Heaven’s Sounding Sweeter

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

Just a quick update here:

My grandmother (Daddy's mom) passed away this morning.  She went very quickly, and we are so thankful to know that she is with the Lord now!

Our precious friend, Lane, is spending his final days with family and friends gathered close.  He even dictated to his son a final goodbye for Facebook last night.  It was incredibly poignant, as he pointed his friends to Jesus as the only way to Salvation and a home in Heaven. 

I was told this morning that he is sleeping more and eating less today.  They are reading the comments from his FB page to him, as they come in.  The comments have been incredibly sweet, as they honor the Godly man that Lane has been to so many in his life.

Our little friend, Joshua, is still in the hospital.  His red- and white-blood cell counts are a little better, but his platelet count continues to stay low, in spite of 8 transfusions.  They began week 5 of their hospital stay yesterday.  Please keep praying!

Here on the homefront, Isaac is still not sleeping.  He stays awake for over 30 hours before he crashes for 2-6 hours; then he starts the whole process again.  Doug is exhausted, as he is averaging 4 hours of sleep each night.  I have been able to stay up and check on Ike the last few nights, but as soon as he goes potty, Doug has to get up to change him.

My back is still "out"…I wish I could go out as often as it does!!!  I have another chiropractic appointment tomorrow…hoping it will help again.

One of my favorite memories of my grandmother (who I called "Meme") was that she would take me shopping occasionally.  I remember one year, we went shopping for my winter coat. Afterwards, we stopped to eat at a restaurant – a real treat back then.  I remember having a cheeseburger and french fries – my carb-loving days started early!  I just recall how special I felt to be the focus of the trip and to be sharing that special time with her.

She will certainly be missed…and the thoughts of Heaven get more exciting all the time.  So many friends and loved ones will be there.  Are you 100% sure that YOU will be there one day?  If you have any doubts at all, I would be honored to share with you how I can be so sure.  Just email me or leave a comment here.

Blessings,

Alesha

 

Why Not?

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

 

Luke 9:[28] And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
[29] And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
[30] And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
[31] Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
[32] But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

 

"Come close to Him! He may take you today up into the mountain top, for where He took Peter with his blundering, and James and John, those sons of thunder who again and again so utterly misunderstood their Master and His mission, there is no reason why He should not take you." ~John McNeill (excerpt Streams in the Desert)

 

If we seek the Lord with all our hearts, why should He not allow us to draw close and see His glory?

In fact, it is a bit of a promise that he will do just that:

James 4:8a – "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…"

So, for today, why not draw near? 

Just maybe…you will catch a glimpse of Him!!!  

 

Friday’s Fact

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

In Captivity ~

"Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month,

as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar,

that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
 In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,

The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and  

the hand of the LORD was there upon him."

Ezekiel 1:1-3

 

"No calamity can be to us an unmixed evil if we carry it in direct and fervent prayer to God,

for even as one in taking shelter from the rain beneath a tree may find on its branches fruit which he looked not for,

so we in fleeing for refuge beneath the shadow of God's wing,

will always find more in God than we had seen or known before."

~William Taylor from Streams in the Desert


A Happy Birthday to Joshua in Japan!!!

by ObtainingMercy, posted in What's Happening

Joshua is 9 today!

Joshbd

What a bummer to spend your birthday in the hospital, but Josh seems to be taking it in stride.  He had a good day with his family.

You can read all about his birthday here: 

Mom 2-4 Xanga Blog

Be sure to drop by and wish the J-Man a Happy Birthday!

Catching Up

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

We are having such nice weather right now, in the high 70's, low 80's – just gorgeous really.  We'll only have a bit of this, so we try to enjoy it while we can.

We're also getting lots of rain, which is so good for everything.  This summer was too dry, even for Florida.

I can't believe some of my friends are seeing snow already – that's just cRaZy!

Doug made a huge pot of vegetable soup on Saturday, and we are enjoying it so much with our fall-like weather.

My back went out again over the weekend.  I didn't "do" anything, it just sort of "went".  I was able to get to the chiropractor today, and will need to go back tomorrow. 

Our caregiver was sick, so Doug had to miss a day of work.  That is the thing that really "gets" to me when I'm stuck with a bad back – when I can't care for my child and my home the way I need to. 

However, I thank the Lord often for the fact that our church streams its services live.  I was able to "be" at both the morning and evening services. 

The sermon on Sunday night, from our senior pastor, was just what my troubled soul needed, too.  He gave us a great reminder to not follow in the footsteps of Thomas the Doubting Disciple; but to instead cry out to the Lord, as the father of the child possessed by devils did with tears, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

So, I've been able to put that sermon into immediate practice as I've been dealing with a great deal of pain the past 2 days.  The Lord is so faithful to minister to me in my time of despair.  He is a good and gracious God to me.

Our little friend, Joshua in Japan, is still in the hospital; and his blood counts continue to drop.  The doctors continue to be confused as to the cause.  Laura and Jerry continue to try to manage family, work and hospital time.  It is difficult.  Please continue to pray!

I will share a specific answer to prayer for Laura, though.  She has been stuck eating "fast food" for most of the past 3 weeks, due to the demands on her very limited time.  However, over the weekend, on the Joshua's classmates parents brought her a basket of goodies that included fresh bread, fresh veggies and tuna.  What a wonderful treat for her!!!  What a thoughtful thing to do!  I am praying the Lord's blessings on that classmate's family! 🙂

That's it, I guess, for today's update.

Blessings to you,

Alesha

Asking You to Keep Praying for Joshua in Japan

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Prayer Request

I'd like to ask you to continue to pray for Joshua in Japan.

He has had several blood transfusions to try to regulate his platelets, and white and red blood cell counts, and they do help short term.  Unfortunately, his numbers start falling by the next day.  The doctors are working on several things, trying to find the culprit, and to see what will work for him.

You can read all of his mom's updates here:  Mom 2-4 Xanga

Just imagine yourself in their shoes and you will know how to pray.  I know his parents are getting tired.  They have no time to talk with each other.  There girls are just getting bits and pieces of parental attention.  They are worried.  Their jobs are taxing their energy.  They are getting very little sleep.  There is no time for laundry and grocery shopping and cooking.  It has been exhausting, and they still have no concrete answers.

Please pray for God to move in a miraculous way in the minds of the doctors and in Joshua's body, to find a cause, a remedy and a solution to this situation.

Thanks for praying,

Alesha

 

What Do You Need Today?

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Uncategorized

 

He will supply it!


 When the poor and needy seek water,

and there is none,

and their tongue faileth for thirst,

I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

 

I will open rivers in high places,

and fountains in the midst of the valleys:

I will make the wilderness a pool of water,

and the dry land springs of water.


Isaiah 41:17-18

Why would you turn to anything else???