Obtaining Mercy

When God Answers, He Answers BIG!

We went to the car dealership, signed papers and came home with this vehicle - free and clear.  I have no idea who all was involved or what deals were made...I'm absolutely sure it was all legal and Christ-honoring, though!!! :)

This is a 2012 Ford Transit Connect.  It is brand new, as you can see by the odometer.  Right now, it seats Isaac beautifully, as well as stores his chair completely upright in the back.  Our little ramp fit right across the back for storage, as well.

We are in the process of applying for a grant that will hopefully allow us to have it modified with a ramp/lift for when Isaac gets bigger.  That will cost between $16,000-$20,000, and we will be without the vehicle for a month as it is shipped to Indiana for the conversion.  It will be a while before that happens, obviously.

So, I leave you with pictures and verses of praise and amazement.

"Our God is so great, so strong and so mighty...there's nothing my God cannot do!!!"

~~~~~

Isaiah 48:6 "Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them."

 

 

 

Job 42:2-3 "I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not."

 

 

 

 

Psalm 84:11 "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."

 

 

(of course, we had to try out the Sync program and call Doug's mom in Ohio to tell her the good news!!!)

 

 

And THIS...

...this makes it worth the wait.

I am so full of gratitude and we are overflowing with thanksgiving!

Our God is worthy to be praised.

Please join us tonight by leaving a comment in honor of His mighty work on our behalf!

AND tomorrow is Isaac's 12th birthday...could the timing have been any better?????

HopeFULLy,

Alesha

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

 

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

Just a Thought

 

Checking my Face in the Book before checking my Facebook.

James 1:23-25

 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 

Whew! What a Week!

We have had such a great and busy week this week; and today my mind is tumbling and twirling with so many thoughts that I thought I'd stop by and share some of them with you.

Shall we do a Bullet Blog?  We haven't had one of those in a while, and I find those little round dots are very freeing...no need to connect the thoughts as we go along!

• We had an AMAZing Bible Conference this week.  I mean we literally had several services in-a-row where we listened to preachers preach the Bible!  There was no grand-standing.  There were no overinflated "preacher" egos.  There were no personality conflicts.  It was just GOOD BIBLE Preaching!!!  (For the record, we don't usually have all those negative things in our conferences any way.  I just wanted you to know what kind of services we really had!)
• My tomatoes and cucumbers are growing so well.  I am really pleased.  I put the lattice work in to the cucumber pots this morning, and we moved the tomatoes outside to get a little more sunshine.
• Ike's caregiver is not here today.  She is "caregiving" for her son.  He broke 3 fingers yesterday and is making all the necessary doctor's visits today.  Please pray for Nathan's fingers to heal quickly and completely.
• I am so SO weary of reading CHRISTIAN blogs with CURSE words!!!  You know, I expect it from the world, but NOT from fellow Christians.  I think this whole "being real", "being transparent" trend is just giving us excuses to live and act according to the flesh.  I know there are times when we all slip and say (or think) a "cuss" word.  However, to type that word out and proudly hit the "publish" button???  Shame on you!  You ought to know better!  It shows a lack of class and a serious lack of imagination and creativity.
• Isaac is sleeping the day away today...and has done that several times in the last few weeks.  I think he's going through a growth spurt.
• We are attending a family reunion on Saturday, and for the first time in years, I am excited to cook for it --- because of PINTEREST!!!  There are just so many easy recipes that it makes it really fun to pick out a few things to try.
• Next Tuesday I will be posting a "Do Over Challenge" post on my jewelry blog.  I am looking forward to that!  I re-made the necklace that was sent to me a couple of weeks ago, and have already worn it twice!  Now I just have to discipline myself to take some pictures for my post!  I'm looking forward to seeing what the other jewelry bloggers have done with their "do over" pieces!
• My cousin Joy, of Case Crossings, had her baby girl on Monday!  We are all so excited about her.  Joy and her husband like to "meet" their babies before deciding on a name, so we have called her "Tadpole" for months.  It was very difficult for 3-year-old Josiah to accept that his baby sister is now called "Joanna"! LOL!  Hopefully, he will pick up on it quickly, as he hears other people say it! :)

Yep, we've had a fun and busy week!  So now, I'd best get up from here and see what I can get accomplished!

HopeFULLy,

Alesha Kay

Welcome to the Ultimate Blog Party

 

 

Welcome to Obtaining Mercy!

I am Alesha Kay and I am so excited that you have dropped by my blog for the Ultimate Blog Party!

 

 

 

I started blogging in 2007, which was a particulary difficult year for our family.  I was just looking for a place to unwind, to share my thoughts and feelings, and to connect with other likeminded women.

I have been greatly blessed by the people I have met since then.  I love my bloggy friends!

I blog quite a bit about the men in my life: My husband Doug and my son, Isaac.  In fact, Isaac has his own page here, because he is such a special kiddo - in more ways than one.

 

 

I also write about running a household, living with chronic conditions (fibromyalgia & osteoarthritis) and about our ongoing goal of fitness and health.

The writing that I am most passionate about is my A Door of Hope posts.

