Category: Just My Thoughts

Managing My Mondays

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Managing My Mondays

Hmph! 

Again!

These "managing" posts are supposed to be written on Monday, but again, here I sit on Tuesday, typing.  Oh, well, some things are beyond our control, amen?  Amen!

I have been quite sick since last week.  So technically, I didn't do much "managing" at all yesterday.  I was so grateful for our caregiver, who came in and cared for Isaac, took the dog out, washed the dishes and brought me hot soup in bed!!!  She is the greatest!!!

I have been continuing my healthy approach to fighting off the germies, and even though I am still not 100%, I feel some better today.

***

I did miss singing in my choir's cantata on Sunday night.  That made me really, really sad; but I was able to watch it online, and it was wonderful!

(It is available on our church's media page:  Landmark Baptist Church Christmas Cantata. Our college's Christmas program is available there as well.  It was awesome, too!)

***

We are having incredibly cold weather here this week. 

Our thermometer read 24* this morning!

That is cRaZy cold for Florida!!!  It's fun for a change, though!  Now if we could just get a little snow before next Saturday, that would be perfect! LOL!

***

My baby brother is experiencing his first winter in Tennessee this year.  He messaged me with pictures of snow yesterday.  We are really going to miss him this Christmas, but I am so proud of him for striking out on his own and following his heart. 

He is living out in the country, all by himself, which is something he has dreamed of for years.  It may not be what he wants for the rest of his life, but he is wise to reach for his goal while he is single and unencumbered.  I am excited to see what God is going to show him while He's got him on the backside of the desert…um, I mean forest! ;o)

***

Here's a pic of my little man, (well, and my big man, too!) all bundled up for his ride to therapy:

Coldike

***

Coldike2

And a slightly blurry shot of some of our Christmas decor:

Lights

(Fortunately, for me, I like blurry Christmas light pictures.)

May God bless today, and may you stay warm!!!

😉

Today’s Necessities

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Prayer Request, Thoughtful Thursday, What's Happening

Some things seem really important to me today:

  • oil of oregano
  • the neti pot
  • barley
  • veggie juice
  • tissues
  • honey, vinegar and hot water
  • vitamin C

Yeah…I have caught a cold or a sinus infection or something!  I woke up hardly able to swallow.  That has gotten better as I have been on fluids this morning, and so I will keep hydrating and hope that helps.

My special honey/vinegar drink is fabulous for a sore throat.  Here's the recipe:

  1. 1 cup hot water
  2. 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  3. 1 Tablespoon honey (I tend to be quite generous with the honey)

Mix that all together and sip on it through the day.  It tastes great and makes a sore throat feel so much better.

Our choir cantata is on Sunday night.  I would really love to feel all better by then. 🙂

If you think to pray for me, thank you!

Alesha

Foto Friday

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Foto Friday

Ok, Ike, time for pictures!  You sit right here…Up tall, now!

Ike1

***

Well, here, up TALL like this!

Ike2

***

Hmm…maybe if we tickle…

Ike3

***

Ok, change chairs, get Mama and Daddy on each side, tickling…

Ike5

Thaaaaat's better!!!

Thoughtful Thursday

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Thoughtful Thursday

 

It's always so exciting to see God at work in the lives of His people.

It's even more exciting when you see Him working in your own life!

I have particularly seen God's hand at work in the area of my sensitivity to His leading in every day decisions.

He truly is a God Who is near to His people.  He is involved in the "little" things of life.

This is what I'm thinking about today:

Steamingcupofcoffee

Mmmm…coffee…

In the morning, I choose how much coffee to drink.  If I choose a large cup, I know I will be awake until about 2 a.m.  If I choose a small cup (6 oz.), I will be able to fall asleep by 11:30 or so.

Now – I have no way of knowing if Isaac will be awake half the night, or sleep the entire night through.  Since Doug heads to work around 5:30 a.m., I try to handle Isaac during the night.

Only God knows what the night holds for me.

So, I need to be paying attention, first thing in the morning, as to how much coffee I consume.

DSCN0037_00

See?  A small thing…but not really.

When Isaac sleeps the night through, and I am still awake at 2 a.m., I sure am wishing I had followed God's leading to drink less coffee that morning! 

By the same token, if I am zonking out at 11 p.m. while Isaac is kicking and playing in his room, it sure is difficult to drag myself out of bed repeatedly to check on him.  That extra bit of coffee in the morning would have given me the extra "staying" power I need keep up with him! 😉

DSCN0206

Now just in case you're wondering, I don't stand and pray for an hour every morning over my coffee cup to know how much to drink! :o)

I do, however, try to start my day in communion with my Heavenly Father. 

Even if I'm not able to spend time in the Word before my coffee, I can have my attention focused on Him, and have my attitude in submission to His will as my day begins.

By the end of the day, I have made dozens of decisions – either with or without the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Those decisions are the sum total of my life…

…as my decisions determine the direction of my day.

I'm just trying to stay "tuned in" to the Holy Spirit's gentle prompting, even in the little things, because those decisions end up being quite important eventually.

What small decision have you made that turned out to be incredibly important?  I'd love to hear about it.

Blessings to you as you make your decisions today,

Alesha

Peeve of the Season

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Holiday, Just My Thoughts

 

My pet peeve for the Christmas season:

people who change the words of the Christmas carols!


Case in point: Jewel.

(And before you think to question me about my music preferences, I do not listen to Jewel and I do not own any of her cds. I heard this song on the AOL free radio Christmas station.)

She can sing…

"Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth"

…without any hesitation;

BUT she changes "Offspring of a virgin's womb" to "Offspring of the favored one" in the previous verse??? 

Why?

Because without the virgin birth, Jesus is just another man.

A really great man, apparently, according to what Jewel believes. He wants to give man a "second birth" and He is "ris'n with healing in His wings".  Considering what folks believe with today's New Age mysticism, they could sing those words about any good man.

 

If, however, you sing that a Man was born of a virgin – that, of necessity, makes Him Diety – God Almighty! And the world just can't admit or acknowledge that about Jesus Christ.


I know…why should I even be surprised that the world doesn't believe that the baby Jesus was truly the Son of God? I guess, in all actuality, I'm not surprised or even offended.


What I do object to, though, is this: 

when they take the songs of authors who did believe this truth with their whole heart, and twist and distort the author's message to be something that it isn't:  a pretty song about a winter holiday.


As a musician, as a singer and soloist, I can with a clear conscience, admonish you,

  • If you cannot sing every word of a song with sincerity and honesty… 
  • If you don't believe every word of the song you are performing…
  • If you can't be true to the message of the author… 

Don't sing the song!


We musicians should take our role very seriously, as we use music to proclaim our Christ and the message of His Word. While we don't expect the world to honor or understand His message, we should do our utmost to proclaim it clearly.

May we honor Christ this season – with our lives and our music.

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"