Vessels of HIS Grace

  "Though HE slay me, yet will I trust in HIM." Job 13:15

⁹ 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. ¹⁰ 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." II Cor. 12:9-10

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

                          

   I realize i used  II Cor. 12:9-10 last week, but this is the passage the LORD has laid on my heart as I began to write, and this is what i am writing about.  I am going to go with it, HE always does a better job than me at writing this blog.  Last week, when i started the blog at 10:15 p.m. on Friday i got more responses than if i had spent hours writing it...so i am depending on HIS strength in my weaknesses once again.

        My  two brothers, Joe and Ralph are on their way to Sugar land, Texas,  (they're actually there now, i wrote that yesterday) where my brother Ralph and my brother Tracy are going to ride their bicycles  to Austin in a fund raiser for MS this weekend...it's like 175 miles.   My brother Joe will be hanging out with my sis in law, Cheryl and then they will pick up my other two brothers at the end of the ride.  I think two of my nephews, Drew and Lee, are riding in it too.  Sure would appreciate you saying a prayer for them as they head out on Sat. morning for the ride.    I sure  do appreciate you remembering my Mom too in your prayers...she's continue to struggle with her health.  Yesterday, i went by to see Mom and Dad for a few minutes, and Daddy, 84, wanted me to help him cut down a branch out of his pecan tree.  Daddy got a long hook to pull the branch down, and afterwards was pulling on it with both hands so i could reach up and clip it with the clippers.  Before i had the chance to reach up, the tree branch broke off much further down the limb and the whole heavy limb came tumbling to the ground, missing Daddy, Mother and me by inches.  We were all so very thankful...later Daddy said, "If I had thought i would have got the step ladder so you (me) could have stood on it to cut the branch."  I said, "I'm glad you didn't think, the branch would have gotten me sure enough!"  It was funny then, but for the grace of GOD it could have hit all three of us, and really hurt us or even killed us.    I'm so thankful the LORD was merciful and spared my Mom and Dad especially from getting hurt. 

     

     "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

     "In HIS inscrutable wisdom and love, GOD is able to use even 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

                                                                                                                                                         

     

     Earlier this week, Johnny and I had the privilege of visiting with our friend Arthur, who is the husband of Darlene, the friend with breast cancer I asked you to pray for last weekend who was struggling for her life from a transfusion of platelets she received earlier in the week that was contaminated with staph infection.  

 

      Arthur and Darlene's friendship during our earlier homeschooling years was GOD's special grace to our family, and I am so grateful for GOD loving our family through them.    I called Arthur Monday afternoon to see if Johnny and I might could come up to the hospital to visit him.  I knew that Darlene was not up to visitor's but we still wanted to visit with Arthur if we could.  Arthur was so gracious and kind, and sounded like he really wanted us to come.   Johnny wondered if he would like anything from the restaurant after i hung up the phone, and i said, i doubt he's hungry at a time like this.  In a little bit, Arthur called back to see if we had left yet, and i told him that Johnny had decided to take a short nap, but we'd be leaving shortly.  I said by the way, Johnny was wondering if you might be hungry...and Arthur, just like we hadn't missed a beat through the years, said, "From ya'lls restaurant?"  I finally got him to tell me what he wanted, so we went by the restaurant to take Arthur some barbecue chicken, dark meat, like he always used to eat when our paths were walking together going to the same church, homeschooling our kids together, etc.  It was such a blessing to us that Arthur wanted to see us, and he let us bring him some food...it was the least we could do for this dear man who has been  through so much in recent years since our paths went separate ways.  

     "GOD is our refuge and strength,

    A very present help in trouble.

    Therefore we will not fear,

    Even thought the earth be removed

    And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

    Though its waters roar and be troubled,

    Though the mountains shake with its swelling." 

                                          Psalm 46:1-3

    Arthur met us downstairs in the lobby of the hospital when we got there, and we went upstairs to a large waiting room and visited with our dear old friend.  Arthur sat there with this big old box on his lap, eating parts of a whole chicken, talking with such humility, honesty, and with the dry humor that i remembered so well.  As he ate, he shared with us the very rough weekend that Darlene had had after she contracted staph infection through some contaminated platelets she had received.  Sunday night, the doctor's also diagnosed her with pneumonia, in addition to the staph infection, and the cancer she was originally being treated for.  Arthur was so very gracious, so very peaceful about HIS GOD, and that his dear wife  was in the LORD's hands.  It was hard to hear in the waiting area, there were so many people in there, and Johnny and I sat across the aisle from Arthur, but Arthur related to us some of the other trials he has been through in the past few years with his work.  We really had no idea that he and Darlene had had such a difficult time, and it makes me mad at myself for allowing our friendship to just drop when we had shared so much together for several years.  As Arthur relayed these things to us, there was never any evidence of grumbling or complaining against the LORD, or the doctor's...or even his bosses.  He was just relaying the facts of what had happened, and the grace of GOD was upon this man, in a way that is only on those who have suffered greatly.  He wasn't wringing his hands in anxiety or worry, he was just doing the next thing, and trusting the LORD with the outcome, which didn't look too  promising Monday night as we visited  as for as Darlene recovering from the weekend.   When we were leaving, Arthur said, "Mitz, you were the sickest person i knew before Darlene got sick," and had a grin on his face.  Johnny and I just laughed, and walked away with such a blessing in our hearts from this friend we had come to "minister" to. GOD's grace was upon Arthur and GOD had just blessed the socks off of us with the  peace and trust HE has given Arthur in the midst of a very difficult trial.  He was such a picture or vessel of GOD's grace.  

      "The great thing about faith in GOD is that it keeps a man undisturbed in the midst of disturbance."  

                                                                                                                               -Oswald Chambers

            "Perfect love expels all fear." I John 4:18

 And...it was true...i was very sick when we were bosom buddies with Arthur and Darlene and they just loved me and accepted me, and made me feel "almost normal."  I remember one of the first times we were eating together and I was eating out of a can of garbanzo beans because that was one of the few things that stabilized my blood sugar.  Instead of making me feel worse than i already did, Arthur and Darlene commented how much they loved garbanzo beans and that made me feel so much better.  I was more than happy to share my garbanzo beans with them!   I had no idea the blessings that GOD had in store for our dear family bringing this dear family into our lives to walk a close path with us for the next 5 years or so.  

