Category: KJV Graphics

When God Provides Before I Need

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

Some time last fall, a friend of our gifted us with a box of various and sundry equipment: timers, tools, drip lines, rockwool, etc.

Several things I was able to use right away in our fishkeeping hobby. The timers were used for the lights, the rockwool for plant cuttings, and so on.

When I decided (read that as “felt compelled by the Lord”) to plan a garden, I didn’t even remember that box. But Doug did. And he dragged it inside this morning to see what treasures it held.

A watering timer for the spigot, a soil tester, several sets of drip lines (with accessories to customize them), a watering valve for several hoses from one spigot, a warming mat for seedlings, peat moss pods for seeds.

Before I had the need for all those things, God saw to it that they were supplied. He is such a good God.

And one more thing was included in that box. Something that we didn’t really need, but something that I reeeeeally wanted:

These super fancy plastic labels for the different crops in the garden. You saw in my last post that I was just writing the names of the seeds on the side of the bucket, but I was worried that would eventually rub off due to watering, rain and the heat. These little vinyl labels come with sharp picks to dig down into the soil and will be much more durable than just ink on the side of the bucket. I love them and am so excited to write all my veggies on them. 🙂

God knows our need. Before we have the need, He has a plan to meet it. Our circumstances never catch Him off-guard. He’s not surprised by the “emergencies” in our lives.

He’s already made preparation to meet all the needs I’m going to face in this lifetime, because I am His child. As a good Father, He will do only what is best for me. I can trust Him to have it all planned out.

I don’t know what you’re facing today, but if Jesus is your Saviour, I can promise you, He has already met your need before you even realized you had it. Trust Him.

More importantly, give thanks to Him for meeting your need. It will amaze you how your gratitude will transform the circumstances to bring God glory and to carry you through your trial.

In Him,

Alesha Kay

Not the Same

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, A Word for Wednesday, How Great is Our God, KJV Graphics, Uncategorized, What I'm Reading

II Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Gracelaced by Ruth Chou Simons

You are a new creation. Not the same old You you were before. His life lives in you. His Spirit speaks to you and for you.

Leave the old yesterday behind you and step into the glorious new Today!

In Him,

Alesha Kay

Managing My Monday

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, Household, KJV Graphics, Managing My Mondays, Uncategorized

Today’s management looks an awful lot like laziness. It isn’t accomplishing much, and the lack of effort being put into it is appalling.

Because, you see, the best way for me to get this week started off well, is for me to rest.

This past weekend took a lot out of me physically. I had several things on my to-do list and my physical energy is completely depleted.

Since I have an adrenal issue, I have to be super careful to allow my body to get the rest it needs. If I don’t, I have an adrenal crash. Those are painful. And scary. And deplete my body even further.

So to avoid that, I have to rest.

You may not have a physical issue that requires extra rest, but you are human! And that means you must have sleep and rest (physically, mentally, spiritually) every day.

I think we women have so much to do on a regular basis that “doing” becomes a habit. And often, our goal.

Just keep doing, doing, doing.

But are we working efficiently? Is our working accomplishing a desired end result? Is our current project even necessary?

These are only questions you and the Lord can answer together.

But I encourage you to allow yourself some down-time when you truly need it. Reject the lies of the enemy that your worth is reflected by your accomplishments.

Your worth is in Jesus. He gave His own life to forgive your sins and give you a home in Heaven with Him. *That* is where your worth lies!

So my Monday is being managed by my snuggling in my little red recliner and reading a book, as soon as I hit “Publish” on this post.

Maybe you need a nap today. If so, I hope you see what a crucial task that is for your week to go well. Go snuggle up with a book or a kiddo and rest your way into the week.

In Him,

Alesha Kay

Pursuing Peace

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, How Great is Our God, Just My Thoughts, KJV Graphics, Managing My Mondays, Uncategorized

Pursue Peace
(Psalm 34:14)

Oh give me the quiet that seeps into my soul,
Where no voice is speaking,
No pictures are streaming,
No jets are screaming as they split the sky so vast.

Oh give me the peace that pours over my heart,
Where no politicians are declaring,
No car horns are blaring,
No bluetooth is pairing as it connects to the net at last.

