Less is More

I looked to see if I had any new pictures downloaded since my last post…and to this blogger's utter shame, I do not!

How embarrassing!

😉

So, with no pictures, I'll have to work really hard to make this interesting, won't I?

We are all doing well, but not great.  Doug is still fighting an eye infection, and Isaac and I are both still having sinus issues.  Isaac isn't sleeping well, either, so…well, you know…hyper, overstimulated boy and tired mama and daddy.

We have made some changes to his feeding schedule lately, and to our utter delight, it has gone really well.  We are feeding him fewer times during the day, with more formula at each feeding.  He seems to be more satisfied between feedings this way, and we are really pleased.

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I have an internet friend who is traveling halfway across the nation today to meet and adopt a little girl she has been praying about for many, many months.  That is so exciting!  This little one has many special needs, and I am so thrilled to see her find a forever home with an experienced former nurse and mom who already has two other special needs children besides.  What a joyful home this special one will be coming back too. 🙂

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On a sadder note, we have more friends who are facing very serious battles with cancer right now – people our own age, and also folks who have been mentors and friends to us over the years. 

I really want to just lay right down in the floor and throw a temper tantrum about it.  I know that is such an immature thing to want to do.  I trust in my sovereign God – I truly do.  But for ME, for my friends' families, I am so sad to lose more precious people to this disease.

I read the following quote this week and it helped me:

"Do not be afraid to suffer.  Do not be afraid to be overthrown.  It is by being cast down and not destroyed, it is by being shaken to pieces, and the pieces torn to shreds, that men become men of might…" ~Beecher

I don't think I'm there yet.  I am still quite afraid to suffer too much.  However, I do want to learn to trust my Saviour more.  I do want to learn more of His power, and to see it used in my life; and it seems the two work together:

Phillipians 3:[8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
[9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
[10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Yep – there seems to be a pattern there: 

  • less of me, more of Him;
  • less comfort, more knowledge of Him;
  • less of my control, more of His power.

I'm so grateful that He is willing to let me continue to "grow up" in Him.  I do feel like such a "brat" some days – and a spoiled rotten one, at that.  I thank God that He is a good and patient Father to me!

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Now, on a lighter note, Doug has been asked to help with our church's senior citizen's ministry.  He is extremely excited about that.  He will be working with an incredible saint of God who has just gone  – successfully, I might add – through his own battle with cancer.  Doug knows there is much to be learned from this seasoned pastor, and he is eager for the opportunity.

It makes me very happy to see my husband's gifts recognized and encouraged.

Yep…makes me proud and humbled all at the same time.

🙂

Our God is a good God (just in case you needed to be reminded.)

Thanks for reading,

Alesha

 

Hope in a New Law

The Law of the Old Testament was brutal.

The entire system was based on a continuing death.

If the people wanted to be forgiven, they had to slay innocent animals year after year.

Hebrews 10:1b – “For the law…can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”

One animal did not forgive all of their sins, only the sins of that year.

What a horrible way to live!

That’s what makes Jesus’ death on the cross so amazing!

He died once.

Hebrews 10:12 – “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;”

His sacrifice forgives all sin forever.

Hebrews10:18 – “Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.”

The writer of Hebrews calls this new system of forgiveness “a new and living way.” (Hebrews 10:20a)

Isn’t that beautiful?  Our salvation is no longer based on death, but rather on life.

Jesus' death ONCE offers us life FOREVER.

You can’t find a better offer than that!

Understanding this truth should fill our heart with thanksgiving for all that Christ did for us.

This life, however, is now a continuing living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1); and our life is no longer our own, and should be lived according to the new “law” of God.

Hebrews 10:16b – “…I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.”

We are now guided by the Holy Spirit of God (Hebrews 10:15). 

We are not to live a life that pleases our flesh, but are to have instead “our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”  (Hebrews 10: 22b)  

Yes, God offers life, but He also offers this warning:

Hebrews 10:26-27a – “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation…”

After Christ’s sacrificial death for us, we cannot continue to live a life of sin.  Those who ignored the Old Testament Law died “without mercy” (Hebrews 10:28). 

Those who ignore the new laws that God has written in our hearts face an even worse fate.

Hebrews 10:29 – “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

Once we have been saved by the blood of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary, if we continue to ignore the witness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, and continue to deliberately sin, we are in a dangerous position.

Hebrews 10: 30-31 – “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord.  And again, The Lord shall judge his people.  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

The Lord God will not ignore our disobedience to His will and His leading.

Knowing and understanding the incredible gift that we have been given by Christ’s death and resurrection, we should purpose to walk in obedience to His Holy Spirit and to His Word.

What acts of obedience do we need to follow?  Hebrews 10 gives us a short list with which to start:

  1. Let us draw near with a true heart
  2. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering
  3. Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works
  4. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together

This short list should keep us quite busy, as we seek to live a life of gratitude for the irrevocable, definitive, settled work of forgiveness that God has completed in our lives.

There is a wondrous hope in Christ’s new law, which He has put in our hearts and written in our minds.

Catching Up, Sort Of…

We are still alive and kicking, down here in hot, still-feels-like-summer Florida!  I just wanted to let you know, in case you were, you know…wondering!

It takes up a lot of my time when I am helping someone learn how our household operates, and when I am teaching them about Isaac.