  "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield not meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:  Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the GOD of my salvation." Habakkuk 3:17,18

       

    Arthur was our Sunday School teacher, and I will never forget him walking up our sidewalk one afternoon after he got off work to come and visit us.  We had never met Arthur or been to his class at that point, but we both were so touched that he took time to come and visit us.  We visited his and Darlene's class the next Sunday and were really blessed through their love, and the love of the class, and Arthur's sound biblical teaching. I don't think we visited any other classes after that. Some of those former Sunday School members have been calling or emailing this week, along with members of the Hispanic mission where our family and Arthur's family served together for a couple years, to ask about Darlene, and see if there is anything they can do for Arthur and Darlene.  My heart has really been touched by the body of CHRIST as I am getting to see so many so their love and concern for Arthur and Darlene even though our lives and their lives haven't touched in a while.  The love of CHRIST is so evident and so very strong.  I can't imagine what it would be like to go through something like this without my brother's and sister's in CHRIST.  I am so thankful for Arthur's Sunday School class ministering to me and our family when i was out in Texas for six and a half weeks...they sent cards, prayed for us, brought meals, and i'm sure helped out with the kids some.  Darlene helped with Hannah  Beth's birthday party once when i was away in Texas, and I missed John Mac's Bible Drill the first year i was out there...i'm sure Darlene was helping with them then, as Jeremy and John Mac were in Bible Drill together....so many memories we share with this family.

    "For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory (2 Cor. 4:17).

    One of the funniest memories was a camping trip our families went on together up to Davy Crockett State Park.  We left on Easter Sunday after church...i told myself i would NEVER do that again.  It took away from concentrating on CHRIST and HIS death and resurrection to get ready to go camping!  My extended family always ate together on Easter together, and the whole way up there, i'm seeing these families eating outside together, and I am thinking I'm not doing this again...going camping Easter weekend.  We got up there, and we were tent camping, so we each set up our tents, and got the campsite set up.  Well, we brought enough food for an army literally, and probably could have stayed a month on the supply we brought.  We had bought some big, cast iron pots to use just for camping and were excited about trying them out.  From the moment we got there, it seems, we cooked, and we washed big, cast iron heavy pots, and ate...that's all we did, it seems, except we did take one nice long hike, and Arthur and the kids climbed a really steep embankment together, and Johnny went to Walmart!  We never let Johnny live that down...seems like every time we camped, he ended up "hiking" to Walmart...probably to get some more food!  No, i remember he came back with more camping supplies actually...That night, while we were all in our tents, it came up a big storm and the wind blew hard, and it rained, and our tent got wet inside and it was COLD!   The next morning, after freezing to death...we decided to forgo cooking breakfast, and went to the local Shoney's and ate.  I think after that we packed up and came home!  That was the extent of our camping trip on Easter Sunday...we have laughed about it through the years, but man we sure did work hard cooking and washing those heavy cast iron skillets and cookware!   

       Well, i didn't mean to tell about the camping trip, but that is just one of the many fond memories that we share with the Anderson family.  GOD has brought back many, many sweet memories together with them this week.  I hope the LORD has used this to remind me not to forget how precious friendships are, and not let them go so easily.  Thank you for praying for my friend Darlene, and Arthur and their precious family...they are just like you and me, and what an encouragement to my faith to see my brother and sister standing in the fire, and relying on GOD's grace to get them through this...please continue to pray for them and for their extended family who is here helping to care for the kids and for Darlene.   

   I read this devo this morning from "Streams," and it sure did remind me of Arthur, a man trusting in HIS GOD and resting in HIS WORD in the midst of great trial.

Author: Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
Source: Streams in the Desert
Scripture Reference: Psalm 119:42

Rest on the Word of God

"I trust in thy word" (Ps. 119:42).
Just in proportion in which we believe that God will do just what He has said, is our faith strong or weak. Faith has nothing to do with feelings, or with impressions, with improbabilities, or with outward appearances. If we desire to couple them with faith, then we are no longer resting on the Word of God because faith needs nothing of the kind. Faith rests on the naked Word of God. When we take Him at His Word, the heart is at peace.
God delights to exercise faith, first for blessing in our own souls, then for blessing in the Church at large, and also for those without. But this exercise we shrink from instead of welcoming. When trials come, we should say: "My Heavenly Father puts this cup of trial into my hands, that I may have something sweet afterwards."
Trials are the food of faith. Oh, let us leave ourselves in the hands of our Heavenly Father! It is the joy of His heart to do good to all His children.
But trials and difficulties are not the only means by which faith is exercised and thereby increased. There is the reading of the Scriptures, that we may by them acquaint ourselves with God as He has revealed Himself in His Word.
Are you able to say, from the acquaintance you have made with God, that He is a lovely Being? If not, let me affectionately entreat you to ask God to bring you to this, that you may admire His gentleness and kindness, that you may be able to say how good He is, and what a delight it is to the heart of God to do good to His children.
Now the nearer we come to this in our inmost souls, the more ready we are to leave ourselves in His hands, satisfied with all His dealings with us. And when trial comes, we shall say:
"I will wait and see what good God will do to me by it, assured He will do it." Thus we shall bear an honorable testimony before the world, and thus we shall strengthen the hands of others. --George Mueller.

   

     

     As i was thinking about what song to use this week, the LORD brought another sweet memory to my mind with Arthur and Darlene...our families used to sit close to the front together on the same pew when we were at First Baptist, except for when Arthur and Darlene joined the choir, and then Jeremy and Natalie sat with us, while their Mom and Dad sang.  One Sunday we sang the hymn "Like A River Glorious, " by Francis Havergal-  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCY1rR34Zeg&feature=related.  I was really going through a difficult time, as Arthur said, "I was the sickest person he knew before Darlene," and he was probably telling the truth.  I remember singing the verse... 

