"I'll Feed the World Through Your Kitchen"

If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.Mark 9:41

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

  A few weeks ago i had the wonderful opportunity to go and hear Barbara Barker speak at the Excalibur Ladies Retreat at Joe Wheeler St. Park. What a wonderful time i had and i am so grateful for all of my dear friends who worked so hard to make the retreat so very special for us. 

      The guest speaker, Barbara Barker is the wife of Reverend Frank Barker who is the pastor Emeritus of Briarwood Presbyterian Church in B'ham, Al. I have known of Mrs. Barker since my college days at the University of Montevallo where i was nurtured in the LORD through Campus Outreach, a ministry of Briarwood Presbyterian.  Her son, Frank, Jr. was a student there at Montevallo the same year i attended.

Mrs. Barker with my dear friend Gena, two queens of hospitality!!!

Mrs. Barker shared her testimony with us at the retreat the first evening, and there is a story she told that keeps resonating through my mind. In fact, i had heard her tell the story from her life the only other time i heard her speak and still remembered parts of it.


     I didn't realize that GOD used Frank Barker Sr. to start Briarwood from a storefront in Birmingham. Frank was quite a rounder in his younger days, and the LORD began to convict his heart of his sins while he was a pilot in the military. Frank stopped drinking and decided to go to seminary trying to be good enough to go to heaven. It was during seminary that Frank realized he was not a CHRISTian and CHRIST saved him from his sins during that time. 


     When Frank came back to B'ham, GOD led him to start a church in a storefront. Because of his background and he knew lots of people, they were amazed at the Frank Barker being a preacher now. When GOD led Frank and Barbara to get married, Frank poured his life into reaching others for CHRIST. One of the ways HE laid on Franks heart to do this was through the Barker's home. Barbara was not really raised to do this, it didn't sound like. She was raised in a wealthy home, as Frank was, and she was a ballerina....in fact, she danced in New York, and California, and other places. Eventually, GOD would use her to start the Briarwood Ballet at their church. When Frank invited a fraternity over for a meal, it just about killed her. How in the world could she prepare for that many people? There were around 30 guys i believe. She decided to make sloppy joe's cause that was easy but she still struggled with feeding this many people, and she even started crying as she was serving them. Well, that night, GOD not only brought 30 people to her house, but about 60 more in addition! Barbara said she watered the sloppy joe's with her tears, and GOD multiplied the food and it fed all the people! 

     "I'll feed the world from your kitchen, I'll feed the world, from your kitchen, I'll feed the world from your kitchen."  


   I have been "ruminating" on this the three weeks or so it's been since the retreat..."I'll feed the world from your kitchen."  To say i was inspired by Barbara Barker's obedience would be an understatement... she was so humble about her unwillingness yet GOD blessed through her obedience to her husband in the little things to grow a huge church that literally reaches the uttermost parts of the world for CHRIST through it's outreach...www.briarwood.org. Even as i write i am convicted....i sure do grumble about being obedient to my husband in some areas.   What testimony am i building by being obedient in the little things?  What blessings am i missing and others missing by  me not being obedient? Are others salvation at stake?   



     I pause  because i'm not sure which way to continue here....but my thoughts in the past few weeks have been GOD, i want you to use my kitchen to feed the world, one person at a time.  The LORD knows i have struggled in this area with my physical weakness, but since the retreat, i have really tried to focus on the LORD using me to show HIS love and hospitality to, if it's one person like my husband, or having supper for Phillip and Arthur before we all rush off to church on Weds. night or a small group of ladies that meets for our Tuesday night study....HE wants to use our home to be faithful and bless others with HIS love and hospitality and HE wants to use yours.  And HE has used some of you  to bless our family  through your wonderful hospitality....thank you for showing us the love of CHRIST by sharing your time, your home, your food, your beds, your "toys," your fellowship in CHRIST JESUS, to bless our lives so much.

