM, to them HE gave the right to become children of GOD, even to those who believe in HIS name." John 1:12

Betty Scott Stam was a missionary who visited in the home of Elisabeth Elliot when Elisabeth was a little girl. She and her husband John were called to be missionaries in China with the China Inland Mission in the 1930's. At that time, the Mission needed single men to serve in remote areas, so they died to self and put off their feelings. Afterwards, they were married, and God gave them a beautiful little girl.
"During that time, China was experiencing fighting between the Communists, lead by Mao and the Nationalists, led by Chang. One day, they received word that the communist army might soon take over their city. John made arrangements for his wife and child to leave. But before they could, communists entered the city. The Stams were arrested and Betty was forced to watch as her husband was beheaded. Then, she, too, experienced the same fate. Their child's life was saved by a Chinese pastor who put his own life on the line."
Betty Stam wrote these words earlier and she meant them, words of what the cross of CHRIST means:
Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes
All my own desires and hopes
And accept Thy will for my life.
I give myself, my life, my all
Utterly to Thee to be Thine forever.
Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit
Use me as Thou wilt, send me where Thou wilt
And work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost now and forever.
"I am crucified with CHRIST and it is no longer i who live but CHRIST who lives in me, and the life that i now live in the flesh i live by faith in the SON of GOD who loved me and gave HIMself up for me. " Galatians 2:20



As i wrote this, the LORD brought a song to my mind that i haven't heard in a while, but it embraces what i'm trying to share this week about the cross. It is called "Embrace the Cross," by John G. Elliot and it is sung on this video by Steve Green . I had the privilege of hearing John G. Elliot's testimony years ago and he shared how CHRIST had allowed his hands to be crippled for a time, and during that time his heart was transformed. Later, GOD restored his hands to play beautiful music for HIM on the piano. He has such a powerful testimony of GOD transforming his cross into something glorious. I pray that it will be an encouragement to you as you watch and listen, to thank JESUS for your thorn, your cross, in whatever form it may be. "Embrace the Cross," offer it up to HIM, and watch HIM,the ONE WHO loves you so very much, transform it to bring HIS life to you and through you to others... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10LhDfP8CHM.

After sleeping all afternoon until almost 6:00 p.m., the LORD blessed me with rest and i was able to write this email. HE knew i needed to rest more than i needed to go...sometimes it's hard to say, "Yes, LORD." I am like a little child who wrestles with their Mom or Dad, in this case, my husband, over taking a nap and then out of sheer exhaustion, falls to sleep. HE quieted me with HIS love and gave me rest. "The LORD your GOD is with you, HE is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, HE will quiet you with HIS love, HE will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17. This is another verse that GOD has promised to HIS beloved Israel, but we as HIS Gentile children who have been adopted by HIM experience as our own. Indeed our BRIDEGROOM is with us, and HE is mighty to save. HE takes great delight in all those whom HE has chosen and has made HIS bride. HE quiets us with HIS love and rejoices over us with singing." Wow...what a Husband and Lover of our Souls who has laid down HIS life for you and me.
I love you all and thank you for investing your time with me this week. I pray the LORD will use these words to encourage you and help you to "Embrace the Cross." May the LORD bless you, HIS dearest ones.
With all HIS love,
mitzi


"Embrace the Cross" Words and music by John G. Elliot
I am crucified with Christ
Therefore I no longer live
Jesus Christ now lives in me
(Repeat twice)

Embrace the cross
Where Jesus suffered
Though it will cost
All you claim as yours
Your sacrifice will seem small
Beside the treasure
Eternity can't measure
What Jesus holds in store

Embrace the love
The cross requires
Cling to the one
Whose heart knew every pain
Receive from Jesus
Fountains of compassion
Only He can fashion
Your heart to move as His

Oh, wondrous cross our desires rest in you
Lord Jesus make us bolder
To face with courage the shame and disgrace
You bore upon Your shoulder

Embrace the life
That comes from dying
Come trace the steps
The Savior walked for you
An empty tomb
Concludes Golgotha's sorrow
Endure then till tomorrow
Your cross of suffering
Embrace the cross
Embrace the cross
The cross of Jesus






--
"The LOVE that calls us into being, woos us to HIMself, makes us HIS bride, lays down HIS life for us, daily crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercy, will never abandon us." Elisabeth Elliot, "Loneliness" p. 27 www.elisabethelliot.org

"In this the love of GOD was manifested toward us, that GOD has sent HIS only begotten SON into the world, that we might live through HIM." I John 4:9

She's Ready to Fly

"But those who hope in the LORD...will soar on wings like eagles." Isaiah 40:31.


Dear Praying Friends and Family,

What a great afternoon to write. It's gently raining here in Alabama, on this Thursday afternoon, as i sit outside on my back porch in my Cabela's recliner. "Troy" our Malta poo is in my lap, the cats, Cuddles and Peaches are sleeping peacefully (well sort of...they're keeping a wary eye out for Troy) nearby, and Dixie and Midnight, our Golden Retriever and Lab, are sleeping on the back porch off of our bedroom. Thankfully, i have a roof over me so i'm not getting too wet....every once in a while i have to scoot over so the rain doesn't get on my computer. So why am i having trouble getting settled down to write? Maybe cause i wrote most of this last Saturday after my Daddy and i took Hannah Beth to the airport in Nashville and i'm putting off finishing it up. Only the LORD brings these writings together week after week, and if there is anything in them that is a blessing to you, HE gets all the glory and praise for what HE brings forth through HIS "scatterbrained" servant.
Hannah Beth has had a great week out in California visiting with our dear friends the Bakers and the Ferguson's and it's been mighty quiet around our household. Thank you for your prayers for her this week...they have had a great time. They've enjoyed going to the beach two of those days with Ashlie's family...Hannah Beth went from the Gulf Coast to the Pacific Ocean beach in a matter of days. For those of you on Facebook, you can check out her pictures, and the video she and Ashlie made of their "homeschooling days..." crazy girls, and fun times. What a blessing! Please remember Hannah Beth as she will be flying in to Nashville tomorrow evening...that's Friday evening. Also, our dear friend Greg Adams will be having surgery on his colon Friday morning. Please remember him and Wanda in your prayers. Tony and Taranda Greene (www.thegreenesgospel.com) are having their surgery this coming Monday. Taranda is donating her kidney to her husband. What an amazing story and you can read about God's faithfulness to lead them through this journey in their lives by clicking on their website. Also, our dear friends, the Carpenter's, are traveling out to California with their seven little ones for Mark to work for 9 weeks and GOD knows the other reasons. We sure will miss them and do appreciate ya'll remembering them as they travel this weekend.



Last Saturday morning, my Daddy got up at 3:30 a.m. to go with Hannah Beth and me to take her to the airport in Nashville, Tn. which is about an hour and a half up straight up Interstate 65. I thought to myself, "Whose crazy idea was this to leave so early in the morning?" Just the day before...GOD had made the way for her to go to California to see our friends, Ashlie and John Baker and their two little guys, Troy and Merrit, and Ashlie's Mom ,Mishel and her brother Zac Ferguson. The Ferguson's have been our friends since Ashlie was 12 and Hannah Beth was 6, and their homeschooling journey, though they lived in California, has paralleled our journey in many ways. We both went through the "blue jean jumper stage," and finally came to our senses and started wearing our shorts and pants again. I'm not putting down "dresses," i admire you who have a conviction. But for me and Mishel...ours was a passing through season of our homeschooling venture. We were both amazed when we got into bluegrass and southern gospel music, totally independent of one another. Zac started playing the violin about the same time i started the mandolin, and Hannah Beth the guitar and wow, has he far surpassed me in his playing!. We do so enjoy them coming "home," and going to the Fiddler's Convention with them here in Athens, the first weekend of each October. GOD has changed our family's and moulded us all along the way. We have shared our great joys with one another, and great sorrows. This year has been one of unthinkable sorrow for their family as their husband and Daddy, and Granddaddy, left their family in December. Yes, difficult things happen like this in the strongest of CHRISTian families..."Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." I Peter 5:8. This is why it's so important that we pray for one another and encourage one another because none of us are above giving in to temptation.