 

                                                                               "Every joy or trial falleth from above, 

                                                                               Trac'd upon our dial By the Sun of LOVE; 

                                                                              We may trust HIM fully All for us to do; 

                                                                             They who trust HIM wholly Find HIM wholly true."

                                                                               Chorus:

                                                                              "Stayed upon Jehovah, Hearts are fully blessed; 

                                                                               Finding as HE promised perfect peace and rest."

                                                                         

     GOD used that verse to bring such comfort and peace to my heart...that every joy or trial comes from above, and is traced upon our dial by the SON of LOVE, i could trust HIM fully all for me to do...and now 12 years later, I can say, "They who trust HIM wholly Find HIM wholly true."  The HOLY SPIRIT spoke to my heart that Sunday morning, that although I didn't understand why GOD had allowed me to suffer so, HE knew, and HE would continue providing all i needed HIM to do for me and my family. 

    "There is a river whose streams shall

make glad the city of GOD,

the holy place of the tabernacle of the MOST HIGH.

GOD is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;

GOD shall help her, just at the break of dawn.

The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;

HE uttered HIS voice, the earth melted."

     Psalm 46:4-6

      It wasn't long after that, when GOD led me to Texas, after HE prompted me to humble myself and put my name on the prayer list at First Baptist....what a journey, 12 years later, my kids have managed to graduate from homeschooling through GOD's grace, and go on to do well in college, and more importantly, i pray they are growing in the grace and knowledge of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.  I know HE has grown me much through this journey, and I can say with all my heart I have found HIM to be wholly true...

HE is the Rock, HIS works are perfect, and all HIS ways are just. A faithful GOD who does no wrong, upright and just is HE." Deut. 32:4

     I even went and signed up for my PreCalculus class for this summer at Calhoun before I went to  visit Mom and Dad  earlier this week. I never dreamed I would be able to return to school, and believe me i am relying on HIS grace to be sufficient...to supply my needs in many areas.  I feel like the LORD is leading me to further my education in nursing so that I can have a broader platform to share some of the knowledge that HE has used to bring healing to me, and equip me to do that more adequately.  More importantly, i want to share my dear SAVIOR with those HE leads me to down this path, and magnify HIM in all that I am and do. Please pray for me, pray for my husband...with  HB in school and John Mac plans to go to med school...me returning to school was not in his plans or budget:).   GOD will have to provide if this is what HE wants me to do.   

      

     I just talked with Darlene's sis, and Darlene may get to come home this weekend!  Wow...GOD is answering a lot of folks prayers for them...thank you so much for your continued prayers for them, for us.  I just talked to Arthur, and GOD's grace just continues to overflow out of him...we shared of the "fellowship of the sufferings of CHRIST," and that sweet intimacy you have with CHRIST when you go through the dark nights of the soul.  We shared how much it means to be loved by the body of CHRIST, and how he felt like he was being held up by the prayers of his brothers and sisters in CHRIST like Moses arm was held up by Aaron and Hur as Israel fought.  I asked Arthur for permission to share with you what i have above, and he said as long as it magnifies the LORD and brings glory to HIM.  I had just read about magnifying the LORD on my Elisabeth Elliot calendar that morning, and it being the grand purpose of our lives, not to make money, not to have a successful career, or our kids be "successful" in the eyes of the world, but to magnify CHRIST to bear HIS life to the rest of the world... believe me, Arthur and Darlene are vessels of HIS grace, and magnifying HIM in all they are going through:

  

                    "The primary and shining grand purpose of our lives is that CHRIST might be magnified in us, that we might be the bearers of the life of CHRIST to the rest of the world."  

                                                                     -Elisabeth Elliot, www.elisabethelliot.org

                CHRIST will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death."  Phil. 1:20   

 Update: I just got a text from Arthur this Friday morning...and Darlene is coming home today! Wow...thank you for your prayers, and please continue!  Thank you LORD for answering the cries of your children on Darlene's behalf...

     Thank you for your love for JESUS, and for praying for these friends you may not have met yet, but you will spend eternity with them, if you know JESUS CHRIST as your LORD and SAVIOR.  Have you trusted in HIM and what HE did for you on the Cross to show HIS love to you and forgive you for your sins? HE loves us so much that HE poured out HIS life, even unto death, that we might be cleansed from our sins and restored in a right relationship with HIM that we might magnify HIM and be the bearers of CHRIST's life to the rest of the world."

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

   How sweet it is that the LORD has brought not only our paths back together with Arthur and Darlene, but those we used to fellowship with when we were all laboring together in the LORD....how sweet the love of CHRIST is...and truly HIS grace is sufficient and HIS power is "dynamite," perfected in our weaknesses," even my weakness to let a wonderful friendship go unattended for way too long.  

  I read these words this morning, and thought they sure were appropriate for what my friends are going through, and for what CHRIST has done so in my life through my sickness.   I praise HIM for HIS loving ways and giving me my thorn to bless me with HIS sweet intimacy in so many ways that I would not have otherwise experienced:

God's Intention Through Sickness

Sickness, in the very nature of things, can never be anything but trying to our flesh. Our bodies and souls are strangely linked together, and that which vexes and weakens the body can hardly fail to vex the mind and soul. But sickness, we must always remember, is no sign that God is displeased with us; no, more, it is generally sent for the good of our souls. It tends to draw our affections away from this world, and to direct them to things above. It sends us to our Bibles, and teaches us to pray better. It helps to prove our faith and patience, and shows us the real value of our hope in Christ. It reminds us that we are not to live always, and tunes and trains our hearts for our great change. Then let us be patient and cheerful when we are laid aside by illness. Let us believe that the Lord Jesus loves us when we are sick no less than when we are well.

~ J.C. Ryle

Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John, volume 2, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1987], 257-258. {John 11:1-6}

      "Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces.  GOD hath many sharp cutting instruments, and rough files for the polishing of HIS jewels: and those HE especially loves, and means to make the most resplendent, HE hath oftenest HIS tools upon."