I reached a point in my life, when Isaac was so sick in 2007, that I felt absolutely hopeless.  I had never experienced that kind of emptiness and pain before, and I was shocked and saddened by my inability to rise above those feelings.

So, I ran to God's Word, and I sunk myself into It to see what I could find about hope; and of course, the Bible's pages are brimming with verses and stories about the Hope that we can only find in God alone.

The Lord is so gracious and kind to give us all that we need to meet life's trials, when we read His Word.  He wants our lives to be joyful and filled with hope.

As we come to know the character of God, we come to realize that as long as God lives, there is hope!  It is ours for the asking, and it is bountiful and everlasting in its supply.

If you are hurting today, I pray that you find some words of comfort and assurance here at Obtaining Mercy and A Door of Hope.

Thanks for coming to the Ultimate Blog Party!!! 

Be sure to head to Party Central and visit with the other bloggers there.

 

Hopefully blogging,

Alesha Kay

 

 

Just My Thoughts on Family

Family is family is family. 

Nothing should break that bond, lessen that love, remove that responsibility. 

God has placed us in our familial circle for a reason.  Let us love one another with the love of Christ, and move through our trials together. 

The prodigal knew the Father's love was unconditional before he ever left his home. 

May our homes and families be havens of forgiveness and support for those who have believed Satan's lies and walked away from the ways of truth and righteousness. 

We do not love the sin, but we must continue to love the sinner in ways that are honest, tangible and safe for our other family members.  For example, we do not expose our children to sin or to danger while we work with a wayward loved one. 

It is not an easy task.  It is not a frivolous decision.  But it IS showing God to the world when we love as He loves.

For the truth of the matter is...the next family member who is in need of unconditional love may be you or me!

 

 "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
 "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
 "For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."  Galatians 6:1-3

 

 

It's the Little Things that Make Me Smile

 

I really think she needs a name, too.  Any suggestions???

Foto Friday - Macro Vision

 

I'm trying to learn how to use the "macro" setting on my camera.

 

Hmmm...seems like my focus is a bit skewed,

Sorta like my internal focus sometimes...

Only seeing clearly the dried, dying, ugly parts of my life...

Somehow overlooking the new, vibrant bits of color that are popping up all over.

I need to appreciate the new growth, the new beauty...

Inspite of the barren background.

What are you focused on today?

Blessings to you,

Alesha

Listening for the Shepherd

The little lamb was caught in the thicket. 

The roar of a nearby lion had sent him scurrying, and in his fear he ran away from the Shepherd. 

He ran blindly, not heeding the Shepherd's call, until the branches pressed close and blocked his path to safety.  The thorns jabbed, piercing his tender skin, drawing blood that stained his white wool an ugly reddish-brown.

He cried out, willing the Shepherd to hear his feeble "Baa!  Baa!"; but no help came. 

He floundered a bit, trying to gain ground to move through the hedge that surrounded him; but the brambles held him tight. 

He waited...too tired to continue struggling.  His panting eased, and he rested in the midst of the brier. 

He knew the Shepherd would come.  He had no doubt.  He trusted his Shepherd. 

Within a few short moments darkness fell.  At first the silence was frightening, but then the night creatures began to sing their nocturnal refrain, crickets and frogs in unison with the occasional melody of the whiporwill. 

He stilled then, as he thought of his Shepherd, remembering nights of snuggling at His side within the safety of the sheepfold.  He pushed his fears aside, for he knew his Shepherd would come.

The cold of the night began to penetrate his wooly coat, and he shivered in the gloom of the night. 

He soon noticed the sounds of other beasts in the night: the bellow of a bear sounded loud in his ear.  The howl of the wolves echoed eerily along the valley floor.

He trembled violently as he wondered what terrors this night held for him; but he calmed once again, as he thought of his Shepherd.  The One who had led him to this place.  The One who met his every need.  The One who had killed many wild beasts that had threatened his flock.

No, he would not fear the darkness of this night, because he knew, beyond a doubt, his Shepherd was near.  The Shepherd would come for him.  The Shepherd would rescue him out of the blackness of this night.  He trusted the Shepherd.

He squirmed a bit, seeking a small place of relief from the pain of the thorns, and settled himself into the heart of the hedge.  He quieted himself and listened, not for the sound of wild beasts, nor to the howling winds that blew through the valley.

Calmly, while the darkness pressed in around him, he listened for the Voice of the one he knew best. He listened for the Voice of his Shepherd.

 

 

 

Bloomin' Idiot?

 

I had this thought today:

If we want to bloom for Christ...we will.

It matters not the position in the garden,

the nutrients of the soil, 

the loveliness of the container,

the adoration of the crowd,

the heritage of the seeds,

the salubriousness of the climate.

If a plant decides to grow and blossom and thrive, it just does.

Are you blooming for Him today?

If not, why not?

"For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground..." ~Isaiah 53:2

If you want to be a gorgeous, blossoming, thriving Christian, then just decide that you will be; and go to the Master Gardener for your every need.

"For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody."~Isaiah 51:3

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."~Phillipians 4:19

Bloom on, my friend!

Alesha