Hannah Beth didn't asked to go out to California this summer. Some of you may remember she flew out there last year to help Ashlie with her two little ones, while John served our country in Iraq. Johnny had it on his heart and off and on all summer would bring it up from time to time about Hannah Beth going out to visit Ashlie. Hannah Beth took a Chemistry Class at our local junior college, so she only had a couple of weeks between school starting back and we went to Florida for a few days for our family vacation. After that, she stayed a couple of more days with our dear friends, the Jones, on their farm in Billingsley. In one afternoon, she went from para sailing at the beach, to milking a goat that evening...i'm not kidding! When Johnny brought her going out to see Ashlie again earlier last week, i thought there is no way at this late date that she is going to be able to go to California...well, GOD overruled my lack of faith, and even as i type this she is flying across country(this was last Sat. morning). She got her reservation on Friday morning for a direct flight, and thankfully we had "points" on our credit card to cover the cost of her ticket. Where GOD guides, HE provides. GOD is going to have HIS way, even when we have no faith. How can a man understand his ways..."Man's steps are ordained by the LORD,How then can man understand his way?" Proverbs 20:24

The night before she left Johnny said, "Am i nuts letting her go?"...after i had asked him why he wanted her to go. He shared with me his thoughts, and then later he asked, "Why did i let her go?" I told him because GOD put it in his heart... to accomplish HIS plans and purposes. I know that full well, so many times i stand in awe at the places i find myself, knowing that GOD has directed my steps to get me there and worked at all the details to make it happen.

My Dad, bless his heart, 82 years old, got to our house a little before 5:00 a.m. and we were on our way shortly after that. Nashville is an hour and a half up the road, and we got to the airport without any trouble. We parked the car, after Hannah Beth had offered for us to just drop her off out front. I thought, no way i'm not dropping you off out front, and leaving you. We unloaded the suitcase from car and Daddy pulled it into the airport for Hannah Beth. I thought we might be able to eat breakfast with her before we left...it was about 6:45 a.m. and her plane didn't leave until 8:15 a.m, but she was eager to get her boarding pass and go and wait inside the gate. Because of security we couldn't go with her...so she hurriedly hugged me and my Daddy goodbye. I said, "Wait, you're going to be gone a week, i want a real hug." She hugged me, and poof, she was off, through the security gate, flying by herself for the first time, across the country. Wow...just like that...she was ready to fly.

My Daddy and I had a special time together on our way home...and i sure am glad, it took my mind off of my little girl sitting in the airport by herself, and then flying across the country. Daddy and I both love our big breakfast so we found a Cracker Barrel not too far from the airport and enjoyed our selves very much. He loves his biscuit and gravy, and man did he and Mom make the best biscuits and gravy when we were growing up, yum, yum. He ordered eggs, biscuits and gravy and probably country ham, which he loves. I enjoyed the turkey sausage and whole wheat toast...and eggs and hash brown casserole. Amazing health my Dad has enjoyed all these years, eating those biscuits and gravy and country ham...wish i had got his genes:). My Daddy has always loved the country...and he and i both love the hills of Tennessee. We had a great time together on the way home. We went by the slaughterhouse where we used to get our meat processed before our freezer door was left open twice...now we buy our meat in smaller quantities:). I was checking to see if they had some bones for the dogs. Once when Hannah Beth was smaller, i took her and her friend Natalie up there with me to pick up the meat. Much against Hannah Beth's protest, we went on a tour of the slaughterhouse...i thought it would be educational for the girls to see how we get our meat...aah the joys of homeschooling, everything becomes a classroom! We saw how they hung the carcasses up to cool, and how they drained the blood from the meat...and of course where they cut the meat up. I don't think it had the desired effect i hoped it would, i'm not sure Hannah Beth has eaten beef since that "field trip:)...just kidding. I did manage to sneak a big box of bones in the car for the dogs that day...i kept them well hidden until we got home...i didn't want the girls screaming "bloody murder" over a few cow bones...oh well, maybe there was more than a few.

After Daddy and I left the slaughterhouse, boneless, they don't cut meat on Saturday, we stopped by the little town of Lineville, Tenn. There is a railroad track that runs through the little town, and a train museum at the depot, and an old fashioned "Soda Pop" shop that has the counter you can sit at and order ice cream or hamburgers. It's really neat, like something out of Andy Griffith, or "It's a Wonderful Life." There was also a fine leather shop that sells a lot of it's products to Country Music stars , the City Hall, along with an antique shop, and the bank. There's even a place out front to tie your horses up in front of the "Soda Shop" if you ride up on a horse...straight out of "Bonanza...", one of my Daddy and my favorite shows when i was growing up. It's an interesting little place to stop off if you're ever heading up or down I-65, Exit 27. Daddy bought me some unsweet tea at "The Soda Pop" shop, i was needing a little perking up after getting up at 4:15 a.m.and we headed on after walking and looking at the little shops. We drove on a little piece down Highway 31 and turned into "The Milky Way" farm. The Mars Company, who owns"M and M's," originally owned the land back in the 1930's i believe. In it's heyday, it was a fine place with several horse stables, a racing track, a large inn, and swimming pool out back. You can still see the old concrete swimming pool behind the inn, and imagine what it must have been like back in the 30's and 40's at it's height. This day, we rode through there, the grounds were more grown up than i've ever seen them. Looked like the inn was still in good shape, but the grass had definitely not be cut in a while. My Daddy told me later while we were picking figs together, that the owners had filed for bankruptcy...to the tune of $10 million dollars. I sure was sad to hear that...cause it really is a great place for a "bed and breakfast." After that, we rode just up the road where my cousin lived and i had no idea she lived so close to the Milky Way farm. Lisa Fowler Butler wasn't home, but their house sure is located in a beautiful place in the rolling hills of Tennessee. We continued on our journey, and rode through the little town of Pulaski. Their around the courthouse square there was a "Farmer's Market." I had just been thinking I wish we could get back in time for me to go to the Farmer's Market in Madison where they sell a lot of fresh, organic produce, meats without antibiotics or hormones, whole grain breads, goat cheese, farm eggs, etc. I rode by that Farmer's Market thinking they won't have any organic produce, and something... GOD, made me turn the car around. We went back, and the first thing i saw when we got out of the car was a booth that had a sign hanging out front," Organic produce" "No chemicals" Farm Eggs, Sausage and Beef Grown without Antibiotics or Hormones. Wow...i thought, thank you LORD. The lady who ran the booth appeared to be in her late 60's to early 70's and i was amazed at her energy and that she was an organic farmer. She told me she love to compost, used the manure from her 500 chickens and hogs to fertilize her raised bed gardens and now her front yard she has so much extra. I bought some farm eggs, pork sausage, and ground round from her, along with some green beans, yellow squash and zucchini. I was keeping my eye out for some muscadine jelly that someone special to me had expressed some interest in and i found two jars there at a booth on down the row. It was the only muscadine jelly in the whole market. I purchased that, along with some purple hull peas at another booth, and it was time to head home. Daddy was right there with me, carrying some of my veggies and meat for me. After we got back in the car....Daddy told me a few stories about my Granddaddy Fowler, how he was always telling jokes and could remember joke after jokes to tell. We both said we weren't blessed with that ability to remember jokes and stories like that. He told me about how good my Granddaddy was to the people that worked for him when he was cutting hay or whatever on the farm. I remember one guy, June, who worked for my Granddaddy when i was a little girl. Sometimes his hands lived on my Granddaddy's place, or sometimes he'd go pick them up where they lived. We talked some more, and talked about maybe planning some more trips together. What an unexpected blessing it was to me to get to spend this time with my Daddy...as a result of my little girl flying to California.

