Category: A Door of Hope

So Many Channels

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

Doug and I shared our freshman year of college with four young men from the Bahamas.  They were each a pleasure to be around, with their distinct personalities and characteristics; but it was when they were together, singing in our chapel services, that they blessed me the most.

They often sang that old hymn, Channels Only, and the chapel room would ring as their voices blended on every verse, with their lovely Bahamian accents.

This verse was my favorite:

 

Emptied that Thou shouldest fill me,

A clean vessel in Thy hand;

With no power but as Thou givest

Graciously with each command.

Channels only, blessèd Master,

But with all Thy wondrous power

Flowing through us, Thou canst use us

Every day and every hour.

 

I had no idea at that young idealistic age of 17 exactly what it meant to be "emptied" by the Lord; and that's probably just as well. 😉

However, these many years later, I can look back and see how much work the Lord has done in my arrogant, naive and self-centered heart.

It's no fun being emptied by the Lord; but I am so thankful for the work He has done.  I am especially grateful that every time He removed something from my heart, He replaced it with Himself.

Less of me = More of Him

When I am emptied of self, I become a channel, a vessel, that God can flow through.

It is a lofty goal that should be actively pursued by every child of God.

 

"Emptied that Thou shouldest fill me…"

Amen, Lord.

 

Psalm 42:1-2 "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God…"

A Link or Two or Three

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, Links to Share

I think everyone at our house may – possibly – be recovering from this latest malady – finally!

Isaac actually woke at a normal time yesterday, was happy and noisy most of the day, then slept all night.  He had gotten into the habit of waking up around 3:30 a.m. each morning for the past week or so.  Of course, that played havoc with everyone's sleep patterns.  Last night was much better.

I surprised myself last night and stayed awake until after 1 a.m. reading a book.  I thought since going off all caffeine, I would conk out every night; and so far I have done that, around 11:30 p.m.  But last night I finished one book and started another around 11:00 p.m.  I knew better than to start a new book at that late hour, but…I don't always do what I should do. (heh heh!)

So, yeah, I am blurry-eyed and dragging a bit this morning (but am enjoying the new book!).

Let's see…Oh, I have a few links to share with you:

I watched this movie over the weekend, and enjoyed it very much!

I have set up this page as my home page on the computer, having abandoned this page when it – astonishingly – had not one article about the Chick-fil-A situation that took place a while back. 

I loved the format of the old page, but really – You claims to post all trending articles, but conveniently filter out a hugely controversial national story???  I think somebody is not being very honest!  (I know, why am I surprised?)  At least The Christian Post tells you exactly what you are going to get – Christian news – even in its title.  I can live with that.

Doug baked these cookies over the weekend.  They were so yummy and just the "taste" of fall that we had been craving. 

Of course, now Doug is determined to bake his mom's fabulous pumpkin bread next.  It is honestly the best pumpkin bread we have ever had.  I just love the balance of spices in her bread.  So, I suggested we do the pumpkin bread, but also make the caramel icing from the other recipe!!!  Pumpkin Bread with Caramel Frosting – now doesn't that have a nice autumn "ring" to it??? 😉

So, how about a verse for today?  Here's one I read this morning:

 

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In
the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world."

 

Now, there's a good bit of comfort in those words, when you dwell on them a while.  Are you meditating on a specific verse of Scripture today, or maybe this week? If so, I'd love to hear about it. 🙂

Wishing you a Happy Wednesday,

Alesha

 

 

Taking Captives, First Thing This Morning

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, Just My Thoughts

Do you ever wake up, before your feet even hit the floor, and feel defeated?  Or sad?  Or angry?  Or despondent?

It's not a good way to start the day, is it?

For me, the two things that can start my day off in a very negative way are pain and dreams.  This morning, it was a dream.  About Isaac.  About someone hurting Isaac. 

I woke up angry and sad and feeling unequal to the task of starting a brand new day.