                                                                        -Archbishop Leighton

  " Who shall separate us from the love of CHRIST?...for I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of GOD in CHRIST JESUS our LORD."  Romans 8:35,38,39

     "I bear my willing witness that I owe more to the fire, and the hammer, and the file, than to anything else in my LORD's workshop.  I sometimes question whether I have ever learned anything except through the rod.  When my schoolroom is darkened, I see most."

                                                                                                                                -Charles H. Spurgeon

           

     

      Your emails are such a dear blessing to me...thank you for sharing your "GOD stories" with me, and your prayer requests as the LORD leads you to do that.  It is an honor for me to pray for you, and it increases my faith in our loving heavenly FATHER, to hear of HIS faithfulness in your life.  Thank you for listening to my GOD stories...and letting me share my heart with you week after week. 

                                                                                                                        With all HIS love,

                                                                                                                             mitzi

"The Cross does stand at the very heart and center of the CHRISTian life-the cross of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, by which HE achieved our deliverance from the bondage of sin and self-love and opens to us the means of sharing HIS own life." 

 -Hannah Hurnard

"May I never boast except in the cross of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Galatians 6:14

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10LhDfP8CHM

"Embrace the Cross"

HIS Grace is Sufficient and "Embrace the Cross"+

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.II Cor. 12:9-10

Dear Praying Friends and Family,
    I don't usually start the "Friday" email at 10:15 p.m. on Friday night...but that is what GOD has provided, and so here i go.  I have been "whacked," by an allergic reaction since Wednesday, and well, this really is the first open window GOD has given me to write.  HIS thoughts have been in my heart, and I trust that HE will lead me what to share with you.
    I want to ask each of you to please remember my friend Darlene Anderson in your prayers.  Darlene is in Huntsville Hospital tonight and she is struggling for her life.  Many of you know Darlene and you know what a joy and delight that she is along with her husband Arthur, and their three children, Jeremy, Natalie, and Phillip.  Darlene has cancer and earlier this week was given some platelets contaminated by bacteria. Her body is really struggling to recover and get her platelets up.   Please remember Darlene and her family who has meant so much to our family through the years. Arthur was our Sunday School teacher at First Baptist when the LORD led us there in 1998. They joined us on the homeschool journey and what a sweet time of fellowship we shared for several years as we camped together, fished together, went to see the Greenes together, celebrated CHRISTmas together, kayaked together, and oh yeah, studied some together:).   It is so special how GOD brings people into our lives to help us and encourage us along the journey, and that's who Darlene has been to me, when i was sick and trying to homeschool.  She was such a ray of sunshine and so teachable, and always willing to help me however she could.  Eventually,  Arthur and Darlene felt the LORD leading them to put their kids in a CHRISTian school when they got older, and our families were led to different churches so our paths went different directions.  But what sweet time it was for the years the LORD allowed the Anderson's to walk alongside us on our journey and encourage us in the LORD.  Thank you so much for praying for Darlene and her family during this most difficult time.
      
      Earlier this week, Johnny and I had the great blessing of watching our son receive the Electrical Engineering Academic Award at the UAH honors day.  That morning as my son got ready for the honors ceremony and looked so handsome in his navy sport coat, white collared shirt with red tie, and cacky pants, I said son, what the LORD has done in yours and Hannah Beth's lives gives me the faith that if GOD wants me to go back to school, HE can do it.  What I meant by that is GOD allowed this weak sickly homeschool Mom, who cheated on her high school math and was too scattered to even help her children with their Math much beyond sixth or seventh grade to receive the Electrical Engineering Academic Award and finish with a 4.0.    Yes, i am bragging, but I want to brag upon the LORD for HIS grace has indeed been sufficient and HIS power is made perfect in weakness...in my weakness.  GOD has clearly shown this to me over and over in my life...and because of what HE has done in the past, HE gives me faith that HE will give me grace for the future to be strong in my weaknesses to do what HE is calling me to do and what HE is calling my children to do. 
      This week I have been reading about Joshua in my Daily Bible reading, and how Joshua utterly depended on the LORD and was obedient to HIM.  Today I read about the walls of Jericho falling down...and the Israelites were able to defeat their enemies.  Not because of their own power, but because of their obedience to GOD and HIS power made the walls of Jericho fall.  First they had to march around the city seven times will little lamps in their hands.  I wonder if any of them felt dumb doing that, wondering what good that is going to accomplish marching with a lamp in their hand?   I sometimes wonder about the paths that GOD leads me down, like homeschooling, when I was so sick.  I wouldn't take anything for those years with my children.  I'm sure to those looking at us, it must have seemed dumb sometimes to homeschool when we could have put them in school.    It is GOD's grace that enabled me to go on when there were many days I didn't feel like getting up.  I praise HIM for HIS grace in our lives and truly it has been sufficient, and will continue to be for the battles HE has for us to fight, and the plans that HE has for us that are much bigger than our strength, and beyond our comprehension.