When i was a teenager about Hannah Beth's age...i wasn't ready to "fly" just yet. I had a life long dream to play basketball at the junior college just right down the street from where i grew up and GOD gave me that desire of my heart...and i was very interested in the young men during that time:). After two years, GOD provided a scholarship for me at the University of Montevallo, 2 1/2 hours from my parent's and then Johnny and i married at the end of my junior year in college. Wow, just like that I was married and had a family of my own. Hannah Beth dreams have been different than mine were...and she's "always been ready to fly," it seems. Though we home schooled, she loved the idea of going to school, and has always loved being with other people. This year, she was all to eager to start taking dual enrollment classes at our local junior college, and will continue that this fall for her senior year of high school. She has always wanted to go "off" to school...and we always planned for her to go locally. But as GOD would have it...HIS plans override ours sometimes, and this year, HE has gradually been softening our hearts to the idea of her going to the University of Mobile next year, a private Southern Baptist college in our state...six hours away. Just seems like lately, this is where HIS hand has been pointing. HE has already provided her a generous scholarship there for next year, and our friends, the Hembree's have offered for Hannah Beth to live with them her first year down there. We won't hold them to that...if she does indeed end up going there, but we are honored and humbled by their offer. This is something we have desired if we did consider letting her go away to school, a godly family to live with while she was there.

I had no idea how fast time goes from the time you're changing diapers, hauling your young un's around all over the place to soccer, softball, basketball, ballet, karate, fishing, guitar and piano lessons, horseback riding lessons, Teen Pact Survival Camp, kayaking, Bible Drill, and just a few gospel singings:)...to when they turn into a young lady, and start becoming interested in makeup, how they dress, driving, and dreaming about husband's and homes of their own one day. Now, i see that happening in my little girl's heart, who's not so little anymore... she'll be 18 this year in December and all of the sudden it seems, she will be flying away...and Johnny and i will have an "empty nest." Seems like yesterday she was struggling for her life with a growth across her windpipe and we didn't know if she would make it when she was 2 months old. After spending a week at Children's Hospital in Birmingham on two different occasions, the LORD healed her through a wonderful doctor, who removed the growth through laser surgery when Hannah Beth was 5 months old. Even then...Hannah Beth, when she was almost at the point of suffocating to death, would smile, and make you laugh...she has always been the "life of the party..." and when that time does come for her to "fly" we will miss her very much.

When we got back from taking Hannah Beth to the airport, I was talking to Johnny in his office, and I was telling him about Hannah Beth giving me a quick hug at the airport and she was "ready to fly." He said, "We're loosing our little girl." And i just started tearing up...as i'm doing now. I didn't expect the tears to come so easily but they did and i got all choked up.

What a privilege has been ours that GOD would entrust us with both of our children for such a short time, to try to train them up in the nurture and ways of the LORD. Wow, what a humbling job that has been...as our kids have gotten older, they recognize Mom and Dad's sins and weaknesses, and you wonder if they'll ever be able to overcome them. Thankfully, GOD gives us that wonderful promise in II Corinthians 12:9-10, that has become my life verse: "But HE said to me, "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, so that CHRIST's power may rest on me. That is why, for CHRIST's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."...and oh how very weak these two parents have been.

One of Johnny's favorite verses through the years has been Isaiah 40:31. It seems real appropriate for this time in Hannah Beth's life and ours:
"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Baby girl...as you grow outwardly into a beautiful young woman, we are most thankful for the inner work that CHRIST is doing in your heart, to develop "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in GOD's sight." I Peter 3:4 Our prayer for you is that you will always keep your trust and hope in the LORD JESUS CHRIST, as you gave your heart to HIM when you were just a little girl. By doing that you will surely "soar" to heights beyond anything you can ask or imagine to bear much fruit and bring much glory to CHRIST..."Now to HIM who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to HIS power that is at work within us..." Ephesians 3:20. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which GOD hath prepared for them that love HIM." I Corinthians 2:9.

As i mentioned recently, Hannah Beth and i had the great privilege of traveling up to Marion, North Carolina last year, for the Greene's Jubilee, and for "significant other" reasons as i've mentioned before....to be with a special young man and his dear family. This is just one of the many "girl" trips the LORD has blessed Hannah Beth and me with through the years...you've read about many of them in these emails. While we were at the Jubilee, the Hopper's (www.thehoppers.com) were there singing on Friday night. Kim Greene Hopper, sister to Tony and Tim Greene, married into the Hopper family and she and her husband sang a tear jerker song called "The Woman in My Little Girl's Room." It's not a hymn or even "Christian" song so to speak but, when you have a daughter that is on the brink of "flying" and turning into a beautiful young woman...it sure does put a lump in your throat. Listening to it while my girl was in California this week, sure did make me miss her, and i picked up the phone and called her after listening to it on my Ipod to tell her that. I found the song on "you tube" with Kim and Dean singing it...so hope you'll take time to enjoy it...and you might want to bring along some tissue:). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk635Lf_kjw Kim and Dean have a daughter, Carlye, who is not far behind Hannah Beth, so this song really rings true to them...


This afternoon (Thurs.), Johnny called me to his side to show me a text message he had received from Hannah Beth from out in California...it was a picture of a beautiful bouquet of flowers that Josh, her special young man, had sent her. Those words, "those lips that yelled for Daddy time again, will soon say "I love you," to another man," sure does seem to hit close to home these days, much sooner than we expected:). She is ready to fly...just not sure Mom and Dad are ready to let her go yet:). Thank you all for your sweet prayers for our family...and our loved ones. We love you and thank GOD for you.

With all HIS love,
mitzi


"The Woman in My Little Girl's Room" by Jerry Salley, Aaron Wilburn

Seems like last night, i tucked her in bed and we said our prayers,
I kissed her goodnight while she held on tight to her Teddy Bear,
I stopped for a moment to thank GOD once more,
I turned off the light and i closed the door.

With this morning's coffee and yesterday's news i woke up again,
She caught me off guard, LORD it hit me hard when she walked in,
A beautiful lady that i hardly know was my little girl just a short time ago,

Chorus:
Now there's a woman in my little girl's room
She's putting on makeup and wearing perfume
She seems more concerned about what she's got on these days
Than she used to
I turned my head for a moment
And she grew up too soon
And now she's the woman in my little girls room

Those small tiny fingers, sweet little hands that held on to mine
Soon will be reaching out to a love of another kind
Those lips that yelled for Daddy time again
Will soon say to "I love you," to another man

"Delighting in my FATHER's Sweet Love

"Delight yourself in the LORD...and HE will give you the desires of your heart." Ps. 37:4

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

I didn't know if i'd be writing anything or not this week, but with a fresh IV in my system, my brain is functioning a little better, so i'm going to give it a shot. Sure have been thinking a whole lot this week about "Delighting in the LORD...and HIS sweet love giving us the desires of our heart." This time last year, Hannah Beth and I were on our way to Marion, N.C. for the Greene's Gospel Music Jubilee. Well, that was what i was on my way to. She had another "desire" that she was looking forward to as well as seeing the Greenes. A special friend of hers, and his family "just happened" to be in Asheville, NC, that same weekend, and believe me the LORD worked it all out. Neither trip was "planned," in advance, and we all ended up up there on the "spur of the moment." That's how GOD seems to work in our lives. I'm always expecting HIM to do something and hold out hope til the last minute. Most of my desires HE gives me...and so many of those come through my husband's love, come at the last moment, when HE "parts the Red Sea" in my life...and then, i'm gone!