Oh give me the rest that flows into my brain,
Where no thought is criticizing,
No greed is fantasizing,
No reflection realizing hurts that come from the past.

I want a hush for my hurried mind,
A lull that refuses to bind
The cares to my weary soul and finds
A calm in the Words of my Saviour so kind.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

May you find peace in His Word today,

Alesha Kay

Be brave!

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

II Corinthians 1:[8] For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

[9] But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

[10] Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

[11] Ye also helping together by prayer for us…

God delivered in the past and “doth deliver” even now. We can go bravely through this day, praying for those who are hurting around us…knowing that God can and will deliver.

Our faith in Him is not displaced. He is trustworthy. He is powerful. He answers prayer!

.

Be brave for Him today!

In Him,

Alesha Kay

Thoughtful Thursday

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

Luke 11:[33] No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
[34] The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
[35] Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
[36] If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

These are dark days. We are all feeling the downward pull of persistently-negative news and ramped-up stories of disease and death.

Even our humor has turned quite dark.

And you can’t escape it…it is everywhere.

So, with that it mind, we must be reminded that we are the LIGHT of this world (Matthew 5:14)

If we aren’t sharing that light, we are guilty of hiding it.  And the above verses tell us that nobody does that. It doesn’t make any sense!

Are you allowing this dark world to overcome and diminish your light? Are you allowing the stories and news and posts to throw a blanket over your Light? Are your own thoughts increasingly more negative and fearful?

This isn’t right! We must guard again it!

Where do we get our light?

II Corinthians 2:[6] For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ

We have LIGHT because God has given us the knowledge of it. It is the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ!

Do you know Jesus Christ? Then your whole being should be FULL of the light of that knowledge. And you should be allowing that light to SHINE out to all those around you.

How do you do that?

Love on people. Call them up and check on them. Text to see how they’re doing. Ask if they need anything when you are doing a shopping trip or if they need medication refills dropped off or picked up. Offer to drop by and visit on their front porch, through the screen or glass door, if necessary.

Communicate with people. Send them a funny meme or joke that reminds you of them. Ask if they have any prayer requests you can pray about. Just let them know you appreciate them and the job they do in your community (especially those who are doing the “essential” jobs right now.)

Give people the truth. Share Scripture on social media. Share your church’s video feed. Remind people of things to be thankful for. Keep a positive attitude and don’t spiral into online theological discussions that only cause irritation and hard feelings to develop.  If you need to “teach” a truth, do it Biblically:

IITimothy 2:[23]”But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
[24] And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
[25] In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves…

Don’t let the world’s darkness overtake you. Don’t let your light grow dim. Be in the Word daily to kindle your own flickering fire, then offer that Light back to the world.

Let your (not so little) Light shine for Him!

In Him,

Alesha Kay

Hope in God’s Response to My Cry

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, How Great is Our God, KJV Graphics, Thankful on Tuesday

Have you been here?

“The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.”  ~Psalm 18:4-6

Facing death? Drowning in fear? Swallowed up in the dark?

The Psalmist David draws such a vivid picture of his despair.

He also lets us know right away what his first response to this trial was – He called out to God, crying for deliverance.

So, how did God respond? I love these phrases! (Emphasis mine):

” Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.
And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.” ~Psalm 18:7-15

Whew! When God is touched by the cries of His children, He doesn’t mess around! He MOVES on the behalf of His children.

And even though He has all of nature crashing about in His anger, His actions toward His child are just precious:

“He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.” ~Psalm 18:16-19

He draws us to Himself, above the battle’s fray. He delivers us. He holds us steady. He brings us to a safe place.

I don’t know what enemy you’re facing today. I have no idea how much pain you are in, or just what need you have; but I do know your God, if He is this God of the Bible.

He can deliver you. He can bring you into a place of peace. He will show you mercy as you walk in obedience to Him.

“Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;” ~Psalm 18:24-25

God will bring light into our darkness.

 “For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.” ~Psalm 18:28

No matter your trial today, call out to Him. He will hear and will deliver. Then walk forward in obedience into the light of His presence.

In Him,

Alesha Kay