Content, With Practice

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

Happy Monday to you!!!

 

Philippians 4:11 "…for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."


Or, as the pin on my Pinterest board says,

Always

 

I know that – on certain mornings – it is hard to feel content, especially when I am sick.  I asked my friend "Why is it that I can handle off-the-scale pain in my back, and never lose my sweet spirit; but give me a cold and I am a grouchy mess???"

Sometimes, I'm so immature that I annoy myself!

I'm so glad for the verse above.  It reminds me that contentment is a learned response.  It is not a virtue or even a fruit of the spirit.  It is something that is produced as we practice it.  My old choir leader used to remind us,

"Practice makes permanent…not perfect." 

We can practice something over and over in the wrong way, which then becomes fixed in our mind.

The trick is to practice contentment – in the right way!  These verses are good reminders of how to do that:

 

Hebrews 13:5 "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such
things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee."


Part of our deep-seated contentment comes from the promise that our Heavenly Father is always with us.

 

I Timothy 6:6-7 "But godliness with contentment is great gain.
 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."


The other truth that will help us learn contentment is that we have nothing on our own – everything is from our Heavenly Father.

Focus on these two truth today.  They will help your contentment grow.  As you become content, you find more things for which to be thankful…and a lovely spiral effect of contentment and gratitude will swirl through your heart and life.

Then, even on a Monday, you will yourself content and grateful…and ready for whatever the week may bring!

Wishing you a day of profitable practicing,

Alesha

 

Plans of a Grandiose Nature

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Household, What's Happening

 

Gee…I picked quite a day to go "decaf":  Our caregiver called in sick! :o(

I am feeling better, but I still can't care for Isaac by myself, as my back is not strong enough for his growing length and weight.  He is right at 70 pounds now!

So, Doug will be shuttling back and forth from school on each of his breaks, and we will adjust Ike's feeding schedule to go along with Doug's.  Let's just pray that his (Isaac's) going potty coincides with Doug's being here! :o/

I'm thankful that I feel like sitting upright this morning…and I don't have that…

"Oh, deah, I must lay down befoah I am ovahcome with the vaypahs"

…feeling (said in my best "Scarlet O'Hara" accent). 

I was actually able to clear my desk so that I can sit and do a little work today.  Doug does not deal well with "junk" mail, so while I was sick, he had been putting all the mail on my desk.  I had a massive pile of catalogs!  "Tis the season" you know! They have all been put into File 13, and my work surface is clean and organized.

With that task finished, my plan for the rest of the day is to stay awake and upright.

It's ambitious, I know, but I reeeeally think I can do it!!!

;o)

Here's to a productive Friday!

Alesha

 

A Song of Praise

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, How Great is Our God, Isaac Update, Links to Share, Thoughtful Thursday, What's Happening

 

We are all doing better – Yay!  Doug's energy is returning.  Isaac was very vocal last night, singing with the radio and fussing when he dropped his toys, so I'm thinking he's feeling better too! ;)  I am also feeling a little bit better, and think I might just live through this.  When I do, I think I deserve a t-shirt:  "I Survived the Flu 2012!", don't you?!! 🙂

 

 

I have a song swirling around in my head this morning.  My sweet friend sang it at church last night, and as I watched the service via the internet, I was so touched by the truth of the song, as if it were the first time I was hearing it.  I thought it might be a blessing to you too. :) 

This is the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, the first group I ever heard sing the song.  Damaris Carbaugh is the soloist.

 

 

 

Dwelling on His faithfulness today,

Alesha

I Learned Something New

by ObtainingMercy, posted in What's Happening

 

Kepler says "Hi!" from her usual (daytime) spot at the foot of the bed.

 

Keppiegirl

 

So…it turns out that you can get too much Vitamin C in your system, without having the symptom of an upset tummy!!!  Isn't that interesting?

I was experiencing some odd symptoms, and so I checked in with my friendly Naturopath/Nurse Practitioner at Cross Natural Health.  Karen suggested that my system had become too acidic and I needed to back off on the Vitamin C. 

I followed her instructions, and within hours, my symptoms were dissipating! 

Ah…that is the benefit of dealing with someone who does Nutritional Counseling.  Karen helps me with my supplements, even during times of illness, so that I am taking in the optimal nutrients that my body needs.

You can check out her website by clicking the link above or the button down on the left side of my site.

 

I guess folks are not seeing my blogs on Facebook, since I am posting at a different time.  However, this is working for me right now, and I guess if folks wants to know how we're doing, eventually they will check back in and see that I'm doing better at blogging about that! 😉

 

Well, I need to get to my coffee this morning, so I am going to cut this short!

Talk to you again tomorrow,

Alesha

 

Resting the Body, Working the Mind

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, Florida Weather, Just My Thoughts, Prayer Request, What's Happening

Oh my goodness.  We are such a sleepy bunch here at our house!