This week, the Greene's (www.thegreenesgospel.com) are having their Gospel Music Jubilee and part of my heart has sure been up there with them. Many of you know how very dear and special the Greene family is to me since i met Tim Greene. Tim and I share a similar "thorn in the flesh" where he suffered from mold poisoning, and me from pesticide poisoning. The LORD introduced us to one another in an allergy testing room at the EHCD (www.ehcd.com) in Dallas, Tx i think six years ago now. The Greene family is from Boone, NC, and has been singing for the LORD JESUS CHRIST for 32 years as a family. Their Daddy and Mamma raised them up singing in church, and then the LORD expanded their ministry around the mountains where they lived...and then to the uttermost parts of the earth. They have traveled and sang all over...singing the praises of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and sharing HIS wonderful salvation wherever they go. When i met Tim, i had never heard of the Greene's. I had heard of Bill Gaither, and the Cathedrals, but beyond that, i was pretty clueless about the world of Southern Gospel Music. Tim sent me a couple of CD's after i met him, and i'll never forget the first time i put one on to play from their "Glimpse of Glory" CD. I was in bed, listening to it...which i rarely listen to anything when i'm going to sleep, and i woke up hearing these words, "I don't have to know the reason's, I don't have to ask HIM why. I know HE knows what's best for me, best for my life, so i'll daily surrender to what HE has for me, I will keep on trusting GOD." I thought, wow, that is my life, my heart, where i struggle. A few weeks later, the Greene's were singing in our neck of the woods, over near Guntersville, Al, and i went to hear them for the very first time...Hannah Beth, and me, and our friends, Darlene and Natalie Anderson. The little church was full that night...and i wasn't even sure i would recognize Tim. I'd only met him and seen him once or twice. He was back on his first road trip with Tony and Taranda after being sick and unable to travel with them for months. I did recognize Tim when he walked in and he walked down the aisle and gave me a big hug...he seemed so proud to see me. That night as i was watched the Greene's, I sure was happy for Tim that he was able to travel once again with his family and sing the songs of the LORD he so loved to sing. Tim had almost died from mold poisoning and the LORD had used the doctors and staff in Dallas to save his life. Afterwards, we talked with Amy, his wife, and i met Taranda for the very first time. I remember the first thing she said, "You sure look good." I knew what she meant, to be sick like Tim:). Amy gave us a tour of their bus, and we talked a little while about "medical" stuff concerning Tim and me. I had no idea, that would be the beginnings of GOD invading my heart with love for the Greene family, and giving me such a desire to pray for this dear family who has been so faithful to proclaim GOD's love and faithfulness throughout all their trials. That first year, the Greene's sang in our area 8 times! I remember, i went to see them every single time...and loved them and loved the encouragment i received when i went to hear them sing. They were so transparent about their struggles, and it's from them i learned how very strong that GOD is through our weaknesses. I felt the power of GOD everytime they shared their weaknesses, and then sang the praises of GOD. They were not ashamed to let others see their struggles. I heard them talk about their jubilee that year that they have every year, but didn't really know about it too much. By the time the following year rolled around...i really, really desired to go but the door seemed slammed shut really tight. GOD did HIS wonder working power...and HE made the way, and our whole family packed up, and traveled up to Boone, North Carolina that August for the Greene's Homecoming Jubilee. I remember when we first got there at the sight of the Jubilee, we parked the car, and rode to the entrance on a hay bailed wagon pulled behind a tractor. Stephanie, the Greene's Nanny at that time, hollered at us, and said, "I know you!" and it sure did make me feel good. What a wonderful time that was for me, to get to travel up there, and get to meet so many of the Greene's family, including Tim's Mom, and Grandmother's, and so many of their relatives and Amy's parents and their church member's who all volunteer and help out with the Jubilee. The Greene women cook for this huge event, pinto beans, cornbread, fried chicken, pies and i'm not sure what all else...it's just all good! I was so honored as Amy introduced me to so many of their family and church members. Tim showed up that weekend for a surprise visit...he and Amy had to move away from Boone because of the mold, and Tim drove 5 hours to surprise everyone, including Amy . He sang a few song's with the Greene's that night, and then he was off...in an ambulance. I didn't even get to speak to him. The next morning, our family worshiped there under the big tent, with the mountains surrounding us....What a special, special time this week of Jubilee is each year, to worship and sing praises to the LORD, to visit old friends and meet new ones, and be encouraged in the LORD! That was such an amazing weekend for me...as GOD gave me the desires of my heart. I remember riding through that beautiful mountain country of Boone, early Sat. morning as i had gone to sauna at a nearby motel and Taranda was singing a beautiful song on her new CD then..."Holy, Holy, the LORD GOD almighty is HOLY...HOLY is the Lamb, Worthy is the Lamb, YOU are Holy...Holy." Tears welled up in my eyes at GOD's goodness in bringing us up there to Boone, NC and showing me how very much HE loved me.

Last year...GOD did it again, and although the Jubilee has changed locations, it was so beautiful up there above Asheville. Hannah Beth and I had a great time although probably for different reasons:). What a blessing to see Tim's wife, Amy and daughter Brittany, and the Greene's Mom, and their dear friend Steve . Tim sure wanted to be there, but wasn't able to make it last year, due to health issues. What a blessing to see all the little Greene girls playing around the grounds there...Belle, Josie, Brooklyn, and Lexi...and what a joy to see Taranda and Tony. Tony, just right before the Jubilee, had begun dialysis, and in between singing and doing all the things to be done for the Jubilee was having to get on the bus and do dialysis four times a day. Once we were walking behind stage, and Tony was sitting there with what looked like the wind knocked out of him. Someone had slapped him in the stomach playfully, where he was getting dialysis, not knowing that he was tender there, and he was in incredible pain.
This year when the Jubilee is over, Tony will be having a kidney transplant. I'm not sure if Taranda, his wife, is still going to be his donor, but that was the plan the last i heard. Tim, is planning to preach this year at the Jubilee...and i'm sure he'll do some singing too, while he's there. Please remember Tim in your prayers, and the whole Greene family. Earlier this week, Tony and Taranda's 26 16 month old daughter, Josie was run over by a golf cart, and they rushed her to the hospital in an ambulance. Thankfully, she is doing fine, i think. The doctor's said, a Higher Power was watching over their baby. Praise the LORD. Yes, i sure would love to be there...but GOD has been so very gracious to allow me to go twice, and this year, i will be there in my prayers for them. What a dear family this is...and how they have struggled and suffered, and continue to sing and declare the Praises of our LORD JESUS CHRIST...they are such an inspiration and encouragement of GOD's grace to all who meet them.What a special, special time this week of Jubilee is each year, to worship and sing praises to our LORD JESUS, to visit old friends and meet new ones who come from all over the US in their RV's, and to be encouraged in the LORD!

Instead of heading up to North Carolina, the Hembree's are going to be at their beach house next week and they have graciously invited us to stay with them a few days. As a Mom, i'm learning how GOD is also working in my daughter's life to give her the "desires of her heart." Hannah Beth and Josh met last March at a Teen Pact event, where they learned about the government, and their budding friendship began. In recent months, the friendship, has progressed, and well, we're not sure about all of this, except that it's "official" on Facebook:). Johnny and Josh had a long talk while he and his sis were up here camping recently, and he laid down the rules for a prospective young man interested in his daughter. Josh, a very fine young man, didn't run away, so he must be pretty interested or he doesn't scare to easily:). I am very happy for her and Josh... we love Josh and we love his family. We sure would appreciate your prayers as we are navigating in new territory. We hadn't planned on Hannah Beth having a special young man at this age...and we have steered away from dating, preferring our children to do things in groups at this stage of life. Not sure what the LORD's plans are for the future...but we're all learning to "Delight in HIM...and we see HIM giving us the desires of our heart...desires that HE puts there to accomplish HIS plans and purposes. I have admired Hannah Beth, and her honoring her Daddy's wishes, and being obedient, all these months. It's neat to see GOD honor her with her heart's desire and Josh is such a fine, godly, young man.

GOD has been so very gracious, teaching me to "Delight in Him." Everywhere i turn it seems, HE's teaching me that lesson...and wants me to get it right. "Delight in the HIM first and HE will give you the desires of your heart." I think HE puts HIS desires in our heart, as we learn to delight in HIM...to show us HIS love and accomplish the wonderful plans that HE has for us. That's a lot like, "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and HIS righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." Mt. 6:33.

GOD has used my "thorn in the flesh" to help me as i learn to "Delight in Him." I have a built in mechanism it seems that causes me to depend on HIM. I was thinking today, before i took my IV...i don't have to plan to fast...my body just does it naturally. I run out of my nutrients, though i eat the best of food, and take the best of supplements, and i have to refill every 2-3 weeks with IV nutrients. While i am waiting sometimes for that IV to try and stretch it out or whatever...it feels very much like i'm fasting, and i very much have to depend on the LORD. That's a real blessing, even though i don't like the uncomfortableness of it, because that is when GOD often reveals HIMself the most to me...when i am weakest. Earlier this week was one of those times...I had been really down Monday, and part of it was due to my nutritional status, and that very much colors how i look at the world sometimes. Johnny planned for our family to go out with my brother-in-law's family and all go meet John Mac in Huntsville. I tried to feel like going but just didn't feel up to it. I stayed behind and rested, and poured my heart out to my friend Wanda, who always seems to know what to say to encourage me. She is my Barnabas. Later on, I took Dixie and Midnight, our Golden Retriever and Lab, for a walk about dark. I have enjoyed many late evening walks with my dogs, and my LORD, this summer. What a special time this has been to me to "Delight in the LORD, and pour my heart out to HIM as i walk along and hear the crickets singing, the tree frogs making their noises, the moon shining, and the stars glittering in the sky...i have loved that special time with HIM, it is as if "GOD is Singing over Me," and HE is... ...."The LORD your GOD is in the midst of you, A MIGHTY ONE, a SAVIOR-WHO saves! HE will rejoice over you with joy; HE will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in HIS love HE will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them], HE will exult over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17.


Tuesday morning, after having such a down evening the night before, i got up, and GOD just blessed my socks in my Quiet Time that morning. Everything i read spoke to my heart about what i was dealing with...and i was reminded that when things are darkest in our lives, GOD shines the brightest to us...and HE sure was encouraging my heart that morning. Talk about "Dry Wood on a Rainy Night," GOD poured HIS healing balm in my soul, and reminded me once again how very much HE loves me...and how very patient and kind, and loving HE is with me when when i am unlovely and have "bad manners." HE is teaching me that HE delights in me, even when i'm unlovely, and HE wants me to love others as HE loves me...unconditionally.

Some of that "Dry Firewood" from last Tuesday included:

"But they and our fathers acted proudly,
Hardened their necks,
And did not heed YOUR commandments.
They refused to obey,
And they were not mindful of YOUR wonders
That YOU did among them....
But YOU are GOD
Ready to pardon,
Gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger,
Abundant in kindness,
And did not forsake them
Even when they made a molded calf for themselves
And they said, "This is your god
That brought you up out of Egypt,"
And worked great provocations,
Yet in Your manifold mercies
YOU did not forsake them in the wilderness.
The pillar of the cloud did not depart
from them day by day,
To lead them on the road;
Nor the pillar of fire by night,
To show them light,
And the way they should go..."
Nehemiah 9:16-19


From Daily Light:

"Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return,"-Luke 6:35
"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles. Proverbs 24:17
"Do not repay evil for evil or reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you might obtain a blessing."1 Pet. 3:18
" If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."Rom. 12:18
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as GOD in CHRIST forgave you." Ephesians 4:32



From Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening:

"So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.-Psalm 73:22

"Think of your doubting GOD when HE has been so faithful to you. Think of your foolish outcry of "Not so, my FATHER," when HE crossed HIS hands in affliction to give you the larger blessing. Think of the many times when you have read HIS providences in the dark, misinterpreted HIS dispensations, and groaned out, "All these things are against me," when they are all working together for your good!


Oswald Chamber's Words from My Utmost for HIS Highest:

"We are apt to imagine that if JESUS CHRIST constrains us, and we obey HIM, HE will lead us to great success. We must never put our dreams of success as GOD's purpose for us. HIS purpose may be exactly the opposite. We have an idea that GOD is leading us to a particular end, a desired goal; HE is not...what we call the process, GOD calls the end. HIS purpose is that i depend on HIM and on HIS power now. It is the process, not the end, which is glorifying to GOD...GOD's training is for now, not presently. HIS purpose is for this minute...GOD's end is to enable me to see that HE can walk on the chaos of my life just now. "


A very powerful poem from Springs in the Valley about pouring out our hearts for others even when that love isn't returned... GOD has not wasted it..."Love never fails. "1 Cor. 13:8


"Pour out thy love like the rush of a river,
Wasting its waters forever and ever,
Through the burnt sands that reward not the giver:
Silent or songful, thou nearest the sea,
Scatter thy life as the summer's shower pouring;
What if no bird through the pearl rain is soaring?
What if no blossom looks upward adoring?
Look to the life that was lavished for thee!

"So the wild wind strews its perfumed caresses;
Evil and thankless the desert it blesses
Bitter the wave that its soft pinion presses;
Never it ceases to whisper and sing,
What if the hard heart gives thorns for thy roses?
What if on rocks thy tired bosom reposes?
Sweeter is music with minor-keyed closes,
Fairest the vines that on ruin will cling."


Another "dry log" from Streams in the Desert stoked the fires of my heart :

"Have you asked to be made like your LORD? Have you longed for the fruit of the SPIRIT, and have you prayed for sweetness and gentleness and love? Then fear not the stormy tempest that is at this moment sweeping through your life. A blessing is in the storm, and there will be the rich fruitage in the "afterward."
-Henry Ward Beecher

The flowers live by the tears that fall
From the sad face of the skies;
And life would have not joys at all,
Were there no watery eyes.
Love thou thy sorrow: grief shall bring
Its own excuse in after years;
The rainbow!-see how fair a thing
GOD hath built up from tears.
Henry S. Sutton




Not only did GOD send HIS sweet presence to me to encourage me that morning and warm the fire of my heart, but that very evening, HE encouraged me greatly by sending me the sweet "desire" i had so longed for earlier before i went to bed. Talk about "misinterpring HIS dispensations, and groaning out, "All these things are against me," ...i had done that once again, and the LORD was so sweet to show me what i was thinking wasn't true. HE did that for me and HE does that for you because HE loves us so very much.. "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness..."Jeremiah 31:3
Once again, HE is teaching me to trust in HIS love, when i can't see what HE is doing in the "Garden Behind the Wall."

Then, HE sent these sweet words from Charles Spurgeon's, Morning and Evening the next morning,to reassure me of CHRIST's sweet love for me:

"Nevertheless, I am continually with thee." Psalm 73:23

"Nevertheless, since I belong to CHRIST, I am continually with GOD!" This means that I am continually on HIS mind; He is always thinking of me for my good. I am continually before HIS eye; the eye of the LORD never sleeps, but is perpetually watching over my welfare. I am continually in HIS hand, so that none will be able to pluck me from it. I am continually in HIS heart, worn there as a memorial, even as the high priest bore the names of the twelve tribes on his heart forever. YOU always think of me, O GOD. Your love continually reaches out to me. YOU are always making providence work for my good. YOU have set me as a signet on YOUR arm. YOUR love is as "strong as death" (Song 8:6). "Many waters cannot quench it, neither can the floods drown it." (vs. 7)...YOU see me in CHRIST, and , though in myself abhorred, YOU behold me as wearing CHRIST's garments, washed in HIS blood; thus, I stand accepted in YOUR presence. I am continually in YOUR favor-"continually with thee."