These are the mornings that I must immediately begin to practice the truths of Scripture, particularly this one:

 

II Corinthians 10:5 "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself
against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought
to the obedience of Christ;"

 

Bad dreams are not reality.  They are imaginations.  And if they are contrary to reality, they are contrary to the knowledge of God.  They must be brought into captivity.

 

How can we bring a thought into captivity?

  1. Ask the Lord to remove the images from your memory.
  2. Pray for forgiveness of any waking thoughts or fantasies that could have encouraged the dreams.
  3. Deliberately refuse to relive the scenes of the dream in your mind.
  4. Begin to quote Scripture or sing a song of praise to focus your mind on true things.
  5. As soon as possible, find time to read God's Word so that the Lord can fill the emptiness left by the dream you have cast down.

I know these seem very simplistic, but this is the only process I have found to combat the negativity that can overwhelm me when I wake from a nightmare.

Finally, let me encourage you that today can be a day of victory and peace for you.  You simply must ask the Lord for courage to face the day, resting fully in the truth of the Word:

 

Joshua 1:8-9 "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.
 Have
not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid,
neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee
whithersoever thou goest."

 

Those are bold words, aren't they?

Let's begin our day by trusting in these promises of God…by leaving behind the things that weigh down our spirit…and by meditating on His Word to find the good courage that will lead us to success!

I am praying that you have a great day, despite the way it started,

Alesha

Content, With Practice

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

Happy Monday to you!!!

 

Philippians 4:11 "…for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."


Or, as the pin on my Pinterest board says,

Always

 

I know that – on certain mornings – it is hard to feel content, especially when I am sick.  I asked my friend "Why is it that I can handle off-the-scale pain in my back, and never lose my sweet spirit; but give me a cold and I am a grouchy mess???"

Sometimes, I'm so immature that I annoy myself!

I'm so glad for the verse above.  It reminds me that contentment is a learned response.  It is not a virtue or even a fruit of the spirit.  It is something that is produced as we practice it.  My old choir leader used to remind us,

"Practice makes permanent…not perfect." 

We can practice something over and over in the wrong way, which then becomes fixed in our mind.

The trick is to practice contentment – in the right way!  These verses are good reminders of how to do that:

 

Hebrews 13:5 "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such
things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee."


Part of our deep-seated contentment comes from the promise that our Heavenly Father is always with us.

 

I Timothy 6:6-7 "But godliness with contentment is great gain.
 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."


The other truth that will help us learn contentment is that we have nothing on our own – everything is from our Heavenly Father.

Focus on these two truth today.  They will help your contentment grow.  As you become content, you find more things for which to be thankful…and a lovely spiral effect of contentment and gratitude will swirl through your heart and life.

Then, even on a Monday, you will yourself content and grateful…and ready for whatever the week may bring!

Wishing you a day of profitable practicing,

Alesha

 

A Song of Praise

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, How Great is Our God, Isaac Update, Links to Share, Thoughtful Thursday, What's Happening

 

We are all doing better – Yay!  Doug's energy is returning.  Isaac was very vocal last night, singing with the radio and fussing when he dropped his toys, so I'm thinking he's feeling better too! ;)  I am also feeling a little bit better, and think I might just live through this.  When I do, I think I deserve a t-shirt:  "I Survived the Flu 2012!", don't you?!! 🙂

 

 

I have a song swirling around in my head this morning.  My sweet friend sang it at church last night, and as I watched the service via the internet, I was so touched by the truth of the song, as if it were the first time I was hearing it.  I thought it might be a blessing to you too. :) 

This is the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, the first group I ever heard sing the song.  Damaris Carbaugh is the soloist.

 

 

 

Dwelling on His faithfulness today,

Alesha

Resting the Body, Working the Mind

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, Florida Weather, Just My Thoughts, Prayer Request, What's Happening

Oh my goodness.  We are such a sleepy bunch here at our house!

Isaac slept until after 10 a.m. yesterday, then – mercifully – slept all night too. Yay!