    This morning i was really feeling badly still, and wanted to write, but didn't feel like it. The LORD keeps trying to teach me to rest in HIM when I can't write...HE has something else HE wants to teach me or show me.  One of those things was today i took Troy, our Maltipoo to the "beauty shop" to get his hair cut.  When i went to pick him up there was a Maltipoo that looked just like him, except for a "combover" hanging down over the dogs face.  It wasn't Troy, thought it looked like him, and turned out it was a Maltipoo born with one eye that someone adopted from the pound.  It was destined to be put to sleep.  My heart was moved for the compassion of the owner, to pick out an imperfect dog and save it, and love it, and give it life.  That's what our LORD does for us..."But GOD demonstrated HIS love for us in that while we were yet sinners CHRIST died for us." Romans 5:8... HE loves us so much, HE picks out us who are sinners (who cheat on their math)  and destined for eternal death and  HE gave HIS SON to pay for our sins, and then HE adopts us into HIS family.  We still sin...but HE has given us a new heart, with new desires to love HIM and obey HIM.  You can't fake being a CHRISTian...you're either born again or you're not, and CHRIST  loves to take our weaknesses, and show HIS power through us. 
       Today's reading for Streams in the Desert is one of those devotions that has encouraged my heart greatly through the years when i was so weak, and wondered why I couldn't be strong like the other Mom's homeschooling their kids.  I shared with my Detoxify or Die class Sunday night, the LORD led me to start reading Streams in the Desert when i first got sick about 21 years ago ( John Mac was 8 months old when i began to experience mysterious back pain and it went downhill from there). I had no idea the LORD would keep me reading it for the next 21 years...it has become a part of me in the way GOD has used the devotions to help me to see suffering from HIS perspective.  Today, as soon as i read these words, about GOD being dynamite in our weakness, i am not kidding, i immediately felt stronger, and got up, and cut the grass this afternoon.  I felt HIS power upon me.  I was so encouraged at being reminded how GOD uses our weaknesses to be DYNAMITE and unleash HIS power through our lives...it made me once again, so very thankful for the thorn that HE has allowed in my life...this thorn that has taught me to cling to JESUS, to depend on HIM, to know HIM in a much deeper and sweeter fellowship than I would have every known HIM if I had not had this thorn, and to know HIS resurrection power in my weaknesses...power like dynamite!

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."

   This past week in Sunday School one of the passages of Scripture that Pastor Edwin used was Phillipians 3:10:

That I may know him, and the power of HIS resurrection, and the fellowship of HIS sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

    That passage has really spoken to me all week, as CHRIST has reminded me of the fellowship that I have with HIM because of my sufferings, not in spite of them.  Elisabeth Elliot says that suffering is anything we have that we don't want or anything we want and don't have...that can include a lot of things in your life and mine.  All of these sufferings are an opportunity to "embrace the Cross," and join in the fellowship of the sufferings of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.  I can't explain to you all that this means, as I continue to try to understand this passage.  But i do know first hand that in my deepest fires the LORD has indeed drawn so near to me and revealed HIMself so sweetly through HIS WORD, and through circumstances, through other people. 

    Earlier this week, actually it was April 5, the day John Mac received his award, I read a powerful devotion by Charles Spurgeon that stirred my heart so much:

Author: Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Morning: Carrying Christ's Cross
Evening: Humiliation Brings Blessing

Morning: Carrying Christ's Cross

"On Him they laid the cross, that He might bear it after Jesus."

--Luke 23:26

We see in Simon's carrying the cross a picture of the work of the Church throughout all generations; she is the cross-bearer after Jesus. Mark then, Christian, Jesus does not suffer so as to exclude your suffering. He bears a cross, not that you may escape it, but that you may endure it. Christ exempts you from sin, but not from sorrow. Remember that, and expect to suffer.

But let us comfort ourselves with this thought, that in our case, as in Simon's, it is not our cross, but Christ's cross which we carry. When you are molested for your piety; when your religion brings the trial of cruel mockings upon you, then remember it is not your cross, it is Christ's cross; and how delightful is it to carry the cross of our Lord Jesus!

You carry the cross after Him. You have blessed company; your path is marked with the footprints of your Lord. The mark of His blood-red shoulder is upon that heavy burden. 'Tis His cross, and He goes before you as a shepherd goes before his sheep. Take up your cross daily, and follow Him.

Do not forget, also, that you bear this cross in partnership. It is the opinion of some that Simon only carried ne end of the cross, and not the whole of it. That is very possible; Christ may have carried the heavier part, against the transverse beam, and Simon may have borne the lighter end. Certainly it is so with you; you do but carry the light end of the cross, Christ bore the heavier end.

And remember, though Simon had to bear the cross for a very little while, it gave him lasting honour. Even so the cross we carry is only for a little while at most, and then we shall receive the crown, the glory. Surely we should love the cross, and, instead of shrinking from it, count it very dear, when it works out for us "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."

      I know from experience what it means when CHRIST interrupts our plans and asks us to help HIM carry HIS cross.  Many of you reading this also know as Arthur and Darlene know as they are walking a path of suffering in their lives.  GOD has not deserted them, or their family.  HE is faithful to carry the heavier end and knows that this suffering is temporary and achieves a crown of glory for more than what we can comprehend.

"For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!" II Cor. 4:17

    Elisabeth Elliot, www.elisabethelliot.org,  in her book A Path Through Suffering,  talks much about how GOD wants to transform our crosses and make them our gateway to joy, just as the worst day in history when JESUS was nailed to a wooden cross for your sins and mine was turned into the best day when our sins were paid for and HE rose from the dead three days later.  Just as there was resurrection power that brought JESUS back to life,  so is there resurrection power in our sufferings that transforms them and brings HIS power and life to us and others through them.   HE takes them and transforms them as we offer them to HIM, and gives us beauty for ashes, and the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness...    

   "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified." Isaiah 61:3

     "Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5

     It is getting late, and there is much more that I could share about HIS grace being sufficient and carrying the cross of CHRIST.  I hope to do that in the weeks ahead as we think and ponder upon the death and resurrection of our LORD JESUS CHRIST...as we think how very much HE loves us to give HIS life for us, and as we think about the DYNAMITE power that is ours in our weakness because of HIS grace and power in and through our lives.  

    This week, when i read that devotion about carrying the cross, the LORD brought Steve Green's "Embrace the Cross" song to my mind  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10LhDfP8CHM  ...it went perfectly for what i am trying to share with you...i have so much to more to learn about embracing the cross, but i know that GOD is faithful to continue to gently teach me.  HIS faithfulness in my past gives me the faith that HE will be faithful to give grace for the future, and carry the heavier end of the crosses HE calls me to carry with HIM...in the meantime, i am continuing to know CHRIST in the fellowship of HIS sufferings, and what a sweet fellowship that is as i learn to "embrace the cross.."

      Thank you for spending this time with me..., it's still Friday and the LORD is right on time:).  CHRIST's desire is for each of us to "know CHRIST, the power of HIS resurrection, the fellowship of HIS sufferings, being made conformable unto HIS death." I hope and pray that you have trusted in CHRIST as your LORD and SAVIOR and repented of your sins.

