Category: A Door of Hope

Why Not?

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

 

Luke 9:[28] And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
[29] And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
[30] And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
[31] Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
[32] But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

 

"Come close to Him! He may take you today up into the mountain top, for where He took Peter with his blundering, and James and John, those sons of thunder who again and again so utterly misunderstood their Master and His mission, there is no reason why He should not take you." ~John McNeill (excerpt Streams in the Desert)

 

If we seek the Lord with all our hearts, why should He not allow us to draw close and see His glory?

In fact, it is a bit of a promise that he will do just that:

James 4:8a – "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…"

So, for today, why not draw near? 

Just maybe…you will catch a glimpse of Him!!!  

 

Friday’s Fact

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

In Captivity ~

"Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month,

as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar,

that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
 In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,

The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and  

the hand of the LORD was there upon him."

Ezekiel 1:1-3

 

"No calamity can be to us an unmixed evil if we carry it in direct and fervent prayer to God,

for even as one in taking shelter from the rain beneath a tree may find on its branches fruit which he looked not for,

so we in fleeing for refuge beneath the shadow of God's wing,

will always find more in God than we had seen or known before."

~William Taylor from Streams in the Desert


It Must Be Important…

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

 

…if the Apostle Paul said it TWICE:

I Corinthians 6:12

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

I Corinthians 10:23

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

What are you doing today that isn't a "sin",

but it also isn't "expedient" (useful; profitable)?

What are you participating in today that may be "ok" for you to do,

but it does not edify (to build)?

What are you allowing in your life today that may be "ok" for others,

but you have come "under" (a state of oppression or subjection to) its power?

 

Two verses

Nearly identical

One important truth:


 If it's a sin – don't do it!

If it isn't a sin – is it useful? are you under its power? does it build you as a Christian?

Good questions for us today! 

Blessings,

Alesha

 

 

Learning How to Pray

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

We had a prayer request at our church, several weeks ago, for a young soldier who's feet and legs had been shattered by a land mine in Afghanistan.  (His great uncle is a member of our church.) 

I put his name in my phone on my daily calendar, and have been praying for him every day; but some days, I really didn't know how to pray for him.  I really didn't think I understood what he was going through, and so I just asked the Lord to meet his needs each day.

However, since I've been stuck here, in so much pain with my back, I have learned exactly what to pray for him.  Most days, I've been able to pray for him the same thing that I want for myself.

  • For pain relief
  • For the desire to be healthy again
  • For a friend who understands
  • For the meds to do their job
  • For the muscles, ligaments and bones to heal
  • For patience
  • For more faith in God's ultimate plan
  • For a good night's sleep
  • For a friend with a really good sense of humor
  • For something to distract his mind from the pain
  • For relief from the FEAR of the pain
  • For physical strength and mental fortitude to try again
  • For release from embarrassment
  • For someone to listen and not judge
  • For a friend who has been through it already who can encourage
  • For a kind caregiver
  • For someone to pray FOR

I am glad to be able to pray for him better now.  I have been helped and relieved and encouraged that I know exactly how to pray each day for him.

The last time I talked to his uncle, he said there was a possibilty that he would lose his leg.  I don't know if that has happened or not, but I have prayed about that too, even though I cannot begin to understand how that would affect a person.

Sometimes the situations that we experience are difficult; but those same experiences open us up to a world of understanding that would otherwise be closed to us.

God works His will in us in extraordinary ways. 

Can the trouble you're facing today help you to pray more compassionately for others?  It's a good thing to consider while going through our trials.

By the way, this soldier's name is Joel, if you would like to pray for him too. 🙂

Blessings,

Alesha

Inspiration versus Perspiration

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

Why is it that verses like this ~

The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. Proverbs 18:10

make me feel all warm and fuzzy;

While verses like this ~

He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. Proverbs 18:9

make me want to squirm?

There are, after all, written one right after the other in this chapter of Proverbs.

I think some days, the Lord

gets tired of my quest for emotional inspiration,

and instead wants to

measure my obedience by the sweat of my brow!

My goal today:  to work diligently.  (The sweat is just going to happen on its own – it is, after all, July in Florida!)

Do You Hear What I Hear?

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

I read this verse today, and thought it was so succinct:

 

Hosea 14:8a:

"Ephraim shall say,  

'What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him…'"


This is what keeps our hearts right toward the Lord!


We hear Him – through His Word

and

We observe Him – through His Works


It moves us the Worship and Obey Him!


So…

"What have I to do any more with idols"???


Verse 9 of the same chapter gives excellent advice:


"Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein."


Let's HEAR and OBSERVE Him today…

and allow what we hear and see to change our WALK!

Thoughtful Thursday

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, Thoughtful Thursday

I do not like pain.

In fact, this moring, I found myself looking up words to describe my pain.  (You can read about my condition in this post.)


  • per·ni·cious [per-nish-uhs]

–adjective 1. causing harm or ruin; ruinous; injurious; hurtful.

  • in·sid·i·ous [in-sid-ee-uhs]

–adjective

1.intended to entrap or beguile: an insidious plan.
2.stealthily treacherous or deceitful
3.operating or proceeding in an inconspicuous or seemingly harmless way but actually with grave effect.
  • per·fid·i·ous [per-fid-ee-uhs]
–adjective deliberately faithless; treacherous; deceitful

When you start looking up words like that, you realize it's time for some serious reflection!

I don't know about you, but when I am in pain – be it physical or emotional – it is rarely helpful for me to focus on that pain.

It is helpful, though, for me to busy my mind and my body, if at all possible, on other things, projects, studies, and people.

It is also so helpful to be reminded of how the Apostle Paul dealt with his pain.  Remember that his years as a missionary were not spent in ease.  He describes his life's experiences with the following words:

  • labors
  • stripes
  • prison
  • death
  • beaten
  • stoned
  • ship wrecked
  • journeyings
  • perils
  • weariness
  • painfulness
  • watchings
  • hunger
  • thirst
  • fastings
  • cold
  • nakedness

That's an incredible list, isn't it? 

And do you remember Paul's summation of his life of pain and suffering?  It's rather incredible, too!

 

II Corinthians 12:9-10 – And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Now I realize that my life in no way compares to that of the Apostle Paul.  My circle of influence is infinitely smaller than his, and I am no apostle, or preacher or missionary.

However, my role is still important.  I do touch many lives in my little circle. 

More importantly, though, is that the God of the Apostle Paul is my God too!

If God can use Paul's suffering to bring Himself glory, if Paul's weaknesses can highlight God's strengths, if God's grace was enough for Paul, then I know I can claim those promises for myself as well.

Today I will focus on God's strength, rather than my weakness.

I will look for His glory in the midst of my infirmities.

I will concentrate on His grace, rather than my pain.

Maybe you are hurting today, too.  I encourage you to try to deal with it Paul's way!  And let me know how it goes, ok? 🙂

Blessings,

Alesha