Category: Just My Thoughts

Just My Thoughts on Family

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

Family is family is family. 

Nothing should break that bond, lessen that love, remove that responsibility. 

God has placed us in our familial circle for a reason.  Let us love one another with the love of Christ, and move through our trials together. 

The prodigal knew the Father's love was unconditional before he ever left his home. 

May our homes and families be havens of forgiveness and support for those who have believed Satan's lies and walked away from the ways of truth and righteousness. 

We do not love the sin, but we must continue to love the sinner in ways that are honest, tangible and safe for our other family members.  For example, we do not expose our children to sin or to danger while we work with a wayward loved one. 

It is not an easy task.  It is not a frivolous decision.  But it IS showing God to the world when we love as He loves.

For the truth of the matter is…the next family member who is in need of unconditional love may be you or me!

 

 "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
 "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
 "For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."  Galatians 6:1-3

 

 

Success!

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, Florida Weather, Household, Managing My Mondays, What's Happening

 

Finally, by making use of the freebies offered us by our Creator (i.e. planning, perspiring and persevering), I have achieved my goal:


View2

Lunch, on my porch, with a view!

What a Lovely Day!

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Florida Weather, Food and Drink, Foto Friday, What's Happening

 

Doug and I had such a nice day together on Friday.

It was one of those days when not one thing went according to plan!  It was, however, a day full of fun surprises:

  • avoiding the traffic jam on I-4 by doing a u-turn on the ramp, driving through the median and hopping a curb to get back on the road.
  • wandering around Kissimmee looking for a place to eat, but finding all the nice restaurants closed.
  • seeing a road that Doug recognized, taking it and ending up on the road on which we meant to end our day.
  • eating Turkish cuisine for the first time.
  • looking for a used bookstore, with written directions from a barista, and never finding the store.
  • deciding to not return the way we came, and looking for a bead store.
  • finding the mall that the bead store was supposed to be in, and learning that the entire mall was empty except for a few store on the end near Outdoor World.
  • walking through Bass Pro Shop (now, I can say that I've been…nothing spectacular, in my opinion)
  • finding a new way to get to the road we were on before, so that we could go to Whole Foods before we headed home.
  • going home with freshly ground cashew butter (yum!)

Now a few pictures from our lovely lunch. (I do apologize for the poor quality – my cell phone is notoriously difficult to hold still while pressing the shutter button.)

Hot Lemon Green Tea

Tea

 

Fabulous Turkish Bread.  We were amazed and asked for instructions!

Bread1

 

"Just use your knife and poke it!"  Steam billowed out as it collapsed.

Bread2

It was served with amazing authentic hummus (very similar to mine, I am proud to say), pickled cabbage and Kalamata olives.  The taste combinations were extraordinarily delicious!

 

Soup of the Day – Lentil, with a squeeze of lemon on top

Lentilsoup

 

Falafel Wrap with Tahini dipping sauce

FalafelWrap

 

Lamb Kabob with grilled Veggies and Rice (that Doug said was amazing!)

Kabob

 

Turkish Pistachio Baklava

Baklava

 

Anatolia – our Lovely Surprise of the Day

Anatolia

 

And of course, one of the best things about being out in Florida is the always breathtaking Sky!

FLsky

Our day was full of twists and turns (literally and figuratively); but we enjoyed our time together and made some wonderful memories.

Changes to our plans are not necessarily bad!

Embrace the unexpected with an air of expectancy.

God will surprise you in ways you would never imagine.

🙂

Blessings,

Alesha

Foto Friday – Macro Vision

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, Florida Weather, Foto Friday, How Great is Our God, Just My Thoughts, Obtaining Mercy Croft

 

I'm trying to learn how to use the "macro" setting on my camera.


Focus

 

Hmmm…seems like my focus is a bit skewed,

Sorta like my internal focus sometimes…

Only seeing clearly the dried, dying, ugly parts of my life…

Somehow overlooking the new, vibrant bits of color that are popping up all over.


flowers

I need to appreciate the new growth, the new beauty…

Inspite of the barren background.


Pinkflowers


What are you focused on today?

Blessings to you,

Alesha

Foto Friday

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Foto Friday, Isaac Update, Prayer Request

This week:

I worked with these lovely pieces for the Bead Soup Blog Party.

 

Beadsoup3

 

I chose some lovely gemstones for a custom piece of jewelry.

 

Altcolors

 

I spied this crimson-capped fella in my orange tree again.

 

Woodywoodpecker2

 

I took out some of my frustrations by hammering on copper. 

 

Hammeredheart

(It is very cathartic!)

 

I also spent much time in prayer for my precious friend Robin Boyle.  Robin required an emergency c-section to deliver her 7th child, a baby boy named Mark Seth.  She then needed 32 pints of blood, and is currently still in ICU, due to blood clots in both lungs and failing kidneys.  If the Lord lays it on your heart, would you pray with me for Robin?

Thanks.

Then, on a much smaller scale, would you please pray for Isaac?  He caught our caregiver's cold, and has developed quite a cough.  Praise the Lord, he has only run fever one night, and we are praying that he stays stable and that the cough doesn't turn into pneumonia.

Blessings,

Alesha

Listening for the Shepherd

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, How Great is Our God, Just My Thoughts

The little lamb was caught in the thicket. 

The roar of a nearby lion had sent him scurrying, and in his fear he ran away from the Shepherd. 

He ran blindly, not heeding the Shepherd's call, until the branches pressed close and blocked his path to safety.  The thorns jabbed, piercing his tender skin, drawing blood that stained his white wool an ugly reddish-brown.

He cried out, willing the Shepherd to hear his feeble "Baa!  Baa!"; but no help came. 

He floundered a bit, trying to gain ground to move through the hedge that surrounded him; but the brambles held him tight. 

He waited…too tired to continue struggling.  His panting eased, and he rested in the midst of the brier. 

He knew the Shepherd would come.  He had no doubt.  He trusted his Shepherd. 

Within a few short moments darkness fell.  At first the silence was frightening, but then the night creatures began to sing their nocturnal refrain, crickets and frogs in unison with the occasional melody of the whiporwill. 

He stilled then, as he thought of his Shepherd, remembering nights of snuggling at His side within the safety of the sheepfold.  He pushed his fears aside, for he knew his Shepherd would come.

The cold of the night began to penetrate his wooly coat, and he shivered in the gloom of the night. 

He soon noticed the sounds of other beasts in the night: the bellow of a bear sounded loud in his ear.  The howl of the wolves echoed eerily along the valley floor.

He trembled violently as he wondered what terrors this night held for him; but he calmed once again, as he thought of his Shepherd.  The One who had led him to this place.  The One who met his every need.  The One who had killed many wild beasts that had threatened his flock.

No, he would not fear the darkness of this night, because he knew, beyond a doubt, his Shepherd was near.  The Shepherd would come for him.  The Shepherd would rescue him out of the blackness of this night.  He trusted the Shepherd.

He squirmed a bit, seeking a small place of relief from the pain of the thorns, and settled himself into the heart of the hedge.  He quieted himself and listened, not for the sound of wild beasts, nor to the howling winds that blew through the valley.

Calmly, while the darkness pressed in around him, he listened for the Voice of the one he knew best. He listened for the Voice of his Shepherd.