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

     It is an honor for me to walk this journey with you and to know CHRIST, and HIS power and share in the fellowship of HIS sufferings together with you...thank you for remembering my friend Darlene, and please remember my Mom also as she has not been feeling well.  

                                                                                                                                                        With all HIS love,

                                                                                                                                                               mitzi

-- 

If I accomplish one goal in my life, if nothing else gets done, this is the one thing that really matters to me-this is my highest goal and my number one priority:  to live in the presence of the LORD, to look on HIS beauty, and to learn from HIM."Nancy Leigh DeMoss, www.reviveourhearts.com

"One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek:  That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in HIS temple." Psalm 27:4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnRhbxF4cbU
"Where YOUR Glory Dwells" 

"We Will Keep Our Eyes On HIM"

"I lift up my eyes to YOU, to YOU whose throne is in heaven.  As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look  to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our GOD, till HE shows us HIS mercy." Psalm 123:2

 

   Dear Praying Friends and Family,

       My heart is full, but my head is empty and I am having a difficult time writing this email that I began yesterday. That's okay..."I will lift up  my eyes to hills, from when cometh my help" Ps. 121:1 , and depend on the LORD to write through me if HE wants me to share a Friday email.

     Thank you so much for praying for the Women's Conference last weekend...what a sweet time of fellowship, and encouragement we had in the LORD last weekend with one another and from our guest speaker, Linda Evans Shepherd http://www.sheppro.com/  For some reason I keep wanting to call her Janet, and have done that on more than one occasion in writing, thanks for helping me out with that Betty Dean:). I cannot tell you what a blessing it was to have some of you come and join us, Catherine, Nina, Kathy and her sis, Brenda,  and Wanda.   I can't tell you what a blessing it was to know that others of you were praying for us.  Sherri, thank you for your sweet note assuring us of your prayers, and I wish that you could have attended...next year I want ALL of you to just mark it on your calendar's sometime in March and come!   

Beth Ann Haynes, Nikkie Tibbets, Linda Evans Shepherd, and Debbie Holland

     It's amazing how many thoughts I have had when I have been thinking about what to share with you this week...I'm not kidding my cup is full, but my brain won't cooperate with me to get it on email.  This morning though, when I got up, I didn't feel too full, in fact, I felt rather discouraged when I came to the LORD to spend time with HIM early this morning.  As I began to pray, i knew that I had to once again, put into practice the things that Linda shared with us last weekend about keeping our eyes focused on the LORD instead of the circumstances around us that want to discourage us and rob us of our joy in HIM.  One of the illustrations she used last weekend  was at another conference she was speaking at and they were having prayer.  While they were praying, a bat got loose in the church and was flying around close to where she was sitting.  Others around her were trying to smack the bat with a broom all the while they were having a time of prayer and worship.  She kept trying to focus on the LORD and not the bat, but to no avail.  She couldn't help but be distracted by the bat and what was going on around her.  Afterwards, she was talking with someone playing in the band during that time, and they were totally oblivious to the bat that had been flying around, they were focused on the LORD.  She used that as an illustration, if we keep our eyes focused on the LORD JESUS, and HIS WORD, then we won't notice all the circumstances and distractions that try to tempt us and discourage us, and rob us of the peace and joy that we have in CHRIST JESUS when we keep our eyes on HIM.

     As I wrote this the HOLY SPIRIT brought this verse to mind from Isaiah 26:3:

                      You will keep him in perfect peace,  Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

    This morning as I came to my prayer time, I was struggling with the cares it seemed of many different areas of my life.  I knew that the way that I was feeling physically was the reason I was feeling so overwhelmed.  GOD in HIS graciousness, reminded me through Linda Evans Shepherd last week, to bring those cares to HIM, and leave them there with HIM.  I Peter 5:7 tells us to "Cast our cares upon HIM for HE careth for us." I loved her emphasizing over and over how much GOD loves us and longs to have a personal and intimate relationship with each one of us.  HE wants us to trust HIM, and rest in HIS care. As I opened my prayer notebook this morning, the LORD led my eyes to a verse that reminded me to HE wants me to come to HIM and bring my cares to HIM:

       "Then JESUS said, Come to ME, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take MY yoke upon you. Let ME teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For MY yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." Matt. 11:28-30.

      I was weary this morning, and have been off and on all week since the Conference.   JESUS invitation to me was just what I needed.  I wrote down several things in my prayer notebook that were concerning me, and I offered them up to the LORD, laying them on an imaginary altar to give them to HIM.  I learned that from Elisabeth Elliot several years ago to imagine an altar and give it to the LORD on that altar. I know that I can't "control" anything as our Minister of Music told us in choir Weds night, but I sure do want to at times and try to.  That gets me nowhere, but frustrated and angry and robs me of peace in my LORD WHO wants me to bring those heavy burdens to HIM.  He gave me the grace to do that this morning, and though I still didn't "feel" the best in the world by the time I took off to Huntsville to the grocery store, HE did lift my heart and gave me rest in HIM. HE even encouraged the fire out of me by a lady i met who was working at Earthfare.  She was a dear sister in the LORD, and we just had a sweet time of fellowship in HIM right there in the middle of the produce section this morning as she shared how GOD had called her to work there, and how HE has worked so mightily in her family since she and her husband surrendered their lives to CHRIST a couple of years ago. She was just what i needed to hear this morning, to lift my heart and encourage me, and GOD knew that, that's why HE put her in my path this morning.   I know that HE is going to take care of all that concerneth me... 

     " The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands." Psalm 138:7-8

    He has done that over and over in my life...and HE will do it again.  I just have to keep my eyes on HIM, delighting myself in HIM...

    

3Trust in the LORD and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4Delight yourself in the LORD

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5Commit your way to the LORD;

trust in him and he will do this:

                      6He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,

               the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. 