Isaac slept until after 10 a.m. yesterday, then – mercifully – slept all night too. Yay!

Doug came home from work and slept for several hours, as well.  Thankfully, Isaac was his angelic self and played quietly while Daddy slept.  Of course, the fact that we turned on his favorite radio station had a lot to do with his contentment! 🙂

I didn't actually sleep, but I was very happy to quietly watch videos on the computer all afternoon and evening too.  I was pretty convinced that, at some point in time, my head was going to explode due to the sinus pressure and barometric pressure combo, but it never did.  Secretly, I would have welcomed the relief! :o(

Doug and Ike are not going to try to go to therapy today.  We are all still dragging, and there is no need to push it.  Continuing to rest seems to be the best option.

I have been loading up on every supplement that I think will help me fight this cold: oregano, echinacea and vitamin C especially.  I am taking quadruple the usually dose of C and I really feel like it is helping.  It is not upsetting my stomach at all, so I just keep increasing the dose.  If my stomach can take it, I know it is certainly helping the rest of my system!

 

 

Newtonthemagnificent

Newton the Magnificent

 

On a sad note, we are pretty certain that Newton (our 8-year-old Labradoodle) has some sort of growth on his spine.  We have been giving him supplements and he is moving around much better than he was, but he has developed a knot right on his backbone.  Since his movement is good, and he doesn't seem to be in pain, we are not pursuing a diagnosis at this time.  We'd appreciate your prayers for wisdom and peace, as quite honestly, we are having a hard time with this.

My devotions this morning were about "mortifying the deeds of the body" and "mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth" (Romans 8:13 and Colossians 3:5).  Not a popular subject on any day, but especially when I am sick and don't feel well!

Honestly, though, I could come up with that excuse all the time, because due to fibro, I always have "something" that hurts!  I know it is a work of the Holy Spirit when I can set aside my physical pain to do whatever task is before me.  That is something that I can almost never do on my own.  It is just too hard. 

Even though I often ignore my physical body and do what needs to be done, there are always other areas that still need work.  My mind is usually the most rebellious "member" that I have to work on!

  • Am I indulging in self-righteous thoughts? 
  • Am I harboring hatred toward anyone? 
  • Am I letting coveteousness to control my mind? 
  • Do I allow lustful thoughts to linger? 
  • Am I catering to self-pity?

So, even while I am taking it easy, due to illness, I can still work on strengthening my inner man through the obedience of my mind to the Word of God.

Today's word for me:  "Mortify".

(I've got a feeling it might be a l-o-o-o-n-g day!)

;o)

Alesha

 

Joining the Resistance

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope, Isaac Update, Managing My Mondays, What's Happening

 

I know I've been lax on daily or even weekly updates on us, here on the blog, for quite a while.  I plan to do better about that – honest! :)  I'm going to try to allow myself to write shorter entries, and to be less critical of each entry.  It's true that we tend to be our own worst critics, yeah?

So, on with an update:

We had a pretty miserable weekend here.  We are all sick, and it's a good thing misery loves company, because neither Doug nor I felt up to church yesterday.  We all slept most of the day.  I even missed listening to the morning church service online because I was asleep.  I can't even remember the last time that happened.

We are all taking our supplements, especially the new vitamin C powder we added to our arsenal, and I am p-r-a-y-i-n-g that we will be feeling better soon.

Of course, yesterday was supposed to be Doug's first Sunday working in the children's ministry at church.  I cannot help but think this illness had some devilish assistance in finding our house! 

On the days when we feel particularly unimportant, it would be wise for us to remember how hard our enemy fights to keep us from doing our work for the Lord – whether that work is in your home, in your church ministry, or at your job.  The devil would like nothing better than to keep us ineffective in our own personal circles.

 

I Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour"

 

We must remember that even though we have a powerful adversary, we have an even mightier Advocate!!!

 

I John 4:4 "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

 

Have things been difficult at your house too?  Believe me, I understand!  Let's pray for one another, and encourage one another to continue strong in our faith, as we do the work the Lord has entrusted to us today.

If you have a particular prayer request, share it with me here in the comments or by email.  I will pray about it with you.  I would appreciate your prayers for us, too. 🙂

Blessings,

Alesha

Filled to Overflowing

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

 

John 4:14 "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never
thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of
water springing up into everlasting life."

 

"A man who had learned this secret once said:  'I came to Jesus and I drank, and I do not think that I shall ever be thirsty again.  I have taken for my motto,

 

"Not overwork, but overflow"


and already it has made all the difference in my life.'

There is no effort in overflow" ~Streams in the Desert

 

When my heart and life are full of Jesus, my heart overflows with gratitude and love for the One Who saved me.

My service then is not a driving effort, but rather a joyful expression of a thankful heart.