HE didn't give me the "desire of my heart" to go to the Jubilee this year, and believe me, i tried everyway in the world to talk Johnny into it. But that's okay...HE's teaching me to "Delight in HIM for who HE is and not HIS gifts," and "in acceptance lieth peace." I can sure be there through my prayers for the Greenes "Across the Miles." Through the miracle of Facebook, i can see pictures of sweet Belle and Josie and hear about what's going on. One of the songs, Taranda and the Greene's sing so beautifully was inspired by the Scripture above out of Zephaniah 3:17. It is a beautiful song, called "GOD is Singing over Me," and it tells of how very much our FATHER loves us...delights in us, and HE sings over us with HIS goodness and favor in our lives. I sure wish i could let you listen to Taranda sing it...but i couldn't find it on the internet. It's on their "Far Down the Road," CD...check it out on their website (www.thegreenesgospel.com).

"GOD is Singing Over Me" by Jeff Ferguson, Regi Stone, Sue Smith

Around the throne of Heaven
A sea of the redeemed
Are bowing and proclaiming
The praises of the KING
Yet HIS WORD has promised
There's a song of love
GOD HIMself has written for each of us.

Chorus:
GOD is singing over me
My soul can hear the beauty of HIS melody
I feel the glory carried on the breeze
It lifts my spirit up
GOD is singing over me

When my heart is broken
Heavy with despair
I wonder does HE love me
Or why He'd even care
Suddenly there's something
Like a sweet perfume
Music from above me is in the room

My GOD rejoices with a song of love
I'm overwhelmed I'm the one HE's singing of




Our FATHER is preparing a time for HIS children when we are going to enjoy an endless Jubilee for all eternity with our LORD JESUS for all who have repented of their sins and trusted in the LORD JESUS as their SAVIOR. HE poured out HIS life to death for us on the cross at Calvary because HE loves you and me so very much so that we might be forgiven of our sins...and enjoy the endless Jubilee of HIS fellowship and our brothers and sisters in CHRIST forever and ever. "For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only SON that whosoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

Hark! Hark! a louder sound is booming
Oe'r heaven and earth, o'er land and sea;
The angel's trump proclaims HIS coming-
Our day of endless Jubilee.
-Springs in the Valley, July 31


You all are such a dear blessing to me.. I love hearing from different ones of you week after week. Thank you so much for your encouragement and asking me to pray for you. Thank you so much for your prayers for our family and your encouragement to us. Please remember us as we travel to the beach next week...it's always an adventure when i sleep in another place:).

With all HIS love,
mitzi

"Seek your LORD, for HE is near. Embrace HIM, for HE is your BROTHER. Hold HIM fast, for HE is your HUSBAND. Press HIM to your heart, for HE is of your own flesh."
-Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening July 31

"The Appreciation Room"

"I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart. I will tell of all the great things YOU have done. I will be glad and full of joy because of YOU. I will sing praise to YOUR name, O Most High." Psalm 9:1-2

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

I have been trying to write this particular email for several weeks now, but just could not get it from my head to the computer. I guess the LORD had some more lessons to teach me about this, and will continue to for the rest of my life. I pray that HE will allow me to share some of the thoughts HE has brought to my heart in a way that will encourage your heart as HE has mine.

I few weeks ago i shared with you about The Love Dare book that i got my husband for our 26th wedding anniversary. Before i got the chance to give it to him I felt like the HOLY SPIRIT was nudging me to read it and give it to him by my actions instead of giving him the book. Well, i wish i could say, i've been passing with flying colors my "Love Dare" challenge but as a "sinner saved by grace" i have certainly failed many times since i shared this with you. But...as i have slowly read the first few chapters, i can say the LORD continues to help me learn to love my husband and appreciate this wonderful man that HE provided to be my life mate 26 years ago.
One of the chapters i read, entitled "Love Believes the Best," just keeps coming to my mind. In that chapter the writers challenge us to love our mates by focusing on their strengths instead of their weaknesses. They give a great illustration of this in what they call "The Appreciation Room." The more i think about this all important room, the more vital i see how this concept is scriptural and crucial to the success in our marriages, in our relationships with our children, our extended family members, our coworkers, friends and enemies,and most important of all, our heavenly HUSBAND, the LOVER of our SOULS, our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

"The Appreciation Room,"
as Stephen and Alex Kendrick so beautifully share, is

" a room in the deep and private corridors of our hearts where our thoughts go when we encounter positive and encouraging things about our spouse. On the walls are written kind words and phrases describing the good attributes of your mate...they are things you've discovered about your husband or wife that have imbedded themselves in your memory. When you think about these things, your appreciation for your spouse begins to increase. In fact, the more time you spend meditating on these positive attributes, the more grateful you are for your mate." They go on to say that "Most things in the Appreciation Room were likely written in the initial states of your relationship. You could summarize them as things you liked and respected about your loved one. They were true, honorable, and good. And you spent a great deal of time dwelling on them in this room...before you were married. But you may have found that you don't visit this special room as often as you once did. That's because there is another competing room nearby.

Down another corridor of your heart lies the Depreciation Room, and unfortuanately you visit there as well. On its walls are written the things that bother and irritate you about your spouse. These things were placed there out of frustration, hurt feelings, and the disappointment of unmet expectations. This room is lined with the weaknesses and failures of your husband or wife. Their bad habits, hurtful words, and poor decisions are written in large letters that cover the walls from one end to the other. If you stay in this room long enough, you get depressed and start expressing things like, "My wife is so selfish," or "My husband can be such a jerk." Or maybe, "I think i married the wrong person."

Some people write very hateful things in this room, where tell-off statements are rehearsed for the next argument. Emotional injuries fester here, adding more scathing remarks to the walls. It's where ammunition is kept for the next big fight and bitterness is allowed to spread like a disease. People fall out of love here." The Kendricks warn us that "spending time in the Depreciation Room kills marriages. Divorces are plotted in this room and violent plans are schemed. The more time you spend in this place, the more your heart devalues your spouse. It begins the moment you walk in the door, and your care for them lessons with every second that ticks by."

The writers acknowledge that "these things may be true...but so are the things in "the Appreciation Room." Everyone fails and has areas that need growth. Everyone has unresolved issues, hurts, and personal baggage...we have all sinned. But we have this unfortunate tendency to downplay our own negative attributes while putting our partners failures under a magnifying glass.

Let's get down to the real issue here. Love knows about the Depreciation Room and does not live in denial that it exists. But love chooses not to live there. You must decide to stop running to this room and lingering there after every frustrating event in your relationship. It does you no good and drains the joy out of your marriage.

Love chooses to believe the best about people. It gives them the benefit of the doubt. It refuses to fill in the unknowns with negative assumptions. And when our worst hopes are proven to be true, love makes every effort to deal with them and move forward. As much as possible, love focuses on the positive." The writers go on to exhort us to "let love lead your thoughts and your focus. The only reason you should glance in the door of the Depreciation Room is to know how to pray for your spouse. And the only reason you should ever go in this room is to write "COVERED IN LOVE" in huge letters across the wall.

It's time to move into "the Appreciation Room," to settle down and make it your home. As you choose to meditate the positives, you will learn that many more wonderful character qualities could be written across these walls. Your spouse is a living, breathing, endless book to be read. Dreams and hopes have yet to be realized. Talents and abilities may be discovered like hidden treasure. But the choice to explore them starts with a decision by you. You must develop the habit of reining in your negative thoughts and focusing on the positive attributes of your mate. This is a crucial step as you learn to lead your heart to truly love your spouse. It is a decision that you make whether they deserve it or not."

Wow...just this one chapter keeps growing in my head...what i mean by that is the more i think about it...the more the LORD shows me how much HIS desire for me is to live in the "Appreciation Room," of my heart, beginning with my relationship with HIM foremost of all. When i linger in "the Appreciation Room" of gratitude with my heavenly HUSBAND JESUS CHRIST, HE enables me, HIS bride, to focus on the positive attributes of my earthly husband.

