Category: A Door of Hope

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

Where Do I Find Hope?

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

Romans 15:4 – “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Hope comes through patience.

“Oh great!” you’re probably thinking.

But wait!  Where do we find our patience?

Our patience comes through the comfort of the Scriptures.

When we read the Word of God, we find the stories of other Christ-followers there.

Often, I have found great encouragement reading of another Christian handling adversity in a Christ-like manner.  Sometimes, I've even found comfort in the telling of their failures. 

If God brought them through their failure and discouragement, He can help me through my times of despair, too.  Everything in the Bible was written for us…that we might learn from it.

The knowledge we glean from the Word of God teaches us about the character of God, and how He works with His children. 

The more I know of the character of God…

The more I can trust Him. 

The more I trust Him…

The more hope I have.

As I read the Scriptures, I find comfort there, and I learn to be patient as God is working in me.

That comfort and that patience work together with His Word to give me hope!

Where do I find hope?  In the pages of God’s Word!

Thought for Today

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

Excerpt from Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman~

 

Dear restless heart, be still; don't fret and worry so;

God has a thousand ways His love and help to show;

Just trust, and trust, and trust, until His will you know.

 

Dear restless heart, be still, for peace is God's own smile,

His love can every wrong and sorrow reconcile;

Just love, and love, and love, and calmly wait awhile.

 

Dear restless heart, be brave; don't moan and sorrow so,

He hath a meaning kind in chilly winds that blow;

Just hope, and hope, and hope, until you braver grow.

 

Dear restless heart, repose upon His breast this hour,

His grace is strength and life, His love is bloom and flower;

Just rest, and rest, and rest, within His tender power.

 

Dear restless heart, be still!  Don't struggle to be free;

God's life is in your life, from Him you may not flee;

Just pray, and pray, and pray, till you have faith to see.

 

~Edith Willis Linn

A Month of Thankfulness

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, Blessings

November 30, 2010

On this last day of November

I am Thankful…

…for my life.

 

I really love my life.

Oh, it is not always easy.

I'm sure, like you, there are things I would like to change.

If I could go back, I would right some wrongs and avoid some mistakes.


However, when all is said and done, I know that God has been gracious to me each step of the way.


  • Even in my mistakes,
  • Even during times when my heart was cold,
  • Even when I allowed bitterness to grow,
  • Even when I completely lost hope…

He has been so good to me.


The Lord has poured out His mercy on my life again and again.

He has filled my life with blessings that cannot be counted. 

(Even in a month of daily blogging…there were so many other things about which I could have blogged.)

He is daily leading me, as I seek Him.


God is good. 

He has blessed me with a good life…

…and I am very thankful!