    When i looked up verses on hospitality as i was getting ready to write this, i came across a website that shared 72 verses concerning hospitality in the Bible! http://www.openbible.info/topics/hospitality.   72 verses of dying to self and showing GOD's love and kindness to others....HE even promises that if we just give a cup of cold water to someone in HIS name we will be blessed for it.  And as i write, i am reminded that JESUS tells us when we have a party, don't  invite those who are able to invite us back," invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you.  For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just." Luke 14: 12-14

     Wow, i could go a lot of places with that verse, but I am reminded of how great a blessing it is to someone who can never repay you to be shown the love of CHRIST through our small acts of denying self and kindness. CHRIST uses the blessings HE has given us, our home, our kitchen, our beds,  (they are actually HIS) to show others HIS love and salvation.  

     My house, my kitchen, my desk, my very body are meant to be holy places in this world for the eternal GOD." Elisabeth Elliot, www.elisabethelliot.org

     "Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the LORD of hosts." Zechariah 14:21


    GOD will use our forks, our knives, our spoons, our cups, and our willing hearts to transform them into something supernatural that reaches the hearts of others for CHRIST.

     When i was a child, we had a neighbor who was so open and so loving and she was forever talking about "getting saved."  I wasn't sure what that meant, but i do know i always loved getting to eat her potato chips and French onion dip when i was at her house.  We only had chips for special occasions growing up, and we never had French onion dip!   Mrs. Mooney not only shared her food, but she shared her life, and she was always inviting us to VBS, youth camp, etc.  I know three of us siblings prayed to receive CHRIST through her church ministry....and GOD used Mrs. Mooney and her sharing her potato chips and French onion dip and her life to open our hearts up to CHRIST.

Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.I Peter 4:9

    There is something supernatural about our kitchens, and our homes, ladies....and GOD wants to use us and our kitchens and our acts of love to reach the world for HIM. I know my heart has been stirred by Barbara Barker's example.  LORD help me to be faithful in the little things, maybe only one person, but use me like you used my neighbor Mrs. Mooney, and like you do Barbara Barker to feed the world's hungry stomachs and hearts from my kitchen....one soul at a time.

      One of the beautiful songs we sang at the retreat was 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E.  As I listen to this song, i am reminded of the reason that we show CHRIST's hospitality and love to others...."YOU're Rich in love, and You're slow to anger, You're name is great, and your heart is kind, for all your goodness, i will keep on singing, 10,000 reasons for my heart to find.
"Bless the LORD, o my soul, worship HIS holy name, sing like never before o my soul, i worship HIS holy name." 

    When we show hospitality to others, we are being like CHRIST who laid down HIS life for us that we might be forgiven our sins, and come into HIS fellowship and live with HIM forever in the HOME HE is preparing for us!  Wow....i have never seen this connection before, but thank you JESUS for showing me this truth.

        LORD, give us willing hearts and help us all to lay down our lives, that YOUR RICH love might flow through us to reach others for you through a cup of cold water, a potato chip, a sloppy joe, whatever.  You turn our littleness into something that opens people's hearts to you when we do it in YOUR name....thank you JESUS for using our kitchens, our homes to reach the world for you...one soul at a time. 

                                                                                        With all HIS love,
                                                                                                     mitzi

       

My sis and I got the wonderful privilege of meeting Mrs. Barker!

-- 

               

"Jesus Saves"                              

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPIc4UFwR0Y

"Nothing is Impossible with GOD"

Dear Praying Friends and Family,
     Mrs. Eudy's daughter, Susan, just posted this update on FB so i wanted to share it with you...she is a lot more concise that i am:).  
    

Update from her daughter:
Thank you friends and family for your prayers, calls, texts, visit, etc. while mom has been so sick. This past 6 weeks she has recovered from emergency surgery, blood clots, internal bleeding, and pneumonia. She is now facing a brain aneurysm and possible problems with her liver. She has felt your love and your prayers. Even in the middle of all the medical chaos her saving faith in our LORD Jesus Christ shines through her and she has had sweet time with friends and family that I am so thankful for. Please continue to pray for her - this week could be tough. As many of you know she lives her day on GOD's Word. Feel free to share one of your favs & I will be sure to read it to her.

 Thank you so much for your faithful prayers for Mrs. Eudy and her family  I was talking with her son, Gene Jr. yesterday afternoon, he said the clots are gone, the internal bleeding has cleared up since she is off the blood thinner, the break in her bone was a hairline fracture so it's a none issue.   The LORD has already amazingly  healed  her in so many ways!  Before Mrs. Eudy left rehab, she told me that Dr. Mancuso had examined her and was amazed at how well her incision had healed.  She was cut from her below her breastbone to below her belly button.  When i looked, i too was amazed!  Only GOD's healing power could do that...she looked like she had had surgery a year or so ago!  


      Her son also shared that the more chaotic things become with his Mom's health challenges, the more CHRIST's presence and power they feel in the midst of the storm.  

What a great blessing and example of CHRIST's peace the Eudy family is to all who know them!  Her daughter posted the picture below on her FB page this morning and this says it all...

    

    We are experiencing REVIVAL at our church and I would ask you to please lift up our services tonight at 6:00 pm and tomorrow evening at 6:30 pm and then again Tuesday night at 6:30 pm.  If you live close enough to us...please come and join us at FBC, Athens, but if not, i would ask you to please pray the HOLY SPIRIT will have HIS way in each of our hearts and truly REVIVE his people.  This REVIVAL is not geared towards "the lost" per say, but it is geared toward our church family that CHRIST would work and have HIS way in our hearts.

    One of our deacons shared a short video, called "Defining Moments," from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association on our church FB site a few minutes ago.  I watched it and it is a powerful video...how GOD transformed three different lives.  HE did that for me when i was 19 years old in a youth revival at Central Baptist in Decatur, Al.  He saved me from my sins, and gave me the power to walk with HIM and turn away from my sins.  How i praise HIM!  He can do that in your life too...HE wants to transform us and HE wants to REVIVE us again!  I hope you will take time to watch this short video and share it with your family and friends....http://www.billygraham.org/TVSpecial/tv_index.asp 

    Thank you for praying for Mrs. Eudy and for our Revival...."Nothing is impossible with GOD!"

                                                                                                                                               With all HIS love,

                                                                                                                                               mitzi


-- 

               

"Jesus Saves"                              

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPIc4UFwR0Y

"Blessed Assurance"

"And we know that GOD causes all things to work together for good to those who love GOD, to those who are called according to HIS purpose." Romans 8:28

Dear Praying Friends and Family,
    For those who aren't on my regular praying email list, Mrs. Eudy has been a dear, dear spiritual mother to me for close to 30 years.  She has suffered from dysautonomia the whole time i have known her.  Recently her daughter made the decision to move her to Ky to be close to her and the move was delayed a month by an emergency surgery and then rehabilitation in which Mrs. Eudy developed a blood clot, and at the end pneumonia.  She moved into her new home on Wednesday and then passed out Thursday morning and stopped breathing three times. The doctors were not very encouraging on Thursday about Mrs. Eudy's condition....but today, GOD brought new hope and the reassurance that truly HE does work all things together for good to those who love HIM and are called according to HIS purposes. Romans 8:28  Please pray for Mrs. Eudy and her family! 

    

    This morning, Mrs. Eudy's daughter called me and told me that the fall Mrs. Eudy had yesterday that broke a bone in her back was  turning out to be a blessing.  The doctors discovered through examining her so thoroughly for the fall that she had internal bleeding, not caused by the fall, but by the blood thinner she was on for the blood clot!  If she had not fallen and the internal bleeding been discovered she could have bled to death before it was detected. She is still in a difficult position with the internal bleeding and blood clot so please pray about that and she has pneumonia.  They have taken her off the blood thinner, and running more test on her today.  Because the break in her back is like breaking a rib or tail bone, she won't have to have any treatment for that...just uncomfortableness as she recovers.  