        Our little dog, Troy is such a picture of keeping his eyes on his master, as I'm sure all of you who have house dogs do the same thing.  Troy keeps his eyes on me, and where ever I am in the house, he's going to be there too.  Just a minute ago, i walked to the back to get a book I wanted to look something up in...here comes Troy, who was sound asleep in the chair in the den, to see where I was.  He follows me everywhere, and doesn't like for me to get out of his sight, except at night, when Johnny comes home from work.  After I sauna, and he waits loyally for me outside the sauna (he actually likes to sauna with me part of the time- crazy dog, i think he likes to lick the sweat off of me), he spends time with Johnny sitting up front in Johnny's big blue chair with him, just enjoying being with "Daddy."  Then, after a while he comes back to our bedroom and gets in bed with me.

   Speaking of spending time with  "Daddy," Johnny sure does miss his "Hanny" time with his baby girl each night on the arm of his big blue chair.  Yesterday, Hannah Beth sent me a message on Facebook that said:

  "Mom, you would be so proud. I did my first load of "whites" laundry since i've been at school a couple days ago.haha I don't usually separate it. Love you.." 

           Yes, I am proud of my little Hanny and I told her that I am proud of her all the time.  Her FB post brought a smile to my face:)
.
    I was really proud of her Weds. morning when she respectfully but boldly confronted a Catholic teacher at the Baptist college she attends when the teacher was sharing false doctrine in the classroom.  Hannah Beth said this teacher had "converted" from being a Baptist to a Catholic about 10 years ago, and had been teaching at the University of Mobile for several years.   Hannah Beth spoke up in class and respectfully shared Scripture with her teacher to refute what the teacher was saying.      Hannah Beth said that the disappointing thing was that no one else in the class spoke up except for a couple of girls who defended the teacher's wrong doctrine... Hannah Beth told me over the phone last night that a guy in the class texted HB and told her she was his new hero.  I am very proud and thankful for GOD strengthening my daughter to stand alone and share the TRUTH when her teacher disagreed.  I am saddened that the school she is going to, allows this teacher to continue to teach false doctrine.

    I may have missed some things teaching Hannah Beth how to do laundry growing up:)...but i'm  so thankful she recognized what was being taught was not the TRUTH in her classroom, and respectfully was sharing Scripture to confront the false teaching.  As she was in class, she was texting her Daddy and asking him questions too about what Catholics believe so that she could talk to her teacher.  Even though Hannah Beth is 5 hours away, she knew who she could run to help her with this discussion, her Daddy, who was glad to text her Scripture and references  to help her defend the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST.  Her Daddy is going to help her in any way possible because he loves his baby girl so very much.

     What happened yesterday with Hannah Beth reminded me of one of the most important lessons we learned at the Women's Conference last weekend...to keep our eyes on our FATHER, no matter what is going on around us, because our heavenly DADDY loves us so very much, and HE wants to and will help us as we cry out to HIM.

    The LORD, our Master, our SAVIOR, our DADDY,  loves us so much, and HE truly is working all things together for our good, for those who love HIM and are called according to HIS purposes. Romans 8:28.  HE loves for us to spend that "DADDY" time with HIM, each morning reading HIS WORD and in prayer so that we can set our hearts and minds on HIM, and keep our eyes on HIM the rest of the day through all the circumstances HE orchestrates for us.   HE wants us to keep our eyes on HIM the way that Troy keeps his eyes on his master, and Hannah Beth turns to her Daddy for help.   GOD knows that our peace and joy are in a relationship with HIM...and in HIS presence are pleasure forevermore:

         'Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Psalm 16:11

                      

    The devil also knows that in GOD's presence is fulness of joy and he does everything he can to distract us from the presence of GOD.  One of the main ways is by keeping us so busy we don't make time to spend with "DADDY" (in Romans 8:15 the Word Abba,  means "Daddy"  "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.")  thinking we don't have time. 

    We go to bed too late to get up early enough to spend time with our FATHER before the day starts.  We have to make time, each one of us, it's a choice of what's most important.  Our pastor, Edwin Jenkins is one of the busiest men I know, and he gets up at 4:00 a.m. each morning to have time to spend alone with the LORD before he goes out to minister to others.  You can tell that Pastor Jenkins has an intimate and personal relationship with our LORD JESUS through who he is and what he share from the pulpit.  Speaking of that, this coming Sunday, Pastor Edwin will begin a new series on called "JESUS, Come Near, Let Me Know YOU." I am so excited about this series, and I sure would love for you to come and hear too if you live close by.  You can also watch our services on TV on Sunday morning, they are one week tape delayed.  

     JESUS wants us to know HIM and the fulness of HIS love for each one of us.  The circumstances HE orchestrates for each one of our lives are designed to draw us to HIM and to show us how very much HE loves us and cares for us.  HE invites us to come to HIM, bringing our heavy burdens, and resting in HIS precious love for us.

      This Sunday night our choir and orchestra will be singing "Praise HIM in Psalms," a collection of songs, many straight from Scripture that magnify and exalt the LORD JESUS CHRIST and all that HE is.  We have been working on these songs in choir practice for several weeks.   However last Wednesday night, Br. Ryan stopped choir practice early and said, we weren't ready...and you could tell he was discouraged with our lack of passion and zeal for these powerful songs.  After he sat down, Betty Dean Newman stood up and called a prayer meeting for this week...about 20 people showed up early before choir practice to pray and to humble ourselves before the LORD and ask for HIS HELP.  "My Help" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2nQALWDStA, sung by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir is another powerful song we're singing, along with the song at the bottom of this email, "Where YOUR Glory Dwells," and many more. This has been the sweetest week of preparing for the concert Sunday night.  Tuesday night, Br. Ryan's heart was overflowing with the LORD, and he really encouraged us in the LORD, sending us a sweet note after orchestra practice.  Wednesday night, was incredible...after our prayer meeting, it was like Br. Ryan was on fire with the HOLY SPIRIT, and his passion lifted the choir and empowered them to sing with all their hearts for the LORD.  Again he sent a very sweet and encouraging email telling us all how much he loved us.  Last night, the choir and orchestra practiced together, and we had another sweet night in the LORD.  I heard Br. Ryan telling the choir, he believed he had experienced more spiritual warfare with this concert than any other he has directed because the songs are straight from GOD's WORD.  I know that my heart has been encouraged so much this past weekend with the Women's Conference, and then this week with choir and orchestra practice.  Though I have been really tired at times, and GOD renewed my strength through a new IV, my spirit and soul have been so refreshed in the LORD JESUS as HE has helped me to keep my eyes on HIM...through my struggles. 

