Hope When Our Hearts Fail

by ObtainingMercy, posted in A Door of Hope

There are times when our emotions threaten to overwhelm us, when we feel we just can't take any more bad news, when we don't have the strength to try for another day.

The Psalmist expressed it this way:

Psalm 40:11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from
me, O LORD: let
thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

12
For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have
taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than
the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.

So often, however, we insist on suffering through these times without the comfort of our God.  We harden our hearts to His Word.

We use the methods of the world to comfort ourselves during these times:

  • alcohol to numb the pain
  • music to drown the crying
  • tobacco to soothe the hurt
  • food to block the agony
  • pornography to forget the reality
  • work to avoid the misery
  • adrenaline thrills to escape the bitter ache
  • activity to ignore the despair

We need to turn our back on these evasions, and turn our face toward the only One who can bring us through the heartbreak with victory.

God is not afraid of your emotions.  After all, as Creator, He is the one who blessed you with this gift of "feeling". 

Believe me, He has heard every blasphemous accusation before.  He is no stranger to the depths to which our emotions can take us.

We need to incline our hearts to Him, and allow Him to heal our failing hearts. 

We need to agree with the Psalmist at the beginning of Psalm 40, when he proclaimed:

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and
heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of an horrible
pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established
my goings.

We need to trust Him to be our salvation, even in the midst of our fear and despair.

13
Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.

14
Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to
destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me
evil.

15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame
that say unto me, Aha, aha.

16 Let all those that seek thee
rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say
continually, The LORD be magnified.

May we remember who we are, and never forget the great God that He is:

17 But I am poor and
needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer;
make no tarrying, O my God.

My Help.  My Deliverer.  My Heart-Mender. My Hope.

The Privilege of Prayer

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Uncategorized

I think there must be days that I overlook some of God's mightiest
acts, simply because I am too busy managing my own affairs.  I often
forget to look for God's hand at work.

There are, however, some days that I see his incredible works in
bold, vibrant, tangible ways…as I did yesterday:

After enduring a month of surgeries, anesthesia, medications, ER
visits, doctor's appointments, extreme pain and illness, our co-pastor's
wife, Mrs. C, was able to
attend our church services! 

It was wonderful to see her, and hug her, and have her in our midst
again, but the joy I felt was more than that. 

It was the tangible awareness that the great God of Heaven, Creator
of the universe, had heard – and answered – our prayers on her behalf.

It was an answer to prayer – a miracle – talking and walking around!

How exciting it was to be reminded that God uses us, somehow, to
accomplish His will.

We cannot all be pastors or teachers.  Some of us can't get out to
visit the sick.  We might not be great musicians.  It may be difficult
for us to greet strangers.  We may feel our greatest talent is that of
warming up our spot on the pew!

There is one thing, however, that we ALL can do, and that is to
PRAY!

Consider the following scenario:

Your pastor rises from his seat next Sunday, stands behind the
pulpit and announces YOUR name.  He tells of a grave diagnosis or a
family crisis or a great need that has developed in your life.  You hear
a gasp of shock followed by a murmur of sympathy as it sweeps the
congregation.

How would you want the audience to respond?  Would you want them to
walk out of the sanctuary at the end of service, and forget about you
until service time next Sunday?  Or would you want them to faithfully
call out your name to the Heavenly Father until the crisis was passed?

I know that I would want my church family to remember to pray for me
in my time of need.

We can all be faithful to pray for those who need a touch from God.

Even when we are overwhelmed with our own pain, we can pray for
others. 

Sometimes, it is BECAUSE of our own suffering that we are made
more acutely aware of the distress of those around us.

Ask the Lord to lay someone on your heart this week.  We cannot carry
everyone's burden, but we can be faithful to pray for one, especially
if the Lord burdens our heart with that need.

I know that your faith will grow as you see God work in the lives of
those for whom you are praying.  It will encourage your own heart, and
build confidence in your God. 

It will move your heart to praise and adoration as you see Him show
Himself mighty in your midst.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer
and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  ~Philippians 4:6-7

Please Continue to Pray for Gail

by ObtainingMercy, posted in How Great is Our God, Prayer Request

I have a new post over at A Door of Hope:  The Privilege of Prayer.  

In it I share a wonderful answer to prayer that our church experienced yesterday.

While we are talking of prayer, I would like to continue to ask your prayer for my friend Gail and her husband Mike.

Gail has been under heavy sedation, and non-responsive, since being put on the ventilator last Saturday.  Her oxygen levels are not getting better, and her liver seems to be completely non-functioning.

Within the next week or so, Mike will be needing to make some difficult decisions about Gail.