    Susan, Mrs. Eudy's daughter, was full of gratefulness to the LORD for the doctors  discovering the internal bleeding, and the fall.  She thanked GOD for his tender mercies of allowing Mrs. Eudy to be blessed and be a blessing to so many of her dear friends and family during her time of being in the hospital and rehab here, and now in Kentucky, her close family is with her.  Susan realized whether GOD leaves Mrs. Eudy on earth for 10 years or takes her HOME today, this time will always be a treasure that HE gave to her and to us to tell her how very special she is to all of us.  We have been able to continue to be blessed by her most precious and dear life.  Just as an example of her love for others, in the hospital and rehab, she made it a point to remember all the staff's names, and thanked them graciously by their names whenever they came to help her.  She kept a sweet smile on her face even in the midst of great discomfort....what an example to me she has been of a suffering saint. Susan said the things that most people say at a person's funeral is what we have all been able to share with Mrs. Eudy before she leaves this earth. 

    Please continue to pray for Mrs. Eudy and her family...her son from Hawaii is arriving tonight, along with her son in law, Doug.  Please ask the LORD to spare her long enough to get to spend time with them if HE should choose to take her home soon. 

   I  read the words to "Blessed Assurance" this morning and dusted off my mandolin and sang them as i played.  

"Blessed Assurance, JESUS is mine! 

  O what a foretaste of glory divine!

 Heir of salvation, purchase of GOD

 Born of HIS Spirit, washed in HIS blood.

Perfect submission, perfect delight!

Visions of rapture, not burst on my sight,

Angels descending looking above,

Echos of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission-all is at rest,

I in my Savior and happy and blest,

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with HIS goodness, lost in HIS love.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my SAVIOR all the day long.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my SAVIOR all the day long!

    This song, is such a picture of Mrs. Eudy, and her family....perfect submission, perfect delight....Praising their SAVIOR all the day long!

   I love this version of "Blessed Assurance" that Alan Jackson sings....surely much better than mine!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9XZ_HSquUQ

    

Thank you so much for your precious prayers for her and her family....i love you and appreciate you so much!     

                            Mrs. Eudy-praising her SAVIOR all the day long! 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                      With all HIS love,

                                                                                            mitzi

"The Gas Pump Pastor"

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." II Corinthians 5:20

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

    Earlier this week i stopped in at our local "Wavaho" station to get some gas.  I got out of the car  and went inside to prepay.  When i got inside, i ask the man behind the counter if he was a new owner. He said he was, and he went out to my car and started pumping my gas.  As he pumped my gas we began to talk and he told me that he was the pastor of a small church in our town.  He told me he owned a gas station previously in Madison.  When he took the beer out of the store, they told him he would never make it.  He took the beer out and he said the LORD blessed him abundantly there  for six years.  

    When i went home i wanted to share with my friends on FB that we had a new service station owner in town who pumped the gas and he was a pastor.  I asked the folks to go by and support him.  Most of my friends were super supportive, but one dear friend didn't think he should be pastoring and working at another job.  We had a lively discussion on FB about it and i finally had to go and the conversation ended.  The next day a new friend on FB who is called the  "Facebook Pastor," read the conversation and  asked me if he could write a blog about the gas pump pastor.  I was really honored and i thought you might be blessed as i was to read what GOD impressed upon his heart to write:

"The Gas Pump and Pastor Jack- of -All-Trades- Bivocational Ministers"

http://darrellcreswell.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/the-gas-pump-pastor-jack-of-all-trades-bivocational-ministers/

    Special thanks to "the Facebook Pastor" for the name "The Gas Pump Pastor," and for the words on the gas pump photo:  "Real Men of GOD pump gas."