Doug came home from work and slept for several hours, as well.  Thankfully, Isaac was his angelic self and played quietly while Daddy slept.  Of course, the fact that we turned on his favorite radio station had a lot to do with his contentment! 🙂

I didn't actually sleep, but I was very happy to quietly watch videos on the computer all afternoon and evening too.  I was pretty convinced that, at some point in time, my head was going to explode due to the sinus pressure and barometric pressure combo, but it never did.  Secretly, I would have welcomed the relief! :o(

Doug and Ike are not going to try to go to therapy today.  We are all still dragging, and there is no need to push it.  Continuing to rest seems to be the best option.

I have been loading up on every supplement that I think will help me fight this cold: oregano, echinacea and vitamin C especially.  I am taking quadruple the usually dose of C and I really feel like it is helping.  It is not upsetting my stomach at all, so I just keep increasing the dose.  If my stomach can take it, I know it is certainly helping the rest of my system!

 

 

Newtonthemagnificent

Newton the Magnificent

 

On a sad note, we are pretty certain that Newton (our 8-year-old Labradoodle) has some sort of growth on his spine.  We have been giving him supplements and he is moving around much better than he was, but he has developed a knot right on his backbone.  Since his movement is good, and he doesn't seem to be in pain, we are not pursuing a diagnosis at this time.  We'd appreciate your prayers for wisdom and peace, as quite honestly, we are having a hard time with this.

My devotions this morning were about "mortifying the deeds of the body" and "mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth" (Romans 8:13 and Colossians 3:5).  Not a popular subject on any day, but especially when I am sick and don't feel well!

Honestly, though, I could come up with that excuse all the time, because due to fibro, I always have "something" that hurts!  I know it is a work of the Holy Spirit when I can set aside my physical pain to do whatever task is before me.  That is something that I can almost never do on my own.  It is just too hard. 

Even though I often ignore my physical body and do what needs to be done, there are always other areas that still need work.  My mind is usually the most rebellious "member" that I have to work on!

  • Am I indulging in self-righteous thoughts? 
  • Am I harboring hatred toward anyone? 
  • Am I letting coveteousness to control my mind? 
  • Do I allow lustful thoughts to linger? 
  • Am I catering to self-pity?

So, even while I am taking it easy, due to illness, I can still work on strengthening my inner man through the obedience of my mind to the Word of God.

Today's word for me:  "Mortify".

(I've got a feeling it might be a l-o-o-o-n-g day!)

;o)

Alesha

 

Joining the Resistance

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, Isaac Update, Managing My Mondays, What's Happening

 

I know I've been lax on daily or even weekly updates on us, here on the blog, for quite a while.  I plan to do better about that – honest! :)  I'm going to try to allow myself to write shorter entries, and to be less critical of each entry.  It's true that we tend to be our own worst critics, yeah?

So, on with an update:

We had a pretty miserable weekend here.  We are all sick, and it's a good thing misery loves company, because neither Doug nor I felt up to church yesterday.  We all slept most of the day.  I even missed listening to the morning church service online because I was asleep.  I can't even remember the last time that happened.

We are all taking our supplements, especially the new vitamin C powder we added to our arsenal, and I am p-r-a-y-i-n-g that we will be feeling better soon.

Of course, yesterday was supposed to be Doug's first Sunday working in the children's ministry at church.  I cannot help but think this illness had some devilish assistance in finding our house! 

On the days when we feel particularly unimportant, it would be wise for us to remember how hard our enemy fights to keep us from doing our work for the Lord – whether that work is in your home, in your church ministry, or at your job.  The devil would like nothing better than to keep us ineffective in our own personal circles.

 

I Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour"

 

We must remember that even though we have a powerful adversary, we have an even mightier Advocate!!!

 

I John 4:4 "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

 

Have things been difficult at your house too?  Believe me, I understand!  Let's pray for one another, and encourage one another to continue strong in our faith, as we do the work the Lord has entrusted to us today.

If you have a particular prayer request, share it with me here in the comments or by email.  I will pray about it with you.  I would appreciate your prayers for us, too. 🙂

Blessings,

Alesha