Author: ObtainingMercy

Bloggy Business

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, Bloggy Business

 

Just a little informal note to let you know that I have merged my devotional blog – A Door of Hope – with my personal blog here.

So if you were subscribed via email, or Yahoo, or Google Reader, etc., you will not be receiving any more posts from that blog.  You can delete it, if you so desire.

I began, last month, to use the category of "A Door of Hope" here on any posts that were devotional in nature.  So, if you want to read only devotional posts, you can use the tab above, or you can click on "A Door of Hope" in the categories to the right.

This is just a small attempt to simplify my virtual life. :)  I find I have too many accounts, too many blogs, too many places to check in.  So, a streamlining is in order, and this was a beginning of that for me.

Thanks…now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

😉

Alesha

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

A Thought for Today: "I can still believe that a day comes for all of us, however far off it may be, when we shall understand; when these tragedies that now blacken and darken the very air of heaven for us, will sink into their places in a scheme so august, so magnificent, so joyful, that we shall laugh for wonder and delight."~Arthur Christopher Bacon

Foto Friday – Macro Vision

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, Florida Weather, Foto Friday, How Great is Our God, Just My Thoughts, Obtaining Mercy Croft

 

I'm trying to learn how to use the "macro" setting on my camera.


Focus

 

Hmmm…seems like my focus is a bit skewed,

Sorta like my internal focus sometimes…

Only seeing clearly the dried, dying, ugly parts of my life…

Somehow overlooking the new, vibrant bits of color that are popping up all over.


flowers

I need to appreciate the new growth, the new beauty…

Inspite of the barren background.


Pinkflowers


What are you focused on today?

Blessings to you,

Alesha

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

Some days it is hard to let go – the negative thoughts, the guilt, the anger, the tiredness, the silliness – so that we can embrace what the Lord has for us that day.

This quote helped me: "Wait before God until you feel saturated with His presence; then go forth to your next duty with the conscious freshness and vigor of Christ." ~Dr. Pardington

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

"The silences of Jesus are as eloquent as His speech and may be a sign, not of His disapproval, but of His approval and of a deep purpose of blessing for you." (Streams in the Desert)

Matthew 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
23 But he answered her not a word…

"She knows Me so intimately, and trusts Me so utterly, that she is independent of words or looks or any outward intimation of My approval. She is not dismayed, not discouraged by any circumstances through which I arrange that she shall pass; she trusts Me when sense and reason and every finer instinct of the natural heart would rebel – because she knows that I am working in her for eternity, and that what I do , though she knows not the explanation now, she will understand hereafter." (Streams in the Desert)

The Best Vegetarian Chili Ever

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Food and Drink, Hallelujah Diet, Recipe

  

Chili

 

The Best Vegetarian Chili Ever

  • 1 T Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large onion (chopped)
  • 2 bay leaves (be sure to remove these when dish is finished cooking)
  • 1 T salt
  • 2 stalks celery (chopped)
  • 2 red bell peppers (chopped)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 t cumin
  • 2 t oregano
  • 1 T unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 T chili powder
  • 1/8 t cayene pepper
  • 3 28 oz cans tomatoes (I use whatever combination of tomatoe sauce, diced tomatoes, whole tomatoes that I have available)
  • 2 15 oz kidney beans
  • 2 15 oz black beans
  • 1 15 oz whole kernel corn

Heat olive oil in large pot over medium heat.  Stir in onions, bay leaves and salt.  Saute until onion is translucent.  Stir in celery, bell peppers, and garlic.  Cover, reduce to low and simmer for five (5) minutes.  Add all spices.  Add tomatoes.  Add beans.  Bring to boil.  Reduce heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes.  Stir in corn and simmer until corn is heated through.

We serve this over jasmine rice.

(Doug made a huge pot of this over the weekend and we are still enjoying it today.  It is so full of yummy veggies and beans that I promise – you won't even miss the meat!!!)

Enjoy!

Alesha

 

 

 

Foto Friday

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Foto Friday, Isaac Update, Prayer Request

This week:

I worked with these lovely pieces for the Bead Soup Blog Party.

 

Beadsoup3

 

I chose some lovely gemstones for a custom piece of jewelry.

 

Altcolors

 

I spied this crimson-capped fella in my orange tree again.

 

Woodywoodpecker2

 

I took out some of my frustrations by hammering on copper. 

 

Hammeredheart

(It is very cathartic!)

 

I also spent much time in prayer for my precious friend Robin Boyle.  Robin required an emergency c-section to deliver her 7th child, a baby boy named Mark Seth.  She then needed 32 pints of blood, and is currently still in ICU, due to blood clots in both lungs and failing kidneys.  If the Lord lays it on your heart, would you pray with me for Robin?

Thanks.

Then, on a much smaller scale, would you please pray for Isaac?  He caught our caregiver's cold, and has developed quite a cough.  Praise the Lord, he has only run fever one night, and we are praying that he stays stable and that the cough doesn't turn into pneumonia.

Blessings,

Alesha