   The next morning i went by the Wavaho station and told the pastor/service station owner about what had happened on FB and about the "Facebook Pastor" who wrote a blog about him.  He started reading it on my Iphone and he stopped and said he would have to read the rest of it at home.  I could tell he was overcome with emotion.  He told me to get anything i wanted in the store and i took a bottle of water to make him happy.  I started to shake his hand as i left and he said no he wanted a hug.  I could tell he really was encouraged that GOD had put it on someone's heart to write about him.

  Before i left, a man came in and he was older and his shoulders were kind of slumped.  He said he was tired and that his wife was in the hospital.  I asked him about her, and he just opened up and started talking about her.  It  dawned on me right then and there what an opportunity this "gas pump pastor" has to be used for CHRIST right there at that service station where he  follow's CHRIST's example and pumps the gas for women and the elderly.    I told him pumping the gas is such a witness now because now one else does it. He is a LIGHT shining in the darkness for CHRIST as he serves the women and elderly, and every time someone pulls up to the pump and walks through the doors of his humble gas station, that is his mission field....an opportunity to minister to someone who needs to know CHRIST or just needs a listening ear, or needs to be encouraged.

   As i drove by that service station yesterday morning with the snow flakes swirling, i had a strange warm feeling in my heart.  I wanted to drive by there, and i wanted to pray for that pastor and his mission field at the service station...all those people he would get to talk to that day about JESUS because he ran a gas station.

   Today as i was thinking about "the gas pump pastor," i thought of my own dear husband who runs a catfish/barbque restaurant http://www.oldgreenbrier.com/aboutus.html 
and a bail bond business, and that is his mission field.  I struggled so badly when my husband had to leave the "full time" church he pastored because of my sickness.  If it hadn't been for his mom and dad helping us financially we wouldn't have been able to stay at the church as long as we did without him taking another job.  My heart was warmed thinking about our little restaurant that sits at the corner of a four way stop being my husband's mission field and all who go in and out the doors have special needs, hurts, joys, or need CHRIST JESUS.  The bailbond business has given Johnny so many opportunities to witness and help out families who find themselves in a position they never expected to be in.  I have marveled at my husband's patience and kindness to these families who call at all times of the day and night and he gets many opportunities to share CHRIST with his "flock." 

Our "Mission Field"

     Yes it was difficult when we left the "full time," ministry, to transition to another "fulltime," ministry for CHRIST.  Going in the family Barbque business WAS NOT the place i wanted GOD to use us i can assure you of that.   GOD has used "The Gas Pump Pastor," and the words of the FB Pastor to encourage my heart in the place where GOD has had us serving him the past 20 years.  A "full time" church, no...but a "full time" mission field yes.  Whether GOD has you on the mission field pumping gas, cooking hushpuppies,  selling insurance, being a "Facebook Pastor, " or a doctor, or an evangelist like Billy Graham, HE knows just the place HE has created  for us to know HIM and share the salvation that is found in CHRIST alone with others. 

    "Our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST is the actual power house and abiding in HIM, that is, plugged into HIM by faith, we transmit HIS saving power to others." Hannah Hurnard, GOD's Transmitters

    This morning, the LORD brought this beautiful song across my path called, "Give Me JESUS," sung by Fernando Ortega.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y16oxqTENxs&feature=youtu.be .At the beginning it has Billy Graham preaching on his mission field.  His mission field is not a service station, but it is not  more important than the mission field that GOD has given you and me to share CHRIST.  

       It's taken me a long time to be content where GOD has us serving HIM.  I confess i still struggle at times, but GOD has used "The Gas Pump Pastor," to inspire me to realize the family business is our mission field to serve HIM just as HE is using "the Gas Pump Pastor" to reach the world for HIM.  I hope and pray GOD will use these words to encourage your heart in the place that GOD has you on the mission field...reaching the lost for CHRIST.