     

    With this decision about returning to school coming up, I often start thinking and worrying about this, that, and the other, and GOD is constantly reminding me to keep my eyes on HIM, and don't turn to the right or left worrying about other things.  Just this morning, HE reminded me of this through this passage in Joshua 1:7-8 to meditate on HIS WORD day and night, being careful to do everything written in it, keeping my eyes focused on HIM... 

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

        Troy wishes that his Master didn't ever have to leave and get out of his sight.  But our Master never does leave us, and HE promises in the Greek to "never, never, never, never, never leave or forsake us." Elisabeth Elliot says that "never" is like using it 5 times the way it's written in the Greek.  HE loves us and HE is always with us and always for us.

     Tuesday of this week, I listened to one of the songs we're  going to be singing Sunday night, (i'm actually playing the "high sounding cymbal" for most of the concert and I am honored to do that for my LORD who has strengthened me and called me and enabled me to do that for HIM), over and over..."A Mighty Fortress" by Christy Nockels. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4H-iWayY5M&feature=related. I had never heard this song before we sung it in choir, and the more the choir sang it, the more it has spoken to my heart...the choir version is so powerful, and I love the drum part!  Andrew McCartney does such a great job on the drums...and it's so neat that GOD gives us these talents to bring glory and honor and praise to HIM...whether it's singing or playing or being a wife and/ or mom or nurse or whatever GOD has called us and equipped us to do...we can do it all for HIS glory and honor and praise...for HE is so worthy of our praise.  

Our God is a consuming fire
A burning holy flame with glory and freedom
Our God is the only righteous judge,
Ruling over us with kindness and wisdom

And We will keep our eyes on you
We will keep our our eyes on you

A Mighty Fortress is our God
A Sacred refuge is your name
Your kingdom is unshakeable
With you forever we will reign

Our God is jealous for his own
None can comprehend his love and mercy
Our God is exalted on His throne,
High above the Heavens forever he is worthy

And we will keep our eyes on you
We will keep our eyes on you

A Mighty Fortress is our God
A Sacred refuge is your name
Your kingdom is shakeable
With you forever we will reign

We will keep our eyes on You
We will keep our eyes on You
So we can set our hearts on You
Lord, we will set our hearts on You

A Mighty Fortress is our God
A Sacred refuge is your name
Your kingdom is unshakeable
With you forever we will reign
(repeat)

With you forever we will reign
With you forever we will reign

Our God is a consuming fire,
A burning holy flame with holy and freedom

     

     I love the passage where it says that "GOD is jealous for HIS own, none can comprehend HIS love and HIS mercy, Our GOD is exalted, upon HIS throne, High above the heavens, forever HE is worthy. " GOD is jealous for me, and HE is jealous for you...think of that, none can comprehend HIS love and HIS mercy.  I love to think of that, HIS love and HIS mercy for me, so much that HE gave HIS SON to die for my sins.  

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

This Sunday, the day we're singing "Praise HIM with Psalms"  is April the third.  According to my CHRISTian History devotion book, that is the very day that JESUS died on the cross for your sins and mine.  According to my Ryrie Study Bible that I bought right after the LORD saved me,    April 3, 1982 is the day that JESUS saved me from my sins...wow, "no one can comprehend HIS love and HIS mercy," but I sure am understanding it more with each passing day..."the longer I serve HIM the sweeter HE grows." 

     Please come and join us this Sunday night as we "Praise HIM with Psalms," at 6:15 p.m. at First Baptist, Athens.   We all have so much to Praise HIM for in our lives...and I praise HIM, praise HIM, praise HIM, praise HIM, praise HIM, praise HIM!  as one of the songs says that the choir is singing...that's what it says over and over and over...and it says to praise HIM with the "high sounding cymbal," in that same song, and LORD willing, that's what I will be doing Sunday night!

Crystal Sims with her beautifully decorated tablescape.

     

    If any of you are interested in a video of our Women's Conference, i think I can still order those for $10.00.  Just let me know...i just gave you a small, but very important taste of what Linda Evans Shepherd shared with us...keeping our eyes focused on JESUS, and how very, very much JESUS loves you and me.  I have enclosed a few pictures of the beautifully decorated tables our ladies did for the wonderful lunch that was also cooked by our ladies, Jackie Jackson, Jennie Chandler, Helen Greenhaw, Alma Hooper and I'm not sure who else..i am so touched by the "Willing Hearts" and "Growing Hearts," ladies of our church. They are examples of truly having servant's hearts to glorify the LORD in whatever they do. And, the men of the church served the wonderful meal so... you gotta come next year, and be a part of this very special time in the LORD together!  I love you and thank GOD for each one of you...and I thank you, JESUS, for helping me write this email with a full heart, and an empty brain...YOU are so faithful to do what we cannot!   "My grace is sufficient for you for MY power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore I will gladly boast about my weaknesses that the power of CHRIST may rest upon me." II Cor. 12:9-10

                                                                                                         With all HIS love,

                                                                                                                mitzi

  

             

                              "Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of GOD."

 

                         "The pathway to true joy is to relinquish control." Nancy Leigh DeMoss,www.reviveourhearts.com

       "Whoever wants to save his life will loose it, but whoever loses his life for ME will find it." Matt. 16:25

    

                           

                                         

--

"If I accomplish one goal in my life, if nothing else gets done, this is the one thing that really matters to me-this is my highest goal and my number one priority:  to live in the presence of the LORD, to look on HIS beauty, and to learn from HIM."Nancy Leigh DeMoss, www.reviveourhearts.com

"One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek:  That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in HIS temple." Psalm 27:4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnRhbxF4cbU
"Where YOUR Glory Dwells"