We know that our God is a God of miracles and can do whatever He wants, regardless of what the medical team might expect. 

We just want this time to be one of perfect peace and clarity for Mike, and that Gail can remain pain-free at all times.

Thank you for taking the time to carry them to the Father again.  I know they appreciate it very much.

Alesha

Shut the Door, the Air Conditioner’s On!

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, Florida Weather, Food and Drink, Hallelujah Diet, Household, Isaac Update, Prayer Request

I am so happy to let you know that my friend, Mrs. C, is at home now, recovering from her month-long ordeal.  She is healing well, so let's pray that continues! 🙂

She is actually the one who suggested I share the following picture with you, after I shared it with her this morning:

 

Acunit


This is our air conditioning unit, as seen from my bedroom. :)  She is quite a monster, I know!  But she gushes forth lovely, cool air to keep (most of) our house at a moderate temperature.  My dad is eventually going to be ducting those 3 holes to the individual rooms in our house; and the plan is to wall this corner in like a closet with some pretty louvered doors.

So, now that our temperatures have hit the 90's, we are staying nice and cool with our "lovely beast".  I am thanking the Lord for all the ways He is blessing me lately. 🙂

Isaac has been sick for the past 3 weeks.  At first it was just a cold, but it eventually turned into a sinus infection. 

And with the illness came the seizures. 

I'm sad to tell you about that, really.  I don't want you to be discouraged that we have lost ground again.  It's ok, really.  We had about 2 months of such clarity with him, and we wouldn't trade that for anything.  It was really wonderful.  We don't like the seizures, but they "normal" for Isaac, and we are not complaining.

Here's something yummy we tried today:

Kalesalad 

It's called "Sweet Annie Kale Salad" from the recipe book "How We All Went Raw".  It was quite a surprise to us that we both liked it.  Next time, though, I will add more garlic, and substitute craisins for the raisins.  You know I always tweak everything!!! 🙂

I've got a few new smoothie recipes I'll try to share with you soon, too.  We are diligently trying to get back to our healthy eating plan.  We begin to feel lousy and sluggish when we are not sticking with it as we should. 

I have been sick for about 2 weeks:  bronchitis, according to my
self-diagnosis.  I am on antibiotic now, but the cough is
l-i-n-g-e-r-i-n-g – unfortunately.  I hope to be back to church and
choir and LIFE soon! 🙂

No new report on Mama Gail.  I'm sure we will be talking with Mike
soon, and will let you know if there has been any change.

Keeping my eyes set on Jesus (because, really, what else is there?),

Alesha

Continuing to pray for Gail

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Prayer Request

Gail is very low, and needed to be put on the ventilator yesterday.  Her lungs continue to fill with fluid, and the doctors feel that her liver has failed, due to the Hepatitis C.

Doug traveled to be with her and Mike today.  Please pray for them, as the Lord lays them on your heart.

Gail has a wonderful sense of humor, which is continuing even now.  Yesterday while Mike and some friends were with her, she looked around and stated, "Some party!" 🙂

We know that God is faithful, and will be near, even during these hard times.  We are asking for His intervention even now.  He is the Great Physician and can do whatever He wills.

I would also like to ask for your continued prayers for our co-pastor's precious wife, Mrs. C.  She has been hospitalized for the third time this month, due to abdominal adhesions and intestinal perforations.  We are asking for Divine Intervention for her as well.

We will continue to trust Him.

Blessings to you,

Alesha

Prayer Request Update on Mama Gail

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Prayer Request

Please continue to pray for Gail.  She underwent abdominal exploratory surgery yesterday, to find the source of substantial blood loss she has been experiencing.  They think they know the source and did some repair, but are not sure. 

Her bone marrow has not started producing yet, since the chemo ended, and that is complicating matters as well.

Our hearts are very heavy for our friends.  They live over 2 hours away, and we are not able to be there for them.  Also, we have all been sick, and would not be allowed to visit Gail any way.

If the Lord burdens your heart, please hold them up in prayer.  If you are local, please consider going by to visit.  She is in Weustoff Hospital.

Thank you,

Alesha

A Must Read Link

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, How Great is Our God, Links to Share

And no, it isn't political!  (just in case you were wondering!) 🙂

Some days, the Lord send me an extra special blessing – just for me!  Today was one of those days.

Vanessa, at A Sweet Fragrance, shared her thoughts on "People, not Vegetables".  It really touched my heart.  I think you will be blessed by it as well.  I especially loved her use of Scripture!  I had never thought about it in those terms before.

Thanks, Vanessa!

Alesha