Our caregiver is working out better than I ever imagined!  It is taking some getting used to, though, having someone else in the house with us.  I have a hard time focusing on my blog, any way.  Some days I feel so anti-social because I just don't have the energy to keep up a running dialogue; but really, I don't think she expects that any ways.

Doug is still fighting off a cold, or allergies, or something.  Isaac and I got rid of the fever and cold, but are still having some coughing and stuffy noses.  It's like the allergens jumped on us after our cold, and we just can't get back to "normal".

Ike had his second week of riding, and just loved it!  We are so excited that he is being able to enjoy this activity again.

Sorry I wasn't able to post a "Creative Spark Friday" post over on my jewelry blog, if you are keeping up with that.  I had the "spark".  I felt the inspiration.  I just didn't have the time to make it happen.  I hope to catch up with it some time this week.

Well, I guess that's it from our house.  I'm praying that it finds everybody doing well at your house.

Blessings,

Alesha

Hope in Losing Control

"Control freak!"

Have you ever been called by that nickname? 

Maybe it was said in jest, or maybe it was screamed in anger. 

I think we've all had moments when we deserved that moniker.

There are those, however, who take the name "control freak" to a whole new level of crazy!  You know the kind of person I'm talking about:

They are so in control of every person around them that they have lost all control of themselves.

Proverbs 16:32 comes to mind:

"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."

We can certainly lay seige to everyone in our lives and take over every situation.  We can rule our "city" like a conquering army, forcing our control on those who don't wish it, and overpowering those around us.

However, it is so much better when we focus our energy on controlling our own spirit:

  • guarding every word that comes out of our mouth
  • walking away from situations that don't need our input
  • realizing that our way isn't the only way
  • knowing that someone else can do that job just as well as we can
  • allowing those around us to fail, rather than rushing in to "save the day"
  • listening carefully to instruction, instead of assuming we know the correct way to proceed
  • taking a few minutes to pray before responding to a critical situation
  • refusing to do someone else's job and focusing on our own
  • admitting our mistakes quickly, rather than blaming someone else

Controlling our own spirit is infinitely more difficult than controlling others.

It takes more prayer, more humility, greater sacrifice and extreme diligence.

The Scripture tells us, though, that it is "better" to be slow to anger and to rule our own spirit.

I think I'll just work on that today.  It looks like it could be an all-day job!

Blessings to you as you find hope in losing control (of others) to gain control (of yourself).

Alesha

Cowboy Isaac

Isaac is still coughing, but we figured the sunshine and fresh air would
do him more good, than harm; so he saddled up and went riding!

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IkeonDoub2

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IkeonDoub 

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He loved it!

Doug said when they took his hand to reach out and pet the horse's mane, he just laughed!  So exciting!

Now we just have to remember to shop for a hat that fits.  His head is so small that he needs an adjustable extra-small.  With all of us sick, we just haven't been able to get to Tractor Supply to see if they carry one.  So that's our goal for next week. 🙂

I have succumbed to the "yuckies" and now have my own fever, cough and congestion. :o(  And, quite honestly, Isaac is a much more pleasant patient than I am!

Our caregiver is working out wonderfully, even though we've had a glitch in the funding.  It's incredible to me that some businesses even stay afloat with the way they conduct their affairs!!!  But it is what it is, and we will just work (within) the system as best we can.

Happy trails to you, until we meet again,

Alesha

A Comment That Made Me Think

Sonya, over at Sonyamacdesigns, had a really great comment about the picture in my last post, and I wanted to share it with you, along with a couple of thoughts of my own.

"…The
beauty of Gail's grapes is evidence for us all, in the lasting uplifting
power of the work of our hands. I'm so Thankful for her obedience to
our Father then, so you could share so that others may read and be
therefore obedient when HE prompts their spirits … Thankful"

Sonya, thank you for this thoughtful comment.  You know, our creative works are important, aren't they?  How many works or art, books, songs – have moved others to know our God, and to worship Him as their Saviour?  It's exciting to think that Gail's obedience to plant a grape vine has drawn others closer to the Lord!

I do pray a lot when I work on my jewelry.  But usually it's more of a panicked sort of "Lord, help me to finish this piece!" :)  I think I need to start praying that the Lord will guide me to make pieces that somehow reflect HIS glory and draw others to Him.

You have really got me thinking on this, Sonya!

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me!!! 🙂

Blessings to you all,

Alesha

Just a Quick Update

Doug got sick over the weekend, and by Monday, Isaac was sick too – fever, cough, congestion.  Poor little man!  We are treating the fever and doing asthma treatments for the congestion.  We'll let the fever go for 3 days, then make an appointment with his pediatrician if it continues past that.

Our caregiver started this week.  It is working out wonderfully, and I am so, so thankful to have help.

We are supposed to start Isaac's horseback riding on Monday, IF he is feeling better.

I will be back to blog again, soon, I promise!  :o)

My friend, Gail, who passed away in June had started a grape vine in her backyard quite a while before she got too sick to tend to her yard.  Last season, it only yielded a handful of grapes.  This year, it is bearing lots and lots of fruit.

Gail's Grapes

Gail's Grapes

I think the Lord just blessed this vine this year so that it would bless Gail's husband with sweet remembrances of her.  Isn't that just like our Lord? 🙂

Blessings,

Alesha