A few weeks ago, my husband and i returned to Dallas, on June 8, to celebrate our 26th anniversary and have some further medical treatment. GOD answered some very long time prayers and desires of my heart while we were there that i have been praying for years. In that evening's devotion in Morning and Evening,by Charles Spurgeon, the Scripture reading was "Thou shalt see now whether MY words shall come to pass unto thee or not." -Numbers 11:23. I honestly just wanted to fall on my knees and worship the LORD and say, "Yes, LORD you have just shown me in a dramatic way that YOUR WORD is true...by answering this "impossible" prayer and heart's desire of mine. I didn't fall down on my knees just then, i was sitting in a swing outside at the peaceful apartments where we were staying at Earl Remmel's (www.safehousingdallas.com) when i read those words, but my heart was and still is in awe at what GOD had done and is doing to continue answering this long time request. GOD did bring HIS WORD to pass... and after much asking, and delighting in HIM, 'HE gave me the desires of my heart." Ps.37:4.

But just as the prophet Elijah had the great victory over the Baal worshippers when the LORD burned up HIS sacrifice and not theirs in I Kings 18, and then fled for his life from evil Jezebeel and went and prayed that he might die under a Juniper tree, i found myself lying across the bed in the apartments where we were staying just a few hours later after that great victory struggling with feelings of depression and defeat. It was there in the quietness of that bedroom that the LORD brought the words from the the "Appreciation Room" to my heart, and applied them to my relationship with HIM. You see, i do HIM the same way i tend to do my husband, and instead of staying in "the Appreciation Room," i wonder off into the "Depreciation Room," and start grumbling and complaining about HIS ways with me. HE reminded me, " In everything give thanks, for this is the will of GOD in CHRIST JESUS concerning you." 1 Thess. 5:18.

I have really struggled with depression since i took an antibiotic, a few weeks ago...and it left me feeling like "doom and gloom" for several weeks, along with some other head issues that have continued to plague me. I knew that what i was feeling was from a physical cause, and eventually this too would pass. Well i wasn't sure it would pass...and at that time on the bed...and several times in between, i have had trouble staying in the "Appreciation Room" and giving thanks for it. I don't like feeling depressed, or my head feeling like it has sand paper in it, ...or that i am about to cry at the drop of the hat, but it was where the LORD JESUS has allowed me to walk, and is teaching me to trust HIM in "the Appreciation Room," of my heart...to "walk by faith not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7.

Like you, i struggle at times "giving thanks in everything" for things that i don't understand how they are going to work for good...but my LORD JESUS is teaching me, minute by minute, day by day, month by month, year by year,that HE is indeed trustworthy. As i look back in some of my prayer journals that i have written in through the years, i am amazed at prayers that HE has answered, that often i forgot even about praying about. When i look back and see prayers that i've prayed for years...and see how even in the midst of my suffering HE has granted me the desires of my heart, now that really builds my faith..."Hast thou not seen how thy desires have been granted in what HE ordaineth?...." It helps me to be able to trust HIM for the other desires in my heart that HE hasn't answered yet..." but HE is working on them:). It takes GOD time to grow an oak tree, and it takes HIM time to answer some of our prayers...especially those that seem impossible. But HE says, "With GOD all things are possible," Mark 10:27, and i am learning HE is indeed the GOD of the impossible. HE is true to HIS WORD...over and over and over again.

Earlier this week i read a quote in the June 30 Springs in the Valley devotion book that made me think about GOD's "Appreciation Room. " It is through our Quiet Times with HIM where we spend time with HIM in prayer and Bible study, that helps us to stay in the "Appreciation Room" where we praise HIM and thank HIM, instead of the "Depreciation Room" where we grumble and complain at HIS ways in our life. The quote from Springs said:

"In the silences I make in the midst of the turmoil of life I have appointments with GOD. From these silences I come forth with spirit refreshed, and with a renewed sense of power. I hear a Voice in the silences, and become increasingly aware that it is the Voice of GOD."

O how comfortable is a little glimpse of GOD!
-David Brainerd

This summer, GOD has given me a new place to meet HIM in the "Appreciation Room" of my heart, and i have enjoyed walking along a beautiful trail not far from where we live along Swan Creek. As i have walked along that trail early in the morning, enjoying the creek running over the rocks, and the trees overhead, GOD has met me there over and over to refresh my spirit and renew me with HIS power. I have one place in particular that i like to stop at where the water is running gently over the rocks and i am reminded of the words to the great hymn "How Great Thou Art:"
"When thro the woods and forest glades I wander And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees, When i look down from lofty mountain grandeur, And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze; Then sings my soul, my SAVIOR GOD to THEE, how great THOU art! How great THOU art! "
...it's real easy to spend time with the LORD there and spend time in HIS "Appreciation Room," thanking HIM and praising HIM for how very great HE is...HE has proven HIMself over and over in my life and yours...and i see HIM the most in my darkest hours.
Elisabeth Elliot (www.elisabethelliot.org) wrote in her book A Path Through Suffering:

"Through my deepest waters, hottest fires and darkest valleys GOD has taught me the deepest and the most eternal lessons."

"YOU who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth." Psalm 71:20.

I am finding that it is easier to stay in "the Appreciation Room" with my husband and others, when I have spent time each morning in the "Appreciation Room" of my heavenly FATHER and HUSBAND. When HE renews my heart and mind day by day through HIS WORD, HE gives me HIS love to love others unconditionally as HE loves me. "But GOD demonstrates HIS love for us in that while we were yet sinners CHRIST died for us." Romans 5:8.

Oswald Chambers says in his Feb. 23rd reading of My Utmost for HIS Highest:

"When we realize that JESUS CHRIST has served us to the end of our meanness, our selfishness, and sin, nothing that we meet with from others can exhaust our determination to save men for HIS sake."

When i look at the "log in my own eye," it helps me to not be so quick to look at the "speck in my brother's eye" whether that be my husband, child, or whoever CHRIST has called me to love. I can only do this by abiding in CHRIST, HIS WORD and HIS power through daily prayer and taking time to think about what HE's sharing with me. This means carving time out of the day to spend time with HIM...and that takes a conscious effort on all of our parts. There is always something to steal away the time that GOD has given us and desires us to spend in fellowship with HIM. HE loves us so very much and longs to have that intimate time with us in fellowship that we wives desire to have with our husbands...HE is our HUSBAND and HE wants that time with us...HIS Bride. With that time, we thrive in CHRIST, and HIS Living WATER washes over our minds and hearts, and renews us so that we can have HIS love, HIS joy, HIS peace, and HIS forgiveness. Without that time with HIM we dry up and wither away, and our lives our often characterized by "grumbling and complaining," bitterness, and anger, over HIS ways with us. I know, because i struggle with this when things don't go my way. It takes a conscious effort for me to stay out of the "Depreciation Room," dwell in "The Appreciation Room" and be thankful in everything, including depression.

Out in my flower garden, where the LORD is teaching me to love to spend time with HIM, HE has many lessons to teach me from nature. One of those came from my neglect recently of a beautiful red rose bush i had planted a few Mother's Day's ago, in honor of my two children. That "Double-Knock" out rose bush has bloomed profusely and it brings me great joy to see the beauty of it...and how i pray my children will bloom for HIM like that rose bush. Recently, when the Japanese beetles started showing up, i thought about spraying my rose bush with a product called "Surround," to protect it from the beetles. "Surround" is not a pesticide, but it works as a cover to protect it from the beetles eating the leaves and buds. You just mix the white power in a bottle with water, spray it on, and it covers the plant with a white protective coating. I have used it in past years, but I hoped the Japanese beetles wouldn't be too bad this year and i never got around to spraying my rose bush. I was wrong, the Japanese beetles had a field day, and ate holes in the leaves of the rose bush, and ate the blooms too. All because i was too lazy to cover my plant with "Surround."
When i reread the chapter above about the "Depreciation Room" and how it should have a sign above it that says, "Covered with Love," i thought about my rose bush. That "Surround Covering" is like the Grace of GOD, that enables us to "Cover with LOVE" a multitude of sins. Had i "Covered with Surround" my rose bush to start with, the Japanese beetles wouldn't have been able to eat it up. When we abide in CHRIST spending time with HIM daily,HE gives us the grace to "Cover with the Love" a multitude of sins and keeps them from eating away at our hearts...and defiling many. "See to it that no one misses the grace of GOD and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many" Hebrews 12:15. Instead of bitterness and anger and negative thoughts pouring out of our hearts and minds, HE helps us to forgive, and forget. HE enables us to have HIS loving and forgiving heart for our husbands, and children and others that wrong us as it says in Psalm 103:10-13"HE does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is HIS love for those who fear HIM; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgression from us. As a father has compassion on HIS children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear HIM."

