Category: A Door of Hope

Bloomin’ Idiot?

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

 

I had this thought today:


If we want to bloom for Christ…we will.


It matters not the position in the garden,

Bloom6

the nutrients of the soil, 

the loveliness of the container,

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the adoration of the crowd,

the heritage of the seeds,

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the salubriousness of the climate.

If a plant decides to grow and blossom and thrive, it just does.

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Are you blooming for Him today?

If not, why not?

"For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground…" ~Isaiah 53:2

If you want to be a gorgeous, blossoming, thriving Christian, then just decide that you will be; and go to the Master Gardener for your every need.

"For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody."~Isaiah 51:3

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."~Phillipians 4:19


Bloom on, my friend!

Alesha

Managing My Monday

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

How did things go at your house today?  Did your week get off to a normal start?  Were things thrown off kilter by something out of the ordinary?  How did you manage the change?  Did you let anger fester because your plans were ruined?  Were you grumpy and unkind because things did not go according to your expectations?

It happens to all of us, doesn't it?  It's difficult sometimes to just "go with the flow" and manage the crisis without getting all out of sorts.

I know that the only way I can handle the normal interruptions of life is with the Holy Spirit as my "internal governor".  I need that "ballast" on the inside to stablize my ship when it's tossed about by a storm. 

I'm certainly not perfect at maintaining a peaceful spirit in times of turmoil, but I do try to handle each new wave of change with a belief that my God is in charge of every aspect of my life.  No matter what happens, it is never out of His control.

~~~~~

Today I "managed" my house all by my little lonesome…well, until after noon, anyway, when Doug came home.

Ike's caregiver could not be here today.  Her mom is very sick and in the hospital, so she went to spend some time with her this past weekend.

So, I did Ike's 9 a.m. feed, and his first clothing change, and many, many, many minor adjustments that he insisted were absolutely necessary. 😉

Needless to say, my day seemed a little out of sync due to that schedule change.  Add to that the fact that my laptop is acting up again, and you can see that my day was definitely not according to my normal routine for Mondays.

It is nice, thought, isn't it, to be completely out of your ordinary schedule – occasionally?  I think so, anyway.  I really enjoyed my morning – just me and my boy.

~~~~~

By the way, this weekend, I got a great start to one of my 2012 goals.  I've entered a "blog party" for jewelry makers.  Aaaaaaaaand…I am blogging again on my jewelry blog and you can read all about the party here.

I am very excited to be back at my desk, working on my jewelry again.

Here's hoping that Tuesday is a little more "normal" than today! 🙂

Alesha

 

 

 

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

They who are God's without reserve, are in every state content; for they will only what He wills, and desire to do for Him whatever He desires them to do; they strip themselves of everything, and in this nakedness find all things restored a hundredfold. (Streams in the Desert)

Are You Thirsty?

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

 

Another great idea for the New Year

Newyear

I finally treated myself to a new copy of my old favorite:  Streams in the Desert by L. B. Cowman. 

 

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=akconklisxang-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0310607051  

This is the copy I bought.  Although the book has been updated, this is the original version, and it's the one I recommend.  The original copyright of this book was in 1925, which tells you quite a bit about the language it contains.  It is rather poetic and antiquated in some of its phrasing, but I love it. There is a real beauty to it that I find refreshing.

Of all the goals you could set for yourself for this New Year, I pray that one of them is to spend more time in the reading, studying and meditation of God's Word.

No other practice will affect change, promote success or encourage your heart like that will.

Blessing to you today,

Alesha

 

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