                                                                                       With all HIS love,

                                                                                                               mitzi

     

      

-- 

               

"Jesus Saves"                              

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPIc4UFwR0Y

Valentines from GOD and "Forgiveness"

"For CHRIST's love compels us..." 2 Corinthians 5:14

                

              "And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
                       and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy
                       upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness
                       and mourning shall flee away."
                                               Isaiah 35:10               

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

   

• 
    I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day...i had a full day spending time with my husband,  eating brunch with my Mom and Dad, attending a Valentine's party for "the widows and elderly"  spending time with Phillip, my "adopted" son at the creek and cooking supper for him and his Daddy.  Phillip's Mom went to be with JESUS less than two years ago after a lengthy fight with breast cancer. i have the blessing of keeping him three days a week after school until his Dad gets home from work.
  
            Valentine's Day can be a hard day for some just like for Phillip and his Dad whose Mom and wife aren't here anymore.  I can think of three young widows just off the top of my head whose "Valentines," have gone on to be with JESUS.  Taranda Greene, who sang with he gospel group the Greene's before her husband died,  posted on her FB site that it has been three years since her husband Tony went to be with JESUS.  They were married nine years...and got married on Valentines Day. She was funny, she said Tony always forgot special occasions so she  didn't miss not getting anything:). Tim Greene,Tony's brother we prayed for so long, was healed and continues to preach and sing the gospel all over the place http://www.thegreenesmusic.com/.  Thank you, LORD for answering our cries for Tim. 

  
        I mentioned above about a very special "Valentine's Party" that my sweet friend, Catherine Smith and her  children gave for the widow women and elderly women in her neighborhood  yesterday. I guess at 50...i am getting in the elderly range:). Catherine, a nurse practioner by college degree, stays home and  homeschools her precious children, which includes Josie, 3 who was born premature and has some difficult health challenges.   Catherine and her children made us homemade healthy treats, and served us as if we were at a fancy restaurant!  We had a wonderful time of fun, food, and fellowship because the love of CHRIST compelled this sweet family to minister to these ladies whose husbands and "valentines" of many years were no longer here. They invited several more, but some of the ladies were in the hospital...in fact,  3 of our friends were on Valentine's Day. 

  
  

  

  Valentine's Party for the elderly and widows

  
  

  
  

          Valentine's can be hard, when it seems as if the whole world around us is in love, getting flowers, and candy, and cards, and maybe our "Valentine," is no longer here to show us the love of CHRIST they once did...for whatever reason, it may be because of death, divorce, sickness, (a friend of mine's husband has been in the nursing home for over 10 years ) breakup in a relationship...or maybe your "Valentine," is like Tony and he forgets to get you something on those special days. There are many reason's that Valentine's can be difficult if we are honest....everyone wants to be loved and remembered by someone special. My husband's card and sweet words of encouragement were very dear to me, along with a little Teddy Bear Key chain he gave me....didn't cost a lot, but his words of encouragement meant the world to me.  He offered to get me roses, but i'm allergic to the fertilizer so we got his Mom roses and i told him i would just claim hers as mine too:).

  
  

      This morning i awoke  early and as i was praying,  I felt like the LORD was leading me to share with you some other words of encouragement I have been reading about GOD's love- HIS love for us, and HIS love through us. The older i grow in my relationship with CHRIST the more i come to understand the great love that GOD has for me and how He compels me to love others with HIS love. I call these "Valentines from GOD."
  
  

  
  

  "If love is always discreet, always wise, always sensible and calculating, never carried beyond itself, it is not love at all. It may be affection, it may be warmth of feeling, but it has not the true nature of love in it." Oswald Chambers

  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  
  Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:7, 8 NLT)

  
  

  

  
  
  "The characteristic of love is spontaneity. In looking back we cannot tell why we did certain things, we did them according to the spontaneous nature of HIS love in us." Oswald Chambers

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  "Our modern idea of love is such a poor, weak, soupy, sentimental one-so far from the strong, pure, steel-like grip with which GOD's love holds us-and so far from the kind of love that you and I ought to have for GOD." Elisabeth Elliot,www.elisabethelliot.org

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  "Natural love expects some return, but Divine love says I do not care whether you love me or not, I am willing to destitute myself completely, not merely for your sake, but that I may get you to GOD." Oswald Chambers

  
  

  

  
  

  
  "Love is not a feeling. It is an overwhelming passion to help and bless and deliver and comfort and strengthen and give joy to others just as the LORD JESUS always did." Hannah Hurnard, Hinds Feet on High Places

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 17:7, 8 NIV)

  
  

  
  
  

  
  

     These are just a few "Valentines from GOD" that i have been meditating on this week as i spent time with HIM in my quiet time.   Early this morning, i came across a blog where the lady shared how she liked to receive the little candy hearts from her Mom when she was little that had the words, "love," "miss you, "kiss me," "i'm yours," etc. on them.  I used to like to get those too when i was younger.  She said she spoke at a retreat on the images of GOD and they explored the presence of GOD in the "grandeur and in the small stuff."  They looked at how GOD can be "mysteriously vague and astonishingly present through the people we love and who love us. She said that a bishop once told her that he considered "prayers of adoration our "Valentines to GOD," because we express our utter delight and fascination  with being cherished by a GOD whom we recognize in the smiles, hugs and "luv u" messages received from others. 

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  
     In the early morning hours that i read these words,  i thought  of the words that I have often heard Mrs. Betty Eudy  say after someone does something for her.  She exclaims, "That's a special blessing from the  LORD!"  Mrs. Eudy, a dear spiritual mother to me and i wrote about in my last blog, always sees GOD in the kindness of others  to her and recognizes and is thankful for  "Valentines from GOD."  http://mitzi-hisgraceissufficient.blogspot.com/2013/02/all-i-once-held-dear.html
  
  
  Seeing GOD's kindness in the acts of others and in their faces, helps us to cherish HIM and them is one way of giving "Valentines to GOD.  Taking time to spend with the "Lover of Our Soul,"  in HIS WORD and prayer daily is another way  we cherish HIM and make HIM glad.  These words from Charles Spurgeon from "Morning and Evening," Feb. 15 tell us how we cherish JESUS and make HIM glad:
  

  
  

  "Whereby they have made thee glad." — Psalms 45:8

  
  

  And who are thus privileged to make the Saviour glad? His church-his people. But is it possible? He makes us glad, but how can we make him glad? By our love. Ah! we think it so cold, so faint; and so, indeed, we must sorrowfully confess it to be, but it is very sweet to Christ. Hear his own eulogy of that love in the golden Canticle: "How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine!" See, loving heart, how he delights in you. When you lean your head on his bosom, you not only receive, but you give him joy; when you gaze with love upon his all-glorious face, you not only obtain comfort, but impart delight. Our praise, too, gives him joy-not the song of the lips alone, but the melody of the heart's deep gratitude. Our gifts, too, are very pleasant to him; he loves to see us lay our time, our talents, our substance upon the altar, not for the value of what we give, but for the sake of the motive from which the gift springs. To him the lowly offerings of his saints are more acceptable than the thousands of gold and silver. Holiness is like frankincense and myrrh to him. Forgive your enemy, and you make Christ glad; distribute of your substance to the poor, and he rejoices; be the means of saving souls, and you give him to see of the travail of his soul; proclaim his gospel, and you are a sweet savour unto him; go among the ignorant and lift up the cross, and you have given him honour. It is in your power even now to break the alabaster box, and pour the precious oil of joy upon his head, as did the woman of old, whose memorial is to this day set forth wherever the gospel is preached. Will you be backward then? Will you not perfume your beloved Lord with the myrrh and aloes, and cassia, of your heart's praise? Yes, ye ivory palaces, ye shall hear the songs of the saints!

  
  

  
  
  

  
  

       One more truth the blog i read this morning that struck my heart: a quote from the late Henri Nouwen that said,
  
  

    "The prerequisite to forgiveness is the knowledge that we are beloved by GOD.  Without it, we will never embrace the capacity within ourselves to both extend and receive mercy."  