In this 46th year of my life, GOD amazes me with how HE continues to give me HIS love where i could not begin to love...to teach me to "Cover with Love" a multitude of sins, to dwell more and more in the "Appreciation Room" instead of the "Depreciation Room" in all of my relationships. I know that HE is doing this through me, little by little, day by day, as HE draws me into HIS Appreciation Room and teaches me to give thanks to HIM in everything.

As i thought about the song for this week, the beautiful old hymn, "In the Garden" came to my mind. This hymn was one of my dear, dear Grandmother's favorites who loved JESUS, loved every one she met, and loved her flowers. My Grandmother was one who could have been bitter about the events of her life...her first husband died at 27 leaving her with a 5 year old and 2 year old, and then when she did remarry many years later, her second husband was a heavy drinker, and she had a difficult life. But my dear Grandmother, lived by GOD's grace, and she "Covered with Love" those things in the Depreciation Room, and chose to live in "the Appreciation Room." Seven years before her husband died, the LORD JESUS saved him, and he became a new creature in CHRIST. He stopped drinking, went to church with her, read his Bible, and was a different person because of what CHRIST had done in his heart. My Grandmother was truly an example and inspiration to me and all who knew her of GOD's grace. She was able to "Cover with Love" a multitude of sins because she was covered by the blood of JESUS and spent time "In the Garden" with her SAVIOR.

"In the Garden" by C. Austin Mills (1868-1946)

"I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses;
And the VOICE I hear, falling on my ear, The SON of GOD discloses.

Chorus:
And HE walks with me, and HE talks with me, and HE tells me I am HIS own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.

HE speaks and the sound of HIS voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing;
And the melody that HE gave to me Within my heart is ringing.

I'd stay in the garden with HIM Tho' the night around me be falling;
But HE bids me go; thro' the voice of woe, HIS voice to me is calling.




The older i get, the more i do love to spend time in my flower garden, like my Grandmother and Mother. JESUS, our HUSBANDMAN , loves to spend time with us alone in the Garden our hearts, where HE produces beautiful fruit and fragrant flowers that brings glory to HIM. In John 15:5 JESUS tells us, "I AM the VINE, you are the branches; he who abides in ME, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from ME you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in ME, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in ME, and MY words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you." John 15:5-7.

HE knows just what needs weeding in my heart and just what needs pruning, how much rain and how much sunshine to bear the most fruit for HIS honor and glory. As i remember that, it helps me to rest in HIM, when HE allows those seasons of discipline that hurt...and i recoil at the pain. Spending time in the Garden with HIM, helps me learn to Appreciate my HUSBANDMAN's way with me...and helps me learn to stay in "the Appreciation Room," while HE patiently works in my life and the lives of those i love to accomplish HIS will.

"Why should I start at the plough of my LORD, that maketh the deep furrows on my soul? I know HE is no idle husbandman, HE purposeth a crop."
Samuel Rutherford


"The Appreciation Room" is a wonderful place to dwell, a bountiful and overflowing garden of the richness and beauty of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. In HIM lies peace and in HIM there is abundant and overflowing love to cover a "multitude of sins," including our own. "And we know that in all things GOD works for the good of those who love HIM, who have been called according to HIS purpose...If GOD is for us, who can be against us? HE who did not spare HIS own SON, but gave HIM up for us all-how will HE not also, along with HIM, graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:28,31,32


Thank you for remembering my friends Greg and Wanda Adams in your prayers. It's been a rough week at the hospital for them with complications from chemo, but they will both tell you that GOD has brought such wonderful blessings in their lives through their trials and they wouldn't trade this time for anything. Greg is home for now, and Wanda is his full time nurse, lovingly caring for her husband...so please continue to remember them. They live in that "Appreciation Room," with our SAVIOR and HE is revealing how very sweet HE is in their darkest days just as HE does ours. Truly our PROMISE KEEPER does keep HIS promises "Thou shalt see now whether MY words shall come to pass unto thee or not." -Numbers 11:23.
"YOU turned my wailing into dancing;YOU removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to YOU and not be silent. O LORD my GOD, I will give you thanks forever." Psalm 30:11-12.

I love you and wish you and your family a happy 4th of July weekend. What a debt of gratitude we owe to GOD and to those who have laid down their lives for us that we might enjoy the freedoms that we still have. It certainly is a time to reflect and pray and asked the LORD to help us during these perilous times and grant us courage and wisdom for the days ahead. A friend of mine said her family was going to read the "Declaration of Independence" together...i thought that was a great idea.
I read these quotes yesterday from Chuck Missler's email newsletter ( http://www.khouse.org/ ) on Freedom and wanted to share them with you:

Throughout world history, the power-hungry have constantly fought to overpower and dominate others, whether overtly or through sneaky politicking. Freedom - whether political, religious, or spiritual - is wonderful to enjoy, but at the cost of great sacrifice and vigilant protection. In America, we are the heirs of great sacrifices made to give us a heritage of freedom. Let us guard and protect this inheritance, and not squander it like ungrateful children. To keep our freedoms, we need to appreciate the cost. We need to be willing to understand the sacrifice ourselves, so that we have the same legacy to hand our children: On Freedom:

"Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation, are people who want crops without ploughing the ground; they want rain without thunder and lightning; they want the ocean without the roar of its many waters. The struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, or it may be both. But it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand; it never has and it never will." – Frederick Douglass
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." - Thomas Paine
"A right is not what someone gives you; it's what no one can take from you." – Ramsey Clark
"You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom. You can only be free if I am free." - Clarence Darrow [That is, even if you don't like what your neighbor believes in, it's still vital to protect his freedom.]
"So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and otherwise, to put shackles upon sleeping men." - Voltaire
"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." - Wendell Phillips
"Freedom is never an achieved state; like electricity, we've got to keep generating it or the lights go out." - Wayne LaPierre
"If a nation values anything more than freedom, it will lose its freedom; and the irony of it is that if it is comfort or money that it values more, it will lose that too." - Somerset Maugham
"The land of the free will cease to be when it's no longer the home of the brave."- Rick Gaber
"A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned -- this is the sum of good government." – Thomas Jefferson
"If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen." – Samuel Adams
"Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value." - Thomas Paine
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." - Galatians 5:1 When something is rare, it has more value, which is why gold and diamonds are valued more than sand. Freedom is growing rarer again – but it must be sought after, dug up, and cherished like the treasure it is. We have readers from around the world – many of which value freedom way beyond those of us who have an abundance of it.

Remember – "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required" - Luke 12:48



You are such a blessing to me...and i thank GOD for you and the love you have shown me and my family. Thank for taking time out of your busy schedules to spend this time with me this holiday weekend and our dear SAVIOR who gave HIMSELF that we might have eternal life and be free indeed. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." – John 8:36 "For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only SON that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

With all HIS love,
mitzi

"Simple gratitude helps us to experience GOD at work in every moment of every day."
-Harriet Crosby
The Bible Promise Book for Women