Category: A Door of Hope

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

Filled to Overflowing

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

 

John 4:14 "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never
thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of
water springing up into everlasting life."

 

"A man who had learned this secret once said:  'I came to Jesus and I drank, and I do not think that I shall ever be thirsty again.  I have taken for my motto,

 

"Not overwork, but overflow"


and already it has made all the difference in my life.'

There is no effort in overflow" ~Streams in the Desert

 

When my heart and life are full of Jesus, my heart overflows with gratitude and love for the One Who saved me.

My service then is not a driving effort, but rather a joyful expression of a thankful heart.

Finding the Answers that I Hope For

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

 

Psalm 119:10-11 "With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee…"

 

John 16:13 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…"

 

"The Holy spirit uses God's Words stored up inside us to nudge us, remind us, redirect us, empower us, and lead us on to victory.

"I wish I could give you a more definitive formula…something a little more packaged and step-by-step and not so reliant on having to make a choice to listen to the Holy Spirit." ~ Lysa Terkeurst, Made to Crave

 

Do you want answers???

Then you must take time to listen to God's answers!!! 

 

Jeremiah 29:13-14a "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 

And I will be found of you, saith the LORD…"

Sailing Out in Hope of Adventure

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

 

"If the bird is going to fly, it must keep away from fences and the trees, and trust to its buoyant wings.  But if it tries to keep within easy reach of the ground, it will make poor work of flying." ~ A.B. Simpson

 

Hebrews 11:8 "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went."

 

I suppose it is probably safer to hop around from limb to limb, fence to bushy plant, and close to the ground – so if we fall, it isn't too painful.

But imagine the vistas that we will never see, the currents we will never glide upon, the expanse of sky we will never traverse.

Safety is…well, safe; but it is never exciting!

 

"O Lord, send us out to sea – out in the deep water.

Here we are so close to the rocks that the first bit of breeze with the Devil, we are all knocked to bits.

Lord, send us out to sea – out in deep water,

Where we shall have room enough to get a glorious victory."

~ Old Cornish prayer

 

Philippians 3:13-14 "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

 

Don't be afraid to lose sight of the shore as you set your sails for God's exciting will!

Today’s Thought

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

 

"Remember that we have no more faith at any time than we have in the hour of trial.

 
All that will not bear to be tested is mere carnal confidence.

 
Fair-weather faith is no faith."

~ C.H. Spurgeon

 

I Peter 1:6-7 "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ"