Obtaining Mercy

Working My Way to Hope

May 18, 2012 by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

This conversation happened in my head this morning. (I hope this glimpse into my squirrelly thought processes is no too scary this early in the morning!!!)

"Oh, is my prayer ever going to be answered?!!

"I just have so many doubts!

"NO! I won't doubt! I'll just believe that it IS going to happen!

"Ah…but I have so little faith!

"I NEED more faith?"

"How can I get more faith?

"Does God just give me more faith?

"No…wait!

"'Faith cometh by hearing…' Yeah! I remember now!!! And 'hearing by the Word of God', right?

"I'd better look that up."

So, I did look it up and this is what I found:

Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Then I wondered, "What exactly does it mean by hearing?"

I looked that up too, and this is what I found:

1828 Definition

HE'ARING, ppr. Perceiving by the ear, as sound.

1. Listening to; attending to; obeying; observing what is commanded.

Wow! So let me see if I've got this right:

I need a prayer answered.

I need faith to trust God to work out my need.

I get faith from hearing.

Hearing is listening, attending, obeying and observing what I have been commanded.

And what I have been commanded comes from the Word of God.

So, if I feel that my prayer is never going to be answered…

Do I spend more time on my knees begging God for that answer?
Do I work and work and work to get the answer?
Do I find a ministry and serve laboriously, hoping God will deem me worth of an answer?

No.

I go to the Word of God and I listen to It. I pay attention to It. I obey It. I keep the commandments in It.

Now, granted, as I read in the Word, I may find the instructions to spend more time in prayer, or to labor diligently in my church or community.

But those actions are the results of my "hearing", not the method of obtaining my answers to my prayers.

Are you floundering in a sea of doubt this morning? Are you waiting for answers that are just not coming?

At the risk of sounding redundant, Go To The Word!

Read it. Learn from it. Obey it.

As you do this, you will find your faith growing by leaps and bounds, and you'll wonder how you ever doubted that God would meet your every need!

Finding a Van for Isaac – It Takes a Family, Not a Village

May 17, 2012June 23, 2015 by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, Friendship, How Great is Our God, Isaac Update, Just My Thoughts, Prayer Request, What's Happening

We are in the process of trying to find a wheelchair-accessible vehicle for our family. Our truck died on May 8th, and we have been without a vehicle since then.

I know intellectually that family is incredibly important, but to see family spring into action on our behalf has really been amazing!

My mechanically-inclined brother, who has done the physical labor on our truck the past several times that it needed work, and who had the wisdom to say (as did Bones on StarTrek) "It's dead, Jim!" when our truck blew it's head gasket last Tuesday.
My fiscally-responsible brother and sister-in-love who unselfishly pick me up for choir practice each week, and bring me home from church on Sunday and Wednesday nights, who pick up groceries when we need them, or prescriptions when we have no way to get them, and who support me emotionally when I feel the need to let off steam, by simply listening or by taking me to the beach for a day (and thereby rescuing my sanity.)
My extended family who are praying and watching for deals and encouraging us that God will meet our need.
My brilliant husband who can tell you which car/truck/van has the best and poorest Consumer Report ratings for the past 15 years, and who is humble enough to accept rides back and forth to work but is independent enough to walk to the drugstore and grocery store when we needed something.
My sweet mother- and grandmother-in-laws who give advice and encouragment to Doug each week and who help us pray for answers.
My servant-hearted cousins who are willing to do anything at all for us from toting a wheelchair, to physically helping Isaac in and out of his wheelchair, and who act out the belief that "Pity is a benign form of abuse, " and therefore do not pity Isaac, but accept him just as he is and help him to be a true part of their junior church ministry every Sunday.
My dad who has worked unfailingly to help us find a vehicle, who has loaned his vehicle for runs to the bank and the grocery store, who drives alone to church in his work truck so that the rest of us can fit in the "nice" vehicle, who believes in a fair price and a good work ethic, who has friends all over town because of his own work ethic, and who has blessed his family for many generations to come by following Christ's example and keeping a good Christian testimony.
My mom who has taught all of us by her incredible example that PRAYER WORKS, and who is continuing to live out that truth by praying a MIRACLE down for us!!!

All these combine to make this time of waiting, bearable.

As we sink our faith deeper into the mind of Christ, and trust Him to meet this incredible need, we are propped up and encouraged by these in our family who have come along beside us.

Of course, we have sweet friends who minister to us, too, giving us ideas and telling us about vehicles they've seen, and encouraging us with reminders of Who God is, and that He promises to meet every need. These are our brothers and sisters in Christ, and so, by that definition, are FAMILY, as well!

The world has swallowed the lie that it takes a government, a society, a village of people to raise a child. This is wrong and unScriptural. It takes individuals who are committed to the success of the child and to the spiritual growth of the child, to properly raise that child to be a Child of the King.

In Isaac's situation, he is "safe" in the Lord, because he does not have the understanding to make a personal decision for Christ.

So, in his case, we are not coming together to teach him about Jesus and salvation in a mental and spiritual way; but rather we are coming together to teach him how Jesus IS by meeting his physical and emotional needs.

I John 3:16-18 "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."

My family is loving Isaac, and loving us, "in deed and in truth."

That is very humbling and encouraging and is – quite honestly – just blessing my socks off!!!

Thank you, Lord, for my family!

HopeFULLy,

Alesha

Don’t Lose Hope

May 17, 2012 by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

"Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him and expect help from Him, He will never fail you. An older brother that has known the Lord for forty-four years, who writes this, says to you for your encouragement that He has never failed me." ~ George Mueller

Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

Deuteronomy 31:8 "And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed."

Joshua 1:5 "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

Joshua 21:45 "There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass."

Friend, I think we have God's Word on it, as well as the testimony of brothers and sisters down through the ages:

God will not fail us!

Let this truth restore your hope today!

Shattered Hope

May 16, 2012June 23, 2015 by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

"When first affliction comes upon us, how everything gives way!

Our clinging, tendril hopes are snapped, and our hearts lie prostrate like a vine that the storm has torn from its trellis;

but when the first shock is passed and we are able to look up, and say, 'It is the Lord,'

faith lifts the shattered hopes once more, and binds them fast to the feet of God.

Thus the end is confidence, safelty, and peace." ~Streams in the Desert

I'll be honest with you:

There is a situation in my life right now that has snapped my "clinging, tendril hopes"; and I have not yet found the faith to lift them and "bind them fast to the feet of God."

I'm sort of in between that and the phrase before it…I know this trial is from the Lord. My brain can reason out the truth of it; but my heart is still hurting, still "torn from its trellis."

I know the Lord is growing my faith here. I know that He is aware of my wavering trust.

I know He can meet my needs, but so often I wonder why He should?

I get stuck in that place of emotion that tells me I am unworthy of His intervention in my hour of tribulation.

I think this is the place where the enemy wants to keep us.

When I am in between acknowledgment of God's power and believing His power for my need, I must run to Scripture.

Where else will I find an adulterous, murderous king with the heart of a poet who, in spite of his failures, completed trusted His God for deliverance???

Psalm 33:18-22 "Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

So, I cling to the truth of the Word; and lift my "shattered hopes once more" and bind them "fast to the feet of God".

Has a storm of life ripped you from your trellis of faith?

Lift your shattered hopes and bind them to the only One Who can meet your every need!

Immediate Hope

May 15, 2012 by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

Matthew 8:13 "And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour."

We love it when the Lord works His miracles in our lives as soon as we pray about a need. We are thrilled to see His answers to our prayers happen immediately.

But how about us? How quickly do we respond when God asks something of us?

Do we obey immediately?

Abraham did:

Genesis 17:23 "And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him."

Abraham's obedience made all the difference in his relationship to the Lord. When he was obeying immediately, God's blessings were abundant. When he disobeyed, or delayed his obedience, God's blessings were withheld.

Honestly, sometimes, I don't even think about delaying my obedience to the Lord.

He touches my heart about something, and I just ignore it. I don't jump right in to obey what He asks. I simply do nothing, and wait for the next "nudge" of the Holy Spirit.

This quote really touched my heart and convicted me that I need to practice "instant" obedience:

"Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience." ~ from Messages for the Morning Watch

I am purposing in my heart today to pay attention to the Voice of the Holy Spirit and the gentle directions of the Lord, so that I may obey immediately.

"…A postponed duty never can bring the full blessing that God intended, and that it would have brought if done at the earliest possible moment." ~ from Messages for the Morning Watch

I encourage you to give God "instant" obedience, too. I am convinced that the blessings that follow our submission to His will will far outweigh any inconvenience that the obedience may have caused us.

He will keep His Word. He will bless us as we obey Him.

Jeremiah 7:23 "But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you."

Hope in the Burning Fiery Furnace

May 14, 2012 by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

Daniel 3:25a "He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire…"

"The fire did not arrest their motion; they walked in the midst of it…The comfort of Christ's revelation is not that it teaches emancipation from sorrow, but emancipation through sorrow."~George Matheson

Psalm 66:12b "…we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place."

It is difficult to keep moving when the fire ignites around us. We feel the heat suddenly hit us, and we stop dead in our tracks to gaze at the fury of the flames.

We are horrified by the blaze and can see nothing but the incineration of our plans and dreams.

If we continue to stand still and gaze in terror at the firestorm around us, we will remain there in the blast.

We must withdraw our eyes from the trial, and fix them on the Fourth Man Who is in the furnace with us.

The Lord Jesus is by our side while we are in the trial.

He longs for us to look to Him for relief and consolation as the fire removes the dross of our lives.

When we are gazing into the eyes of our Saviour, the situation around us seems to fade away.

We find peace in His presence, and we find purpose as He moves us through the fire, into the "wealthy place" of peace on the other side of the flaming trial.

I know it is hot in the furnace of suffering. I know it is uncomfortable. We may feel physical pain, as well as agony of mind and spirit.

I can tell you from experience, though, that if you will

fasten your eyes on Him,
run to Him,
focus your mind on His promises,
pour over His Word…

He will meet your every need.

We have a merciful Saviour. Trust Him to bring you through the fire.

He offers us a place of peace and safety IN Him, if only we will stop looking at the fire and fix our eyes on Him.

A Wild and Crazy Week

May 13, 2012June 23, 2015 by ObtainingMercy, posted in Florida Weather, What's Happening

Whew! It's been a little bit busy this week at our house, so I thought I'd try to catch you up-to-date.

Doug and Isaac had quite a time trying to get home from therapy on Tuesday. Our truck died "the big death" on the way back. They did not get home until 1:45 a.m. Wednesday morning, after having to sit on the side of the road in the middle of 192-no-whereville for 3 hours. (You locals will know exactly where that is, too!)

The rest of the week, then, proved to be very interesting, having no working vehicle. It worked out ok, though, as so many family, friends and co-workers gave us rides and lended their cars for grocery shopping and such. We are so thankful for them!

My sister-in-love and I had been planning a trip to the beach for a few weeks, and I decided to not let the circumstances deter me. I was so glad we went. It was a beautifully slow-paced day and I took in about a week's worth of vitamin D, and we were home by 3 p.m. Can't beat that, can you?

On Friday, Doug took part in the graduation ceremony/service of the school where he teaches. They graduated 4 seniors, and he said the service and reception were very nice.

Meanwhile, Isaac and I attended my cousin's wedding at our church, thanks to 2 different vehicles from 2 different families. It was a labor of love to get us there, and I am so grateful I could go. Isaac sat with the younger children in the toddlers' building for the ceremony, but then joined me for the reception. Let me tell you, my boy can put away some potato salad!!! He just loved it and I was glad to have such a happy escort.

Today, Saturday, my mom and I attended the Mother-Daughter Luncheon at our church. The cafeteria was still set up with the gorgeous decorations from the wedding the night before, and the food was yuuummmmy! We heard a lovely pastor's wife speak about serving the Lord in the beauty of holiness and came home with sweet little plants donated from a church member's nursery. 🙂

So…cRaZy, busy week, full of wonderful blessings and unexpected catastrophes. We still have no idea what we are going to do for a vehicle. We are in no position to purchase a new one, but the old one is beyond repair. We are truly waiting on a miracle from the Lord!

We are, however, focused on the Lord, yielding ourselves and our lives to Him on a moment by moment basis. Occasionally, we feel ourselves growing very agitated, and have to stop to realize we are just feeling very "out of control" of everything in our lives right now; and once again, surrender it all to the Lord.

Doug is also out of work for the summer and has no prospects; but perhaps the Lord knew he wouldn't have a way to get to a job??? :o/ We don't know…so we just keep trusting and doing what we know to do each day, with the ability that we DO have.

Now that you have an update on us, I will leave you with some glorious pictures from my day at the beach!