Category: A Door of Hope

A Season of Thanksgiving – Day 2

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, A Season of Thanksgiving

 

I Chronicles 16:7 "Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren."

 

 Psalm 105:1-3 "O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.
Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD."

 

We can certainly speak our words of thanksgiving and praise to the Lord; but oh, I am so glad that we can sing them!

For me, music is a great leveler.  It brings my emotions back into sync with Scripture and with my Heavenly Father.

Of course, it's difficult for worldly music to accomplish this.  That's why, with the exception of classical music (much of which was written in praise of God) and Christmas music (which is, ultimately, about Jesus too), I do not listen to secular music.

I do not need any additional fuel to feed my flesh.  My carnal nature is strong enough.  It is always present and it is always ready to take the upper hand if I reliquinsh it.

Christian music only feeds my spirit.  As it lifts the name of Jesus in praise, as it gives a voice to beauty, as it puts Scripture to song, as it reminds me of the truths of His Word, it gives me strength to walk spiritually rather than carnally.

I am so thankful for music.  It is, in my opinion, one of God's most gracious gifts.


(I thought about embedding a favorite video here, but I just couldn't decide which one to use!  So, why don't you go listen to your own favorite hymn or praise song right now!  I know it will lift your spirit and help you through the day.)

Blessings,

Alesha

A Season of Thanksgiving – Day 1

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, A Season of Thanksgiving

Leviticus 22:29 "And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will."

 

Sacrifice – To destroy, surrender or suffer to be lost for the sake of obtaining something.

 

To be truly thankful to God for all the He has done in our lives, we must surrender the things that we desire for ourselves.

We cannot hold onto our own plans and try to be thankful for God's plans.  They are not the same.  God thoughts and plans are infinitely higher and greater than we can imagine.

 

My early plan for my life would have included travel, notoriety, and singing in churches all across the country.  

God's plan includes my singing in one church in a tiny town in a poor county in my home state.  Although I have sung at other churches, it has never been a full-time ministry for me.  I now sing only for my local church.

I
am so thankful that God sent my pastor to this town, that my mom
visited to hear the new pastor, and that my dad went in search of that
new pastor so that he could get saved.  All of those things brought
about God's plan for me.  I am so grateful for this plan.

Did
you have to let go of your own wishes, in order to be thankful for what
God allowed?  Have you made a sacrifice in your life that has led to
your own Thanksgiving story?  I'd love to hear about it.  Feel free to
leave a comment and share it with me.


As this season of Thanksgiving arrives, let's prepare our heart to be thankful…


by letting go of all that we want…

…and accepting – with gratitude – all that He has given.

 

Blessings to you on this November 1st,

Alesha

When We Don’t Know What to Say

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

 

"And then, when pressed with burdens and troubles too complicated to put
into words and too mysterious to tell or understand, how sweet it is to
fall back into His blessed arms, and just sob out the sorrow that we
cannot speak!" ~Streams in the Desert

 

Just cry out to God, my friends.  He will hear and understand!

Romans 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what
we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh
intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

 

Isaac’s Funny Little Schedule

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, Household, How Great is Our God, Isaac Update, Just My Thoughts, What's Happening

Hey y'all.  We've had a good week here at our house.  With the exception of continuing allergy issues, we are all doing well.

Isaac has developed this really odd schedule, and I thought I'd share it with you.  Keep in mind this is a child who has multiple special needs and is not supposed to be aware of things, you know.  Heh!

We put Ike to bed between 8:30-9:00.  He listens to his "Hallelujah" (Gaither video) for about an hour and falls asleep. 

Then somewhere between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. he wakes up.

Then he goes back to sleep around 7 a.m. and sleeps until Noon.

Isn't that peculiar?

So why is he waking up and staying awake???

Because DADDY is home!  Daddy comes to check on him.  Daddy sits in his room for a while.  Daddy changes him if he's wet.  Daddy gives him his juice and meds at 5:30.

And why does he go back to sleep after 7???

Because Daddy comes in and says, "I'm going to work now.  Be a good boy for Mommy and Mrs. Julie today."

And out he goes like a light!

Isn't that something???

This poor, little unaware, handicapped, developementally delayed child that knows nothing, and is incapable of making decisions or understanding the concept of time wakes up to spend time with his Daddy.  And sleeps the sleep of the dead when Daddy is not here.

Julie and I can talk.  The dogs can bark.  Julie can vacuum, clean the bathroom…he snoozes through all of it…because he doesn't want to spend his waking hours with us.  He'd rather spend them with dear ol' Dad!

I love that he loves his Daddy and is so attached to him.  I love that he knows who he wants to spend time with.  I love that he can alter his schedule to suit his own needs and desires.

God has been so good to us, and I am so thankful that He is allowing our boy to grow and mature.

 

Psalm 139:14 "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."

 

It also makes me wonder how excited I am to spend time with my Heavenly Father.

Do I wake up early to be in His presence?  Am I willing to give up sleep to talk with Him?  Will I alter my entire schedule just to sit with Him for a while each morning?

Yes, I think there is much to learn from my child in this area.  I think I should probably pay close attention to see what else he can teach me about myself, about life and about God.

I used to think the following verse applied to simple salvation, but maybe there is more to it than that.  I will be meditating on this for a bit, I think.

 

Matthew 18:2-3 "And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as
little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

 

Praying you have a blessed weekend,

Alesha

Making It Complicated

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

 

Some truths are hard-won, aren't they?  Especially Biblical truths.

It often takes hours and hours of study and reading and prayer to find exactly where God wants you to stand on an issue.

There are times, however, when a Truth is very plain.  We only have to read it…and believe it.

 

Psalm 34:17-19 "The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."

 

No debate needed.

No deep study required.

Simply come with childlike faith, read His Word and believe it with all your heart.

And just in case you don't get it the first time, He tells you again:

 

Psalm 147:3 "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."

 

God's Word is ultimate Truth.

Simply read…and believe.

The Hands of a Caregiver

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

 

"If you are a caregiver, be encouraged that God does not forget your hard work.  Even though the person you take care of may not be able to express his or her appreciation, God won't forget." ~ Gigi Murfitt, Caregivers' Devotions to Go
 

 

Hebrews 6:10 – "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which
ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the
saints, and do minister."

 

"A mother's hands shape the heart and soul of those she loves." ~ Gigi Murfitt, Caregivers' Devotions to Go

 

The Secret to Staying Right with God

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

 

Deuteronomy 29:29 "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which
are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do
all the words of this law."
The Secret to Staying Right With God - quote by Steve Currington via Obtaining MercyJoshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe
to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt
make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."