  
  

     Whenever i am tempted to not forgive someone, GOD just has to remind me how very much HE has forgiven me, and that i have done the same thing and even worse, that others have done to me.  He takes my thought to the Cross of Calvary, the greatest "Valentine," of all from GOD, where HIS SON paid the price for my sins, and HE gives me the grace to forgive others with the mercy that i have been forgiven.       When CHRIST forgives us, we are forever changed.  We are not the same person that we were before...we have been born again, and HE fills our heart with HIS love for others.  As Charles Spurgeon said above, we make CHRIST glad  when we forgive others, and CHRIST unleashes HIS power of divine love  through us to love those who have sinned against us.
  
        I read a devotion a few days ago from the LOVE DARE devotion for couples that really spoke to me about HIS love that  fills our heart and puts HIS desires in our heart to reach others for HIM.  It was entitled, Love is Life's Motivator.
  
  

        For CHRIST's love compels us...2 Corinthians 5:14

  
  

   "Anger can fuel hatred in a man's heart until he feels like attacking his enemy.  But love can spark kindness in his heart so he lays down his life for his friend.  Selfishness can drive a woman to tighten her grip and hoard her resources. But love can inspire her to open her hands and give sacrificially.  Love is the purest and most powerful motivator.  It gives courage to a coward, wisdom to a fool.  

      When love invades your heart, you are empowered to endure deeper pain, willingly pay a greater cost, and run risks to your reputation for the sake of another.  Love causes a soldier to lay down his life for his country, a mother to pray relentlessly for her child, and a gracious GOD to send HIS only SON to die for our sins.  Love is that powerful.

       Paul the apostle endured beatings, intense persecution, and hardship throughout his life.  He did it for one reason alone:  "CHRIST's love" compelled him.  If love began fueling your decisions, what would it drive you to do for your marriage?"

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

     Without the love of CHRIST dwelling inside of us, we can never love the way it describes love in the passage above.  Even with CHRIST dwelling in me, i often sin and fall short of HIS love.  Just put your name where it says, "Love," and see if you are always patient, kind, etc.  I am not...but the love of CHRIST compels us to keep loving, when our love ends.  

  
  
  
  I heard a powerful song a few weeks called "Forgiveness" by Matthew West. It really spoke to me as i was going through a painful situation myself and was struggling to forgive someone.  I called my daughter and told her about the song  and she told me to be sure and listen to the story behind it on you tube....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz3tkHv5sbg. Now you have to listen to this powerful song that motivates us to seek GOD to "show me how love the unlovable, reach the unreachable, to do the impossible, forgiveness" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Lu5udXEZI
  
  

  
  

     
  

      Forgiveness by GOD's love and mercy through our LORD JESUS CHRIST  is the greatest Valentine we can receive...and give to others.  CHRIST forgives us for ALL of our sins that we might be HIS forever and HIS ambassador's of love to reach others with HIS compelling love.  Have you received CHRIST's forgiveness for your sins?  Come to HIM right now and ask HIM to forgive you and surrender your life to HIM.  HE is ready to forgive all who come to HIM.
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
         I hope these "Valentines from GOD" will help us  to understand the "strong, pure, steel-like"  love that CHRIST has for us and compel us to share HIS love with others.  HIS love is the sweetest of all, it never fails, it never grows weary or tired,  is always kind, always patient, pours itself out to the end, meets every need, and is always there for us.  HIS love reaches us in the hospital room, beside the grave, in the loneliness of our home or in a crowd, wherever we are HIS love is there with us.  HIS name is "Immanuel" GOD with us.   May we run to HIM to fill the  places in our hearts that no "valentine" on earth can fill.  Only HE can fill the empty places in our hearts with  HIS love and compel us "to love the unlovable, reach the unreachable,  and do the impossible, forgiveness." 

  
  

                                                               With all HIS love,

                                                                                                mitzi
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  

                 

  "Jesus Saves"                              

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPIc4UFwR0Y